The NBA’s free agency period began Monday evening, June 30, with several notable names expected to be available on the market.
Free agency will provide teams with the opportunity to reshape and retool their rosters to take one step closer to their respective NBA championship aspirations.
Several big-name players who had the potential to become free agents are no longer expected to be available. That list includes Lakers star LeBron James, Clippers standout James Harden and Timberwolves forward Julius Randle.
Centers Myles Turner and Al Horford are among the top unrestricted players on the market as of Sunday evening. Chris Paul, Tyus Jones and Josh Giddey are expected to be among the top unrestricted guards available.
Malik Beasley also could be among the list of notable guards, but instead will be the subject of another storyline after it was reported he is being investigated for gambling on NBA games.
Gary Trent Jr. returning to Bucks
Milwaukee retains another member of the 2024-25 team with the re-signing of Gary Trent Jr. He will sign a two-year, $7.5 million deal that includes a player option to return to Milwaukee, Shams Charania reports.
Trent is coming off one of his best seasons as a pro. He played in a career-high 74 games and averaged 11.1 points per game off the bench, including a 41.6% mark from 3-point land. He also tied a franchise playoff record when he made nine 3-pointers in Game 3 of the first round series against the Indiana Pacers.
76ers add Trendon Watford
Philadelphia is adding an emerging forward in Trendon Watford. He will sign a two-year, $5.3 million deal with the 76ers, Shams Charania reports. A reserve most of his career, Watford had a breakout campaign in 2024-25 despite missing most of the first half of the season. He averaged a career-high 10.2 points per game.
Taurean Prince staying in Milwaukee
The Bucks will keep Taurean Prince on a two-year, $7.1 million deal, according to Shams Charania. He played 80 games for Milwaukee last season, the most he’s played since 2017-18. He averaged 8.2 points and 3.6 rebounds and gets to stay with assistant Darvin Ham, who he was with when Ham was coach of the Los Angeles Lakers.
Prince also reportedly has a player option for the second season.
Charlotte Hornets bring back Mason Plumlee
Mason Plumee is headed back to the Queen City, signing a one-year, $3.6 million deal with the Charlotte Hornets, Shams Charania reports. Plumlee played for the Hornets from 2021-23 before he was traded to the Los Angeles Clippers.
Luke Kennard joining Atlanta Hawks
Atlanta continues to make moves with the addition of Luke Kennard. The Hawks will sign the wing to a one-year, $11 million deal, according to Shams Charania.
Kennard spent the past two and a half seasons with the Memphis Grizzlies and solidified himself as one of the best sharpshooters in the league. He shot 43.3% from 3-point land during the 2024-25 season, ninth best in the NBA. He has shot at least 40% from beyond the arc the past five seasons, including when he was a league-high 44.9% from 3 in 2021-22.
Tyus Jones heads to Orlando
After starting 58 games for the Phoenix Suns last season, Jones is headed to an Eastern Conference contender in the Orlando Magic on a one-year, $7 million deal, per Shams Charania. Jones has averaged more than 10 points per game in each of the last three seasons.
Atlanta gives $60 million to Nickeil Alexander-Walker
A solid scoring option off the bench for Minnesota, the Atlanta Hawks have acquired Nickeil Alexander-Walker via a sign-and-trade on a four-year, $62 million deal, per Shams Charania. In just his seventh year in the league, Alexander-Walker is already joining his fifth team, but his first in the Eastern Conference.
In return, the Timberwolves are acquiring a 2027 second-round pick (via Cleveland) and cash.
Ty Jerome leaves Cavs for Grizzlies
Three years, $28 million. That’s the deal for sought-after guard Ty Jerome, who will be moving to Tennessee to play with the Memphis Grizzlies, per Shams Charania.
Jerome was an elite shooter last season, nearly joining the 50-40-90 club (52% FG, 44% 3PT, 87% FT) during the regular season, playing vital minutes for the Cavaliers. He played a major role in the Cavaliers earning the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference, and is a massive addition for a Grizzlies’ team that just locked up Jaren Jackson Jr. long-term.
Brook Lopez returns to Los Angeles
Former NBA champion Brook Lopez, 37, is headed back to the City of Angels, this time as a member of the Clippers after signing a two-year, $18 million deal, per Shams Charania. Lopez spent the 2017-18 season with the Los Angeles Lakers, then spent the next seven seasons with the Milwaukee Bucks, playing a sizable role on the 2021 championship team.
Lopez will likely serve as a bench option for the Clippers behind Ivica Zubac.
Pistons lock up Caris LeVert
Clint Capela returns to Houston
After five seasons with the Atlanta Hawks, free agent big man Clint Capela is returning to the Houston Rockets on a fully guaranteed, three-year, $21.5 million deal, per Shams Charania.
Capela played in just 55 games last season, his fewest since the COVID-shortened 2020 season. He spent most of last year battling a series of injuries.
Dennis Schroder to Sacramento
Early reports indicated that the Sacramento Kings were looking to add veteran guards this offseason. Well, they’ve begun with the addition of Dennis Schroder, per The Athletic’s Fred Katz. Though details of the agreement are still unknown, there have been reports that Sacramento’s guard hunt will not end there. The Kings are also interested in adding Russell Westbrook to the fold for the 2025-26 season.
$41 million for Luke Kornet
The San Antonio Spurs have added depth behind Victor Wembanyama, adding center Luke Kornet, part of the Boston Celtics’ 2024 championship team, to a four-year, $41 million deal, per Shams Charania.
Given the uncertainty regarding Wembanyama’s blood clot in his shoulder, adding Kornet provides a bit of an immediate safety blanket, even though Wembanyama is considered likely to recover before the start of next year.
Kevon Looney era in Golden State has come to an end
Longtime Golden State Warrior and three-time NBA champion Kevon Looney is leaving the West Coast for a two-year, $16 million deal with the New Orleans Pelicans, per Shams Charania. Looney had been a starter for much of his last five years with Golden State before being relegated to a bench role in 2025, starting in only six games all of last season. Looney did still put up solid minutes though, averaging 15 minutes per game.
Jake LaRavia moves to Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers will reportedly sign Jake LaRavia to a two-year, $12 million deal, per Shams Charania. LaRavia has always been a strong three-point shooter, which could come in handy as part of a team that finished outside the top-ten in three-point percentage a year ago.
D’Angelo Russell reunites with Anthony Davis in Dallas
With Kyrie Irving nursing an ACL tear, the Dallas Mavericks have added some guard depth by signing D’Angelo Russell to a two-year, $13 million deal. Russell has experience playing with Davis, having each spent parts of the last three seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers.
Win-now Rockets continue to stack pieces
Days after they agreed to trade for Kevin Durant, the Rockets are bolstering their perimeter play — on both sides of the ball — by reportedly locking up forward Dorian Finney-Smith. ESPN reports the deal is worth four years and $53 million.
Pistons re-up with Paul Reed
After he stepped up in the playoffs with backup forward-center Isaiah Stewart sidelined with a right knee injury, Paul Reed became a valuable fill-in for the Pistons. Detroit is rewarding Reed with a two-year, $11 million deal to return to the team, per ESPN.
Grizzlies lock up key young players
The Grizzlies are continuing their roster overhaul. All-Star forward Jaren Jackson Jr. is expected to ink a renegotiated, five-year, max contract extension worth $248 million, according to ESPN. Jackson was on a favorable contract that he had outperformed.
Memphis’ trade of Desmond Bane helped clear up the cap space required to make this deal happen. The Grizzlies shipped him to the Magic, but then — following a separate trade with the Trail Blazers — drafted Cedric Coward at No. 11 overall. Coward essentially becomes a low-cost replacement for Bane. Another corresponding salary cap maneuver being made to accommodate the Jackson deal is a reported buyout to guard Cole Anthony, whom Memphis had just acquired in the Bane trade.
ESPN also reports that the Grizzlies also locked backup forward Santi Aldama to a three-year, $52.5 million deal.
A scorer set to unexpectedly hit the market
It’s not often that consistent, double-digit scorers hit the open market. But as the Utah Jazz continue to remake their roster, Jordan Clarkson has finalized a buyout, according to the Athletic, making him an unrestricted free agent.
Clarkson, 33, averaged 16.2 points, 3.7 assists and 3.2 rebounds in 37 games last season. Clarkson had carved out a role as Utah’s sixth man and became known for providing a scoring spark off the bench. Given his ability to score off the bench, Clarkson could draw interest from contenders looking to bolster their depth.
Veteran Nicolas Batum back for 18th season
Forward Nicolas Batum, a steady presence off the bench for the Los Angeles Clippers, will sign a two-year deal worth $11.5 million, per ESPN.
Nets to re-sign Day’Ron Sharpe
After locking up one of their reserve forwards earlier Monday in Ziaire Williams, the Nets moved to do the same for backup center, Day’Ron Sharpe. ESPN reports that Sharpe is set to sign on a two-year deal to keep him in Brooklyn, worth $12 million.
Joe Ingles to return to Timberwolves
Veteran forward Joe Ingles will be playing his 12th season in the NBA, returning to the Minnesota Timberwolves on a one-year contract worth $3.6 million, according to ESPN.
Knicks forward Josh Hart had a funny response to the news, writing: ‘Man someone tell him to go head and retire already’ in a social media post.
Ziaire Williams heading back to Brooklyn
Free agent forward Ziaire Williams is on the verge of signing a two-year, $12 million deal to return to the Brooklyn Nets, ESPN reports. Williams, the No. 10 overall pick in the 2021 draft, averaged 10 points and 4.3 rebounds in 63 games with the Nets last season.
DeAndre Ayton set to test market
Center DeAndre Ayton is finalizing a buyout agreement with the Portland Trail Blazers, according to ESPN, which will make him a free agent — and one of the more interesting players available.
Ayton was acquired by the Blazers in 2023 as part of a three-team trade with Phoenix and Milwaukee. He’s played in only 95 games in two seasons with Portland, averaging 15.7 points and 10.6 rebounds per game. As part of the contract he signed with the Suns, Ayton was scheduled to make $35.6 million next season.
When is NBA free agency? Dates, times and offseason schedule
NBA free agency officially began on Monday, June 30, at 6 p.m. ET. Teams and players can now start agreeing to the terms of a contract. Teams and players, however, will have to wait until July 6 for contracts to be officially signed.
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