The NBA teams that had folks at Las Vegas Summer League asking: ‘What are they doing?’

Key Points:

• NBA executives and staffers expressed widespread confusion over various team strategies this offseason, particularly regarding the prolonged Kawhi Leonard-Aspiration investigation by law firm Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz, which is delaying related transactions like Leonard’s trade.
• The investigation’s complexity and length have raised doubts about whether the Leonard trade between the Clippers and Raptors will finalize before the season starts, potentially leaving key players in limbo as training camp approaches.
• The Milwaukee Bucks face scrutiny over a suspicious contract with Gary Trent Jr., which the league is investigating for possible cap circumvention, with the deal’s terms defying rational explanation under the collective bargaining agreement.
• The New Orleans Pelicans surprised observers by making virtually no roster changes despite a poor previous season, opting to retain almost the entire team and re-signing veteran DeAndre Jordan on a two-year minimum deal despite limited recent play.
• The Los Angeles Lakers drew attention for their free-agent signings, offering fully guaranteed four-year contracts with player options to several players and trading Deandre Ayton for minimal cap relief, while Portland’s ownership faces uncertainty over arena renovations and potential relocation options.