yahoo sports staff
NBA free agency is in full swing and another major domino has fallen. Wednesday morning brought the news, as expected, that LeBron James intends to return to the Los Angeles Lakers. He will reportedly sign a two-year, $104 million new deal that includes one of only two no-trade clauses in the NBA (the other belongs to Bradley Beal).
James declined his player option with the expectation of signing a new deal last week, then got a bit of incentive to return to the Lakers when they drafted his eldest son, Bronny James, with the No. 55 pick. The four-time NBA MVP has said for years that he'd like the opportunity to play with his eldest son before retiring.
James' agreement comes just two days after nine-time All-Star Paul George agreed to a four-year max contract with the Philadelphia 76ers worth $212 million. The potential seismic shift in the East was bolstered by Philly also agreeing to terms of a five-year, $204 million max extension with Tyrese Maxey, who was the NBA's Most Improved Player last year, averaging 25.9 points per game on his way to his first All-Star selection.
Yahoo Sports has you covered for NBA free agency from the top 40 available players to the top players at each position who are available this summer.
Point guards
Shooting guards
Small forwards
Power forwards
Centers
Keep up with all of the signings and deals with Yahoo Sports' NBA free agency tracker.
Live122 updates
Caleb Martin agrees to 4-year, $32 million contract with Sixers
The Philadelphia 76ers' big offseason continues. The team added forward Caleb Martin, agreeing to a four-year deal worth more than $32 million, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.
Free agent F Caleb Martin is finalizing a deal with the Philadelphia 76ers, sources tell ESPN. Impactful pickup for the Sixers, who bring on the playoff-tested veteran from Miami. pic.twitter.com/wc4hC6qJbm
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 6, 2024
Martin put up the best numbers of his five-year career for the Miami Heat last season. In 64 games, the 6-foot-5 veteran averaged 10 points and 4.4 rebounds per game. Of note to the Sixers and their fans, Martin has played particularly well against the Boston Celtics during the past two seasons, averaging 13.6 points per game while shooting 50% from the floor.
He is expected to be the Sixers' starting power forward, reports Wojnarowski, teaming in the frontcourt with Paul George and Joel Embiid. To make room for Martin, Philadelphia will waive forward Paul Reed.
Ian Casselberry
Pistons adding Malik Beasley on 1-year, $6 million deal
Among the many reasons that the Detroit Pistons finished with the NBA's worst record last season is their poor shooting. New president of basketball operations Trajan Langdon is addressing that need by reaching an agreement with sharpshooter Malik Beasley.
The eight-year veteran will sign a one-year deal worth more than $6 million, according to The Athletic's Shams Charania.
Free agent sharpshooter Malik Beasley plans to sign a one-year, $6 million-plus deal with the Detroit Pistons, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. Beasley's agent, Daniel Hazan of Hazan Sports Management, has been negotiating the new deal with Pistons officials. pic.twitter.com/uNt4HRqX5v
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 6, 2024
Beasley, 27, shot 41% on 3-pointers with the Milwaukee Bucks last season on 542 attempts. He's a career 29% 3-point shooter. That is a welcome addition for a Pistons team that shot 35% from long-range as a team.
Detroit will be the sixth team Beasley has played for in his eight seasons, including the Denver Nuggets, Minnesota Timberwolves, Utah Jazz and Los Angeles Lakers.
Kari Anderson
Franz Wagner signs five-year, $224 million max rookie extension
Franz Wagner is staying in Orlando, signing a five-year, $224 million contract extension to stay with the Magic, with the deal potentially being worth up to $269 million, per ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.
Wagner, who was drafted eighth overall by Orlando in 2021, has been a key part of the Magic's starting lineup for the past three seasons. Wagner averaged 19.7 points, 5.3 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game last season.
ESPN Sources: Orlando Magic forward Franz Wagner has agreed on a five-year, $224 million maximum rookie contract extension – a deal that could become worth as much as $269 million. pic.twitter.com/uWrTFV6hrm
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 5, 2024
Kari Anderson
Kai Jones reportedly agrees to non-guaranteed deal to stay with the Clippers
Sources: Free agent C/F Kai Jones has agreed to a non-guaranteed deal to return to the Los Angeles Clippers. Clippers incorporated the talented 6-foot-11 big man at end of last season and give the 2021 No. 19 overall pick a chance to compete for roster spot next season.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 5, 2024
Buddy Hield to join Warriors in sign-and-trade deal with Sixers
The Golden State Warriors are adding a shooter after Klay Thompson left for the Dallas Mavericks. Buddy Hield will join the Warriors in a sign-and-trade deal with the Philadelphia 76ers, reports The Athletic's Shams Charania.
The Golden State Warriors have agreed to a deal acquiring Buddy Hield via sign-and-trade from the 76ers, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. New teammates Hield and Stephen Curry are leaders for most 3-pointers made over the last 5 NBA seasons – and now will be teammates. pic.twitter.com/a12kp9sYuV
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 4, 2024
Hield agrees to a two-year, $21 million contract, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski. The agreement includes a partial guarantee for a third year and player option for a fourth year. Philadelphia will receive a 2031 second-round pick as part of the deal.
Hield averaged 12.1 points per game with the Sixers and Indiana Pacers last season, shooting 39% on 3-pointers. Shooting is Hield's specialty. For his career, he's a 40% shooter from long-range. He's the only player to make more 3-pointers during the past five seasons than Stephen Curry. Now the two sharpshooters will be teammates.
Shake Milton going to Nets, added to Mikal Bridges trade with Knicks
The big trade that sent Mikal Bridges to the New York Knicks is being expanded. Shake Milton is also being added to the deal in a sign-and-trade agreement, reports The Athletic's Shams Charania.
Sources: The Knicks are signing-and-trading Shake Milton as part of Mikal Bridges/Bojan Bogdanovic trade to the Nets, who will also send Keita Bates-Diop to New York. Milton will sign a three-year, $9 million contract, with over minimum in year one and two non-guaranteed years.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 4, 2024
Milton joins Bojan Bogdanovic, four unprotected first-round picks (in 2025, 2027, 2029 and 2031), a protected first-rounder from the Milwaukee Bucks in 2025, a 2025 second-rounder and a protected pick swap in 2028 going to the Nets. Keita Bates-Diop will go to the Knicks as part of the trade.
For Milton, the Nets will be his fourth team in a year. The sixth-year guard signed with the Minnesota Timberwolves last season, was traded to the Detroit Pistons, who soon waived him. He then signed with the Knicks.
He agreed to a three-year, $9 million deal with the Knicks, in which the final two years are not guaranteed.
Morten Stig Jensen
LeBron and Bronny are getting deals, but how do the Lakers plan to upgrade the roster?
To some, it might appear as if the Los Angeles Lakers should hang a banner that reads "Mission Accomplished" for their 2024 summer.
After all, they hired JJ Redick as their new head coach and drafted Bronny James, the son of a certain LeBron, which was what most Lakers fans seemed to be the most interested in.
(They should be far more excited about Dalton Knecht, who the Lakers snatched at No. 17 in the NBA Draft, but that's a story for a different day.)
The mission, however, isn't quite accomplished, even after both of the Jameses locked up new contracts, with LeBron reportedly agreeing to a $104 million deal, which will run over two seasons, and Bronny signing for $7.9 million over four years.
As it stands, the Lakers' roster remains unfinished, or at least uncalibrated, with the team closing in on second apron territory, which would further limit their transaction maneuverability going forward.
So, let's take a look at their situation.
Ryan Young
Taurean Prince to the Bucks
After a strong outing with the Lakers, Taurean Prince agreed to a one-year deal with the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday. Prince averaged 8.9 points and shot nearly 40% from behind the arc with the Lakers last season.
Prince averaged 8.9 points and 2.9 rebounds while shooting 39.6 percent from 3-point land in 78 games for the Lakers last season. He’s now expected to play a strong role in the Bucks frontcourt. https://t.co/VsEoPP3cfB
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 3, 2024
Ryan Young
PJ Dozier to the TWolves
PJ Dozier is making his return to the NBA. After spending last season in Serbia, Dozier agreed to a one-year deal with the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday.
Free agent F PJ Dozier has agreed on a one-year deal with the Minnesota Timberwolves, sources tell ESPN. Dozier returns from a season in Europe after a torn ACL with Nuggets in late 2021 caused him to again make his case for an NBA contract. pic.twitter.com/H3uiiIvLt8
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 3, 2024
Ryan Young
Alec Burks to the Heat
Alec Burks is headed to South Beach. Burks agreed to a one-year deal with the Miami Heat on Wednesday. He split last season with the Detroit Pistons and the New York Knicks, and averaged 10.4 points and 2.3 rebounds per game total.
Free agent G/F Alec Burks has agreed on a one-year deal with the Miami Heat, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/s2S7E127NM
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 3, 2024
Ryan Young
Joe Ingles to the Timberwolves
After spending last season with the Magic, Joe Ingles is headed to the Minnesota Timberwolves on a one-year deal. The 36-year-old forward averaged 4.4 points and three assists per game off the bench last season in Orlando.
The Timberwolves will mark his fourth team in the alst four seasons.
Free agent F Joe Ingles has agreed on a one-year deal to join the Minnesota Timberwolves, sources tell ESPN. Ingles reunites with his old Jazz teammates Rudy Gobert and Mike Conley Jr. pic.twitter.com/IcZUK2G4Qv
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 3, 2024
Yahoo Sports Staff
Does LeBron's return to Lakers change LA's playoff outlook?
Liz Roscher
LeBron James to return to Lakers on 2-year deal
LeBron James' great dream to play in the NBA with his son is just months from becoming reality.
James reportedly plans to sign a two-year, $104 million deal to remain in Los Angeles and play with his son Bronny James, who was drafted by the Lakers last week and agreed to a two-year guaranteed deal with them just Tuesday.
James, who will turn 40 in December, opted out of his previous deal last week.
Read the full story here.
Warriors reportedly in 'serious talks' to acquire Sixers sharpshooter Buddy Hield
Just In: The Golden State Warriors are in serious talks on a sign-and-trade deal to acquire Buddy Hield, league sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. Warriors and 76ers have been in deep discussions, working to finalize the deal for one of the NBA's best three-point shooters. pic.twitter.com/s3sajpWx69
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 3, 2024
Ryan Young
Kyle Anderson to the Warriors on a sign-and-trade
Kyle Anderson is joining the Golden State Warriors on a three-year, $27 million deal, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski. Anderson averaged 6.4 points and 3.5 rebounds per game last season mostly off the bench.
Golden State is sending Minnesota a future second-round pick swap and cash in the sign-and-trade, sources tell ESPN. https://t.co/9i80B3I0qE
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 2, 2024
Ryan Young
Jonathan Isaac reaches extension with Magic
Jonathan Isaac has a new deal in Orlando. The Magic agreed to a new five-year, $84 million contract renegotiation and extension with their big man on Tuesday afternoon. Isaac averaged 6.8 points and 4.5 rebounds mostly off the bench last season, his second year back after missing two campaigns with a torn ACL.
Orlando Magic F Jonathan Isaac has agreed on a five-year, $84 million contract renegotiation and extension, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/4skp5qS2sp
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 2, 2024
Jason Owens
Xavier Tillman returning to Celtics after contributing to title run
After joining the Celtics for their run to the NBA championship, Xavier Tillman is staying in Boston.
ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reports that Tillman has agreed to a two-year deal with the Celtics. Terms were not reported.
Tillman joined the Celtics via a midseason trade from the Memphis Grizzlies and averaged four points and 2.7 rebounds per game down the regular-season stretch in Boston. He then made eight playoff appearances during Boston's title run, including two in the Finals after the injury to Kristaps Porzingis. He'll return as a role player in Boston's quest to repeat.
Free agent F Xavier Tillman has agreed on a two-year deal to return to the Boston Celtics, sources tell ESPN. Tillman averaged 5.3 points and 3.9 rebounds last season. pic.twitter.com/Z1510rRVs6
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 2, 2024
Ryan Young
Moe Wagner returning to Orlando
Moe Wagner isn't going anywhere. The Magic reached a two-year, $22 million deal with their center on Tuesday afternoon, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski. Wagner averaged nearly 11 points and 4.3 rebounds per game off the bench last season, his third full campaign with the franchise.
Free agent F/C Moe Wagner is returning to the Orlando Magic on a two-year, $22 million deal, sources tell ESPN. Wagner averaged 10.8 points and 4.3 rebounds in 80 games for the Eastern Conference’s fifth seed. pic.twitter.com/ZZTIHbzaB3
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 2, 2024
Jason Owens
Former No. 2 pick James Wiseman signs with Pacers
James Wiseman, the former No. 2 overall pick by the Golden State Warriors, has agreed to a two-year contract with the Indiana Pacers, ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reports. Terms of the deal weren't initially reported.
A 7-foot center, Wiseman averaged 7.1 points, 5.3 rebounds and 0.6 blocks in 63 games with the Detroit Pistons last season. He spent 57 of those games coming off the bench after failing to secure a starting spot in Detroit. The Pistons acquired Wiseman from the Warriors via a midseason trade in the 2022-23 season.
Wiseman, 23, is now with his third NBA team in four years after being selected near the top of the 2020 draft.
Free agent center James Wiseman has agreed on a two-year contract with the Indiana Pacers, sources tell ESPN. Wiseman was the No. 2 overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft. pic.twitter.com/UBA9Yhlejx
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 2, 2024
Dan Devine
Donovan Mitchell, Cavaliers reportedly agree to 3-year, $150.3M max extension
After taking care of their first order of business by hiring Kenny Atkinson to be their new head coach, the Cavaliers have now checked the most important item off their summer to-do list, agreeing to terms with Donovan Mitchell on a new three year, $150.5 million maximum contract extension, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.
So why not a four-year extension worth over $200 million? It appears that this deal is structured to give all parties what they really want. According to Woj, this deal gives the Cavs "the stability of their franchise player under contract beyond next season." For Mitchell, he is now on the "fast-path to the 10-year service criteria allowing him to pursue a 5-year, $380M-plus extension in 2027."
Since landing in Northeast Ohio in September 2022, Mitchell has played the best basketball of his seven-year career, averaging 27.5 points, 4.6 rebounds, 5.2 assists and 1.6 steals per game across two seasons in Cleveland. He led the Cavs to consecutive postseason appearances, including the franchise’s first playoff series win since LeBron James left for Los Angeles — and its first series win without James since 1993 — with a first-round victory over the Orlando Magic back in April.
Read the full story here.
