NBA Free Agency: T-Wolves trade for Rudy Gobert
NBA free agency is off to quite a start.
Here is all the major news, as teams begin their summer wheeling and dealing.
T-Wolves trade for Gobert
Rudy Gobert is now a member of the Minneosta Timberwolves after the Jazz traded him in exchange for Malik Beasley, Patrick Beverley, Walker Kessler, Jarred Vanderbilt and multiple first-round picks.
A three-time Defensive Player of the Year and All-Star, Gobert averaged 15.6 PPG, 14.7 RPG and 2.1 BPG last season, on a career-best 71% from the floor. Gobert joins newly resigned Karl-Anthony Towns to form a formidable frontcourt in Minnesota.
Zion Williamson nearing extension
New Orleans Pelicans star Zion Williamson is reportedly closing in on a five-year rookie max extension worth up to $231 million.
Williamson did not play last season due to a foot injury, but in 2020-21 he averaged 27.0 points, 7.2 rebounds and 3.7 assists over 61 games.
Celtics acquire Malcolm Brogdon
The Cs are shoring up their defensive presence with an early offseason addition in Brogdon.
They added the former Pacers point guard in exchange for Daniel Theis, Aaron Nesmith and a first-round pick. The team also opened $10.1 million in cap space in the deal. Brogdon averaged 19.1 PPG, 5.9 APG and 5.1 RPG in 36 games last season.
Blazers extend Jusuf Nurkić
The “Bosnian Beast” will be manning the middle for the foreseeable future in Portland. Nurk signed a four-year, $70 million deal to stay in town after a brief negotiation.
He’s been a consistent force down low for Portland since arriving there 2017 and has averaged a double-double in three of the last four seasons, including 15 points and 11.1 rebounds per game last season.
Kings trade for Kevin Huerter
Sacramento is getting younger and stronger with its recent moves. After signing high-flyer Malik Monk, the squad is adding another budding shooting guard to its arsenal in former Hawks sixth man Kevin Huerter.
The Kings sent a 2024 lottery-protected first-rounder to Atlanta for the sharpshooter, which becomes top-12 protected in 2025, and top-10 protected in 2026. Huerter averaged 12.1 PPG on 45.4% from the floor in 29.6 minutes per game last season.
Zach LaVine back with Bulls
The All-Star guard took a victory cigar toke after agreeing to a major cash-in with Chicago: five years, $215 million in a major contract extension.
LaVine, who’s been in Chicago the past five seasons, helped lead the squad to its first playoff appearance during his tenure there. He averaged 24.4 PPG last season.
Wall, Batum ink deals with Clippers.
It was known that former All-Star guard John Wall wanted to venture to L.A. to join the Clippers, but Friday, the terms of the deal were released to the public: two years for $13.2 million on the mid-level exception.
Wall last played for Houston in the 2020-21 campaign, where he posted 20.7 PPG on 44% shooting.
The squad also announced that it would re-up veteran 3-and-D forward Nicolas Batum on a two-year, $22 million contract. Batum posted 8.3 PPG last season and shot 40% from deep.
Ricky Rubio is returning to Cleveland
Ricky Rubio has agreed to a three-year, $18.4 million deal to return to the Cavaliers.
Knicks nab Mitchell Robinson
New York has agreed to a four-year, $60 million deal with center Mitchell Robinson.
Robinson, 24, averaged 8.5 points and 8.6 rebounds last season.
Bruce Brown to Nuggets
Guard Bruce Brown, a strong perimeter defender who averaged more than a steal per game last season, has agreed to a two-year, $13 million deal with the Denver Nuggets.
Jokić gets the richest deal ever
There is a new highest-paid player in NBA history: Nikola Jokić.
Jokić averaged 27.1 points, 13.8 rebounds and 7.2 assists per game last season for the Denver Nuggets while winning a second straight MVP.
Morant gets rookie max extension from Memphis
All-NBA guard Ja Morant has agreed to a new five-year deal with the Grizzlies that could become worth $231 million.
The 2021-22 Most Improved Player averaged 27.4 points, 6.7 assists and 5.7 rebounds in his third season.
Karl-Anthony Towns has agreed to a supermax extension with the Timberwolves.
The three-time All-Star center averaged 24.6 points and 9.8 rebounds in his seventh season, leading the Wolves to their first playoff berth in four years.
Payton on the move
Gary Payton II, who was re-signed by the Warriors last year after clearing waivers and went on to help the team with the title, is set to sign a three-year deal with the Trail Blazers. The 29-year-old guard averaged 7.1 points in 17.6 minutes in his sixth season.
Brunson agrees to deal with Knicks
New York going all-in on free agent point guard Jalen Brunson worked out.
Brunson, 25, has reportedly agreed to a four-year, $104 million deal with a player option for the final season. The emerging guard just averaged career highs in points (16.3), assists (4.8) and rebounds (3.9) in his fourth season with the Mavericks.
Durant requests trade
Bombshells don’t get much bigger than this.
Two-time Finals MVP and 12-time All-Star Kevin Durant officially requested a trade out of Brooklyn on Thursday, and reports are that the Nets plan to work with Durant in finding him a new home.
Devin Booker cashing in with Phoenix
Booker is planning to extend his stay in the desert, as he’s set to sign a four-year, $224 million deal.
Last season, the All-Star guard led the Suns in scoring with 26.8 points per game and added 5.0 rebounds and 4.8 assists.
Dejounte Murray, fresh off his first All-Star appearance, will now join Trae Young to develop a dynamic young backcourt in Atlanta.
Murray averaged 21.1 points, 9.2 assists, 8.3 rebounds and 2.0 steals for San Antonio last season.
Harden declines option in Philly
James Harden was traded from Brooklyn to Philadelphia last season, playing 21 games with the Sixers and averaging 21.0 points, 10.5 assists and 7.1 rebounds.
Those numbers dropped off dramatically come playoff time, as he put up 18.6 points, 8.6 assists and 5.7 rebounds over two rounds. He’s reportedly meeting with 76ers brass over the weekend to iron out a new deal.
Beal signs new max deal in Washington
Bradley Beal has spent his entire 10-year career in Washington and the streak will continue, after Beal signed a new max extension with the Wizards.
Beal is a three-time All-Star and averaged 30.5 points and 31.3 points in 2019-20 and 2020-21, respectively.
Dort to stay in Oklahoma City
After declining his player option, Lu Dort signed a five-year, $87.5 million deal to stay in Oklahoma City.
Dort boasts career-high numbers last season with OKC, averaging 17.2 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.7 assists per game.
Portis, who spent his last two seasons with the Milwaukee Bucks, one of which is a championship season, re-signs with the Bucks on a four-year, $49 million deal.
Portis averaged 14.6 points and 9.1 rebounds last season.
Tucker, 37, committed to at least three more years in the league, signing a three-year, $33.2 million deal to join the Sixers.
For the Heat, Tucker averaged 7.6 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game last season.
Anfernee Simons gets extended in Portland
After four promising seasons with the Trail Blazers, Simons has agreed to a four-year, $100 million contract extension with Portland.
Simons, in his fourth season, averaged 17.3 points per game and shot 40.5% from distance.
Monk lands in Sacramento
After playing a season with the Los Angeles Lakers, Malik Monk has agreed to a two-year, $19 million deal with the Sacramento Kings.
Monk averaged 13.8 points on 39.1% shooting from 3 for the Lakers last season.
Victor Oladipo is staying in Miami
Victor Oladipo has agreed to remain in Miami on a one-year, $11 million deal.
Oladipo averaged 12.4 points and 3.5 assists on 41.7% from three last season for Miami.
Marvin Bagley will remain in Detroit
Bagley will continue his career in Detroit after signing a three-year, $37 million deal.
In 48 games last season, Bagley averaged 11.3 points and 7 rebounds per game.
Joe Ingles is leaving Portland
Ingles, who finished this past season with the Trail Blazers following an eight-year run with the Jazz, has agreed to a one-year, $6.5 million deal with the Bucks. The guard-forward averaged 7.2 points, and 3.5 assists per game in 2021-22.
Lonnie Walker IV to the West Coast!
Lonnie Walker has agreed to a one-year, $6.5 million deal to join the Los Angeles Lakers.
Walker averaged 12.1 points last season for the San Antonio Spurs.
Kyle Anderson will take his talents to the Timberwolves after signing a two-year, $18 million deal.
Anderson averaged 7.6 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per game last season for the Memphis Grizzlies.
Gary Harris‘ extended stay in Orlando
Harris will continue his time with Orlando after signing a two-year, $26 million contract extension.
Last season, Harris averaged 11.1 points per game.
Bamba got paid
Mo Bamba will continue playing in Orlando after signing a two-year, $21 million deal in the opening hours of free agency. He averaged 10.6 points and 8.1 rebounds per game while shooting 38.1% from three last season.
Drummond to the Windy City!
Andre Drummond, who’s jumped around the NBA a lot the past two seasons, has agreed to a two-year, $6.6 million deal with the Bulls.
In 2021-22, Drummond averaged 7.9 points and 9.3 rebounds for the Sixers and Nets.
Stay tuned for more updates!
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