Latest news with #FreeAgency
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Nuggets 'Expected to Inquire' About Suns' Guard in Free Agency
Nuggets 'Expected to Inquire' About Suns' Guard in Free Agency originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Denver Nuggets are coming off an interesting season that saw them make some major changes to the organization and they now enter the offseason with some key decisions to make. Advertisement Of course, Denver finished fourth in the Western Conference last season despite firing head coach Michael Malone and general manager Calvin Booth with only a few weeks left in the regular season. Denver was then eliminated in the second round of the playoffs for the second consecutive season, though they did take the eventual NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder to seven games. Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic reacts after not getting a foul against the Los Angeles Clippers at Intuit Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images Now the Nuggets enter the offseason as they try to upgrade their roster around Nikola Jokic and that will begin in free agency on Monday after they did not hold a pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. Heading into free agency, the Nuggets have a key decision to make at the backup point guard position as Russell Westbrook is set to be an unrestricted free agent. Denver Nuggets guard Russell Westbrook (4) gestures as he dribbles the ball up court in the third quarter against the San Antonio Spurs at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn ImagesIsaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images If the Nuggets elect to move on from Westbrook this summer, they have emerged as a potential landing spot for Phoenix Suns guard Tyus Jones, who is also an unrestricted free agent. Advertisement According to Forbes' Evan Sidery, the Nuggets, New York Knicks, Los Angeles Clippers, Minnesota Timberwolves and Orlando Magic are all expected to inquire about Jones once free agency opens. Jones is expected to sign a veteran's minimum contract this summer with many contenders looking to sign the 29-year-old guard. For Denver, adding Jones would be a massive boost to their second unit if they decide to let Westbrook walk. Last season, Jones averaged 10.2 points, 2.4 rebounds and 5.3 assists per game while shooting 44.8% from the field and 41.4% from three. Oct 31, 2024; Inglewood, California, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Tyus Jones (21) moves the ball against Los Angeles Clippers guard Terance Mann (14) during the first half at Intuit Dome. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images© Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images Jones is a great scorer off the bench and he would also be able to start at times if need be, just like Westbrook did at points last season. Advertisement While that may be the case, Jones is expected to draw a ton of potential suitors this offseason as contending teams try to upgrade their bench heading into next season. This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 30, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Fantasy Basketball: Roundup and analysis for NBA Free Agency, LeBron James, James Harden, more
The dust has settled from the end of the 2024-25 NBA season and the 2025 NBA Draft. That means NBA Free Agency will be in full swing in July and we should continue to get plenty of news, rumors and trades circulating. NBA teams can officially begin negotiating deals with players starting Monday, June 30 at 6 p.m. ET. Contracts can't become official until July 6, so we should get plenty of reports coming through, including where unrestricted free agents will be signing this offseason. We'll also be monitoring any big restricted free agent news. For fantasy-relevant news, we'll be providing quick analysis, looking at how the move might impact said player and team for the 2025-26 campaign — as well as the fantasy impact. Follow along here for Yahoo's live coverage of NBA Free Agency. Fantasy Basketball analysis during NBA Free Agency LeBron James opts into Lakers contract LeBron has decided to opt into his player option for the 2025-26 season and remain in Los Angeles, rather than hit the free agent market. King James is owed around $52 million this upcoming season; then, his future becomes a bit murky. We've heard rumblings of retirement for James, who will turn 41 in December. There's also a chance the Lakers trade LeBron in hopes of adding some pieces to build around Luka Dončić for the future. Advertisement Fantasy basketball analysis: It's still early in the offseason, so this may not be the last move involving James before the season starts. But for now, James returning to the Lakers means he'll be teamed up with Dončić. This would have a big impact on how we approach each in fantasy basketball. The offense would run through Dončić, so that would have LeBron playing off the ball more, which isn't ideal for his assist numbers and usage rate. We also know that both dealt with injuries last season and then had to figure out how to play with each other in a pinch. A full offseason to prep for 2025-26 will be helpful. The two future Hall of Famers are too good not to be able to co-exist. Both should continue to be top-25 fantasy assets but we'll see how the rest of L.A.'s roster shakes out. James Harden, Clippers agree on deal The Beard and Los Angeles have agreed to terms on a two-year, $81.5 million deal, per ESPN's Shams Charania. Harden led the Clippers in scoring last season, averaging 22.8 points per game on 41/35/87 shooting splits. He also averaged 8.7 assists and 5.8 rebounds with 1.5 steals per game. The Clips would lose to the Denver Nuggets in seven games in the first round of the playoffs. The new deal helps keep Los Angeles' current core together for at least a few more seasons before the team can start to think "rebuild." Advertisement Fantasy basketball analysis: Harden isn't the type of volume scorer from his MVP days with the Rockets. But he's still valuable in fantasy as a stat-stuffer on a Clippers' team that should remain competitive in the Western Conference. Harden's fantasy value is also linked to the health and performance of Kawhi Leonard, who missed most of last season. In 37 games, Leonard averaged 21.5 points per game. Kawhi came on strong at the end of the season, averaging around 26 PPG over the last two months. That tangentially elevated Harden's performances. With the Clippers, Harden remains a safe pick in the second or third round of drafts. Timberwolves keeping the band together Minnesota is going to retain two frontcourt bodies in the form of Julius Randle and Naz Reid. Randle and the T-Wolves are in agreement on a three-year, $100 million deal, per ESPN. Reid is set to sign a five-year, $125 million contract, per reports. Advertisement In his first season in Minnesota, Randle averaged 18.7 points per game as the secondary scoring option behind Anthony Edwards. Randle was slightly more efficient from the floor, shooting 48.5% while getting his 3-point percentage back closer to his career average with 34.4% on the season. Reid set career marks pretty much across the board with 14.2 PPG, 6.0 RPG and 2.3 APG over 27.5 minutes per contest in 80 games. Fantasy basketball analysis: Jazz trade Collin Sexton to Hornets for Jusuf Nurkić The Utah Jazz sent Sexton and a second-round pick to Charlotte in exchange for Nurkić. Sexton lands on the Hornets, who could use him to provide some scoring. Nurkić gives the Jazz more size and he could be a good bridge to Walker Kessler as the full-time starting center after 2025-26. Trading Sexton could clear more minutes for rookie guards Ace Bailey and Walter Clayton Jr., who were both selected in the first round of the 2025 NBA Draft. Advertisement Be sure to check out Yahoo's trade grades for the Sexton-Nurkić swap. Fantasy basketball analysis: This could be a move to appease Bailey, who is popping up in reports about being unhappy he landed in Utah. Whether or not that's true, with Sexton gone, Bailey should see increased backcourt minutes, which improves his fantasy outlook in Year 1 and for dynasty. Nurkić is on an expiring contract but he should start at center for the Jazz, which should negatively impact Kessler's value, at least for 2025-26. Nurk isn't the same fantasy asset from his Trail Blazer days but if he can stay healthy, he isn't a bad late-round option for rebounds.
Fox Sports
9 hours ago
- Business
- Fox Sports
When does 2025 NBA free agency start? Dates, deadlines
With the 2025 NBA Draft concluded, attention now turns to free agency. Here's a comprehensive guide to the key dates and details for the 2025 NBA free agency period: When does 2025 NBA Free Agency start? Negotiations with free agents are allowed to begin on June 30 at 6 p.m. ET, however, no deals can be formally signed until the moratorium period ends on July 6. NBA free agency will officially begin on July 6, 2025, at 12 p.m. ET. Teams will then be able to start signing players, making trades official, and executing new contracts. This marks the official opening of the 2025–26 NBA league year. Stay up to date with all the latest signings, trades and news with our 2025 NBA free agency tracker. What are the key dates for NBA Free Agency in 2025? June 30 - Negotiations begin with outside free agents. July 1 - Free Agency Moratorium Period begins: First-round picks can sign contracts Minimum deals (two years or fewer) can be signed Restricted free agents may sign offer sheets Rookie scale and veteran extensions may begin Two-way contracts can be signed or converted July 6 - Moratorium ends / Free Agency becomes official: Teams can sign free agents Trades can be finalized Offer sheet matching windows begin What is the NBA Free Agency Moratorium? The moratorium is a six-day window (July 1-6) during which teams can negotiate contracts but cannot officially sign most players. It allows time for the NBA to finalize the salary cap and luxury tax numbers. What are qualifying offers, and when are they due? Teams must extend qualifying offers by June 29 in order to make players restricted free agents. These offers allow teams the right to match any contract signed by their RFAs. If a player does not sign an offer sheet by July 13, a team can choose to withdraw its qualifying offer. What is the 2025 NBA salary cap? The 2025 NBA salary cap is set at $154.6 million for the 2025–26 season. This figure represents a 10% increase from the previous season and was finalized based on the NBA's revenue projections in accordance with the collective bargaining agreement between the league and the National Basketball Players Association. Teams are required to spend at least 90% of the $154.6 million salary cap by the first day of the regular season. 2025 NBA Free Agency Rankings We've put together the top free agents of this NBA offseason. Here are the top five below. For the full list, check out our NBA free agent tracker. recommended Get more from National Basketball Association Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more in this topic
New York Times
2 days ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Maple Leafs, Golden Knights discussing trade for Mitch Marner's rights: Sources
The Vegas Golden Knights are discussing a trade to acquire the rights of pending unrestricted free agent Mitch Marner from the Toronto Maple Leafs, according to league sources, which would allow them to sign the All-Star winger before he hits the open market on Tuesday. If they acquire Marner, the Golden Knights would gain the ability to sign Marner to a maximum-length eight-year contract. If they wait until Tuesday, when free agency opens, the longest term they could give him will be seven years. Advertisement TSN's Darren Dreger was the first to report the potential move. Marner is one of Toronto's most accomplished players, sitting fifth on the all-time scoring list with 741 points at age 28. He was drafted No. 4 by his hometown team in 2015 and became an immediate fan favorite because of his creativity and elite playmaking ability. However, Marner also drew sharp criticism for the team's inability to get over the hump in the playoffs and started to chafe under that scrutiny. It became clear he could be eyeing a departure in free agency when he refused to engage in discussions on a contract extension with the Leafs throughout last season. He also refused to waive his no-movement clause at the March 7 trade deadline for a deal that would have sent him to the Carolina Hurricanes. Earlier this week, Leafs general manager Brad Treliving acknowledged to reporters that Marner was going to test the free-agent market. A trade to Vegas would be similar to the one the Hurricanes made at last year's draft, when they sent Jake Guentzel's rights to the Tampa Bay Lightning for a third-round pick after failing to get him to sign a contract. That allowed Guentzel to ink an eight-year deal with the Lightning, carrying a $9 million AAV.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Maple Leafs GM Makes Clear Statement About John Tavares Negotiations
Maple Leafs GM Makes Clear Statement About John Tavares Negotiations originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Brad Treliving spoke to reporters one last time before the NHL Draft and less than a week before the start of free agency on July 1. Advertisement Judging by his words and tone, Treliving sounded increasingly confident that veteran forward John Tavares will remain in blue and white beyond this summer. The former Leafs captain is set to become an unrestricted free agent next week, but according to Treliving, negotiations have been trending in the right direction. 'We've both expressed a shared outcome, which is (that) John wants to stay and we want to keep John,' Treliving said. 'We're moving, hopefully in a direction to bring it to closure. "My hope is, until proven otherwise, that we'll have a good outcome there.' Tavares just completed a seven-year, $77 million contract. Given that he will turn 35 in September, it's fair to assume his next deal will have a significantly lower cap hit. Advertisement Maple Leafs management could be considering a few comparables for Tavares' upcoming deal, including the $4.5 million-per-season contract given to defenseman Chris Tanev last summer. Meanwhile, market projections and recent signings such as Brock Nelson's three-year, $7.5 million deal have been used as benchmarks, with Daily Faceoff projecting Tavares to sign for nearly $8 million per season. Toronto Maple Leafs forward John Tavares is expected to stay in Klement-Imagn Images According to NHL insider Pierre LeBrun, the 'sweet spot' may be around $20 million over four years with a cap hit of $5 million per season. 'I believe that if the Leafs put $20 million over four years in front of John Tavares, that he would sign it,' LeBrun said. 'Neither side is there quite yet, but I think that ends up being the sweet spot if this gets done here in the next seven days.' Advertisement Since the Leafs signed Tavares in 2018, the center has 493 points and 222 goals in 515 regular-season games in Toronto, as well as 31 points in 51 postseason outings. Related: Maple Leafs Urged to Start DNA Change By Trading $60 Million Veteran Related: Maple Leafs Linked to Pending Free Agent Forwards from Two Canadian Teams This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 27, 2025, where it first appeared.
