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06/30 19:12 CDT NBA free agency opens with Spurs, Rockets and Mavericks making
early moves
NBA free agency opens with Spurs, Rockets and Mavericks making early moves
By TIM REYNOLDS
AP Basketball Writer
Victor Wembanyama has another big man to help him out in San Antonio. And the
Houston Rockets continued their offseason improvements Monday as the NBA's free
agency period got underway.
The Spurs lured center Luke Kornet away from Boston with a four-year, $41
million deal, a person with knowledge of the agreement told The Associated
Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the team cannot
announce the deal until the league's signing moratorium for most contracts is
lifted on Sunday.
Kornet was part of Boston's 2024 NBA title team and has shot 68% from the field
in 205 games, mostly off the bench, over the last three regular seasons. He
figures to add frontcourt depth to the Spurs, who are hoping to have Wembanyama
--- the 2023-24 NBA Rookie of the Year and an All-Star this past season ---
back and ready to go after he was diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis in a
shoulder back in February.
The Rockets, meanwhile, added veteran forward Dorian Finney-Smith on a
four-year, $53 million deal shortly after free agency opened. ESPN first
reported the deal, and a person with knowledge of the agreement confirmed the
terms to AP.
Houston becomes Finney-Smith's fourth team after stints with Dallas, Brooklyn
and the Los Angeles Lakers. He'll be added to a Rockets club that earlier this
summer landed Kevin Durant in a blockbuster trade with Phoenix, though that
deal cannot receive formal approval from the NBA until next week.
Finney-Smith averaged 8.7 points and was a 41% shooter from 3-point range this
past season.
ESPN also reported that the Rockets' run on free agents continued with the
addition of center Clint Capela, who spent the first six years of his career in
Houston before playing for the last five seasons in Atlanta. Capela agreed to a
three-year deal with the Rockets.
Dallas, which needed some point guard help especially because the newly
re-signed Kyrie Irving --- rehabbing from an ACL tear --- may not be ready to
play until about midseason, agreed with D'Angelo Russell on a two-year contract
worth nearly $13 million.
Russell would be part of the backcourt depth on a club with an imposing front
line that, if healthy, would include No. 1 overall pick Cooper Flagg, 10-time
All-Star Anthony Davis and promising young center Dereck Lively II.
The free agency period officially opened at 6 p.m. Eastern time on Monday, but
in actuality, was rolling long before that.
LeBron James has already opted in to a $52.6 million deal with the Los Angeles
Lakers for this coming season, the Rockets traded for Durant --- not a free
agency move, obviously --- and the Los Angeles Clippers saw James Harden
decline his option in return for a new deal and a raise. There was even a
surprise addition to free agency, with Portland announcing it has bought out
the contract of former No. 1 pick Deandre Ayton --- making him able to sign
with any team he chooses.
And on Monday, even before the shopping window officially started, more deals:
Nicolas Batum will come back to the Clippers, his agency said, on a two-year
deal, while Joe Ingles agreed to return to the Minnesota Timberwolves. Deals
like those could get done before the official start time because teams are
allowed to negotiate with their own free agents once the NBA Finals are
finished.
Other deals In other deals confirmed by AP on Monday night: --- Center Kevon Looney agreed to a two-year deal with New Orleans, after he spent his first 10 seasons with Golden State. --- Guard Caris LeVert will sign a two-year deal worth nearly $15 million annually with the Detroit Pistons, a team that won 14 games in 2023-24 and then won 44 games to earn the No. 6 seed in the Eastern Conference this past season.
Salary cap set The NBA announced Monday that it has set the salary cap for the coming season at $154.647 million, the maximum allowed 10% increase over the level for this past season. The tax level for the 2025-26 season is $187.895 million, the league said.
What's already happened --- Julius Randle returns to the Timberwolves with a potential $100 million deal. --- Bobby Portis stays with the Bucks, keeping the popular sixth man in Milwaukee. --- Duncan Robinson terminates his contract with the Heat, though he may return.
What's next In very specific situations, teams can announce signings when completed. But in most situations, and this even applies to some draft-related trades (such as the one involving Durant going to Houston), teams won't be able to announce those until at least July 6. ___ AP Sports Writer Schuyler Dixon in Dallas contributed to this story. ___ AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA
Other deals In other deals confirmed by AP on Monday night: --- Center Kevon Looney agreed to a two-year deal with New Orleans, after he spent his first 10 seasons with Golden State. --- Guard Caris LeVert will sign a two-year deal worth nearly $15 million annually with the Detroit Pistons, a team that won 14 games in 2023-24 and then won 44 games to earn the No. 6 seed in the Eastern Conference this past season.
Salary cap set The NBA announced Monday that it has set the salary cap for the coming season at $154.647 million, the maximum allowed 10% increase over the level for this past season. The tax level for the 2025-26 season is $187.895 million, the league said.
What's already happened --- Julius Randle returns to the Timberwolves with a potential $100 million deal. --- Bobby Portis stays with the Bucks, keeping the popular sixth man in Milwaukee. --- Duncan Robinson terminates his contract with the Heat, though he may return.
What's next In very specific situations, teams can announce signings when completed. But in most situations, and this even applies to some draft-related trades (such as the one involving Durant going to Houston), teams won't be able to announce those until at least July 6. ___ AP Sports Writer Schuyler Dixon in Dallas contributed to this story. ___ AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA
