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The 2018 NBA Free Agency and Trade season is open. News and rumors are starting to fly. Teams are negotiating with free agents. General Managers are discussing signings and trades. Owners are preparing to open up their pocketbooks...or close them down and hope for significant scraps from the table later.
We’ll collect all the significant news and post it here to keep you updated on Day 1 of Free Agency. Trail Blazers news will be posted separately, with each story distinct, but you can consider this a rolling, updating information and discussion thread for everything else that’s going on around the league.
After re-signing their free agents, the Nuggets now look to pursue LeBron James.
With Jokic and Barton on board, the Denver Nuggets will turn their attention to one more free agent: LeBron James. The Nuggets have been in contact with James's agent and will aggressively pursue a meeting.
— Chris Mannix (@ChrisMannixYS) July 1, 2018
The Rockets are getting Gerald Green back for a veteran’s minimum contract.
Gerald Green returns to the #Rockets on one-year minimum deal according to NBA sources
— Mark Berman (@MarkBermanFox26) July 1, 2018
Marco Belinelli will sign with the Spurs.
Free agent guard Marco Belinelli has agreed to a two-year, $12M deal with the Spurs, league source tells ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 1, 2018
A couple teams are chasing Zach LaVine.
The Kings are also showing interest in Zach LaVine, per sources. https://t.co/4NNoCioI8G
— Kevin O'Connor (@KevinOConnorNBA) July 1, 2018
Derrick Rose will play for the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Sources: Derrick Rose has agreed to a one-year, $2.1M deal to re-sign with Minnesota.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 1, 2018
The ‘Wolves also try to solidify their hold on Jimmy Butler.
The Timberwolves began free agency by informing star guard Jimmy Butler that they intend to offer him a maximum contract extension valued in the four-year, $110 million range as soon as he's eligible to sign the deal on July 9, league sources say
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) July 1, 2018
Omri Casspi comes to terms with the Memphis Grizzlies.
Free agent forward Omri Casspi has agreed to a one-year deal with the Memphis Grizzlies, league sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 1, 2018
The Los Angeles Clippers are still chasing Kawhi Leonard.
ESPN Sources: Los Angeles Clippers haven’t abandoned pursuit of acquiring San Antonio Spurs’ All-Star Kawhi Leonard. He remains a high offseason priority for LAC.
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) July 1, 2018
The Phoenix Suns get veteran forward Trevor Ariza.
Houston free agent Trevor Ariza has agreed to a one-year, $15M deal with the Phoenix Suns, league sources tell Yahoo.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 1, 2018
The Suns are interested in Rockets free agent forward Trevor Ariza, per sources. Avery Bradley and Julius Randle also mentioned as targets. The Suns can create around $18 million in salary cap space.
— Kevin O'Connor (@KevinOConnorNBA) July 1, 2018
The Brooklyn Nets have Joe Harris on board.
The Brooklyn Nets deal with Joe Harris is a straight two-year, $16 million deal with no option on Year 2, The Athletic has learned. Terms were first reported by ESPN. https://t.co/MRyFUjfbIU
— Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) July 1, 2018
The Boston Celtics keep Aron Baynes.
Free agent center Aron Baynes has agreed to a two-year, $11M deal to return to the Boston Celtics, league sources tell Yahoo.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 1, 2018
The Thunder make another re-signing.
Oklahoma City forward Jerami Grant has agreed to a three-year, $27M contract to return to the Thunder, league sources told ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 1, 2018
With Paul George and Jerami Grant on board, Oklahoma City now has a payroll of $156M with 11 players under contract. Because of the repeater tax penalty, the Thunder currently have a tax bill of $130M. The tax bill would be the largest in NBA history.
— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) July 1, 2018
The Dallas Mavericks get their man...at least for a year.
DeAndre Jordan and the Dallas Mavericks have verbally agreed on a one-year deal approaching the $24.1 million option with the Clippers for next season that Jordan relinquished Friday, according to league sources
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) July 1, 2018
At 33 years of age, Chris Paul inks a max contract with the Houston Rockets.
All-Star Chris Paul will sign a four-year, $160M max contract to stay with the Houston Rockets, league sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 1, 2018
Ersan Ilyasova signs with the Milwaukee Bucks again.
Ersan Ilyasova has agreed to a 3 year, $21M deal with Milwaukee, league source tells ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 1, 2018
The Ersan Ilyasova $21M contract projects to put Milwaukee at $110M in salary and would hard cap the Bucks at $129.8M. The hard cap is a result of Ilyasova signing for part of the midlevel exception that exceeds $5.3M. The Bucks still have restricted free agent Jabari Parker.
— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) July 1, 2018
The Knicks are after Mario Hezonja.
The New York Knicks have interest in unrestricted free agent Mario Hezonja, league sources told The Athletic. Knicks general manager Scott Perry was in Orlando when the Magic selected Hezonja fifth overall in 2015.
— Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) July 1, 2018
The Dallas Mavericks and DeAndre Jordan are plotting their long-awaited reunion.
Sources close to DeAndre Jordan say he is eager to join the Mavericks and has made that known to some of his potential new teammates, having declined his $24.1 million option with the Clippers for next season to ensure he had the ability to land in Dallas https://t.co/NGUWhJKKHX
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) July 1, 2018
Dozens of commitments are rolling in from across the NBA.
Kevin Durant will be a Warrior for two more years.
Kevin Durant has committed to a two-year, $61.5M deal to return to the Golden State Warriors, league sources tell Yahoo.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 1, 2018
Rudy Gay keeps on with the San Antonio Spurs.
Free agent forward Rudy Gay has committed on a one-year, $10 million deal to re-sign with the San Antonio Spurs, league sources tell Yahoo.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 1, 2018
Paul George is staying with the Thunder.
Paul George has committed to sign a deal with the Oklahoma City Thunder, league sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 1, 2018
Paul George has agreed to a four-year, $137M max contract with the Thunder, league source tells ESPN. Deal includes a player option.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 1, 2018
The Denver Nuggets will keep their prized center.
Gifted young center Nikola Jokic is poised to accept a five-year, $148M maximum contract to stay with the Denver Nuggets shortly after midnight, league sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 1, 2018
Denver and restricted free agent Nikola Jokic have already agreed on a five-year deal approaching $150 million, league sources say. The deal contains no player option, according to @ZachLowe_NBA, something Denver sought in exchange for declining next season's $1.6 M team option
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) July 1, 2018
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope is exploring options with the Los Angeles Lakers.
Free agent guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope plans to meet with the Los Angeles Clippers on July 1, league sources tell ESPN.
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) July 1, 2018
And maybe other teams...
The Memphis Grizzlies are among several teams interested in free agent guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, league sources told The Athletic.
— Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) July 1, 2018
Former Trail Blazer Will Barton, the People’s Champ, is signing a new contract with Denver.
Will Barton, Denver will come to terms on a four-year deal just north of $50 million when free agency opens, sources tell @YahooSportsNBA.
— Chris Mannix (@ChrisMannixYS) July 1, 2018
One nugget (sorry): deal will give Barton a player option in Year 4, sources say. Good deal for Barton in this market, but Nuggets were smart to get (at least) 3 years on it. Barton's good, deal will age well as cap rises/more teams clear room. https://t.co/CT6J1Oyhn5
— Zach Lowe (@ZachLowe_NBA) July 1, 2018
Free agent guard Will Barton and Denver intends to ink a four-year, $54 million deal, league sources ESPN. He will have a player option on fourth year.
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) July 1, 2018
Paul George might stay put with the Thunder after all.
Exactly one year ago, Paul George was traded to the Thunder. One year later, George and OKC are poised to come to terms on the first night of free agency ... before the Lakers even get a meeting with the free agent so many have penciled into purple and gold for ages. #thisleague https://t.co/kOjh6iFpWo
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) July 1, 2018
The Los Angeles Lakers want DeMarcus Cousins to play alongside LeBron James. Wow.
DeMarcus Cousins sounds like an increasingly likely target for the Lakers on a short-term max contract now that it appears Los Angeles will lose out on Paul George, per league sources. In January 2017, LeBron James called Cousins "the best big man in our game."
— Kevin O'Connor (@KevinOConnorNBA) July 1, 2018
Mark Spears writes that New Orleans are trying to keep Cousins though.
New Orleans Pelicans All-Star free agent center DeMarcus Cousins received calls from the Pelicans and Los Angeles Lakers tonight once free agency began and is expected to have meetings scheduled with both teams soon, a source told ESPN's The Undefeated.
— Marc J. Spears (@MarcJSpearsESPN) July 1, 2018
ESPN’s Chris Haynes delivers early news about Golden State Warriors forward Kevin Durant.
Kevin Durant intends to sign a two-year max deal with a player option to stay with Golden State, league sources tell ESPN.
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) July 1, 2018
ESPN’s Marc Stein chimes in.
Kevin Durant plans to tell the Warriors after 12:01 a.m. ET that he wants a new one-year contract with a player option for 2019-20 to return to free agency next summer, @NYTSports has learned
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) July 1, 2018
Durant is expected to be one of the first deals struck when the NBA's free-agent marketplace opens Sunday at 12:01 a.m. ET. Warriors GM Bob Myers has said repeatedly since Golden State's second consecutive title that Durant will get "whatever he wants" contract-wise https://t.co/kf0iiQjTne
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) July 1, 2018
The new deal would pay Durant $30.5 million next season and allow the two-time reigning Finals MVP to return to free agency in July 2019 -- three months before Golden State moves into the new Chase Center in San Francisco https://t.co/Q3qklVsrkz
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) July 1, 2018
And ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne gives an update on Russell Westbrook’s plans for Oklahoma City Thunder free agent Paul George.
From @royceyoung : Russ throwing a very well-timed party. Will there be cupcakes? https://t.co/RGL3hdgGBE
— Ramona Shelburne (@ramonashelburne) June 30, 2018
Alex Kennedy says that big man Kyle O’Quinn might be leaving the Knicks and heading to Philly.
The Philadelphia 76ers have expressed significant interest in Kyle O'Quinn, according to league sources.
— Alex Kennedy (@AlexKennedyNBA) July 1, 2018
Tyron Wallace might be one to watch according to Bobby Marks.
One under the radar free agent that is drawing interest from a half a dozen teams is Tyrone Wallace. The Two-Way guard started 19 games last year for the Clippers.
— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) July 1, 2018
Alex Kennedy says that at least five teams are interested in Trevor Booker.
The Minnesota Timberwolves, Houston Rockets, New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs have shown interest in unrestricted free agent Trevor Booker, according to league sources. Returning to the Indiana Pacers is a possibility as well.
— Alex Kennedy (@AlexKennedyNBA) July 1, 2018
After losing Ariza, Adrian Wojnarowski reports that the Houston Rockets are meeting with Clint Capela.
Rockets front office will meet with restricted free agent center Clint Capela and his Wasserman Media Group agents on Sunday in Los Angeles, sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 1, 2018
We’ve already covered Will Barton, Mason Plumlee, and a host of Denver Nuggets up for bids.
The Portland Trail Blazers also lost Ed Davis to free agency and picked up Nik Stauskas. Be sure to read all about it.