NBA free agency 2026: James Harden declines option while negotiating with Cavs; LeBron James' Lakers decision looms

Key Points:

• Marcus Smart has declined his $5.4 million player option with the Los Angeles Lakers, becoming an unrestricted free agent eligible to negotiate with teams starting Tuesday. He averaged 9.3 points and 1.4 steals per game in 54 starts this season.
• Deandre Ayton opted into his $8.1 million player option with the Lakers for the upcoming season, after averaging 12.5 points, 8 rebounds, and 1 block per game in his first year with the team.
• Zach LaVine of the Sacramento Kings and Fred VanVleet of the Houston Rockets both exercised their player options for the 2026-27 season, while James Harden declined his $42.3 million option to negotiate a multiyear deal with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
• Kawhi Leonard is reportedly involved in trade talks with the Toronto Raptors and Dallas Mavericks, with Leonard open to returning to Toronto if traded and the Mavericks reportedly offering Klay Thompson, P.J. Washington, and draft picks.
• The Charlotte Hornets traded Miles Bridges to the Phoenix Suns for Grayson Allen, Royce O’Neale, and future draft picks, marking the second major trade for the Hornets after also trading LaMelo Ball recently.