We’ve made it past the Fourth of July, and the pace of NBA free agency has slowed dramatically. We have already seen most of the big names come off the board, as well as Michael Porter Jr. being traded to Brooklyn, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander getting the largest contract in NBA history, and the Thunder’s Jalen Williams needing surgery on his wrist. Some teams didn’t wait for free agency to start before making their moves — Kevin Durant is now a Houston Rocket and they are all-in on winning next season; Desmond Bane is in Orlando already, where he is an underrated fit with an up-and-coming Magic team.
In this tracker, we will give you all the latest signings, trades, rumors, and reports all in one place (all in order of when they happened, with the most recent news on top). This is a brief synopsis with initial thoughts on any deals; follow the links to view a more detailed analysis.
Indiana to re-sign James Wiseman
The Indiana Pacers intend to re-sign center James Wiseman as depth at the five, the team’s GM Kevin Pritchard said Monday.
The Pacers signed Wiseman to a two-year contract last summer, but then he tore his Achilles in the first game of the regular season. At the deadline he was traded to the Raptors, who waived him. The Pacers can re-sign him to a minimum deal, and Wiseman should be healthy for the start of the season. He is still just 24 and could be a fit behind Jay Huff, who the Pacers traded for this offseason to be a stretch five now that Myles Turner is in Milwaukee.
In that same press conference, Pritchard confirmed that Tyrese Haliburton will not play next season after tearing his Achilles in Game 7 of the NBA Finals.
Powell to Heat, Collins to Clippers in three-team trade
Miami picks up some scoring punch off the bench, the LA Clippers get bigger across the front line and Utah gets a second-round pick. That’s the upshot of a three-team trade, broken Monday morning by Shams Charania of ESPN. The deal shakes out like this:
Miami receives: Norman Powell
LA Clippers receive: John Collins
Utah receives: Kevin Love, Kyle Anderson, a 2027 Clippers second-round pick
This is a win for Miami, which adds backcourt scoring punch off next Tyler Herro (Powell likely starts at the two and Davion Mitchell will come off the bench, but Powell and Mitchell could switch roles depending on matchups). Powell averaged 21.8 points a game for the Clippers last season, shooting 41.8% from beyond the arc. He can play off the ball (a 62% eFG% last season on spot-ups), who can put the ball on the floor and drive, and is a plus defender on the other end of the court. The Heat get that and give up two guys not in the heart of their rotation in Love and Anderson.
The Clippers get bigger across the front line, with Kawhi Leonard now at the three and the lob threat that is Collins at the four who James Harden can play off of. Collins averaged 19 points and 8.2 assists a game last season and can shoot inside (62% of his shot attempts last season came inside 10 feet) but can space the floor, shooting 39.9% from 3 on 3.7 attempts a game. A front line of Kawhi Leonard, John Collins, and Ivica Zubac is one of the best in the league.
The Jazz will likely waive Love or flip him in another trade. Anderson likely sticks around as a veteran mentor on a young team, and the rebuilding Jazz get a pick. Collins was one of their key trade assets, and this doesn’t seem like much of a return.
Bradley Beal “exploring” options, talking buyout with Suns
Thursday, Duane Rankin of the Arizona Republic reported the Suns and Bradley Beal were talking about a potential buyout, a waive-and-stretch of the $110.8 million the former All-Star guard is owed over the next two years.
However, that buyout was never going to happen unless Beal had a new team and a new contract lined up and waiting for him. Right now, Beal is “actively exploring his options,” reports Marc Stein. While there are rumors of several landing spots, the Miami Heat are the loudest, but the Heat would likely want him on a minimum contract ($3.6 million because of his years of service), but Beal would need to give up $14 million or more to make it possible for the Suns to waive-and-stretch him (because of a rule saying only 15% of a team’s cap can be spent on waive-and-stretched players). Is Beal going to leave that money on the table to find a new home?
We should find out soon.
I expect a decision and resolution on Bradley Beal’s situation in the next 24-48 hours.
— John Gambadoro (@Gambo987) July 6, 2025
How much longer will Chris Paul play? “At the most, a year.”
Chris Paul, 40, is looking for a new NBA team next season, ideally one where he can start and be close to his family in Los Angeles. If he finds that team, expect it to be his final year in the league. Paul was interviewed American Black Film Festival and was asked how much longer he intends to play (hat tip Bleacher Report).
“At the most, a year. I just finished my 20th season, which is a blessing in itself. I’ve been in the NBA for more than half of my life, which is a blessing. But these years you do not get back with your kids, with your family.”
Paul started all 82 games for the Spurs last season, averaging 8.8 points and 7.4 assists per game with solid shooting numbers (58 true shooting percentage). The challenge is that most teams — especially teams in the West who are interested in him, like the Clippers — want him as a reserve. He wants to start and have a larger role. Paul is not going to rush into a decision, we’ll see how this plays out.
Bucks re-sign Ryan Rollins for three years, $12 million
Ryan Rollins has played his way onto the Bucks. Rollins started his career as a second-round pick of the Warriors, was traded to Washington in the Jordan Poole/Chris Paul swap, but never found a home there, and the Wizards waived him in January. A month later, the Bucks signed Rollins to a two-way contract, and after playing in that capacity for more than a year, in March, the Bucks converted Rollins to a standard NBA contract.
Now the Bucks have re-signed him for three years, $12 million, reports ESPN’s Shams Charania. The third year of that is a player option.
Rollins played in 56 games for Milwaukee but saw his minutes jump when Damian Lillard was out with a blood clot in his calf. After Lillard went down, Rollins averaged 10.8 points and 3.9 assists per game, playing more than 24 minutes a night. The 6'4" guard out of Toledo has put in the work and earned an NBA deal. Good for him.
Nuggets expect Valanciunas to honor contract
The Denver Nuggets got a massive short-term win trading for Jonas Valanciunas at the price of Dario Saric, a player out of their rotation. Valanciunas would be the best backup center of the Nikola Jokic era... except he had been talking with Greek powerhouse Panathinaikos about a return to Europe. Panathinaikos reportedly were willing to offer three years, $13 million, which would make him one of the highest-paid players in Europe.
Except Valanciunas is under contract for two more years in the NBA, he can’t just jump ship. The Nuggets informed Valanciunas’ representatives that “the franchise fully intends to have him honor his contract,” reports ESPN’s Shams Charania. If Denver is sticking to its guns, that ends the conversation. Under FIBA rules (the governing body of international basketball), a player under contract, such as Valanciunas, needs a FIBA “letter of clearance” to sign with another team. In practical terms, that would mean Valanciunas and the Nuggets would have to agree to a buyout, freeing him from the two years and $20.4 million remaining on his NBA deal.
Valanciunas is too valuable a player to Denver for the Nuggets to throw up their hands and walk away. He is a guy who can get Jokic more minutes of rest than he has seen in a while without the steep drop off (especially when he’s paired the improved roster depth the Nuggets added). Also, because Valanciunas is very adept at dribble handoffs and short midrange shots (inside 15 feet), the Nuggets don’t have to switch up their offensive scheme when Jokic is out.
Maybe after this season, Denver and Valanciunas work out a buyout, but the Nuggets upgraded this offseason and are serious contenders for another ring. They aren’t going to just let Valanciunas walk this year.
Kevin Durant to Houston trade expands to involve 7 teams
We have an NBA record trade.
The Kevin Durant trade to the Houston Rockets has evolved into a seven-team trade that involves other previously agreed-upon trades — mostly of draft picks — according to Fred Katz of The Athletic. This trade will be formally approved later today after the NBA’s free agency moratorium ends and the league officially approves the deal.
The NBA-record seven-team trade is agreed to, league sources tell @TheAthletic. The Rockets and Suns have expanded the Kevin Durant trade to include five other teams: ATL, BKN, GSW, LAL, MIN. The move will consolidate a bunch of previously agreed upon trades into one deal.
— Fred Katz (@fredkatz.bsky.social) 2025-07-06T15:34:28.221Z
Mutual interest between Lillard, Celtics?
After being bought out by the Bucks, Damian Lillard has all the control: Where he signs and when (and he can even take a serious discount to help a team out.
There is some level of mutual interest between him and the Celtics, reports Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe. That interest is sparked for Lillard because he has grown closer to Jayson Tatum in recent years. With Tatum and Lillard on similar recovery timelines, the idea would be for them to join forces, fully healthy, for the 2026-27 season. Don’t expect any of this to play out quickly, it’s going to be a drawn-out process, but this is something to watch.
Quentin Grimes, 76ers reportedly not near deal
Quentin Grimes broke out after being traded from Dallas to Philadelphia at the February deadline, averaging 21.9 points, 5.2 rebounds and 4.5 assists a game for the 76ers. Grimes is a restricted free agent (the 76ers can match any offer), and Philadelphia prioritized keeping him over retaining someone such as Guerschon Yabusele.
That doesn’t mean Grimes and Philly are close to a deal, reports Kelly Iko and Tony Jones at The Athletic.
To this point, there has been little to no movement with restricted free agent guard Quentin Grimes and the Philadelphia 76ers, league sources tell myself and @Tjonesonthenba. The two sides are hoping to continue communication in the coming days.
— Kelly Iko (@KellyIko) July 5, 2025
The problem is that Grimes is seeking a contract in the $25 million per season range. The 76ers are currently about $3 million under the luxury tax line, $9 million under the first apron and $21 million under the second apron, with a couple of other roster spots to fill out. This could drag on for a while.
Grizzlies trade center Jay Huff to Pacers for second-round picks
Watching Jay Huff warm up before a game this season, effortlessly sinking 3-pointer after 3-pointer, a scout casually said, “Most of the guards in the league wish they had his stroke.” He shot 40.5% from beyond the arc for the Grizzlies last season.
Which is why he will be a good fit for the Pacers. The Houston Rockets are trading Wells to Indiana for one second-round pick and a future second-round pick swap, a story broke by Shams Charania of ESPN. This is part of the Pacers’ efforts to add depth at center, and it’s a solid move for the Pacers, although Huff is not nearly as versatile as two-way player Myles Turner. Still, Huff could thrive next to Tyrese Haliburton, once Haliburton gets healthy.
The Grizzlies fill Huff’s role with just signed free agent center Jock Landale.
Rockets trade Cam Whitmore to Wizards for two second-round picks
Quietly, the Washington Wizards have had a nice offseason.
The latest strong move is trading for promising young forward Cam Whitmore. Houston is sending Whitmore to Washington for two second-round picks, a story broken by Shams Charania of ESPN. Whitmore has been caught in a logjam of talented forwards in Houston (a deep enough talent pool that Whitmore got more G-League time than he needed just trying to get him some run) but with the Wizards the minutes are there to grab. One thing to watch: In Houston, in part because he was trying so hard to shine in his minutes, Whitmore was not the best team player in the system — he was out to get his. With the Wizards, he needs to show the full package of what he can do.
For the Wizards, this likely means they are out of the Jonathan Kuminga sweepstakes, where they had at least had conversations with the Warriors.
For Houston, this is all about money. The Rockets are hard-capped at the first apron of the luxury tax (due to the Dorian Finney-Smith signing), and this move gets them below that line, with one roster spot to fill (which they can do at the minimum and still be below their cap).
Josh Giddey dug in on $30 million a year
Josh Giddey is No. 2 on our list of the best free agents still available, but there is no drama about where he is going to play next season, he will be a Bull. Giddey is a restricted free agent, meaning the Bulls can match any offer, but they don’t have to, as no team has the cap space to make Giddey a substantial offer.
However, the Bulls and Giddey have not come to an agreement on a new contract because he is dug in on wanting $30 million per year, reports Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times.
Bulls and Josh Giddey are having good dialogue, per a source, but the Giddey camp is dug in on the Suggs contract - $30 million per. Let the posturing continue.
— Joe Cowley (@JCowleyHoops) July 4, 2025
That’s the contract size the Magic gave Jalen Suggs and the Hawks gave Jalen Johnosbn last summer (both were five years, $150 million) and Giddey wants to be paid at that level. The Bulls don’t want to go that high and aren’t going to bid against themselves. This drama could drag on for a bit.
LeBron squashes rumors around Cleveland workout
LeBron James worked out recently at the Cleveland Cavaliers’ facility. That sparked a lot of speculation online as some fans in Cleveland — and some in the media — are trying to concoct a trade that sends LeBron back to Cleveland.
LeBron shot those trade rumors down.
And every summer since it was built. I live here still and train every summer. Got damn yall bored man! Go get a plate of food somewhere and enjoy the 4th of July!
— LeBron James (@KingJames) July 4, 2025
If only that’s what it took to squash trade rumors.
A LeBron return to Cleveland remains a long shot, league sources told NBC Sports. There are a lot of hurdles to clear to even come close to that deal, and we haven’t cleared the first one: LeBron has yet to request a trade anywhere. He has a no-trade clause in his contract, none of this starts without him asking out.
Teams have called about LeBron trade
NBA front offices are vultures. If they sense there is a carcass to pick apart — or in this case, a steal of a trade to be made — they start circling.
So, it should come as no surprise that a few front offices have contacted the Los Angeles Lakers, inquiring about a potential LeBron James trade, something reported by ESPN’s Tim Bontemps and Brian Windhorst.
A LeBron trade away from the Lakers is similar to a potential Giannis Antetokounmpo trade out of Milwaukee on a few fronts. The Lakers are only going to trade LeBron James if he demands it, and to this point, we know of no such demand. Second, where is LeBron going to go that is a better situation? He can stay in the West, but wherever he lands, he would have to deal with the defending champion Oklahoma City and its MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, an improved Houston Rockets with Kevin Durant, an improved Denver Nuggets (they added depth and shooting) with Nikola Jokic, Minnesota and Anthony Edwards (a team that just eliminated LeBron and the Lakers from the playoffs), and the list just keeps on going. He could demand a trade to the East, but to match the $52.6 million contract he opted into would likely gut teams trying to land him, making contending that much harder (if the Cavaliers could make the deal without giving up Darius Garland it would be interesting, but would the Lakers really settle for a Jarrett Allen-based deal?).
The most likely outcome is that LeBron James is a Laker next season — all of next season. However, that statement lacks the confidence behind it that it had a week ago.
Wizards enter mix for Kuminga sign-and-trade
There’s a fantastic update on the Jonathan Kuminga sign-and-trade saga (it feels like this has reached the saga stage) by Anthony Slater over at The Athletic. A few of his key points:
• The Warriors are asking for a promising young player plus a first-round pick for Kuminga.
• The “Washington Wizards entered the mix in the last 24 hours, and the idea of Kuminga as a possible fit in Washington’s rebuild has gained real momentum,” Slater writes. That’s interesting.
• Miami, Brooklyn, Chicago, Milwaukee and Sacramento have each shown some level of interest. Sacramento offered “Devin Carter, Dario Saric and two second-round picks,” according to the report, which the Warriors rightfully saw as a lowball bid trying to poach a young player with potential.
Magic re-sign Mo Wagner
Mo Wagner was No. 5 on our list of the top 10 free agents still available, but we also said there was no drama here because he was not going to leave Orlando and playing with his brother. The only question were money and years. The answer is one year at $5 million as Wagner has agreed to return to the Magic, reports ESPN’s Shams Charania. This is a money saving move for the Magic, who did not pick up Wagner’s $11 option for this season but kept him at $6 million less, helping them stay below the luxury tax first apron, there they are hardcapped (the team has the money under that cap to sign second-round pick Noah Penda, or a veteran on a minimum deal, but that’s it).
Wagner is coming off an ACL tear from December, which cut his season short last year and likely limits him at the start of the next one. Before the injury, Wagner was having a career year averaging 12.9 points a game, and is a solid backup five.
Jaxson Hayes agrees to return to Lakers
The Lakers got their starting center in Deandre Ayton, now they have locked up his backup.
Hayes has agreed to return to the Lakers on a one-year deal, a story broken by Shams Charania of ESPN and since confirmed by other reporters. This is going to be for the minimum. Hayes has played in 126 games for the Lakes over the last two seasons, last season pushed into a starting role for 35 games because of the lack of other centers. He averaged 6.8 points on 72.2% shooting (two-thirds of his shots were at the rim), plus 4.8 rebounds in just under 20 minutes a game. He’s a bouncy, athletic big well suited to a role of 15-20 minutes a night off the bench.
Suns, Bradley Beal discussing buyout
If the Bucks can do it to Damian Lillard...
The Suns and Bradley Beal are discussing waiving and stretching the two years and $110.7 million remaining on Bradley Beal’s contract, reports Duane Rankin of the Arizona Republic. For Phoenix, this would be about saving nearly $34 million, getting under the second tax apron (which they are currently over by about $10 million) and maybe getting out of the luxury tax entirely. However, as the Bucks will be dealing with, this would leave a little over $22 million in dead cap money on the Suns’ books each of the next five years, which would be an anchor as they try to retool the roster around Devin Booker.
To make this work under the CBA, Beal would give back at least $13.8 million as part of the buyout, which would help the Suns save cash (the full salary would still be reflected on their official books).
Beal would be a free agent and could sign with the team of his choosing, although he would lose his no-trade clause in the process.
Milwaukee waived-and-stretched Lillard for a very specific reason: To then use that space to sign free agent Myles Turner, in an effort to keep Giannis Antetokounmpo happy. For Phoenix, the question is more purely financial: Is the money saved in the short term getting under the second apron worth the weight of having 14% of their salary cap be dead money for the next five years?
Jonas Valanciunas may choose Europe over Denver
The trade has been agreed to: Sacramento traded Jonas Valanciunas to Denver in exchange for Dario Saric. It was a smart trade for the Nuggets, Valanciunas would be the best backup center ever behind Nikola Jokic and bring added depth to a Nuggets team that has had a strong offseason and is a legit title contender.
Except Valanciunas may not want that. Multiple reports say the Lithuanian big man is seriously considering walking away from the two-years, $20.4 million on his contract to play in Europe, which is where his heart is. Jake Fischer summed it up well.
Another update on Jonas Valanciunas: Discussions are fluid between the veteran center and Denver, sources say, while he's received a lucrative offer from Panathinaikos in Greece. I'm told, though, that any outcome here won't impact the trade between Sacramento and Denver.
— Jake Fischer (@JakeLFischer) July 3, 2025
Sacramento needs the trade to go through, it saves enough money with this deal to offer Dennis Schroder the full mid-level exception in a sign-and-trade with Detroit.
While no doubt the offer from Panathinaikos is lucrative, the highest-paid player in Europe last season made $4.4 million (Sasha Vezenkov of Greek team Olympiacos). Even if the offer to Valanciunas beats that, he would be leaving at least $10 million on the table (with taxes it’s less than that, in Europe teams often cover the taxes for the player as part of the contract).
After 13 NBA seasons earning more than $146 million in salary, if Valanciunas wants to play in Europe and be happy rather than earn a few extra dollars, you can’t blame the man. But he would be walking away from a contender.
Rockets waive center Jock Landale
This was a financial move in Houston, but it puts a solid backup center on the market.
The Houston Rockets have waived center Jock Landale, who had an $8 million team option this season. Houston needed to do this to get below the first apron, where they are now hard-capped at the first-apron ($195.5 million) both because of the Dorian Finney-Smith signing and the Clint Capela sign-and-trade (both of those to be finalized July 6, the Rockets needed to get below the apron before that). The Australian center averaged 4.8 points and 3.3 rebounds a game last season for the Rockets and will very likely be snapped up by another team (but also likely for less than the $8 million he was going to make).
Jared Dudley to become top assistant in Denver
There has been a kind of logjam with assistant coaches around the league because a lot of teams were waiting to see where Jared Dudley would land.
Dudley is leaving the Dallas Mavericks to join David Adelman’s staff with the Denver Nuggets, where he will be the lead assistant, reports Shams Charania of ESPN. Memphis and Cleveland were among the other teams holding up assistant coach hirings waiting to see what Dudley chose. Anyone who spoke with Dudley during his 14-year NBA career knew he would make a great assistant coach (or broadcaster, if he preferred) upon retirement. He chose to stay in the locker room.
Dudley makes four assistants from Jason Kidd’s staff who have left after last season: Sean Sweeney (now Spurs associate head coach), Alex Jensen (University of Utah head coach), and player-favorite development assistant God Shammgod (Magic). They have been replaced by two former NBA head coaches, Frank Vogel and Jay Triano.
Former Buck says Giannis vetoed Butler to Milwaukee
In 2018, when Jimmy Butler was forcing his way out of Minnesota, he was linked to a number of teams. One of those was the Milwaukee Bucks, where Butler would be paired with Giannis Antetokounmpo, at the peak of the Greek Freak’s MVP powers. That trade was lined up, with Butler going to Milwaukee and Khris Middleton headed back to Minnesota, but Antetokounmpo essentially vetoed it, long-time Buck John Henson said Wednesday on Sirius XM NBA Radio.
"There was a trade…Khris Middleton for Jimmy Butler swap – Giannis was like ‘nah we’re not doing that’ – that was only time I ever saw him stand up and say something” 👀@Johnhenson31 gives insight to @worldwidewob & @adaniels33 about Giannis and the team’s front office. pic.twitter.com/bmEmkfJgR4
— SiriusXM NBA Radio (@SiriusXMNBA) July 2, 2025
To be fair, always take a player not directly involved words with a grain of salt. At that point in time, Butler would have been considered a superior player to Middleton, but hanging onto the ball-handling wing mattered as he was key to the Bucks’ 2021 NBA Championship run.
Butler ended up in Philadelphia with Joel Embiid, but that lasted just 55 games before Butler was on to Miami. Philly never won a ring, Butler has yet to win another ring, and the Bucks did, so maybe Antetokounmpo had it right all along?
Lakers, Celtics, Warriors among teams calling Lillard
Damian Lillard is a winner in the Bucks’ signing of Myles Turner. Lillard got waived and stretched — he gets all his $112.6 million and becomes a free agent — which means he is in complete control of his free agency, both where he lands and how fast this process plays out.
Teams around the league are not as patient as Lillard and are calling him, hoping to sign the future Hall of Famer and have him rehab his torn Achilles in their facilities. The Lakers and Celtics have lobbed calls to Lillard, reports Eric Nehm, Sam Amick and Joe Vardon of The Athletic. The Warriors did the same, according to Marc Spears of ESPN. There were probably another 20+ teams that placed a similar call — every GM should at least kick the tires on this.
That said, league sources have told NBC Sports they get the feeling Lillard may sit this season out, do his rehab and get back to being the guy who averaged 24.9 points and 7.1 assists a game last season, then pick his destination after this season plays out. He has that time and option, there is no reason for him to rush the process. Also, eventually Lillard will retire a Portland Trail Blazer, but with that franchise rebuilding (and Jrue Holiday in house to be a veteran mentor this season) now is not the time to come home.
Chris Paul wants a starting job
Is Chris Paul still an NBA starting point guard at age 40? He still thinks he is, reports Tim Reynolds of the Associated Press.
Chris Paul wants to be a starter, we're told, which is part of the reason why he evidently hasn't made up his mind yet. Clippers still very hopeful he picks them.
— Tim Reynolds (@ByTimReynolds) July 2, 2025
Paul was a starting point guard last season in San Antonio, starting all 82 games and averaging 8.8 points and 7.4 assists per game with solid shooting numbers (58 true shooting percentage, just above the league average) and overall production.
To sum up, Chris Paul wants to start and be close to his family in Los Angeles. That’s a relatively big ask. The two Los Angeles team have a point-forward as the primary initiator of the offense (James Harden and Luka Doncic) and need their “point guard” to play more like an off-the-ball two guard, which is not exactly Chris Paul’s strong suit. Would he accept a bench role with the Clippers? We shall see.
Three-team trade could land Kuminga in Sacramento
If there’s one thing that’s a sure thing in the NBA, it’s that Vivek Ranadive’s Kings covet what the Warriors have. That appears to include Jonathan Kuminga, who is a restricted free agent expected to move on from Golden State in a sign-and-trade.
Detroit, Sacramento and Golden State are discussing a three-team trade that would land both Kuminga and veteran guard Dennis Schroder with the Kings (Schroder had already agreed to come to Sacramento on a three-year, $45 million deal) and send Malik Monk out, reports Ali Thanawalla and Tristi Rodriguez at NBC Sports Bay Area. Here are the details from the report:
The Kings, in turn, would send Monk to the Pistons, and second-year NBA guard Devin Carter and newly acquired big man Dario Šarić to the Warriors, the source said... Sacramento also would send two second-rounders to Golden State, the source said.
Kuminga in Sacramento with Zach LaVine (who they are open to trading, but the market for him is small) and Domantas Sabonis is an interesting fit, but this could be a Kings pivot to a new future. Which they need, the Kings need to get off the track they are on, but this would be a big bet on Kuminga.
Andrew Wiggins to Lakers? The price is steep
The Lakers got their center (whatever you think of Deandre Ayton as a fit), but if they are going to be a legitimate threat in the insanely deep West they are going to need more shooting and defense on the wing. Kind of like what Andrew Wiggins brought to the Warriors in their 2022 title run...
Hey, why not get Wiggins? He was an All-Star last season in Miami and they might be open to trading him, which has led to speculation online (what doesn’t?). The hesitation is the price will be steep. Connected Lakers’ insider Jovan Buha said Miami would ask for Dalton Knecht, Rui Hachimura and a first-round pick for Wiggins. On the one hand, that’s a lot and includes the Lakers’ starting four, as well as a valuable trade chip in a future pick. On the other hand, that’s almost what the Lakers gave up for Mark Williams at the last trade deadline before they wised up and backed out of the deal he failed the physical. Just consider it all something to watch.
Kevin Durant trade could evolve into 7-team monster deal
Phoenix agreeing to trade Kevin Durant to the Houston Rockets — on the day of Game 7 of the NBA Finals — seems like it happened a lifetime ago now. But while we’ve all moved on to talking about Mike Brown coaching the Knicks and Deandre Ayton being a Laker, the Houston Rockets kept working on this trade, growing it with other already agreed-upon trades. At this point, it could be a historic seven-team trade, reports Fred Katz at The Athletic.
“The Rockets and Suns are working on expanding the Kevin Durant trade into a deal that would involve a league-record seven teams. Other teams involved in negotiations at the moment include the Atlanta Hawks, Brooklyn Nets, Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Lakers and Minnesota Timberwolves, league sources say...
“The Hawks would be sending Clint Capela to the Rockets in what would become a sign-and-trade, league sources say. Durant would go to Houston. The previously reported return for him, including Dillon Brooks and Jalen Green, would go to Phoenix. Only five players who were in the NBA last season are being discussed in the current iteration of the trade, as of now: Durant, Brooks, Green, Clint Capela and Daeqwon Plowden, league sources say.”
All those other trades are agreed to, but no finalized deal is imminent. This is a fun side-project trade to discuss over Fourth of July BBQs.
Grizzlies’ Jaren Jackson Jr. has surgery on turf toe
Grizzlies’ All-Star, defensive anchor and second-leading scorer Jaren Jackson Jr. will be re-evaluated in three months after undergoing surgery on his turf toe injury, the team announced.
The @memgrizz today announced the following medical update for Jaren Jackson Jr. pic.twitter.com/WuzkFSREVt
— Grizzlies PR (@GrizzliesPR) July 2, 2025
That timeline has Jackson Jr. being re-evaluated around the start of training camp. Most likely, he will miss all of camp as well as the start of next season, but he is expected to make a full recovery. Jackson suffered the injury in a pick-up run not in the Grizzlies’ practice facility.
Knicks interested in Ben Simmons?
What would make Mike Brown’s job easier?
The Knicks are at least kicking the tires on bringing in Ben Simmons, reports Ian Begley of SNY.TV. While Knicks fans just read that sentence and screamed “noooooo,” Simmons would not be the worst signing if it’s at the minimum, and he is in a limited role. That’s how Tyronn Lue used it in Los Angeles after being traded from Brooklyn. In 18 games with the Clippers playing 15 minutes a night, his counting stats were not that impressive — 2.9 points, 3.8 rebounds, 3.1 assists a game — but he was a solid reserve helping run the second unit and played good defense. He’s not taking 3s, but he can get to the rim and make plays.
Not that signing him would go over well with Knicks fans, but that’s more about perception than reality. If he’s playing in a limited role.
Deandre Ayton headed to Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers have found their center. Now they just need to get him to play up to his potential.
Deandre Ayton will be joining the Lakers on a two-year contract, with a player option in the second year, a story broken by Chris Haynes and confirmed by others. Ayton is signing a two-year, $16.6 million contract with a player option in the second year. Ayton will soak up the roughly $8.1 million remaining in the Lakers’ mid-level exception ($6 million of it went to Jake LaRavia). While that’s a huge pay decrease on paper, it won’t bother Ayton this season, as he’s still receiving nearly $35 million from his buyout from the Trail Blazers (the amount the Lakers pay him will be discounted from that number).
This was as good a signing as the Lakers were going to find this offseason at the center spot. It pairs the No. 1 (Ayton) and No. 3 (Luka Doncic) picks from the 2018 NBA Draft.
Ayton, who averaged 14.4 points and 10.2 rebounds a game last season in Portland, is a very good fit on paper as the kind of big man who thrives next to Luka Doncic as a rim-runner and lob threat, someone who also is a solid rim protector on defense. The challenge with Ayton has always been getting him to live up to that potential — he is an inconsistent player who can be seen as unfocused and immature. As detailed in a story at The Athletic, Ayton had frustrated the Trail Blazers with his being late for team flights, not showing up for physical treatments, throwing tantrums on the sidelines and in the locker room — they didn’t think his play was worth the drama, and they didn’t want that around their young centers.
Ayton can’t enter the Lakers locker room with that attitude — this is LeBron’s locker room and he has a GOAT-level career built on bringing nightly effort. Luka Doncic also has a presence in the locker room and needs high-energy Ayton nightly. Coach J.J. Redick is a former player who has transitioned into a head coach, bringing a unique perspective and connection with players. If they can all keep Ayton focused, this will be a very good signing for the Lakers.
Frank Vogel joining Dallas
Jason Kidd was an assistant coach on Frank Vogel’s Lakers teams (and won a ring in the bubble with them). Now the roles are reversed.
Vogel is joining Kidd’s staff in Dallas, according to multiple reports. Vogel was around the Mavericks as an advisor last season, and with Sean Sweeney leaving to coach in San Antonio, a coaching slot opened up. This should be a good fit.
Dante Exum agrees to return to Dallas
With Kyrie Irving out to start the season (if not the entire season), there’s going to be opportunities for ball handlers to get some run and show what they can do. Which is why bringing back Dante Exum to back up the just-signed D’Angelo Russell makes a lot of sense.
Exum agreed to a one-year veteran minimum contract to return to Dallas, a story broken by ESPN’s Shams Charania. Dante Exum has played in 75 games across the last two seasons, averaging 8.7 points per game when he was on the court (he played just 20 games last season due to wrist and hand injuries). This is a smart move by the Mavericks, but it leaves them with 16 players under contract, someone is going to have to go before the season starts.
Spencer Dinwiddie headed to Charlotte
There’s a lot of ball handling and guard depth now in Charlotte: LaMelo Ball, Collin Sexton (who likely plays the two guard), recently drafted Kon Knueppel, and the just re-signed Tre Mann.
Now add Spencer Dinwiddie to that list, the veteran guard has signed a one-year deal with the Hornets, ESPN’s Shams Charania reports. Last season with Dallas he averaged 11 points and 4.4 assists a game, and he can be counted on to be a solid part of the rotation.
All those guards, does this mean Charlotte is setting up a future trade?
Knicks offer head coaching job to Mike Brown
This is the upgrade over Tom Thibodeau?
The New York Knicks have offered their head coaching job to veteran coach Mike Brown and the two sides are finalizing negotiations, according to multiple reports.
Brown checks a lot of boxes. First, he can navigate the labyrinth that is the Knicks front office, he is close with William “Worldwide Wes” Wesley, the right hand of Knicks president Leon Rose, and someone reportedly with the ear of Dolan. Brown is also an experienced coach with a .599 winning percentage across more than 10 seasons as an NBA head coach. He guided the Cleveland Cavaliers to the Eastern Conference Finals in the LeBron James era, coached the Lakers, and, most recently, with the Kings, broke that franchise’s record 16-year playoff drought.
Mike Brown is a good, solid NBA coach who can take the Knicks as far as they can go next season. That said, a recycled NBA coach is not a sexy hire to replace Tom Thibodeau, who established a culture in New York, led the Knicks to the playoffs four times in five years, and this past season led them to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time in 25 years.
Raptors re-sign guard Garrett Temple
Veteran reserve guard Garrett Temple will return to Toronto next season on what is reportedly a one-year, $3.6 million contract. The Raptors confirmed the signing.
“We’re thrilled to have Garrett’s steady, veteran presence as a Raptor for another season,” Raptors general manager Bobby Webster said. “We know he’s appreciated by all of our players and staff for his work ethic, commitment to team, community, family and professionalism, and he sets an example for us all, on and off the court.”
Tre Mann returning to Hornets
Guard Tre Mann is staying in Charlotte on a three-year, $24 million contract, reports Shams Charania of ESPN.
Mann missed most of last season with back issues, playing in just 13 games, although he reportedly has been healthy and working out at the team facilities this offseason, including playing 5-on-5. The Hornets did not pick up his $6.9 million option, which led to questions about whether they wanted to bring the reserve guard back, but they did at a fair price for both sides.
Jaren Jackson Jr. to have surgery for turf toe injury
One of the first things to happen once NBA free agency opened was the Grizzlies locking up their big man, Jaren Jackson Jr., with a max five-year, $240 million contract. Now comes word that he has suffered a turf toe injury that will require surgery.
The @memgrizz today announced the following medical update for Jaren Jackson Jr. pic.twitter.com/Y8RkcanXmm
— Grizzlies PR (@GrizzliesPR) July 2, 2025
There are not a lot of details here, but a foot surgery for a big man is likely to keep him out at least for training camp and the start of next season, although it is a good sign that the team said a full recovery is expected. Last season Jackson Jr. averaged 22.2 points and 5.6 rebounds a game, plus was an All-Star and Second Team All-Defense. He is arguably their best player on both ends of the court.
Jason Kidd to get extension in Dallas
When New York came knocking, asking permission to speak to Jason Kidd about the Knicks open head coaching position, Dallas soundly rejected the call. However, when New York did the same about Houston’s Ime Udoka and Chicago’s Billy Donovan, those coaches soon after got contract extensions. That did not happen for Kidd in Dallas, which led to some speculation around the league about his possible exit.
There will be no exit — Kidd and the Mavericks are close to working out a contract extension, reports Marc Stein and Jake Fischer in their latest Substack newsletter. Exactly what that will look like is unclear, but Kidd will be around through the first years of the Cooper Flagg era. At the same time, we seem to have a favorite in the coaching search in the form of Mike Brown.
Mike Brown “widely regarded” as favorite to be Knicks coach
Owner James Dolan pushed to fire Tom Thibodeau as head coach of the Knicks, league sources told NBC Sports. That despite Thibs leading New York to its first Eastern Conference Finals in 25 years. Now management is waiting for Dolan to give the thumbs up on a new coaching hire — Mike Brown.
Brown is “widely regarded” as the favorite to be the Knicks’ next head coach, reports Marc Stein in his latest Substack newsletter. That aligns with what other reporters close to the Knicks have said, but everything now hinges on Dolan’s approval, the report said. Brown is a good coach with a career .599 winning percentage, he led the Cavaliers to the NBA Finals (with LeBron James) and he recently helped the Kings snap their 16-year playoff drought. He will do a good job. Still, is Brown the guy you fire Thibodeau for?
He may be, we’ll find out in the coming days
Duncan Robinson headed to Detroit in sign-and-trade
Duncan Robinson was ready to move on from the Heat, and Miami was ready to get under the luxury tax. So they worked together, with Robinson exercising his early termination option to become a free agent, and the Heat helping him find a new home.
That home is Detroit on a three-year, $48 million contract, reports Shams Charania of ESPN. This has to be a sign-and-trade to work, so the Pistons are sending Simone Fontecchio to Miami to make the math work. Robinson, a 6'7" wing, is a sharpshooter who averaged 11 points a game for the Heat last season and is a career 39.7% shooter from 3. He will fit into the Detroit rotation off the bench with Caris LeVert behind Jaden Ivey, Tobias Harris, and Ausar Thompson. The Pistons could use his shooting and floor spacing, and coach J.B. Bickerstaff is going to give him a chance.
Tim Hardaway Jr. to sign with Nuggets
Denver has been adding shooting this offseason — Cameron Johnson (as good as MPJ), Bruce Brown — and now that list grows longer.
Tim Hardaway Jr. has agreed to a one-year veteran minimum contract to join the Nuggets, reports Shams Charania of ESPN. Last season in Detroit, Hardaway averaged 11 points a game, shooting 36.8% from beyond the arc. He will slot into the Nuggets rotation and likely get the Nikola Jokic bump that a lot of their shooters get.
Raptors hand Jakob Poeltl massive extension through 2029
Masai Ujiri may be out in Toronto, but the unabashed love in the Toronto front office for Jakob Poeltl remains.
The Raptors and Peoltl agreed to a contract extension that is being billed — by Shams Charania of ESPN who broke the story, among others — as a four-year, $104 million deal. That’s not wholly accurate. Peoltl is picking up his $19.5 million option for next season, then the Raptors are giving him an additional three years at $84.5 million. However you choose to divide it up, that’s a lot of scratch.
Poeltl is a solid all-around center who played in 57 games last season for the Raptors — sitting a number of games at the team’s request — and averaging 14.5 points and 9.6 rebounds a game. This season, Toronto plans to make a push in what is projected to be a down East and needs Poeltl to anchor a roster with Scottie Barnes, Brandon Ingram, and RJ Barrett.
Toronto made one other move, signing forward/center Sandro Mamukelashvili to a two-year, $5.5 million contract to back up Poeltl. That’s a solid signing.
Knicks sign Guerschon Yabusele to be backup big
The New York Knicks have added another solid big to their rotation behind Karl-Anthony Towns and Mitchell Robinson. New York reached a deal to bring in Guerschon Yabusele at two years, $12 million.
The New York Knicks and Guerschon Yabusele have agreed to a two-year, $12 million deal, including a player option, league sources confirmed to @hoopshypeofficial.bsky.social. CAA agents Olivier Mazet and Richie Felder worked with Knicks officials to finalize the deal. ESPN was first to report.
— Michael Scotto (@mikeascotto.bsky.social) 2025-07-01T15:18:01.980Z
Yabusele is a great story of persistence. He played two seasons with the Celtics before the pandemic, but they let him go, so he had to play overseas. He had largely been forgotten in NBA circles until he played well at the Paris Olympics for France, which led the 76ers to sign him last season, and he played in 70 games for them, averaging 11 points and 5.6 rebounds a night. He parlayed that into this two-year deal with the Knicks, where he should be a regular part of the rotation for... whoever ends up as their next coach.
Bucks waive Damian Lillard, sign Myles Turner away from Pacers
The Milwaukee Bucks made a bold move to put themselves in contention in the East next season — and keep Giannis Antetokounmpo happy. Except he is not.
Milwaukee has waived Damian Lillard, stretching the $113 million remaining on his contract over five years, which will result in $22.5 million of dead money on their salary cap for each of those years (this is the largest salary cap stretch in league history). Lillard is now a free agent but is expected to miss most — or, more likely, all — of next season as he rehabs from a torn Achilles.
Milwaukee then used the cap space that freed up from that sign Myles Turner away from the Pacers with a four-year, $107 million contract, all of this broken by Shams Charania of ESPN, who added in how the Pacers fear of the luxury tax (especially after the Haliburton injury) cost them a key player from their run to the NBA Finals.
Turner, the longest tenured Pacer, made it known he wished to remain in Indiana. Since the Game 7 exit, Turner’s reps pushed to get a deal done. Ultimately, Indiana’s aversion to the tax, which grew after Tyrese Haliburton’s injury, allowed Bucks to get the new franchise center. https://t.co/lZqZudrUWg
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 1, 2025
Giannis Antetokounmpo did not request a trade and sat back this summer, waiting for his team to make a bold move to get them back in the mix for the top of the East. This is about as bold as it gets. That doesn’t mean Antetokounmpo is happy about it. Although, like the rest of us, he may be just trying to process everything.
Mood 💯 pic.twitter.com/Ar2nvAcfXE
— Giannis Antetokounmpo (@Giannis_An34) July 1, 2025
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Thunder agree to max extension
If anyone deserves to get a supermax extension, it is the reigning league MVP who just led the franchise to its first NBA title.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Oklahoma City Thunder have agreed to a four-year, $285 million supermax contract extension, a deal first reported by Shams Charania of ESPN. While that’s a lot of money, this is also kind of a no-brainer max extension. It is the richest contract in NBA history, averaging just over $70 million per season. These four new years are added on after the two existing years still on SGA’s current contract ($79.1 million total), locking him in for six years with the team. This new contract would pay him more than $70 million a season for the final two years ($78.9 million in 2030-31).
Gilgeous-Alexander averaged 32.7 points (he won the NBA scoring title), 6.4 assists and 5 rebounds a game last season, shot 37.5% from 3, and is a plus defender. He racked up a historic string of accolades: leading the NBA in scoring, winning regular season MVP, leading his team to an NBA title and being named Finals MVP.
The Thunder are not done, both Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren are extension-eligible this summer and will get max, or near max, offers from the team.
Bucks make other moves to round out roster
The stunning move to waive-and-stretch Damian Lillard and then use that money to poach Myles Turner from the Pacers was not the only move the Milwaukee Bucks made on Tuesday. They also:
• Traded Pat Connaughton and a couple of second-round picks to Charlotte for Vasilije Micic. This is a cost-saving move for the Bucks — Connaughton is owed $9.3 million this season — and frees up money to pay for things like Turner and Gary Trent Jr, Micic is expected to head back to Europe.
• Agreed to a deal to bring back center Jericho Sims. This is a minimum deal with a player option in the second year. He will be playing behind Myles Turner and Bobby Portis.
• Signed veteran wing Gary Harris on a two-year contract at the veteran minimum. He can give them some solid minutes off the bench.
Dennis Schroder signs with Kings for three years, $45 million
The Sacramento Kings found their point guard, the bridge at the position from the De’Aaron Fox era to whatever comes next.
Dennis Schroder is signing with Sacramento for three years, $45 million, a deal first announced by Shams Charania of ESPN and since confirmed by others. Schroder was traded to the Pistons at the deadline as part of the complex Jimmy Butler trade, and he played well enough in Detroit — 10.8 points and 5.3 assists a game — to spin it into this contract. He’s not the most efficient shooter in the league, but he’s a solid floor general, can defend, and showed last year he could help a team in the playoffs, as he did with the Pistons. This is a fair price for his services.
Kings trade Jonas Valanciunas to Nuggets for Dario Saric
Denver is having a very strong offseason. Trading Michael Porter Jr. for Cameron Johnson was an upgrade.
So is this: The Nuggets are trading Dario Saric to Sacramento for Jonas Valanciunas, a story broken by Shams Charania of ESPN. Valanciunas will be the best backup center Jokic has ever had, plus the two are friends so it keeps the big Serbian happy. Saric played in just 16 games for the Nuggets last season and was a DNP-CD a lot of nights, so this was essentially trading dead money from the Nuggets’ perspective.
The Kings save a good chunk of change here, approximately $5 million this coming season and $10 million next season, which is a significant amount of savings for a backup center. Saric can shoot the rock and will have more opportunities in Sacramento to see the court.
Thunder star Jalen Williams to have wrist surgery
In the 80th game of the season, the Thunder’s Jalen Williams tore ligaments in his wrist. He went on to play the entire postseason that way, averaging 21.4 points and 5.5 rebounds a game as the secondary shot creator on a championship team. If you want to know why he shot 30.4% from 3 in the postseason (down from 36.5% during the regular season). At a press conference Monday, Oklahoma City president Sam Presti announced that Williams would have surgery to repair his wrist.
Jalen Williams will have surgery on his wrist.
— Brandon Rahbar (@BrandonRahbar) June 30, 2025
Presti said how impressed with JDub he was. The injury happened in the Lakers/Suns back to back and played 2 months with the injury.
It's a ligament tear. It's not an injury that he'll have a hard time recovering from. "It's pretty…
Williams is expected to be healthy and good to go by the start of next season. He is also eligible for a contract extension this summer and can expect a max offer from Presti and OKC.
Gary Trent Jr. returning to Bucks
The version of Gary Trent Jr. the Bucks hoped they were getting showed up in the playoffs. After injuries and a rough start to the regular season, he was one of the Bucks’ best postseason players — he dropped 37 on the Pacers in the Bucks’ Game 3 win, and had 33 in Game 5, but watched the ball and Milwaukee’s season slip through his hands in the final seconds.
It was enough for the Bucks to bring Trent Jr. back on a two-year, $7.5 million deal, with the second year a player option, as first reported by Shams Charania of ESPN. For the season, Trent Jr. averaged 11.1 points a game for the Bucks and shot 41.6% from 3. Milwaukee will need more from him next season as they have not really made upgrades to the roster, but are largely running it back (without Brook Lopez).
At this price, this is a steal for the Bucks (and a sign of how the middle class gets squeezed in the new CBA).
Jordan Clarkson to sign with New York Knicks
It doesn’t matter who the next coach is, Jordan Clarkson will fit into their system as instant offense off the bench.
Clarkson intends to sign with the New York Knicks once he clears waivers from his buyout with the Utah Jazz, reports Chris Haynes. This is most likely a veteran minimum contract, but the former Sixth Man of the Year has long wanted to play in NYC — he has a fashion sense that will fit well there.
Free agent guard Jordan Clarkson intends to sign with the New York Knicks upon clearing waivers, league sources tell me. pic.twitter.com/3iQ8vgTZJ3
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) July 1, 2025
Clarkson is a microwave scorer off the bench who averaged 16.2 points a game last season in Utah. He can play behind Jalen Brunson and give the second unit an offensive spark. That works for any coach.
Taurean Prince re-signing in Milwaukee
There are fans who want to knock Taurean Prince every chance they get, but those fans really miss the point. Prince is a rock-solid NBA rotation player who, both in Los Angeles and last season in Milwaukee, had too much asked of him. Last season for the Bucks he started 73 games and, especially the second half of the season, was given the toughest defensive assignments nightly. He averaged 8.3 points a game and shot 43.9% on 3-pointers, and whatever he is asked to do he will do at his very best — the man hustles. It just feels like coaches and fans set the bar too high, then want to bash him for not clearing it.
Prince will be back with the Bucks next season after agreeing to a two-year, $7.1 million deal, broken by ESPN’s Shams Charania. The only thing that feels certain is that Prince will work hard and be rock-solid in his role next season.
Shaprshooter Luke Kennard headed to Atlanta
Atlanta’s new front office continues to add the kind of players the Hawks need around Trae Young.
Luke Kenard and the Hawks have agreed to a one-year, $11 million contract that brings the sharpshooter to Atlanta. He and another new Hawk, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, are a serious backcourt upgrade in Atlanta — and Trae Young recruited them both.
Suns sign EuroLeague star Nigel Hayes-Davis
If the name Nigel Hayes-Davis rings a bell, it might be from when he was officially known as Nigel Hayes, who played four years at Wisconsin and then nine NBA games total for the Lakers, Raptors and Kings in the 2017-18 season. What he’s done since then is go overseas, develop his jump shot and become a force — he was a 2025 Euroleague champion and finals MVP for Fenerbahce, as well as leading them to the Turkish Cup championship, where he was also MVP.
Now he is a Phoenix Sun, agreeing to a one-year fully guaranteed deal with the team, reports ESPN’s Shams Charania. This is a great play by the Suns, it’s a low-risk/high-reward situation that could pay off for them. And it’s just good to see a guy who put in the work get rewarded.
Booker negotiating extension with Suns
While voices outside the locker room said, “blow it up, trade everyone,” that was never the plan for the Suns or Devin Booker. They are both all-in on making this work and retooling after the Kevin Durant trade.
Which is why the sides are negotiating a contract extension, something reported before free agency and confirmed by Chris Haynes during it. The maximum the extension can be for is two years, $150 million, which would be added to the end of the three years, $171 million he is already owed. Phoenix has had a good offseason so far, but this is a team not ready to make a leap up the standings in this Western Conference. It’s going to be a work in progress, but Booker is locked in for it.
Luke Kornett to sign with Spurs
Well, Luke Kornett is not going to be the tallest player on the roster anymore.
Kornett has agreed to sign with the San Antonio Spurs for four-years, $41 million, a story broken by Shams Charania of ESPN. Boston wanted to hang on to Kornett, but in an offseason where saving money has been the priority the Celtics could not match an offer like this.
San Antonio’s top priority this offseason was size along the front line and a center who could be a backup, and at times play with Victor Wembanyama. Kornett does that, plus he brings championship experience (he earned a ring with Boston a year ago). He averaged 6 points and 5.3 rebounds a game last season in Boston.
Tied to this deal...
Boston signs Luka Garza
If you’re wondering what Kornett’s replacement looks like in Boston, it’s like Luka Garza. The sides agreed to a two-year, $5.5 million contract that is fully guaranteed, reports Shams Charania of ESPN. Boston has been high on Garza since he was a dominant college player at Iowa, they have called the Timberwolves before and inquired about him, and now they get their guy.
Kevon Looney signing with New Orleans
New Orleans has two promising young bigs — Yves Missi and the just-drafted Derik Queen — but it wanted a veteran voice who could lead those young men and teach them how to be professionals.
Enter Kevon Looney, the Warriors’ big man with three championship rings to flash, who has agreed to a two-year, $16 million contract with the Pelicans, reports Shams Charania of ESPN. This is a good signing by New Orleans, but it feels like a little end of an era in Golden State.
Caris LeVert headed to Detroit on new deal
Caris LeVert is the kind of solid, off-the-bench veteran an improving young team needs — and with the Pistons’ Plan A of re-signing Malik Beasley falling apart, LeVert becomes the rock-solid Plan B.
LeVert has agreed to terms with the Detroit Pistons, a two-year, $29 million deal, reports Shams Charania of ESPN. LeVert started last season with the Cavaliers, then was traded to the Hawks for De’Andre Hunter. Between Cleveland and Atlanta, LeVert averaged 12.1 points a game and shot 37.3% from 3. On a young team with plenty of athletes, LeVert will fit in well.
Kevin Porter Jr. re-signing with Bucks
The Milwaukee Bucks are prioritizing who they want to retain — Bobby Portis is back, but keep scrolling down to the next story to see that Brook Lopez is headed West.
Kevin Porter Jr. was one of the priorities to retain. He’s young (25) and showed he could step into a larger role late in the season when Damian Lillard was out, averaging 14.3 points and 4.7 assists in almost 25 minutes a night. With Lillard out most, if not all of next season, keeping Porter mattered.
Milwaukee and Porter agreed to a two-year, $10.5 million contract, reports Shams Charania of The Athletic. This is for the bi-annual exception, and the second year is a player option. Porter is going to get a lot more run and the chance to play more with Giannis Antetokounmpo next season, we’ll see how he handles it.
Brook Lopez, Clippers agree to two-year, $18 million deal
Ivica Zubac and now Brook Lopez? That’s as good a center rotation as there is in the league.
Lopez is headed to the Clippers on a two-year, $18 million contract, reports Shams Charania of ESPN. Lopez is still a solid center who averaged 13 points and 5 rebounds a game last season. He sets a big pick, then can roll to the rim or pop out for a 3-pointer, hitting 37.3% from beyond the arc last season, and he’s a plus defender. The only concern was his age, 37, and with that his game slipping a little the past couple of years. However, in a limited role behind Zubac, playing 20 minutes or fewer a night, going against more reserves, and with good screen navigators like James Harden, Lopez can thrive.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker headed to Atlanta
The Atlanta Hawks are having a fantastic offseason.
That continued on Monday with Nickeil Alexander-Walker agreeing to a four-year, $62 million contract that includes a trade kicker, reports Shams Charania of ESPN. This is a huge win for a Hawks team that needs perimeter defense and shooting around Trae Young — and Young knew it.
Hawks star Trae Young was very vocal and active in recruiting Nickeil Alexander-Walker to Atlanta, sources tell me. He was heavily involved in the process to lure one of the top wing free agents on the market.
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) July 1, 2025
This is a sign-and-trade to bring Alexander-Walker to Atlanta, so the Hawks are sending back a 2027 second-round pick (Cleveland’s) and cash to the Timberwolves.
This offseason, the Hawks added rim protection and a floor spacing big in Kristaps Porzingis (as long as he stays healthy) and now Alexander-Walker, who may slide into Caris LeVert’s bench role (assuming the starting five is Young, Dyson Daniels, Jalen Johnson, Porzingis and Onyeka Okongwu, with NAW and Zaccharie Risacher the first two off the bench). Atlanta is going to make some noise in the East next season.
Ty Jerome headed to Memphis
The Cleveland Cavaliers wanted to keep Ty Jerome but knew he had played his way off the team — they were not going to be able to afford to keep him. They were right.
Jerome is headed to Memphis on a three-year, $28 million contract, with a player option in the third year, reports ESPN’s Shams Charania. Jerome is a case study of a player who works hard, improves each year, and then takes advantage of his chance. Jerome had been in the league for five years before a breakout season in 2024-25, averaging 12.5 points per game and shooting 43.9% from beyond the arc, while also adding 3.4 assists and 2.5 rebounds per game. The Cavaliers are going to miss what he brought off the bench (and he likely has a bench role waiting for him in Memphis, but with a much better payday.
Clint Capela headed back to Houston
Clint Capela spent the first six years of his NBA career in Houston. Now he is headed back there.
Capela agreed to a three-year, $21.5 million contract with the Rockets, reports Shams Charania of ESPN. He was an unrestricted free agent, but Atlanta had moved on with Kristaps Porzingis, Onyeka Okongwu, and the just-drafted Asa Newell. Capelas’ role in Houston will be much smaller. The Rockets are almost certainly going to start Kevin Durant at the four and Alperen Sengun at the five, with Jabari Smith Jr. and Steven Adams off the bench behind them. And now Capela is in that mix.
The Rockets are pushing all their chips in the middle for next season.
D’Angelo Russell signs with Dallas Mavericks
As was expected, D’Angelo Russell has agreed to a two-year, $12 million contract with the Dallas Mavericks, something Marc Stein and Jake Fischer at The Stein Line predicted would happen and then Chris Haynes confirmed when it became real.
Dallas picks up a quality point guard to fill in until Kyrie Irving returns from his torn ACL (that could be most or all of next season). Russell averaged 12.6 points and 5.1 assists a game last season, splitting time between Los Angeles and Brooklyn.
Nuggets bringing back Bruce Brown Jr.
Denver might not have a banner hanging in the Ball Arena without the great bench play of Bruce Brown Jr. that season. However, under the terms of the CBA, the Nuggets also couldn’t pay market rate to keep him and Brown left after the season for Indiana (where he struggled to fill the same role, as he did in Toronto).
Now Brown Jr. is headed back to Denver on a one-year deal, Shams Charania of ESPN reports. That is likely for the minimum and is a great deal for Denver, bringing him home.
TRADE: Nuggets send Michael Porter Jr. to Nets for Cam Johnson
The Denver Nuggets have been looking to get off Michael Porter Jr.'s massive contract for a while. They have done it and brought back one of the most coveted fours thought to be available via trade, Cam Johnson.
Denver is trading Porter Jr. and an unprotected 2032 first-round pick to Brooklyn for Johnson, a story broken by Shams Charania of ESPN.
This trade is a win for the Nuggets. Financially, they save about $17 million in salary, although with Johnson’s bonuses that’s closer to $14 million. Still, that gives the cash-strapped Nuggets some room to maneuver.
Financial impact of the BKN-DEN trade:
— Keith Smith (@KeithSmithNBA) June 30, 2025
🏀Nets with $16.6M cap space remaining (flexible pending Day'Ron Sharpe/Ziaire Williams re-signings)
🏀Nuggets are now about $13.6M under the first apron. Puts Nuggets in range to use most of Non-Taxpayer MLE.
Johnson, a 6'8" forward, can step into MPJ’s role. Johnson averaged 18.8 points a game while shooting 39% from 3 last season in Brooklyn, plus he grabbed 4.3 rebounds a night. Johnson took a step back defensively last season, but has been a plus defender in the past, in the right system can be that again.
B-Ball Paul returning to Detroit
The Pistons are keeping fan favorite big man Paul Reed — B-Ball Paul — around for a couple more years with a two-year, $11 million contract, a story broken by Shams Charania of ESPN. Reed came off the bench in half the Pistons games last season, averaging 4.1 points a game. He’s a quality backup center when healthy.
Lakers sign Jake LaRavia for two years, $12 million
Grizzlies head of basketball operations Zach Kleiman said it best: He made a mistake by declining Jake LaRavia’s option and setting him on a path to free agency. LaRavia has developed into a quality player, and the Grizzlies could have used him down the stretch last season, but Kleiman had traded LaRavia to Sacramento.
Jake LaRavia hits the ridiculous bail out triple then turns to the Grizzlies bench with some quick words for his former team.
— Brenden Nunes (@BrendenNunesNBA) March 18, 2025
He’s up to nine points, two rebounds, and two steals on 3/4 FG. pic.twitter.com/V8gVOLx5nd
Now LaRavia is going to be a Laker, agreeing to a two-year, $12 million contract, a story broken by ESPN’s Shams Charania. He will step into Dorian Finney-Smith’s role, although he lacks the experience and defense and will have to prove he can handle that role. Overall last season, the 6'8" power forward averaged 6.9 points a game, but he should get a real opportunity with the Lakers to do more.
Rockets sign Dorian Finney-Smith, four years, $53 million
The Houston Rockets are swinging for the fences this offseason.
The Rockets have added veteran 3&D wing Dorian Finney-Smith with a four-year, $53 million contract, reports Shams Charania of ESPN. Finney-Smith is the kind of wing every contending team is trying to find: 8.7 points a game for the Lakers last season but shot 41.1% from 3 and is a quality wing defender. DFS is going to get key minutes in Houston, taking over some of the defensive responsibilities Dillon Brooks used to handle (Brooks had to be sent to Phoenix in the Kevin Durant trade).
With Kevin Durant at the four and Finney-Smith getting heavy minutes in the rotation, a Rockets team that looked young and inexperienced at points in the playoffs last season will not be the same next time around. This team is a legit contender and Finney-Smith is a key part of that.
Santi Aldama returns to Memphis for three years, $52.5 million
The Memphis Grizzlies were not done locking up their frontcourt.
Santi Aldama was one of the better frontcourt names on the free agent market, but you can take him off the board after he agreed to return to Memphis on a three-year, $452.5 million contract, reports Shams Charania of ESPN. Last season, Aldama averaged 12.5 points and 6.4 assists a game for the Grizzlies as a stretch big who shot 36.8% from beyond the arc. Aldama is the model of a modern NBA big who can stretch the floor and still have some presence inside the paint. There were a lot of teams interested, but he’s staying home in Memphis.
To do this for Aldama and give JJJ the max will take some fancy footwork by the Grizzlies, as Keith Smith points out.
Step 1: Grizzlies can create about $3.2M in cap space by renouncing all FAs except for Santi Aldama.
— Keith Smith (@KeithSmithNBA) June 30, 2025
Step 2: Finding someone to take on about $7M or in salary to get to the $10M necessary to renegotiate-and-extend Jaren Jackson Jr.
Step 3: Re-sign Santi Aldama.
Step 4 and…
And along those lines...
The Memphis Grizzlies and Cole Anthony’s reps at Excel Sports are working toward a resolution that allows Memphis to create the necessary cap space to renegotiate and extend Jaren Jackson Jr. while giving Anthony the opportunity to find his next destination, sources tell ESPN.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 30, 2025
Memphis agrees to max extension with Jaren Jackson Jr.
There are a handful of players in the league who are the best offensive and defensive players on their teams. Jaren Jackson Jr. is one of those guys. (If you want to argue Ja Morant is the Grizzlies’ offensive MVP, I’ll listen to the argument, but note availability matters.)
The Memphis Grizzlies are going to lock up Jackson with a five-year, $240 million maximum renegotiation-and-extension, Shams Charania of ESPN reports.
Last season Jackson Jr. averaged 22.2 points and 5.6 rebounds a game, plus was an All-Star and Second Team All-Defense. However Memphis may be shaking up its roster going forward (without Desmond Bane), Jackson Jr. is going to be at the heart of it and should get paid like it. This is a fair deal.
Kings to meet with Westbrook, Schroder
The Sacramento Kings need a point guard after they traded theirs — De’Aaron Fox — to San Antonio in the wake of the fallout of Mike Brown being fired as coach. (Just to rub salt in the wound, Fox was the guy the Kings kept when they traded Tyrese Haliburton to the Pacers.)
Sacramento has now set up Zoom meetings with both Russell Westbrook and Dennis Schroder, reports Chris Haynes. Those are just meetings, convincing those guys to come to Sacramento is another thing, but it’s a step.
Free agency has started
For as long as anyone can remember, the second that free agency officially opened, there was a flood of deals announced in the first hour. There have been zero so far in the first 10 minutes this year, which is just a little weird. It’s worth noting that before free agency even began, there were an estimated $784 million in contracts and extensions handed out. That could have slowed things. Still, this is unusual. to say the least.
LeBon’s agent Rich Paul says no trade talks taking place
NBA insider Chris Haynes spoke with Rich Paul, a day after Paul’s statement as LeBron James picked up his player option for next year sent NBA fans scrambling toward the trade machine. Paul told Haynes there is no trade demand and no trade talks. Here is what Haynes said on NBA TV:
“[Rich Paul] told me there has been no trade discussions, there are have been no trade talks with the Lakers, people have been speculating on certain teams that he might be interested in. I’m told that all that talk is false. There has been no trade talk, there has been no extension talk. He clearly opted in and he wants to win. He believes the Lakers have what it takes to maximize Luka’s timeline, but also maximize and prioritize his timeline. That’s what Rich Paul wanted to get clear.”
So, we can cool it with the LeBron trade talk for a while. This is just LeBron once again trying to push the Lakers to go all in and try to win now.
NBA 2025-26 salary cap set
For the NBA salary cap nerds out there, the NBA has formally set the salary cap and tax line numbers for next season:
• The Minimum Team Salary is $139.182 million
• The Salary Cap is $154.647
• The Luxury Tax starts at $187.895 million
• The First Apron Level is $195.945 million
• The Second Apron Level is $207.824 million
One note: ESPN’s Bobby Marks said that the league is now projecting a 7% growth of the salary cap next year, which had been assumed to be 10% before this. If it is 7% that is going to squeeze teams that have players getting 8% raises (for example, in Toronto both Scottie Barnes and Brandon Ingram are due 8% raises). Just something to watch going forward.
Knicks to give Mike Brown second interview
While free agency grows nearer, we get this news out of New York: The Knicks are having a second interview with Mike Brown for their head coaching position, ESPN’s Shams Charania reports.
Brown gets a bad rap from some fans, he’s not the sexiest pick but he’s done a good job wherever he has been (Cleveland, Los Angeles Lakers, Sacramento): 59.9% winning percentage, he coached LeBron and the Cavaliers to the Finals in 2007, and he helped the Kings break their 16-year playoff drought. He’d do a good job in the role.
Is he worth firing Tom Thibodeau for? That’s a different conversation. Others who got a formal interview with the Knicks are James Borrego, Taylor Jenkins and Micah Nori.
Ben Simmons seeks more than the minimum
In the 18 games he played for them after the trade, Ben Simmons was more solid for the Clippers than the counting stats show: 2.9 points, 3.8 rebounds and 3.1 assists. He wasn’t a great playmaker but was respectable, although when things got serious in the Denver playoff series Simmons was glued to the bench.
Simmons is now a free agent and likely does not return to the Clippers because he is seeking more than the minimum, reports Law Murray at The Athletic. “Simmons in particular looking at teams with exceptions; he’s not looking for a minimum deal.”
We’ll see how that goes.
Mavericks expected to sign D’Angelo Russell
In no way is there tampering in the NBA, but if there were, we would find out about free agent signings before they happen. Completely unrelated to that thought...
The Dallas Mavericks and point guard D’Angelo Russell are expected to ink a two-year, $12 million contract after free agency opens, reports Marc Stein and Jake Fischer at The Stein Line. This is a good fit for a Dallas team that needs a quality point guard for the first half of the season (at least, could even be the full season), and Russell fills that role. Russell averaged 12.6 points and 5.1 assists a game this past season, splitting time between Los Angeles and Brooklyn. Russell is a better option for the Mavericks than their other choices, such as Tyus Jones, Chris Paul and Dennis Schroder.
Lakers interested in Ayton
Everyone in the league knows the Lakers are looking for a rim-running, paint-protecting center to play off Luka Doncic, which is why when Los Angeles has contacted teams to start trade discussions, there seems to be a premium they are asked to pay.
In free agency, the Lakers were linked to the aging Brook Lopez as well as former Hawks center Clint Capela. Now, after his buyout in Portland, add Deandre Ayton to the list, reports Dan Woike at The Athletic. Beyond that, NBA insider Chris Haynes said there is a “strong possibility” Ayton ends up a Laker.
This shouldn’t be a surprise, the Lakers need a big and Ayton — for all his flaws — is a better fit than Capela. Lopez had been the top target: He sets a good pick and can roll to the rim or pop out for a 3-pointer (37.3% from beyond the arc last season) and is the best defender of the group, even at age 37. It’s that age, combined with the fact that Lopez’s game has noticeably slipped over the past year, that gives teams pause.
The Lakers have the full $14.1 million mid-level exception to throw at their next center, although ideally, they would like to split that up between a couple of players. That exception is not going to be enough to bring back Dorian Finney-Smith, who just declined his $15.4 million contract for next season. The Lakers expect to lose him to the Rockets, Woike reports.
Knicks, Kings, Nuggets interested in Westbrook
Russell Westbrook declined his $3.5 million player option, making him a free agent and giving himself control over where he plays next...
But that could still be Denver. The Nuggets, as well as the Knicks and Kings, are interested in Westbrook, reports Marc Stein and Jake Fischer at The Stein Line. I doubt Westbrook chooses Sacramento (although they can offer the biggest role, and if they overpay he might have to consider it). We know how well Westbrook played alongside Nikola Jokic, but his role and money there would be very similar to what he earned a year ago. How would Westbrook fit in the Knicks’ system? Well, that would assume they had a coach and we knew their system. In New York, Westbrook would come off the bench and play next to Miles “Duece” McBride, and that, plus being on a contending team in the East, could interest Westbrook. It’s all just something to watch.
Warriors linked to Al Horford
A couple of new reports have linked free agent center Al Horford to the Golden State Warriors (Anthony Slater at The Athletic is one). There is a logical fit there, the Warriors are at their best with Draymond Green at the five, but he can’t play there full time, so they then turn to Kevon Looney. Horford, with his ability to defend in the paint and on the perimeter, is a perfect stylistic fit for Golden State, playing off Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler.
However, making it work is not easy, as Slater explained well:
If the Warriors use the taxpayer midlevel exception (projected at around $5.7 million) on Horford or another free agent, they’ll be hard-capped at the second apron, currently projected at $207.8 million. The Warriors currently have nine players under contract at $170.5 million. Kuminga’s qualifying offer, extended over the weekend by the Warriors, is $7.9 million, but his cap hold is $22.9 million, further clogging the Warriors’ books if his situation drags deeper into July.
Kuminga is a whole other thing that will be all over this live updated tracker in the coming days.
Clippers, Nicolas Batum agree to new deal
For a player scoring 4 points a game and averaging less than 18 minutes a night, it’s difficult to overstate how much Nicolas Batum means to the Clippers. He steadies their bench units, provides needed leadership, and is a hand-in-glove fit for how the Clippers want to play.
Which is why the Clippers are giving him as large a deal as they can with his non-Bird rights — $11.5 million over two years — to return, a story broken by ESPN’s Shams Charania.
Even with this deal and the team re-signing James Harden, the Clippers are $8.5 million below the luxury tax line, affording them the flexibility to bring in a player at the full mid-level exception ($14.1 million) or make a bold trade. Keep an eye on this team, they are in the middle of a lot of rumors around the league.
Jazz, Jordan Clarkson agree to buyout
Add Jordan Clarkson to the list of free agents.
Clarkson averaged 16.2 points a game last season while shooting 36.2% from 3, and he wanted to be moved to a contender, but there was no trade market because of his $14.3 million contract. So, the Jazz and Clarkson have agreed to a contract buyout, reports ESPN’s Shams Charania. With this buyout — where Clarkson certainly is giving the Jazz a discount, how much we don’t yet know — he becomes a free agent. There will be interest from playoff teams who want to add some bench scoring, just didn’t want to do it at the price he was getting paid. Expect now a taxpayer mid-level sized contract ($5.7 million) or less.
Nets bring back DayRon Sharpe, Ziaire Williams
By keeping all five of their first-round draft picks this year, the Brooklyn Nets are leaning hard into youth and a rebuild. With that, the Nets made a couple of moves before free agency opened Monday.
First, they are bringing back big man DayRon Sharpe. This is a player the Nets didn’t extend a qualifying offer to, making him an unrestricted free agent. However, the sides agreed to a two-year, $12 million contract, a story broken by ESPN’s Shams Charania. Sharpe averaged 7.9 points and, 6.6 rebounds a game for the Nets last season.
Second, the Nets are re-signing wing Ziaire Williams on a two-year, $12 million contract, Charania reports. Last season, Williams started more than half the Nets’ games and averaged 10 points and 4.6 rebounds a night.
