The period for player acquisitions has commenced, and following an intense period of transactions Monday evening, the movement persisted Tuesday morning.
To initiate the proceedings, current recipient of the MVP award, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, finalized a four-year, $285 million maximum value extension with the Oklahoma City Thunder, as reported by ESPN’s Shams Charania. In the immediate aftermath, former Indiana Pacers center Myles Turner purportedly consented to a four-year, $107 million arrangement with the Milwaukee Bucks — the highest-rated center on Yahoo Sports’ list of available free agents, now unavailable. With Turner secured, the Bucks released Damian Lillard, utilizing the stretch provision within the CBA to eliminate the remaining three years and $113 million of his contract from their financial records.
Other transactions on Tuesday involved the Nuggets acquiring Jonas Valanciunas from the Sacramento Kings in exchange for Dario Saric, Dennis Schröder entering into an agreement with the Sacramento Kings, and Jakob Poeltl consenting to an extension with the Toronto Raptors.
Wednesday’s significant development revolved around Deandre Ayton, who has reportedly arrived at an agreement on a two-year contract with the Los Angeles Lakers. He is expected to receive $34 million in the approaching season, comprising $25.6 million from his alleged buyout from the Portland Trail Blazers and an additional $8.1 million from the Lakers under this new agreement. The second year of the two-year contract encompasses a player option, according to insider Jake Fisher.
Upon the commencement of free agency Monday evening, the NBA officially established its salary threshold at $154.647 million for the 2025-26 season. This reflects a 10% increase compared to the previous season, which was the anticipated progression.
It required approximately an hour for momentum to gather, but it soon emerged that Jaren Jackson Jr. and the Grizzlies are anticipated to reach a consensus on a five-year, $240 million maximum value extension, as indicated by ESPN’s Shams Charania. Concurrently, Charania communicated that the Nuggets are trading Michael Porter Jr. to the Nets in exchange for Cam Johnson.
Further transactions Monday night featured Dorian Finney-Smith consenting to a four-year, $53 million contract with the Rockets, Ty Jerome and the Grizzlies agreeing to a three-year, $28 million contract, and the Mavericks reaching a two-year, $13 million arrangement with point guard D’Angelo Russell.
Circumstances began to evolve last weekend, with the Phoenix Suns trading premier player Kevin Durant to the Houston Rockets in return for Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, and the 10th selection (Khaman Maluach) in the 2025 NBA Draft. The Boston Celtics also commenced a revitalizing process by trading Jrue Holiday to the Portland Trailblazers and Kristaps Porziņģis to the Atlanta Hawks.
However, numerous players will maintain their positions with their existing teams at present. On Sunday, LeBron James reportedly exercised his $52.6 million option for the 2025-26 season, expressing his ambitions to contend for a championship while the Lakers strategize for the future. James Harden will also remain in Los Angeles, securing a new two-year, $81 million deal after declining his player option for the upcoming season. Julius Randle will continue in Minnesota after reportedly agreeing to a three-year, $100 million contract with the Timberwolves.
Additional noteworthy potential free agents encompass Damian Lillard, Chris Paul, Jonathan Kuminga, among others (refer to Yahoo Sports’ NBA free agent rankings here). Access all of this year’s free agency transactions here.
Free-agent position rankings: Point guards | Shooting guards | Small Forwards | Power forwards | Centers
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