The NBA’s free agency negotiation period officially kicked off at 6 p.m. ET on Friday, ahead of the league’s annual moratorium period, which began Saturday at midnight. Deals can be agreed to during this period but can’t be officially signed until July 6.
While this year’s list of free agents doesn’t contain as many superstars as those in years past, there could be plenty of player movement via trades, which we’ve seen in recent offseasons.
Among the big names who were free agents was Toronto Raptors point guard Fred VanVleet, who agreed to a three-year, $130 million deal with the Houston Rockets. Point guard Kyrie Irving re-signed with the Dallas Mavericks on a three-year, $126 million deal.
A player is an unrestricted free agent (UFA) when he is not under contract and is free to sign with any NBA team without any obligation to his former team. A restricted free agent (RFA) is still under control by his current team, but he is not on the roster and is free to seek offers from other teams.
However, before an RFA can accept an offer from another team, his current team must have the opportunity to at least match that offer to retain him. If his current team matches that offer, then that player must remain with his current team.
We’ll have all the latest news and reports as our team of NBA insiders chases down every bit of information to keep you plugged in as the league reshapes itself once again this summer.
Reaction to the biggest deals |Trade grades
30-team free agency guide | Trade tracker
July 1
11:31 p.m. ET: Sacramento Kings center Domantas Sabonis has agreed to a contract renegotiation and extension for a total of $217 million over five years, his agents, Greg Lawrence and Jason Ranne, told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. The deal includes $195 million in new money, as the All-NBA big man’s contract for the 2023-24 season will be renegotiated and four seasons will be added.
10:32 p.m. ET: Former No. 5 overall draft pick Dante Exum is returning to the NBA on a guaranteed deal with the Dallas Mavericks, his agent, Brandon Rosenthal, told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Exum has spent the past two seasons in the EuroLeague, most recently with Partizan.
8:00 p.m. ET: Free agent guard Donte DiVincenzo has agreed to a four-year, $50 million contract with the New York Knicks, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
7:32 p.m. ET: The San Antonio Spurs have signed free agent center Sandro Mamukelashvili to a one-year, $2 million deal, his agents, George Roussakis and Mark Bartelstein, told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
6:59 p.m. ET: The LA Clippers are trading for forward Kenyon Martin Jr. from the Houston Rockets in exchange for two future second-round picks, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Martin played in all 82 games last season with 49 starts, averaging 12.7 points and 5.5 rebounds per game.
6:34 p.m. ET: The LA Clippers have agreed to re-sign veteran guard Russell Westbrook to a two-year deal worth nearly $8 million, his agent, Jeff Schwartz, told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. The deal includes a player option. Westbrook joined the Clippers in a midseason trade from the Los Angeles Lakers this past season and took over as the team’s starting point guard.
6:22 p.m. ET: The Houston Rockets have agreed to sign free agent center Jock Landale to a four-year, $32 million deal, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Only the first season of the deal is guaranteed.
6:18 p.m. ET: The Houston Rockets have agreed to sign former Memphis Grizzlies guard Dillon Brooks to a four-year, $80 million deal, his agent, Mike George, told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Brooks will join Fred VanVleet as the two big backcourt signings for the Rockets this year.
6:06 p.m. ET: The Cleveland Cavaliers have agreed to sign free agent guard Ty Jerome to a two-year, $5 million deal, his agent, Mark Bartelstein, told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
5:38 p.m. ET: Front offices talking to Portland today were left with the impression that Trail Blazers general manager Joe Cronin is pursuing a star-level return package for Damian Lillard and the team plans to look well beyond the Miami Heat to find one, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
5:23 p.m. ET: Portland Trail Blazers general manager Joe Cronin released the following statement: “We have been clear that we want Dame here but he notified us today he wants out and he’d prefer to play someplace else. What has not changed for us is that we’re committed to winning, and we are going to do what’s best for the team in pursuit of that goal.”
5:00 p.m. ET: Free agent center Dwight Powell has agreed on a three-year, $12 million contract to return to the Dallas Mavericks, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
4:42 p.m. ET: The Utah Jazz are trading center Damian Jones to the Cleveland Cavaliers, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. The Cavs are absorbing Jones’ $2.6 million contract.
4:06 p.m. ET: Charlotte Hornets All-Star guard LaMelo Ball has agreed in principle on a five-year designated rookie max extension that could be worth as much as $260 million, agent Sam Permut of Roc Nation Sports told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Ball joins 2020 NBA draft classmates Tyrese Haliburton and Desmond Bane with max deals.
4:03 p.m. ET: Free agent forward Moritz Wagner is returning to the Orlando Magic on a two-year, $16 million deal, his agent, Jason Glushon of Glushon Sports Management, told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Wagner averaged 10.5 points and 4.5 rebounds for the Magic last season.
3:13 p.m. ET: The Los Angeles Lakers have agreed to a four-year max extension with guard Austin Reaves, sources confirmed to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin. Reaves’ new deal will start at $12.4 million next season and include an 8% raise each season, netting out to $56 million over four years, sources told ESPN.
2:59 p.m. ET: The New York Knicks are finalizing a trade with the Indiana Pacers to send forward Obi Toppin to Indiana in exchange for two future second-round picks, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. The deal can’t be finalized until Tuesday. Toppin was drafted with the eighth overall pick by the Knicks in 2020.
2:41 p.m. ET: The Milwaukee Bucks have agreed to re-sign veteran center Brook Lopez to a two-year, $48 million contract, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. The Houston Rockets had been the biggest contender to Milwaukee in signing Lopez.
2:40 p.m. ET: The Philadelphia 76ers have signed guard Patrick Beverley to a one-year deal, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
2:27 p.m. ET: Damian Lillard‘s request for a trade from the Portland Trail Blazers does not change the team’s intention to sign Jerami Grant to a five-year, $160 million contract that was agreed to on Friday, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Grant’s contract was announced shortly after free agency opened, and Lillard reportedly asked to be traded later that night, sources told ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne.
1:48 p.m. ET: The Los Angeles Lakers have agreed to re-sign guard D’Angelo Russell to a two-year, $37 million deal, as Austin Brown and Aaron Mintz along with Antonio Russell, the player’s brother, told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. The second year is a player option. Russell, who was drafted by the Lakers with the second overall pick in 2015, re-joined the team in a midseason trade from the Minnesota Timberwolves this past season. He filled in as the Lakers’ starting point guard on their run to the Western Conference finals.
1:24 p.m. ET: The Miami Heat have signed former Denver Nuggets guard Thomas Bryant to a two-year, $5.4 million deal, his agents, Mark Bartelstein and Zach Kurtin, told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. The second year is a player option.
12:32 p.m. ET: Damian Lillard thought about asking for a trade from the Portland Trail Blazers on Monday but wanted to give them a chance to improve the team on the first night of free agency, before then asking for a trade later Friday evening, sources told ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne. The Trail Blazers signed forward Jerami Grant to five-year, $160 million deal shortly after free agency opened.
12:30 p.m. ET: Although Miami is Damian Lillard‘s preferred destination, he also has a strong respect for the San Antonio Spurs organization, sources told ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne. The Spurs recently drafted Victor Wembanyama, who is projected to be a franchise-changing player, with the first overall pick in the NBA draft.
12:23 p.m. ET: Guard Vasilije Micić, one of Europe’s most accomplished players, has agreed to sign a three-year, $23.5 million deal with the Oklahoma City Thunder, his agent, Jason Ranne, told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
12:18 p.m. ET: The Miami Heat, LA Clippers and Philadelphia 76ers are three teams that have interest in trading for Damian Lillard, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. The Blazers, in return, are said to value young players and draft assets.
12:15 p.m. ET: Damian Lillard’s preference is to be traded to the Miami Heat, a source told Andscape’s Marc Spears.
12:00 p.m. ET: Star guard Damian Lillard has requested a trade from the Portland Trail Blazers, sources told ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne and Adrian Wojnarowski. Portland is expected to accommodate his trade request. Lillard has spent his entire career with the Trail Blazers since they drafted him in 2012.
9:56 a.m. ET: Reigning EuroLeague MVP Sasha Vezenkov has agreed to a three-year, $20 million deal with the Sacramento Kings, his agents, Mark Bartelstein, George Roussakis and Nick Lotsos, told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
9:33 a.m. ET: Free agent center Jaxson Hayes will sign a two-year deal with the Los Angeles Lakers, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Hayes, the No. 8 pick in the 2019 NBA draft, will have a player option on the second year.
8:53 a.m. ET: Free agent Max Strus has agreed to sign a four-year, $63 million deal with the Cleveland Cavaliers, agent Mark Bartelstein told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. In a three-team trade, the Miami Heat get a future second-round pick, while the San Antonio Spurs acquire Cedi Osman, Lamar Stevens and a future second.
12:26 a.m. ET: Guard Desmond Bane and the Memphis Grizzlies have agreed on a five-year, $207 million maximum contract extension, his agents Jim Tanner, Max Wiepking and Terrence Felder told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
12:19 a.m. ET: Guard Tyrese Haliburton and the Indiana Pacers have agreed on a five-year, maximum contract extension that could be worth up to $260 million, his agents Dave Spahn and Aaron Mintz told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
June 30
11:43 p.m. ET: The Miami Heat have agreed to trade forward Victor Oladipo to the Oklahoma City Thunder for draft compensation, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. The Thunder will take on Oladipo’s $9.45 million salary and his expiring contract. Miami creates a trade exception of $9.45M with the deal.
11:09 p.m. ET: The Washington Wizards have agreed to trade guard Monte Morris to the Detroit Pistons for a second-round pick, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. The Wizards will create a $9.8M traded player exception
10:06 p.m. ET: The Memphis Grizzlies have agreed to a deal with former New York Knicks guard Derrick Rose for two years, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Rose saw a reduction in playing time with the Knicks this past year, but the Grizzlies want him “on the floor this season and as a leader in the locker room.”
9:55 p.m. ET: The Denver Nuggets have agreed to deals to bring back point guard Reggie Jackson and center DeAndre Jordan, their agents told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Jackson’s deal is for two years and $10.25 million.
9:40 p.m. ET: The Boston Celtics have agreed to a deal with former Indiana Pacers forward Oshae Brissett for two years, his agent Mark George told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. The second year of the deal is a player option.
9:38 p.m. ET: The Dallas Mavericks have agreed to a two-year deal with former Brooklyn Nets guard Seth Curry, his agent Austin Brown told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
9:30 p.m. ET: The Toronto Raptors have agreed to a deal with former Los Angeles Lakers guard Dennis Schroder for two years and $26 million, his agent Mark Bartelstein told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
9:00 p.m. ET: Free agent forward Cam Reddish has agreed to a two-year deal with the Los Angeles Lakers, Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul told ESPN’s Dave McMenamin.
8:45 p.m. ET: Free agent guard Fred VanVleet has agreed on a three-year, $130 million contract with the Houston Rockets, Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul and agent Erika Ruiz told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. The Rockets land the ex-Raptors All-Star in his prime at 29 years old.
8:44 p.m. ET: The Los Angeles Lakers have agreed with forward Rui Hachimura on a three-year, $51 million deal, sources told ESPN’s Dave McMenamin. Hachimura joined the Lakers in a midseason trade and became a key role player in the team’s push to the Western Conference finals.
8:41 p.m. ET: Free agent forward Julian Champagnie has agreed to a four-year, $12 million deal with the San Antonio Spurs, UNLTD Sports agents Nick Blatchford and Derek Jackson told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. He averaged 11 points in his final 15 games for Spurs.
8:30 p.m. ET: The Miami Heat have agreed to deals with guard Josh Richardson and forward Kevin Love, sources told ESPN’s Tim Bontemps. The Heat drafted Richardson with the No. 40 pick in the 2015 NBA draft.
8:04 p.m. ET: Free agent forward Herbert Jones has agreed on a new four-year, $54 million deal to stay with the New Orleans Pelicans, his agents Mark Bartelstein and Kieran Piller of Priority Sports told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski and Andrew Lopez. Jones declined his option on a minimum salary to sign a long-term deal with the Pels.
7:38 p.m. ET: Free agent guard Shake Milton has agreed to a two-year, $10 million deal with the Minnesota Timberwolves, a source told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
7:33 p.m. ET: Free agent forward Joe Ingles has agreed on a two-year, $22 million contract with the Orlando Magic, his agent Mark Bartelstein of Priority Sports told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
7:24 p.m. ET: Free agent guard Gabe Vincent has agreed to a three-year, $33 million deal with the Los Angeles Lakers, a source confirmed to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin.
7:02 p.m. ET: Free agent guard Tre Jones has agreed to a two-year, $20 million deal with the San Antonio Spurs, his agent Kevin Bradbury LIFT Sports Management told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
6:56 p.m. ET: The Brooklyn Nets have agreed with forward Cameron Johnson to a four-year $108 million deal, his agent Steven Heumann told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Johnson came to Brooklyn in the deal that sent Kevin Durant to the Phoenix Suns last season, and helped the team earn the sixth seed as a full-time starter.
6:54 p.m. ET: Three-time All-Star Khris Middleton has agreed on a new three-year, $102 million deal with a player option to stay with the Milwaukee Bucks, his agents Mike Lindeman and Jeff Schwartz of Excel Basketball told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
1:27
Perk loves Bucks’ Khris Middleton deal for both sides
Kendrick Perkins and Zach Lowe agree that when healthy, Khris Middleton and Giannis Antetokounmpo are one of the most formidable duos in the NBA.
6:51 p.m. ET: Free agent center Jakob Poeltl has agreed on a four-year, $80 million contract to stay with the Toronto Raptors. Poeltl is represented by Michael Tellem and Sam Goldfeder of Excel Basketball. The deal includes a player option.
6:47 p.m. ET: Free agent guard Kyrie Irving has agreed to a three-year, $126 million contract to return to the Dallas Mavericks, a source confirmed to ESPN’s Tim MacMahon.
6:44 p.m. ET: Free agent forward Georges Niang has agreed on a three-year, $26 million contract with the Cleveland Cavaliers, his agents Mark Bartelstein and Andy Shiffman of Priority Sports told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
6:42 p.m. ET: Free agent forward Chimezie Metu has agreed to a one-year deal with the Phoenix Suns, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
6:37 p.m. ET: The Chicago Bulls have agreed to a three-year $20 million deal with former Milwaukee Bucks guard Jevon Carter, his agents Mark Bartelstein and Reggie Brown of Priority Sports told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Carter has been a key defensive presence on the perimeter the last two seasons and improved his shooting in 2022-23.
6:31 p.m. ET: The Portland Trail Blazers are in agreement with free agent forward Jerami Grant on a five-year, $160 million contract, his agent Rich Paul of Klutch Sports told ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne.
6:28 p.m. ET: The Minnesota Timberwolves have agreed to a deal with former Los Angeles Lakers forward Troy Brown Jr., his agent Calvin Andrews told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Brown averaged 7.1 points in 76 games for the Lakers last season.
6:21 p.m. ET: The Indiana Pacers have agreed with former Denver Nuggets forward Bruce Brown to a two-year $45 million contract, his agents Ty Sullivan and Steven Heumann told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski and Malika Andrews. Brown was a key role player on Denver’s championship team.
1:14
Legler: Bruce Brown will be a difference-maker for the Pacers
Tim Legler says Bruce Brown is the type of player who will help a good team become a championship contender.
6:18 p.m. ET: The Phoenix Suns have agreed with guard Damion Lee to a two-year deal with a player option, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
6:16 p.m. ET: Free agent forward Taurean Prince has agreed to a one-year, $4.5 million deal with the Los Angeles Lakers, his agents Steven Heumann and Richie Beda of CAA Basketball told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
6:13 p.m ET: Free agent forward Keita Bates-Diop has agreed to a two-year, $5 million deal with the Phoenix Suns, co-head of CAA Basketball Austin Brown told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Bates-Diop will have a chance to earn a starting forward spot and the deal includes a player option.
6:10 p.m. ET: Free agent guard Coby White has agreed on a three-year, $40 million deal to stay with the Chicago Bulls, his agents Ty Sullivan and Steven Heumann of CAA Basketball told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
6:07 p.m. ET: Free agent forward Kyle Kuzma has agreed on a four-year, $102 million deal to return to the Washington Wizards, co-head of CAA Basketball Austin Brown told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Kuzma took a shorter deal with the Los Angeles Lakers three years ago and now cashes in after a career-year with the Wizards.
6:06 p.m. ET: Free agent forward Drew Eubanks has agreed to a two-year deal with the Phoenix Suns, his agent James Dunleavy of Excel Basketball told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
6:05 p.m. ET: Cleveland Cavaliers guard Caris LeVert has agreed on a new two-year, $32 million contract, co-head of CAA Basketball Austin Brown told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. LeVert had career highs on 3-pointers made (127) and percentage (39%) last season.
6:01 p.m. ET: Free agent forward Draymond Green has agreed to a four-year, $100 million contract with a player option in the final season to re-sign with the Golden State Warriors on the first day of free agency on Friday, sources told Marc J. Spears of ESPN’s Andscape. Green has played his entire 11-year career with the Warriors, winning four championships.
5:57 p.m. ET: The NBA’s official salary cap numbers for 2023-24, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski: Salary Cap: $136M; Tax Level: $165.2M; First Apron: $172.3M; Second Apron: $182.7M; Non-taxpayer mid-level exception: 12.4M.
5:42 p.m. ET: The Los Angeles Lakers will offer a four-year, $52 million contract to Austin Reaves as soon as free agency opens, ESPN’s Dave McMenamin reports on “NBA Today.” That represents the maximum the Lakers can offer Reaves under the league’s salary rules. Reaves can get a larger contract from other teams, but the Lakers retain the right to match that contract, and McMenamin reports they will match any deal for Reaves.
5:30 p.m. ET: ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reports on “NBA Today” on two players who might not be free agents for very long after the clock hits 6 p.m. ET. “I think you’ll see something of a flood of top players in this free agent market returning to their teams very quickly in free agency,” Wojnarowski said. “Draymond Green in Golden State, Jerami Grant in Portland. You’re looking at deals north of $100 million certainly for those two players.”
4:39 p.m. ET: The Philadelphia 76ers‘ decision to not offer Tyrese Maxey a contract extension could be related to a potential trade for Damian Lillard, reports Brian Windhorst on “NBA Today.” “Looking at the teams interested in Lillard, Miami, maybe New York, Tyrese Maxey is an interesting piece,” Windhorst said.
4:33 p.m. ET: Why is Kyrie Irving reportedly meeting with teams that don’t have cap space? It could be in part because the only team with cap space that needs a point guard is the Houston Rockets, and Irving is not No. 1 on their wishlist, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst reports on “NBA Today.” “I don’t think you’ll see movement from Kyrie until Houston is off the board as an option,” Windhorst said, adding, “What’s going on right now is an attempt to create leverage to get probably a longer contract than Dallas is willing to offer.”
4:01 p.m. ET: The James Harden era in Philadelphia might not be over just yet. “The door is not closed on James Harden remaining with the Sixers,” ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne reported on “NBA Today.” “[The 76ers] don’t have to do anything. They can take their time. The only thing you have to worry about is if he’s not going to come to camp.”
3:45 p.m. ET: Andscape’s Marc J. Spears said on “NBA Today” that he expects free agent forward Draymond Green and the Golden State Warriors to come together on a long-term deal this offseason.
3:43 p.m. ET: The Philadelphia 76ers are not planning to sign guard Tyrese Maxey to an extension this summer, sources told ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne. Maxey is still seen as a big part of the 76ers’ future, but delaying an extension could preserve significant cap space in the summer of 2024.
2:47 p.m. ET: The Brooklyn Nets are trading forward Joe Harris and two second-round picks (2027 and 2029) to the Detroit Pistons, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. The deal creates a $19.9 million traded player exception for Brooklyn.
12:33 p.m. ET: Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving may attempt to gauge the interest of the Philadelphia 76ers, a team that is reportedly shopping to trade James Harden, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst reported on “SportsCenter.” “I don’t think Kyrie Irving was at the top of the list for the 76ers, but the 76ers should be interesting for Kyrie Irving, if for no other reason than to find a market and find leverage against the Mavericks, who right now might be bidding against themselves,” Windhorst said. “It only makes sense if Harden is traded. It would have to be a sign-and-trade situation, which would require the Mavericks’ help. Kyrie Irving and Joel Embiid do have a long-standing relationship.”
12:11 p.m. ET: The Portland Trail Blazers are waiving forward Trendon Watford, sources tell ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. The 22-year-old Watford had two productive seasons with Portland.
9:01 a.m. ET: There isn’t a strong market for James Harden right now, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst reported on “Get Up.” The Sixers were positioning themselves to try to force him into a disadvantageous position, and so he elected to opt into his contract,” Windhorst said. “The cooperation, the good feelings, the moving together between Daryl Morey and James Harden that was there a year ago is now opposite sides today. … As Harden goes on the trade market, we have a situation where we’re going to see effects down the line with other players.”
June 29
8:09 p.m. ET: Sacramento Kings forward Harrison Barnes has agreed on a new three-year, $54 million contract extension, his agent told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
5:10 p.m. ET: The New Orleans Pelicans have declined their $1.8 million option on forward Herb Jones, making him a restricted free agent, sources confirmed to ESPN’s Andrew Lopez. New Orleans would be able to match any deal Jones receives from other teams.
5:03 p.m. ET: New York Knicks guard Josh Hart has exercised his $12.9 million option for the 2023-24 season, sources tell ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
4:55 p.m. ET: Star guard James Harden is picking up his $35.6 million option with the Philadelphia 76ers, but the two sides are beginning to work together in exploring trade scenarios, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. The LA Clippers and New York Knicks are expected to be among the teams to engage on a potential trade, sources told Wojnarowski.
Clippers? Knicks? A mystery team? How a James Harden trade could do gown
4:22 p.m. ET: The Los Angeles Lakers will waive center Mo Bamba and will not pick up the team option on guard Malik Beasley, sources told ESPN’s Dave McMenamin. However, the Lakers will stay in contact with both players throughout free agency, and could try to work out different deals to keep both players.
4:19 p.m. ET: Forward Bruce Brown intends to meet with the Dallas Mavericks soon after the opening of free agency (6 p.m. ET on Friday), sources told ESPN’s Tim MacMahon. Brown is expected to have several suitors and has not ruled out a return to the champion Denver Nuggets.
4:11 p.m. ET: Center Andre Drummond has exercised his $3.36 million option to return to the Chicago Bulls, sources tell ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
10:56 a.m. ET: The Cleveland Cavaliers are fully guaranteeing forward Cedi Osman‘s $6.7M contract for 2023-2034, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. The 28-year-old veteran has averaged nearly 10 points and shot 35% from 3 in six seasons with the Cavs.
8:30 a.m. ET: Where are the realistic landing spaces for free agent guard Kyrie Irving? NBA reporter Brian Windhorst had this to say on ESPN’s “Get Up” on Thursday morning: “He can take meetings with teams that don’t have space, and there can be negotiations on a sign-and-trade, but that would imply Dallas wants to say goodbye. They don’t. The only team in this offseason where I thought Kyrie would have a chance to go that would be outside Dallas really would be L.A. And [Lakers GM] Rob Pelinka is taking out a billboard in Los Angeles that says, ‘We are not going to be a cap space team. We are re-signing our players.’ There is no open market for Kyrie Irving. It doesn’t mean he’s not a desired player. There’s just not avenues for him to go. I don’t see where he’s going besides Dallas.”
Can the Mavericks afford to lose Irving?
June 28
11:27 p.m. ET: The LA Clippers aren’t guaranteeing guard Eric Gordon‘s $21 million contract, and he’ll become a free agent, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Gordon has averaged 16 points on 37% 3-point shooting in his 15-year career.
9:54 p.m. ET: The New Orleans Pelicans and guard Garrett Temple have agreed to extend the deadline on guaranteeing his $5.4 million contract for the 2023-24 season to July 7, sources told ESPN’s Andrew Lopez.
7:38 p.m. ET: The Sacramento Kings are picking up Kessler Edwards‘ $1.9 million team option for the 2023-2024 season, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
4:55 p.m. ET: The Minnesota Timberwolves will not guarantee forward Taurean Prince‘s $7.4M contract for the 2023-24 season, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Prince has averaged 10.4 points across seven NBA seasons, and he will now be a free agent.
3:45 p.m. ET: Chicago Bulls center Nikola Vucevic is finalizing a three-year, $60M contract extension, his agents Bill Duffy and Rade Filipovich told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
Upside to Bulls re-signing Vucevic?
3:41 p.m. ET: The Charlotte Hornets announced that the team has extended Qualifying Offers to Miles Bridges, Theo Maledon and P.J. Washington, making all three restricted free agents, according to ESPN’s Marc Spears.
June 27
11:02 p.m. ET: The Los Angeles Lakers plan to exercise the $4.7 million team option for Jarred Vanderbilt for next season, sources told ESPN’s Dave McMenamin. The 24-year-old forward will be eligible for a contract extension worth up to four years and $71 million starting Sept. 7.
10:32 p.m. ET: Forward Talen Horton-Tucker is opting into his $11 million deal with the Utah Jazz for the 2023-25 season, Horton-Tucker’s agent Rich Paul told ESPN’s Brian Windhorst.
10 p.m. ET: The Los Angeles Lakers have made qualifying offers to Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura, the team announced Tuesday. Both players are now officially restricted free agents, giving L.A. the right to match any outside offer to retain them.
8:11 p.m. ET: The Detroit Pistons plan to pick up Alec Burks‘ $10.5 million option for 2023-2024, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Burks averaged 12.8 points and 3.1 rebounds last season.
6 p.m. ET: Guard Victor Oladipo exercised his $9.4 million player option to remain with the Miami Heat for the 2023-24 season, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
5:05 p.m. ET: Guard Donte DiVincenzo will not pick up his $4.7 million player option with the Golden State Warriors and will become an unrestricted free agent, a source told ESPN’s Kendra Andrews.
10:44 a.m. ET: ESPN’s Brian Windhorst reported on “Get Up” that Portland Trail Blazers All-Star Damian Lillard “absolutely did not” request a trade during the point guard’s meeting with Blazers general manager Joe Cronin on Monday night.
Big NBA trade ideas, including two for Dame
June 26
8:37 p.m. ET: The Memphis Grizzlies announced they have exercised their 2023-24 team option on forward Xavier Tillman. Tillman, 24, averaged career highs in points per game (7.0), rebounds per game (5.0) and field goal percentage (61.4) for Memphis last season.
1:44 p.m. ET: The Atlanta Hawks are finalizing a trade to send John Collins to the Utah Jazz for Rudy Gay and a future second-round pick, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Atlanta is largely unloading the remaining three years and $78 million on Collins’ contract for some roster building flexibility and alignment with looming changes to the salary cap.
June 25
4:41 p.m. ET: Minnesota Timberwolves center Naz Reid has agreed on a new three-year, $42 million contract that includes a player option, his agents told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
June 24
8:59 p.m. ET: The New York Knicks and Josh Hart have agreed to extend the deadline for his $12.9 million player option until Thursday at midnight ET, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Hart was acquired by the Knicks in a trade with the Portland Trail Blazers this past season, and became a key rotational player in the team’s playoff push.
3:22 p.m. ET: The New York Knicks will not pick up the $15.6 million team option on veteran point guard Derrick Rose, according to multiple reports. Rose will now enter free agency and will be 35 at the start of the 2023-24 season. Rose played in just 27 games for the Knicks this past season and didn’t make a single start, he average 5.6 points, 1.7 assists and 1.5 rebounds per game.
June 23
1:25 a.m. ET: LA Clippers president Lawrence Frank says the Clippers want Russell Westbrook back but understands Westbrook has a right to choose as free agent. The Clippers can offer Westbrook only the $3.8 million non-Bird exception. Westbrook has said he loved his time with Clippers and playing alongside Paul George and Kawhi Leonard, but he will see what free agency offers as well.
1:12 a.m. ET: How long will Damian Lillard be with the Portland Trail Blazers? If general manager Joe Cronin has his say, it’ll be for the rest of Lillard’s career. “There’s nothing more than we want than for Damian to retire a Trail Blazer and to put a winner around him,” he told reporters during a post-draft news conference.
1:02 a.m. ET: Chicago Bulls vice president Arturas Karnisovas said of injured guard Lonzo Ball at a post-draft news conference, “Our expectation is that he’s not going to be back next season.” Ball missed the entire 2022-23 season because of discomfort in his left knee.
12:57 a.m. ET: San Antonio Spurs general manager Brian Wright said Zach Collins will be with the team next season. The deadline to waive him before his $7.7 million contract becomes fully guaranteed is Friday.
12:56 a.m. ET: Memphis Grizzlies general manager Zach Kleiman told reporters at a post-draft news conference, “There is no strain in the relationship” between the franchise and star point guard Ja Morant, who has been suspended for the first 25 games of the 2023-24 season.
June 22
11:30 p.m. ET: The Boston Celtics are trading the No. 34 overall pick (Colby Jones) to the Sacramento Kings for the No. 38 pick and a future second round pick, a source told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
11:07 p.m. ET: The San Antonio Spurs are trading the No. 33 overall pick to the Minnesota Timberwolves for two future second-round picks, a source told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. The Timberwolves did not have a first-round pick in this year’s draft after last summer’s Rudy Gobert trade.
10:52 p.m. ET: Could the Sacramento Kings‘ draft night trade of Richaun Holmes be setting up a bigger move? “There’s been some speculation … they could go after Brook Lopez,” ESPN’s Brian Windhorst said on The Hoop Collective’s NBA draft special, adding, “I just know that [the Kings] sense the opportunity to try to strike.”
10:49 p.m. ET: The Detroit Pistons are acquiring the No. 25 overall pick from the Boston Celtics, a source told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. The Celtics acquired the pick from the Memphis Grizzlies in the deal that sent Kristaps Porzingis to Boston and Marcus Smart to Memphis.
10:45 p.m. ET: The Milwaukee Bucks are acquiring the No. 36 overall pick in the 2023 draft in a deal with the Orlando Magic, a source told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
10:42 p.m. ET: The Sacramento Kings are trading Richaun Holmes and the No. 24 overall pick (Olivier-Maxence Prosper) in the 2023 draft to the Dallas Mavericks, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Holmes averaged 3.1 points in 42 games for Sacramento last season.
10:13 p.m. ET: The Houston Rockets are strongly considering ending Cam Whitmore‘s slide at No. 20, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Whitmore averaged 12.5 points and 5.3 rebounds at Villanova last season.
9:37 p.m. ET: Villanova forward Cam Whitmore was projected as a top-10 pick but has fallen out of the lottery. ESPN draft contributor Jeremy Woo reported, “There’s a palpable trepidation surrounding [Whitmore’s] medicals that’s contributed to this slide. That chatter grew louder behind the scenes today.”
9:04 p.m. ET: The Dallas Mavericks are trading Davis Bertans and the No. 10 overall pick in the 2023 draft to the Oklahoma City Thunder for the No. 12 overall pick, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Bertans is slated to make $33 million over the next two seasons ($22 million guaranteed).
8:50 p.m. ET: The Indiana Pacers are trading the No. 7 overall pick in the 2023 draft (Bilal Coulibaly) to the Washington Wizards for the No. 8 overall pick (Jarace Walker), sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
7:13 p.m. ET: ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reports “the Charlotte Hornets remain steadfast with Brandon Miller as the No. 2 overall pick.” Miller and Scoot Henderson are believed to be the two options Charlotte is deciding between.
3:11 p.m. ET: The Washington Wizards are finalizing a deal to send Chris Paul to the Golden State Warriors for a package that includes Jordan Poole and future draft assets, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. The Warriors are sending a 2030 protected first-round pick and a 2027 second-rounder to the Wizards, sources told ESPN’s Wojnarowski.
12:55 p.m. ET: The Los Angeles Lakers are acquiring the No. 40 pick in Thursday’s draft from the Indiana Pacers for No. 47 and cash, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. » See the latest mock draft intel
9:30 a.m. ET: The Portland Trail Blazers are expected to use their No. 3 pick tonight and will likely draft Scoot Henderson. Once they do, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst said on “Get Up,” teams across the league are lining up offers to try to land Damian Lillard.
12:04 a.m. ET: Khris Middleton has declined his $40 million player option with the Milwaukee Bucks to become an unrestricted free agent, his agents told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. A return to the Bucks on a new deal remains a possibility.
June 21
11:50 p.m. ET: The Boston Celtics are finalizing a three-way trade with the Washington Wizards and Memphis Grizzlies to acquire Kristaps Porzingis, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Boston will send Marcus Smart to the Grizzlies and Washington will get Tyus Jones from the Grizzlies. Porzingis will opt into his $36 million option for 2023-24.
10:36 p.m. ET: The Washington Wizards and Boston Celtics are still working on a deal to get Kristaps Porzingis to Boston after the original three-team trade with the LA Clippers fell apart, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Porzingis has the ability to decline his $36 million player option at midnight ET. The two teams are working to get a deal done before then, according to Wojnarowski.
10:22 p.m. ET: The Boston Celtics, Washington Wizards and LA Clippers‘ three-team trade that would have sent Kristaps Porzingis to Boston has fallen apart and the three sides will be moving on, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. The deal would have also sent Marcus Morris Sr. and the No. 30 pick in this year’s draft from LA to Washington.
4:49 p.m. ET: The Boston Celtics are working on a trade to acquire the Washington Wizards’ Kristaps Porzingis in a three-team deal that sends Malcolm Brogdon to the LA Clippers, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. LA would be sending Marcus Morris Sr., Amir Coffey and the No. 30 pick in the 2023 draft to Washington. Porzingis would opt in on his $36 million contract for 2023-24 to make the potential trade happen, but there are still outstanding issues to be resolved before a deal can be reached. Boston’s Danilo Gallinari would be in the deal, headed to the Wizards too, sources said.
2:33 p.m. ET: Although the Miami Heat continue to monitor the situation with Damian Lillard and the Portland Trail Blazers, so far the star guard does not appear to be on the move. “As of right now, the Blazers have shut down anybody who has called about the possibility of trying to trade for him,” said ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski on “The Pat McAfee Show.” Lillard has played all 11 of his NBA seasons in Portland.
2:30 p.m. ET: The Dallas Mavericks‘ No. 10 selection has been deemed by rival teams as the most likely lottery pick to move entering draft night, with the Mavericks aiming to maximize value and searching for the highest bidder, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Woo. Additionally, several rival teams have indicated to ESPN’s Jonathan Givony that the Orlando Magic‘s No. 11 pick is very much available in a trade for a veteran wing shooter. See the latest mock draft intel »
2:18 p.m. ET: General manager Mitch Kupchak said the Charlotte Hornets likely will use the No. 2 pick in the NBA draft on one of two players — but he also didn’t rule out trading down. Kupchak didn’t identify the two players, but ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported earlier this week that the Hornets are down to Alabama forward Brandon Miller and G League Ignite guard Scoot Henderson.
1:14
Legler: Bruce Brown will be a difference-maker for the Pacers
Tim Legler says Bruce Brown is the type of player who will help a good team become a championship contender.
1:24 p.m. ET: The Denver Nuggets are trading the least favorable of their 2024 first-round picks and the 2023 No. 40 pick to the Indiana Pacers for the Nos. 29 and 32 picks this year, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. The Pacers will now have Nos. 7, 26 and 40 and the Nuggets Nos. 29, 32 and 37 on Thursday.
1:15 p.m. ET: The NBA sent a memo to teams today stating the salary cap is projected to be $136 million and the luxury tax is projected to be $165 million — higher by $2 million and $3 million, respectively, than initial projections sent back in September. The memo makes it clear that this projection is not final until the league’s audit is over later this month.
11:18 a.m. ET: Philadelphia 76ers center Montrezl Harrell is declining his $2.7 million player option and will become an unrestricted free agent, league sources told ESPN. Harrell averaged 5.6 points and 2.8 rebounds last season.
11:00 a.m. ET: Denver Nuggets guard Bruce Brown is declining his $6.8 million player option to become an unrestricted free agent, his agent, Ty Sullivan of CAA Sports, told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Brown averaged 12.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.1 steals while playing the sixth-most minutes on the Nuggets in 20 games this postseason.
June 20
6:37 p.m. ET: Alabama’s Brandon Miller and G League Ignite’s Scoot Henderson each had a second workout with the Charlotte Hornets, who hold the No. 2 pick in Thursday’s draft. Sources told ESPN NBA draft expert Jonathan Givony that Miller looked more engaged than during his first workout, while Henderson was excellent. See who the Hornets are projected to pick in Givony’s latest mock draft.
4:19 p.m. ET: New Zealand Breakers wing Rayan Rupert has received a green room invite to attend the NBA Draft with his family, a source told ESPN’s Jonathan Givony. Rupert averaged 5.9 points per game with the Breakers in 2022-23. He is projected as the No. 23 overall pick in ESPN.com’s latest mock draft.
4:00 p.m. ET: Santa Clara’s Brandin Podziemski has received a green room invite to attend the NBA draft with his family, a source told ESPN’s Jonathan Givony. There are now 23 players who have received green room invites.
3:48 p.m. ET: Marquette’s Olivier-Maxence Prosper has received a green room invite to attend the NBA draft with his family on June 22, a source told ESPN’s Jonathan Givony. Prosper, picked at No. 20 in the latest ESPN mock draft, has seen his stock skyrocket in the pre-draft process.
2:58 p.m. ET: Guard Gary Trent Jr. is picking up his $18.56 million player option to remain with the Toronto Raptors in 2023-24, sources confirmed to ESPN. The news was first reported by Bleacher Report.
2:31 p.m. ET: Center Damian Jones has exercised his $2.58 million player option to return to the Utah Jazz next season, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Jones averaged 3.5 points and 3.0 rebounds in 41 games with the Jazz and Los Angeles Lakers last season.
2:30 p.m. ET: Washington Wizards forward Kyle Kuzma has declined his $13 million player option and will become a free agent next week, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Kuzma will be one of the most prominent players available. A return to Washington on a new deal remains a possibility.
9:31 a.m.: If Zion Williamson is going to be traded, it would only be for a top-three pick, reported ESPN’s Brian Windhorst on Tuesday morning on “Get Up.” Windhorst added, “I think the Hornets and the Blazers are keeping picks 2 and 3, if I had to bet today, so there’s nothing to trade Zion for.”
8:51 a.m.: In recent days, there has been increased optimism the Philadelphia 76ers will get James Harden‘s contract settled, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst said Tuesday morning on “Get Up.” Harden has until June 29 to decide on his $35.6 million player option for 2023-24.
8:48 a.m.: While the Washington Wizards are still looking for a third team to reroute Chris Paul in the Bradley Beal trade, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst said Tuesday morning on “Get Up” that there’s a stronger possibility Paul becomes a free agent before the end of the month. If so, there is mutual interest between Paul and the LA Clippers for a potential reunion.
8:19 a.m.: What does the future hold for the Portland Trail Blazers? “I checked in on the [Damian] Lillard side of things about whether or not there’s been a change of heart there and I was told unequivocally no,” ESPN’s Brian Windhorst said on “Get Up” on Tuesday morning. “Dame does not want a young movement. He wants to play with veterans. He wants the team to upgrade fast and immediately with veteran players that could help him now.” Portland holds the No. 3 overall pick in Thursday’s draft, which could be valuable in a trade to bring back veteran help if the Blazers decide to go in that direction.
June 19
2:14 p.m. ET: Will Draymond Green be back with the Golden State Warriors in 2023-24? New Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. said Monday after Green’s opt-out, “We really want Draymond back,” adding that he “feels confident we can navigate it.” He added that Warriors ownership has the finances to re-sign Green.
12:15 p.m. ET: James Harden has until June 29 to decide on his $35.6 million player option for 2023-24, but it’s possible that even if he opts out, he’ll end up back with the Philadelphia 76ers. “I bet if you poll 50 front-office executives, the majority of them would guess he’s going back to Philly,” Zach Lowe said on “The Lowe Post” podcast.
12:11 p.m. ET: Golden State Warriors star Draymond Green has declined his $27.5 million player option, electing to enter unrestricted free agency. Green’s agent, Rich Paul, told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, “We will continue to talk to Golden State and explore all options.” It was expected Green would opt out, and now he can talk with the Warriors, explore sign-and-trades and free agency.
10:20 a.m. ET: With trade rumblings picking up on the Zion Williamson front, ESPN’s Bobby Marks said if he were the New Orleans Pelicans, he’d be willing to give Williamson another year. “I’m not ready to walk away from Zion Williamson even if it means the No. 2 or 3 pick. We can talk the games played, which has been about 114 games, but when he is healthy he is one of those players that you can build a franchise around. … His contract doesn’t scare me at all because it is such laden with games played, injury protection and weight clauses that if he does get hurt again, it’s not like you’re stuck with $180 million-plus. If the 2-3 [pick] does become available at the end of the week, I’m still hesitant to move off [Zion].”
June 18
5:35 p.m. ET: Could Chris Paul be on the move again already? The Washington Wizards will field offers from third teams to expand their agreed upon trade with the Phoenix Suns, giving Paul a chance to land with a contender, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
4:30 p.m. ET: The Washington Wizards are finalizing a trade to send All-Star guard Bradley Beal to the Phoenix Suns, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Beal is waiving his no-trade clause to form a new big three with Devin Booker and Kevin Durant. The two teams are still working through the final details of the trade, but the Suns are expected to send Chris Paul, Landry Shamet, multiple second-round picks and pick swaps to the Wizards.
Windhorst: How Suns built a superteam before it’s too late
10:04 a.m. ET: The Charlotte Hornets are expecting to conduct a second-round of workouts and interviews with Alabama’s Brandon Miller and G League Ignite’s Scoot Henderson on Monday — with an audience that will include outgoing owner Michael Jordan, sources told ESPN on Sunday.
June 16
11:42 a.m. ET: The Indiana Pacers are looking to trade out of the seventh spot in the NBA draft in exchange for a high-level wing player, according to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst. “Indiana has been talking to people about the No. 7 pick. I’ve been told they’ve been trying to get wing players. They’ve been trying to move out of No. 7 to get a high-level wing player. I think they might be able to, if they’re motivated enough,” Windhorst said on “The Hoop Collective” podcast.
10:36 a.m. ET: NBA prospect Kris Murray will not attend the NBA draft at the Barclay Center in New York on June 23, ESPN’s Jonathan Givony tweeted. Murray will watch the draft at home with his family.
8:51 a.m. ET: The Golden State Warriors named Mike Dunleavy Jr. their new general manager on Friday, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported. Dunleavy was previously Golden State’s vice president of basketball operations. He will replace former president and GM Bob Myers.
8:28 a.m. ET: The Los Angeles Lakers are unlikely to acquire another superstar this offseason, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. “In this league right now, with the new collective bargaining agreement, you can’t really pay, have three max contracts, three superstars and expect to have any depth on its roster. It’s going to look a lot the same,” Wojnarowski said on “Get Up.”
June 15
3:21 p.m. ET: The Utah Jazz have three first-round picks in next week’s NBA draft and could be looking to move up from their current spot at No. 9, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. “If there is a player on the board that they don’t think will get to them, they’re in position to [move up],” Wojnarowski said on “NBA Today.”
3:18 p.m. ET: The Charlotte Hornets are still deciding what to do with the No. 2 overall pick. ESPN’s Jonathan Givony said on “NBA Today” that Scoot Henderson had a great workout with Charlotte, while Brandon Miller‘s was not as good, but for good reason. “Miller is coming off an illness,” Givony said. “He had mono in April, so he hasn’t been training with the same intensity.” See Givony’s latest mock draft »
2:53 p.m. ET: Forward Danilo Gallinari has exercised his $6.8 million player option to return to the Boston Celtics for the 2023-2024 season, his agent, Michael Tellem of Excel Sports Management, told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski on Thursday. Gallinari tore the ACL in his left knee while playing for his native Italy in a FIBA qualifying game in August. He had signed a two-year, $13.3 million deal with the Celtics last offseason that included the player option for the second season.
2:30 p.m. ET: Could Bruce Brown return to the Denver Nuggets in 2023-24? At Denver’s championship parade, Brown said to the crowd, “I’ve got one more question: One more year?” Brown holds a $6.8 million player option for next season. If he opts out, the Nuggets have non-Bird rights on him and can offer him a new contract starting at $7.8 million.
8:08 a.m. ET: Two teams to watch out for if the Washington Wizards look to trade Bradley Beal? The Miami Heat and Milwaukee Bucks. “There are other teams on the periphery that I think are involved, but two teams I think at the forefront, Miami and Milwaukee,” Brian Windhorst said on “Get Up” this morning. “Milwaukee would be a very complicated trade.”
June 14
3:22 p.m. ET: Will James Harden be back with the Philadelphia 76ers next season? Harden has a $35.6 million player option he can decline to become a free agent. If he does, the 76ers might not rush to re-sign the former MVP. “The Sixers are not desperate,” Brian Windhorst said on “NBA Today” this afternoon. “While they absolutely want James Harden back — and I think there is a way they can play together and still be highly successful — the Sixers have other moves they can make. If Harden walks, they have cap space. They have tradable contracts. They have things they can do. Harden is important, but he is not the be all and end all for the 76ers.”
1:07 p.m. ET: As rivals begin reaching out to the Wizards to explore possibility of trading for All-Star guard Bradley Beal, new team president Michael Winger and Beal’s agent — Mark Bartelstein of Priority Sports — are staying in close contact to discuss scenarios presented to the franchise, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
8:38 a.m. ET: Are the Washington Wizards and Bradley Beal going to go their separate ways? Brian Windhorst said on “Get Up” that a Beal trade would be hard to put together not only because of his remaining contract (four years, $207.7 million), but because he has a no-trade clause and can veto any potential deal. Still, he adds, “if the Wizards are going to make a move with Bradley Beal, it looks like it could be before the draft next week.”
8:06 a.m. ET: Could Zion Williamson be on the move? Brian Windhorst said on “Get Up” that “the league is certainly wondering if the Pelicans are going to make, for the first time truly, Zion Williamson available.” Williamson, who has played just 29 games over the past two seasons, is entering the first year of a five-year, $193 million contract extension.
June 12
2:59 p.m. ET: In the first major domino of free agency, Toronto Raptors All-Star guard Fred VanVleet has declined his $22.8 million player option and will become an unrestricted free agent in July, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. VanVleet, 29, has played his entire seven-year NBA career with the Raptors. Last season, he averaged 19.3 points and a career-best 7.2 assists per game.
June 7
6:56 p.m. ET: Phoenix Suns ownership and executives had a series of conversations with Chris Paul and his representatives on the All-Star point guard’s future with the franchise, including the possibility that he could be waived by the NBA’s June 28 guarantee date on his contract, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Only $15.8 million of his $30.8 million for the 2023-24 season is guaranteed if he’s waived — unless the Suns keep Paul past that June 28 deadline date.