On the evening of July 1, the NBA entered free agent season. No, we haven’t yet seen the headlines about Paul George teaming up with Joel Embiid in Philadelphia or Klay Thompson joining the ranks of Dallas or the Lakers. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. After all, there have already been transactions that undoubtedly require attention. And it is these moments that we will analyze in our material.
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How are you doing with Paul George?
Paul George, 2023/2024 season
Photo: Christian Petersen/Getty Images
There was no progress in the negotiation process between the Clippers and star forward Paul George’s representative, leading George to make the decision to move to another team. Conversations between Paul’s agent and Clippers president Lawrence Frank did not result in a contract renewal and paved the way for the forward to move on to new horizons. Los Angeles subsequently issued a detailed statement confirming these facts.
The Sails now plan to operate well below the first tax threshold, so they will have a mid-level exclusion of $12.9 million and a two-year exclusion of $4.7 million at their disposal. However, they will not have much salary cap space to sign a player who can at least partially compensate for the loss of George. In parallel, Philadelphia will meet with the forward in California, being the main contender to sign him.
The Sixers have enough cap space to attract a free agent and could give him a max contract. The club is willing to offer George a four-year max contract, which the Clippers did not want to put on the table. During negotiations with George, the Clippers insisted on a three-year deal similar to Kawhi Leonard’s extension. Leonard signed a three-year deal worth $152.4 million in January.
Chris Paul changes teams again and it seems he will play in Texas
Chris Paul, 2023/2024 season
Photo: Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images
Chris Paul plans to sign a deal with San Antonio. After Golden State vacated his roster spot before the free agent market opened, he will become an unrestricted free agent once waivers are cleared. However, Paul decided not to delay choosing a new team. He will sign a one-year contract worth $11 million.
Mark Stein noted that San Antonio is showing a lot of interest in the experienced Chris Paul. In the context of a pick-and-roll strategy, Paul could be a suitable, if perhaps temporary, ally for Victor Vembanyama. However, the question remains whether the Spurs plan to include Paul in the starting lineup or if he will play a backup role as he did in his final season with the Warriors.
Last season, the Spurs experimented with a variety of starting fives, with Tre Jones starting most of the time. Given San Antonio’s uncertainty over Jones’ role as a key player that wasn’t confirmed until January, speculation about his start next season seems questionable. Due to available cap space, the Spurs have an advantage over other teams in the competition for Paul.
Not quite a free agent: Cade Cunningham and a powerful check for $224 million
Cade Cunningham, 2023/2024 season
Photo: Gregory Shamus/Getty Images
Detroit is set to sign 2021 No. 1 overall draft pick Cade Cunningham to a five-year rookie max contract extension. The deal has not yet closed and some details still require clarification, but both sides are optimistic that it will close. The exact amount of Cunningham’s contract extension is not yet known. If the salary cap increases by 10% in the 2025-2026 season, when the extension takes effect, his contract would be worth approximately $224 million.
If Cunningham’s contract comes to fruition, which seems likely, he would join Toronto forward Scotty Barnes as the second 2021 draft pick to sign a rookie contract. While Barnes agreed to an extension that included terms under the Rose Rule (for young superstars), potentially allowing him to earn 30% of the 2025-26 salary cap instead of 25%. However, some experts note that Cunningham may not have been offered the same terms.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope left Denver, where he became an NBA champion
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, 2023/2024 season
Photo: Matthew Stockman/Getty Images
Orlando will sign free agent Kentavious Caldwell-Pope to a three-year contract as planned. The deal is valued at $66 million and includes a player option for one final season. Caldwell-Pope has emerged as one of this year’s notable free agents after playing a major role in Denver the past two years and helping the franchise win a title in 2023.
The Nuggets would have preferred to keep their starting lineup intact, but other financial obligations have made it difficult to retain Caldwell-Pope. The $22 million annual salary Kentavius received from the Magic would have forced Denver into the second tier of the luxury tax if the club had offered him that amount. However, the Colorado club made an offer close to the amount that Caldwell-Pope received from Orlando, where his defensive and scoring abilities would make him an ideal reinforcement for the Floridians.
Jonas Valanciunas will help Washington rise from the dead
Jonas Valanciunas, 2023/2024 season
Photo: Jamie Squire/Getty Images
Washington has found a new starting center, signing Jonas Valanciunas to a three-year, $30 million contract with no player or team options. Valanciunas was previously linked to the rebuilding Wizards shortly before free agency opened. The Lakers were reported to be among the contenders for the 32-year-old.
In an era when the game of basketball centers is increasingly associated with their ability to play with versatility and attack from long distance, Jonas Valanciunas continues to defend the importance of the classic game on the rim. He is among the league leaders in rebounds per minute on the court, highlighting its importance in the game. Valanciunas is a representative of the “old school”, who outplays his opponents not by his athleticism, but by his physical strength.
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