LeBron James, Giannis, Kawhi - What's Next for NBA's Top Stars in 2026?

The NBA playoffs are in full swing, with multiple teams vying for the conference finals, but the league's top stars are already looking to the offseason.

NBA Playoffs: What's Next for LeBron James? The New York Knicks and Oklahoma City Thunder have punched their tickets to the conference finals, while the Cleveland Cavaliers and San Antonio Spurs have opportunities to join the league's final four on Friday night. The NBA draft combine is taking place in Chicago, where the league's annual convention serves as a clearing house for prospects hoping to begin their NBA careers. Discussions about offseason moves, including trades and free agency, are also underway. One topic of discussion is the future of LeBron James, who has been playing for the Los Angeles Lakers. James is 41 years old and will turn 42 in September, but he is still playing at an elite level. He was an All-Star and would have made the All-NBA team if he had played five more games. The Lakers paid James $52 million this season, and he was a key factor in their success down the stretch. One Eastern Conference team strategist told that by their metrics, James remains a top-25 player in the league, and if he were not 41, they would assess him as a near-max player. However, it is highly unlikely that any outside team would be willing to offer James a contract. Signing him wouldn't make sense for teams with big cap space, and James would likely have a short list of preferred destinations that aren't in position to have significant cap space this summer. The Lakers may bid against themselves when making James an offer, but an East executive said, 'I'd pay LeBron whatever he wants as long as it's a one-year deal, no player option. Give him the no-trade clause.' The executive noted that LeBron sells tickets and keeps the local TV partner happy, re-signing him is good business. ## 76ers: What Should They Do This Summer? The Philadelphia 76ers are in a challenging position to find improvement outside of hoping for better health. The team is facing key losses with Kelly Oubre Jr. and Quentin Grimes headed for unrestricted free agency. One West executive said, 'Run it back, load manage Joel [Embiid] as much as they can, be a playoff team and try to stay healthy.' The executive noted that the team has a strong young core with Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe, who have formed arguably the most exciting backcourt in the league. The team is also facing financial challenges, with Embiid owed roughly $190 million over the next three seasons and Paul George owed $110 million over the next two. It doesn't make sense for the team to pay a heavy cost in assets to dump either veteran star now. ## Clippers: What Should They Do with Kawhi Leonard? The Los Angeles Clippers are facing a decision on what to do with Kawhi Leonard, who has one season remaining on his contract at $50 million. Leonard is coming off a likely All-NBA-worthy season, averaging 28 points on 51% shooting and playing in 65 games. One East executive said, 'Every day you hear about what's going to happen with Giannis [Antetokounmpo], but everyone ignores that Kawhi has been better and healthier over the last two seasons.' However, the team is facing an investigation for possible salary cap circumvention, which leaves Leonard's short-term future somewhat up in the air. The team might want to keep Leonard on their books, especially given his current performance. A West executive said, 'Them getting the No. 5 pick in the draft is the piece of information they've been waiting for. At the very least, you'd expect them to have some fresh conversations to assess his [trade] value.' ## Bucks: What Will Happen with Giannis Antetokounmpo? The Milwaukee Bucks are facing a decision on what to do with Giannis Antetokounmpo, who has one year remaining on his contract plus a player option. The team is facing financial challenges, with Antetokounmpo's contract set to expire in 2027. One East executive said, 'It just feels like they're done with the circus, more than anything. They seem to want a clean break and to move on.' The team is likely to keep Antetokounmpo, who is a top-five player in his prime. The Bucks and Antetokounmpo would both benefit from getting aligned, and the team has made it clear that a trade is absolutely possible. The NBA will likely approve the '3-2-1' lottery system later this month, which will give as many as 18 teams a realistic chance of winning the No. 1 pick. This could impact star player trades, such as a potential Antetokounmpo deal. ## Pistons: Negotiations Between Jalen Duren and Ausar Thompson The Detroit Pistons are facing a challenging negotiation with Jalen Duren, who will be a restricted free agent on June 30. Duren has been ineffective in the postseason, with his scoring, rebounding, and efficiency plummeting from what was a spectacular breakout regular season. He averaged 23 points and 11 rebounds on 68% shooting after the All-Star break. The team is facing financial challenges, with Cade Cunningham already on a well-earned supermax contract at $270 million over five years. One East executive said, 'He's not a max player, but they're probably going to have to give him the max. Because now [cap space] teams like Chicago or Brooklyn might see him as someone they could get with a max offer sheet and Detroit will have to match.'