All the latest buzz, news and reports
Adrian Wojnarowski tells Rachel Nichols that Brooklyn’s culture and front office made the franchise appealing for both Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving. (2:16)
NBA free agency is here! And we’ve already got plenty of deals and trades to report.
Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving are headed to the Brooklyn Nets. Jimmy Butler is taking his talents to South Beach. Khris Middleton and Brook Lopez are staying with the Milwaukee Bucks.
Where will star free agents such as Kawhi Leonard and DeMarcus Cousins land? Stay up to date with the latest news and rumblings.
More: Available free agents | Trade tracker | Rating every move 
11:44 p.m. ET: Small forward Rodney McGruder will be signing a three-year deal worth roughly $15 million with the LA Clippers, according to multiple reports.
8:50 p.m. ET: Free-agent guard Emmanuel Mudiay has agreed to a one-year deal with the Utah Jazz, league sources told Adrian Wojnarowski.
7:40 p.m. ET: Free agent Jared Dudley has agreed to a one-year, $2.6 million deal with the Los Angeles Lakers, agent Mark Bartelstein of Priority Sports told Adrian Wojnarowski.
6:56 p.m. ET: Free agent Jeff Green has agreed to a one-year, $2.5 million deal with the Utah Jazz, league sources told Adrian Wojnarowski.
5:42 p.m. ET: Free-agent center Willie Cauley-Stein will sign with the Golden State Warriors, a league source told ESPN’s Zach Lowe, confirming multiple reports.
5:40 p.m. ET: Free-agent guard Brad Wanamaker is returning to the Boston Celtics on a one-year deal, agent Steve McCaskill told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
2:34 p.m. ET: Restricted free agent Daniel Theis has agreed to a two-year, $10 million deal to stay with the Boston Celtics, CAA agents Michael Tellem and Aaron Mintz told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
2:21 p.m. ET: Restricted free-agent forward Dorian Finney-Smith has agreed to a three-year, $12 million deal to re-sign with the Dallas Mavericks, sources told ESPN’s Tim MacMahon.
1:08 p.m. ET: The Philadelphia 76ers have offered a five-year maximum contract extension to Ben Simmons, and the Sixers and agent Rich Paul are expected to work through the details toward an agreement, league sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Under the league’s new salary-cap projections, Simmons’ max would now sit at $170 million.
10:35 p.m. ET: Free agent Isaiah Thomas has agreed to a one-year deal with the Washington Wizards, a league source told Adrian Wojnarowski.
8:36 p.m. ET: Free-agent forward Jordan Bell has agreed to terms with the Minnesota Timberwolves, a league source told Malika Andrews.
7:57 p.m. ET: Free agent Kevon Looney is returning to the Golden State Warriors on a three-year, $15 million deal, agent Todd Ramasar told Adrian Wojnarowski.
7:27 p.m. ET: Free-agent center Pau Gasol is looking to return to the NBA after a stress fracture in his left foot cut his 2018-19 season short. “My recovery from surgery has been smooth, and I expect to be fully cleared for basketball activities in August,” Gasol told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. “I cannot wait to start training again.”
5:27 p.m. ET: Jimmy Butler is headed to the Miami Heat. The LA Clippers have been added as a fourth team in a trade that also includes the Philadelphia 76ers and Portland Trail Blazers, league sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski and Zach Lowe.
Trade details: Who’s going where in the four-team deal?
Grades: Who wins the massive Jimmy Butler trade?
5:03 p.m. ET: The Oklahoma City Thunder have agreed to a deal with free-agent guard Alec Burks, a league source told ESPN’s Royce Young. Burks, who spent his first seven seasons with the Utah Jazz but was traded last season to the Cleveland Cavaliers and then to the Sacramento Kings, averaged 8.8 points, 3.7 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 64 games among the three teams last season.
4:55 p.m. ET: Free agent Frank Kaminsky has agreed to a two-year, $10 million deal with the Phoenix Suns, agent Kevin Bradbury told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
4:29 p.m. ET: Free-agent guard Wesley Matthews has agreed to a deal with the Milwaukee Bucks, league sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Matthews, 32, is a career 38.2 percent shooter from 3-point range, having averaged 5.8 attempts per game.
4:00 p.m. ET: Free-agent guard Edmond Sumner has agreed to a three-year deal with the Indiana Pacers, Excel Sports agents Sean Kennedy and Jared Mucha told ESPN.
2:54 p.m. ET: The New York Knicks made another move in free agency Monday afternoon, agreeing with point guard Elfrid Payton on a two-year, $16 million contract, according to multiple reports.
2:40 p.m. ET: Free-agent center Enes Kanter‘s new deal with the Boston Celtics pays $4.8 million the first season and $5 million the second season, a source told The Undefeated. Kanter told ESPN’s Marc J. Spears via text that the Portland Trail Blazers gave him only six minutes to decide on his future.
2:35 p.m. ET: Troy Daniels and the Los Angeles Lakers have come to an agreement on a one-year, $2.1 million contract, his agent, Mark Bartelstein, confirmed to ESPN. The 6-foot-4 shooting guard is a 40% 3-point shooter in six seasons in the league.
2:20 p.m. ET: The Dallas Mavericks have agreed to a four-year, $33 million deal with restricted free-agent power forward/center Maxi Kleber, sources said. The deal includes a team option for the final season.
1:42 p.m. ET: The Golden State Warriors and Brooklyn Nets are on course to complete the sign-and-trade that will deliver All-Star guard D’Angelo Russell to Golden State on a four-year, $117 million maximum contract, league sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
Trade grades: What’s next for the Warriors?
1:08 p.m. ET: Klay Thompson is officially staying with the Golden State Warriors. Thompson on Monday agreed to a five-year, $190 million max deal with the Warriors, according to multiple reports.
1:05 p.m. ET: Free-agent guard Austin Rivers has agreed to a two-year deal to return to the Houston Rockets, a league source told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. The deal includes a player option for the second year.
12:45 p.m. ET: The Miami Heat have agreed to trade Hassan Whiteside to the Portland Trail Blazers for Mo Harkless and Meyers Leonard, league sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
12:30 p.m. ET: Free-agent guard Seth Curry has agreed to a four-year, $32 million deal with the Dallas Mavericks, his agent Alex Saratsis of Octagon Sports told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Curry, 28, was the third-rated 3-point shooter (45%) in the NBA for the Portland Trail Blazers last season.
11:59 a.m. ET: Free-agent guard Michael Carter-Williams has agreed to a one-year deal to return to the Orlando Magic, a league source told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
10:38 a.m. ET: Free agent Wayne Ellington has agreed to a two-year, $16 million deal with the New York Knicks, agent Mark Bartelstein of Priority Sports told ESPN.
8:35 a.m. ET: Free-agent guard Tomas Satoransky has agreed to a three-year deal with the Chicago Bulls, league sources told ESPN. The Bulls are acquiring Satoransky in a sign-and-trade deal with the Washington Wizards, and he’ll have a chance to compete for the starting point guard role, sources said.
1:28 a.m. ET: The Miami Heat and Philadelphia 76ers are still working on completing the Jimmy Butler sign-and-trade, and as reported by ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne, the Heat are working with point guard Goran Dragic to find a trade partner this week.
1:20 a.m. ET: The LA Clippers have agreed to re-sign free-agent shooting guard Patrick Beverley to a three-year, $40 million deal, as reported by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
1:08 a.m. ET: The Denver Nuggets have agreed to a five-year, $170 million extension with point guard Jamal Murray, as reported by The Athletic.
11:41 p.m. ET: The Golden State Warriors are trading Andre Iguodala along with a protected first-round pick to the Memphis Grizzlies, a league source told Adrian Wojnarowski.
11:30 p.m. ET: The Golden State Warriors and Brooklyn Nets have agreed on a sign-and-trade, sending D’Angelo Russell to the Warriors on a four-year, $117 million maximum contract, league sources told Adrian Wojnarowski.
10:57 p.m. ET: The Dallas Mavericks had interest in acquiring free agent Goran Dragic in the three-team trade construction with the Miami Heat and Philadelphia 76ers, but “they changed course,” his agent, Bill Duffy, told Ramona Shelburne. Duffy told Shelburne: “In analyzing it, his salary was too high based on other things they’re trying to do.”
10:46 p.m. ET: Free agent Mario Hezonja has agreed to a two-year deal — with a player option in the second year — with the Portland Trail Blazers, CAA agent Michael Tellem told Adrian Wojnarowski.
10:31 p.m. ET: The New Orleans Pelicans are closing in on an agreement with Derrick Favors, sources told Zach Lowe.
10:29 p.m. ET: Free agent Mike Muscala has agreed to a deal with the Oklahoma City Thunder, agent Sean Kennedy of Excel Sports told Adrian Wojnarowski.
10:26 p.m. ET: Free agent Nerlens Noel has asked the Oklahoma City Thunder for time to re-evaluate their previous commitment to a new deal, league sources told Adrian Wojnarowski.
9:58 p.m. ET: The Utah Jazz and center Ed Davis have agreed to a two-year, $10 million deal, as reported by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Utah traded backup power forward Jae Crowder to Memphis in the Mike Conley deal, and incumbent starting power forward Derrick Favors is a free agent. Davis spent the 2018-19 season as a backup to center Jarrett Allen with the Brooklyn Nets.
9:58 p.m. ET: In addition to adding Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, the Brooklyn Nets agreed to a four-year, $40 million deal with center DeAndre Jordan. As reported by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski and Ramona Shelburne, Durant and Irving took less than the max to allow Jordan to reach the $10 million annual salary in Brooklyn. Jordan ended the 2018-19 season with the New York Knicks after a midseason trade from the Dallas Mavericks.
9:14 p.m. ET: Former Indiana Pacers starting power forward Thaddeus Young has agreed to a deal with the Chicago Bulls, according to Young. The Bulls have recent draftees Lauri Markkanen and Wendell Carter Jr. up front. Young has played 12 seasons in the NBA, averaging 13.4 points and 1.5 steals in 901 career games.
9:08 p.m. ET: After re-signing Tobias Harris and agreeing to sign-and-trade Jimmy Butler, the Philadelphia 76ers have agreed to a four-year, $109 million deal with power forward Al Horford, according to reporting by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Horford has played center often for the Boston Celtics, but he could start in a frontcourt with All-Star center Joel Embiid while Harris shifts to small forward.
9:08 p.m. ET: The Miami Heat are finalizing a sign-and-trade with the Philadelphia 76ers that will send small forward Jimmy Butler to South Beach and Josh Richardson to South Philly, as reported by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
8:54 p.m. ET: Power forward Taj Gibson has agreed to a two-year, $20 million deal with the New York Knicks, as reported by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Gibson spent the past two seasons as a starter with the Minnesota Timberwolves; New York agreed to a deal with Julius Randle earlier in the day and released a statement from team president Steve Mills after missing out on All-Star free agents.
7:35 p.m. ET: Free agent Julius Randle has agreed to a three-year, $63 million deal with the New York Knicks, CAA agents Aaron Mintz and Steve Heumann told Adrian Wojnarowski.
7:18 p.m. ET: The Dallas Mavericks are optimistic about reaching a long-term deal with restricted free-agent center Maxi Kleber, according to ESPN’s Tim MacMahon. Dallas already agreed to terms with Dwight Powell and Kristaps Porzingis.
7:17 p.m. ET: The New York Knicks and owner Jim Dolan were not prepared to offer Kevin Durant a full max contract due to concerns over his recovery from his Achilles tendon injury, league sources told Ramona Shelburne and Adrian Wojnarowski. Knicks officials are in Los Angeles on Sunday night, meeting with free agents such as Julius Randle.
7:09 p.m. ET: Free agent Tobias Harris has agreed to a five-year, $180 million contract to return to the Philadelphia 76ers, his agent and father, Torrel Harris of Unique Sports Management, told Adrian Wojnarowski.
7:09 p.m. ET: Free agent Ricky Rubio has agreed to three-year, $51 million deal with the Phoenix Suns, sources confirmed to The Undefeated’s Marc J. Spears.
6:42 p.m. ET: Free agent Rodney Hood has agreed to a two-year, $16M deal to return to the Portland Trail Blazers, CAA agents Ty Sullivan and Austin Brown told Adrian Wojnarowski.
6:41 p.m. ET: Free agent Kristaps Porzingis‘ five-year, $158 million max deal with the Dallas Mavericks is fully guaranteed, sources told ESPN’s Tim MacMahon. Dallas did not push for any injury protection or minutes and game clauses for Porzingis, who missed all of last season while rehabbing a torn ACL.
6:35 p.m. ET: Free agent Thomas Bryant has agreed to a three-year, $25 million deal to return to the Washington Wizards, agent Todd Ramasar told Adrian Wojnarowski.
6:33 p.m. ET: The Indiana Pacers have agreed to a free-agent deal with Jeremy Lamb, league sources told Adrian Wojnarowski.
6:28 p.m. ET: Milwaukee Bucks shooting guard Malcolm Brogdon has been traded to the Indiana Pacers for a first-round pick and two future second-round picks, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Brogdon has agreed to a four-year, $85 million deal with Indiana.
6:28 p.m. ET: Free agent Bojan Bogdanovic has agreed to a four-year, $73 million deal with the Utah Jazz, league sources told Adrian Wojnarowski.
6:24 p.m. ET: Free agent Danuel House Jr. has agreed to a three-year, $11.1 million deal to return to the Houston Rockets, a league source told Adrian Wojnarowski.
6:24 p.m. ET: Free agent Danny Green is waiting on Kawhi Leonard‘s decision before making a commitment, Brian Windhorst said on The Jump. Green is a target for the Dallas Mavericks, Windhorst said.
6:19 p.m. ET: Free agent Al-Farouq Aminu has agreed to a three-year, $29 million deal with the Orlando Magic, league sources told Adrian Wojnarowski. The deal includes a player option in the third year.
6:13 p.m. ET: EuroLeague forward/center Nicolo Melli has agreed to a two-year, $8 million deal with the New Orleans Pelicans, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Melli, 28, was the EuroLeague Finals’ top scorer for Turkish club Fenerbahce last season.
6:10 p.m. ET: Free agent Terrence Ross has agreed to a four-year, $54 million deal to return to the Orlando Magic, CAA agent Aaron Mintz told Adrian Wojnarowski.
6:05 p.m. ET: The Philadelphia 76ers have started discussions with agent Rich Paul on a contract extension for All-Star guard Ben Simmons, league sources told Adrian Wojnarowski.
6:03 p.m. ET: Free agent Gerald Green is returning to the Houston Rockets on a one-year deal, agent James Dunleavy told Adrian Wojnarowski.
6:01 p.m. ET: Free-agent center Jonas Valanciunas has agreed to a three-year, $45 million deal to return to the Memphis Grizzlies, CAA agent Leon Rose told Adrian Wojnarowski.
6:01 p.m. ET: Free-agent guard Derrick Rose has agreed to a two-year, $15 million deal to join the Detroit Pistons, league sources told Adrian Wojnarowski.
6:01 p.m. ET: Free-agent F Harrison Barnes has agreed to a four-year, $85 million deal to stay with the Sacramento Kings, Excel Sports agent Jeff Schwartz told Adrian Wojnarowski.
6:00 p.m. ET: Free agent Khris Middleton has agreed to a five-year, $178 million deal to return to the Milwaukee Bucks, Excel Sports agent Mike Lindeman told Adrian Wojnarowski.
6:00 p.m. ET: Free agent Kemba Walker has agreed to sign a four-year, $141 million maximum contract to join the Boston Celtics, Excel Sports agent Jeff Schwartz told Adrian Wojnarowski.
6:00 p.m. ET: Free-agent guard JJ Redick has agreed to a two-year, $26.5 million deal to join the New Orleans Pelicans, league sources told Adrian Wojnarowski.
5:26 p.m. ET: Once free agency opens at 6 p.m. ET, All-Star Khris Middleton plans to return to the Milwaukee Bucks on a five-year, $178 million contract, league sources told Adrian Wojnarowski. The deal is expected to include a player option in the final year.
4:55 p.m. ET: Kevin Durant is planning to sign with the Brooklyn Nets, league sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Brooklyn will also secure deals with Kyrie Irving and DeAndre Jordan on Sunday night, league sources told Wojnarowski.
4:47 p.m. ET: Once free agency opens at 6 p.m. ET, Brook Lopez is planning to sign a four-year, $52 million deal to stay with the Milwaukee Bucks, league sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
4:40 p.m. ET: Free-agent guard Garrett Temple is expected to sign a two-year, $10 million deal with the Brooklyn Nets, a source told ESPN’s The Undefeated’s Marc J. Spears. The deal includes a team option for the second year.
3:31 p.m. ET: Kevin Durant will announce his free-agent decision Sunday night via The Boardroom Instagram account, a source told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
3:25 p.m. ET: The Portland Trail Blazers and Damian Lillard have agreed to a four-year, $196 million supermax contract extension, sources confirmed to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst. Lillard, 28, has two years and around $61 million left on his current deal.
How can Portland contend with Lillard’s new supermax?
3:12 p.m. ET: ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reports the Boston Celtics are in exploratory talks with the Brooklyn Nets and Charlotte Hornets on a three-team sign-and-trade involving Kyrie Irving (Nets), Kemba Walker (Celtics) and Terry Rozier (Hornets).
2:05 p.m. ET: Jonas Valanciunas is expected to commit to a three-year, $45 million contract to return to the Memphis Grizzlies, league sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. The 27-year-old center declined a $17.6 million player option on his 2019-20 contract, clearing the way to become an unrestricted free agent and negotiate a new, longer-term deal.
11:46 a.m. ET: The Dallas Mavericks expect to agree to a three-year, $33 million contract extension with center Dwight Powell in the opening stages of free agency Sunday evening, sources confirmed to Tim MacMahon. Powell recently exercised his $10.3 million player option for next season with the plan to work out an extension to stay in Dallas long term.
7:29 p.m. ET: Free-agent center Enes Kanter is drawing interest from a number of teams, including the Los Angeles Lakers, LA Clippers and Sacramento Kings, league sources told ESPN’s Royce Young. Kanter started last season with the New York Knicks before landing with the Portland Trail Blazers after a midseason buyout. Kanter served as a starter in the postseason following Jusuf Nurkic’s season-ending injury.
6:03 p.m. ET: The Brooklyn Nets are expected to renounce All-Star guard D’Angelo Russell and allow him to become an unrestricted free agent, or explore sign-and-trade scenarios with Russell and his reps once Kyrie Irving signs with the team, league sources told Adrian Wojnarowski. Russell and the Los Angeles Lakers are interested in a reunion, and the team has reached out to his agents to set up a meeting.
6:01 p.m. ET: Free agent Derrick Rose will meet with the Detroit Pistons on Sunday, with both sides motivated to find a pathway to a two-year contract, league sources told Adrian Wojnarowski.
6 p.m. ET: Free agent Jimmy Butler is expected to meet with the Miami Heat on Sunday and the Houston Rockets early next week, sources told Adrian Wojnarowski. The Philadelphia 76ers haven’t ruled out working with Butler on sign-and-trades, which Miami and Houston need to acquire the All-Star guard.
6 p.m. ET: Free agent Kyrie Irving is meeting with the Brooklyn Nets in New York on Sunday and both sides are motivated to move quickly toward reaching a four-year, $141M deal, league sources told Adrian Wojnarowski.
5:16 p.m. ET: The Cleveland Cavaliers have come to an agreement with JR Smith to push back the guarantee date of his contract from June 30 until July 15 to allow the team more time to trade him, sources told Brian Windhorst.
5:01 p.m. ET: Charlotte has declined to exercise the qualifying offer on Frank Kaminsky, allowing him to become an unrestricted free agent, league sources told Adrian Wojnarowski. There’s significant interest in Kaminsky in the marketplace.
4:43 p.m. ET: Charlotte has been scouring the free-agent point guard market, considering such options as Elfrid Payton, T.J. McConnell, Ish Smith and Emmanuel Mudiay, league sources told Adrian Wojnarowski.
4:38 p.m. ET: Kemba Walker plans to be in Boston on Sunday to finalize a formal agreement with the Celtics, league sources told Adrian Wojnarowski. As reported this week, the Celtics and Walker both intend for the All-Star guard to commit to a four-year, $141 million maximum contract once free agency opens. Walker is traveling to New England to meet with Celtics officials at 6 p.m. ET.
4:33 p.m. ET: Free agent Nikola Mirotic plans to return to Europe after five seasons in the NBA and sign with EuroLeague team Barcelona, according to multiple reports.
3:52 p.m. ET: Boston is declining to extend a qualifying offer to guard Brad Wanamaker, who becomes an unrestricted free agent, a league source told Adrian Wojnarowski. The Celtics could still revisit Wanamaker in free agency.
3:17 p.m. ET: Boston has extended a qualifying offer to center Daniel Theis, making him a restricted free agent, a league source told Adrian Wojnarowski.
2:44 p.m. ET: Another quality big on the market: Houston center Nene is declining his $3.8 million option and will become a free agent, league sources told Adrian Wojnarowski.
1:37 p.m. ET: The Nuggets are extending a qualifying offer to forward Trey Lyles, who’ll become a restricted free agent, league sources told Adrian Wojnarowski.
1 p.m. ET: The Milwaukee Bucks plan to waive veteran guard George Hill, who was part of the team’s “Bench Mob” during its run to the Eastern Conference finals this season, a source confirmed to ESPN. Hill joined the Bucks in December when the Cleveland Cavaliers dealt him in a three-team trade. He averaged 6.8 points and 2.6 rebounds in 47 regular-season games for Milwaukee.
12:50 p.m. ET: Denver is picking up the option on Paul Millsap‘s contract, league sources told Adrian Wojnarowski, who reports that the Nuggets will bring back Millsap for the final season of his three-year contract at $30.3 million, will have available their $9.2 million midlevel exception AND still stay under the luxury tax. Denver is loaded to compete for the Western Conference title.
11:50 a.m. ET: Free-agent stars Kevin Durant and Kawhi Leonard have been discussing scenarios that could include a future with them playing together, league sources told Adrian Wojnarowski. For now, there are two clear possibilities for the two All-NBA forwards to sign with the same franchise: the LA Clippers and New York Knicks.
11:16 a.m. ET: The Golden State Warriors and Shaun Livingston have agreed to move back the guarantee date on his $7.7 million contract to July 10, league sources told Adrian Wojnarowski. There had been a June 30 date for the Warriors to guarantee his full deal for 2019-20 — or waive him with a $2 million payout. Moving back the date gives the Warriors some flexibility in decision-making as free agency unfolds.
Projecting the starting salary for every NBA free agent
11:11 p.m. ET: Point guard Darren Collison, set to be a free agent this offseason, decided to announce his retirement in a piece with Marc J. Spears of ESPN’s The Undefeated. Collison spent 10 seasons in the NBA out of UCLA, including the 2018-19 season with the Indiana Pacers. According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Collison was set to secure an annual salary of $10-12 million; instead, the Inland Empire native will focus on faith and family.
9:25 p.m. ET: Kevin Durant will speak to the Brooklyn Nets, LA Clippers, New York Knicks and Golden State Warriors at the start of free agency, league sources tolf ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Durant is recovering in New York from surgery to repair a torn left Achilles tendon, and he plans to communicate with teams from there. The two-time Finals MVP might extend his decision-making process into the next week.
7:17 p.m. ET: Zach Lowe bounces around the free-agency questions big and small as we wait on Kawhi Leonard, Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, and the other massive dominoes. One topic is if Boston signs Kemba Walker, Malcolm Brogdon loses a suitor. The Bucks are bracing for a monster Brogdon offer sheet. They have a walkaway number somewhere, sources say.
5:48 p.m. ET: Kawhi Leonard will speak to the Los Angeles Lakers in the next few days and has made a personal request that only owner Jeanie Buss and Magic Johnson, the team’s former president of basketball operations, be involved in the meeting, sources told ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith. Johnson told ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne on Friday that he will help the Lakers in free agency in any way he can, but he said NBA rules do not permit him to be part of official team meetings with prospective free agents.
3:07 p.m. ET: The Golden State Warriors are planning to offer All-Star guard Klay Thompson a five-year, $190 million maximum contract when free agency opens Sunday at 6 p.m. ET — which is expected to accelerate the process of general manager Bob Myers and Thompson’s agent, Greg Lawrence, quickly reaching a formal agreement, league sources told Adrian Wojnarowski.
The next six moves for the Warriors in a busy free agency
7:19 a.m. ET: Ramona Shelburne and Brian Windhorst examine where the Warriors are as they embark on a summer with their dynasty on a knife’s edge. Much of it centers on a huge volume of money. By the time free agency opens Sunday at 6 p.m. ET, the Warriors will have offered both Klay Thompson and Kevin Durant full five-year maximum contracts. Even with the reality that Durant might miss all of next season recovering from a torn Achilles and Thompson might miss the bulk of it coming back from an ACL tear, this remains the Warriors’ first choice.
Four big trades we’d like to see
Blame Kyrie? It’s not that simple, Boston
3:16 p.m. ET: Free agent Kawhi Leonard is expected to allow the Toronto Raptors to make the final presentation among the teams meeting with him in Los Angeles next week, league sources told Adrian Wojnarowski.
2:18 p.m. ET: The Los Angeles Lakers are trading Moritz Wagner, Isaac Bonga and Jemerrio Jones to the Wizards as part of the Anthony Davis deal with New Orleans, league sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski and Zach Lowe. As part of the deal to unload those contracts and salary, Davis plans to waive his $4 million trade bonus, which will push the Lakers’ cap space to $32 million for the start of free agency. The Lakers will send a future second-round pick to the Wizards with the three players, and Washington will send cash to New Orleans, league sources said. The deal will become official July 6.
How should the Lakers spend their new cap space?
Trade grades: How Lakers, Wizards did in bigger AD deal
11:49 a.m. ET: The Boston Celtics have emerged as the front-runners to sign Charlotte Hornets point guard Kemba Walker in free agency, league sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
5:45 p.m. ET: The New Orleans Pelicans have declined to tender the qualifying offer to Cheick Diallo, making him an unrestricted free agent, league sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
5:07 p.m. ET: Toronto Raptors center Marc Gasol is exercising his $25.6 million player option for next season, returning to the defending NBA champions, league sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
3:58 p.m. ET: The Houston Rockets are canvassing NBA teams with significant salary-cap space to individually offer center Clint Capela, guard Eric Gordon and forward P.J. Tucker as a prelude to Houston’s pursuit of a sign-and-trade deal for Philadelphia 76ers All-Star Jimmy Butler, league sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski and Zach Lowe.
11:40 a.m. ET: Golden State Warriors star Kevin Durant has declined his $31.5 million player option and will become an unrestricted free agent, league sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Durant and business manager Rich Kleiman are in New York, evaluating free-agency options.
10:47 p.m. ET: Are both L.A. teams players in the Kawhi sweepstakes? Adrian Wojnarowski details how the race for Kawhi Leonard remains between the Toronto Raptors and LA Clippers, but Kawhi’s camp is still keeping an eye on how much money the Los Angeles Lakers can free up this summer.
10:38 p.m. ET: Could Golden State risk losing Klay this summer? Adrian Wojnarowski explains that if the Golden State Warriors don’t offer the max to Klay Thompson, he could be open to meeting with teams, including the LA Clippers.
6:08 p.m. ET: Once free agency starts on Sunday, the Houston Rockets are planning to recruit Jimmy Butler to push the Philadelphia 76ers for a sign-and-trade deal that would allow the All-Star forward to join James Harden and Chris Paul, league sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. The Rockets don’t have the salary-cap space to sign Butler, so they’d need the threat of the Sixers losing him for nothing to a team with the available room to motivate the Sixers into a trade.
‘There’s too much damn turmoil’: An unsettling vibe surrounds Rockets
5:51 p.m. ET: Golden State Warriors general manager Bob Myers demurred when asked if he was optimistic heading into formal conversations with injured stars Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson this week regarding their respective futures with the team. Durant has a player option for next season that he has been expected to opt out of all year. Thompson will be an unrestricted free agent.
4:11 p.m. ET: The Portland Trail Blazers have traded Evan Turner to the Atlanta Hawks for Kent Bazemore, a league source told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Turner, a former No. 2 overall pick of the Philadelphia 76ers, spent the past three seasons with the Blazers. Bazemore has been with Atlanta for the past five seasons, making him the longest-tenured current Hawk prior to the trade.
Trade grades: Who wins the Blazers-Hawks deal?
3:51 p.m. ET: Boston Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge said Monday morning that he’s excited about his team being unexpected players in free agency: “I like the fact that we have different opportunities. We have some flexibility, but I don’t really know what is realistic yet. That’s what we’ll spend the rest of this week trying to figure out. What even do we have a chance to do, and where should be our priorities? But I’m excited about the opportunity.”
12:24 p.m. ET: Phoenix Suns guard Tyler Johnson has exercised his $19.25 million player option for the 2019-20 season, league sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
10:10 a.m. ET: Miami Heat center Hassan Whiteside has exercised the $27.1 million player option on his contract for 2019-20, reports ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
4:51 p.m. ET: The New Orleans Pelicans have picked up the 2019-20 team option on Jahlil Okafor, ESPN’s Malika Andrews reports. Okafor — who was drafted third by the Philadelphia 76ers in 2015 and spent time playing with the Brooklyn Nets — signed with the Pelicans during the summer of 2018.
10:58 p.m. ET: The Milwaukee Bucks are trading guard Tony Snell and the 30th pick in Thursday’s draft to the Detroit Pistons for forward Jon Leuer, a league source told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. The Pistons now have the 15th and 30th picks in the draft. Milwaukee saves $4 million in salary this year and removes Snell’s $12 million salary hit in 2020-21.
Trade grades: What the deal means for the Bucks’ free agency
3:22 p.m. ET: Milwaukee Bucks All-Star forward Khris Middleton is declining his $13 million player option and will become an unrestricted free agent, his agent, Mike Lindeman of Excel Sports, told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Middleton and the Bucks are planning to work together toward a new long-term deal, league sources said.
12:44 p.m. ET: The Memphis Grizzlies have traded guard Mike Conley to the Utah Jazz for Grayson Allen, Kyle Korver and Jae Crowder, the 23rd pick in Thursday’s draft and a future first-round pick, league sources told ESPN. The Jazz will send a protected 2020 first-round pick to the Grizzlies, league sources told ESPN. That pick will convey as a late lottery pick in 2020 or 2021, or become a lightly protected pick from 2022 to ’24. The deal will be complete on July 6.
Lowe: Conley trade puts Utah in Finals contention
Trade grades: Who win the Mike Conley deal?
11:35 p.m. ET: The Los Angeles Lakers are scrambling to reshape the parameters of the Anthony Davis trade with New Orleans and create the capacity for $32 million-plus in salary-cap space when the free-agent moratorium ends on July 6, league sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. The Lakers were engaging additional teams on Tuesday to take on the contracts of three of the remaining four players on the team’s roster — Mo Wagner, Isaac Bonga and Jemerrio Jones — league sources said. Kyle Kuzma and LeBron James are the only other two Lakers remaining from the team’s end-of-season roster.
How the Lakers could add a third star next to LeBron and AD
7:51 p.m. ET: All-Star center Al Horford is prepared to enter free agency to find a three- or four-year deal outside of Boston, after the gulf between the two sides became too great for them to close on a new deal, league sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Horford declined to exercise his $30.1 million option for the 2019-20 season earlier today.
3:38 p.m. ET: The New York Knicks have declined a recent trade offer that would have sent the No. 3 overall draft pick to the Atlanta Hawks in exchange for the eighth and 10th picks, a source told ESPN’s Jonathan Givony. The Hawks have been aggressively exploring trade scenarios in which they would package the Nos. 8 and 10 picks to move up in Thursday’s NBA draft, Givony reports.
3:25 p.m. ET: All-Star center Al Horford of the Boston Celtics will decline to exercise his $30.1 million option for the 2019-20 season and become an unrestricted free agent, league sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Though Horford, a five-time All-Star, will move into the free-agent marketplace on June 30, there’s motivation for both Horford and the Celtics to work toward an agreement on a new long-term contract, league sources told ESPN.
3:24 p.m. ET: Sacramento Kings forward Harrison Barnes is declining his $25.1 million player option and becoming an unrestricted free agent, his agent, Jeff Schwartz of Excel Sports, told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Barnes and the Kings remain open to exploring a long-term deal after a successful partnership in the final few months of the 2018-19 season, league sources said.
4:49 p.m. ET: Brooklyn Nets forward Rondae Hollis-Jefferson will become an unrestricted free agent after Brooklyn declined to make him a qualifying offer, league sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. The Nets now have $46 million available in cap space heading into their decision on retaining restricted free agent D’Angelo Russell.
6:27 p.m. ET: The New Orleans Pelicans agreed to trade power forward Anthony Davis to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for point guard Lonzo Ball, small forward Brandon Ingram, small forward Josh Hart, and four first round picks, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. The fourth overall pick in the 2019 draft is included in the trade, along with a 2021 protected pick (top-eight goes to New Orleans) that becomes unprotected in 2022, a 2023 pick swap, and an unprotected 2024 pick that can be deferred to 2025, according to ESPN’s Tim Bontemps and Ramona Shelburne. This trade ends a saga that saw Davis fined $50,000 on Jan. 29 for a public trade demand.
Trade grades: How do Lakers, Pelicans grade out after blockbuster?
7:45 p.m. ET: Goran Dragic has told the Miami Heat he is exercising his $19.2 million option for next season, according to The Athletic. Dragic was limited to 36 games for the Heat last season, averaging 13.7 points and 4.8 assists.
4:47 p.m. ET: Memphis Grizzlies center Jonas Valanciunas is declining the $17.6 million player option on his 2019-20 contract, clearing the way for him to become an unrestricted free agent this summer, league sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Valanciunas’ primary intention will be to negotiate a new longer-term deal with the Grizzlies, league sources said.
10:49 p.m. ET: Boston Celtics star Kyrie Irving is changing representation and is expected to partner with Roc Nation Sports, league sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Irving parted ways with longtime agent Jeff Wechsler on Wednesday, clearing the way for him to ultimately work with Jay-Z’s Roc Nation prior to the start of NBA free agency on June 30, sources said.
Irving, a six-time All-Star, will become an unrestricted free agent, and league sources say he remains intensely interested in the Brooklyn Nets. The New York Knicks are expected to remain competitive for Irving, too, sources told ESPN.
4:05 p.m. ET: Golden State Warriors forward Kevin Durant posted Wednesday on Instagram that he did rupture his Achilles and has undergone surgery to repair the injury suffered in the Warriors’ series-extending Game 5 win. He was expected to be among the marquee free agents this summer but might now end up exercising his $31.5 million option to stay with the Warriors, especially if he’s going to be sidelined for an extended period.
KD’s free-agency options, and what this means for the Warriors
3:55 p.m. ET: The Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers are each engaged in trade talks with the New Orleans Pelicans on All-NBA star Anthony Davis, league sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Zach Lowe, Ramona Shelburne and Brian Windhorst on Wednesday. The Lakers’ No. 4 pick has been discussed as a trade chip to help the Pelicans acquire a high-level player in multi-team deals.
Ranking the Celtics and Lakers by trade value for AD
Five big Anthony Davis trades we’d like to see
10:47 p.m. ET: The Los Angeles Lakers, Dallas Mavericks and New York Knicks are teams that may look to lure Kemba Walker if the All-Star guard chooses not to return to the Charlotte Hornets this summer, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Walker, 29, is eligible for a supermax extension after making one of the league’s three All-NBA teams last month.
11:53 a.m. ET: The Memphis Grizzlies are hiring Milwaukee Bucks assistant Taylor Jenkins as the franchise’s next head coach, league sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Jenkins is third NBA head coach to come directly off of Mike Budenholzer‘s coaching staff, joining Utah’s Quin Snyder and Brooklyn’s Kenny Atkinson. Jenkins will be the Grizzlies’ fourth head coach in the last five years. Memphis has missed the playoffs each of the past two seasons and went 33-49 this past season.
Next moves for the Grizzlies: Should Memphis trade Mike Conley?
4:29 p.m. ET: The Brooklyn Nets agreed to trade shooting guard Allen Crabbe, their 2019 first-round pick (17th overall) and a protected 2020 first-round pick to the Atlanta Hawks in exchange for small forward Taurean Prince and a 2021 second-round pick, according to a report by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. The trade allows for Brooklyn to clear two max-salary spots in free agency and possibly pursue Boston Celtics point guard Kyrie Irving in July.
Pelton trade grades: What the Nets-Hawks deal means for free agency
11:55 a.m. ET: According to a report by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Houston Rockets have let it be known that the entire roster and future draft picks are on the table. Players such as point guard Chris Paul and Clint Capela are realistic trade targets despite both signing new contracts with Houston last summer.
4:32 p.m. ET: The Milwaukee Bucks were the top playoffs seed in the Eastern Conference in 2019, but they were eliminated in the conference finals by the Toronto Raptors. The team has several free agents, including starters small forward Khris Middleton, center Brook Lopez and shooting guard Malcolm Brogdon (restricted). First Team All-NBA power forward Giannis Antetokounmpo made it clear he wants Milwaukee to retain “everyone” for next season, according to a report by ESPN’s Malika Andrews.
2:24 p.m. ET: The NBA announced the All-NBA teams, allowing players such as Charlotte Hornets point guard Kemba Walker and Portland Trail Blazers point guard Damian Lillard to secure the supermax bag. According to a report by ESPN’s Tim Bontemps, Lillard is expected to accept Portland’s extension offer, while there is no clear leaning toward what 2019 free agent Walker will decide.