Charles Rex ArbogastPhoto by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images
The NBA‘s 2021-22 free-agent period began on Monday with an explosion of agreements.
Nearly all deals won’t be official until August 6, after the NBA’s annual moratorium. The league’s salary cap came in where it was expected to be at $112.414 million, with the luxury tax at $136.606 million.
What are the biggest deals from Day 1 and how do they grade out from the team’s perspective?
We’ve got you covered below and will be adding more deals and grades throughout the night.
Chicago Bulls Sign-and-Trade for Lonzo Ball
Four Years, $85 million, via Shams Charania of The Athletic
Tomas Satoransky, Garrett Temple (sign-and-trade) and a second-round pick to the New Orleans Pelicans via Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.
Analysis
The New Orleans Pelicans did not want to lose Lonzo Ball, a restricted free agent, for nothing to the Bulls. In return, they get a couple of steady veterans in Satoransky and Temple (price to be determined).
But the big story is Chicago getting a desperately needed starting point guard. Ball, who turns 24 in October, will fit in nicely with Chicago’s All-Star scorer Zach LaVine. Given LaVine is headed into the last year of his contract, the Bulls need to look into renegotiating and extending his contract to make sure their core of Nikola Vucevic, LaVine and Ball are together for more than just a year. If they can get that done and add yet another piece (perhaps with Lauri Markkanen, Al-Farouq Aminu and/or Thaddeus Young going out in a trade), the grade climbs by one letter.
Grade
B
Phoenix Suns re-sign Chris Paul
Four years, $120 million, via Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports
Analysis
This shouldn’t be a surprise. As first reported by Bleacher Report in June, Paul intended to opt out of his final year at $44.4 million to explore free agency with an eye on a $100 million contract over three seasons. Then the Suns advanced to the NBA Finals.
Paul Sancya/Associated Press
While on the surface, Paul’s deal looks like it would trigger the “Over-38 Rule,” his specific situation allows for a four-year contract (for a player re-signing at 35 or 36 years old). Given the Suns’ need to reward Deandre Ayton and Mikal Bridges this offseason with rookie-scale extensions and Devin Booker’s rich deal, Phoenix will be paying luxury taxes starting with the 2022-23 season.
But that’s tomorrow’s problem. The Suns brought back their leader on a rich contract to make sure they have an opportunity to return to the NBA Finals this coming season.
Grade
A
Utah Jazz re-sign Mike Conley
Three years, $72.5 million, via Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN
Analysis
The Utah Jazz are one of the top competitors in the Western Conference. They weren’t willing to take a step backward because of luxury taxes, agreeing to pay Conley a starting salary of roughly $22.4 million.
Given the Jazz had had no means to replace Conley had he left in free agency, the deal is a no-brainer at that price, especially with the team trading Derrick Favors to the Oklahoma City Thunder (sending out a first-rounder) to shed payroll. Conley could have looked elsewhere, like Dallas, but was one of the first players to commit on Monday.
Grade
A
Cleveland Cavaliers re-sign Jarrett Allen
Five years, $100 million, via Wojnarowski of ESPN
Analysis
Well, then, that’s a lot of money to invest in Allen. That’s going to need a moment to take in. Allen was limited to $120.8 million over four years from any other team as a restricted free agent. His $20 million a year is undeniably lower than the $30.2 million maximum from another franchise, but it certainly feels rich.
Frank Franklin II/Associated Press
Allen is a very steady, athletic shot-blocker/rebounder who can finish efficiently at the basket. Cleveland is not bringing back a bad player, and the franchise must believe he’ll complement recent No. 3 overall pick Evan Mobley for many years to come.
But what will the Cavaliers do with Kevin Love, who has two years left at $60.2 million? Could they look to trade him at a price (giving up a first-round pick)? Buy him out like the Detroit Pistons did with Blake Griffin last year? If so, look for it around March with Love ending up on the Los Angeles Lakers with LeBron James.
Grade
C+
Miami Heat Sign-and-Trade for Kyle Lowry
Three years, $90 million, via Wojnarowski of ESPN
Analysis
The Heat tried to acquire Lowry at the trade deadline, and Miami was always his preferred destination. The Toronto Raptors were happy to help Lowry, arguably the most important player in franchise history, get to where he wanted. The exact details of the deal aren’t clear, but expect Goran Dragic and Precious Achiuwa to head to Toronto.
Miami gets a proven champion at the point to play along with Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo and a very solid roster. Lowry, 35, is older, but he is joining a team for which he won’t have to do too much but will have the ability to rise to the occasion in close playoff games and series. The $30-million-a-season price tag is worth paying.
Grade
A
Miami Heat extend Jimmy Butler
Four years, maximum extension, via Charania of The Athletic
Analysis
The Heat looked exhausted as they tried to push through a fast turnaround following their loss in the 2019-20 NBA Finals. Adding a key piece in Lowry, Miami took away any uncertainty that Butler could leave by declining his player option after the 2021-22 season.
Lynne Sladky/Associated Press
Will it be too much in three or four years? That doesn’t matter today, especially if the Heat can duplicate their 2020 playoff success over the Milwaukee Bucks with Lowry in the fold. Butler is Miami’s best player and he’ll be compensated as such, even if it might feel like a bit of an overpay toward the end of the contract.
Grade
A-
Miami Heat re-sign Duncan Robinson
Five years, $90 million, via Wojnarowski of ESPN
Analysis
Shooting is a premium in the NBA. The Heat agreed to bring back their young sniper on a significant multiyear contract. Robinson was restricted, and the Heat could have forced him to sign an offer sheet, which they would have matched. Instead, they paid him an amount to be happy with at $18 million a year.
Five years is longer than any other team could offer, so knock the grade down slightly, but the market had very few available wings, to Robinson’s benefit.
Grade
B+
P.J. Tucker to the Miami Heat
Two years, $15 million, via Charania of The Athletic
Analysis
The Heat have been busy, and while their other transactions may involve bigger names and bigger contracts, Tucker is a huge loss for the Bucks, Miami’s current rival in the Eastern Conference. The 36-year-old versatile defender can hit the corner three and was a vital part of Milwaukee’s run to the title.
Morry Gash/Associated Press
The Heat both add to their core and subtract from a conference contender’s in the same move. That’s a home run.
Grade
A+
Tim Hardaway Jr. Back with the Dallas Mavericks
Four years, $72 million, via Charania of The Athletic
Analysis
The Mavericks made Hardaway a priority and very quickly came to terms. An average annual value of $18 million is on par with his previous contract with the team. Dallas, a team needing to add shooting around star Luka Doncic, couldn’t afford to lose one of its top floor-spreaders.
The Hardaway deal alone won’t vault the Mavericks above the competition in the West, but he was an essential step along the way as the franchise looks to improve.
Grade
A
Evan Fournier to the New York Knicks
Four years, $78 million, via Wojnarowski of ESPN
Analysis
The Knicks came into the summer with significant cap space and a need for both scoring and shooting. Fournier is a competent offensive player who will help spread the floor for All-Star Julius Randle.
Adam Hunger/Associated Press
New York needed to spend enough to sway Fournier to leave the Celtics, and $19.5 million per year got it done. The free-agent market for wings was very weak, and Fournier was among the best available. The team option on the final season gives the Knicks a little extra flexibility.
Grade
B
Norman Powell Back with the Portland Trail Blazers
Five years, $90 million, via Wojnarowski of ESPN
Analysis
The Trail Blazers are under enormous pressure to give All-Star Damian Lillard a reason to stay long-term. Lillard is under contract for multiple seasons but can try to force a trade if he doesn’t like the team’s direction. Portland needs to add talent to the roster and couldn’t afford to let valuable pieces walk.
That gave Powell tremendous leverage, which is why he locked in five full years at $90 million. The $18 million a season is about right for one of the top wings on the market, but that’s a lengthy deal.
Grade
B
Warriors Add a Key Piece; Portis To Defend Title
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Gary Trent Jr. to the Toronto Raptors ($54 million, three years) — Wojnarowski: A-
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Otto Porter Jr. to the Golden State Warriors ($2.4 million, one year) — Haynes: A
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Bobby Portis to the Milwaukee Bucks ($9 million, two years) — Charania: A
The Toronto Raptors sent Powell to the Trail Blazers before the deadline to get Trent. Re-signing him was a significant priority (at the going rate for a borderline starting wing at $18 million), with a slight grading ding for a player option in the last year.
The Warriors get a veteran wing who can defend and hit the three if healthy. At that price, an easy home run. After breaking out to help the Bucks win the championship, Portis gave Milwaukee a nice discount to fight for a repeat.
Two Supermax Extensions ($172-207 million over five years)
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Trae Young to extend with the Atlanta Hawks — Wojnarowski: A
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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander with the Oklahoma City Thunder — Wojnarowski: B-
Two bright young point guards in Young and Gilgeous-Alexander will sign designated rookie-scale extensions that could climb to supermax deals. While the specific criteria in their deals may not surface until they’re signed, if they are named Most Valuable Player, Defensive Player of the Year or named to an All-NBA Team, they’ll get a bump from the base salary of $172 million.
Young should have been an All-Star last year for a Hawks team that went deep into the playoffs. Gilgeous-Alexander is a bit of a surprise, not because he hasn’t shown he can play, but he has still yet to show he can carry a franchise to the postseason.
Email Eric Pincus at eric.pincus@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter, @EricPincus.
Honorable Mentions
Los Angeles Lakers Bring Four Back, Let Caruso Go to the Chicago Bulls
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Alex Caruso to the Bulls ($37 million, four years) — Wojnarowski: A
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Dwight Howard to the Lakers ($2.6 million, one year) — Charania: B
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Trevor Ariza to the Lakers ($2.6 million, one year) — Wojnarowski: B
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Kent Bazemore to the Lakers (2.4 million, one year) — Charania: B
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Wayne Ellington to the Lakers ($2.1 million, one year) — Haynes: B
Los Angeles adds four helpful role players—all former Lakers—at the minimum. Howard was missed last year, Ariza is a seasoned defender (albeit no longer in his prime), and both Bazemore and Ellington can shoot. That the Lakers didn’t pay Caruso to stay at that price is a D+, even with luxury taxes.
The Bulls add another unselfish role player who likes to play defense (along with Ball) who are great fits with LaVine and Vucevic.
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2021 NBA free agency: Live updates, reported deals, rumors
The NBA offseason continues at a whirlwind pace as free agency negotiations opened at 6 p.m. ET on Monday. Players cannot sign their agreed-upon deals until Friday afternoon.
A flurry of agreements are expected Monday evening. Follow Yahoo Sports for all of the latest reported deal, rumors and more.
Some of the big deals around the league:
- Chris Paul returns to Suns on four-year deal
- Jimmy Butler to sign max extension with Heat
- Kyle Lowry joins Heat on sign-and-trade
- Lonzo Ball to sign offer sheet with Chicago Bulls
- Jarrett Allen cashes in with Cavaliers
- Evan Fournier, Derrick Rose to Knicks
- Gary Trent Jr. to re-sign with Raptors
- Tim Hardaway Jr. lands four-year deal from Mavericks
- Will Barton returns to Nuggets on two-year deal
- Alex Caruso leaves Lakers for big deal with Bulls
- Dwight Howard agrees to third stint with Lakers
- JaVale McGee heads to Phoenix
- Cory Joseph returns to Pistons
Mike Conley returns to Jazz
After leading the NBA in wins in the 2020-21 regular season, Mike Conley Jr. and the Utah Jazz are running it back.
The veteran point guard has agreed to a three-year, $68 million deal with the Jazz, according to The Athletic’s Shams Charania.
Free agent Mike Conley Jr. has agreed to a three-year, $68 million deal to return to the Utah Jazz, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) August 2, 2021
Conley landed with the Jazz in 2019 after more than a decade with the Memphis Grizzlies and really hit his stride last season, earning his first career All-Star honors while averaging 16.2 points and six rebounds per game.
With Conley’s help, the Jazz posted an NBA-best 52-20 record, but fell in the Western Conference semifinals by losing four straight games to a shorthanded Los Angeles Clippers team. Questions remain about the playoff viability of the Jazz’s current core, but it looks like the team doesn’t think Conley is the problem.
Nets bringing back Blake Griffin
Blake Griffin is returning to the Brooklyn Nets on a one-year deal, per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
Six-time All-Star F Blake Griffin has agreed on a one-year deal to stay with the Brooklyn Nets, his agent Sam Goldfeder of @excelbasketball tells ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) August 3, 2021
Griffin signed with Nets last season after agreeing to a buyout with the Detroit Pistons and immediately provided what the team wanted as a big man who could stretch the floor and defend the paint. His presence gave the Nets four All-Stars on the floor alongside Kevin Durant, James Harden and Kyrie Irving.
Lakers sign quartet of familiar faces
It’s hard to find an NBA observer who doesn’t think the Los Angeles Lakers need spacing help, especially after trading for Russell Westbrook. It looks like some familiar faces could help with that.
Veteran wings Wayne Ellington Jr., Trevor Ariza and Kent Bazemore are re-joining the Lakers on one-year deals, per Yahoo Sports’ Chris Haynes, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski and The Athletic’s Shams Charania. All three players seem likely to fill a much-needed role at the perimeter between Westbrook and LeBron James.
Ellington last played for the Lakers in the 2014-15 season, and shot 42.2 percent from deep for the Detroit Pistons last year. Bazemore, a Laker in 2014, shot 40.8 percent from deep and reportedly turned down a bigger offer from the Golden State Warriors.
Ariza was a member of the Lakers’ 2009 NBA championship team, and has moved around the league since then. He most recently played for the Miami Heat, averaging 9.4 points and 4.8 rebounds while shooting 35 percent from deep.
In addition to those three wings, the Lakers are also signing Dwight Howard for his third stint with the team.
Norman Powell sticks with Blazers
The Portland Trail Blazers will retain free-agent wing Norman Powell on a five-year, $90 million contract, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
The Blazers traded promising Gary Trent Jr. to the Toronto Raptors in exchange for Powell at the March deadline. Trent re-signed with the Raptors for a reported $54 million over the next three years.
Powell averaged 18.6 points (on 48/41/87 shooting splits), 3.1 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 32 minutes over 69 games split between the Raptors and Blazers last season. He has never missed the playoffs in his career and averaged 17 points in Portland’s six-game loss to the Denver Nuggets in this year’s first round.
Duncan Robinson agrees to largest deal ever for undrafted player
Duncan Robinson is one of the modern NBA’s biggest success stories as an undrafted player, and now he’s being paid like it.
The Miami Heat have agreed with Robinson on a five-year, $90 million deal, per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
Duncan Robinson – host of the @TheLongshotPod – has agreed to a 5-year, $90M contract to stay with the Miami Heat, his agent Jason Glushon of @GlushonSM tells ESPN. The deal, largest ever for an undrafted player, also includes an ETO after the fourth year.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) August 2, 2021
After a rookie season spent mostly in the G League, Robinson emerged as one of the NBA’s top sharpshooters in 2019-20 and built on that last season. No skill pays in the NBA quite like perimeter shooting, and Robinson has shot 42.7% from deep on 8.4 attempts per game over the last two season.
Pretty good for a player whose college career started at Williams College, and who didn’t hear his name called at the draft after a strong career at Michigan.
Richaun Holmes reaches huge free-agent center deal
Richaun Holmes and the Sacramento Kings reached an agreement to bring back the center on a four-year, $55 million deal, The Athletic’s Shams Charania reported.
Free agent center Richaun Holmes has agreed to a four-year deal worth as much as $55 million to return to the Sacramento Kings, his agency Par-Lay Sports & Entertainment (@parlay_se) tells @TheAthletic @Stadium. Deal includes player option and trade kicker.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) August 3, 2021
Confirming that Richaun Holmes is signing a 4-year, $55 million contract with the Sacramento Kings. Most lucrative deal for a true free agent center on the market.
— James Ham (@James_HamNBCS) August 3, 2021
Holmes is coming off a career year, averaging 14.2 points, 8.3 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game.
Pelicans land Devonte Graham after losing Lonzo Ball
The New Orleans Pelicans have their Lonzo Ball replacement.
Former Charlotte Hornets guard Devonte Graham is joining the Pelicans on a four-year, $47 million sign-and-trade deal, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. The deal will reportedly return a first-round pick for the Hornets.
The New Orleans Pelicans are landing Charlotte restricted free agent guard Devonte Graham on a four-year, $47M contract in a sign-and-trade deal, agents Ty Sullivan and Austin Brown of @CAA_Basketball tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) August 3, 2021
Ball was reported to be out of New Orleans hours earlier, agreeing to his own sign-and-trade for four years and $85 million. In Graham, the Pelicans are getting a player who averaged 14.8 points and 5.4 assists per game while shooting 37.5 percent from deep last year.
Graham had been part of a backcourt log jam in Charlotte last year alongside Terry Rozier and LaMelo Ball. With Ball not going anywhere and Rozier under contract for next season, Graham will instead provide a perimeter threat alongside Brandom Ingram while Zion Williamson punishes team inside.
Bobby Portis returns to Bucks
Bobby Portis could have gotten paid after a postseason to remember. It looks like he chose a return to the Milwaukee Bucks instead.
Portis has agreed to a two-year, $9 million deal with the Bucks, per The Athletic’s Shams Charania.
Free agent Bobby Portis has agreed to a two-year, $9 million deal to return to the Milwaukee Bucks, with a second year player option, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) August 2, 2021
Portis averaged 11.1 points and 7.1 rebounds per game off the Milwaukee bench, but really came alive when the team most needed him. When Giannis Antetkounmpo was knocked out for the final games of the Eastern Conference finals, Portis averaged 17.5 points and 8.5 rebounds in Games 5 and 6 to close out the Atlanta Hawks.
The Dallas Mavericks and Miami Heat reportedly made offers for Portis, but he chose to keep his Milwaukee legend going after opting out of a $3.8 million player option.
P.J. Tucker leaves Bucks for Heat
While the Bucks are keeping Portis, their starting power forward is heading to South Beach.
P.J. Tucker has agreed to a two-year, $15 million deal with the Miami Heat, according to The Athletic’s Shams Charania.
PJ Tucker is signing a two-year, $15 million deal with Miami, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. https://t.co/Pti5ZYmeg0
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) August 3, 2021
Tucker was a midseason acquisition for the Bucks last season, and more than paid off. He’s never been known for stuffing the stat sheet (he averaged 2.6 points per game in a Bucks uniform), but his defensive versatility was a vital tool for the Bucks in their title run.
Tucker now joins a revamped Heat team with Kyle Lowry also aboard and Jimmy Butler and Duncan Robinson around for the long haul. He figures to provide a nice complement for All-Star center Bam Adebayo.
NBA decides on 2021-22 cap number
Shortly after the starter’s pistol sounded on the NBA’s legal tampering period, the league determined its cap numbers for next season: $112.4 million for the salary cap, $136.6 million for the luxury tax.
The following was released by the NBA. pic.twitter.com/siJlyskcDv
— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) August 2, 2021
Nicolas Batum heads back to Los Angeles
One of the Los Angeles Clippers’ most important players last season is sticking around.
Nicolas Batum is signing a two-year deal with the team according to The Athletic’s Shams Charania. Batum’s wife seemingly confirmed the deal a minute later.
❤️🤍💙 https://t.co/3n4RjrgvUL pic.twitter.com/VBgOUyCgE7
— Lily E.Batum (@LilyBatum) August 3, 2021
Batum landed with the Clippers after a disastrous tenure with the Charlotte Hornets, with whom he had signed a five-year, $120 million deal. In a situation with far lower expectations, Batum thrived.
The Frenchman ended up leading the Clippers in minutes while playing a vital role on defense and working as a key shooter and facilitator on offense. He shot 40.4 percent from deep while alternatively starting and coming off the bench.
With Batum aboard, the Clippers reached their first ever Western Conference finals. They seem to believe they can reach even farther with their current core.
Cameron Payne back with Suns
The Phoenix Suns first signed Cameron Payne as a bubble reinforcement, and now they’re signing him as part of a core that reached the NBA Finals.
The point guard and the Suns have agreed on a three-year, $19 million deal, per Yahoo Sports’ Chris Haynes.
Free agent guard Cameron Payne has agreed to re-sign with the Phoenix Suns on a three-year, $19 million deal, league sources tell @YahooSports.
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) August 2, 2021
Payne first landed with the Suns on a two-year deal signed during the NBA’s pandemic hiatus last year. You may remember that team going undefeated in the bubble, and you may also remember the team looking like one of the best in the NBA with Chris Paul and Payne at point guard.
Payne averaged 8.4 points and 3.6 assists per game, and delivered arguably the best performance of his career in a key Game 1 of the Western Conference finals with 29 points and nine assists with Paul out against the Los Angeles Clippers.
Otto Porter Jr. chooses Warriors on minimum deal
Forward Otto Porter Jr. is hoping a change of scenery can get him back on track. Porter Jr. turned down a mid-level exception in order to play for the Golden State Warriors, league sources told Yahoo Sports.
Sources: Otto Porter Jr. turned down the midlevel exception elsewhere to play for the Warriors at the minimum. https://t.co/CszqvrO37w
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) August 3, 2021
Porter Jr. struggled with injuries and was traded from the Chicago Bulls to the Orlando Magic last season. He played in only 28 games last season between the two teams.
Reggie Bullock joins Mavericks on three-year deal
The blueprint for the Dallas Mavericks over the next several years seems simple: surround Luka Doncic with as much shooting as possible.
The team’s latest move should go a long way in that respect, as it is signing wing Reggie Bullock to a three-year, $30.5 million deal.
Free agent swingman Reggie Bullock has agreed to a three-year, $30.5 million deal with the Dallas Mavericks, his agent David Bauman of @ISEBasketball tells @TheAthletic @Stadium.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) August 3, 2021
Bullock spent last year with the New York Knicks, shooting 41.0 percent from deep while averaging 10.9 points and 3.4 rebounds per game. His fit as a 3-and-D guy with the Knicks is obvious.
Zach Collins joins the Spurs
Free-agent big man Zach Collins left the Portland Trail Blazers for the San Antonio Spurs, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. The deal is for a reported $42 million over the next three years.
Free agent Zach Collins has agreed to a three-year, $22M deal with the Spurs, his agent Mark Bartelstein of @PrioritySports tells ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) August 2, 2021
Collins missed all of last season after undergoing three surgeries to repair his fractured left ankle. He was also limited to 11 games during the 2019-20 campaign due to a shoulder injury. The Blazers opted not to extend Collins a $7 million on Sunday, making the 6-foot-11 23-year-old a free agent.
Collins entered the league with much promise as a rim-protecting defender and floor-spacing shooter. He showed flashes of both in his second season, when Portland made its run to the 2019 Western Conference finals.
Furkan Korkmaz re-joins Sixers
The Philadelphia 76ers have plenty of choices to make this offseason, but parting ways with Furkan Korkmaz won’t be one of them.
Korkmaz agreed to three-year, $15 million deal to stay with the Sixers, per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
Furkan Korkmaz has agreed to a three-year, $15M deal to stay with the 76ers, his agents Mike Lindeman and Jeff Schwartz of @excelbasketball tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) August 2, 2021
In the span of four years, Korkmaz rose from a rookie year spent mostly in the G League to a pivotal part of the Sixer bench, averaging 9.1 points per game for last season’s Eastern Conference regular season leaders.
Career year pays off for Doug McDermott
Doug McDermott is going to make some significant money after a career year with the Indiana Pacers.
The forward has agreed to a three-year, $42 million deal with the San Antonio Spurs, per Shams Charania of The Athletic.
Free agent Doug McDermott has agreed to a three-year, $42 million deal with the San Antonio Spurs, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) August 2, 2021
McDermott averaged career highs in nearly every meaningful statistic last year, with 13.6 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game on 53.2 percent shooting (38.8 percent from deep).
Jeff Green’s long and winding road takes him to Denver
One of the NBA’s biggest journeyman has found a new home.
Jeff Green has agreed to a two-year, $10 million deal with the Denver Nuggets, per ESPN’s Malika Andrews.
Free agent forward/center Jeff Green has agreed to a two-year, $10 million deal with the Denver Nuggets, his agent Jason Glushon of @GlushonSM tells ESPN. The deal includes a player option in the second year.
— Malika Andrews (@malika_andrews) August 2, 2021
Green spent last season as a frequent starter in the Brooklyn Nets’ frontcourt, averaging 11.0 points and 3.9 rebounds per game while shooting 41.2 percent from deep. He’ll fit right in with the Nuggets’ eclectic group of big men, headlined by reigning MVP Nikola Jokic and the versatile Aaron Gordon.
Kelly Olynyk lands three-year deal from Pistons
After one of the strongest runs of his career, Kelly Olynyk is getting paid.
The former Houston Rockets big man is signing a three-year deal worth $37 million with the Detroit Pistons, per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
Free agent Kelly Olynyk has agreed to a three-year, $37M deal with the Detroit Pistons, his agent Jeff Schwartz of @excelbasketball tells ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) August 2, 2021
Olynyk landed in Houston at midseason through the Victor Oladipo trade and provided some surprisingly strong basketball for the rebuilding Rockets. He averaged 19.0 points, 8.4 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game in a Rockets uniform, and now he’ll head for a Pistons team hoping it has now reached the end of its rebuilding plan.
Pacers make a couple moves
The Pacers moved quickly at the start of free agency, bringing back point guard TJ McConnell on a four-year deal, then reaching a deal with defensive ace Torrey Craig,
TJ McConnell has agreed to a four-year, $35M deal to return to Indiana, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) August 2, 2021
Free agent F Torrey Craig has agreed to a two-year, $10M deal with the Indiana Pacers, his agents Dave Spahn and Austin Brown of @caa_sports tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) August 2, 2021
Knicks bring back Alec Burks and Nerlens Noel
The New York Knicks are bringing back two significant contributors from their best team in years.
Nerlens Noel and Alec Burks have both agreed to three-year deals to return the Knicks, per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
Free agent C Nerlens Noel is returning to the New York Knicks on a three-year, $32M contract, his agent @GeorgeLangberg tells ESPN. Tom Thibodeau keeps his rim protector.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) August 2, 2021
Free agent G Alec Burks has agreed to a three-year, $30M contract to stay with the New York Knicks, sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) August 2, 2021
Burks posted 12.7 points, 4.6 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game last season, while Noel had 5.1 points and 6.4 rebounds per game.
JaMychal Green going back to Nuggets
The Denver Nuggets found a key role player in JaMychal Green last year. They’re bringing him back on a two-year, $17 million deal, per The Athletic’s Shams Charania.
Free agent forward JaMychal Green has agreed to a two-year, $17 million deal to return to the Denver Nuggets, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. Deal includes player option in Year 2.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) August 2, 2021
Backing up the likes of Nikola Jokic, Aaron Gordon and Paul Millsap, Green provided some key 3-point shooting as a big man with 39.9 percent from deep. He averaged 8.1 points and 4.1 rebounds per game.
Green opted out of a $7.6 million player option for next season, and it looks like that decision paid off.
Rockets add center Daniel Theis
The Houston Rockets will acquire center Daniel Theis for $36 million over four years, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. The Rockets will add him using a trade exception in a deal with the Chicago Bulls.
Theis averaged 9.6 points (on 54/32/67 shooting splits) and 5.5 rebounds in 24.6 minutes over 65 games split between the Bulls and Boston Celtics. Chicago added Theis in a three-team deal at the trade deadline.
Theis started for the Celtics team that reached the 2020 Eastern Conference finals, particularly proving his value as a screen-setting roll man and defender. He is a 33.5% 3-point shooter in his four-year career.









