Lots of player movement in the NBA off season
N.B.A. free agents used to spend days, even weeks, weighing where to sign deals after the new league year began in July. There were half-secret meetings and street sightings. One year, fans waited a week just to sit through a free agent’s special TV announcement. It was a big decision.
This year has been something else entirely. Kevin Durant kicked things off with an Instagram announcement minutes into free agency on Sunday, and Kawhi Leonard reportedly sent word that he was taking the day off from decision-making. The night only got weirder from there. And the chaos is far from over.
Here is a broad look at many of the pending deals that have been reported by The New York Times, the players and a range of news media, including ESPN, The Athletic and Yahoo Sports on the first two days of N.B.A. free agency. As of 6 p.m. Eastern Time on Sunday, free agents and teams were allowed to negotiate and announce their intentions, but no deals can become official until a moratorium period ends on Saturday.
Durant announced plans to sign a maximum contract with the Nets.
Kyrie Irving intends to sign with the Nets, too. So does DeAndre Jordan.
Kemba Walker will leave the Charlotte Hornets for the Boston Celtics.
The Knicks are sorry to disappoint fans; they plan to sign Julius Randle and Taj Gibson.
Jimmy Butler looks set to be going to the Miami Heat
As part of a sign-and-trade that will send Josh Richardson to Philadelphia, Butler will end up under Pat Riley’s auspices with the Heat. It’s not immediately clear what the final terms of the trade are, but Butler will most likely join the core of players like Bam Adebayo and Justise Winslow to make a run at the playoffs, which Miami missed last year. This will be Butler’s third team in two years, after he forced his way out of Minnesota to land in Philadelphia last season. He is a four-time All-Star and a top defender, and he has made two All-N.B.A. third teams.
D’Angelo Russell to the Golden State Warriors: four years, $117 million
Andre Iguodala traded to the Memphis Grizzlies (trade)
Terry Rozier to the Charlotte Hornets: three years, $58 million