National NBA Writer @BleacherReport
Salary Cap Strategist, Tutor, and Consultant
Articles by Eric Pincus
2 bold trade ideas to save depleted OKC Thunder's season
The Oklahoma City Thunder were one win away from a return trip to the NBA Finals, but the loss of Jalen Williams (hamstring) gave the San Antonio Spurs the edge they needed to win Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals. Now Williams is out for a long time after suffering a devastating dislocated left ankle and broken fibula in Sunday's loss to the LA Clippers.
2 Bold Trade Ideas to Save Depleted OKC Thunder's Season
The Oklahoma City Thunder were one win away from a return trip to the NBA Finals, but the loss of Jalen Williams (hamstring) gave the San Antonio Spurs the edge they needed to win Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals. Now Williams is out for a long time after suffering a devastating dislocated left ankle and broken fibula in Sunday's loss to the LA Clippers.
2 Bold Trade Ideas to Save Depleted OKC Thunder's Season
1 hour ago Major stars suffering soft-tissue injuries at the start of a season feels like it’s happening much more often than it used to. We get excited to see how certain players or teams will look to begin a season before learning someone will miss multiple weeks, be reevaluated, need surgery and be out for …
A Blockbuster Trade Idea to Fix Miami's Growing Bam Problem
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NBA Expert Eric Pincus: Will Devastating Injuries Force Thunder to Rethink Their Financial Stance?
Injuries are the absolute worst part of professional sports. The Oklahoma City Thunder suffered a catastrophic double-blow recently, losing Jalen Williams to a dislocated left ankle and fractured fibula, alongside defensive ace Cason Wallace, who sustained a left shoulder tear in the very same game.
6 Terrible Contracts NBA Teams Wish Would Disappear
After a long, contentious negotiation, Jalen Duren finally landed a $200 million deal, but the Detroit Pistons were hesitant to max out their All-NBA/All-Star. Long-term contract negotiations are a complex dance: Teams worry about luxury taxes and aprons, but also fear losing talent if they don't offer enough.
NBPA Agent Application October 30 Deadline
I first started tutoring for the NBPA certification exam in 2020. Each year, prospective agents must pass a three-hour, 50-question, open-book test (no electronic devices). To pass, they can only miss eight. It may sound “easy” with the open-book component, but it’s a real challenge with a relatively low pass rate. I’ve helped students get across the finish line at roughly double the overall rate by building a (legal) cheat sheet that covers the various CBA rules and how to apply them.
NBA Expert Eric Pincus: Why Jaden McDaniels’ US$40 Million Timberwolves Extension Works for Both Sides
With the 2026-27 National Basketball Association (NBA) campaign kicking off on Tuesday (October 20), Monday was the deadline for veterans still under multi-year contracts to sign extensions. At the buzzer, the Minnesota Timberwolves rewarded forward Jaden McDaniels with a one-year, $40 million deal. McDaniels signed a 1-year extension this week.
NBA Expert Eric Pincus: Hornets Made Late Offer as Miller Sought to Surpass Thompson’s Deal
The Charlotte Hornets have undergone significant changes this offseason as they look to build on last season’s progress. But with the 2026-27 NBA campaign about to begin, the franchise has made one thing clear: Brandon Miller is central to its future.
August Contract Predictions in October
I wrote this for Bleacher Report in August: Contract Predictions for the NBA’s Best Extension-Eligible Players. For many, the deadline is Monday (October 19), the day before the regular season—specifically for rookie-scale extensions and veterans with contracts that run beyond the 2026-27 campaign. With that in mind, how did I do in my guesses, and what may still land early next week?
1 Trade Idea for Every Eliminated 2026 WNBA Playoff Team
The Atlanta Dream's emergence as a WNBA Finals contender can be traced back to the April 6 trade that brought Angel Reese from the Chicago Sky. Winning at the highest level takes a talented, united team. Still, the current WNBA Defensive Player of the Year has been the lifeblood of Atlanta's surge, which will culminate in a best-of-seven series against the Golden State Valkyries over the coming weeks. Six franchises have been knocked out of the playoffs.
Breaking down Los Angeles Lakers' projected rotation for 2026-27 NBA season
If preseason "vibes" are important, the Los Angeles Lakers are already one of the best teams in the league. Of course, winning keeps vibes rolling, and it's far from clear how well L.A. stacks up against the talent in the Western Conference. With LeBron James in Philadelphia with the 76ers and most of the roster turned over since earlier this year, the new-look Lakers should be a fascinating watch—though it's unclear exactly how third-year coach JJ Redick will use the assembled talent.
Los Angeles Lakers' Biggest Questions at Training Camp
How Do the Lakers Stack Up? The Lakers' top-three players should fit well together. Dončić and Reaves bring substantial offensive firepower. Kessler fills a vital need at center. Then, Collin Sexton, Grimes and Mamukelashvili round out the team's primary attackers offensively. The team has a lengthy list of role players who could contribute, including Bronny James, Ziaire Williams, Matisse Thybulle, Adou Thiero, Cameron Carr and Kevon Looney.
Absurd Trade Offers for Untouchable WNBA Stars
Right to Draft JuJu Watkins, More, for Olivia Miles Houston Comets Get: Olivia Miles Minnesota Lynx receive: 2027 first-round pick, 2027 second-rounder, 2028 first-round pick, 2029 first-round pick While the first two suggested trades are star-for-star, this is an example of a team, the Houston Comets-the Connecticut Sun before rebranding and relocation-giving up nearly everything it has in draft compensation for one of the most exhilarating players to join the WNBA in years.
Ranking Los Angeles Lakers' Top Trade Targets for 2026-27 NBA Season
The Los Angeles Lakers have invested heavily in their roster for the coming season, both in contracts (Austin Reaves, Walker Kessler, Quentin Grimes, Sandro Mamukelashvili) and in draft compensation to acquire Kessler from the Utah Jazz (multiple first-round picks). The team needs to be very good this season because it lacks the means to improve significantly via trade. Outside of one full first-round pick swap in 2032 and three future seconds, the Lakers are spent.
Ranking Los Angeles Lakers' Top Trade Targets for 2026-27 NBA Season
1 day ago This was a team that finished with the third-worst record in the NBA and one that has won just 78 of 246 games (.317) over its last three seasons. The problem for the Brooklyn Nets is that the short-term future doesn’t look all that much better. Since the team’s experiment with Kevin Durant, Kyrie …
A Quick Catch Up Ahead of the Busy Season
NBA training camps open next week as the preseason begins! My workload will increase, and I'll post more regularly here on Substack. Next up, I want to dig into the NBA’s latest cap projections and what they mean for the 2027-28 season and the upcoming campaign.
Ranking 5 NBA teams with the worst salary-cap situations
NBA general managers often use the buzzword "optionality" to describe moves that preserve cap flexibility. Some teams, like the Brooklyn Nets, keep it for years as they navigate a difficult rebuild. Others, like the New York Knicks and Oklahoma City Thunder, build championship squads that get increasingly hard to keep together.
Ranking 5 NBA Teams With the Worst Salary-Cap Situations
NBA general managers often use the buzzword "optionality" to describe moves that preserve cap flexibility. Some teams, like the Brooklyn Nets, keep it for years as they navigate a difficult rebuild. Others, like the New York Knicks and Oklahoma City Thunder, build championship squads that get increasingly hard to keep together.
Ranking the Top 10 NBA Free Agents Available as 2026-27 Season Kicks Off
Kevin Love In a flurry of transactions, the 30 NBA teams sent their final opening-night rosters to the league. With each of the 30 teams permitted 15 standard contracts and three two-way deals, about 519 players are under contract, leaving roughly 21 combined roster openings. About 25 standard contracts, along with every two-way deal, are not yet fully guaranteed. Those roster openings represent opportunities for the top remaining free agents, including several who didn't make this week's cut.
Ranking Top NBA Free Agents Available Ahead of 2026-27 Season
2025-26 Salary: $6.5 million Rights: Full (restricted) Along with MVP candidate Cade Cunningham, Duren has emerged over the last two years as a true game-changer in Detroit. He's grown on both sides of the floor, especially defensively on a very stingy Pistons squad. Named to the All-NBA Third Team and a first-time All-Star, Duren averaged a career-high of 19.5 points a game for the best team in the Eastern Conference by record (60-22).
Kawhi Leonard Skated and That’s OK
Let’s dig into that Clippers verdict, which features a massive penalty for the LA Clippers and the absolute slightest slap on the wrist for Kawhi Leonard, as reasonably possible, and that’s OK. Before we jump in, this is Pablo Torre’s story. As a journalist, in contentious times when the profession is facing significant hurdles, I have tremendous respect for Torre’s work leading to the Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz (“Wachtell”) report on September 2.
Contract Predictions for NBA's Best Extension-Eligible Players
Anthony Black, Orlando Magic The Orlando Magic have invested heavily in a roster designed to win now, yet the team has struggled to stay healthy enough to go deep into the playoffs. With investments in Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner, Desmond Bane, Jalen Suggs and Wendell Carter Jr., this tax-adverse franchise may not have the flexibility to compensate Anthony Black before the October deadline adequately. Black has great size for a guard, defends, and has grown significantly as a scorer.
Semi-Predicting the Cavaliers/Watson Resolution
My story went live on Wednesday morning at Bleacher Report: 3-Team NBA Trade Idea After Cleveland Cavaliers’ Failed LeBron James Pursuit. Later that day, news broke that the Denver Nuggets and Cavaliers were executing two of the three legs in my trade concept. The final iteration included the LA Clippers, Washington Wizards, and Charlotte Hornets—my suggested Memphis Grizzlies sat this one out.
Ranking Top 2026 NBA Free Agents Still Available After James Harden Re-Signs with Cavaliers
The 2026 free-agent period has seen a whirlwind of action so far, with multiple stars changing teams and available players flying off the board. LeBron Watch 4.0 concluded July 24 when The King said he'd be joining the 76ers. Jaylen Brown is joining James in Philadelphia, while Kawhi Leonard is headed back to Toronto. And that's just scratching the surface of the market. On the free-agent front, Walker Kessler is headed to the Lakers in a sign-and-trade, as L.A. made a flurry of moves.
Which Teams Do/Don't Spend $? (2026 Edition)
With much consternation over aprons and the like, it’s vital to note that NBA teams may be more gun-shy about luxury taxes than the upper-echelon penalties for spending above the second apron. The 2023 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) lowered the first tax tiers, but raised the price for the higher spenders, while also doubling the repeater tax rate. From talking to executives with multiple NBA teams, the aprons are inconvenient, but heavy repeater taxes are the real disincentive.
3-Team NBA Trade Idea After Cleveland Cavaliers' Failed LeBron James Pursuit
Why the Memphis Grizzlies Do It In addition to getting "a pretty man" (per Charles Barkley), the Grizzlies add a capable all-around guard/forward in Strus. For a rebuilding team, the 30-year-old represents a valuable veteran leader to put around rookie No. 3 pick Cameron Boozer. With the NBA's new lottery system, teams have an incentive to avoid the bottom of the standings. In the competitive Western Conference, Memphis needs to field a reasonably viable squad.
Lakers Sold, Again?!?!
Our dog, Bailey, woke me up early on Wednesday. Normally, I fall back asleep pretty easily. Of course, I have to check my phone first for anything pressing. Props to ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne for breaking the huge story that Josh Kushner and Bob Iger have agreed to purchase the majority stake in the Lakers from Mark Walter for $12.5 billion. It’s a remarkable turn of events, given the sale to Walter just went through less than a year ago from the Buss family.
Celebrating "Mamba"
Last week, I was fortunate to visit Nike’s “The Art of Obsession” at LA Live, leading into the Mamba Invitational.
How a 4-Team Blockbuster NBA Trade Can Land Jonathan Kuminga with the Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers have revamped their lineup, parting ways with LeBron James to build around All-Star Luka Dončić. While the roster looks intriguing, the starting power forward spot is questionable. To remedy, the Lakers have looked into acquiring Atlanta Hawks free agent Jonathan Kuminga. The challenge is that Los Angeles has used all of its spending tools and is wholly reliant on the Hawks sending Kuminga via sign-and-trade, in a deal the 23-year-old forward must also agree to.
Visited PLYRS UNTD's New Los Angeles Practice Facility
On Monday, I got to visit PLYRS UNTD’s new gym, formerly the site of the LA Clippers’ practice facility in Playa Vista before they moved to Inglewood. PLYRS UNTD, an arm of the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA), saw an opportunity to provide a scarce resource in Los Angeles: quality court time. As huge as L.A. is, finding a viable training facility has rarely been easy.
5 NBA free agents who surprisingly still don't have a team
Over a month into NBA free agency, several big names are still looking for homes. As rosters fill up and teams run out of spending tools, the market may not improve before training camps start to gather near the end of September. Why, then, have these players been left out in the cold so far? Jonathan Kuminga (1 of 5) Kuminga and the Golden State Warriors weren't on the same page when he hit restricted free agency in 2025, compromising on a two-year deal with a team option for 2026-27.
Top 3 Los Angeles Lakers targets to finalize 2026-27 NBA roster
The Los Angeles Lakers have moved on from LeBron James to enter the Luka Dončić era. The front office has fielded an intriguing roster around Dončić, but the forward positions remain somewhat nebulous. If guard Quentin Grimes joins the starting group alongside Austin Reaves, Walker Kessler, and Dončić, who is the ideal fifth at power forward?
5 NBA Free Agents Who Surprisingly Still Don't Have a Team
Jonathan Kuminga Kuminga and the Golden State Warriors weren't on the same page when he hit restricted free agency in 2025, compromising on a two-year deal with a team option for 2026-27. Soon after, the Warriors dealt Kuminga to the Atlanta Hawks, where he averaged 13.7 points through a hard-fought six-game series against the New York Knicks. Still, the Hawks declined Kuminga's option, freeing over $24 million from the team's cap sheet.
NBA Trade Exceptions (as of 7/27/26)
It’s time for a refresh with many of the offseason moves behind us. I anticipate we’ll have multiple trades before opening night, but here’s the current list of NBA Traded Player Exceptions as of today. Note that exceptions cannot be combined. Teams below the first apron can take in up to $250,000 more than the exception. In cases where it’s relevant, IAHC indicates the use of the trade exception triggers a first-apron hard cap.
Ranking Top Available NBA Free Agents After LeBron James Chooses 76ers
Honorable Mentions Cam Thomas was recently let go by the Brooklyn Nets and Milwaukee Bucks. So too was Jaden Ivey by the Chicago Bulls and Cole Anthony by the Phoenix Suns. Ben Simmons never found a home through the 2025-26 season. Bradley Beal has opted out of his final year with the LA Clippers, while the Kings have waived DeMar DeRozan. Others include Brandon Williams, Ochai Agbaji, Jeremy Sochan, AJ Lawson and Aaron Holiday.
Ranking Top NBA Free Agents While We Await LeBron James' Decision
Honorable Mentions Cam Thomas was recently let go by the Brooklyn Nets and Milwaukee Bucks. So too was Jaden Ivey by the Chicago Bulls and Cole Anthony by the Phoenix Suns. Ben Simmons never found a home through the 2025-26 season. Bradley Beal has opted out of his final year with the LA Clippers, while the Kings have waived DeMar DeRozan. Others include Brandon Williams, Ochai Agbaji, Jeremy Sochan, AJ Lawson and Aaron Holiday.
Top 3 Los Angeles Lakers Targets To Finalize 2026-27 NBA Roster
De'Andre Hunter As suggested by California Post's Khobi Price, Hunter of the Sacramento Kings could be a viable fallback option for the Lakers at forward. The Kings acquired Hunter ahead of the trade deadline in February from the Cleveland Cavaliers. Still, the price was relatively low in players they didn't intend to retain (Dennis Schröder, Keon Ellis, and Dario Šarić), plus a relatively weak 2029 second-round pick. Sacramento was among the worst teams in the NBA last season.
Grading Los Angeles Lakers' Offseason Moves So Far After Deandre Ayton Trade
Moving on From LeBron, Whoever Made the Choice 7 of 7 The Lakers needed to let the James Era come to a close. His still-brilliant skill set could help the team get to a certain point, but the priority must be maximizing the Dončić era, and that doesn't include LeBron. Did the Lakers execute the best version of that? The roster holes are glaring, especially on the wing, at backup center, and in overall defensive ability.
Happy NBA New Year 2026-27 (plus Cap Figures)
As I write this, it’s New Year’s Eve with the clock ticking down, Eastern Time, to midnight for NBA New Year’s Day 2026-27. The NBA and its partner, the NBPA (National Basketball Players Association), have completed their audit of the prior year’s books and set the upcoming salary cap and the numbers that teams and agents need to work with. The salary cap came in just slightly lower than the league’s last $165 million projection at an official number of $164,961,000.
The Sign-and-Trade Idea To Send LeBron James Home to Cleveland
Why the Cleveland Cavaliers Do It 2 of 3 Cleveland was the second-best team in the East. Still, competitors like the Detroit Pistons, Boston Celtics, and Indiana Pacers will all be coming for the Knicks, let alone the Cavaliers. The team needs to improve, especially with Donovan Mitchell eligible for an extension this summer. At its core, the Cavaliers must believe they've hit a wall with the Evan Mobley/Jarrett Allen pairing and are highly motivated to bring James home to finish his career.
Ranking the Top 55 Players Available In 2026 NBA Free Agency
The NBA postseason proved even the top contenders need to improve to compete-or stay-at the highest level. With the NBA draft behind us, teams are already knocking players off the list like Austin Reaves with the Los Angeles Lakers, Trae Young with the Washington Wizards, and Isaiah Hartenstein with the Oklahoma City Thunder. Very few teams have true spending power with a projected salary cap of $165 million.
A Pair of LeBron S&T Ideas for the LA Lakers
This time of year is a bit overwhelming in the best way possible. I’ve been prepping, processing, writing, consulting, etc., ahead of free agency. I went to the LA Clippers for both nights of the NBA Draft and visited the Lakers to hear from Cameron Carr. I have more details, but not the time to share them currently. I did want to send links to a pair of three-team trade concepts on Bleacher Report that reroute LeBron James to either the Miami Heat or the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Ranking the Top 57 Players Available In 2026 NBA Free Agency
The NBA postseason proved even the top contenders need to improve to compete-or stay-at the highest level. With the NBA draft behind us, teams are already knocking players off the list like Austin Reaves with the Los Angeles Lakers, Trae Young with the Washington Wizards, and Isaiah Hartenstein with the Oklahoma City Thunder. Very few teams have true spending power with a projected salary cap of $165 million.
A Feel-Good 3-Team Sign-and-Trade Idea Where Lakers and LeBron Both Win
Why the New Orleans Pelicans Do It 4 of 4 The intel from competing executives and player agents indicates the Pelicans are currently focused on building around Zion Williamson, Derik Queen and Jeremiah Fears. New leadership under Joe Dumars and Troy Weaver is willing to move on from legacy players. The asking price, however, is believed to be sky-high with three firsts for Murphy, two for Herb Jones, and at least one for Yves Missi.
A 3-Team Trade Idea to Pair LeBron, Giannis in Miami and Land Lakers a Center
Why the Los Angeles Lakers Do It 3 of 4 The Lakers have indicated to other teams that they're looking for a starting center. The franchise had previously tried to acquire Kessler from the Jazz to no avail. He missed most of last season, but is a strong rim protector with legitimate size. Is he worth two first-round picks? That's going to polarize fans, but it's likely the asking price for Utah, which has reached a stalemate with Kessler for now.
Draft Eve!
The NBA Draft is happening! It’s one of the watershed events in the NBA calendar, rivaling even the trade deadline in transaction volume. Some deals may need to wait until July 6, after the annual moratorium, but Tuesday (and Wednesday) should be wild. Already, “minor” transactions are dropping, including an agreed-upon trade of Aaron Wiggins from the Oklahoma City Thunder to the Atlanta Hawks (per Shams Charania of ESPN).
How a Surprise Team Could Win the Giannis Antetokounmpo Trade Sweepstakes
Why the Orlando Magic Do It 2 of 3 It's not complicated. The Magic add one of the NBA's best players to play alongside 2022 No. 1 overall pick Paolo Banchero. While the pairing with Wagner has helped the Magic become a playoff regular for the last three seasons, the franchise hasn't advanced past the first round since the Dwight Howard era in 2010. The Bucks might prefer Banchero in the deal, but the Magic seem fully committed to the Duke forward.
Ranking Top Landing Spots for LeBron James During 2026 NBA Offseason
1. Cleveland Cavaliers 5 of 5 The best fit for James is also the most complicated one. "Just a kid from Akron" goes home to end where he began. James joined the Cavaliers in 2003 as the No. 1 overall pick, leading the team to the NBA Finals in 2007. After a stretch in Miami with the Heat, he rejoined the Cavs for a four-year battle against Steph Curry and the Golden State Warriors, finally winning a championship for the franchise in 2016.
We're In it Now (2026-27)
Technically, the 2025-26 season continues through June 30. New Year’s Day is July 1 for the 2026-27 campaign, but functionally, we’re already in the offseason with the New York Knicks aptly celebrating a tremendous win. I thoroughly enjoyed the NBA’s postseason, and the Knicks were a worthy champion. I had the San Antonio Spurs getting it done, but New York proved me wrong. As noted, I don’t mind being incorrect on picks. On paper, the Spurs probably win, but the game isn’t played on paper.
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