NBA offseason storylines: Watching LeBron, Reaves, Giannis, more

February 19, 2026 at 10:43 am

FROM ABOVE ARTICLE:

Where will LeBron James be next season?
Last week, after he became the oldest player to record a triple-double, 41-year-old James discussed one major factor that could determine how long the NBA’s leading career scorer stays in the league.

“My game is not going anywhere. It’s just my body,” James told reporters after the Lakers’ win over the Dallas Mavericks before the All-Star break. “[But] how long can I stay in love with the process?

“Because that’s always been my thing. If I can’t continue to stay in love with the process, then if [my mental commitment] goes, then my body’s going to go. And once my body goes, then it’s a wrap.”

Remarkably, James, who has averaged at least 33 minutes and 20 points in every season of his career, is on pace to add a 23rd consecutive year to the list.

James’ options for a 24th season? This offseason, the pending free agent can:

Return to the Lakers

Sign with a contender

Retire

Re-signing with Los Angeles would come with a significant pay cut from his current $52.6 million. But, few contenders are projected to have cap space this summer. For example, it’s likely that the Cavaliers, Denver Nuggets and Knicks could offer LeBron only the veteran’s minimum exception.

How will the Lakers continue building around Luka Doncic?
Since trading for Doncic in February 2025, the Lakers have been operating under two timelines: LeBron’s and Luka’s.

“Having optionality now is really a positive thing for us this coming offseason,” president of basketball operations Rob Pelinka said after this season’s Feb. 5 trade deadline.

This offseason, the franchise’s top priority is re-signing Austin Reaves, who will likely decline his $14.9 million player option for 2026-27 to pursue a long-term extension.

Before injuring his left calf on Christmas, Reaves was averaging a career-high 26.6 points and shooting better than 50% from the field. (In five games since returning, Reaves has averaged 20.0 points on just 25.4 minutes.) “I’ve said it a million times. I want to be in L.A. I love it,” Reaves told ESPN’s Dave McMenamin in November.

“Even though the other extension was turned down, that doesn’t mean that I’m trying to go get a f—ing gigantic number that doesn’t make sense. I want to be here; I want to win.”

The Lakers, Chicago Bulls and Brooklyn Nets are among the teams with enough spending power to sign Reaves to a lucrative contract. But as the Bucks showed when they waived and stretched Lillard’s contract last season, teams without cap space have methods to manufacture cap space.

Because of Reaves’ $20.9 million free agent hold, the Lakers could have up to $50 million in cap space this summer, the most of any team. To create that room, however, Los Angeles would need to renounce every free agent on the roster — including LeBron.

Besides James and Reaves, which other free agents should we watch?
Peyton Watson and Collin Gillespie.

In Watson’s case, Denver failing to reach an extension before the season could be costly.

“With the new CBA and the second apron, things of that nature, [the Nuggets] wanted to stay out of that,” Watson told The Denver Post in October. “As a business, you’ve gotta operate [based on] what’s best for your business. And when it comes time for me to make my decision next summer, I’ve gotta operate as a business myself.”

Upcoming NBA games on ESPN/ABC

Friday, Feb. 20
Mavericks at Timberwolves, 7:30 p.m. ET
Clippers at Lakers, 10 p.m. ET

Saturday, Feb. 21
Rockets at Knicks, 8:30 p.m. ET

Sunday, Feb. 22
Cavaliers at Thunder, 1 p.m. ET
Nuggets at Warriors, 3:30 p.m. ET

Watson is a restricted free agent this offseason, allowing Denver to match any offer sheet. The Nuggets are projected to be $3.6 million below the second apron next season.

Watson, named a Western Conference Player of the Week in January, is averaging career highs in points and shooting efficiency this season. And in 39 starts, he is averaging 17.5 points with a 50.4 field goal percentage and 41.7% shooting from 3.

Gillespie, meanwhile, has outplayed the one-year, $2.3 million contract he signed with the Suns.

He scored a career-high 30 points in a Feb. 3 win against the Portland Trail Blazers and has at least six assists in 16 games this season. The Suns are plus-4.8 points per 100 possessions when Gillespie is on the floor, according to Cleaning the Glass.

Gillespie is eligible to sign a four-year, $66.6 million contract with Phoenix. Because he has early Bird rights, the contract must be a minimum of two seasons (not including an option).

As for the rest of the free agent class, here are the top names to watch:

All-Star level: LeBron James, Jalen Duren (restricted), Austin Reaves, James Harden (player option)

Top starter level: Trae Young (player option), Lu Dort (team option), Draymond Green (player option), Walker Kessler (restricted), Norman Powell

Starter level: Peyton Watson (restricted) Neemias Queta (team option), Collin Gillespie, Deandre Ayton (player), Harrison Barnes, Coby White, Mitchell Robinson, John Collins, Tari Eason (restricted), Rui Hachimura, Tobias Harris, Kevin Porter Jr., (player option), Isaiah Hartenstein (team option), Jaden Ivey (restricted), CJ McCollum, Kristaps Porzingis, Fred VanVleet (player option), Nikola Vucevic, Zach LaVine (player option), Andrew Wiggins (player option) and Mark Williams (restricted)

Comments

LakerTom says

February 19, 2026 at 10:43 am

FROM ABOVE ARTICLE:

Where will LeBron James be next season?
Last week, after he became the oldest player to record a triple-double, 41-year-old James discussed one major factor that could determine how long the NBA’s leading career scorer stays in the league.

“My game is not going anywhere. It’s just my body,” James told reporters after the Lakers’ win over the Dallas Mavericks before the All-Star break. “[But] how long can I stay in love with the process?

“Because that’s always been my thing. If I can’t continue to stay in love with the process, then if [my mental commitment] goes, then my body’s going to go. And once my body goes, then it’s a wrap.”

Remarkably, James, who has averaged at least 33 minutes and 20 points in every season of his career, is on pace to add a 23rd consecutive year to the list.

James’ options for a 24th season? This offseason, the pending free agent can:

Return to the Lakers

Sign with a contender

Retire

Re-signing with Los Angeles would come with a significant pay cut from his current $52.6 million. But, few contenders are projected to have cap space this summer. For example, it’s likely that the Cavaliers, Denver Nuggets and Knicks could offer LeBron only the veteran’s minimum exception.

How will the Lakers continue building around Luka Doncic?
Since trading for Doncic in February 2025, the Lakers have been operating under two timelines: LeBron’s and Luka’s.

“Having optionality now is really a positive thing for us this coming offseason,” president of basketball operations Rob Pelinka said after this season’s Feb. 5 trade deadline.

This offseason, the franchise’s top priority is re-signing Austin Reaves, who will likely decline his $14.9 million player option for 2026-27 to pursue a long-term extension.

Before injuring his left calf on Christmas, Reaves was averaging a career-high 26.6 points and shooting better than 50% from the field. (In five games since returning, Reaves has averaged 20.0 points on just 25.4 minutes.) “I’ve said it a million times. I want to be in L.A. I love it,” Reaves told ESPN’s Dave McMenamin in November.

“Even though the other extension was turned down, that doesn’t mean that I’m trying to go get a f—ing gigantic number that doesn’t make sense. I want to be here; I want to win.”

The Lakers, Chicago Bulls and Brooklyn Nets are among the teams with enough spending power to sign Reaves to a lucrative contract. But as the Bucks showed when they waived and stretched Lillard’s contract last season, teams without cap space have methods to manufacture cap space.

Because of Reaves’ $20.9 million free agent hold, the Lakers could have up to $50 million in cap space this summer, the most of any team. To create that room, however, Los Angeles would need to renounce every free agent on the roster — including LeBron.

Besides James and Reaves, which other free agents should we watch?
Peyton Watson and Collin Gillespie.

In Watson’s case, Denver failing to reach an extension before the season could be costly.

“With the new CBA and the second apron, things of that nature, [the Nuggets] wanted to stay out of that,” Watson told The Denver Post in October. “As a business, you’ve gotta operate [based on] what’s best for your business. And when it comes time for me to make my decision next summer, I’ve gotta operate as a business myself.”

Upcoming NBA games on ESPN/ABC

Friday, Feb. 20
Mavericks at Timberwolves, 7:30 p.m. ET
Clippers at Lakers, 10 p.m. ET

Saturday, Feb. 21
Rockets at Knicks, 8:30 p.m. ET

Sunday, Feb. 22
Cavaliers at Thunder, 1 p.m. ET
Nuggets at Warriors, 3:30 p.m. ET

Watson is a restricted free agent this offseason, allowing Denver to match any offer sheet. The Nuggets are projected to be $3.6 million below the second apron next season.

Watson, named a Western Conference Player of the Week in January, is averaging career highs in points and shooting efficiency this season. And in 39 starts, he is averaging 17.5 points with a 50.4 field goal percentage and 41.7% shooting from 3.

Gillespie, meanwhile, has outplayed the one-year, $2.3 million contract he signed with the Suns.

He scored a career-high 30 points in a Feb. 3 win against the Portland Trail Blazers and has at least six assists in 16 games this season. The Suns are plus-4.8 points per 100 possessions when Gillespie is on the floor, according to Cleaning the Glass.

Gillespie is eligible to sign a four-year, $66.6 million contract with Phoenix. Because he has early Bird rights, the contract must be a minimum of two seasons (not including an option).

As for the rest of the free agent class, here are the top names to watch:

All-Star level: LeBron James, Jalen Duren (restricted), Austin Reaves, James Harden (player option)

Top starter level: Trae Young (player option), Lu Dort (team option), Draymond Green (player option), Walker Kessler (restricted), Norman Powell

Starter level: Peyton Watson (restricted) Neemias Queta (team option), Collin Gillespie, Deandre Ayton (player), Harrison Barnes, Coby White, Mitchell Robinson, John Collins, Tari Eason (restricted), Rui Hachimura, Tobias Harris, Kevin Porter Jr., (player option), Isaiah Hartenstein (team option), Jaden Ivey (restricted), CJ McCollum, Kristaps Porzingis, Fred VanVleet (player option), Nikola Vucevic, Zach LaVine (player option), Andrew Wiggins (player option) and Mark Williams (restricted)

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