NBA free agency tips off with a flurry of activity
Kevin Durant reportedly wants to be traded to the Suns, but Phoenix had other matters to attend to as NBA free agency opened. The Suns and Devin Booker agreed to a four-year, $224 million supermax contract, according to ESPN. The 25-year-old guard has made three straight NBA All-Star games. Last season he averaged career-highs with 26.8 points and 5.0 rebounds per game, adding 4.8 assists per. 76ERS: After James Harden opted out of the $47 million he was set to make with the 76ers next year, the two sides will meet over the weekend, according to ESPN, rather than trying to hammer out a deal Thursday night after NBA free agency officially began at 6 p.m. Harden reportedly is willing to work with Philadelphia on a deal that will help the team add other pieces. They’ve signed PJ Tucker to a three-year, $33.2 million deal, according to The Athletic. Tucker, 37, averaged 7.6 points and 5.5 rebounds per game last season with the Heat. They also added guard Trevelin Queen on a two-year, $3.3 million contract, according to Yahoo Sports, and signed swingman Danuel House to a twoyear, $8.5 million contract.
FREE AGENCY ROUNDUP
NUGGETS: Two-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic signed a five-year, $270 million supermax deal with the Nuggets — the richest deal in NBA history — per ESPN.
The 27-year-old Serbian is a fourtime All-Star and is coming off a season in which he averaged career highs with 27.1 points and 13.8 rebounds per game. His 7.9 assists per game were good for eighth-best in the league.
GRIZZLIES: Memphis star Ja Morant has agreed on a five-year, $193 million designated rookie maximum extension that could become worth $231 million, according to ESPN. Memphis also reached a deal with guard Tyus Jones as the two sides agreed to a two-year, $30 million contract, according to ESPN.
The 26-year-old guard averaged 8.7 points and 4.4 assists per game last season, later averaging 9.2 points and 4.5 assists per game in the playoffs.
WIZARDS: As expected, Bradley Beal is staying with the Wizards on a five-year, $251 million max contract, according to ESPN.
Beal, 29, opted out of a 2022-23 option to sign the max deal. The threetime All-Star averaged 23.2 points, 6.6 assists and 3.8 rebounds across 40 games last season.
TIMBERWOLVES: Minnesota star Karl-Anthony Towns has agreed on a four-year, $224M super max extension, according to ESPN. Kyle Anderson agreed to a deal with the Timberwolves, according to ESPN. The versatile forward played an important role in the Grizzlies’ playoff run last season, scoring 7.6 points per game in the regular season and 6.0 in the postseason.
BUCKS: Bobby Portis has been a great fit for the Bucks since leaving the Knicks, and Milwaukee wanted to keep him around.
The Bucks signed Portis to a fouryear, $49 million contract, according to multiple reports.
The 27-year-old big man averaged career-highs with 14.6 points and 9.1 rebounds last season, playing a career-high 28.2 minutes per game.
TRAIL BLAZERS: Portland is not letting breakout guard Anfernee Simons get away. The two sides agreed to a four-year, $100 million contract extension, according to ESPN.
HEAT: Victor Oladipo is staying put. He and the Heat agreed to a oneyear, $11 million contract, according to The Athletic.
The 30-year-old former All-Star, who’s been plagued by injuries, played just eight games for the Heat during the 2021-22 regular season.
KINGS: Sacramento is signing Malik Monk to a two-year, $19 million contract, according to multiple reports. Monk, 24, averaged a careerhigh 13.8 points per game for the Lakers last season after four years with the Hornets.
BULLS: Center Andre Drummond has agreed to a two-year, $6.6M deal with Chicago, according to ESPN. The second year is a player option.
RAPTORS: Toronto is keeping a couple of frontcourt pieces in the fold. The Raptors agreed to sign Chris Boucher to a three-year, $35.25 million contract, according to ESPN. Toronto also agreed to bring back Thaddeus Young on a two-year, $16 million contract.
CLIPPERS: Nicolas Batum and the Clippers agreed to a two-year deal to keep him with the team, according to multiple reports. Yahoo Sports reports the contract is for $22 million.
MAGIC: Mo Bamba agreed to stay with the Magic on a two-year, $21 million contract, according to Yahoo Sports. The 7-foot Harlem native took steps forward last season by averaging 10.6 points and 8.1 rebounds per game.
Gary Harris has agreed to a twoyear, $26 million contract with Orlando.
THUNDER: The Thunder ensured Lu Dort will remain part of their core for years to come, agreeing on a five-year, $87.5 million contract, according to ESPN.
MAVERICKS: JaVale McGee will be joining his fifth team in as many years after agreeing to a three-year deal worth a reported $20.1 million.
LAKERS: After the Spurs pulled their qualifying offer, Lonnie Walker IV is joining the Lakers on a one-year, $6.5 million contract, according to The Athletic. The Lakers have also agreed to a two-year deal with center Damian Jones, per ESPN, and a minimum contract with Troy Brown Jr., per The Athletic.
PISTONS: Ex-Knick Kevin Knox is signing a two-year deal with the Pistons, according to The Athletic. The deal is worth a reported $6 million. The ex-Knick averaged just 2.7 points in 6.5 minutes per game with the Hawks last season after he was part of the midseason package that landed Cam Reddish in New York.
After finally securing a trade away from the Kings in February, Marvin Bagley III appears to be happy with his new home. Bagley and the Pistons agreed to a three-year, $37 million contract, according to Yahoo Sports.
The 23-year-old forward averaged 14.6 points and 6.8 rebounds in 18 games with the Pistons last season.