Sixers lose several guard options during first wave of NBA free agency

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It didn’t take long for talks of big money to swirl around the start of NBA free agency, which began at 12:01 a.m. Friday morning. Within the first hour, multi-year deals — some max — were being reported.

Several of them affected the Sixers.

• Linsanity isn't coming to Philly. Point guard Jeremy Lin tweeted that he's joining the Nets on what the Vertical's Adrian Wojnarowski reports is a three-year, $36 million deal. 

• Lakers guard Jordan Clarkson agreed to return on a four-year, $50 million contract, Wojnarowski reports. Clarkson was a restricted free agent who would have made sense for the Sixers to pursue.

• Point guard Matthew Dellavedova won't be coming to the Sixers. He agreed to a four-year, $38.5 million offer sheet with the Bucks, according to ESPN's Marc Stein. When players can officially sign on July 7, Cleveland will have three days to decide to either match the offer or let Dellavedova go to Milwaukee. No other team can swoop in.

DeMar DeRozan will remain with the Raptors on a five-year, $139 million deal, the Vertical reports. DeRozan was viewed as the top free-agent guard.

• And if you liked O.J. Mayo as a shooting guard option for the Sixers, sorry. He was "dismissed and disqualified" by the NBA on Friday for violating the league's anti-drug program.

Elsewhere, the high salaries were not a surprise. The jump was going to happen with the increase in the salary cap. The recipients in some cases, however, were less expected. Here is a look at three other situations that emerged early in free agency. Deals cannot be finalized until the moratorium period ends July 7.

Bradley Beal nearing max to remain with Wizards (according to Woj)

Terms: 5 years, $128 million, no options

Beal is one of the best shooting guards available in free agency (restricted). He is a player who could have made a major impact on a new team (think, in the Sixers’ backcourt), but it looks like he will remain in Washington to give the Wizards a one-two punch with John Wall. Beal averaged 17.4 points, 3.4 rebounds and 2.9 assists last season. He shot 44.9 percent from the field and 38.7 percent from three. Beal turned just 23 years old on June 28.

How this impacts the Sixers next season: Even though the Sixers need help at the two-spot, they are rebuilding and not necessarily in the max deal game this summer. Beal's return should help get the Wizards back on track to the playoffs as they can build around their young guards.

Like the Noah move with the Knicks, this doesn't have a major effect on the Sixers next season, but could in the standings for future years as the Sixers work to become a playoff team.

Timofey Mozgov agrees with Lakers (per Woj)

Terms: 4 years, $64 million

This was the biggest “say what?” news of the night. Mozgov appeared in only 13 games and totaled 76 minutes in the Cavaliers’ entire championship run. He averaged 1.2 points and 1.6 rebounds in 5.8 minutes during the playoffs. So let’s go back a season, when his value seemed to be more aligned with what he will be earning. During the 2015-16 postseason, Mozgov posted 10.6 points, 7.3 rebounds and 1.8 blocks in 26.5 minutes over 20 games, all as a starter, for the Cavs.

The Lakers need a big man (Roy Hibbert and Robert Sacre are unrestricted free agents), and at 7-foot-1, 275 pounds, Mozgov fits the bill — one that will cost them a hefty sum each season.

How this impacts the Sixers next season: The Sixers still are waiting on that draft pick from the Lakers, which is top-three protected again in 2017. Each roster move for the Lakers could play a role in where they stand in the lottery next season.

Joakim Noah to leave Bulls for Knicks (according to Tim Bontemps of the Washington Post)

Terms: 4 years, $72 million

Noah has played his entire nine-year career on the Bulls. That chapter will be closing, but this new one will bring familiarity. Noah will be playing in the city where he was born and with former teammate Derrick Rose, who the Knicks traded for recently. The length of this deal raised some eyebrows because Noah is 31 years old and has battled injuries throughout his career. Last season, he appeared in just 29 games (two starts) and underwent shoulder surgery in January. Noah averaged 4.3 points, 8.8 rebounds and 3.8 assists in 21.9 minutes before the season-ending operation. 

How this impacts the Sixers next season: The Knicks have fallen out of playoff contention. They will look to improve in the East with a tandem of Noah, Rose, Carmelo Anthony and Kristaps Porzingis. This signing doesn’t have an immediate impact on the Sixers until they begin fighting for postseason seedings.

More moves on Friday:

Hassan Whiteside will return to the Heat, he announced via The Players' Tribune

• The Pistons and Andre Drummond are nearing a five-year, $130 million max contract, according to Stein.

• The Hornets are poised to keep forward Nicolas Batum on a five-year, $120 million deal, according to Woj

• Guard D.J. Augustin agreed to a four-year, $29 million deal with the Magic, per ESPN's Chris Broussard.

• The Pacers brought in big man Al Jefferson on a three-year, $30 million deal, according to Stein.

• This one's a doozy. The Blazers agreed to a four-year, $70 million contract with Evan Turner, according to The Vertical.

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