Kevin Durant is staying put for now. So are Paul George and Chris Paul.
Meanwhile Rich Hill Los Angeles Dodgers Jersey , LeBron James‘ next move remains unclear.
Durant has decided to sign a two-year deal with the Golden State Warriors, a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Saturday because the deal cannot become official until the league’s offseason moratorium ends on Friday. The deal comes with a player option for 2019-20, so Durant can – and likely will – become a free agent again next summer.
So much for the notion that stars would wait for James to decide his future before they would decide theirs.
Things went a very different way.
Durant, Paul and George all knew what they were going to do even before the NBA’s moratorium – and the start of free agency – officially kicked in at 12:01 a.m. EDT on Sunday. So did plenty of other players, and by the time the moratorium was 2 hours old nearly $700 million worth of deals had been agreed upon, based on figures confirmed to AP by people involved in the various decisions.
Durant’s move is a win on multiple levels for the two-time defending NBA champion Warriors. Not only do they get to keep the 2017 and 2018 NBA Finals MVP, but they also get some financial flexibility in the deal.
Durant will be paid about $30.5 million this coming season, about $5 million less than he could have commanded if the deal was structured differently. That savings will give Golden State options for other moves this summer, as the Warriors look to bolster their bench for a run at what could be a fourth title in a five-year span.
They might need the boost, because the Western Conference is going to be loaded again.
George took the stage at a party in Oklahoma City on Saturday night and announced that he will be staying with the Thunder, a move that might have been unexpected a year ago when he was traded away by the Indiana Pacers – presumably because of the belief that he was already focused on joining his hometown Los Angeles Lakers in free agency.
That move isn’t happening.
Not now Rasheem Green Color Rush Jersey , anyway, and barring a trade not for at least three years in what will be considered a massive victory for the Thunder and general manager Sam Presti. George agreed to a four-year deal that will be worth roughly $135 million, though he can opt out of the final season, according to a person familiar with the terms.
”I’m here to stay,” George told the crowd at the party.
Down in Houston, Paul has told Rockets fans the same thing.
”UNFINISHED BUSINESS,” Paul wrote on Twitter at the exact moment that the calendar flipped to July 1 in the East, meaning the NBA’s free agency frenzy was officially open for the summer.
His meaning was clear. The Rockets were tantalizingly close to a trip to the NBA Finals this spring, and Paul’s coming back to get over that hump.
Houston took Golden State to seven games in the Western Conference finals back in May. Paul missed the last two games of that series with an injury, and the Rockets wasted big leads in both of those games – then had to watch the Warriors sweep Cleveland for the NBA title.
Paul averaged 18.6 points and 7.9 assists last season with the Rockets, who went 65-17 led by Paul and newly minted NBA MVP James Harden. ESPN reported he is signing a four-year deal that will be worth $160 million.
Meanwhile Erik Gonzalez Cleveland Indians Jersey , James created a frenzy on Saturday without saying a word.
James spent the week vacationing in Anguilla, and hopped aboard a private Gulfstream jet in the morning to fly to the Los Angeles area. By the time he arrived around midday – after his flight plan was tracked online – reporters and at least one news helicopter were waiting for the Cleveland Cavaliers star, who decided to become an unrestricted free agent and not opt-in to a $35.6 million deal for this coming season.
The Lakers have long been mentioned as a top destination for James, and they have more salary cap space this summer than any team in the NBA. But going to L.A. on Saturday doesn’t necessarily provide any hint about his team for next season, since James has homes in Southern California.
But if James is going to be the next superstar to follow in the legacy that Wilt Chamberlain, Jerry West, Shaquille O’Neal, Kobe Bryant and Magic Johnson built for the Lakers, it’s already fairly evident that not everyone in the NBA will be thrilled by the development.
”The Lakers are FOREVER gonna be Kobe’s and Magic’s team…. Process that,” Philadelphia star Joel Embiid wrote on Twitter.
Philadelphia has been one of the teams often mentioned as a club that would pursue James this summer, and that still may be the case.
With Durant http://www.packersauthorizedshops.com/authentic-josh-jackson-jersey , George and Paul off the board, James is the biggest name left to decide his intentions when it comes to free agency. His agent Rich Paul was expected to meet by phone with Cavaliers general manager Koby Altman early Sunday, and there has been no indication when James will announce his plans for next season and beyond.
For Dallas, persistence paid off. The Mavs finally are getting DeAndre Jordan.
Jordan agreed to sign with Dallas three years ago, then changed his mind and social media went beyond abuzz over what happened next. Former teammate Blake Griffin and coach Doc Rivers were part of a contingent that went to his house and stayed with him until the deal was official.
But he agreed quickly this time to a one-year, $24.1 million deal and will finally be part of the Mavericks.
Denver added to the huge night of spending out West when it got Will Barton to commit to staying in what will be a f
The Latest on NBA Free Agency (all times EDT):
2:40 a.m.
Portland has announced the signing of Jusuf Nurkic, who agreed earlier Friday to a four-year deal worth $48 million.
Trail Blazers president of basketball operations Neil Olshey said Nurkic ”is an integral part of the core of this roster.”
”He has been an impactful addition since joining our team and we are excited about the prospect of this long-term commitment leading to continued individual and team success,” Olshey said.
The 23-year-old Nurkic led the Trail Blazers with 27 double-doubles last season.
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11:30 p.m.
Jusuf Nurkic is staying with the Portland Trail Blazers.
Nurkic has agreed to a four-year deal to remain with the club, a person with knowledge of the negotiations told The Associated Press on Friday night. The person did not disclose the financial terms, with ESPN reporting it was a contract worth $48 million.
Keeping Nurkic was a clear priority for the Blazers this summer.
He’s averaged 14.5 points in 99 games since joining Portland and becoming the team’s starting center.
– Reporting by AP Basketball Writer Tim Reynolds in Las Vegas.
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10 p.m.
Kyle Anderson has signed a $37 million, four-year offer sheet from the Memphis Grizzlies.
Anderson agreed to the terms Friday http://www.dolphinsauthorizedshops.com/authentic-minkah-fitzpatrick-jersey , according to a person who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because neither the Grizzlies nor the San Antonio Spurs publicly confirmed the deal.
The Spurs have 48 hours to decide whether to keep Anderson, who averaged 7.9 points for them last season in his first year as a full-time starting forward.
– Reporting by AP Basketball Writer Tim Reynolds in Las Vegas.
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8:50 p.m.
Zach LaVine has signed a four-year, $80 million offer sheet with the Sacramento Kings.
A person with direct knowledge of the deal confirmed the terms to The Associated Press on Friday. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because neither the Kings nor the Chicago Bulls announced the deal involving the 6-foot-5 guard who’s going into his fifth NBA season.
The Bulls have 48 hours to decide whether to match the offer on the restricted free agent.
LaVine has missed 91 of a possible 162 games over the last two seasons. He appeared in only 24 contests for the Bulls last season, averaging 16.7 points on 38 percent shooting.
– Reporting by AP Basketball Writer Tim Reynolds in Las Vegas.
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8:20 p.m.
DeAndre Jordan followed through on a commitment to sign with the Dallas Mavericks in free agency three years after backing out on the same pledge.
Jordan signed a one-year contract Friday, the first day players could make their decisions in free agency official. It’s expected to be worth around the $24.1 million Jordan was set to get before opting out of his contract with the Los Angeles Clippers.
In 2015, Jordan agreed to sign with the Mavericks before changing his mind thanks in part to the urging of former teammates and All-Stars Chris Paul and Blake Griffin. The Houston native stayed with the Clippers and was going into the final year of that four-year contract before opting out. He spent his first 10 seasons with LA.
Jordan, who turns 30 this month, gives the Mavericks a rebounding and defensive presence they’ve mostly lacked since winning their only title in 2011. Dallas hasn’t won a playoff series since then.
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3:50 p.m.
Tony Parker’s time in San Antonio is over, after 17 seasons and four NBA championships.
A person with knowledge of the negotiations says Parker has agreed to sign a two-year, $10 million deal with the Charlotte Hornets. The person spoke to AP on condition of anonymity Friday because the deal has not been signed.
Parker lost his starting role with the Spurs last season. The move to Charlotte reunites him with former Spurs assistant James Borrego, who became the head coach in Charlotte earlier this offseason.
Parker averaged career-lows of 7.7 points and 19.5 minutes last season. The six-time All-Star is the No. 4 all-time scorer in Spurs history and the franchise’s career assists leader.
He was part of 137 playoff wins with Spurs coach Gregg Popovich Clint Frazier New York Yankees Jersey , the second most by any coach and player in NBA history. Popovich and Spurs legend Tim Duncan combined for 157 playoff wins. Parker has also appeared in 17 consecutive postseasons; only Karl Malone and John Stockton’s run of 19 straight playoff trips are longer.
– Reporting by AP Basketball Writer Tim Reynolds in Las Vegas.
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3:15 p .m.
Carmelo Anthony has played his last game for the Oklahoma City Thunder, barring a massive change of plans.
A person with knowledge of the negotiations said Friday that Anthony and the Thunder have mutually decided that he will not be on the team next season, though it remains unclear how that departure will actually happen. The person spoke on condition of anonymity to The Associated Press because no buyout, trade or waiving has been executed.
ESPN first reported the decision by Anthony and the Thunder. The person who spoke to AP says Anthony would prefer to sign with a contender if he becomes a free agent.
Anthony is due to make $28 million this season, his last in a five-year, $125 million contract he signed with New York before getting moved to Oklahoma City. He has said he will not accept a reserve role, and by parting with him – somehow – the Thunder could save more than $90 million in luxury tax payments.
Anthony averaged 16.2 points on 40 percent shooting last season, both of thos.
