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Night 1 of NBA free agency is in the books, but much of the major business was completed in the days prior. Still, we got two pretty noteworthy decisions Tuesday, with LeBron James leaving the Los Angeles Lakers and Kawhi Leonard being traded back to Toronto.
In addition to those, we’re analyzing the big moves, expected re-sign agreements, head-scratchers, things we’re on the fence about and a lot more below (and if we forgot one, please excuse us; it’s a busy time!). Remember: Most deals only become official on July 6 when the negotiation period is over. But before we dive into those confirmed and reported deals (through midnight ET at least)…
Trades are definitely the new free agency
Draymond Green was right when he told us free agency is kind of dead. It’s not, but you’re not going to see a ton of moving and shaking with the biggest players in the world. The biggest and best role players? Maybe. Certain restricted free agents? It might happen. But with the biggest stars? Paul George to Philadelphia a couple of years ago might be the last time for a long time that we see a major free agent (quibble if you want) outright sign with a brand new team.
For years, teams were looking to the summer of 2026 to be the next big free-agency endeavor. But guys like Luka Dončić and Trae Young never actually hit the market. Players have just ended up extending their contracts to make sure they’re maximizing earning potential before they try finding their way to a new home. That happens via trade. And they utilize the threat of not signing that extension to get the deal done long before they have to think about hitting free agency. Even aging stars who are in their late 30s are pulling this off. (See: Jimmy Butler working his way to Golden State, and James Harden working his way to Cleveland, with an extension likely coming soon.) Teams wouldn’t dare risk losing these guys for nothing in free agency, so they move them and get what they can.
The second-apron payroll threshold also deserves credit for this uptick in major trades happening around the league. Between the end of the NBA Finals and the publishing of this column, we’ve seen:
Giannis Antetokounmpo traded to the Miami Heat.
LaMelo Ball traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Julius Randle traded to the Brooklyn Nets.
Miles Bridges traded to the Phoenix Suns.
Ja Morant traded to the Portland Trail Blazers.
Kawhi Leonard traded to the Toronto Raptors.
That’s all before free agency even began. In addition to them, Jaylen Brown may find a new home this summer, not to mention whichever star or significant player ends up being traded and makes us put our hands on our heads in shock.
We do have some other deals agreed to ahead of the moratorium ending on July 6, when things can become official. Let’s dive into the action that we already know.
Big moves
LeBron James parts ways with Lakers
It’s not often that news of a non-signing would lead free-agency news, but that’s how significant a person LeBron James still is in the NBA. He informed the Los Angeles Lakers before free agency that he’ll be playing in 2026-27, but not for them. They can move on and build their team around Dončić and Austin Reaves. This leaves the Lakers open to pursue some big man options and maybe re-sign Rui Hachimura. James might join Golden State or Cleveland or some other team. But he’ll be somewhere else in 2026-27. Grade: Incomplete
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Trae Young agrees to re-sign with Wizards (four years, $212 million)
I almost put this one in the head-scratchers section. Not because it’s confusing that Young opted out of his $49 million option and agreed to re-sign with the Wizards, and not even because that deal has a player option in Year 4. Many of us were genuinely shocked at the money given to Young. A year or two ago, none of this would have been surprising, but when his trade only yielded the Atlanta Hawks CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert, it made many question what Young’s market value would be in free agency.
Young was expected to re-sign with the Wizards. Some thought it would just be a two-year deal, and he’d try to galvanize his market value around the league in those two years. But regardless of the length of the deal, the money was expected to go down. As you can see, it very much did not. He’s not losing any money here, it seems. His salary will start at $49.5 million next season and work its way up to a projected $56.9 million player option in 2029-30. It’s good he’s rolling the dice with the Wizards more after a handful of games post-trade. But this money feels like the Wizards negotiated against themselves. What was the market threat for Young to leave? Grade: B
Austin Reaves agrees to re-sign with Lakers (four years, $185 million)
If Reaves truly is the player we saw last season, then this money makes total sense. It’s the most lucrative contract ever signed by an undrafted player. Reaves has become an offensive force, both as a scorer and a capable playmaker. My question isn’t whether or not Reaves can make this contract worth it by the end. I think he’s capable. But in today’s NBA, it makes sense to question whether putting nearly $100 million per year in a Reaves/Dončić backcourt will allow the Lakers to fill out the roster with the defenders and outside shooting they need.
Austin Reaves is stick around Los Angeles with a large payday heading his way. (Jesse Johnson / Imagn Images)
Dončićand Reaves are saloon doors on defense, and you really need to back them up with better personnel than Deandre Ayton on the interior. The second apron is far away for the Lakers, but it’s going to factor in at some point. On the flip side, having multiple initiators on offense can also be big, and Reaves next to Dončić makes sense in that respect. It’s the right move and possibly a slight overpay. But the Lakers had to do it. Grade: B+
Isaiah Hartenstein agrees to re-sign with Thunder (three years, $75 million)
This was a massive re-sign for the Thunder. After the way the Thunder lost to the San Antonio Spurs in the Western Conference finals, nobody doubted that the Thunder would bring back Hartenstein. However, he had plenty of leverage to push for more money if he wanted to be a stickler for his market value, and other teams would have gladly offered money to 1) employ him, but also 2) make sure the Thunder no longer employed him. Instead, Hartenstein gets some long-term security while still making really good money. This allows the Thunder to navigate the second-apron battle they face without gutting major parts of this roster. Grade: A+
Expected re-signs
CJ McCollum agrees to re-sign with Hawks (one year, $21 million)
This is pretty much a perfect deal. The Hawks keep their flexibility moving forward as they seek a long-term lead guard. McCollum had some moments in their playoff series against the New York Knicks and reminded everybody what a weapon he can be. He’s a great fit for Quin Snyder’s offense. And he took less than what he made last season. The Hawks need him to stay on the court, knock down 3-pointers and maybe be a little bit more of a playmaker when Nickeil Alexander-Walker isn’t on the floor. Grade: A
Ayo Dosunmu agrees to re-sign with Wolves (five years, $112 million)
If Dosunmu can find comfort in this system, he’s going to be a steal for just over $22 million annually. Everybody is talking about him starting next to Ball and Anthony Edwards, but he might be best suited as the Wolves’ sixth man. The Wolves need a bit more size on the wing with Jaden McDaniels likely moving to power forward. Dosunmu is a great complement to Ball and Edwards out there as a duo. As a trio, there could be some issues defensively. Dosunmu needs to knock down 3-pointers at a 38 percent clip or better and lead the second unit. Grade: A-
Coby White agrees to re-sign with Hornets (three years, $74 million)
After trading Ball, the Hornets needed White to be the guy in the backcourt. Grabbing a starting lead guard for less than $25 million annually is a big-time signing. White is made for the moment, and he can be a galvanizer on the court. His defense can be scrappy but iffy, and he’s not a great playmaker. Next to Kon Knueppel and Brandon Miller, however, he’s a really good fit. I love this signing. Grade: A
Kristaps Porziņģisagrees to re-sign with Warriors (two years, $40 million)
While everybody was wondering if the Warriors could go get LeBron and Anthony Davis, Golden State decided to make the logistics a little more difficult for that. The Warriors traded for Porziņģis at the deadline with the hopes of making him a big man option for them moving forward. He’s doing exactly that by sticking around for two years. It’s not a bad deal, and the money is mostly fine. Porziņģis just hasn’t been healthy for most of his career, and trusting that to change on this older team is tough. Grade: B-
Collin Gillespie agrees to re-sign with Suns (four years, $48 million)
If Gillespie’s rise last year is indicative of where he can go as a reserve guard, then this becomes an A. I’m not sure how much more effective he can be, but his shooting is now a must for this Suns team. If I were the Suns, I maybe would have done a three-year deal just in case last season was a little fluky, but this is really good money for a shooter of his caliber. Grade: B+
Mark Williams agrees to re-sign with Suns (three years, $38 million)
We’re still waiting for Williams to play in a lot of games. He got to 60 last season, and that was a career high. When he’s on the court, he’s productive and can be a solid presence. Less than the $15 million midlevel exception for a starting-caliber center is a good deal for Phoenix. Williams just needs to play. Grade: B+
Jordan Goodwin agrees to re-sign with Suns (three years, $19 million)
Goodwin shot a little over league average from 3-point range and ends up being one of the few shooters on the Suns roster after they moved Royce O’Neale and Grayson Allen for Bridges. Goodwin has shown some good growth, and this is a very low cost annually. Grade: A-
Day’ron Sharpe agrees to re-sign with Nets (two years, $20 million)
I don’t hate this deal for Brooklyn. With Nic Claxton heading to Chicago in a trade, Sharpe has a chance to earn the role of starting big man. He’s a rebounding machine, and he showed a little more playmaking last season. He’s just very limited in what he can do, and he’s going to have to stay out of foul trouble. Grade: B-
Al Horford agrees to re-sign with Warriors (two years, $14 million)
What in the LeBron is going on here? Horford is already 40 years old and possibly playing another two years. I don’t know how available he’ll be, but we know he has a positive impact on the court. And teams don’t want to leave him open. That’s always important when supporting Stephen Curry. Grade: B+
Jock Landale agrees to re-sign with Hawks (one year, $14 million)
This is a solid deal for the Hawks, who need some big man depth. Landale is not someone you want playing heavy minutes, but he’s a good backup or emergency big man to have. Grade: B
Great values
Tim Hardaway Jr. agrees to sign with Heat (one year, $6.5 million)
After the Giannis trade, everybody looked at the Heat’s roster and wondered where the floor spacing was going to come from. Hardaway doesn’t outright fix that problem, but he’s a massive help. The Heat are expected to lose Norman Powell in free agency to another team. Hardaway is not as good as Powell, but he can provide more than enough replacement for what the discrepancy in salary is likely to be. Miami will need to find another point guard and maybe two more shooters. But adding a guy who shot 40.7 percent from deep and was a Sixth Man of the Year candidate (finished third) for $6.5 million is a steal. Grade: A
Julian Champagnie agrees to re-sign with Spurs (three years, $42 million)
The Spurs decided to decline the small team option on Champagnie and give him a nice payday now. They’re not in any kind of numbers crunch with salary. That’ll come in a couple of years. So rewarding the guy who basically became Ray Allen at times in the NBA Finals run is a great way of showing your players you’ll do right by them. He could probably get more than this on the open market, too. Grade: A
Julian Champagnie helped the Spurs get to the NBA Finals this past season. (Geoff Burke / Imagn Images)
Jose Alvarado agrees to re-sign with Knicks (three years, $14 million)
Alvarado probably could have turned his Knicks championship run and valuable presence in Game 4 into a nice little payday elsewhere. But he wanted to stay home, and getting a backup guard for less than $5 million annually is great for a second apron-strapped champion. Grade: A
Harrison Barnes agrees to re-sign with Spurs (one year, $8 million)
Barnes is a great veteran presence, and he can eat up some valuable minutes for the Spurs in the regular season. He’s a good “break glass in case of emergency” shot-maker, and the young guys love having him around. Easy deal for both sides. Grade: A
Luke Kennard agrees to sign with Suns (two years, $13 million)
This is a necessary deal for the Suns. With the Lakers, Kennard showed a lot of worth after the deadline, especially at times during the playoffs. The Miles Bridges trade left the Suns with a dearth of shooters. Grayson Allen and Royce O’Neale are out, but Kennard can make up for some of that. He’s not the defender they are, but he can play-make a lot better than they do. Grade: B+
Bogdan Bogdanović agrees to sign with Rockets (one year)
A very cheap option for the Rockets, but he’s someone who could really add needed depth to their backcourt. Bogdanović is a good scorer, a solid shooter and someone who can make plays. Having him as your third or fourth guard in the rotation on a cheap, short contract is great value. The Rockets really need someone like him. Grade: A-
Precious Achiuwa agrees to re-sign with Kings (two years, $11.5 million)
Achiuwa had a good run at the end of the season as the Kings were dumping games left and right. He was giving the Kings 15 points and nine rebounds each night during that stretch. He’s a solid backup big man, and the Kings will need depth at the position no matter how much they change the roster this summer. Grade: B
On-the-fence deals
Andrew Wiggins agrees to re-sign with Heat (three years, $64 million)
What makes this an “on-the-fence” deal is that Wiggins accepted the $30 million for the upcoming season and then re-upped for $34 million over the next two. Getting this down to $21 million or so per season starting next season could have helped the Heat a bit with their salary-cap number as they look to add talent around the new duo of Bam Adebayo and Giannis Antetokounmpo. Miami has one of the best cap strategists in the league, so I’m assuming this much lower number for 2027-28 will fit right into the plan. I’m just not sure how many seasons they can operate without adding as much to the roster as possible. Grade: B
Robert Williams III agrees to re-sign with Blazers (three years, $44 million)
Williams is a great presence for the interior. When he plays, he’s one of the best deterrents at the rim, and he’s a great vertical stretch option on the other end. You just never know how much he’s going to be available. Three years for a guy with his knee history is a little precarious, but the annual money is spot-on for someone of his ability and impact. If he’s healthy, this is a clear A. Grade: B
Dean Wade agrees to sign with the 76ers (four years, $39 million)
I’ve never fully understood the Wade obsession within the Cavaliers. He’s about a league-average 3-point shooter (36.7 percent). I’m not convinced he’s some great defensive option. He competes on that end but doesn’t have definite matchups you feel great about. He’s never played more than 63 games in a season. He’s never made more than 80 3-pointers in a season. He’s a solid role player, and he could land nicely with Philadelphia. Committing four years is a lot, though. Grade: C+
Kevin Huerter agrees to re-sign with Pistons (three years, $27 million)
The third year on this deal is a team option, so that makes it far more palatable. Huerter was a 38.2 percent 3-point shooter the first six seasons of his career. In his last two seasons, he’s dropped to 32.4 percent from deep on three different teams. He’s too good a shooter for this drop-off to be real, but the Pistons really need that strength back in his quiver. This could turn into a decent throw-in salary in a trade from the deadline through the end of the contract. Grade: B-
Head-scratchers
Keon Ellis agrees to sign with the Nets (two years, $18 million)
This is more of a head-scratcher for Ellis than the Nets. They’re going to want to win more games and be more competitive next season. They haven’t had much lottery luck. Ellis will give them a nice complement to rookie Mikel Brown Jr. and a 3-and-D option. Maybe this is more about Ellis getting playing time? It just feels like he could have nabbed this deal with a good team. Grade: B-
Jusuf Nurkić agrees to re-sign with Jazz (two years, $22 million)
This isn’t a bad deal, but I’m confused about where the Jazz are with this roster. Is it pertinent to pay eight figures annually (even on a short-term deal) to your fourth big man? Assuming they bring back Walker Kessler, I’m not sure it is. I’m a believer that you can’t have a bad two-year contract because you see if the player works in Year 1, and they’re on an expiring deal in Year 2. But this is more of a head-scratcher because it feels like the Jazz could move this money for wings or lead guard depth. Grade: C
Trade(s) of the day
Kawhi Leonard to the Raptors for Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, two firsts, two seconds and a pick swap
A week ago, this would have seemed ridiculous to propose, but it came to fruition pretty quickly. The Raptors are banking on 1) the health of Leonard holding up and 2) the upgrade from Ingram to Leonard.
Leonard has had two pretty healthy seasons in the last three years. The other one saw him not even reach half of the Clippers’ games. Leonard had the best individual season of his career as a scorer in 2025-26, and the Raptors are banking on everybody filling in around him. But they’re still severely lacking outside shooting.
As for the Clippers, they’re hitting more of a reset button than you’d expect. They have skewed much younger with their roster over the last two years. Paul George, James Harden, Ivica Zubac and Leonard are now gone. They’ve been replaced by Darius Garland, Ingram, Bennedict Mathurin (assuming he’s back in restricted free agency) and fifth overall pick Keaton Wagler. Can they still be a Play-In Tournament team? Grade: B for Toronto, C+ for LA
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Ja Morant to the Blazers for Jerami Grant and Kris Murray
This was announced officially on Monday, but it’s worth reviewing. I’m not sure why so many people are down on this deal for the Blazers. It feels like such a low risk for them with such a high reward.
Damian Lillard is on the wrong side of 35 and coming off an Achilles rupture, and Scoot Henderson still has plenty of development to do to realize some of his potential, though I liked what I saw from him in his brief time on the court. Morant is probably better than both of them next season, and he has a lot to prove. If he doesn’t work out, all you gave up for him is Grant and Murray. If it does work out, you have an All-Star-level lead guard. That seems worth the risk, even if you have low expectations about where Morant is in his career. If they extend him before they see him on the court, then that changes how to view this deal. Grades: B+ for Portland, C- for Memphis
Ja Morant adds to a pretty crowded backcourt in Portland. (Wes Hale / Getty Images)
Small moves
Zach Collins agrees to re-sign with the Bulls (two years, $17 million)
He’s a good backup big man option with rebounding and toughness when he plays. He just misses a lot of games with injuries. Yay or nay? 👍
Ousmane Dieng agrees to re-sign with the Bucks (three years, $17 million)
Dieng was acquired at the deadline, and he’s a young, athletic wing worth investing in. If the Thunder saw something in you, you can play. Yay or nay? 👍
DeAndre Jordan agrees to re-sign with the Pelicans (one year, minimum)
This is a locker-room presence play for the Pels as Jordan enters his 19th NBA season. Yay or nay? 🤝
Kobe Sanders agrees to re-sign with the Clippers (four years, $11.3 million)
Sanders received a surprising amount of run last season and shot the ball really well from deep. Any replicating that makes this a good move. Yay or nay? 👍
Simone Fontecchio agrees to re-sign with the Heat (one year, minimum)
Fontecchio is a solid wing who can stretch the floor a little bit. Good depth play by Miami. Yay or nay? 👍
Josh Minott agrees to re-sign with the Nets (two years, $9 million)
I’m a big Minott guy, so the Nets keeping him around for cheap is a good idea. Let’s see if he can carve out some time. Yay or nay? 👍
Ron Harper Jr. agrees to re-sign with the Celtics (three years, $9 million)
He’s already 26, but there’s still a good chance at development with him on the wing. He has to learn to shoot, though. Yay or nay? 👍
Mohamed Diawara agrees to re-sign with the Knicks (four years, $10 million)
It was very brief, but Diawara looked like he might be capable of making this rotation in the next couple of years. This is great value for a cap-strapped team. Yay or nay? 👍
Names to watch
Big names: James Harden, Norman Powell, LeBron James, Draymond Green
Restricted free agents: Jalen Duren, Walker Kessler, Bennedict Mathurin, Peyton Watson, Tari Eason, Ariel Hukporti, Keaton Wallace, Spencer Jones, Jaylen Clark, Pat Spencer, Keshad Johnson
Veteran guards: Collin Sexton, Anfernee Simons, De’Anthony Melton, Jordan Clarkson, Bradley Beal, Gary Trent Jr., Gary Payton II, Javonte Green, Jevon Carter, Aaron Holiday, Tyus Jones, Jordan McLaughlin, Garrett Temple
Important veterans: Russell Westbrook, Tobias Harris, Khris Middleton, Marcus Smart, Bruce Brown, Kyle Anderson, Matisse Thybulle
Young guys to take a chance on: Jonathan Kuminga, Kevin Porter Jr., Ochai Agbaji, Jalen Wilson, Brandon Williams, Bones Hyland, Kobe Brown, Jett Howard, Blake Wesley, AJ Lawson, Jeremy Sochan, Zaire Williams, Julian Phillips, Andre Jackson Jr., Jalen Pickett
Mentors: Kevin Love, Mike Conley Jr., Jeff Green, Joe Ingles, Kyle Lowry
Forwards: John Collins, Rui Hachimura, Kenrich Williams, Larry Nance Jr., Dwight Powell, Jonathan Isaac
Wings and shooters: Kelly Oubre Jr., Quentin Grimes, Seth Curry, Doug McDermott, Amir Coffey, Jae’Sean Tate, Lindy Waters III
Big men: Nikola Vučević, Mitchell Robinson, Sandro Mamukelashvili, Marvin Bagley III, Kevon Looney, Jaxson Hayes, Mo Wagner, Andre Drummond, Thomas Bryant, Nick Richards, Drew Eubanks, Tony Bradley, Kelly Olynyk, Maxi Kleber, Xavier Tillman, Bismack Biyombo
Plumlees, Zellers and Antetokounmpos: Mason, Marshall, Miles, Cody, Tyler, Luke, Thanasis, Alex, Kostas