NBA rumors: Latest free agency buzz
The NBA draft is in the books, meaning it’s now time to turn full attention toward free agency and trade season. With the newest NBA rookie class assigned to the league's 30 teams, free agency is beginning to get in swing. Multiple high-profile players could be on the move, either by trade or free agency.
What’s the latest? Check back often as we update below with all the latest scoops, news and rumors.
As a reminder, you can check out all of SI.com’s NBA draft coverage here, as well as the draft winners and loses here and the list of the top players to not be drafted here.
• MORE NBA: Free agent tracker | Top 25 rankings | Storylines to watch
June 30
7:00 p.m.
• The Lakers are looking to create “significantly more cap space” by unloading contracts, Yahoo's Adrian Wojnarowski reports. League executives believe the Lakers want to sign both of the top two big men on the market—LaMarcus Aldridge and DeAndre Jordan—Wojnarowski adds.
• ESPN's Marc Stein reported earlier that Jared Dudley exercised his player option to stay with the Bucks. TNT's David Aldridge now reports that Dudley and Milwaukee are working on a long-term deal.
• Tim Bontemps of the New York Post would “be surprised” if Carlos Boozer does not end up with the Heat.
• The Suns, Mavericks, Pacers and Grizzlies are the leading candidates for Brandan Wright, ESPN's Tim MacMahon reports.
6:00 p.m.
• Kobe Bryant is expected to attend the Lakers' meeting with free-agent forward LaMarcus Aldridge, USA Today's Sam Amick reports. Aldridge will reportedly meet with seven teams Tuesday night in Los Angeles.
• USA Today's Jeff Zillgitt reports four teams are set to meet with Pistons big man Greg Monroe: the Bucks, Lakers, Knicks and Trail Blazers. Those teams are on his list to meet Wednesday, and other teams could still get an audience with Monroe, an unrestricted free agent and one of the better big men on the market. Monroe reportedly will seek a three-year deal with a player option to let him become a free agent in 2017, when the salary cap is projected to take a major leap.
• A trio of teams have emerged as potential bidders for free agent Robin Lopez: RealGM's Shams Charania reports the Pelicans, Bucks and Knicks are among those showing interest in the Trail Blazers big man. New Pelicans coach Alvin Gentry coached Lopez in Phoenix, and Lopez spent the 2012-13 season in New Orleans, when Anthony Davis was a rookie. The Bucks are believed to be searching for a defensive-minded center and have been tied to Tyson Chandler. The Blazers are also expected to try and re-sign the seven-foot center.
• Charania also reports the Pelicans have interest in another of Gentry's former Suns: veteran Warriors guard Leandro Barbosa.
• Contrary to previous reports, Jason Lloyd of the Akron Beacon Journalreports that the idea of a trade between the Cavaliers and Spurs involving Brendan Haywood was "never discussed."
• Jared Dudley exercised his player option to stay with the Bucks, ESPN's Marc Stein reports. As expected, the Bucks waived Caron Butler and Shawne Williams, Eric Pincus of the Los Angeles Timesreports.
• The 76ers declined to extend a qualifying offer to Glenn Robinson III, making him an unrestricted free agent, Yahoo's Adrian Wojnarowski reports.
• The Nets, Mavericks, Rockets, Lakers, Heat and Spurs are expected to be interested in Carlos Boozer, ESPN's Chris Broussard reports.
• The Kings, Wizards, Rockets, Lakers, Heat, Suns and Knicks are expected to pursue former No. 2 pick Derrick Williams, Broussard adds.
• The Bucks and Celtics are among those teams interested in Enes Kanter, Alex Kennedy of Basketball Insiders reports.
5:00 p.m.
• The Cleveland Cavaliers are prepared to open up the checkbook for Kevin Love. ESPN's Brian Windhorst reports he expects the Cavs to table a five-year, $110 million offer for Kevin Love when free agency opens at midnight Wednesday. There's more to come, too – in addition to juggling the restricted free agencies of Tristan Thompson, Iman Shumpert and Matthew Dellavedova and keeping LeBron James, who is a free agent but expected to re-sign, in mind, Windhorst linked the Cavs to names like Boris Diaw, Patty Mills, Mario Chalmers and Joe Johnson via trade. The former two could be the pieces headed to Cleveland in exchange for Brendan Haywood and his $10.5 million deal, if the rumored talks between the Cavs and Spurs come to fruition.
• Kings forward Rudy Gay is among the "loudest voices" working to bring Mavericks free agent point guard Rajon Rondo to Sacramento, reports ESPN's Marc Stein. Stein adds Rondo could sign a one-year deal wherever he lands this off-season as he looks to rebound from an extremely down year. If he rejuvenates his value in 2015-16, he could command much more on the open market going forward, particularly with the salary cap set to take a leap in 2017.
• The Warriors have interest in bringing another shooter into the fold: according to Yahoo's Marc Spears, Golden State will look at Spurs guard Marco Belinelli in free agency. Belinelli, 29, is a 39 percent career three-point shooter and would bolster the Warriors' depth.
• Another team high on Belinelli is the Hornets, according to Yahoo's Adrian Wojnarowski. Wojnarowski reports Charlotte will be "aggressive" on Wednesday and can offer the mid-level exception.
4:00 p.m.
• The Lakers and Rockets will get the first two meetings with LaMarcus Aldridge shortly after free agency begins at 12:01 ET Wednesday, according to ESPN's Ramona Shelburne. Aldridge then reportedly plans to meet with the Spurs, Mavericks, Suns and Raptors later Wednesday and with the Knicks on Thursday. Los Angeles "firmly believes" it will be a serious bidder and there is a "rising sentiment" the Lakers have passed Aldridge's hometown Mavericks on his list.
• Is Deron Williams tradeable? ESPN's Ohm Youngmisuk reported Monday that Nets executives think there's a trade market for the former All-Star point guard. There's a belief that Williams, 31, simply needs a change of scenery to improve his play.
• The Cavaliers are interested in bringing back veteran point guard Mo Williams, reports Chris Haynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer. Cleveland is "very interested" in signing the free agent, who spent 2008-2011 as a member of the team.
3:00 p.m.
• The Washington Wizards are "quietly but increasingly" optimistic about re-signing veteran forward Paul Pierce, according to ESPN's Marc Stein. Pierce, who opted out of his contract, has been tied to the Clippers and Celtics.
• Restricted free agent Enes Kanter and the Thunder are planning to meet on Wednesday as free agency opens to discuss a long-term extension, reports RealGM's Shams Charania. The two sides are reportedly planning to discuss both three and four-year options that could approach maximum money with incentives. Kanter is the Thunder's "main priority" in July, and "several teams" are ready to pursue him, according to the report.
• Houston's restricted free agent guard Patrick Beverley has interest from Dallas, New York, Chicago, Cleveland and the Rockets, according to Alex Kennedy of BasketballInsiders.com. Beverley, coming off a wrist injury that sidelined him for the end of the season and playoffs, remains a tough defender. Signing with the Bulls would offer the Chicago native a chance to return home.
• The Spurs and Cavaliers are reportedly discussing a trade that would send Brendan Haywood and his $10.5 million contract to San Antonio, according to Mike Monroe of the San Antonio Express-News. The veteran big man's deal is non-guaranteed until August 1, which allows Cleveland to bring in a piece with the prospect of granting another team extra cap space by letting them waive Haywood. The move, in theory, could clear room to help San Antonio retain Kawhi Leonard and add a free agent like LaMarcus Aldridge. Tiago Splitter, due a relatively similar salary of $8.5 million next season, has been rumored as a return piece for the Cavaliers.
2:00 p.m.
• SI.com's Chris Mannix reports Sacramento Kings ownership is "pushing hard" to pursue free agent guards Monta Ellis and Rajon Rondo. Mannix notes that the Kings will likely be able to afford signing only one of the two.
• Regarding Ellis, RealGM's Shams Charania reports the Mavericks guard has interest in joining the Miami Heat should Dwyane Wade leave in free agency. The two sides "plan to discuss" visiting together in July.
• Trail Blazers guard Wesley Matthews is seeking a multi-year deal with an average salary in the ballpark of $15 million annually, reports ESPN's Tim MacMahon. Matthews, coming off a ruptured Achilles, has no intention of taking an injury discount. Dallas and Toronto remain in pursuit. ESPN's Ian Begley reports mutual interest between Matthews and the Knicks, although the numbers may not work out between the two sides.
• Mannix reports Trail Blazers guard Arron Afflalo is open to and may pursue signing a short-term deal that could position him to hit the market again in "a year or two."
• In addition to a report from ESPN's Chris Broussard that the Lakers, Mavericks and Bucks all have interest in Cavaliers guard Iman Shumpert, Alex Kennedy of BasketballInsiders.com reports that the Raptors are also lining up for the restricted free agent's services.
• Candace Buckner of the Indianapolis Star reports guard Rodney Stuckey is a "top re-sign target" for the Pacers. Buckner adds that several teams have lined up to call Stuckey when free agency opens Wednesday.
• The Denver Nuggets are finalizing a fully guaranteed three-year deal with 2014 second-rounder Nikola Jokic, reports Charania. Jokic spent last season playing overseas in Serbia.
1:00 p.m.
• Clippers center DeAndre Jordan is likely to pursue a four-year deal regardless of where he signs, reports ESPN's Chris Broussard. Jordan is reportedly seeking a player option in the fourth year of his new contract, which would allow him to opt out and profit from the likely jump in the salary cap due to the influx of money from the NBA's new TV deal. Broussard adds that Jordan wants a bigger role in the Clippers' offense and that it's currently "50/50" between Los Angeles and Dallas for Jordan's services.
• Mavericks free agent guard Monta Ellis has interest from the Pacers and Kings, according to Broussard.
• According to Broussard, the Kings are in the market for a point guard to play alongside incumbent Darren Collison. Free agents Rajon Rondo and Jeremy Lin are on their wish list, and Sacramento is also looking at Denver's Ty Lawson, Atlanta's Dennis Schroder and New Orleans' Jrue Holiday as potential trade targets.
• The Pelicans "will make a push" to bring back center Omer Asik, reports John Reid of the New Orleans Times-Picayune. Behind inking Anthony Davis to a long-term max extension, Asik is New Orleans' next priority as one of the league's better rim protectors, and the Pelicans hold his Bird rights.
• Mike Miller has exercised his player option to remain with the Cavaliers, the team announced. The veteran sharpshooter is due $2.8 million this season.
• The Hornets will not extend a qualifying offer to guard Jeff Taylor and he'll become a free agent, reports Yahoo's Marc Spears.
12:00 p.m.
• The Sacramento Kings have been communicating with Kentucky coach John Calipari regarding not only coaching, but taking a front office position with the team, reports Yahoo's Adrian Wojnarowski. Though "no formal offer" has been made, the Kings believe Calipari can help mend their relationship with disgruntled All-Star DeMarcus Cousins, who is reportedly still seeking a trade after head coach George Karl worked to shop him behind the scenes. The Kings are still determining if they can fire Karl "for cause," but owner Vivek Ranadive has reportedly sought Calipari's input on Cousins, whom he coached at Kentucky, as well as the selection of Kentucky center Willie Cauley-Stein sixth overall in last week's NBA draft.
Calipari tweeted this in response to the report Tuesday morning.
• Veteran guard Luke Ridnour has been traded for the fourth time in less than a week, reports Darnell Mayberry of The Oklahoman. The Thunder have reportedly sent Ridnour to Toronto, along with cash, to create a $2.85 million trade exception and acquire the rights to Tomislav Zubcic, the 56th overall pick in the 2012 draft. Since last week, Ridnour, 34, has been dealt from the Magic to the Grizzlies, from Memphis to Charlotte for Matt Barnes, from Charlotte to OKC for Jeremy Lamb, and now to the Raptors. The $2.75 million left on his contract becomes guaranteed on July 10.
• The Warriors and restricted free agent forward Draymond Green are set to meet Tuesday evening, as reported by Yahoo's Marc Spears, and Marcus Thompson of the Bay Area news group adds that both sides are "hoping" to get a deal done before other teams even have a chance to bid for his services. Green is reportedly willing to take less than a maximum deal to stay, in wake of Golden State's championship run, and "keep the core together long-term." The Pistons are a heavily rumored suitor for the Michigan native.
• Jimmy Butler has been offered the maximum five-year, $90 million from the Bulls, as well as a qualifying offer, according to ESPN's Chris Broussard. He adds that Butler has postponed meetings with the Lakers, Celtics, Sixers and Mavericks in wake of the offer and is now mulling over how many years to sign with Chicago.
11:00 a.m.
• Tim Duncan will reportedly play recruiter in San Antonio's attempts to sell LaMarcus Aldridge on joining up. Yahoo's Marc Spears reports Duncan, Tony Parker and Gregg Popovich will all be with the Spurs' party when the team meets with the All-Star power forward on Wednesday morning in Los Angeles. Spears adds that this is yet another indicator Duncan will be back with the team for a 19th season.
• LeBron James may have his eyes set on a key role player: Chicago's Mike Dunleavy. ESPN's Marc Stein reports James would love Cleveland to poach the sharpshooting wing away from their divisional rival. But Stein adds that all signs point to Dunleavy returning to the Bulls, along with star restricted free agent teammate Jimmy Butler.
• Stein also reports that Trail Blazers guard Wesley Matthews is garnering free agent interest from two teams: Dallas and Toronto. Matthews is reportedly "ahead of schedule" in rehabbing a ruptured Achilles tendon and is one of the top shooters on the market.
• Danny Green's top choice is to stay in San Antonio, according to the New York Post's Marc Berman. Green, a New York native, also has the Knicks "high on his list," Berman adds, and New York is working to set up a meeting between the two sides.
• The Atlanta Hawks are expected to be "in the mix" for Mavericks shooting guard Monta Ellis, according to ESPN's Tim MacMahon. Ellis opted out of his contract last week to become an unrestricted free agent and is one of the top scoring options available at guard.
• ESPN's Chris Broussard reports that "some league execs" believe Tyson Chandler could sign on to play under former teammate Jason Kidd in Milwaukee. He also notes that should Dallas fail to sign DeAndre Jordan, the Mavs remain in the picture to keep their free agent center in the fold.
10:00 a.m.
• Marc Gasol is only meeting with the Grizzlies, electing to decline meetings with other teams interested in him, according to ESPN's Marc Stein. Gasol is meeting with Memphis officials in Spain on Wednesday, according to the report. It is not yet known whether Gasol wants a short-term deal or a max contract, Stein reports.
• The San Antonio Spurs are the favorite to poach LaMarcus Aldridge away from the Portland Trail Blazers, SI.com's Chris Mannix reports. Aldridge and the Blazers are headed for a split, according to Mannix. Stein also reported that the Spurs are interested in Aldridge, though on Monday the Los Angeles Times reported that Aldridge was leaning toward signing with the Lakers.
• While it remains to be seen whether guard Dwyane Wade will leave the Miami Heat after opting out of his contract on Monday, Mannix reported that there is mutual interest between Wade and L.A., though a Flash departure from Miami would still be a "major shock."
•MANNIX: NBA free agency primer
June 29
• Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade has decided to opt out of the final year of his contract, reports Ramona Shelburne of ESPN. The 33-year-old signed a two-year, $31.1 million deal with Miami last summer. If Wade had exercised his player option, he would have made $16.1 million this upcoming season. Wade’s publicist later confirmed his decision.
• Luol Deng has elected to opt in to the final year of his contract with the Heat, reports Tim Reynolds of the Associated Press. Deng's decision comes after a separate report on Monday that said the Heat expected Deng to opt out. Deng’s agent later confirmed his decision.
• Los Angeles Clippers center and unrestricted free agent DeAndre Jordan is expected to meet with the Dallas Mavericks, Los Angeles Lakers, New York Knicks and Clippers once the free agent period begins, reportsUSA Today’s Sam Amick. The Mavericks are the team considered likeliest to convince Jordan to leave Los Angeles, according to ESPN's Tim MacMahon, although the Los Angeles Times said Lakers star Kobe Bryantreportedly called Jordan to personally let him know of the team's interest in him, while actor Jamie Foxx joined Jordan and Clippers' coach Doc Rivers at a recent dinner.
• Chicago Bulls shooting guard Jimmy Butler would like to sign a one-year contract with the Los Angeles Lakers, reports Mark Medina of the Los Angeles Daily News. The Bulls are expected to match any offer for Butler, a restricted free agent, according to Medina.
• The Bulls have given Butler both a qualifying offer and a maximum qualifying offer, reports the Los Angeles Times’ Eric Pincus.
• Pero Antic is leaving the NBA to play overseas, Nikos Varlas of Eurohoops.net reports. The power forward has played for the Atlanta Hawks for the past two seasons, and averaged 6.3 points and 3.5 rebounds per game. Update: Antic's agent tweets that his client will join Turkish club Fenerbahce.
• Detroit Pistons forward Greg Monroetold The Advocate in Baton Rouge that he's seeking a two-year deal with an option when he becomes an unrestricted free agent this summer. "I’m looking to be with a team that’s ready to win,” Monroe told the paper. Monroe also said he'll meet with five teams this week as he determines whom he will play for next season.
• The New York Knicks are viewed as the favorite to sign Greg Monroe, reports Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports. Wojnarowski reports that league executives have believed for months that the 6'11'' power forward will land in New York.
• The Knicks are also viewed as the frontrunners to sign guard Arron Afflalo, reports Wojnarowski.
• Cleveland Cavaliers forward Kevin Love is likely to re-sign with the team, according to multiple reports.
• The Los Angeles Lakers are exploring options to trade D'Angelo Russell to the Sacramento Kings for center DeMarcus Cousins, reportsThe Los Angeles Daily News.
MORE NBA: Full draft results | SI.com's draft tracker | Trade roundup
