Steph Curry will sign 4-year extension to stay with Warriors
Stephen Curry has long said he wants to retire with the Golden State Warriors and soon will take an important step in reaching that goal.
The two-time MVP and threetime champion Curry has agreed to a four-year, $215 million contract extension to remain in Golden State through 2026, a league source confirmed with Bay Area News Group.
The extension, which was first reported by ESPN and can’t officially be signed until Aug. 6, makes him the first player in NBA history to sign two contracts worth at least $200 million.
Curry will make $45.8 million for the 2021-22 season and extend his contract for four more years, guaranteeing him $261 million over the next five seasons. Curry will make $48 million in 2022-23, $51.9 million in 2023-24, $55.7 million in 2024-25 and $59.6 million in 2025-26.
By signing this extension, Curry, 33, will play for the Warriors through the rest of his prime and his age 38 season. Since being drafted seventh overall out of Davidson, Curry has spent all 12 years of his career in Golden State, where he helped establish a dynasty with five straight NBA Finals runs. Longtime teammates Klay Thompson and Draymond Green are signed through the 2023-24 season.
Curry is coming off a terrific season in which he won his second scoring title by averaging 32 points per game, earning first-team All-NBA honors for the fourth time and finishing third in MVP voting.
Kings center Holmes agrees to stay in Sacramento on new four-year deal
Kings general manager Monte McNair alleviated the concerns of Kings fans everywhere Monday night as the first day of free agency came to a close, reaching a deal to keep Richaun Holmes in Sacramento for four more years.
League sources told The Sacramento Bee the two sides agreed to a four-year deal worth up to $55 million, confirming a report from The Athletic’s Shams Charania. The deal, which can’t be signed until the moratorium ends Aug. 6, includes a player option and a trade kicker.
Holmes has become a huge fan favorite since arriving in Sacramento in 2018. The 27year-old center and his family took to Twitter to celebrate with Kings fans, who never wavered in their show of love and support for Holmes during the lead up to free agency.
Holmes tweeted: “Sacramento i love you... LETS GET IT!!! #4moreyears #stay22uned”
Holmes’ parents, famous in
Sacramento for the “We Won” videos they post on social media following Kings’ victories, also expressed their joy and relief. His father, Richard, tweeted: “Thank you God...And STILL #SacramentoProud”
Holmes was the primary focus in Sacramento when free agency began at 3 p.m. Monday. The Kings agreed to a new twoyear, $9 million contract with forward Maurice Harkless and then reached a two-year, $7.65 million deal with center Alex Len, leaving fans anxiously awaiting an update on Holmes.
Holmes was believed to be seeking a four-year deal worth up to $80 million. Due to their salary cap situation, the Kings could only offer about $50 million — or apparently closer to $55 million with possible incentives — using his Early Bird Rights.
Veteran NBA reporter Marc Stein reported the Kings were “said to be preparing an offer in the $50 million range to bring back in-demand center Richaun Holmes — with Holmes said to be seeking bigger numbers.” There were multiple reports suggesting rival executives believed Holmes would stay in Sacramento, but the Dallas Mavericks, Toronto Raptors and New York Knicks were reportedly interested in prying him away.
The Athletic’s John Hollinger noted if Holmes didn’t get a big offer from Toronto, a “likely outcome” if the Raptors were taking Goran Dragic in a sign-and-trade deal for Kyle Lowry, Holmes could get “squeezed” in this market.
Hollinger wrote: “That could see him returning to Sacramento on an ‘Early Bird’ deal.”
The Kings signed Holmes as a backup center in 2019, but he quickly established himself as the starter. He is coming off the two best years of his career after averaging career highs of 14.2 points, 8.3 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.6 blocks last season. — Jason Anderson, The Sacramento Bee
Warriors to sign Nemanja Bjelica to minimum deal
The Warriors have agreed to sign big man Nemanja Bjelica to a one-year, minimum contract, according to a source.
Bjelica, 33, is known as a floor-spacing big man who helps address Golden State’s need for depth at the position and someone who could play alongside Draymond Green in the frontcourt. At 6-foot-10, 234 pounds, he’s made 38.7% of his 3-pointers for his career.
But he’s coming off an underwhelming season that hurt his market value. He struggled
with conditioning and back issues before being traded from the Sacramento Kings to the Miami Heat in March. He appeared in just 37 games for the season, and averaged 6.5 points and 3.4 rebounds while shooting 31.8% from 3-point range.
If Bjelica can bounce back with Golden State, the Warriors will have one of the league’s best shooters at the center position and solid rebounder (6.4 rebounds per game two seasons ago) and facilitator (1.8 assists per game for his career).
Though he will come off the bench, he can play alongside centers James Wiseman and Kevon Looney, or in lineups that feature Green at center.
With Bjelica signing a minimum deal, the Warriors still have the full $5.9 million taxpayer mid-level exception available. The Warriors on Monday also agreed to terms with forward Otto Porter Jr. to a minimum contract. — Wes Goldberg, Mercury News
Lakers reach free-agent deals with Carmelo Anthony, Malik Monk
The Lakers kept adding to their free-agent haul Tuesday, agreeing to deals with forward Carmelo Anthony and guard Malik Monk, according to multiple people who are not authorized to speak publicly.
Anthony essentially broke his news on social media Tuesday, posting a two-second video with ME70, with the seven turning into the Lakers’ L logo.
Anthony and Lakers star LeBron James are longtime friends and have wanted to be teammates, but their illustrious career paths never crossed.
Now they get their chance after Anthony agreed to a oneyear deal with the Lakers. The contract can’t be signed until the NBA’s new business year opens Friday at 12:01 p.m. Until then, teams and players can only agree to terms.
The Lakers agreed to terms with four free agents on Monday, including center Dwight Howard. They also have deals set with 3-and-D wings Trevor Ariza, Kent Bazemore and Wayne Ellington.
Anthony, 37, is an 18-year veteran who averaged 13.4 points and made 40.9% of his three-pointers last season in Portland. The 6-foot-7 Anthony was solid off the bench last season for the Trail Blazers.
Monk, who was not tendered a qualifying offer by the Charlotte Hornets, which made him an unrestricted free agent, also agreed to his deal Tuesday.
He’s a 6-3 guard in his fourth season who has the ability to knock down open shots.
Monk averaged 11.7 points and shot 40.1% from threepoint range in 20.9 minutes per game last season in Charlotte.
The Lakers still have a few more roster spots to fill. The team entered free agency with only James, Anthony Davis, Marc Gasol and Alfonzo McKinnie under contract, and acquired superstar guard Russell Westbrook from the Washington Wizards in a trade that will be completed Friday.
The Lakers still have designs on keeping restricted free agent Talen Horton-Tucker, who emerged as a young contributor last season. — Broderick Turner, Los Angeles Times
Bulls reportedly agree to 3year deal with DeRozan
CHICAGO — The Chicago Bulls continued to revamp their roster Tuesday with yet another splash in free agency.
They reportedly agreed to sign free-agent wing DeMar DeRozan to a three-year, $85 million contract. To complete the deal, the Bulls will send Thad Young, Al-Farouq Aminu, a future first-round pick and a future secondround pick to the San Antonio Spurs in a sign-and-trade move, according to multiple reports.
One day after the Bulls revamped their backcourt and found their point guard in Lonzo Ball, adding DeRozan, who turns 32 on Saturday, gives them an added boost at wing.
DeRozan averaged 21.6 points and 6.9 assists in 2020-21 and has averaged at least 20 points per game the last eight seasons. — Jamal Collier, Chicago Tribune