Latest news with #NBAFreeAgency
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Clippers' Brook Lopez breaks silence on leaving Bucks for LA
The post Clippers' Brook Lopez breaks silence on leaving Bucks for LA appeared first on ClutchPoints. Los Angeles Clippers center Brook Lopez has finally opened up about his decision to leave the Milwaukee Bucks amid NBA Free Agency. The 2021 NBA Champion agreed to a two-year, $18 million deal with the Clippers. He joins a loaded roster featuring Kawhi Leonard, James Harden, and head coach Tyronn Lue. For Lopez, the move to LA isn't just a career shift, it's a meaningful homecoming. The 37-year-old center spoke at Summer League in Las Vegas, sharing his excitement about joining a franchise on the rise. 'It's crazy to see, but it's very cool,' Lopez said. 'Seeing the climb, the ascent. I'm a Cali boy. I grew up in the Valley, in North Hollywood.' He added, 'I'm glad to be a part of it, and hopefully, I can help take them even further up.' For Brook Lopez, the move is not just about basketball, it's about returning to Southern California and reuniting with Clippers executive Lawrence Frank, who coached him early in his career with the Nets. After seven successful seasons in Milwaukee, highlighted by a 2021 NBA championship, Lopez shifts to a new role in LA. While Ivica Zubac remains the starting center, the Clippers expect Lopez to play a key supporting role off the bench. 'I think we complement each other extremely well. Obviously, we'll be very big. I think we'll be great defensively, just dominating the paint, sealing the paint off,' he explained. Lopez emphasized that the depth and experience of the Clippers' roster played a major role in his decision. He noted that the team has been successful for quite some time, with future Hall of Famers, All-Stars, and a strong culture, exactly the kind of environment he wants to be part of. His decision also signals that the Bucks shifted direction, as roster changes and cap constraints prevented them from keeping the core intact. Still, Lopez brings no regrets to LA and carries a clear mission. He said the money is nice, but that's not what drives him. 'I love playing, I love winning, and these guys are all about that. So, it's a perfect fit.' For Lopez, it's not just a new chapter, it's a homecoming with championship goals. Amid a high-stakes NBA Free Agency period, the Clippers have built a deep, veteran-loaded roster that just might have the pieces to finally bring home their first NBA title Related: NBA rumors: How LeBron James' situation drove Brook Lopez from Lakers to Clippers Related: Siegel's Scoop: Why Bradley Beal, Jonathan Kuminga headline NBA Summer League intel
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Bucks' Myles Turner draws Brook Lopez comparison
The post Bucks' Myles Turner draws Brook Lopez comparison appeared first on ClutchPoints. The Milwaukee Bucks may be undergoing a roster transition, but one thing remains unchanged: everything still revolves around Giannis Antetokounmpo. Milwaukee knows it, and they've embraced that franchise-defining reality. The Bucks believe they've struck gold once again, this time in the form of Myles Turner. Milwaukee acquired Turner in one of its most deliberate NBA Free Agency moves. Already, Turner is drawing comparisons to Brook Lopez, the longtime anchor of the team's defensive scheme. 'When we signed Brook forever ago, it was because we knew adding a floor spacer who could protect the rim next to Giannis would make us hard to deal with on both ends,' a Bucks coach shared. 'We're doing the same with Myles. He's not exactly the same as Brook, but we don't have to completely change our identity with Myles either. That's huge for continuity.' That continuity is exactly what the Bucks need in a summer of recalibration. With roster pieces shifting and rival contenders loading up, Milwaukee didn't just aim to survive the NBA Free Agency. Instead, the Bucks made a calculated push to thrive. A front office executive summed it up: 'I know you're a Moneyball guy from your tweets. 'Adapt or die,' right? When you have a player as good as Giannis, you have to be continually willing to do what it takes to win. That's what we did.' Turner is a two-way threat and one of the league's premier shot-blockers. He offers a rare blend of modern spacing and elite rim protection. While Milwaukee will certainly miss Brook Lopez's presence, the team believes it has found a worthy successor, one who can preserve its identity without forcing Giannis to carry an even larger defensive burden. As for the inevitable questions about Giannis' future? The team remains unbothered. 'I know you're asking about Giannis,' the executive said with a laugh. 'We have no indication that anything is really changing. We rebuilt on the fly, in a really challenging situation, but we think we did it as well as it could be done.' Now, with Myles Turner in place, the Bucks are betting that their revamped core can keep Giannis happy, and the title window wide open. Related: How Bucks feel about Damian Lillard returning to Blazers Related: Milwaukee Bucks' perfect move in 2025 NBA offseason
Yahoo
19 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
The player Lakers plan to waive after Marcus Smart deal
The post The player Lakers plan to waive after Marcus Smart deal appeared first on ClutchPoints. On Saturday, the Los Angeles Lakers made a free agency splash by signing guard Marcus Smart to a contract shortly after his buyout with the Washington Wizards. Smart gives the Lakers the point of attack defender that they desperately needed as well as some veteran leadership and toughness. In order to bring in Smart, the Lakers will need to make space elsewhere on their roster, and recently, NBA insider Shams Charania of ESPN–who reported the Smart news–broke down the move Los Angeles may be forced to make in order to clear that space. 'The Lakers plan to waive guard Shake Milton to create the roster spot to sign Smart, sources told ESPN. Milton's $3 million contract for next season would have become fully guaranteed Sunday,' reported Charania on The Lakers are reportedly still evaluating their options, per ClutchPoints' Brett Siegel, and could end up trying to trade Milton on Sunday, but at this point, waiving seems to be the most likely course of action. Milton was brought to the Lakers midway through last season when the team traded D'Angelo Russell to the Brooklyn Nets. Milton saw occasional minutes under head coach JJ Redick but never made a huge impact during his time with the Lakers. Still, he'll likely have suitors now that he is a free agent. A big move for the Lakers At this point, it's unclear how JJ Redick plans to utilize Smart in the Lakers' lineup. One option would be to start him alongside Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, giving the Lakers a much-needed perimeter defender in a backcourt that is otherwise the worst defensively in the NBA. Los Angeles could also opt to bring Smart off the bench to help solidify that unit, which doesn't have a ton of depth at the current juncture. Whatever direction Redick chooses to go in, the Lakers certainly got better on Saturday, adding a player in Smart who has plenty of playoff experience and has also dramatically improved his perimeter jumper throughout the course of his career. It will certainly take some getting used to to see Smart, who has spent the majority of his career wearing Boston Celtics green, now in the Purple & Gold. However, Los Angeles fans have to be excited about the news. Related: Siegel's Scoop: Latest NBA free agency, trade intel after Chris Paul, Bradley Beal, Marcus Smart deals Related: Shaq reveals 'close' relationship with Lakers great Kobe Bryant's mom
Yahoo
11-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Grading the Phoenix Suns' Free Agency So Far
Grading the Phoenix Suns' Free Agency So Far originally appeared on Athlon Sports. It has been a busy offseason thus far for the Phoenix Suns, though most of their moves came before NBA free agency officially began. Advertisement Phoenix began their offseason by trading Kevin Durant to the Houston Rockets for Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, the draft rights to Khaman Maluach and five second-round picks. They then pulled off a trade in the first round of the draft with the Charlotte Hornets to acquire Mark Williams and then selected Rasheer Fleming and Koby Brea in the second round of the 2025 NBA Draft. These were all solid moves by the Suns, but they have had an underwhelming free agency thus far as they have made only one signing and have seen three players depart from their franchise. Nigel Hayes The only player Phoenix has signed thus far in free agency is Nigel Hayes-Davis, who has excelled in the EuroLeague over the last few seasons. Advertisement Phoenix also saw Tyus Jones, Cody Martin and Mason Plumlee all leave in free agency but they did sign Collin Gillespie to a standard contract after he was a two-way player for them last season. Suns' Free Agency Grade: C With their lack of moves in free agency, the Suns earned a C grade, though they have had a successful offseason thus far. Adding Hayes-Davis was a surprise and his role in the rotation next season is still up in the air due to the Suns' depth at the forward position. Despite this, the former University of Wisconsin standout will make his return to the NBA where he could turn heads this upcoming season. Advertisement Phoenix Suns guard Bradley BealRick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports Outside of Hayes-Davis, the Suns have not signed any other players and they may be closing in on losing another key piece of their roster as it has been reported that Phoenix and Bradley Beal are nearing a contract buyout. The Suns do still have time to make more moves with Chris Paul's name continuing to come up as a potential target for them. This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 11, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
10-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Bucks' $6.1 million buyout, Damian Lillard waiver clear way for Myles Turner
The post Bucks' $6.1 million buyout, Damian Lillard waiver clear way for Myles Turner appeared first on ClutchPoints. The Milwaukee Bucks made bold financial moves Monday to clear space for center Myles Turner in NBA Free Agency. The Bucks waived Damian Lillard and Vasilije Micic in a calculated effort to stay below key salary limits. The two moves shed cap-heavy contracts and gave Milwaukee the flexibility it needed. Advertisement Damian Lillard's release was the bigger headline. The nine-time All-Star, acquired just last season in a blockbuster trade, will now account for $22.5 million in dead money annually for the next five seasons. It's a steep price, but one Milwaukee was willing to pay to reset its roster and regain flexibility. The real finesse came with Micic's exit. Micic agreed to a $6.1 million buyout, according to a league source. As a result, the Bucks' cap hit dropped from $8.1 million to just $2 million. Furthermore, with the stretch provision, his remaining salary now spreads over three years, about $666,666 per season. Consequently, by making these moves, the Bucks stay under the 15 percent 'stretched money' cap limit set by the NBA's collective bargaining agreement. Since no team can have more than 15 percent of its salary tied to stretched contracts, the timing was critical. Although Milwaukee came close, the two stretch-and-waive deals ultimately keep them compliant. More importantly, it frees the cap space needed to bring in Turner, one of the top remaining names in NBA Free Agency. His shot-blocking, floor-spacing, and playoff experience make him a seamless fit alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo. His signing signals that Milwaukee is retooling, not rebuilding. Advertisement For Vasilije Micic, the buyout opens the door to pursue other opportunities, whether that's a return to Europe or another shot in the NBA. As for Lillard, his future remains uncertain. But the Bucks' direction is clear: they're going all in on a new supporting cast. With Myles Turner inbound and the books now balanced, Milwaukee just changed the shape of its 2025–26 roster. In a crowded Eastern Conference, that may be exactly the edge they need. Related: Myles Turner's new Bucks contract is more than initially reported Related: Bucks add flexibility with contract 'exchange'
