2024 NBA Free Agency Tracker: Top players, news, live updates, rumors, deadline, signings – NBC Sports

The chase to beat the Boston Celtics — or, for a lot of teams, the chase toward respectability — got serious on Sunday with the official start of NBA free agency (and a busy trade window).
Not every team waited that long — the Knicks pushed themselves into contention by trading for Mikal Bridges before the NBA Draft.
Teams officially were allowed to start talking to free agents Sunday (although, in the NBA world of tampering, many of these discussions are already done or at least well along). In this tracker we will give you all the latest signings, trades, rumors and reports all in one place (all in order of when they happened, with the most recent news on top). This is a short synopsis with first-blush thoughts on any deals; follow the links to see more detailed analysis.
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LeBron James agrees to two-year, $104 million max contract to stay with the Lakers
LeBron James had a deadline to sign his deal with the Lakers: He starts Team USA training camp for the Paris Olympics on Saturday and wasn’t going to go into that as a free agent.
He went a few days early, agreeing two a two-year, $104 million max contract that has a player option in the second year and a no-trade clause, reports Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.
Free agent LeBron James has agreed to a two-year, $104 million maximum deal to return to the Los Angeles Lakers, sources tell ESPN. Deal includes player option and no trade clause. pic.twitter.com/gAEOmvfAzZ
He added that there is a conversation about LeBron taking $1 million or so less a year to keep the Lakers below the second tax apron (and a host of team building restrictions), something that may be necessary if the Lakers are going to make a trade for a player like DeMar DeRozan (which would have to happen before LeBron officially puts pen to paper and signs this deal).
Neither the team nor the amount are a surprise, and LeBron has traditionally preferred shorter contracts (keeping pressure on the organization to upgrade) so he didn’t take the full three years he could have gotten.
Entering his 22nd season where he will turn 40, LeBron is still one of the best players in the league, making his 20th All-NBA team last season (he is also a 20-time All-Star, both league records). LeBron averaged 25.7 points, 8.3 assists and 7.3 rebounds a game last season, and despite his age it was his level of energy and force played with every night that determined how good the Lakers were — he remained the hub of everything they did.
Taking the max contract means the Lakers cannot use the mid-level exception anymore. LeBron signing, and assuming Bronny signs a standard minimum contract, the Lakers are at 15 players and a full roster right now. Expect the Lakers to make a salary-saving trade or two — trading a player into another team’s salary cap space and not getting any salary back — to save money in the coming days. That said, if the second apron is a hard cap for them (as it appears to be) then they have little flexibility. This may be the roster they run back in the fall.
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Slo-Mo to the Bay: Kyle Anderson agrees to three-year, $27 million to join Warriors
The Warriors found a little more playmaking to come off their bench Tuesday by reaching a deal with Kyle Anderson, three years and $27 million Anderson, 30, played the last two seasons in Minnesota, averaging 6.4 points, 4.2 assists and 3.5 rebounds a season a game. This is a solid pickup for the Warriors.
Free agent F Kyle Anderson is planning to sign a three-year, $27 million deal with the Golden State Warriors, sources tell ESPN. He’ll land with Warriors on a sign-and-trade with Minnesota. pic.twitter.com/Yen9kINCPv
This had to be a sign-and-trade to work so the Warriors are sending a second-round pick and cash to the Timberwolves.
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GM Pelinka says Lakers are “going to be aggressive” if right deal comes along
The Lakers didn’t land Klay Thompson, James Harden or Jonas Valanciunas in free agency, three players we knew LeBron James would take a pay cut to help the Lakers acquire. DeMar DeRozan remains out there and the Lakers are reportedly interested (and there are rumors of Lauri Markkanen interest, too). Still, the Lakers right now look a whole lot like the seven-seed, bounced in the first round Lakers from last season. GM Rob Pelinka was asked about his efforts to find another shot creator during the Bronny James introductory press conference.
“I think we’re always going to be aggressive to make roster upgrades…” Pelinka said. “If the right deal comes and we have to put in draft picks, we will… We’re in the apron world… does it make trades more difficult, yes, but it doesn’t make good trades impossible.”
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Warriors reported to be aggressors in going after Lauri Markkanen
You can decide for yourself what it says about Brandon Ingram and Zach LaVine that their respective teams are actively trying to trade them yet all the buzz is about Utah possibly trading Lauri Markkanen, something the Jazz are not sold on.
We’ve reported before that the Spurs, Timberwolves and Kings are interested — there are Lakers rumors, too, as they try to find a deal involving D’Angelo Russell’s salary — but the Warriors are the aggressors, reports Chris Haynes of Bleacher Report/TNT. That makes some sense as the Warriors have pushed to get a roster around Stephen Curry that can make one more run, but right now they lack shot creation.
Once again, Danny Ainge has created a bidding war and if a team does trade for Markkanen the price is going to be surprisingly steep. Markkanen is a former All-Star who averaged 23.2 points and 8.2 rebounds a game last season, he may be worth the hype.
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Magic lock down defensive big man Jonathan Isaac for five years, $84 million
If he can stay healthy enough and play enough games, Jonathan Isaac is a All-Defensive Team level player who could win Defensive Player of the Year someday. He’s a part of the Magic core that is starting to make noise in the /East, and the Magic locked him down for the next five years.
Orlando Magic F Jonathan Isaac has agreed on a five-year, $84 million contract renegotiation and extension, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/4skp5qS2sp
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Moe Wagner returning to Magic on two-year, $22 million deal
His brother Franz gets more flowers, but Moe Wagner is also a part of the Magic’s young core. Last season he averaged 10.9 points and 4.3 rebounds a game, playing nearly 18 minutes a night off the bench.

The Magic have locked him up with a two-year, $22 million contract. That’s a fair price for a solid backup big man.
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Kemba Walker retires
After a dozen NBA seasons, four-time NBA All-Star Kemba Walker officially retired from basketball.
Thank you, basketball. pic.twitter.com/gLUbQnZMP5
Walker was as entertaining a player as any in the league for a number of years, carrying a Charlotte team that never had enough around him. Walker was a bucket-getter who averaged 19.3 points and 5.3 assists a game for his career.
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Donovan Mitchell agrees to three-year, $150.3 million contract to stay with Cleveland
The best sign that everyone in the league knew Donovan Mitchell was never leaving the Cavaliers: In the midst of the free agency hype around Paul George, Klay Thompson, DeMar DeRozan and if a trade for Lauri Markkanen is possible, nobody in front offices was talking about chasing Donovan Mitchell. Because everyone knew he was staying in Cleveland.
Tuesday morning the news finally broke: Donovan Mitchell agreed to a three-year, $150.3 million contract with the Cavaliers, a story broken by Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN but made basically official when Mitchell posted this:
#LetEmKnow @cavs pic.twitter.com/QU1re4zn0G
It’s three years because after that he reaches 10 years in the NBA and becomes eligible for 35% of the salary cap instead of 30% — the Cavaliers could (in theory) sign him for five years, $380 million on that next contract.
It was pretty clear Mitchell was going to return when the Cavaliers fired coach J.B. Bickerstaff after the team had won its first playoff series since LeBron James was on the team, and hired Kenny Atkinson in his place. While GM Koby Altman may have been thinking it, no way a winning coach is fired unless it’s something Mitchell wanted.
The question with Mitchell locked in becomes: Does Darius Garland (through agent Rich Paul) ask for a move to a better situation for him? The buzz has been the Cavaliers plan to keep their core four — Mitchell, Garland, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen — together and think another year and a new coach with more movement in the offense will change things. However, Paul hinted that may not be how Garland sees things and said he would want to talk to Altman.
What we know for sure is Mitchell isn’t going anywhere.
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Buzz about possible Lauri Markkanen trade growing louder, more teams involved
With Paul George and a number of other big free agents off the market — James Harden, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, OG Anunoby, Klay Thompson, Tobias Harris — teams are looking at trades to try finding a significant upgrade. Brandon Ingram is available, with New Orleans seeing if anyone can top Sacramento’s offer.
But the name gaining steam is Lauri Markkanen.
Previously we heard the Warriors and Spurs had interest, but that list has now grown to include the Timberwolves and the aforementioned Kings, reports Jake Fischer at Yahoo Sports. that list is likely longer than four teams.
Lauri Markkanen was Utah’s All-Star the year they hosted the game and averaged 23.2 points and 8.2 rebounds a game. Danny Ainge and the Jazz are taking calls, Fischer says, but the asking price is going to be steep. It appears some teams may be willing to pay it.
Warriors to retire Klay Thompson’s jersey
Hey Clippers, this is how you do a classy goodbye letter.
The Warriors and Klay Thompson have parted ways in what was a bit of an acrimonious divorce — Thompson felt disrespected not getting paid like he thought he deserved, and the tension between the sides was palpable. Now Thompson is headed to Dallas in a sign-and-trade (Kyrie Irving reportedly helped recruit him).
The Warriors released a statement praising Thompson and saying his No. 11 jersey will be retired someday.
Warriors statement on Klay Thompson: pic.twitter.com/qIscaFW5mN
Good on Golden State for announcing that.
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Form of Klay Thompson trade to Mavericks finalized
When the news broke that Klay Thompson agreed to go the Dallas Mavericks, three-fourths of the participants were good — Thompson, Dallas, and the third team in Charlotte that was getting Josh Green in the deal. Golden State wanted more, but not to take on salary.
So they are getting two second-round picks.
Golden State is receiving two second round picks to complete the Klay Thompson sign-&-trade: Dallas’ 2031 pick and the least favorable of Denver/Philadelphia pick in 2025, sources say. https://t.co/w9QKAzgqXq
The deal is done, pending league approval; it can’t be completed until July 6 when the moratorium ends, officially.
For Dallas, is the combination of Naji Marshall and Thompson better than Derrick Jones Jr.?
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Nicolas Batum headed back to Clippers on two-year, $9.6 million deal
Here’s a conversation for another day: What are the Clippers right now? Where are they headed? They are not bad with Kawhi Leonard, James Harden and solid role players around them, but they are probably a play-in team at best in the West. My guess? If it weren’t for opening a new arena this season, they would have gone into retool/rebuild mode.
One of those solid role players is former and once again Clipper Nicolas Batum, who is returning on a two-year, $9.6 million deal.
Free agent F Nic Batum has agreed on a two-year, $9.6 million deal to join the Los Angeles Clippers, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/UPSxcBt4eX
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Jayson Tatum, Celtics agree on largest contract in NBA history: five years, $315 million
Jayson Tatum is a supermax player: Best player on an NBA championship team, First-Team All-NBA, a two-way threat scoring 26.9 points a night — a top 10 (arguably top-five) player in the league, and in his prime.
With the coming rise of the salary cap under the new national television rights deal, the cost of a supermax player will keep going up and up, and every year or two somebody will break the record for the largest contract in NBA history. This year that somebody is Tatum, whom Boston is offering a five-year, $315 million contract with a player option on the final year, a story broken by Chris Haynes of Bleacher Report and TNT.
BREAKING: Boston Celtics and star Jayson Tatum have reached an agreement on a five-year, $315M supermax extension with a player option that is the largest contract in NBA history, league sources tell @NBAonTNT, @BleacherReport. pic.twitter.com/qVpr94JiAa
This was a no-brainer everyone knew this was coming. Tatum passed teammate Jaylen Brown for the largest-ever contract, Brown signed his five-year, $285 million contract a year ago (if you’re wondering who’s next, Luka Doncic is up for his supermax in 2026). Tatum and Brown make up the core of a Celtics team that has appeared in five Eastern Conference Finals and two NBA Finals, taking home the Larry O’Brien Trophy this year.
Tatum averaged 26.9 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 4.8 assists a game this past season, then carried those numbers over to the playoffs, averaging 25 points, 9.7 rebounds, and 6.3 assists per game. The Celtics also locked up Derrick White this offseason and will head into next season with the top seven rotation players from the team that just won the title — Boston remains the bar that New York, Philadelphia and everyone else is chasing.
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Klay Thompson headed to Dallas on three-year, $50 million deal
LeBron James and the Lakers made their push to keep Klay Thompson on the West Coast, but the pull of Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks was too strong.
As had been rumored a lot in the last 24 hours, Thompson is headed to Dallas on what will be a three-year, $50 million contract, according to multiple reports. For this to happen requires a sign-and-trade, the details of which are still being worked out (according to Chris Haynes of Bleacher Report/TNT), but it will likely involve trading Josh Green to Charlotte as a third team. The Mavericks have a trade exception from the recent Tim Hardaway Jr. trade they could use as well.
Thompson had more lucrative offers but chose Dallas, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reports.
Thompson had four-year offers for more money, but taking less was offset by the chance to win a fifth championship with the Mavs and difference in state taxes. Agent Greg Lawrence of @wassbasketball led Thompson in serious talks with Mavs and Lakers, among others.
It will be strange to see Thompson in a uniform other than Golden State’s blue and gold, but the separation had been building all season when the Warriors would not offer what Thompson thought was a fair contract. Thompson brings needed shooting as well as championship experience to Dallas. The 34-year-old averaged 17.9 points a game last season while shooting 38.7% from beyond the arc for the Warriors. However, he’s inconsistent on offense — the last game we saw him, the play-in against Sacramento, he shot 0-of-10 — and isn’t near the defender he used to be. At this point in his career, Thompson is a quality rotation player, not a star, however Dallas is betting on a motivated veteran.
Thompson and Naji Marshall will be asked to fill the hole left by Derrick Jones Jr. in Dallas (with Jones trying to fill the hole of Paul George with the Clippers).
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Tyrese Maxey agrees to five-year, $204 million max contract
This was an expected and easy call for the Philadelphia 76ers — they are maxing out Tyrese Maxey with a five-year, $204 million contract (25% of the salary cap, the most he can be offered).
ESPN Sources: Philadelphia 76ers All-Star guard Tyrese Maxey has agreed in principle on a five-year, $204 million maximum contract extension. pic.twitter.com/rBT8Tpkvg8
Maxey will be at the point with Paul George on the wing and Joel Embiid in the paint on what will be a title-contending team in Philadelphia. Last season, Maxey made his first All-Star team and averaged 25.9 points and 6.2 assists a game while shooting 37.3% for the 76ers. He was brilliant when Joel Embiid was healthy, but struggled some when Embiid was down and he became the guy at the top of opponents’ scouting reports. Next season, with some health luck, he won’t have to deal with that.
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LeBron James reportedly willing to take a salary cut… for the right player
LeBron James did the Lakers one favor: By opting out of the final year of his contract, he gave the Lakers the cap space to use the full mid-level exception ($12.8 million) or make a trade to bring in depth to the roster. The challenge is that under the new CBA, using the mid-level exception, as well as most trades, would hard cap the Lakers at the first tax apron ($178.1 million), and there’s no way to use the MLE and max out LeBron on a new deal.
LeBron, for the first time in his career, is reportedly willing to take a pay cut — for the right player.
LeBron would take a discount for an established veteran, especially a playmaker, ESPN’s Dave McMenamin said. He listed three such players: James Harden, Klay Thompson and Jonas Valanciunas. Well, Harden has re-signed with the Clippers (at $35 million a season, way more than the Lakers could have afforded) and Valanciunas is headed to Washington.
That leaves Klay Thompson from the original list, and the Lakers are reportedly trying to outbid the Mavericks in a sign-and-trade for the four-time champion, with Dallas perceived to be in the lead, reports Marc Stein. One other name to watch is DeMar DeRozan, a Los Angeles native who averaged 24 points a game last season for the Bulls, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst speculates LeBron would take a discount for him. However, DeRozan’s mid-range game is not a pure fit with new Lakers coach J.J. Redick’s hope of a roster that is more athletic and shoots more 3s. Still, it’s something to watch.
If the Lakers don’t land anyone like that, they will have to max out LeBron (three years, $162 million with a trade clause).
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The Boston Celtcs are for sale
With all due respect to Paul George and Klay Thompson, this is the biggest surprise of the offseason.
Wyc Grousbeck and the Boston Celtics ownership group has decided to sell high and is putting the Celtics up for sale, reports ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Forbes estimated the Celtics to be worth $4.7 billion, and those numbers tend to be low.
BREAKING: The Boston Celtics majority ownership group — led by Wyc Grousbeck — is planning to make the franchise available for sale, sources tell ESPN. The investment group purchased the team in 2002. Massive development for one of sports’ most valuable properties. pic.twitter.com/ICixdcJtLF
There will be a number of ownership groups willing to step forward — unless you’re a Steve Ballmer there are not single individuals who can afford an NBA team anymore — but Celtics fans are right to be concerned that this team goes into the hands of someone who will continue to spend and gives more than lip service to the history and tradition of one of the league’s premiere brands and franchises.
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Derrick White re-signs with Boston for four years, $129.5 million
This was expected. Derrick White is half of the best defensive backcourt — arguably the best backcourt, period — in the NBA and was a key reason the Boston Celtics are hoisting banner No. 18. They were never going to let him go, the only question was cost. The answer is four years, $129.5 million, reports ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
D-White is sticking around ☘️ pic.twitter.com/Y18fDnTUvt
White averaged 15.2 points, 5.2 rebounds and 4.2 assists a game shooting 39.6% from 3 for the Celtics last season. All that while making the NBA All-Defensive second team for his play on that end of the court.
The Celtics are not done, they can and will extend Jayson Tatum at the max this summer, too.
Boston is wisely running it back next year and daring anyone to beat them (to their credit, New York and Philadelphia have taken steps to at least make it more competitive in the East this time around, if everyone can just stay healthy). The Celtics will enter next season as the championship favorites and on top of every power rankings, as they should. This is the team to beat.
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Jazz rumored to be open to trade Lauri Markkanen, but price is high
Lauri Markkanen was Utah’s All-Star the year they hosted the game and is a fan favorite, so publicly everyone around the Jazz talk about wanting to build around him not trade him. However, the 27-year-old big man is in his prime, not exactly the same timeline as the rest of the rebuilding Jazz. So teams have inquired.
The win-now Warriors and the going-to-be-winning-soon Spurs are kicking the tires on a potential Markkanen trade, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst said on the HoopCollective Posdcast.
“The teams who are negotiating with the Jazz do think there’s a good chance they’re going to move him. Sometimes, Danny Ainge will act like he’s going to do a trade and then there’s no trade. Maybe that will happen again here. But the teams negotiating think (he’s available).”
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Tobias Harris returning to Detroit on two-year, $52 million contract
The Detroit Pistons are rebuilding — Cade Cunningham agreed to a max contract extension that is a bet on his future, and there is Jalen Duren and Ausar Thompson and the just-drafted high-upside Ron Holland. But to make it work, a young team needs a veteran presence on the roster that can both show them how to be a professional and provide some steady play on the court.
Enter Tobias Harris, who is returning to Detroit on a two-year, $52 million deal, a story broken by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
This is a good fit. Harris — who played two-and-a-half seasons in Detroit before being traded to the Doc Rivers Clippers — gives the Pistons a veteran, quality wing scorer who averaged 17.2 points and 6.5 rebounds a game last season. That contract also does not lock the Pistons down long-term and will be tradable if a playoff team comes looking for wing help in the next couple of seasons. Good early move by Trajan Langdon and the new Pistons braintrust.
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Isaiah Hartenstein headed to Oklahoma City for three years, $87 million
Oklahoma City wanted a physical, more traditional center to backup Chet Holmgren and they just went and got the best big on the market.
Isaiah Hartenstein — coming off a strong end of the season and playoff run as the starting center for the Knicks — is headed to the Thunder on a three-year, $87 million contract, a story broken by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
Hartenstein’s agents Aaron Mintz and Drew Morrison of @CAA_basketball closed on deal with Sam Presti in early hours of Monday, sources said. Huge offseason for Thunder in adding two of league’s best role players — Hartenstein and Alex Caruso. https://t.co/kZE7zn5ULT
While the Knicks wanted him back, the CBA limited them to offering him four years, $72.5 million ($18.1 million a year) and the market was set higher than that by Nic Claxton, who re-signed in Brooklyn at four years, $100 million ($25 million a season). Hartenstein beats that.
Oklahoma City (like Boston) likes to play five-out with its lineups, but it became clear during their playoff run and eventual loss to Dallas in the second round that they needed a traditional big on the roster for certain matchups. Hartenstein doesn’t space the floor but he does a lot of other things well — protect the rim on defense, rebounds, run in transition and he can score around the rim. In the playoffs he averaged 8.5 points and 7.8 rebounds a night for New York (which realized it was going to use him and used its flexibility to trade for Mikal Bridges and re-sign OG Anunoby).
This is a great get and fit for the Thunder, who added Alex Caruso and now Hartenstein to a roster that picked up playoff experience. They will be a real threat to come out of the West.
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Paul George headed East, agrees to join 76ers on four-year, $212 max contract
After the Clippers refused to budge on their contract offer and dropped out of the running, then the Orlando Magic spent a lot of their cap space on Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, the 76ers were the last team standing in the Paul George sweepstakes.
Philadelphia won — Paul George agreed to return to the Eastern Conference and joins the Philadelphia 76ers on a four-year, $212 max contract, a story broken by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski and confirmed by NBC Sports Philadelphia’s Noah Levick.
🚨 Breaking news: The Sixers have their third star. @NoahLevick has the story. ⤵️https://t.co/avFxrcDuUN
The 76ers have to be counted as legit title contenders, putting George on the wing between Joel Embiid at center and Tyrese Maxey — who will soon agree to a max extension rookie contract — at the point. George averaged 22.6 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 3.5 assists a game last season while shooting 41.3% from beyond the arc and being a plus defender on the perimeter. He finished just two spots out of making an All-NBA team.
The hardest part of the job for coach Nick Nurse may be getting Embiid and George to the playoffs healthy, but if he can 76ers are right there with New York as a threat to the defending champion Celtics.
The 76ers roster is starting to take shape after they re-signed Kelly Oubre Jr. and added Andre Drummond and Eric Gordon so far this offseason (plus drafted UCLA’s high-energy big man Adem Bona in the second round, he certainly makes the roster and likely gets run).
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Kelly Oubre Jr. to stay in Philadelphia at two years, $16.3 million
Kelly Oubre Jr. found a groove in Nick Nurse’s offense as a baseline cutter, a guy out fast in transition and someone not afraid to take a 3. He’s also become a good on-ball defender. He’s the kind of guy the 76ers need around their big three (once Paul George comes on board as expected. Which is why the 76ers locked him up at a fair price.
ESPN Sources: Free agent G Kelly Oubre Jr., has agreed on a two-year, $16.3 million deal to stay with the Philadelphia 76ers. Deal includes a player option on the 2025-2026 season for Sixers’ starting two-guard. pic.twitter.com/UE9Mc6PEsD
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Mavericks rumored to be front runners to land Klay Thompson
Dallas’ offense sputtered in the NBA Finals. Boston’s defense had something to do with that, but the Mavericks’ struggles to create and knock down good 3-point looks was a big part of that. Klay Thompson knows a little about hitting 3s and winning championships.
Dallas has emerged as the frontrunner to land Thompson, reports Chris Haynes of Bleacher Report/TNT. There had been rumors that Thompson would take less to play in Los Angeles with the Lakers or Clippers — and LeBron James reportedly called Thompson at the start of free agency — but that never made a lot of sense. Thompson felt disrespected by the Warriors offers during the season that were rumored to be around $20 million a year, so he was going to leave to play for $12.7 million?
Dallas can put together a sign-and-trade that involves Josh Green and Maxi Kleber, who together make $23.6 million — Thompson’s salary would have to match that. The Mavericks also would likely have to throw in a pick. This trade would also hard cap the Mavericks at the first apron ($171.3 million).
Losing Derrick Jones Jr. and replacing him with Thompson is a defensive downgrade, but the Mavericks need shooting and while this version of Thompson is not the 2015 peak version, he can still knock down shots.
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Kevin Porter Jr. returning to NBA, signs 1+1 deal with Los Angeles Clippers
Former Rocket Kevin Porter Jr., who played last season in Greece, is returning to the NBA with the Los Angeles Clippers on a two-year contract where the second year is a player option, reports Shams Charania of The Athletic.
Porter Jr., a 6’4″ guard out of USC, averaged 19.2 points and 5.7 assists a game with the Rockets two seasons ago, but was held away from the team and soon out of the league through all of last season after an arrest for domestic violence. As Charania reports: “Porter previously reached a plea agreement of a third-degree reckless assault misdemeanor in January. He is in the process of completing a court-ordered program, and once completed his plea will move to not-guilty with no criminal record.”
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Naji Marshall headed to Dallas on three-year, $27 million contract
He’s not going to replace Derrick Jones Jr. — he’s not able to defend guards — but he is a plus defender and a solid rotation player.
The Dallas Mavericks added to their rotation picking up forward Naji Marshall from New Orleans with a three-year, $27 million deal.
Free agent F Naji Marshall has agreed on a three-year, $27 million deal with the Dallas Mavericks, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/KlICsYvVyc
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Dallas GM Nico Harrison was clear from the moment the NBA Finals ended that the franchise’s No. 1 priority this offseason was re-signing Derrick Jones Jr. However, the Mavericks have been focused on wooing and negotiating a trade for Klay Thompson, and then they poached Naji Marshall from the Pelicans. With that, it became a lot tougher to re-sign Jones Jr.
So the Clippers stepped in and picked up the athletic defensive wing, reports Shams Charania at The Athletic.
Free agent forward Derrick Jones Jr. plans to sign a three-year, $30 million deal with the Los Angeles Clippers, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. Major pickup for the Clippers. pic.twitter.com/ANwrqHAczJ
This is a good fit for the Clippers, who need a two-way forward like Jones to replace the minutes lost with Paul George leaving the team — Jones is no PG13, but he is a solid, two way wing and switchable defender. He also brings more athleticism to the roster. However, by using the mid-level exception, the Clippers have hard capped themselves at the first apron, $171.3 million (Jones didn’t use the full MLE, giving the Clippers a little flexibility, but the hard cap still applies).
It’s also a real blow for Dallas on the defensive end — Jones was their best defender of guards. Mashall and Thompson cannot fill that role.
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If recent history is any indication, Jonas Valanciunas is going to get traded to a Finals team in the next couple of years — the starting centers in Game 1 of the NBA Finals this year, Dallas’ Daniel Gafford and Boston’s Kristaps Porzingis, were both Wizards centers within a year of the Finals.
The Pelicans were ready to move on from Valanciunas and he is headed to Washington, reports ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Valanciunas becomes the mentor for just drafted Alex Sarr — the talented but raw 7-footer out of France — plus he becomes the steady veteran on a young, rebuilding team in the nation’s capital.
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This was expected and it’s a bet on Cade Cunningham’s development as a franchise cornerstone (and that new coach J.B. Bickerstaff can put him in a better position to thrive).
Cunningham will sign a max rookie contract extension with the Pistons, five years, $226 million, reports Shams Charania of The Athletic. Last season, Cunningham averaged 22.7 points and 7.5 assists a game, and his 3-point shooting improved to 35.5% a game — on a team that has been the worst in the NBA the past two seasons, he has been the brightest hope for the future. (Cunningham will play out the $13.9 million of the final year of his rookie deal next season, then the extension kicks in for the 2025-26 season.)
The Detroit Pistons plan to sign Cade Cunningham to a five-year, $226 million maximum rookie extension, sources tell me and @JLEdwardsIII. pic.twitter.com/Zu828t1jNe
When he has played Cunningham has been fantastic, but he has never played more than 64 games in a season due to injury. This contract is also a bet on his health.
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It’s not official yet, but it looks like the 76ers have their big three of Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey (who will sign a max extension with the team this summer), and soon Paul George. However, if watching Boston and Denver win the crown the past two years has taught us anything, it’s that depth matters more than just big star names at the top of the board.
Enter Eric Gordon, a solid rotation guard who is going to Philly, reports Shams Charania of The Athletic. Gordon, 35, averaged 11 points a game last season for the Suns, shooting 37.8% from 3.
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Chris Paul is going to be feeding the rock to Victor Wembanyama.
After what we can safely say was a disastrous Jeremy Sochan at the point experiment last season (good player, not a point guard), the San Antonio Spurs were known to be in the market for traditional point guards, someone who could play with Wembanyama as the young star continues to grow into his game. They drafted Stephon Castle out of UConn in one of the great fits of draft night. Now they add Chris Paul and his high-IQ game, another fantastic fit — he can mentor Castle and Wembanyama.
The Spurs were known to have interest in CP3 from the moment teams realized it was likely CP3 could hit the free agent market. Golden State waived Paul Sunday, not wanting to pay his $30 million salary for next season. The Warriors and Paul had agreed to push back that deadline to be waived a couple of days trying to work out a trade with the Clippers for Paul George, but nothing came together.
The Spurs got their man, a story broken by Chris Haynes of Bleacher Report and TNT.
Free agent star Chris Paul intends to sign with the San Antonio Spurs, league sources tell @NBAonTNT, @BleacherReport. pic.twitter.com/drgZmqeO1b
This is a one-year, $11 million contract according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
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Paul George appears headed to Philadelphia.
The 76ers have said from the start they were set to offer George the max — four years, $212 million — to fit him between Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid. The Orlando Magic bowed out when they agreed to give three years, $66 million to Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. George’s agent called the Clippers and according to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, the Clippers did not come off their number (which was always three years at less than the max).
Soon after the Clippers released a statement that George would sign his next contract with another team.
“Heading into the offseason, our roster was constructed of three great players 33 and over, two of whom could become free agents. We wanted to retain them on contracts that would allow us, under the constraints of the new CBA, to continue building the team. We negotiated for months with Paul and his representatives on a contract that would make sense for both sides, and we were left far apart. The gap was significant. We understand and respect Paul’s decision to look elsewhere for his next contract.”
That leaves the 76ers as the team left standing in the PG 13 sweepstakes.
George loved playing in Los Angeles and having his family at games — and the Clippers gave up a lot to get George five years ago — but this is a business and money talks. George also wanted to go somewhere he can contend, and Philadelphia is that — the 76er are a threat to win the East if they can get George, 34, and Embiid to the finish line healthy.
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Andre Drummond signs with 76ers to back up Embiid
The Philadelphia 76ers are starting to round out their roster while still working to land Paul George as a free agent. That includes finding a backup center for Joel Embiid.
Andre Drummond has agreed to a two-year, $10 million contract with the 76ers, reports Shams Charania of The Athletic. Drummond spent last season in Chicago coming off the bench behind Nikola Vucevic, playing 17 minutes a night and averaging 8.4 points and 9 rebounds a game. He remains one of the best rebounders in the league and will be solid for Nick Nurse in the role asked of him.
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Kentavious Caldwell-Pope signing with Orlando Magic for three years, $66 million
The Orlando Magic needed more shooting, a veteran presence in a young locker room, and someone who could fit their defensive mentality.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope checks every box on that list and he is headed to Orlando on a three-year, $66 million contract (with a player option in the third year). At age 31, KCP was looking for years, not just money. The news was broken by one of the best guys in the business, Jeff Zillgitt of The USA Today.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope leaving the Denver Nuggets and headed to the Orlando Magic on a three-year deal, I’m told.
Caldwell-Pope was a key part of the Nuggets championship run two seasons ago and a huge loss for them now (he was also on the Lakers’ 2020 title team in the bubble, again in a key role). Denver is stuck in the situation a lot of successful teams will start to find themselves in, it will be hard to hold a team together because they won’t be able to pay a market-rate salary for good role players without going deep into a highly punitive second-apron tax. Denver now has access to the $5.8 million tax-payer mid-level exception. This also means Christian Braun is going to get a chance to start and play heavy minutes.
Last season Caldwell-Pope averaged 10.1 points a a game, shooting 40.6% from 3. This makes the up-and-coming Magic that much more dangerous.
It will take the Magic out of the running for Paul George, although they were a longshot in that race.
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Celtics bring back bigs Luke Kornet, Neemias Queta
Some bench big men notes on the defending champion Celtics, they have reached deals to bring back Luke Kornet and Neemias Queta. Kornet is on a one-year deal at the league minimum. Queta is on a multi-year contract, although how much of that is guaranteed we don’t currently know (probably not that much). The Celtics aren’t making any changes this offseason because, why should they?
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Clippers reportedly trying to find Russell Westbrook trade
From the moment Russell Westbrook picked up his $4 million player option, the word in league circles was not to expect him back with the Clippers next season. Now comes a report from Jake Fischer at Yahoo (and quickly confirmed by others) that the Clippers are looking to trade Westbrook and are testing the market.
Denver is a potential landing spot, with there reportedly being mutual interest.
Westbrook provided a spark of energy off the bench for the Clippers last season — he still plays as hard as anyone in the league — but he’s inconsistent and is a defensive liability (even if he improved on that end). Westbrook averaged 11.1 points, 5 rebounds and 4.5 assists a game last season but with a 51.4 true shooting percentage that is well below the league average. He can help the right team off the bench, but the Clippers are ready to move on.
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Kings pursuing trade for Brandon Ingram
This isn’t new news, but it’s a reminder of what is out there. The Kings want a roster upgrade this offseason, ideally a wing scorer, to put between De’Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis, and they have been targeting Brandon Ingram. The well-connected Sean Cunningham of Fox40 (KTXL) in Sacramento reports that the Kings are still pursuing that trade.
Sources confirm Sacramento Kings are pursuing a trade for Brandon Ingram. I’m told Kings have had discussions with the Pelicans and it’s worth noting, Ingram was an emerging star under coach Alvin Gentry, who works in Kings front office.
The trade offer reportedly is Harrison Barnes, Kevin Huerter and a first-round pick. New Orleans would be wise to wait out the Paul George decision then see if the losers in that race come calling with a better offer. Still, the Kings might be at the front of the line.
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Kevin Love returning to Heat for two years, $8 million
Kevin Love has become something the Heat always seem to have on the roster: Veteran leader who can still contribute on the court but may give them more off it. Last season, the 35-year-old Love averaged 8.8 points and 6.1 rebounds a game while throwing great look-ahead passes in his almost 17 minutes a night. That’s enough for the Heat to keep him around for a little more than the veteran minimum.
Free agent F/C Kevin Love is finalizing a two-year, $8 million-plus deal to return to the Miami Heat, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. pic.twitter.com/uUFBaErvb8
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Warriors officially waive Chris Paul, making him a free agent
This was expected: The Golden State Warriors have waived Chris Paul.
As much as the team liked him with the second unit, the Golden State Warriors were not bringing Chris Paul back at $30 million a season. The sides pushed the guarantee date back a couple of days to try and make the Paul George trade work, but the Clippers always were going to ask for a massive, oversized haul to send George to a division rival, and no deal came together.
There will be plenty of suitors, but at the top of the list the Lakers and Spurs reportedly have interest, likely for the veteran minimum (the Spurs could offer more if they wanted, they have the cap space).
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James Harden returning to Clippers on two-year, $70 million contract
James Harden is going to be there to help open the Clippers new Intuit Dome arena.
He has agreed to a two-year, $70 million contract, with Harden having a player option on the second year (which is essentially a no-trade clause, the CBA sees this as a one-year contract and he can veto a trade for Bird rights reasons). Shams Charania of The Athletic was first.
James Harden plans to sign a two-year, $70 million contract to return to the Los Angeles Clippers, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. Harden’s agents – Mike Silverman, Troy Payne and Brandon Grier of Equity Sports – have been working with Clippers officials to finalize new deal. pic.twitter.com/dRYRS9roL9
Harden stays home in Los Angeles — with Kawhi Leonard — on another short-term deal for less than the maximum (although per-year this was in the ballpark of what Harden was expected to get). He seemed comfortable playing back in Los Angeles and was working out at the team facilities this offseason. He also liked being with other LA guys in Leonard, Russell Westbrook (who picked up his $4 million option to stay with the team, although he could still be traded or waived) and Paul George. Of course, George may not be back.
Harden played more of a facilitator role for the Clippers last season, something they desperately needed. He finished the season averaging 16.6 points and 8.5 assists a game, shooting 38.1% from 3. Depending on what happens with George, Harden could be asked to score more next season.
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76ers reportedly trying to land both Paul George and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope
The biggest takeaway from watching Boston hold up the Larry O’Brien trophy this season and Denver a year ago might be this: It’s not the teams with the biggest collection of stars that wins, it’s the team with enough depth to roll out 7 good players and not have holes in their roster to cover.
Philadelphia GM Daryl Morey is going big game hunting chasing Paul George, but he was paying attention to the need for depth and wants to sign Kentavious Caldwell-Pope as well, reports Marc Stein. That’s a big ask, especially in the tax apron era, but Philly is all-in on winning. So is Joel Embiid.
HERE WE GO!!!!
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No trade market for Zach LaVine?
Interesting note from ESPN’s salary cap guru (and former Nets front office member) Bobby Marks: There remains no market for Zach LaVine. The Bulls are looking at attaching a first-round pick to LaVine to see if that can get teams interested. It’s a little strange because, while LaVine’s game is flawed (not much defense, concerns about how he contributes to winning outside of scoring) he averaged 19.5 points a game last season and is a career 38.2% shooter from 3.
It will be interesting once Paul George signs/is traded somewhere, then Brandon Ingram is traded and DeMar DeRozan signs, will the teams that miss out take a fresh look at LaVine?
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NBA official salary cap numbers are out
The NBA announced the official salary cap numbers for the 2024-25 season, and they are just a little lower than expected. The official numbers are:
• Team minimum salary $126.529 million
• The NBA salary cap is $140.588 million
• NBA luxury tax line is $170.814 million
• The first tax apron is $178.132 million
• The second tax apron is $188.931 million
What does that mean for your team (if you’re a Suns fan and wonder why being above the second apron hamstrings your team), Keith Smith has this cheat sheet that should help.
Enough people seem to like this, so I figured I would share with all.

This isn't the be all, end all of what different levels mean for NBA teams, but think of it as a quick reference guide for when you hear all about cap space, over-the-cap and first & second aprons this summer! pic.twitter.com/NPUapAmSot
Also of note, the 22 teams under the salary tax line last year got a nearly $12 million payout each from the eight teams over the line.
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If Max Christie is the rotation player the Lakers think he is — and he’s penciled in as a rotation player for next season — this is a good deal for both sides. Christie agreed to a four-year, $32 million contract with the Lakers, reports Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.
ESPN Sources: Restricted free agent G Max Christie intends to sign a four-year, $32 million deal to stay with the Los Angeles Lakers. Deal includes player option. Christie — 35th pick in the 2022 draft — has shown promise as a future LA rotation player. pic.twitter.com/75Y86oszJa
Just a reminder that Christie is just 21 years old — he’s two years younger than just drafted Dalton Knecht. Last season he was playing 14 minutes a game, but the Lakers hope to see that number go up under J.J. Redick, Christie has shot 37.8% on 3-pointers in his two NBA seasons and the Lakers are going to be launching from deep more next season.
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Negotiations between the Warriors and Klay Thompson have fallen apart — they have not spoken in weeks and there is no offer currently on the table — but when they talked, the Warriors reportedly were offering a couple of years (maybe a team option on a third) at around $20 million a year. Thompson found that insulting enough to want to leave the team he has been with for 13 years and won a title with.
Now comes an interesting report from Jake Fischer at Yahoo Sports that Thompson might be open to taking the mid-level exception — $12.7 million a season — to play in Los Angeles with the Lakers or Clippers.
That would be some real spite toward the Warriors.
LeBron James opting out of his $51.4 million player option (along with some smaller moves) means the Lakers can offer that full mid-level, it means LeBron would take about a $16 million pay cut but he is reportedly open to it if it lands Thompson (or DeMar DeRozan). Whether the Clippers can offer the MLE depends on what happens with Paul George (keep reading below) and James Harden.
The Mavericks, Lakers and Clippers are all reportedly talking to the Warriors about a sign-and-trade deal that could get Thompson more money (salaries would have to match in a trade). The challenge for all three teams is that any sign-and-trade or use of the mid-level exception hard caps them at the first tax apron ($178.7 million), a number all three teams were expected to exceed that number.
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There will be a flurry of action the second NBA free agency opens — not that there’s any tampering in the NBA, how could you say such a thing? — but the biggest move will likely be on hold for a bit.
That’s because a lot of things will be on hold until Paul George makes a decision.
Paul George to Philadephia rumors are heating up, according to Chris Hanes at Bleacher Report in their live stream. The 76ers will offer George the four-year max ($212 million from them) the Clippers would not (reportedly only three years at around $150 million, the discounted amount Kawhi Leonard signed for to stay home in Southern California).
George will reportedly go old school and take a free agent meeting with the 76ers, Orlando Magic and Clippers, then make his decision.
DeMar DeRozan is going to wait to decide on his free agency until after George makes his call — and he could end up with the Clippers if George leaves. The Lakers are also interested if DeRozan wants to play in his home city.
Any trade of Brandon Ingram also would likely be on hold until George makes a call. There are other moves that would be dominoes to fall after that, but it’s all waiting on George.
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Obi Topin is as good a lob finisher as there is in the NBA. Tyrese Haliburton is as good a lob passer as the league has right now.
Indiana wisely wants to keep them together and struck a deal to do so.
ESPN Sources: Restricted free agent F Obi Toppin intends to sign a four-year, $60 million contract to stay with the Indiana Pacers. Toppin emerged as a top bench contributor for the Eastern Conference finalists. pic.twitter.com/sJP8q5prJe
This is a fair deal for a solid rotation player, in a couple of years that will basically be the mid-level exception or a little lower.

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