US media predicts the 5 most regrettable moves this summer: LeBron James chooses the 76ers, Lakers overpay for Kessler

On July 29 Beijing time, the craziest NBA offseason ever? The 2026 offseason is fully qualified to compete for that title. Whether it is LeBron James joining the 76ers on a veteran minimum, Giannis Antetokounmpo leaving the Bucks after 13 years, the shocking trade of Brown and George, or a host of stars changing teams (LaMelo Ball! Ja Morant! Kawhi Leonard likely also switching teams!), the endless stream of blockbuster moves leaves us dazzled.

Of course, not all trades will ultimately yield ideal results. Whether it's controversial big contracts, overpriced sign-and-trades, or blockbuster superstar trades, when people look back on the summer of 2026, US media Bleacher Report predicts that the following five moves will become the most regrettable decisions for teams and players.

Wizards sign Trae Young for $53.2 million per year

The framework of this signing was basically finalized before Trae Young was traded by the Hawks. The Washington Wizards officially offered Trae Young a 4-year, $212.8 million contract. The contract includes a player option for the final year plus a 7.5% trade kicker.

This is already the maximum salary offer that other external teams could give to Trae Young, even though in fact no team was willing to give such a high salary to this 27-year-old point guard.

Trae Young is perhaps the worst defensive player in the league, and opponents will target him whenever they get a chance. Although he has outstanding passing talent and offensive threat, his career overall shooting percentage is only 43.3% and his three-point percentage is 35.2%.

This season, when Trae Young played, the Hawks had a record of just 2-8; after sending him away, the team's record soared. The Hawks went 44-28 without Trae Young, which should have made the Wizards think twice before signing him.

The Wizards, eager to return to contention, not only offered a 30% salary cap max contract to sign Trae Young but also traded for Anthony Davis. This set of moves is both reckless and shortsighted. If they later give Davis a huge extension, the consequences will be disastrous.

Apart from passing, Trae Young has no other All-Star level abilities, and he is the biggest defensive liability in the league. This contract worth over $200 million will only become more undesirable over time.

Celtics send out Brown, get back George and draft picks

Jaylen Brown being traded is not surprising. But this 2024 Finals MVP, at a time when his value should be at its peak, was used to exchange for arguably the worst contract in the league, two first-round picks/pick swaps plus two second-round picks. This is undoubtedly the biggest shock of the 2026 offseason.

When Shams broke this trade, many people's first reaction was that the news was wrong. People couldn't help guessing: Were there missing assets? VJ Edgecombe? Two more first-round picks?

This is arguably the worst move in the NBA since the Luka Doncic trade.

George's salary this season is $54.1 million, and he holds a $56.6 million player option for the 2027-28 season, when he will be 37 years old. After joining the 76ers, he played only 78 games in two years due to injuries and suspensions, averaging just 16.7 points on 43.4% shooting.

Brown's salary is certainly generous, but this season he only makes $3.6 million more than George. This trade is not a salary dump, and the draft assets received are also unattractive.

For years, there have been rumors that the Celtics would eventually break up the Tatum-Brown duo, but after winning the championship in 2024, those rumors gradually subsided. No one can understand why Stevens chose to act now and only got such a return.

A core consisting of Tatum, George, 32-year-old Derrick White, and Payton Pritchard is simply not a championship contender. In an Eastern Conference that has improved overall, the Celtics may only be able to fight for first-round home-court advantage. After this terrible trade, their championship dreams have basically evaporated.

Lakers pay a huge price to acquire Kessler

Kessler theoretically fits well with Doncic and Reaves. But the price the Los Angeles Lakers paid for this center was too high, which directly locks them into a mediocre Western Conference roster for years to come.

The Lakers and Jazz completed a sign-and-trade, sending Kessler to Los Angeles. The 25-year-old center signed a 4-year, $129.5 million contract. The contract includes a player option for the final year and a 15% trade kicker. Looking at the contract itself, it's not a big problem. As long as Kessler stays healthy, occupying 18% of the salary cap (about $32 million per year) is a price both sides can accept.

The real danger lies in the draft assets. The Lakers already had few future picks. They had previously sent away their 2027 and 2029 first-round picks. To get Kessler, Rob Pelinka's team agreed to send unprotected 2031 and 2033 first-round picks.

The cost doesn't stop there.

Just two unprotected future first-round picks are already outrageous (even more than the 76ers gave up for Brown). The Jazz additionally received the Lakers' 2028 and 2030 first-round pick swap rights. This means the Lakers have only the 2032 first-round pick swap right and three future second-round picks left.

If the big three of Doncic, Reaves, and Kessler cannot break through the encirclement of the Thunder, Spurs, and other Western Conference powerhouses (which is very likely), Pelinka will have no draft assets left to improve the roster.

Such a high price should have been used to acquire an All-Star center in his prime, not a rotational player who only played 5 games last season due to a labrum tear.

Given their own salary cap situation, the Lakers should have pursued players like Hartenstein, Mitchell Robinson, and Robert Williams III in free agency. These players eventually signed much cheaper contracts and didn't require any future draft assets.

Giannis trade (Both Heat and Bucks lose)

The Giannis trade feels off everywhere.

The timing is not right. The Bucks should have decisively moved the two-time MVP last offseason. Now the team is still saddled with $90 million in dead money from the Lillard and Turner contracts. Sending away Giannis, completely clearing cap space, and focusing on developing Ware would be the Bucks' best option.

For the Heat, it's also awkward: they gutted their roster for a star who is about to start his 14th season and hasn't won an MVP in six years. Giannis has persistent calf injuries, playing only 36 games last season, and has not been healthy enough to get past the first round of the playoffs since 2022.

This trade will also affect Giannis' legacy. Just a few months ago, he was posting about it on social media, even though everyone expected this day would come.

The Heat's subsequent offseason moves are also controversial.

The loss of Powell in free agency hasn't been discussed enough. Powell was the perfect backcourt fit alongside Giannis and Adebayo, and he made the All-Star team last season. He joined the Bulls for a bigger contract, but the Heat originally had a chance to keep him.

Under the structure of the Giannis and Portis trades, the Heat's salary is hard-capped in the first apron. If they had finalized a long-term extension for Wiggins earlier, they could have freed up space to retain Powell.

The Heat lost Powell, while also sending away Herro, Ware, Jaquez, Jakucionis, three first-round picks, and more draft assets, in exchange for a star with prominent injury concerns who is entering the twilight of his career. The cost is too heavy.

The Bucks must already regret facilitating this trade, and the Heat will likely regret it as well in the future.

LeBron James chooses to join the 76ers

LeBron James' decision to join the 76ers still feels wrong, and he will likely regret this choice in the future.

Undeniably, this team is loaded with talent. Brown is a huge upgrade over George; Embiid, when healthy, is one of the hardest players to contain in the league; Maxey just finished an All-NBA season.

But aside from Maxey, the rest of the roster is filled with too much uncertainty, not worth LeBron entrusting the final years of his career here.

Embiid has played only 38, 19, and 39 games in the past three regular seasons respectively. He got injured again when the 2026 playoffs started. Although he had four solid games to help the team eliminate the Celtics, he was exhausted and swept by the Knicks in the second round. No one can guarantee that this 32-year-old player can stay healthy through two months of four rounds of high-intensity playoffs.

In recent years, Embiid's paper value has far exceeded his actual on-court production. His contract averaging $62.4 million per year over the next three years might be one of the worst contracts in the league.

The pairing of LeBron and Brown also has serious compatibility issues. The 2024 Finals MVP had the second-highest usage rate (36.2%) and field goal attempts per game in the league last season, requiring a lot of ball handling. If LeBron is reduced to a 3-and-D player (he hasn't played high-intensity defense in the regular season for years), it would be a waste of his abilities, especially since Embiid and Maxey also need the ball. LeBron should have had a more suitable destination, where other teams either have more durable core teammates or can give him a clearer and simpler offensive role.

Changing teams multiple times at the end of a career is usually not conducive to solidifying one's legacy. When people mention Jordan playing for the Wizards or Shaq wearing a Celtics jersey, they are generally seen as blemishes on their careers.

If he could lead the 76ers to a championship, it would undoubtedly add to his legacy. But the roster fit issues combined with Embiid's persistent injuries will ultimately kill any hope of LeBron finishing his career in Philadelphia with a championship.