NBA free agency is now underway as teams can begin negotiating contracts with free agent players. These deals can become official on July 6th. Between Friday and July 6th all deals can be agreed but are not binding agreements between team and player. They will become official once the contract is signed on July 6th or later.
A handful of teams, including the Houston Rockets, San Antonio Spurs and Sacramento Kings, have significant leeway, while many others still have some work to do to retain their current players as the new collective bargaining agreement goes into effect on Saturday.
Some of the best players to watch during free agency: James Harden, Kyrie Irving, Khris Middleton and Fred VanVleet. Other players could make a splash in the offseason, such as Damian Lillard’s status with the Portland Trail Blazers.
Follow Yahoo Sports for the latest news on free NBA agencies.
Bruce Brown, fresh off an NBA title with the Nuggets, is reportedly agreeing to a $45 million deal with the Pacers
Bruce Brown, a key contributor to the 2023 Denver Nuggets championship team, has reportedly agreed to a two-year, $45 million deal with the Indiana Pacers, reports ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
The deal comes after that Brown declined his $6.8 million player option earlier this month. Brown enjoyed a breakthrough season in Denver after originally signing a two-year, $13.3 million deal with the Nuggets last offseason. Last season, he averaged a career-high 11.5 points per game in 28.5 minutes per game. Brown also averaged 4.1 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 1.1 steals per game this season. Read more about Brown’s deal.
Four-time NBA champion and 2017 Defensive Player of the Year Draymond Green has agreed to return to the Golden State Warriors on a four-year, $100 million deal, reports Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports. Green will have a player option in year four.
The 33-year veteran averaged 8.5 points (53/31/71 shooting splits), 7.2 rebounds and 6.8 assists in 31.5 minutes and saves in 73 games for the Warriors last season thus his eighth place on the all-defensive roster. Read more about the Green extension.
Kyle Kuzma returns to the Wizards in a $102 million deal
Kyle Kuzma returns to Washington Wizards ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reports.
After turning down a player option with the Washington Wizards and going on as a free agent, Kuzma agreed to rejoin the team on a four-year, $102 million contract, his agent told Wojnarowski.
Despite the Wizards struggling and missing the playoffs in both seasons that Kuzma was there, he is having the best season of his career. Kuzma averaged a career-best 21.2 points per game, shot nearly 45% from the field and added 7.2 rebounds and a career-best 3.7 assists per game. Read more about Kuzma’s expansion.
The Brooklyn Nets are trying to achieve some payroll flexibility before the free NBA agency officially opens. The team took a big step there According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Joe Harris will join the Detroit Pistons on Friday.
The Nets are also sending two second-round picks to Detroit as part of the deal. Harris has $19.9 million left on his contract, which expires after the 2023-24 NBA season. The move gives the Nets more cap leeway, potentially allowing the team to add multiple Impact players in the offseason.
James Harden is reportedly taking the player option to ease the trade with the Sixers
Former NBA MVP James Harden has secured a $35.6 million player option with the 76ers in anticipation of working with the team on a trade from Philadelphia. ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reports.
Harden, who turns 34 in August, averaged 21 points, a league-high 10.7 assists and 6.1 rebounds per game for the Sixers last season, making his tenth straight All-Star appearance. A tendon strain in his right foot and a sore left Achilles tendon cost him 24 regular-season games and a possible All-NBA appearance — a growing trend in his career. Harden was also sidelined from his previous two seasons with soft tissue injuries, and he has not made the All-NBA roster since his stint with the Houston Rockets in 2020. Read more about Harden’s options.