Luka’s Intense Offseason Makeover Sparks $222M Extension & Trade Rumors

The Miami Heat explored, then shelved, a proposed swap sending Terry Rozier to Washington for Marcus Smart, according to Jake Fischer of The Stein Line. Heat executives couldn't agree that Smart would be a clear upgrade over Rozier, who enters a contract year paying $26.6 million in 2025–26.

Beyond Miami, the Atlanta Hawks and Milwaukee Bucks also inquired about Smart's availability. Atlanta eyed his $22 million expiring deal against a traded-player exception, while Milwaukee discussed packaging Pat Connaughton's $9.4 million expiring contract. With no trade materializing, Washington bought out Smart on July 19, enabling him to sign with the Los Angeles Lakers.

Los Angeles is quietly targeting one more impact wing and veteran shooting as it finalizes a revamped 2025–26 roster. A proposed mock trade with Brooklyn for Terance Mann would swap Gabe Vincent, Maxi Kleber and a 2032 second-round pick, adding a 6-5 perimeter stopper who shot 36.8% from three while averaging 7.7 points last season.

Meanwhile, with Kevin Love on an expiring $4.1 million deal and expected to seek a big-market landing spot after a Utah buyout, fans and insiders are urging a reunion alongside LeBron James. Such low-cost moves could provide consistency on defense and shooting depth without jeopardizing cap flexibility.

Bronny James, entering his second season with the Los Angeles Lakers, has spent the past two years navigating the aftermath of a congenital heart defect and on-court scrutiny. After suffering cardiac arrest during his freshman year at USC and undergoing emergency surgery that left a six-inch chest scar, he now battles lingering immune issues that can derail hard-earned conditioning.

Despite a scoreless "welcome to the NBA" debut in Philadelphia, James treated setbacks like equations to solve—logging extra gym time, film study and body work under G League coach Zach Guthrie. His final seven G League games yielded 22.8 points, 5.6 assists and 5.1 rebounds, while Summer League flashes—like a thunderous dunk off a Miami steal and lockdown defense against New Orleans rookie Jeremiah Fears—have validated his daily deposit approach to growth.

Los Angeles – Following a first-round exit in April, Luka Dončić has unveiled a dramatically leaner physique that has reverberated through NBA front offices. His cover-story regimen in Men's Health—anchored by 16-hour intermittent fasting, a gluten- and sugar-free diet and 250 grams of protein daily—arrived alongside reports that the Mavericks briefly considered moving him instead of offering a blank-check extension.

Key regimen highlights:

• Morning fasted, 90-minute workouts to reduce inflammation


• Meals between noon and 8 PM, rich in lean proteins, healthy fats and anti-inflammatories


• Cross-training in pickleball, padel, resistance bands and sprint-hurdle drills

With two years and a player option remaining, Los Angeles is expected to finalize a four-year, $222 million extension on August 2, even as trade buzz swirls around his retooled frame.

STAMFORD, Conn.— Hall of Famer and seven-time All-Star Tracy McGrady will join NBC Sports as an NBA studio analyst beginning this fall, coinciding with the league's return to NBC and its debut on Peacock for the 2025–26 season. McGrady, who played 16 NBA seasons and was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2017, will appear one or more nights per week in Studio 1 alongside fellow Hall of Famers Carmelo Anthony and Vince Carter, under hosts Maria Taylor and Ahmed Fareed.

Key Details:

• Season Start: Oct. 21, 2025 on NBC and Peacock


• Role: Studio analyst through regular season and playoffs


• Broadcast Team: Features analysts Reggie Miller, Grant Hill and Jamal Crawford; play-by-play voices include Mike Tirico and Noah Eagle