Lowry, Paul move quickly, Ball traded as free agency opens
Point guards were the immediate focus when the NBA’s free agency window opened Monday night, with Kyle Lowry headed to the Miami Heat, Lonzo Ball on his way to the Chicago Bulls while Chris Paul and Mike Conley landed lucrative deals to remain with their current teams.
Lowry and the agency that represents him, Priority Sports, said he was headed to the Heat. A person with knowledge of the deal said he would be signing a threeyear contract worth nearly $30 million annually in what will become a sign-and-trade that sends Goran Dragic and Precious Achiuwa from Miami to Toronto. The person spoke to The AP on condition of anonymity because nothing had yet been approved by the league.
Paul agreed to a contract to remain with the Western Conference champion Phoenix Suns. It would be worth nearly $120 million if all four years are completed. He turned down a $44.2 million option for this coming season to negotiate a longer deal, and after the success the Suns had this season in their run to the NBA Finals it seemed doubtful that he would look to play elsewhere.
Conley agreed to a $73 million, four-year deal to remain with the Utah Jazz. Conley confirmed the signing on Twitter.
The NBA’s window for talks opened at 3 p.m. PST, and it did not take long for handshake deals to commence. No new contracts can be signed until 9 a.m. Pacific on Friday.
Miami made the biggest early splash, not just landing Lowry but agreeing to terms with 3-point specialist Duncan Robinson on a deal that would be worth nearly $90 million if all five years are completed.
The Heat also lured P.J. Tucker away from NBA champion Milwaukee; Tucker will make around $7 million this season in Miami and holds an option to remain there in 2022-23.
Miami isn’t done: Not only is this the summer when Bam Adebayo’s fiveyear, $163 million contract agreed to last fall kicks in, but the Heat plan to finalize an extension that would be worth an average of roughly $45 million annually with Jimmy Butler this week. Butler and the Heat cannot begin those talks until Friday at the earliest by league rule.
Lowry is leaving Toronto after nine seasons there and helping the Raptors win the 2019 NBA championship. Ball will be acquired by the Bulls from New Orleans in a signand-trade deal worth $85 million, Klutch Sports announced. The deal, according to ESPN, also included sending Tomas Satoransky and Garrett Temple from Chicago to the Pelicans.
Ball isn’t the only guard heading to Chicago; Alex Caruso is leaving the Lakers for the Bulls on a fouryear deal worth a reported $37 million.
Other deals struck Monday and confirmed to AP:
• Cleveland is keeping center Jarrett Allen on a five-year, $100 million deal.
• Dallas agreed to a fouryear, $74 million deal to retain Tim Hardaway Jr.
• Toronto agreed to keep Gary Trent Jr., who impressed in his time with the Raptors following a midseason trade, on a three-year deal worth $54 million.
• The Bucks are keeping Bobby Portis for next season, with a player option for 2022-23.
• The Denver Nuggets reached two-year agreements to keep guard Will Barton and forward JaMychal Green. Barton’s deal is for $32 million and Green’s for $17 million.
• The Indiana Pacers agreed to a four-year deal to keep point guard T.J. McConnell, with ESPN reporting that deal would be worth roughly $9 million annually.