And as the first day of free agency counted down, LeBron James decided to join ... the Lakers. Read the full story below:
Updated
Minor Lakers news...
Lakers sign...Moe Wagner. Can't be traded for 30 days. Carry on.
— Brian Windhorst (@WindhorstESPN) July 1, 2018
Cleveland Cavaliers update: Paul George staying in OKC raised the chance of LeBron returning to Cleveland slightly. The news that LeBron James’s camp is meeting with the 76ers today will mean the King is at least open to playing next season somewhere other than LA. While still unlikely, the Cavs’s chances have improved since last night.
Salah Mejri signs to Dallas
Looks like Salah Mejri has signed with Dallas after all...
Congrats to @50Mejri on his new contract with the @dallasmavs! We could not be more excited that you’re staying with the Mavs!
— Priority Sports (@PrioritySports) July 1, 2018
Potential makings of a trade for the Suns...
Don't know what to make about Marquese Chriss not being on Summer League roster. Don't want to jump to conclusions
— scott bordow (@sbordow) July 1, 2018
The financials of the Paul George-OKC deal that stunned us all last night.
Here's essence of Paul George's 4-year, $137M deal, w/ player option: New CBA allows George to extend after 2nd anniversary of deal. Extending on max w/ OKC after year 2, while also opting out of final year, could make this 7-year, $290M-plus deal based on future cap projections.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 1, 2018
Possible trade coming for Pistons...
Right now, looks like Reggie Bullock's $2.5M team option would put #Pistons into luxury tax. Might be a sign that a trade is coming.
— Rod Beard (@detnewsRodBeard) July 1, 2018
Some minor Pacers news...
Pacers have signed first-round pick Aaron Holiday.
— Scott Agness (@ScottAgness) July 1, 2018
Can’t see the Jazz shelling out too much for Booker, who will be looking to establish some value after spending the 2017-18 season with three teams. Could this mean something for any potential Derrick Favors deal?
The Utah Jazz have reached out to unrestricted free agent forward Trevor Booker, league sources tell The Salt Lake Tribune. Booker has previously played for the Jazz
— Tony Jones (@tribjazz) July 1, 2018
Updated
Dallas Mavericks news... Both Ferrell and Curry good team guys, will be missed.
dallas would have to renounce seth curry and yogi ferrell's cap holds to clear that $5m in space, so they're likely gone.
— Tim Cato (@tim_cato) July 1, 2018
they would retain their $4.4 million room exception. https://t.co/c8v6sjZsTM
Big news coming out of Laker-Land. Johnson and Pelinka have to salvage this situation any way they can.
Lakers, working multiple scenarios, will meet this afternoon with Rockets RFA Clint Capela, per league source.
— David Aldridge (@daldridgetnt) July 1, 2018
Derrick Jones Jr signs with Miami
Nice pick up by Miami who get a the flashy Jones Jr on a two-year $3.16m minimum deal.
Per source, Derrick Jones Jr. agreed to a two-year regular contract (not a 2-way deal) with the Heat today. Miami can sign 2 players to two-way deals if it wishes, with Heat having previously made offer sheet to Derrick Walton Jr. for one of those slots if the Heat chooses.
— Barry Jackson (@flasportsbuzz) July 1, 2018
Dirk Nowitzki signs with Dallas
The deals are starting to come in thick and fast, the latest being Dirk and the Mavs signing the original team option that was declined to make room for DeAndre Jordan.
The Dallas Mavericks will likely utilize remaining $5M in salary cap space to re-sign franchise cornerstone Dirk Nowitzki, league sources tell Yahoo. Nowitzki's $5M team option was declined before start of free agency to give Dallas flexibility.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 1, 2018
Updated
LeBron James news... Small update. Make what you want of it.
The level of contact between LeBron James and the Lakers thus far is not yet clear, but one source close to the process tells @NYTSports that LeBron and Lakers lead recruiter Magic Johnson did NOT have dinner together after free agency began at 9:01 PM Los Angeles time last night
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) July 1, 2018
Glenn Robinson III signs with Detroit
Glenn Robinson III returns home to Michigan where he played in college. Great pick up for Detroit who had multiple other teams interested in the wing who shot 41% from three at Indiana last year, albeit in just 23 games. Deal is for two years and $8.3m, including a team option.
Free agent Glenn Robinson III is finalizing a deal with the Detroit Pistons, league sources tell Yahoo.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 1, 2018
Updated
Jennings to the Bucks not going as planned...
Bucks guard Brandon Jennings was completely under the impression that his $2.2 million contract was guaranteed for next season, a source told @TheUndefeated. But apparently the Bucks are still deliberating to Jenning’s surprise, a source said. https://t.co/zvsaBu9EwR
— Marc J. Spears (@MarcJSpearsESPN) July 1, 2018
Surprise potential move for the Rockets. You’d think they need shooters and and MCW is not a shooter — .237 from three last season.
Houston Rockets officials have a meeting set up today with Michael Carter-Williams, league sources say.
— Zach Lowe (@ZachLowe_NBA) July 1, 2018
If you had to give up one, who would you pick?
The 76ers have engaged in talks with the Spurs on a potential Kawhi Leonard trade.
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) July 1, 2018
So far, Philly has kept Fultz, Embiid and Simmons off limits in talks, team sources tell @wojespn. pic.twitter.com/PsA3hNMQaw
Can’t see Booker rejecting a max extension over this, but something to keep an eye on.
Sources: As he becomes eligible for five-year maximum rookie extension, Phoenix Suns' Devin Booker is upset with the front office over release of best friend Tyler Ulis, who started 43 games last season.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 1, 2018
While we wait for the decision 3.0, there are more than 100 free agents still on the market. As soon as LeBron does make his decision, the rest of the board could fall like dominoes. Track all the remaining players on our player tracker.
Not saying that this tweet worked, but...
The Lakers are FOREVER gonna be Kobe’s and Magic’s team.... Process that
— Joel Embiid (@JoelEmbiid) June 30, 2018
Non-Lebron James news.. now that Fred VanVleet is off the table, some potential options for the Suns at point guard:
- Ty Lawson
- Raymond Felton
- Jameer Nelson
- Devin Harris
- Jarrett Jack
Market for Marcus Smart is shrinking fast.
Marcus Smart’s RFA options diminished a bit in the opening hours of free agency.https://t.co/SESp65wWdt pic.twitter.com/3nIQRoKxsI
— Tom Westerholm (@Tom_NBA) July 1, 2018
Philadelphia 76ers update: It’s amazing what can happen in a matter of hours. The Sixers were seemingly the third team in the LeBron sweepstakes with a small chance, but after Paul George elected to stay in OKC, and Woj reporting that LeBron’s team will meet with Philly’s management, the Sixers appear to be favourites to land not only the King, but Kawhi Leonard as well.
This confirms what I was saying earlier. Philly can have it’s cake and eat it.
Among the Sixers' planned top selling points to LeBron James' agent Rich Paul today: Philly believes it still has a real chance to win the Kawhi Leonard trade sweepstakes, league sources say
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) July 1, 2018
Hicks is a lonnngg big man but needs to develop an outside shot if he’s to last in today’s NBA.
Per sources: the Knicks have strong interest in re-signing Isaiah Hicks, a restricted free agent who was on a two-way contract last season. New York has the right match any offer to Hicks.
— Ian Begley (@IanBegley) July 1, 2018
Los Angeles Lakers update: Free agency couldn’t have gotten off to a worser start for the Lakers after Paul George announced he’ll be staying with Russell Westbrook and the Thunder. Magic Johnson and Rob Pelinka will have been holding their breath for the past 12 hours, and they won’t be breathing any easier after Woj broke the news today that LeBron James’s agent, Rich Paul, is meeting 76ers management in LA. If Philly steals LeBron from under the their noses, I struggle to think of where Magic and Pelinka go from here.
More LeBron James news... Another permutation is that Philadelphia gets LeBron AND Kawhi. The Sixers have the space to sign LeBron to the max and can send multiple contracts — Covington, Saric, Fultz — to the Spurs to match Kawhi’s salary. Boy would the Sixers be the favourite in the east.
LeBron James news... LeBron’s camp meeting with Philadelphia is a clear signal that the Lakers are on the back foot. This could also mean that the Cavaliers are back in the fold.
Kyle O’Quinn’s gamble looks like it’s going to pay off...
From earlier: Things can change but based on the level of interest shown on the first night of free agency it seems as if Kyle O’Quinn is much more likely to sign with another team than sign with the Knicks, per people familiar with the matter.
— Ian Begley (@IanBegley) July 1, 2018
Luke Kornet re-signs with New York
The Knicks and Luke Kornet have agreed to terms on a 1-year, $1.6 million deal, a source confirms. Kornet was on a 2-way contract as a rookie in 17-18 but showed some ability as a shot-blocker & 3-pt shooter. He talked about his rookie year on a pod w/ me https://t.co/fw5dOOC48K
— Mike Vorkunov (@MikeVorkunov) July 1, 2018
Woj Bomb
For today's meeting, Sixers will meet with LeBron James' reps, sources tell ESPN. James will not attend this meeting. https://t.co/KJGS0xp5Yy
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 1, 2018
In case you didn’t believe Woj earlier this morning, Marco Belinelli makes it official.
I’m back !!!! pic.twitter.com/Bv4oRpmPAl
— Marco Belinelli (@marcobelinelli) July 1, 2018
Wayne Ellington is sure to be a sought after free agent. Will be able to fit in to most teams’s systems with his ability to space the floor behind the three-point line.
Start of NBA free agency opens window on where Heat, Ellington stand. https://t.co/PM4d8BeBSB
— Ira Winderman (@IraHeatBeat) July 1, 2018
LeBron James news...
Yes, LeBron joined Rich Paul and Cavs GM Koby Altman on the phone last night. But sources won't describe nature of the call. Was it more of a hello or good-bye? @clevelanddotcom https://t.co/zn9jEV1LAK
— Joe Vardon (@joevardon) July 1, 2018
JaVale McGee has several potential suitors, according to TNT’s David Aldridge. Limited game but useful around the rim on both ends of the floor. McGee has previously said he wants to return to Warriors.
Warriors, Lakers, Pelicans and Thunder currently in the mix for @JaValeMcGee, per source.
— David Aldridge (@daldridgetnt) July 1, 2018
Milwaukee Bucks keep Brandon Jennings
Nice keep for Milwaukee. Jennings is still only 28 and is good value at $2.2m.
The Bucks will not waive guard Brandon Jennings at the deadline today thus making his $2.2 million contract guaranteed for next season, a source told ESPN's The Undefeated.
— Marc J. Spears (@MarcJSpearsESPN) July 1, 2018
The Rockets will be on the prowl for cheap deals to fill their bench. Houston lost Ariza to Phoenix and Luc Mbah a Moute is unrestricted and should command a hefty salary.
Rockets signing one of Ennis/Glenn Robinson III/Treveon Graham to a cheapo deal feels like a mortal lock. (Just me putting puzzle pieces together, no hard sourcing). Last two may be available at vet minimum, Ennis market a little less clear but won't be that much higher if at all https://t.co/JggovBrkbF
— Zach Lowe (@ZachLowe_NBA) July 1, 2018
Definitely something to pay attention to. VanVleet’s offense is better than Smart’s, but the same can be said about Smart’s defense over FVV’s.
Could this set the Smart market? https://t.co/MYlBjixeWG
— Fred Katz (@FredKatz) July 1, 2018
Some minor Hawks news. Atlanta’s three rookies confirm deals.
Trae Young, Kevin Huerter and Omari Spellman signed their contacts. Rookie scale deals are 2 years + 2 option yrs at 120 percent of max.
— Michael Cunningham (@MCunninghamAJC) July 1, 2018
Fred VanVleet re-signs with Toronto
The Raptors’s priority has been sealed with a good two-year deal for both parties. Toronto GM didn’t want to overpay in time and money with Phoenix needing a point guard, and they get their talisman on an affordable deal.
Restricted free agent Fred VanVleet has agreed to a two-year, $18 million deal to return to Toronto, league sources tell Yahoo.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 1, 2018
Updated
Knicks news. Not sure they can land Durant or Klay, but under stable management, New York is taking steps in the right direction.
KD, who originally dubbed Porzingis "unicorn,'' set up his contract last night to become free agent along with Klay Thompson in 2019. Will Fizdale's #Knicks at least get a Hamptons meeting? https://t.co/W0UHZ5LVfR
— Marc Berman (@NYPost_Berman) July 1, 2018
Pistons don’t have much cap room so Ennis might be best they can get.
The Pistons have James Ennis’ early bird rights and have made re-signing him a priority. Several other teams, including the Sixers, Rockets and Nets, have expressed interest in signing the 28-year-old wing, league sources say.
— Ian Begley (@IanBegley) July 1, 2018
Not surprised the savvy veteran Amir Johnson is receiving a lot of interest. But don’t expect teams to over pay like the Philly J.J. Redick deal last summer.
I'm hearing that Amir Johnson is receiving interest from the Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Clippers and the New York Knicks.
— Keith Pompey (@PompeyOnSixers) July 1, 2018
Atlanta Hawks update: While the Hawks have yet to sign anyone, they did decline options to Malcolm Delaney and Damion Lee in a couple of salary-clearing moves. Atlanta has more than $30m in cap space, and may choose to offer a large one-year deal to a veteran to make sure it has max room next summer. Not much else apart from Dewayne Dedmon and Mike Muscala opting into their player options earlier in the week.
Day 1 Team Update
Updated news for all 30 teams including the Thunder’s next move, what the Lakers do now without Paul George and paralysis crippling the Cavaliers.
Aron Baynes was happy last night in his Celtics jersey...
🐐 @aronbaynes pic.twitter.com/dPwwV3O7gT
— GreenRuns4Ever (@GreenRuns4Ever) July 1, 2018
Memphis Grizzlies update: Memphis has the rare distinction of having one of the highest salaries and one of the worst records last season. Already over the cap, the Grizz made a sensible move in the early hours by signing Omri Casspi from the Warriors on a single-year deal, though it’s unknown for how much. It’s unlikely that unresticted free agent Tyreke Evans will choose to re-sign with a high-lottery team, and Mario Chalmers may also look around to see where his championship experience is valued. Decreasing the wage bill is the main concern.
Quick break from the basketball to wish those celebrating around the world a happy Canada Day!
It’s officially #CanadaDay somewhere! We can’t wait to see how Canadians will celebrate our beautiful country around the world!
— Canada (@Canada) June 30, 2018
📍West Africa 📷:@CanEmbBFA pic.twitter.com/bssO2VIbxO
Minor Miami Heat news...
Heat guarantee 2018-19 salary of Rodney McGruder, keeping him from free agency. https://t.co/Hl56E7KXwE …
— Ira Winderman (@IraHeatBeat) July 1, 2018
New Orleans Pelicans update: The Pelicans are another team whose offseason is seemingly being held up by a single player. DeMarcus Cousins is due to meet with the Pelicans and the Lakers today, with a decision expected in the next couple of days, if not tonight. New Orleans will then need to decide on Rajon Rondo, Ian Clark and Jordan Crawford.
Cleveland Cavaliers update: Cleveland is another team that has been ice cold so far, but for different reasons. The only move of note was the reported phone call general manager Koby Altman made to LeBron James and Rich Paul at 12:01 a.m. ET. Together with Paul George staying in OKC, the chances of LeBron staying in Cleveland just improved. The Cavs have a host of free agents and possible trades, but everything is blocked, for now, by the King.
Knicks reportedly interested in Amir Johnson on a one-year deal. Short-term contracts will be the theme of this offseason as teams have one eye on creating max cap space in time for the salary spike next summer.
From earlier: The Knicks are one of the teams that's reached out to veteran forward Amir Johnson on the first night of free agency, per ESPN sources. New York has been consistent in telling agents it strongly prefers to sign players to one-year deals this summer.
— Ian Begley (@IanBegley) July 1, 2018
Toronto Raptors update: The Raptors have been eerily quiet, which is unusual for general manager Masai Ujiri. Toronto have just one main piece of business to take care of: re-signing restricted free agent Fred VanVleet. The former Wichita State Shocker was the talisman of the best bench in the NBA last season, and should see an annual salary between $8m and $10m, it just depends on for how long. VanVleet has garnered interest from several teams, most notably the Suns, who desperately need a point guard. It’s no secret that Ujiri wants to shed some of the $128m in salary already committed next season, but may wait to see if LeBron James is playing in the east next season before he makes any moves.
Milwaukee Bucks update: The Bucks made a great start to free agency, securing Ersan Ilyasova on a three-year $21m deal, that sees the Turkish wing return to Wisconsin after a three year absence. The biggest question the Bucks have to answer is the Jabari Parker dilemma: Can they rely on him to stay healthy and how much is that risk worth? I think it might be a few days before we find out that answer as Parker won’t be at the top of many teams’s offseason plans.
Boston Celtics update: The Celtics had a relatively quiet opening few hours of free agency, which is rare considering they have Danny Ainge at the helm. They quickly re-signed Kiwi big-man Aron Baynes to a team-friendly two-year $12m deal, and now figure to keep an eye out on the Kawhi Leonard situation to see if any deal is possible with the Spurs. The Celts also have restricted free agent Marcus Smart to figure out, and waiting might just be the best option as the market for defense-first point guards is not too hot right now. Don’t expect for Ainge to be quiet for too much longer.
Phoenix Suns update: The Suns came out of nowhere to sign Trevor Ariza away from the Rockets on a one-year $15m deal. The thirty-two year old Ariza will provide the Suns, whose average age is just 24, with essential veteran leadership, while the length of the contract allows Phoenix to target talented free agents next summer. Earlier in the week, the Suns declined their team options on Alex Len and Elfrid Payton, and now figure to recruit a capable point guard with only Brandon Knight as a consistent ball handler on the roster.
Updated: Team salaries and cap space for all 30 teams have just been refreshed to reflect the latest signings. The Thunder’s tax bill is going be historic.
Portland Trail Blazers update: The biggest thing that’s happened in Blazer-land so far has been the reactions of Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum to the departure of Ed Davis. Portland’s backcourt expressed their respect for Davis, who emerged as a fan and team favourite, immediately as the broke news early this morning.
— Damian Lillard (@Dame_Lillard) July 1, 2018
🤝 lost a real one https://t.co/7XTotNgIZX
— CJ McCollum (@CJMcCollum) July 1, 2018
Dallas Mavericks update: Aside from the DeAndre Jordan signing, it’s been quiet for the Mavs. DJ verbally committed to the Mavs at 12:01 a.m. ET on a one-year $24.1m deal, almost identical to the contract he had left with the Clippers. Next up for Mark Cuban is re-signing Dirk Nowitzki to a lesser deal — though it’s unknown how much less. Jordan will provide a great stop gap at center and will be the perfect lob target for young point guards Dennis Smith Jr and Luka Dončić, until next summer when they can target a younger big man through free agency or the draft.
Knicks in no rush to extend Kristaps Porzingis, according to Marc Berman of the New York Post.
Knicks in no rush to extend Kristaps Porzingis. who can sign July 6 https://t.co/KpllBakPVF
— Marc Berman (@NYPost_Berman) July 1, 2018
Didn’t realise this until just now... Crazy!
The Thunder are built on two stars in their prime that both grew up in Southern California as Laker fans. And they’ve decided to plant their flags in Oklahoma City. Amazing.
— Royce Young (@royceyoung) July 1, 2018
Minnesota Timberwolves update: The T’Wolves have been busier than it may seem, having secured the re-signing of Derrick Rose on a one-year minimum deal and extending a qualifying offer to Nemanja Bjelica. Elsewhere, Jamal Crawford has been flirting with the Warriors and Tom Thibodeau has been busy turning away players, declining the team options of Amile Jefferson and Marcus Georges-Hunt. The stage has also been set for a large Jimmy Butler extension. Expect more deals to be made by Thibs.
Brooklyn Nets update: Brooklyn has been busy so far re-signing sharpshooter Joe Harris to a two-year $16m deal, and then nabbing Ed Davis from the Blazers for one year and $4.4m. Nik Stauskas went the other way to the Blazers, and now Sean Marks’s attention turns to buying out Dwight Howard to free up enough space for a bad contract and draft compensation from another team, similar to the DeMarre Carroll deal last year. The Nets continue to make good decisions.
Few players Houston could target to replace Ariza on cheap one-year deals: J.J. Redick, Anthony Tolliver, Wayne Ellington, Tyreke Evans. Could be a few days before the market shakes out though.
Indiana Pacers update: The Pacers were one of the busiest teams leading up to free agency, declining the team options on Lance Stephenson and Joe Young, while Thaddeus Young and Corey Joseph both opted into their player options. Since then, general manager Kevin Pritchard signed Doug McDermott to a three-year $22m deal who will space the floor nicely for Victor Oladipo. The Pacers still figure to have around $10m in cap room, but need to keep an eye on next summer when Oladipo and Domantas Sabonis are up for free agency.
Day 1 Player Update
So far 40 players have signed deals. Not bad for seven hours. That means more than 150 players remain unsigned. We are tracking every single one of them on our player tracker.
Updated
Denver Nuggets update: The Nuggets have been one of the busiest teams so far. They inked star center Nikola Jokic to a five-year $146.5 max contract one minute after free agency opened, and then re-signed wing Will Barton to a four-year $54m deal. And in the past couple of hours, the Nuggets have reportedly been in contact with one LeBron James over coming to play in the Mile High City.
Quick bit about Utah and Derrick Favors who have been quiet so far. Both parties have maintained good communication and a deal between the two could come today. Definitely something to monitor.
Houston Rockets update: The main priority for the Rockets has been completed as they re-signed Chris Paul to a huge four-year contract worth $160m. The deal is backloaded and will see CP3 and Harden paid a combined $88m in 2021. In other news, the Rockets re-signed Gerald Green for one year and $2.4m, and Trevor Ariza signed with Phoenix on a one-year $15m deal, with reports coming out that Ariza wanted a bigger role in Houston. Daryl Morey’s attention now turns to Clint Capela and the two parties are due to meet later today. The return of a big three of Harden, Paul and Capela, along with a replenished bench will make for a good run against the Warriors for another year.
Updated
LeBron James news: Can imagine the Cavs’s chances of re-signing LeBron improved slightly after the Paul George news.
Cavs general manager Koby Altman spoke to both Rich Paul and LeBron James over the phone at 12:01 a.m., sources tell ESPN.
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) July 1, 2018
San Antonio Spurs update: Amidst the chaos of the Kawhi Leonard situation, the Spurs have quietly had a good start to free agency. Gregg Popovich and co. re-signed Rudy Gay for one year and $10m, and then Marco Belinelli returned on a two-year $12m deal. If Kawhi does end up getting traded, the Spurs should figure to be a playoff contender again next season, which will make it 22 seasons in a row — the longest in NBA history. Next up for the Spurs (other than Kawhi) will be Tony Parker.
Interesting stuff on Derrick Rose’s shoe deal with Adidas. Rarely does a player’s shoe deal pay more than their team salary, but Rose will earn seven times more from Adidas than he will from the Timberwolves next year.
By being on a NBA roster, DRose’s Adidas contract kicks in and will pay him more than $14.5 Million for the 2018-19 season. He’ll wear the DRose 9 signature shoe this year. https://t.co/A3TAMfntKa
— Nick DePaula (@NickDePaula) July 1, 2018
Top 10 free agents still on the board:
- LeBron James
- Clint Capela
- Derrick Favors
- Julius Randle
- J.J. Redick
- Kyle Anderson
- Montrezl Harrell
- Anthony Tolliver
- Kentavious Caldwell-Pope
- Dirk Nowitzki
Updates for all 190 free agents here.
Golden State Warriors update: The Warriors started off the day by re-signing Kevin Durant to a 1+1 deal that will pay him $30m next season and a player option for $31.5m in 2019-20. There were some rumblings that Durant was irked by general manager Bob Myer’s awkward comments during the recent championship parade, but those rumours have been put to bed. The Warriors’s attention now turns toward filling out the rest of their roster, and some names that have come up are Jamal Crawford, Dwight Howard and Tyreke Evans. Expect them to be small one-year deals, as Myers has to also keep an eye on the Klay Thompson free agency next summer. Overall, Warriors fans should be content as the gap between them and the rest of the league has yet to be closed.
LeBron James to the Nuggets? I can imagine the whole league trying to get a meeting, but with Paul George staying in OKC, anything could happen. I can vouch that Denver is a beautiful city with Nikola Jokic and Gary Harris, but this is unlikely.
With Jokic and Barton on board, the Denver Nuggets will turn their attention to one more free agent: LeBron James. The Nuggets have been in contact with James's agent and will aggressively pursue a meeting.
— Chris Mannix (@ChrisMannixYS) July 1, 2018
Oklahoma City Thunder update: The team of the day so far has clearly been the Thunder. They secured the verbal commitment of Paul George shortly after the 12a.m. ET deadline, and then quickly re-signed defensive wing Jerami Grant. With Carmelo Anthony also returning to the Sooner State, Sam Presti and the Thunder front office have got much work to do to improve the same roster that exited the playoffs in the first round last season, and justify what would be the largest tax bill in NBA history. Keeping Paul George in the smaller market to LA was a huge win for OKC, but its giant tax bill is unsustainable, so there’s the possibility that they can attach draft compensation to Anthony to send him elsewhere.
With Paul George and Jerami Grant on board, Oklahoma City now has a payroll of $156M with 11 players under contract. Because of the repeater tax penalty, the Thunder currently have a tax bill of $130M. The tax bill would be the largest in NBA history.
— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) July 1, 2018
Philadelphia 76ers update: It’s been a quiet opening to free agency for the Sixers, who saw Ersan Ilyasova and Marco Belinelli both return to their former teams. Philly has more than $30m in cap space, and will be keeping close tabs on the LeBron James situation. If the King decides to play in LA or Cleveland (or somewhere other than Philadelphia), the Sixers could choose to bring back J.J. Redick back on a short-term contract, similar to the one-year $23m deal they agreed to last year. Without a general manager at the helm, it could be a quiet offseason, but a few names Philly could target to replace the lost production are Anthony Tolliver, Tyreke Evans and Wayne Ellington.
Paul George took to his Instagram earlier. Russell Westbrook sure did make an impression on PG3 over the past year. Interesting that there’s no sight or mention of Carmelo Anthony.
Nik Stauskas agrees to deal with Portland
Nice pick up for the Blazers, who have let Shabazz Napier, Ed Davis and Pat Connaughton all leave the Pacific Northwest so far. Stauskas played in just 41 games with the Sixers and Nets last season, and figures to come off the bench behind Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum. Stauskas is a capable shooter and ball handler, though he’ll face competition for playing time by new draftee Anfernee Simons.
Free agent guard Nik Stauskas has agreed to a deal with Portland, league sources tell ESPN.
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) July 1, 2018
LA Lakers update: Can’t overstate how bad of a start this has been for the Lakers. Paul George, the Los Angeles native, committed to the Thunder without even giving Magic Johnson and Rob Pelinka a meeting. If LeBron decides to go elsewhere as well, the Lakers’s front office will be strife with humiliation. Kawhi is still on the trading block, but how much leverage the Lakers will have over the Spurs all depends on what the King does. Julius Randle will also be on tenterhooks as the restricted free agent’s future all depends on what happens with LeBron and Kawhi.
Rockets to meet with Clint Capela on Sunday
Woj is still awake and that means we are too. Houston has been expected to ink Capela to a big extension and it could be finalised in the coming hours. Talk of a four-year $80m deal for the Swiss big man is on the table.
Rockets front office will meet with restricted free agent center Clint Capela and his Wasserman Media Group agents on Sunday in Los Angeles, sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 1, 2018
New York Knicks update: The Knicks have been busy on the phones tonight. After Enes Kanter opted into his $18.6m player option, New York has been sniffing around multiple additions to its roster. Mario Hezonja and Anthony Tolliver are the names to come out publicly so far, but expect any deal to be a small one as the Knicks only have around $4m in cap space. The biggest win of this offseason could end up being reaching a buyout agreement with Joakim Noah, the 33-year-old who’s still owed $38m left over two years.
Here’s one from earlier... Orlando Magic free agent drawing interest from the Knicks and Kings. Hezonja has all the tools to succeed in today’s NBA, but has struggled to fit in since he was drafted three seasons ago. A new team may be all he needs to unlock his potential.
As free agency opens, there is mutual interest between Mario Hezonja and the Knicks, sources say. Hezonja has multiple suitors and the Knicks are looking to offer short-term contracts to maintain cap space for 2019. Sacramento also has interest in Hezonja.
— Ian Begley (@IanBegley) July 1, 2018
DeMarcus Cousins’s phone was busy tonight. ESPN’s Marc Spears reporting that the Pelicans will receive significant competition from the Lakers now that Paul George has verbally committed to OKC. Boogie will hold meetings with both teams, though times and dates have yet to be confirmed.
New Orleans Pelicans All-Star free agent center DeMarcus Cousins received calls from the Pelicans and Los Angeles Lakers tonight once free agency began and is expected to have meetings scheduled with both teams soon, a source told ESPN's The Undefeated.
— Marc J. Spears (@MarcJSpearsESPN) July 1, 2018
Important to note from the language in this tweet is the word “intends.” Players cannot officially sign any deals until the moratorium period ends on 6 July. So anything agreed to tonight by teams and players is completely verbal, thus allowing for another DeAndre Jordan-Dallas Mavericks situation from a few years ago. Here’s some more reading on that.
Sam Presti: The Thunder intends to enter into a player contract with Paul George.
— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) July 1, 2018
Here’s the announcement from Paul George himself at Russell Westbrook’s party. You couldn’t make it up if you tried.
You heard it here first. pic.twitter.com/jN6gBn6j1Z
— Gabe Ikard (@GabeIkard) July 1, 2018
You may have noticed lots of one-year deals already tonight. That’s because of a lack of cap space this summer, and a cap spike next summer. Here’s a list of free agents, ordered by salary. Important to note: There will be a ton of salary coming off the books for teams next season, which will impact what they do tonight. However, most teams will have learned their lesson from 2016 and will be more defensive with the lush contracts that they hand out this time around.
Minnesota to offer Butler extension
A no-brainer for the Timberwolves who will also look to lock up star center Karl-Anthony Towns when he becomes extension-elligible.
The Timberwolves began free agency by informing star guard Jimmy Butler that they intend to offer him a maximum contract extension valued in the four-year, $110 million range as soon as he's eligible to sign the deal on July 9, league sources say
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) July 1, 2018
Interesting development for Philadelphia over the past hour. The Sixers have lost Ersan Ilyasova and Marco Belinelli to the Bucks and Spurs, respectively. Both were key contributors to Philly’s playoff run to the Eastern Conference semi-finals. The fact that the Sixers have more than $30m in cap space and didn’t re-sign them, means LeBron to Philly is still on.
Gerald Green re-signs with Houston
Houston-native Green will return to the Rockets on a $2.4m minimum deal.
Gerald Green returns to the #Rockets on one-year minimum deal according to NBA sources
— Mark Berman (@MarkBermanFox26) July 1, 2018
Marco Belinelli signs with San Antonio
Fantastic get for the Spurs who may be preparing for life after Kawhi. Belinelli is an elite shooter who played for Gregg Popovich between 2013 and 2015.
Free agent guard Marco Belinelli has agreed to a two-year, $12M deal with the Spurs, league source tells ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 1, 2018
The Hawks and Kings are sniffing around Zach LaVine. Both teams will be a good fit for LaVine who’ll be looking to reestablish his value for bad team after an injury-hit season with the Bulls.
The Kings are also showing interest in Zach LaVine, per sources. https://t.co/4NNoCioI8G
— Kevin O'Connor (@KevinOConnorNBA) July 1, 2018
Omri Casspi signs with Memphis
Nice pick up for Memphis who nab Casspi from the Warriors. Casspi averaged just 14 minutes in 53 games last year, but shot 45.5% from three. Nice piece to have alongside Conley, Gasol and Jackson Jr.
Free agent forward Omri Casspi has agreed to a one-year deal with the Memphis Grizzlies, league sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 1, 2018
Derrick Rose re-signs with Minnesota
Former MVP Derrick Rose signs with the Timberwolves for $2.1m. Though it’s a small deal, this will have implications on the pending Karl-Anthony Towns extension.
Free agent Derrick Rose is finalizing a one-year deal to return to Minnesota, league sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 1, 2018
Ed Davis signs with Brooklyn
Brooklyn makes its second deal of free agency and it’s another good one. The Nets get a capable power forward who averaged 5 points and 7.4 rebounds in 19 minutes a game for the Blazers last season.
Free agent forward Ed Davis has agreed to a one-year, $4.4M deal with the Brooklyn Nets, league sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 1, 2018
Trevor Ariza signs with Phoenix
And just like that, we’re back to it. Phoenix uses it’s cap space on Trevor Ariza on a one-year deal. Good deal for the Suns who get a veteran on a short-term deal that will give them back their cap room next summer. This makes it hard though for Phoenix to absorb a large contract and the draft-pick compensation that comes with doing so.
Houston free agent Trevor Ariza has agreed to a one-year, $15M deal with the Phoenix Suns, league sources tell Yahoo.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 1, 2018
Time to breathe. Quick run down of the deals that have gone down so far..
- Paul George re-signs with the Thunder
- Chris Paul signs four-year $160m deal with Houston
- Kevin Durant re-signs with the Warriors
- Rudy Gay re-signs with the Spurs
- Ersan Ilyasova signs with Milwaukee
- Joe Harris re-signs with Brooklyn
- Doug McDermott signs with Indiana
- Will Barton re-signs with Denver
We have a player and team tracker being updated as deals go through. Check it out.
Paul George deal is three years plus a player option in the fourth year for $137m. Stunned.
Paul George has agreed to a four-year, $137M max contract with the Thunder, league source tells ESPN. Deal includes a player option.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 1, 2018
Jerami Grant re-signs with Oklahoma City
There it is... OKC is all-in once again as they bring back Grant. The Thunder’s tax bill next year is going to be historically high.
Oklahoma City forward Jerami Grant has agreed to a three-year, $27M contract to return to the Thunder, league sources told ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 1, 2018
Aron Baynes re-signs with Boston
Nice affordable deal for Boston who make sure their front court is packed with Baynes. This doesn’t mean the Celtics are out on Kawhi, but will now need to send a lot of salary back now that they’re over the cap.
Free agent center Aron Baynes has agreed to a two-year, $11M deal to return to the Boston Celtics, league sources tell Yahoo.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 1, 2018
DeAndre Jordan signs with Dallas
Marc Stein of the New York Times reporting that DeAndre Jordan is heading to Dallas. That was the case in 2015 as well though, before DJ decommitted and re-signed with the Clippers.
No deal can formally be signed until July 6, so both the Mavs and their new center will have to endure plenty of barbs and skepticism until then after what happened in 2015. But Jordan-to-Dallas has been trending this way all week since @NYTSports reported the teams' trade talks https://t.co/G0JodHu7P3
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) July 1, 2018
Breakdown of the Chris Paul deal... Backloaded deal that will see the Rockets pay a combined $88m to Paul and Harden in 2021. Houston is all in.
The breakdown of the $160M Chris Paul contract is: $35.6M, $38.5M, $41.4M and $44.2M. Paul is now the second highest paid point guard, only behind Steph Curry at $37.5M.
— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) July 1, 2018
The Suns could be looking to use up their more-than $20m in cap room. Randle would be a great addition in the front court for Phoenix, but not sure how much Ariza or Bradley would improve the long-term situation for the Suns.
The Suns are interested in Rockets free agent forward Trevor Ariza, per sources. Avery Bradley and Julius Randle also mentioned as targets. The Suns can create around $18 million in salary cap space.
— Kevin O'Connor (@KevinOConnorNBA) July 1, 2018
Ersan Ilyasova signs with Milwaukee
Fantastic deal for the Bucks, who will place an elite shooter next to Giannis. For Ilyasova, the Turkish forward probably could have earned more per year next summer, but three years gives him good security.
Ersan Ilyasova has agreed to a 3 year, $21M deal with Milwaukee, league source tells ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 1, 2018
Updated
Chris Paul re-signs with Houston
As expected Chris Paul re-signs with Houston. The only question entering free-agency was what kind of deal the two parties would sign, and it’s a big one. At age 33, Paul gets $40m per year in a risky deal for the Rockets who get an ageing injury-prone point guard.
All-Star Chris Paul will sign a four-year, $160M max contract to stay with the Houston Rockets, league sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 1, 2018
Joe Harris re-signs with the Nets
It’s not even 12a.m. on the East Coast and the deals are flying in. A nice keep for the Nets who will be looking to make a playoff push next season. If it doesn’t go well, then can trade Harris — an elite three-point shooter — to a contender looking to improve.
Joe Harris has agreed to a two-year, $16M deal with Nets, league sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 1, 2018
Doug McDermott signs with Indiana
Woj reporting that Dougy McBuckets will play in Indiana next year on a solid deal for a three-point sharpshooter.
Doug McDermott has agreed to a three-year, $22M deal with Indiana, league source tells ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 1, 2018
Nikola Jokic signs five-year max with Denver
We knew this heading into tonight’s frenzy, but now it’s official. Jokic signs the max with Denver and will get $146.5m over five years.
Rudy Gay re-signs with Spurs
Shams Charania reports that Rudy Gay has re-signed with the Spurs. Gay previously opted out of his deal and was due to be paid $8.8m next season.
Free agent forward Rudy Gay has committed on a one-year, $10 million deal to re-sign with the San Antonio Spurs, league sources tell Yahoo.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 1, 2018
Attention for the Lakers now turns to LeBron and Kawhi Leonard. The Kawhi-San Antonio Spurs saga has been one of the most intriguing stories of the season. Leonard and the Spurs have disagreed all season over how to treat Leonard’s mysterious right thigh tendinopathy injury, which resulted in the two-time All-Star playing in only nine games this season. Leonard and Gregg Popovich recently had dinner together in San Diego to try and repair the fractured relationship, but it didn’t work and Kawhi reportedly wants out. His preferred destination? LA. Since then, the Spurs have postured, with general manager R. C. Buford saying “We’ll explore all of our options, but the first one would be to do what we can to keep Kawhi as part of our group.” But as ESPN reported, the Spurs and Lakers are in active talks over a possible trade. With all of the mayhem surrounding this year’s free agent class, a potential Leonard trade would be the icing on the cake.
ESPN’s Brian Windhorst reporting that the Thunder’s attention now turning to re-signing Jerami Grant, who emerged as a defensive stopped for OKC last season. The Thunder’s salary bill is going to gargantuan.
DeAndre Jordan and the Mavericks plan on getting straight into it. Jordan declined his player option Friday that would have paid him $24.1m this season. Will be interesting to see what kind of deal the two parties work out.
DeAndre Jordan and the Dallas Mavericks have scheduled a 12:01 a.m. meeting to immediately launch into free-agent negotiations and are expected to quickly reach terms on a new deal tonight, according to league sources.
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) July 1, 2018
Paul George re-signs with the Thunder
There it is! Paul George re-signs with OKC in a huge win for Sam Presti and the Thunder, but an absolutely crushing blow for the Lakers.
Paul George has committed to sign a deal with the Oklahoma City Thunder, league sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 1, 2018
Will Barton re-signs with Denver
Chris Haynes reporting that Will Barton will re-up with the Nuggets on a $13.5m per-year deal. Barton averaged 16 points, 4 assists and 5 rebounds a game last year for a Denver team that missed out on the playoffs by a single game. Together with the Jokic deal, the Nuggets have got off to a blistering start in free agency.
Free agent guard Will Barton and Denver intends to ink a four-year, $54 million deal, league sources ESPN. He will have a player option on fourth year.
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) July 1, 2018
Carmelo Anthony Opts In
Some news from earlier: Carmelo Anthony opted into his $27.9 million player option with the Oklahoma City Thunder. This means that the Thunder have almost $90m committed to Anthony, Westbrook and Adams, and that’s before a potential max deal with Paul George. That’s going to be a serious luxury tax bill for a team that got bounced in the first round of the playoffs last season.
Report: Kevin Durant re-signs with Golden State
Marc Stein of the New York Times was the first to report that Kevin Durant plans to re-up with the Warriors. The deal is a 1+1 and will allow KD to be a free agent (again) next July.
The new deal would pay Durant $30.5 million next season and allow the two-time reigning Finals MVP to return to free agency in July 2019 -- three months before Golden State moves into the new Chase Center in San Francisco https://t.co/Q3qklVsrkz
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) July 1, 2018
Paul George deal could get done tonight. I don’t think anyone saw this coming. Everything in the past couple of days pointed toward the Lakers for PG13, but this one could get wrapped up without Magic Johnson and Rob Pelinka even getting a meeting!
Sources: Thunder GM Sam Presti wanted to hold the Thunder's meeting with Paul George in OKC -- with a party that's one more element to the franchise's year-long recruiting effort on George. OKC officials, George and his agent are meeting tonight.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 1, 2018
NBA sends salary cap memo to teams
The NBA informed teams tonight that the salary cap for the forthcoming 2018-19 season will be $101.9m. The cap will then spike again the next two years, which will have a BIG impact on deals done in the coming hours and days.
Very important information buried in the NBA's salary cap memo sent to teams: projection for 2019-20 cap up to $109 million, and then $116 million for 2020-21. Cap is set at $101.9M for upcoming 2018-19 season.
— Zach Lowe (@ZachLowe_NBA) July 1, 2018
Paul George is in OKC
According to ESPN’s Royce Young, Paul George is in Oklahoma City, the same night Russell Westbrook is throwing a party. Thunder officials will also be at this party. If PG13 ends up staying in Oklahoma, this will have HUGE implications on other free agents and teams, most notably the Lakers.
ESPN Sources: Paul George is arriving in OKC the same day Russell Westbrook is throwing a private party as free agency gets set to open: https://t.co/cwpECJhTTp
— Royce Young (@royceyoung) June 30, 2018
Updated
Preamble
Hello and welcome to the Guardian’s 2018 NBA free agency liveblog! It’s been a busy ten days since the NBA draft, with lots of team’s posturing and plenty of high-profile players opting out of their deals to become unrestricted free agents. Here’s a brief rundown of the major stories heading into the free-agency frenzy.
LeBron declines player option with the Cavaliers. The best player in the game declined his $35.6m player option with Cleveland, setting up the possibility that he signs with the Lakers. By not opting into the final year of his deal, Houston appears to be out of the race due to its lack of cap room, but we’ve learned in the past to never count out Rockets general manager Daryl Morey. And don’t rule out a return to Cleveland as well. The Cavs can offer LeBron a five-year deal, something no other team can do.
Paul George also declines player option. The stars are starting to align and they’re pointing toward the La La Land. George is on for a four-year max contract that will pay him almost double the $20.7m he could have earned in the final year of his deal with the Thunder. Like LeBron, a return to OKC cannot be ruled out, especially with reports of how fond George is with Oklahoma. Sam Presti and the Thunder have gone all in on PG13, and it will be a tense time waiting to see if they’ll be rejected again after Kevin Durant bolted for the Warriors two years ago.
Spurs talking with the Lakers about Kawhi. Perhaps one of the most bizarre stories could come to a close in the next 24 hours as the Lakers have reportedly offered the Spurs a “monster deal” for superstar Kawhi Leonard. We may have to wait and see where LeBron and George land before we have a final decision on Kawhi.
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