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.
But the biggest story broke in the early hours of the morning (US time) after Paul George’s move to Philadelphia was revealed.
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Elsewhere, Klay Thompson is also set to leave Golden State and is not short of suitors, with the Sixers, Lakers, Nuggets, Magic and Clippers all reported to have shown interest.
The Mavericks, however, are said to be the leading contender and it could mean Australian Josh Green is on the verge of being traded to the Warriors.
Follow along in our live blog below for the latest updates as the free agency window opens!
There is also a full list down the bottom of every deal as it happens.
Lakers select… Bronny! Joins dad in LA | 01:48
KLAY THOMPSON
It looks like 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”.
Charania wrote that according to team and league scores, “Thompson and the Warriors have had close to no communication since the negotiating period opened for incumbent free agents nearly two weeks ago and no offer has been made”.
“Warriors, after other business, have wanted to circle back and negotiate with Thompson. But he isn’t expected to be there waiting as a willing secondary priority in their summer plan, with his side feeling that the Warriors’ interest in a reunion has been disingenuous,” he added.
With that in mind, who shapes as the likely candidates to land Thompson?
Well, the Magic and Nuggets had been linked to him but it seems like the Mavericks and Lakers are at the top of the list.
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski also reported that Thompson plans to have discussions with the Clippers and 76ers.
Stein reported that “barring an 11th-hour resuscitation of Thompson’s relationship with the Warriors”, Dallas and L.A. “projected to be the two teams at the forefront of Thompson’s thinking”.
Stein wrote that LeBron James could be willing to take a paycut if what Chris Haynes described as one of the “right targets” was happy to take the Lakers’ $13 million midlevel exception.
In spite of that, league sources told Stein “there will be strong mutual interest between Thompson and the Mavericks”, with Dallas expected to free up enough money to make a competitive offer after trading Tim Hardaway Jr. to Detroit.
The Mavericks may have to offload Australian Josh Green for salary matching purposes in the event of a sign-and-trade with Golden State.
That would elevate Quentin Grimes into a more prominent role after the Mavericks traded for him as part of the Hardaway Jr. deal.
If Green was dealt he would become 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.
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?
* LeBron James has opted out of his deal with the Lakers, declining a $51.4 million player option, but is expected to agree to a new contract that could create financial flexibility to help the team target more players to bring to L.A.
* 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
* 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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