The NBA’s free agency window has opened and already a number of contenders have reportedly made big swings.
James Harden is returning to the Clippers while Los Angeles also strengthened its roster by securing Mavericks wing Derrick Jones Jr.
Dallas, meanwhile, picked up forward Naji Marshall while the Spurs added veteran point guard Chris Paul.
The Magic also made a major move, landing championship-winning guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope.
The Celtics continue to break the bank, signing Jayson Tatum to an NBA record $AUD473 million extension, not long after inking Derrick White to a reach new deal.
But the biggest story broke when Paul George’s move to Philadelphia was revealed.
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Elsewhere, Klay Thompson’s time in Golden State is officially up as he moved to a fellow contender in a deal that also included an Aussie star.
See below the latest updates as the free agency window opens!
Lakers select... Bronny! Joins dad in LA | 01:48
LEBRON JAMES
If you’re a Lakers fan and were worried about LeBron James opting out of his contract - worry no longer.
The arguable NBA GOAT has returned to Los Angeles on a two-year, $US104 million ($AU155m) maximum extension including a player option and a no-trade clause, according to Woj.
The new deal was expected, in an effort to create financial flexibility to help the team target more players to bring to L.A. though James certainly hasn’t taken a discount.
The contract guarantees he’ll play with son Bronny, who the team picked in the second round of the recent NBA Draft.
The no-trade clause, one of just two in the NBA along with Phoenix’s Bradley Beal, confirms James won’t be moving anywhere any time soon.
KLAY THOMPSON
It’s the end of an era for Thompson.
The Athletic’s Shams Charania reported on Sunday that there has virtually been no talks between Thompson and the Warriors in recent weeks and that the sharpshooter is “determined to find a new home”.
And find a new home is exactly what Thompson has done, with the star moving to the Dallas Mavericks on a three-year, $50 million ($75m AUD) deal plus a player option with the Dallas Mavericks, per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
Wojnarowski also reports Josh Green is headed to the Hornets as part of the sign-and-trade deal, with the Mavericks receiving two second-round picks from Charlotte for the Aussie star, with one of those picks potentially landing with Golden State.
Green’s exit could elevate Quentin Grimes into a more prominent role after the Mavericks traded for him as part of the Tim Hardaway Jr. deal.
Green is now the third Australian to be traded this summer after Dyson Daniels was moved to Atlanta and Josh Giddey was sent to Chicago.
The Mavericks had hoped to keep Derrick Jones Jr. too but he plans to sign a three-year, $30 million deal with the Clippers according to Shams Charania.
In a surprising twist, Wojnarowski has since reported Thompson took less money to join Dallas over other interested teams, one of which was the Los Angeles Lakers.
Wojnarowski claims Thompson had multiple four-year deals on the table along with more money, but the chance to win another championship with the Mavericks along with a difference in state taxes was what decided his next move.
DONOVAN MITCHELL
The Cleveland Cavaliers have tied down Donovan Mitchell on a three-year, $150.3 million ($AUD225.3 million) max deal, per ESPN insider Adrian Wojnarowski.
The third year of the deal is a player option.
After the Knicks attempted to trade for Mitchell ahead of the 2022-23 season, Cleveland swooped in for the All-Star and now has him locked in as it looks to make a championship push.
The massive extension sets the Cavaliers guard to cash in again later, with Mitchell potentially eligible for a five-year, $380 million deal in 2027.
It seemed unlikely Mitchell was going to be on the move given salary cap space is hard to come by and teams are anxiously avoiding the second-apron tax penalties.
The Nets were another team that seemed like they could make a move for Mitchell, but they instead decided to wave the white flag this upcoming season in an attempt to get a higher draft pick and land incoming Duke freshman Cooper Flagg or another top prospect.
Mitchell won’t be eligible to be moved again until January 2025.
JAYSON TATUM
What a fortnight it’s been for the Celtics star.
Two weeks after helping Boston to its first title in 16 years, Tatum has put pen-to-paper on a five-year, $315m ($473m AUD) supermax extension - the richest contract in NBA history.
The new deal links Tatum to the Celtics through to the 2029-2030 season.
Tatum is the second Celtic to ink an extension in the last 24 hours after guard Derrick White agreed to a four-year, $125.9 million deal.
In addition to Tatum and White, the Celtics have Jaylen Brown on a five-year, $286.2 million deal which was signed last July.
Point guard Jrue Holiday received a four-year, $135 million extension in April while star forward Kristaps Porzingis is on $60 million over two years.
Tatum’s new deal eclipses Brown’s previous record for largest ever contract.
THUNDER ARE MAKING MOVES
The Oklahoma City Thunder were one of the biggest risers last season, finishing the regular season as the top seed in the West before coming up short in the conference semi-finals.
Only a few weeks have passed since the end of the season and already Thunder general manager Sam Presti has made it clear the team is not playing around.
Instead, Oklahoma City has made aggressive moves to put itself in an even stronger position to contend in what once again shapes to be an extremely competitive Western Conference.
First, the Thunder traded Josh Giddey for Alex Caruso and then in free agency added free agent big man Isaiah Hartenstein on a three-year, $87 million deal according to multiple reports.
OKC didn’t stop there though, re-signing key role players Isaiah Joe and Aaron Wiggins on shrewd deals to complete what looks like one of the deepest rosters in the NBA next season.
Joe extended on a four-year, $48 million deal while Wiggins is coming back on a five-year, $47 million contract.
RUSSELL WESTBROOK
While Westbrook picked up his $4 million player option with the Clippers, it appears he is poised for a sign-and-trade as opposed to staying put in Los Angeles.
And the Nuggets look the likely landing spot for him.
Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports reported Westbrook was a potential target for the $5.2 million taxpayer midlevel exception and the Nuggets are said to be looking to part ways with Zeke Nnaji in under to get under the second tax apron and open up their MLE.
The Athletic’s Shams Charania reported Denver “has shown a level of interest” in Westbrook, who the Clippers are said to be “actively working on trades to move”.
OTHER SITUATIONS TO WATCH
* Chicago took a big step towards a rebuild, or at least a re-tooling of sorts, by trading Alex Caruso for Josh Giddey. So, what does that mean for DeMar DeRozan, the team’s top scorer and free agent, who turns 35 in August?
* Tyrese Maxey is tipped to sign a five-year extension worth in excess of $200 million as Philadelphia looks to go all-in this summer.
* The Orlando Magic are declining Joe Ingles’ $11 million team option according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, but both sides are expected to continue dialogue in free agency next week, opening the door for the Australian to potentially return.
EVERY REPORTED DEAL SO FAR
* LeBron James agreed to a two-year, $104 million max deal to return to the Los Angeles Lakers, per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski
* Donovan Mitchell has agreed a three-year, $150.3 million max extension with the Cleveland Cavaliers, per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski
* Jayson Tatum has agreed a five-year, $315 million supermax extension with the Boston Celtics, per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski
* Klay Thompson has agreed on a three-year, $50 million deal plus a player option with the Dallas Mavericks, per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski
* Tyrese Maxey has agreed on a five-year, $204 million maximum contract extension with Philadelphia 76ers, per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski
* Derrick White to re-sign with Celtics on a four-year, $129.5 million contract, per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski
* Paul George has agreed on a four-year, $212 million deal with the Philadelphia 76ers, per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski
* Chris Paul has agreed on a one-year, $11 million-plus deal with the San Antonio Spurs, per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski
* Derrick Jones Jr. plans to sign a three-year, $30 million deal with the Los Angeles Clippers, per Shams Charania
* Isaiah Hartenstein plans to sign a three-year, $87 million deal with the Thunder, per Shams Charania
* Jonas Valanciunas has agreed to a three-year, $30 million deal with the Washington Wizards, per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski
* Naji Marshall has agreed on a three-year, $27 million deal with the Dallas Mavericks, per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski
* Isaiah Joe has extended on a four-year, $48 million deal with the Thunder, per Shams Charania
* Aaron Wiggins has agreed to a five-year, $47 million contract with Oklahoma City, per Shams Charania
* Tobias Harris has signed with the Detroit Pistons on a two-year, $52 million deal, per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski
* Kelly Oubre Jr. has agreed on a two-year, $16.3 million deal to stay with the Philadelphia 76ers, per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski
* Kentavious Caldwell-Pope set to sign a three-year, $66 million deal with the Magic, per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski
* Andre Drummond to return to Sixers on a two-year deal worth around $10 million, per Shams Charania
* James Harden to re-sign with Clippers on a two-year, $70 million deal, according to Shams Charania
* Kevin Porter Jr. has signed a two-year minimum contract with the Clippers, per Law Murray
* Obi Toppin extends with Pacers on a four-year, $60 million contract, per Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN
* Kevin Love staying with the Heat on a two-year deal worth over $8 million, per Shams Charania
* Luke Kornet is returning to Boston on a one-year deal, per Jared Weiss
* OG Anunoby staying put in New York on a five-year, $212.5 million contract, per Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN
* Neemias Queta is remaining in Boston on a multi-year deal, per Shams Charania
* Eric Gordon has agreed to a deal with the 76ers, per Shams Charania
* Mason Plumlee has agreed on a one-year deal with the Phoenix Suns, per Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN
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