NBA: Lakers strengthen the inside, 15-man roster is released, Nuggets are happy and sad, Rockets lay off employees

NBA free market continues, and the operating boom of each team gradually fades away. There are not many high-quality players in the remaining free market, and the teams of each team are also planning subsequent operations or potential transactions. In this way, the teams in the free market do not have many moves. But earlier, the Lakers, Nuggets, Rockets and other teams still had operations. At the same time, there was news that was not very good for the Nuggets. NBA: The Lakers strengthened the inside, the 15-man roster was released, the Nuggets were happy and worried, and the Rockets lay off employees.

European media BasketNews reported that the source said that Valanciunas, who had fought for 13 seasons, is about to leave the NBA and join the Greek giant Panasinakos! It is reported that Panasinacos has issued a three-year contract of 12 million euros for Valan. Valan's current NBA contract is only a guarantee contract for the 25-26 season, with an amount of US$10.4 million. The Nuggets hold the team options in the 26-27 season. Valan may seek to buy out his contract to join Panasinakos.

Previously, the King traded Valan to the Nuggets for Saric. Since the deal was not officially announced, the Nuggets are currently trying to persuade Valan to stay in the NBA instead of returning to Europe. The current situation will not affect the deal between the Kings and the Nuggets about Valan for Saric alone. Whether Valan can be kept depends on the discussion between the Nuggets management and him.

They also have good news for the Nuggets, that is, they got an assistant coach. ESPN famous reporter Shams Charania reported that Andy Miller of Klutch Sports revealed to ESPN that Dallas Mavericks assistant coach Dudley is about to reach an agreement with the Denver Nuggets to become the chief assistant coach under Nuggets coach David Adelman. This is good news for the Nuggets. After all, there are still vacancies in the team's coaching seat, and Dudley's arrival can further improve them. The Rockets have successively operated to supplement the lineup. It can be said that the goal is aimed at the championship. Of course, their operations are not over, and there is still a shortage of backcourt positions. According to famous reporter Shams, the Rockets are expected to cut center Landale. Landale's contract guarantee date for next season is July 8, and the Rockets cut Landale before that, who will become a free agent after passing the clarification period. Landare's salary for the 2025-26 season is an insured $8 million. In this way, the Rockets have freed up some of their salary space, and there will inevitably be other operations in the future. After the Lakers signed with Ayton, their inside line still needs to seek further adjustments. There are reports that the Lakers are actively chasing Horford; but earlier they reached a signing with Hayes, and Hayes returned to the Lakers and will partner with Ayton to join the Lakers inside. Last season, Hayes was the team's main center, averaging 6.8 points and 4.8 rebounds per game, and his shooting percentage was a career high of 72.2%. According to the labor agreement, since the 2025-26 season will be Hayes' third season with the Lakers, he will get his own bird rights after the season, so in the new season he will have the veto power of the trade (to protect his bird rights from being destroyed by the trade).

In this way, the Lakers' 15-man roster has been released. They are Doncic, Vincent, Brownie; Reeves, Kneckett, Goodwin, Milton; Hachimura, Laravia, Thiero; James, Vanderbilt; Ayton, Hays, and Cleber. Among them, Milton's 3 million contract is insured, and the Lakers will determine whether to turn it into a guarantee contract before July 20. For them, they also need to make further adjustments to the lineup at the wing forward position and look forward to subsequent transactions. The offseason is still going on, and each team will still seek further supplements and adjustments. For example, Durant's trade has been expanded to 7 teams, and it is still being discussed. If it is reached, it will be the largest deal in NBA history. In addition, the Warriors have not yet operated, and they are expected to adjust their lineup in the future, looking forward to subsequent strengthening and trading.