2021 NBA free agency and trades: Latest buzz, news and reports
Kyle Lowry to the Heat, CP3 stays with the Suns … NBA free agency has officially begun….
The NBA offseason has begun.
Before last offseason, the 2021 NBA free-agent class was seen as potentially historic. LeBron James, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Paul George, Rudy Gobert and Jrue Holiday were expected to be available. Instead, they all signed contract extensions with their existing teams, drastically reducing the star power in this class.
This summer, Chris Paul, Kawhi Leonard, Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan are at the head of the free-agent class.
Only five teams are projected to have significant cap space this summer, with the New York Knicks leading the way with up to $50 million available. With the free-agent landscape drastically altered from what it was expected to be, we could see another busy offseason of trades.
No matter what happens, we’ll have all the latest news, rumors, buzz and analysis right here.
MORE: Complete 2021 and 2022 free-agent list
Aug. 2
10:34 p.m. ET: Free-agent guard Max Strus is returning to the Miami Heat on a two-year, $3.5 million deal, his agent Mark Bartelstein told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
9:57 p.m. ET: Six-time All-Star Blake Griffin agreed on a one-year deal to stay with the Brooklyn Nets, his agent Sam Goldfeder told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
9:55 p.m. ET: Free agent Norman Powell agreed to a five-year, $90 million deal to return to the Portland Trail Blazers, his agent Thaddeus Foucher told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
9:30 p.m. ET: The New Orleans Pelicans are adding Charlotte Hornets restricted free-agent guard Devonte’ Graham on a four-year, $47 million contract in a sign-and-trade deal, agents Ty Sullivan and Austin Brown told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. New Orleans will send Charlotte its 2022 lottery-protected first-round pick, according to a source.
8:50 p.m. ET: The Milwaukee Bucks agreed to a two-year, $9 million deal with Bobby Portis, sources confirmed to ESPN. The second year is a player option, sources said.
8:45 p.m. ET: Center Cody Zeller has agreed to a one-year deal with the Portland Trail Blazers, his agent Sam Goldfeder told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
8:44 p.m. ET: Center Daniel Theis has agreed to a four-year, $36 million deal to join the Houston Rockets, his agents Michael Tellem and Aaron Mintz told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
8:16 p.m. ET: Free-agent guard Alex Caruso has agreed to a four-year, $37 million deal with the Chicago Bulls, his agent Greg Lawrence told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
8:15 p.m. ET: Nic Batum has agreed to return to the LA Clippers for a two-year deal that includes a player option in the second year, a source confirmed to ESPN’s Ohm Youngmisuk.
8:11 p.m. ET: Guard Derrick Rose has agreed to a three-year, $43 million deal to return to the New York Knicks, a source told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
8:04 p.m. ET: Free agent Evan Fournier has agreed to terms with the Knicks for a four-year deal that could be worth as much as $78 million, a source told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
7:51 p.m. ET: Free agent forward Solomon Hill has agreed to a one-year deal to return to the Atlanta Hawks, a source told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
7:50 p.m. ET: Free agent Dwight Howard is returning to the Los Angeles Lakers, his agent Qais Haider told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. This will be Howard’s third tour with the Lakers.
7:38 p.m. ET: Free agent forward Trevor Ariza has agreed to a one-year deal with the Los Angeles Lakers, his agents Aaron Mintz, Steven Heumann and Erika Ruiz told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
7:33 p.m. ET: Free agent forward Mike Muscala has agreed on a two-year, $7 million deal to return to the Oklahoma City Thunder, his agent Sean Kennedy told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
7:29 p.m. ET: Free agent Zach Collins has agreed to a three-year, $22 million deal with the San Antonio Spurs, his agent Mark Bartelstein told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
7:23 p.m. ET: Gary Trent Jr. has agreed to a three-year, $54 million deal to return to the Toronto Raptors, his agent Rich Paul told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. The deal includes a player option on the third year.
7:22 p.m. ET: Furkan Korkmaz has agreed to a three-year, $15 million deal to stay with the 76ers, his agents Mike Lindeman and Jeff Schwartz told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
7:16 p.m. ET: Wing Reggie Bullock has agreed to a deal with the Mavericks, sources told ESPN’s Tim MacMahon.
7:14 p.m. ET: Backup center Boban Marjanovic has a new one-year deal with Dallas, a source told ESPN’s Tim MacMahon. That will give him three seasons with the Mavs, who will have his full Bird rights next summer.
7:13 p.m. ET: Forward Moe Harkless has agreed to a two-year, $9 million deal with the Sacramento Kings, agent Nima Namakian told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
7:10 p.m. ET: Sterling Brown has agreed to a two-year deal with the Dallas Mavericks, a source told ESPN’s Tim MacMahon. Brown started his NBA career playing for Jason Kidd in Milwaukee.
7:08 p.m. ET: Free agent forward/center Jeff Green has agreed to a two-year, $10 million deal with the Denver Nuggets, his agent Jason Glushon told ESPN’s Malika Andrews. The deal includes a player option in the second year.
6:58 p.m. ET: Long-range shooter Doug McDermott has agreed to a three-year, $42 million deal with the San Antonio Spurs, according to ESPN’s Zach Lowe.
6:45 p.m. ET: Phoenix Suns All-Star guard Chris Paul, who opted out of a $44 million player option Sunday, has agreed to stay on with the Suns with a new four-year deal that could be worth as much as $120 million, his agents Steve Heumann and Ty Sullivan told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
Pelton: How CP3’s return impacts the Suns’ roadmap
6:40 p.m. ET: Free agent forward Torrey Craig has agreed to a two-year, $10 million deal with the Indiana Pacers, his agents Dave Spahn and Austin Brown told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
6:39 p.m. ET: Duncan Robinson has agreed to a five-year, $90 million contract to stay with the Miami Heat, his agent Jason Glushon told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. The deal is the largest ever for an undrafted player.
6:38 p.m. ET: Kyle Lowry is indeed headed to South Beach as he has a three-year deal with the Miami Heat in a sign-and-trade with the Toronto Raptors, a source tells ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
Pelton: With Lowry, where do Heat stand in East?
6:33 p.m. ET: T.J. McConnell has agreed to a four-year, $35.2 million deal to stay with the Indiana Pacers, his agent Mark Bartelstein told told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
6:22 p.m. ET: The Miami Heat and Jimmy Butler are progressing toward a maximum contract extension that could be worth up to $184 million over four years, sources told ESPN’s Brian Windhorst. Butler and the Heat can finalize the deal over the next week and officially come to terms after Aug. 6 when he’s eligible to extend the initial deal he signed with Miami in 2019. Butler is a key piece in recruiting free agent point guard Kyle Lowry to the Heat this summer.
6:21 p.m. ET: The confirmed salary cap/tax numbers for the 2021-22 league year are $112.4 million for the cap and $136.6 million for the tax threshold, according to ESPN’s Bobby Marks.
6:17 p.m. ET: All-Star guard Mike Conley is staying in Utah after agreeing to a three-year, $72.5 million deal with the Jazz, his agents Steve Heumann and Jess Holtz told ESPN.
6:15 p.m. ET: Free-agent guard Will Barton has agreed to a two-year, $32 million deal to stay with the Denver Nuggets, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
6:14 p.m. ET: Free agent Kelly Olynyk has agreed to a three-year, $37 million deal with the Detroit Pistons, his agent Jeff Schwartz told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
6:11 p.m. ET: Restricted free agent C Jarrett Allen has agreed to a five-year, $100 million contract to stay with the Cleveland Cavaliers, his agents Derrick Powell and Jim Tanner tell ESPN.
6:10 p.m. ET: The New York Knicks made a pair of moves to retain two players, agreeing to three-year deals with guard Alec Burks ($30 million) and center Nerlens Noel ($32 million), sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
6:07 p.m. ET: Former LSU star Garrett Temple will return to his home state as he is heading to the New Orleans Pelicans, agreeing to a three-year deal (two guaranteed), a source told Marc J. Spears of The Undefeated. The move is part of the Lonzo Ball sign-and-trade deal.
6:04 p.m. ET: Tim Hardaway Jr. has agreed to a four-year, $72 million deal to re-sign with the Dallas Mavericks, a source tells ESPN’s Tim MacMahon. Dallas made Hardaway a top priority, even while pursuing potential sign-and-trade scenarios to add Kyle Lowry.
6:01 p.m. ET: New Orleans Pelicans guard Lonzo Ball is heading to Chicago on a four-year, $85 million deal with the Bulls in a sign-and-trade agreement, his agent Rich Paul told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. The deal could turn into a three-way swap that lands Devonte’ Graham in New Orleans, according to ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne.
Pelton: What adding Lonzo does for the Bulls
5:22 p.m. ET: The Chicago Bulls have guaranteed the contracts for Thaddeus Young ($14.2 million) and Tomas Satoransky ($10 million), ESPN’s Bobby Marks reported. The Bulls now have $96.3 million in guaranteed contracts but are technically over the cap because of the $20.2 million cap hold on Lauri Markkanen.
5:20 p.m. ET: The New York Knicks, San Antonio Spurs and Dallas Mavericks are all teams to watch for free agent Kelly Oubre Jr., ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne reported during The Jump Free Agency Special.
4:28 p.m. ET: ESPN’s Brian Windhorst reported the Chicago Bulls have shown interest in free agents Lonzo Ball and DeMar DeRozan. To land DeRozan, Windhorst reported, the Bulls could be eyeing a possible double sign-and-trade that would also involve Lauri Markkanen.
3:07 p.m. ET: There is motivation between Chris Paul and the Phoenix Suns to reach a new deal “as soon as tonight,” ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported during The Jump Free Agency Special. Paul, 36, declined his $44 million player option for 2021-22.
3:06 p.m. ET: According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski during The Jump Free Agency Special, the expectation is that free agent Kawhi Leonard, who on Sunday declined his $36 million option, will return to the LA Clippers once free agency begins.
3:05 p.m. ET: The stars could be aligning for Kyle Lowry to join the Miami Heat early in the free agency period, which begins tonight at 6 p.m. ET. “Everything is in place for Kyle to be a member of the Heat as early as tonight,” ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported during The Jump Free Agency Special.
1:25 p.m. ET: Former NBA guard Tyler Dorsey — a formidable EuroLeague 3-point shooter — is getting interest from several teams in free agency, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Dorsey played parts of two seasons in the NBA with the Atlanta Hawks and Memphis Grizzlies.
10:33 a.m. ET: Chicago Bulls guard Zach LaVine, who is eligible for a contract extension, reiterated Monday that he wants to be rewarded for his All-Star level of play but will work with the team’s front office as it looks to use cap space for new talent.
“I just want my respect, that’s the main thing,” LaVine said ahead of Team USA’s Olympic quarterfinal game against Spain on Tuesday.
LaVine, 26, has one season left on his contract at $19.5 million.
Aug. 1
5:48 p.m. ET: Chris Paul has until midnight ET to decide on his $44 million player option, but there’s optimism that if he does decide against picking it up that he and the Suns can reach a new deal when free agency opens on Monday night, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
5:45 p.m. ET: Kawhi Leonard has declined his $36 million player option for next season and will become a free agent, a source confirmed to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. The expectation is that Leonard will negotiate a new deal to stay with the LA Clippers.
Ranking the 20 best free agents of 2021
5:16 p.m. ET: The Charlotte Hornets announced they will allow Malik Monk to become an unrestricted free agent and have extended a qualifying offer to make Devonte’ Graham a restricted free agent.
5:01 p.m. ET: The Portland Trail Blazers will not extend the $7 million qualifying offer to Zach Collins, officially making him a free agent, a source told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
2:45 p.m. ET: Are the Miami Heat setting up a run at free agent point guard Kyle Lowry? After news of the Heat declining Andre Iguodala’s contract for next season, Miami picked up the $19.4 million option on Goran Dragic‘s deal as a possible precursor to utilize his contract as part of a potential sign-and-trade with the Toronto Raptors, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
2:18 p.m. ET: The Miami Heat are declining the $15 million team option on Andre Iguodala‘s contract, making him a free agent next season, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
July 30
8:36 p.m. ET: The Boston Celtics have acquired Josh Richardson from the Dallas Mavericks by using the remainder of the trade exception created by the sign-and-trade deal that sent Gordon Hayward to the Charlotte Hornets last November. Richardson, now on his fourth team in four years, averaged 12.1 points in 59 games with the Mavs last season.
Trade grades: Who wins the Celtics-Mavs deal?
5:40 p.m. ET: In a three-team deal, the Celtics have acquired guard Kris Dunn, forward Bruno Fernando and a 2023 second-round pick. In exchange, the Kings received center Tristan Thompson, while the Hawks landed guard Delon Wright, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
8:05 a.m. ET: The Jazz have agreed to trade center Derrick Favors and a future first-round pick to the Thunder for a future second-round pick, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. The deal creates some financial flexibility for Utah, while Oklahoma City adds an additional first-rounder.
July 29
11:48 p.m. ET: The Trail Blazers have acquired the No. 43 pick in tonight’s draft from the Pelicans, a source told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. New Orleans will receive a future second-round pick from Portland, per ESPN’s Andrew Lopez.
11:25 p.m. ET: The Magic are sending the No. 33 pick to the Clippers in exchange for a future second-round pick and cash, a source told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
11:21 p.m. ET: The Thunder have acquired the No. 32 pick from the Knicks for Nos. 34 and 36, a source told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
11:16 p.m. ET: The Grizzlies have acquired the No. 30 pick in tonight’s draft from the Jazz in exchange for No. 40 and two future second-round picks, a source told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
10:21 p.m. ET: The Knicks are trading the No. 21 pick to the Clippers for tonight’s No. 25 pick and a future second-round pick, a source told Adrian Wojnarowski.
9:58 p.m. ET: The Knicks are trading the No. 19 pick in tonight’s draft to the Hornets for a future first-round pick, a source told Adrian Wojnarowski.
9:41 p.m. ET: The Thunder have agreed to trade the No. 16 pick in tonight’s draft to the Rockets for two future first-round picks, a source told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
8:23 p.m. ET: The Pacers have acquired the 31st pick in tonight’s draft from the Bucks, a source told Adrian Wojnarowski.
8:16 p.m. ET: The Lakers have acquired Russell Westbrook, a 2024 second-round pick and a 2028 second-round pick from the Wizards, in exchange for Kyle Kuzma, Montrezl Harrell, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and tonight’s No. 22 pick, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. (Per The Athletic, the Wizards traded No. 22 to the Pacers for point guard Aaron Holiday).
7:16 p.m. ET: Detroit is finalizing a trade to send center Mason Plumlee and tonight’s No. 37 pick to Charlotte for the No. 57 pick, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
5:49 p.m. ET: The Cavaliers are acquiring Timberwolves guard Ricky Rubio in exchange for forward Taurean Prince, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Minnesota will also receive a 2022 second-round pick and future cash considerations.
5:25 p.m. ET: The Lakers are close to a deal to acquire Wizards guard Russell Westbrook in exchange for Kyle Kuzma, Montrezl Harrell, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and a 2021 first-round pick, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. There’s still work to do to finalize the Westbrook deal, and talks with the Kings on a Hield deal had also been ongoing between the two teams. This is a trade Washington wants to make with Bradley Beal in mind, sources said, to create future salary cap flexibility to add talent around Beal. The idea of returning to his Los Angeles roots has been appealing to Westbrook.
5:09 p.m. ET: The Nets have traded guard Landry Shamet to the Suns for Jevon Carter and the No. 29 pick in tonight’s draft, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Suns coach Monty Williams has been a strong supporter of Shamet’s since he coached him in Philadelphia during the 2018-19 season.
5:00 p.m. ET: Lakers center Montrezl Harrell is opting in to his $9.7M player option for the 2021-22 season, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. The move will allow the Lakers to move forward on a deal being discussed to acquire Sacramento Kings guard Buddy Hield for Harrell and forward Kyle Kuzma.
2:16 p.m. ET: With Cade Cunningham solid to the Pistons at No. 1, the Rockets and Cavaliers are trending toward Jalen Green and Evan Mobley with the second and third picks, respectively, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
1:45 p.m. ET: Trades continue to be offered — including for the No. 1 overall pick. But unless the Detroit Pistons are blown away, they will keep the top spot and have decided to select Cade Cunningham, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
July 28
4:45 p.m. ET: The Philadelphia 76ers are continuing to canvass the league for Ben Simmons trades but are armed with a steep asking price, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Simmons and his agent, Klutch CEO Rich Paul, are in step with a move elsewhere.
12:07 p.m. ET: Nets assistant Mike D’Antoni is stepping down from a full-time coaching role, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. The long-time NBA coach is expected to continue pursuing head coaching opportunities after being a finalist for the Portland Trail Blazers opening this summer.
12:06 p.m. ET: The Brooklyn Nets have tendered a qualifying offer to reserve guard Bruce Brown, making him a restricted free agent, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. The qualifying offer, per ESPN’s Bobby Marks, is for $4,736,102. Brown was a key role player for the Nets last season, averaging 8.8 points, 5.4 rebounds and 1.6 rebounds in his 22.3 minutes per game.
July 27
7:07 p.m. ET: The Sacramento Kings have tendered a qualifying offer to guard Terence Davis, making him a restricted free agent, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Davis averaged 11.1 points in 27 games with the Kings after being traded by the Toronto Raptors in March.
1:14 p.m. ET: Milwaukee Bucks guard Bryn Forbes is declining his player option for the 2021-22 season and will become an unrestricted free agent, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Forbes, 28, was fourth in the NBA in 3-point shooting (45.2%) last season.
July 26
4:45 p.m. ET: The Memphis Grizzlies are sending Jonas Valanciunas and this year’s Nos. 17 and 51 picks to the New Orleans Pelicans for Steven Adams, Eric Bledsoe, this year’s Nos. 10 and 40 and a protected 2022 first-round pick (via the Los Angeles Lakers), sources tell ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. New Orleans creates salary cap space that would allow them to either match an offer sheet on Lonzo Ball, or have the room to pursue a significant free agent point guard.
Trade grades: Who wins the Grizzlies-Pelicans deal?
July 25
3:10 p.m. ET: Do the Golden State Warriors have the best potential package for a Bradley Beal trade? What other teams make sense? Adrian Wojnarowski and Zach Lowe break down the market for the Washington Wizards All-Star.
3:17 p.m. ET: When could the Philadelphia 76ers move on from Ben Simmons? Adrian Wojnarowski and Zach Lowe discuss the market for Simmons and why the 76ers might not rush to swing a deal before the NBA draft.
3:33 p.m. ET: What are the chances Kawhi Leonard, who had surgery earlier this month to repair a partial tear of the ACL in his right knee, leaves the LA Clippers this summer? Adrian Wojnarowski and Zach Lowe examine what the future holds for the injured superstar.
MORE: Watch the Woj & Lowe NBA free agency special
July 23
7:54 p.m. ET: The Cleveland Cavaliers have extended a qualifying offer to center Jarrett Allen, making him a restricted free agent. The team had until Aug. 1 to make the offer to Allen, a 23-year-old acquired last season in a trade from Brooklyn and viewed as one of Cleveland’s core pieces. The Cavs can now match any offer given by other teams to Allen, whose size and athleticism at both ends of the floor makes him enticing.
July 22
6:31 p.m. ET: The Los Angeles Lakers have extended a qualifying offer to Talen Horton-Tucker, thus making him a restricted free agent. The qualifying offer for Horton-Tucker is $1,897,476. The Lakers have early bird rights and can sign him up to a contract that projects to start at $10.4M. The contract must be for a minimum of two seasons.
July 17
6:08 p.m. ET: Denver Nuggets wing Will Barton has declined his $14.7 million player option for the 2021-22 season and will become a free agent, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Barton, whose seven seasons in Denver make him the longest-tenured Nugget, is a top priority for Nuggets President of Basketball Operations Tim Connelly to keep long-term.
Offseason moves for the Nuggets
July 16
5:51 p.m. ET: Damian Lillard denied a report that he was soon to ask for a trade away from the Portland Trail Blazers but expressed that he’s conflicted on the matter and is hoping big changes take him off the fence. Earlier Friday, basketball website TrueHoop reported Lillard would ask for a trade in the near future. Lillard has been having conversations about the Blazers’ offseason plans with team governor Jody Allen and general manager Neil Olshey.
July 8
7:22 p.m. ET: Dealing with a fresh round of trade speculation in the wake of a coaching change, Damian Lillard said Thursday he’ll keep his thoughts on the direction of the team between himself and the Portland Trail Blazers‘ front office. “Anything that I have to say, I’m going to say directly to [Blazers general manager] Neil [Olshey] and I’m going to address it directly with my team,” Lillard said after the third day of Team USA training camp in Las Vegas. “There’s really nothing else I have to say about it.”
6:03 p.m. ET: Matthew Dellavedova has agreed to sign with Melbourne United in Australia’s NBL, multiple sources told ESPN. Dellavedova, an eight-year NBA veteran, was set to become an unrestricted free agent this summer following his second stint with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
How the Cavaliers should approach the offseason
June 29
5:15 p.m. ET: Portland Trail Blazers center Zach Collins underwent a second surgery to repair a stress fracture in his left ankle, the team announced Tuesday. Collins, who hasn’t played since Aug. 13, 2020, is set to become a free agent this summer. Portland can make him a restricted free agent by tendering a qualifying offer by Aug. 1.
How the Blazers should approach the offseason
1:22 p.m. ET: Kevon Looney is exercising his $5.1 million option to return to the Golden State Warriors next season, his agent Todd Ramasar told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. This season, Looney, 25, started 34 of 61 games as he shared time in the starting lineup with rookie James Wiseman.
How the Warriors should approach the offseason
June 25
1:43 p.m. ET: The Dallas Mavericks have agreed to terms with Hall of Fame point guard Jason Kidd to be their head coach and longtime Nike executive Nico Harrison to be their general manager and run the franchise’s basketball operations, sources told ESPN’s Tim MacMahon on Friday. Harrison has a strong relationship with Luka Doncic, having played an instrumental role in the Mavericks star shifting from Nike to the Jordan Brand in the fall of 2019.
Where Jason Kidd, Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks go from here
June 24
11:29 a.m. ET: Discussions on Philadelphia 76ers All-Star Ben Simmons’ future with the franchise started in Chicago this week and included Simmons’ agent, Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul, and Sixers management, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Paul engaged the Sixers on whether it makes sense to work together to find a trade before the start of next season, but no request was made and the sides are expected to continue talking ahead of the July 29 NBA draft and August free agency, sources said. The 76ers are committed to keeping Simmons as a central piece of their franchise, sources said.
How the 76ers should approach the offseason
11:10 a.m. ET: Rick Carlisle is returning to Indiana after agreeing to a four-year deal to become the head coach of the Pacers again, sources told ESPN’s Tim MacMahon. Carlisle previously coached the Pacers for four seasons (2003-04 to 2006-07), compiling a 181-147 record and making the playoffs three times, including an Eastern Conference finals appearance in 2003-04.
How the Pacers should approach the offseason
June 23
2:45 p.m. ET: The Boston Celtics are finalizing an agreement to hire Brooklyn Nets assistant Ime Udoka as the franchise’s new coach, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Udoka inherits a roster that is already over the cap heading into the offseason.
The challenges for the Celtics’ new head coach
June 20
11:02 a.m. ET: Brooklyn Nets guard Spencer Dinwiddie plans to decline the $12.3 million player option on his 2021-22 contract and become an unrestricted free agent before a Monday deadline, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Dinwiddie, 28, missed most of the 2020-21 season with an ACL injury in his right knee.
How the Nets should approach the offseason
June 18
9:15 a.m. ET: The Boston Celtics are sending All-Star point guard Kemba Walker, the 16th pick in this year’s NBA draft and a 2025 second-round selection to the Oklahoma City Thunder for Al Horford, Moses Brown and a 2023 second-round pick, the teams announced Friday. The Celtics get significant financial flexibility as new president of basketball operations Brad Stevens tries to retool the roster around young stars Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. Walker is owed roughly $73 million over the next two years, while Horford is owed $53 million — $41 million guaranteed — over those years.
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