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NBA free agency tracker: Live updates, news as LeBron James returns to Lakers; Klay Thompson picks Dallas; Paul George chooses 76ers
NBA free agency is in full swing and another major domino has fallen. Wednesday morning brought the news, as expected, that LeBron James intends to return to the Los Angeles Lakers. He will reportedly sign a two-year, $104 million new deal that includes one of only two no-trade clauses in the NBA (the other belongs to Bradley Beal).
James declined his player option with the expectation of signing a new deal last week, then got a bit of incentive to return to the Lakers when they drafted his eldest son, Bronny James, with the No. 55 pick. The four-time NBA MVP has said for years that he'd like the opportunity to play with his eldest son before retiring.
James' agreement comes just two days after nine-time All-Star Paul George agreed to a four-year max contract with the Philadelphia 76ers worth $212 million. The potential seismic shift in the East was bolstered by Philly also agreeing to terms of a five-year, $204 million max extension with Tyrese Maxey, who was the NBA's Most Improved Player last year, averaging 25.9 points per game on his way to his first All-Star selection.
Yahoo Sports has you covered for NBA free agency from the top 40 available players to the top players at each position who are available this summer.
Keep up with all of the signings and deals with Yahoo Sports' NBA free agency tracker.
Live118 updates
Buddy Hield to join Warriors in sign-and-trade deal with Sixers
The Golden State Warriors are adding a shooter after Klay Thompson left for the Dallas Mavericks. Buddy Hield will join the Warriors in a sign-and-trade deal with the Philadelphia 76ers, reports The Athletic's Shams Charania.
The Golden State Warriors have agreed to a deal acquiring Buddy Hield via sign-and-trade from the 76ers, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. New teammates Hield and Stephen Curry are leaders for most 3-pointers made over the last 5 NBA seasons – and now will be teammates. pic.twitter.com/a12kp9sYuV
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 4, 2024
Hield agrees to a two-year, $21 million contract, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski. The agreement includes a partial guarantee for a third year and player option for a fourth year. Philadelphia will receive a 2031 second-round pick as part of the deal.
Hield averaged 12.1 points per game with the Sixers and Indiana Pacers last season, shooting 39% on 3-pointers. Shooting is Hield's specialty. For his career, he's a 40% shooter from long-range. He's the only player to make more 3-pointers during the past five seasons than Stephen Curry. Now the two sharpshooters will be teammates.
Shake Milton going to Nets, added to Mikal Bridges trade with Knicks
The big trade that sent Mikal Bridges to the New York Knicks is being expanded. Shake Milton is also being added to the deal in a sign-and-trade agreement, reports The Athletic's Shams Charania.
Sources: The Knicks are signing-and-trading Shake Milton as part of Mikal Bridges/Bojan Bogdanovic trade to the Nets, who will also send Keita Bates-Diop to New York. Milton will sign a three-year, $9 million contract, with over minimum in year one and two non-guaranteed years.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 4, 2024
Milton joins Bojan Bogdanovic, four unprotected first-round picks (in 2025, 2027, 2029 and 2031), a protected first-rounder from the Milwaukee Bucks in 2025, a 2025 second-rounder and a protected pick swap in 2028 going to the Nets. Keita Bates-Diop will go to the Knicks as part of the trade.
For Milton, the Nets will be his fourth team in a year. The sixth-year guard signed with the Minnesota Timberwolves last season, was traded to the Detroit Pistons, who soon waived him. He then signed with the Knicks.
He agreed to a three-year, $9 million deal with the Knicks, in which the final two years are not guaranteed.
Warriors reportedly in 'serious talks' to acquire Sixers sharpshooter Buddy Hield
Just In: The Golden State Warriors are in serious talks on a sign-and-trade deal to acquire Buddy Hield, league sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. Warriors and 76ers have been in deep discussions, working to finalize the deal for one of the NBA's best three-point shooters. pic.twitter.com/s3sajpWx69
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 3, 2024
De'Anthony Melton to sign 1-year, $12.8 million deal with Warriors
Guard De'Anthony Melton has agreed to a one-year, $12.8 million contract with the Golden State Warriors, reports The Athletic's Shams Charania.
Free agent De'Anthony Melton plans to sign a one-year, $12.8 million deal with the Golden State Warriors, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. pic.twitter.com/LfBenYVJ7T
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 1, 2024
Melton averaged 11.1 points, 3.7 rebounds, 3 assists and 1.6 steals while shooting 36% on 3-pointers for the Philadelphia 76ers last season. He was limited to 38 games due to a back injury, starting 33 games. Presumably, Melton will help fill the void left by Klay Thompson signing with the Dallas Mavericks.
DeMar DeRozan will not re-sign with Bulls: Report
DeMar DeRozan will move on from the Chicago Bulls after three seasons, according to the Chicago Sun-Times' Joe Cowley. The 15-year veteran made the decision after the Bulls acquired Josh Giddey in a trade for Alex Caruso.
.@JCowleyHoops on DeMar DeRozan's status with the Bulls: "He will be signing elsewhere. So we can go ahead and close the chapter on the King of the Fourth."
Listen to Cowley's full interview with @BernsyHolmes:https://t.co/fZrDf1OPw1 pic.twitter.com/6g7oyqXfyQ— 670 The Score (@670TheScore) July 1, 2024
The Los Angeles Lakers are reported to be interested in DeRozan, but his market is shrinking with the Philadelphia 76ers signing Paul George, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope going to the Orlando Magic and Derrick Jones Jr. signing with Los Angeles Clippers.
DeRozan averaged 25.5 points, 4.7 rebounds and 5.1 assists per game and shot 34% on 3-pointers during his three seasons in Chicago. He has also played for the Toronto Raptors and San Antonio Spurs.
Derrick White agrees to 4-year, $125.9M extension with Boston: Report
Derrick White’s summer was already going pretty well. It just got a hell of a lot better.
Fresh off playing a pivotal role throughout the Celtics’ run to the 2023-24 NBA championship, White has agreed to a four-year, $125.9 contract extension that will keep him in Boston, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski. The re-up represents a significant leap over the four-year, $70 million deal that White signed as an extension of his rookie-scale contract back in 2020 and includes a player option.
Boston Celtics guard Derrick White has agreed on a four-year, $125.9 million contract extension, sources tell ESPN. The deal includes a player option. Huge offseason priority for the champs. pic.twitter.com/eAMo9yf7oe
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 1, 2024
The 6-foot-4 combo guard has become one of the NBA’s most consistent and disruptive perimeter stoppers, earning All-Defensive Second Team nods in each of the last two seasons for his work as the kind of high-motor playmaker willing to sacrifice his smile to secure a loose ball if it gets him one step closer to a win. He’s frequently lauded as the best shot-blocking guard the game’s seen since Dwyane Wade, and for good reason: No other backcourt player has tallied anything close to White’s 163 blocks over the past two seasons, which is more than all but 17 players at any position.
Please check out the full story here.
Delon Wright agrees to 1-year deal with Bucks
Guard Delon Wright is leaving the Miami Heat to join the Milwaukee Bucks, reports ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski. Last season, he averaged 5.4 points and 2.6 assists while shooting 37% on 3s.
Free agent guard Delon Wright has agreed on a one-year, $3.3 million deal with the Milwaukee Bucks, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/vw2HsAb6NT
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 1, 2024
The Bucks will be Wright's ninth NBA team. In addition to the Heat, he's played for the Toronto Raptors, Memphis Grizzlies, Dallas Mavericks, Detroit Pistons, Sacramento Kings, Atlanta Hawks and Washington Wizards during his nine previous seasons
Mason Plumlee agrees to 1-year deal with Phoenix Suns
Center Mason Plumlee is joining the Phoenix Suns after agreeing to a one-year deal, reports ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.
Free agent C Mason Plumlee has agreed on a one-year deal with the Phoenix Suns, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/7Zqr8wq6Kb
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 1, 2024
Plumlee played the past two seasons with the Los Angeles Clippers, averaging six points and 5.7 rebounds per game. In 11 NBA seasons, the 6-foot-10 center has averaged 8.4 points and 6.8 points, also playing for the Brooklyn Nets, Portland Trail Blazers, Denver Nuggets, Detroit Pistons and Charlotte Hornets.