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ESPN.com
Jun 16, 2023, 02:16 PM ET
NBA free agency season is almost upon us. While this year’s list of free agents doesn’t contain as many superstars as those in years past, there could be plenty of player movement via trades, which we’ve seen in recent offseasons. Among the big names who are free agents are Dallas Mavericks point guard Kyrie Irving, who could be headed to the fifth different team of his career. His former Brooklyn Nets teammate James Harden could be following him into free agency if Harden declines his player option with the Philadelphia 76ers. Toronto Raptors point guard Fred VanVleet might also be looking for a new home after spending the first seven years of his career north of the border.
We’ll have all the latest news and reports as our team of NBA insiders chases down every bit of information to keep you plugged in as the NBA reshapes itself once again this summer.
June 16
11:42 a.m. ET: The Indiana Pacers are looking to trade out of the 7th spot in the NBA draft in exchange for a high-level wing player, according to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst. “Indiana has been talking to people about the No. 7 pick. I’ve been told they’ve been trying to get wing players. They’ve been trying to move out of No. 7 to get a high-level wing player. I think they might be able to, if they’re motivated enough,” Windhorst said on “The Hoop Collective” podcast.
10:36 a.m. ET: NBA prospect Kris Murray will not attend the NBA draft at the Barclay Center in Brooklyn, New York on June 23, ESPN’s Jonathan Givony tweeted. Murray will watch the draft at home with his family.
8:51 a.m. ET: The Golden State Warriors named Mike Dunleavy Jr. their new general manager on Friday, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported. Dunleavy was previously Golden State’s vice president of basketball operations. He will replace former president and GM Bob Myers.
8:28 a.m. ET: For the Los Angeles Lakers, this offseason will not come with any “big-game hunting” in regards to acquiring another superstar, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. “In this league right now, with the new collective bargaining agreement, you can’t really pay, have three max contracts, three superstars and expect to have any depth on its roster. It’s going to look a lot the same,” Wojnarowski said on “Get Up.”
June 15
3:21 p.m. ET: The Utah Jazz have three first-round picks in next week’s NBA draft, and could be looking to move up from their current spot at No. 9, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. “If there is a player on the board that they don’t think will get to them, they’re in position to [move up],” Wojnarowski said on “NBA Today.”
3:18 p.m. ET: The Charlotte Hornets are still deciding what to do with the No. 2 overall pick. ESPN’s Jonathan Givony said on “NBA Today” that Scoot Henderson had a great workout with Charlotte, while Brandon Miller‘s was not as good, but for good reason. “Miller is coming off an illness,” Givony said. “He had mono in April, so he hasn’t been training with the same intensity.” See Givony’s latest mock draft »
2:53 p.m. ET: Forward Danilo Gallinari has exercised his $6.8 million player option to return to the Boston Celtics for the 2023-2024 season, his agent, Michael Tellem of Excel Sports Management, told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski on Thursday. Gallinari tore the ACL in his left knee while playing for his native Italy in a FIBA qualifying game in August. He had signed a two-year, $13.3 million deal with the Celtics last offseason that included the player option for the second season.
2:30 p.m. ET: Could Bruce Brown return to the Denver Nuggets in 2023-24? At Denver’s championship parade, Brown said to the crowd, “I’ve got one more question: One more year?” Brown holds a $6.8 million player option for next season. If he opts out, the Nuggets have non-Bird rights on him, and can offer him a new contract starting at $7.8 million.
8:08 a.m. ET: Two teams to watch out for if the Washington Wizards look to trade Bradley Beal? The Miami Heat and Milwaukee Bucks. “There are other teams on the periphery that I think are involved, but two teams I think at the forefront, Miami and Milwaukee,” said Brian Windhorst on “Get Up” this morning. “Milwaukee would be a very complicated trade.”
June 14
3:22 p.m. ET: Will James Harden be back with the Philadelphia 76ers next season? Harden has a $35.6 million player option that he can decline to become a free agent. If he does, the 76ers might not rush to re-sign the former MVP. “The Sixers are not desperate,” said Brian Windhorst on “NBA Today” this afternoon. “While they absolutely want James Harden back — and I think there is a way they can play together and still be highly successful — the Sixers have other moves they can make. If Harden walks, they have cap space. They have tradable contracts. They have things they can do. Harden is important, but he is not the be all and end all for the 76ers.”
1:07 p.m. ET: As rivals begin reaching out to the Wizards to explore possibility of trading for All-Star guard Bradley Beal, new team president Michael Winger and Beal’s agent — Mark Bartelstein of Priority Sports — are staying in close contact to discuss scenarios presented to the franchise, sources tell ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
8:38 a.m. ET: Are the Washington Wizards and Bradley Beal going to go their separate ways? Brian Windhorst said on “Get Up” that a Beal trade would be hard to put together not only because of his remaining contract (four years, $207.7 million), but because he has a no-trade clause and can veto any potential deal. Still, he adds, “if the Wizards are going to make a move with Bradley Beal, it looks like it could be before the draft next week.”
8:06 a.m. ET: Could Zion Williamson be on the move? Brian Windhorst said on “Get Up” that “the league is certainly wondering if the Pelicans are going to make, for the first time truly, Zion Williamson available.” Williamson, who has played just 29 games over the past two seasons, is entering the first year of a five-year, $193 million contract extension.
1:11
Could the Pelicans look to trade Zion?
Brian Windhorst discusses the possibility of the Pelicans looking to trade Zion Williamson.
June 12
2:59 p.m. ET: In the first major domino of free agency, Toronto Raptors All-Star guard Fred VanVleet has declined his $22.8 million player option and will become an unrestricted free agent in July, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. VanVleet, 29, has played his entire seven-year NBA career with the Raptors. Last season, he averaged 19.3 points and a career-best 7.2 assists per game.
June 7
6:56 p.m. ET: Phoenix Suns ownership and executives had a series of conversations with Chris Paul and his representatives on the All-Star point guard’s future with the franchise, including the possibility that he could be waived by the NBA’s June 28 guarantee date on his contract, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Only $15.8 million of his $30.8 million for the 2023-24 season is guaranteed if he’s waived — unless the Suns keep Paul past that June 28 deadline date.
