NBA free agency: Tracker, live updates, trades as LeBron James, Paul George, Tyrese Maxey headline 2024 class

Word of LeBron James being open to less salary, after James opted out of his $51.4 million for the 2024-25 season to become a free agent, took many rival executives by surprise over the weekend. James has taken his ultimate maximum average annual value ever since he left Miami in the summer of 2014. But at age 40, entering year 22, James has the utmost incentive to earn less on the Lakers’ cap sheet, while he generates millions off the court, in order to help Los Angeles free flexibility to pursue someone such as Klay Thompson with the full mid-level exception.

League personnel with knowledge of the situation believe Thompson is the Lakers’ top target at this juncture, and Jonas Valančiūnas continues to be mentioned as a veteran center on Los Angeles’ radar. The Lakers have also been exploring trade scenarios with the contracts of D’Angelo Russell, Rui Hachimura, Jarred Vanderbilt and Gabe Vincent, sources said, and Brook Lopez has been one of the primary options on the Lakers’ board of hopeful acquisitions, sources said.

It’s important here to note James’ appetite for a pay cut and the overall structure on a possible three-year deal for one of the game’s greatest will be dependent on what type of talent Los Angeles is able to acquire, sources said, and at what cost of the salary cap.

We wrote back in May that Isaiah Harenstein could very well be the best big man available in free agency. New York remains an option for the 26-year-old Knicks center, sources said, while the team’s front office works through all scenarios stemming from New York’s open-ended blockbuster deal for Mikal Bridges last week. Should the Knicks figure out how to finalize their Bridges acquisition without getting hard-capped, Hartenstein could receive up to four years and $72.5 million from New York.

Should he reach the open market, Hartenstein is still expected to draw interest from the Oklahoma City Thunder, league sources told Yahoo Sports. Hartenstein could also receive an offer from the Pistons, sources said, where Detroit has upward of $55 million in cap space and new president of basketball operations Trajan Langdon is known to be a fan of Hartenstein, sources said. Orlando has plenty of money to spend as well, and the Magic were nearly Hartenstein's’ home the last time he was an unrestricted free agent — when Hartenstein chose the Knicks over the Magic in 2022.

The Grizzlies have been a team scouring the big-man market this offseason. From attempting to trade up for Donovan Clingan during Wednesday night’s draft to checking in with Toronto about the asking price for Jakob Poeltl, sources said, Memphis explored various options before selecting mammoth center Zach Edey out of Purdue with the No. 9 pick.

Agents who represent centers willing to take the veteran’s minimum have maintained belief the Grizzlies could provide a home for some players out of that free agency bucket, sources said. There’s also the matter of Luke Kennard’s future to figure out in Memphis, after the Grizzlies declined his $14.8 million team option for 2024-25. However, rival executives are not preparing for the opportunity that Kennard will truly reach the open market, sources said, as both sides appear interested in extending Kennard’s time with the Grizzlies.

The mid-level market is one of the more interesting aspects of this offseason, where it appears the majority of NBA teams plan to use less than the entirety of the $12.8 million MLE amount. Another aspect of the new CBA allows front offices to not spend that MLE this summer, and then use it as a traded-player exception to acquire any new piece whose salary falls under that number. A player’s appetite for taking $6 million could even be the difference in someone such as Buddy Hield making above the $5.2 million taxpayer MLE. If Hield were to take that from Golden State, for example, the Warriors could sign another $4 million player above the NBA’s veteran minimum salary, or pocket that leftover space as a TPE.

Plenty of teams with access to their full mid-level will either wait to see how the top-billing players fall first — which could leave an opportunity for one team or several to jump from the starting gun and sign their mid-level guy of choice. The profile for such a player could change depending on a team’s perspective, too. Hield does remain one of the hottest shooters in the league. Does your front office want to steal Haywood Highsmith from Miami? What about throwing a long-term, non-guaranteed deal at Saddiq Bey? A team could feasibly swipe Nicolas Batum from Philadelphia with a richer payday above the minimum. How about a younger wing, like Isaac Okoro, if you’re a team that once hoped to lure Patrick Williams to an offer sheet. Mid-level fortune could favor the bold.

The Chicago Bulls have reportedly come to terms with restricted free agent forward Patrick Williams on a five-year contract worth $90 million, with the final year being a player option.

This is a quality piece of business for the Bulls, who are locking up a 22-year-old two-way wing, who can play both forward spots, provide quality defense and is sporting a career efficiency of 41% from downtown.

Williams hasn't grown much as an all-around player since getting drafted fourth overall in 2020, to the point where you could almost pencil him in for about 10 points and four rebounds before the beginning of each season.

While those numbers are indeed underwhelming, Williams is a legitimate 3-and-D piece for the Bulls, and because the going rate for such an archetype in today's league has grown astronomically, signing him to $18 million per year is noteworthy.

Why this deal is great for the Bulls.

Whatever NBA theatrics do come — once the clock strikes 6 p.m. ET, once free agents can begin contact with prospective teams, once several more trades shake the league’s landscape like a snow globe — this July will present the first case study of just how front offices and agents will navigate the new math and restrictions that come with the imposing second apron of the collective bargaining agreement.

That is the ultimate context of Paul George declining his player option and testing the open market. That is the cold, hard truth underscoring Denver’s plight to retain Kentavious Caldwell-Pope after already losing Bruce Brown a year ago. That is why the Warriors have attempted to find trades — such as landing George — with Chris Paul’s non-guaranteed salary, sources said, as Golden State could still retain his valuable salary slot and further improve the roster around Stephen Curry.

It does not matter if Steve Ballmer or Joe Lacob has limitless pockets and is willing to pay the penalties that come with wading into the NBA’s new second apron like the luxury tax of yesteryear. The ability to front that bill doesn’t hand front offices get-out-of-jail-free cards that suddenly grant access to any mid-level spending power, the ability to aggregate salary in trade, send out cash or use traded player exceptions — let alone the frozen draft picks that looms like the bogeyman. It’s one thing if the Boston Celtics have six of their top eight players all under contract and under the age of 30. The Knicks’ threatening core is even younger and more team-controlled. It’s another thing building around aging star veterans all likely looking at the final contracts of their illustrious careers.

The Clippers, then, have made it clear to this point they have no intention of awarding any player — not Kawhi Leonard, not George, not James Harden — with a contract beyond three years, league sources told Yahoo Sports, in order to permit Los Angeles the future flexibility to evade the penalties of the second apron. The two sides have had months to find an extension similar to Leonard’s three-year, $153 million agreement in January, exchanging various proposals, sources said, but that critical lack of a fourth year from the Clippers, what could be the difference of some $60 million, is what’s prompted George to listen to offers from the Philadelphia 76ers and Orlando Magic once free agency begins, sources confirmed to Yahoo Sports, in addition to George’s incumbent Clippers. The reality that dealing George to Golden State would have netted back 75 cents on the dollar — yet still cost a dollar and would still bring those second-apron challenges — were key deterrents in those fizzled trade discussions.

Both the 76ers and Magic, sources said, are prepared to lavish George with four-year maximum contracts, as were the Warriors if George would have exercised his $48.7 million player option for this upcoming 2024-25 season.

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Nine-time NBA All-Star Paul George declined his $48.8 million option to play for the Los Angeles Clippers next season, making himself one of the league's most coveted free agents, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

George will now meet with the Clippers as well as other high-cap teams, with the Philadelphia 76ers as a top contender to land the 34-year-old forward.

Free agent forward Royce O'Neale is reportedly planning to sign a new four-year, $44 million deal to stay with the Phoenix Suns, per ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski. O'Neal was traded to Phoenix in February from the Brooklyn Nets, and averaged 8.1 points, 5.2 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game through the rest of the season.

Two more teams are picking up player options on Saturday, with the Houston Rockets picking up forward Jae'sean Tate's $7.6 million option for next season, per ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, and the Boston Celtics picking up a $2.1 million option for forward Sam Hauser, per Adam Himmelsbach of the Boston Globe.

Kevin Love has declined his $4 million player option, per ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, but the two sides are "enthusiastic" to reach a deal during free agency.

Love signed with the Heat in February 2023 after becoming a free agent mid-season, and re-signed with the team last July. The 35-year-old forward, who is a five-time All-Star, averaged 8.8 points, 6.1 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 55 games with Miami.

Veteran guard Russell Westbrook is picking up his $4 million option to stay with the Clippers, per ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

Westbrook is a nine-time All-Star, and signed a two-year, $7.8 million with the team last summer. The 35-year-old guard averaged 11.1 points, 5 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 1.1 steals in 68 games with the Clippers last season, largely coming off the bench as a backup point guard behind James Harden.

The Atlanta Hawks have traded All-Star guard Dejounte Murray to the New Orleans Pelicans, per multiple reports. In return, the Hawks receive first-round picks in 2025 and 2027, center Larry Nance Jr. and guard Dyson Daniels.

The Hawks acquired Murray in 2022, but trade hasn't worked out quite as well as Atlanta might have hoped. Murray will get a fresh start in New Orleans, with a chance to make an impact in the backcourt and on defense.

LeBron James also holds an option to play in Los Angeles next season at the age of 40 for the Lakers. Opting out would allow him to a) convince the Lakers to improve the roster and b) negotiate a no-trade clause in L.A.

All of that may be worth the $1 million he would sacrifice from his $1 billion net worth by opting out.

Of course, James could sign anywhere for any price, though his agent, Rich Paul, all but ruled out the possibility that he would sign a veteran minimum contract with, say, the Phoenix Suns. James is still a member of the All-NBA third team and still worth every penny of the $50 million he will command as a starting salary. But because signing James means tailoring an entire roster to a 40-year-old, it is unlikely we will see him on any other team but the Lakers. They did just hire his podcast partner as their coach and draft his son.

DeMar DeRozan, Chicago Bulls

DeRozan has long been one of the league's most underrated stars. He is a professional scorer who has developed into a productive playmaker, and that has made him one of the game's great clutch players. He should be the consolation prize for teams that fail to land George. Beyond them, it is a crapshoot.

Miles Bridges, Charlotte Hornets

Speaking of crapshoots. Bridges missed the entire 2022-23 season upon pleading no contest to felony domestic violence. When he returned to the Hornets last season, he was immediately accused of violating a resulting protective order — charges that were later dropped for insufficient evidence.

James Harden, Los Angeles Clippers

Harden orchestrated his way to L.A. last season because Clippers owner Steve Ballmer was one of the few people who could pay him as if he were still performing at an MVP level. So how much do you pay a soon-to-be 35-year-old who had no other suitors but the Clippers when he was available via trade last season?

Charlotte Hornets have decided to waive Seth Curry ahead of his contract deadline today, per ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski. Although the Hornets did not want to finalize a contract for the 2024-2025 season, both sides are still interested in negotiating a new deal in July.

Curry, who was traded to Charlotte in February, averaged 9.0 points, 2.0 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game across eight games with the team.

PJ Tucker has reportedly exercised his player option for next season and will be staying with the Los Angeles Clippers for another year, per The Athletic's Shams Charania. With the option, he'll earn $11.5 million for the 2024-2025 season.

The 39-year-old forward has bounced around the NBA, but landed with the Clippers in 2023. In February, Tucker was fined $75,000 for publicly requesting a trade away from Los Angeles after riding the bench for several months. However, it seems he has chosen to stick around for the time being.

The Toronto Raptors had until midnight Friday to decide whether or not to pick up Bruce Brown's $23 million option or let him go as a free agent. Now that the Raptors have picked up that option, as reported by ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, the expectation is that Brown will be traded to a team looking to add an expiring contract and help on the wing.

Brown's biggest role last season was probably being part of the trade that sent Pascal Siakam to the Indiana Pacers. He signed a two-year, $45 million deal with the Pacers after being part of the Denver Nuggets' 2024 NBA championship team, then declining his $6.8 million player option for 2023-24.

After joining the Raptors, Brown's numbers took a slight dip in with Toronto. In 34 games, Brown scored 9.6 points per game with 3.8 rebounds and 2.7 assists. However, Brown told reporters after the season ended that he was struggled with a knee injury he suffered before getting traded to Toronto.

The Empire State Building lit blue and orange Tuesday night, officially celebrating a Mets victory. But the lights sparked into those same colors for the Knicks mere minutes after news broke that New York sent a staggering five first-round picks across the East River in order for Brooklyn to finally part with defensive stalwart Mikal Bridges.

Rival teams were sensing Brooklyn’s growing willingness to part with Bridges in recent days, league sources told Yahoo Sports. Utah and Houston were two of the other teams league personnel had mentioned were actively involved in pursuing Bridges. The Nets had swept away offers for Bridges in previous transaction cycles that compiled as many as four first-round picks, sources said. And through Monday, none of Brooklyn’s conversations with those three teams or others were considered anything close to serious, sources said. That is until the Knicks came back with four unprotected first rounders — beginning in 2025 — plus a protected first-round pick from the Bucks, and then the rights for Brooklyn to swap firsts with New York in 2028, league sources confirmed to Yahoo Sports.

It all equates to six total years of draft capital, one of the largest — if not the largest — returns for a player never to be named an All-Star in NBA history. Bridges is arguably worth more to the Knicks than any other team, a chance to bring a fourth Wildcat from Villanova’s three-year run behind Jalen Brunson that netted national titles in 2016 and 2018. Bridges also marks as one of the best options New York could have found to counter Boston’s lineup of two-way wings that just claimed this year’s championship. Bridges always had an eye for New York, sources said, especially after the Knicks added Donte DiVincenzo last summer following the February 2023 trade deadline deal that brought Josh Hart through the door. These Wildcat connections run deep, and Kyle Lowry has even been mentioned by NBA figures as a target for New York in free agency, sources said.

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With Immanuel Quickley signing a contract worth $175 million on Friday, former Kentucky teammate Tyrese Maxey joked on social media that it was time for Quickley to cash in on an old debt.

"Ummm sirrrr.... Remember back in school when I paid for your chick fil a," Maxey wrote on X, in response to the news of Quickley's 5-year, $175 million extension with the Toronto Raptors.

Maxey is due for a big payday himself as a restricted free agent this offseason. Maxey, a young All-Star and key player with the Philadelphia 76ers, is arguably the top point guard in the free agency market.

The 23-year-old guard averaged 25.9 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 6.2 assists this season, making him an attractive target for other teams, but it's likely that the 76ers will cash out big to keep him in Philadelphia long-term. Maxey will be back to paying for his own chicken sandwiches soon enough.