Celtics' Jayson Tatum agrees to 5-year, $314M deal
Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum has agreed on a five-year, $314 million extension -- the largest contract in NBA history -- sources told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski on Monday.The deal includes a player option and trade kicker, sources said.
LeBron James staying with Lakers on $104M deal.
LeBron James has agreed to return to the Los Angeles Lakers on a two-year, $104 million contract that includes a player option for 2025-26 and a no-trade clause, sources told ESPN on Wednesday.The deal brings James back for his 22nd NBA season and essentially becomes a one-plus-one deal that allows him to reassess his Lakers and NBA future next summer.
James joins Phoenix Suns guard Bradley Beal as one of only two players in the NBA with no-trade clauses.
The maximum deal of $104 million would put the Lakers about $1 million over the league's new punitive salary second apron and would severely limit the team's roster flexibility. James' agent Rich Paul, the CEO of Klutch Sports, is planning to discuss with Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka the possibility of taking $1 million or so below the maximum to keep Los Angeles under the $188.9 million second apron, sources said.
The Lakers are working to sign Bronny James Jr. -- the 55th selection in this year's draft -- to his rookie contract. He will join his father on the Lakers roster, where they could be the first father-son duo to play in the NBA at the same time in league history.
James, who will turn 40 on Dec. 30, is considered one of the greatest players in NBA history. The only player to eclipse 40,000 career points, he is fourth all time in assists, eighth in steals, eighth in 3-pointers made and third in free throws made.
Last season, James became the first player to make 20 All-Star teams, passing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar -- whom he had already passed for the all-time scoring mark -- for the most in NBA history. James' 20 All-NBA selections and 13 first-team All-NBA selections are also the most in the history of the sport.
He also is the NBA's all-time leader in postseason points scored and is in the top 10 in rebounds (fourth), assists (second), steals (first), blocks (10th), 3-pointers made (third) and free throws made (first).
The four-time champion and MVP, who led the Lakers to their 17th title in 2020 in the NBA's bubble, averaged 25.7 points, 8.3 assists and 7.3 rebounds per game last season in his age-39 campaign. James, Nikola Jokic and Luka Doncic were the only three players to average at least 25, 8 and 7 in the NBA last season.
The Lakers, though, were unable to get past the first round for the fourth time in his six seasons in Los Angeles. Before joining the Lakers, James reached the NBA Finals eight consecutive years with the Miami Heat and Cleveland Cavaliers and won at least a single playoff series in 13 consecutive seasons.
Miami Heat, Alec Burks agree to one-year contract
Timberwolves, Joe Ingles agree to one-year contract
Lakers adding Nate McMillan, Scott Brooks to staff
Magic, Franz Wagner agree on $224M rookie extension.
Orlando Magic forward Franz Wagner has agreed on a five-year, $224 million rookie contract extension -- a deal that could become worth as much as $269 million, sources told ESPN on Friday.Wagner is eligible to earn 30% of the team's salary cap should he get voted to an All-NBA team, sources said. Wagner's agent Jason Glushon completed work on the deal over the July 4 holiday, sources said.
Wagner has been a cornerstone of the Magic's revival, averaging 19.7 points, 5.3 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game last season as Orlando returned to the Eastern Conference playoffs and went 47-35, the franchise's best record since 2010-11.
It’s officially USA Basketball Showcase week in Las Vegas.
Caleb Martin reportedly turned down a five-year, $65 million offer from the Heat a week ago, and has now signed with the Sixers for four years at $32 million
Pistons signing Malik Beasley to one-year deal, agency says.
Free agent guard Malik Beasley is set to sign a one-year deal worth more than $6 million with the Detroit Pistons, his agency, Hazan Sports Management, confirmed on social media Saturday.Beasley joins the Pistons after spending the 2023-24 season with the Milwaukee Bucks. One of the league's premier shooters, Beasley made 41.3% from 3 on 6.9 attempts per game for Milwaukee last season. He started 77 games for the Bucks and has played at least 79 games in each of the past three seasons.
Kings land DeMar DeRozan for 3 years, $67M in trade.
The Sacramento Kings are acquiring free agent guard DeMar DeRozan via a three-year, $67 million sign-and-trade that includes moving forward Harrison Barnes to the San Antonio Spurs, sources told ESPN on Saturday.The Kings are trading guard Chris Duarte, two second-round draft picks and cash to the Chicago Bulls as part of the deal too, sources said.
The Kings pursued DeRozan to partner with All-Star guard De'Aaron Fox, All-Star center Domantas Sabonis and promising young forward Keegan Murray in a bid to become a more explosive offensive team in the Western Conference.
DeRozan -- a six-time All-Star who turns 35 next month -- is coming off an impressive three-year scoring run with the Bulls in which he made the All-Star team in each of the first two seasons before averaging 24 points, 4.3 rebounds and 5.3 assists this past year. He also finished second to Stephen Curry in voting for the NBA's Clutch Player of the Year voting.
DeRozan traveled to Sacramento on Saturday to meet with team officials and Kings coach Mike Brown, who signed an offseason contract extension. Brown led the franchise to back-to-back winnings seasons for the first time since 2006.
DeRozan, a three-time All-NBA selection, was the ninth overall pick by the Toronto Raptors in 2009 and has played for the Raptors, Spurs and Bulls across his 15 NBA seasons. He's averaged 21.2 points, 4.4 rebounds and 4.1 assists through his 1110 career NBA games.
The Spurs bring on Barnes to join free agent arrival Chris Paul alongside unanimous Rookie of the Year Victor Wembanyama. Barnes, who has played 82 games each of the past two seasons in Sacramento, averaged 12.2 points and three rebounds for the Kings, shooting 47.4% overall and 38.7% from 3-point range on 4.7 attempts per game.
Barnes, who won a title in 2015 with the Golden State Warriors, spent the past five-and-a-half seasons with Sacramento after arriving from the Dallas Mavericks in a trade deadline deal. He has career averages of 14 points and 4.9 rebounds since being taken with the 7th overall pick in the 2012 NBA draft by the Warriors.
The Spurs will take Barnes into their remaining cap space to make the deal work.
Duarte, 27, averaged 3.9 points in 59 games for the Kings last year, who traded two second-round picks to acquire him from the Indiana Pacers last summer.
Zach Edey can dunk without jumping
