Believe it or not, 2024 NBA free agency is already here.
Free agency always seems to sneak up on the heels of the NBA Finals and NBA Draft. The chaos will officially begin on Sunday, June 30, but the rumor mill is already spinning.
This year’s free agency class isn’t expected to be loaded with star power. LeBron James and Paul George are the two headliners with player options for the Lakers and Clippers, respectively. Beyond those two, unrestricted free agents like James Harden, DeMar DeRozan and Klay Thomspon are among the top names to watch.
Where will each of these players end up when free agency tips off? The Sporting News is tracking the latest news below.
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Date: June 30
Source: Adrian Wojnarowski, ESPN
As meetings and negotiations continue, Paul George will not return to the Clippers in 2024-25. The team issued a statement acknowledging an inability to negotiate a deal, thanking George for his five years with the franchise.
Philadelphia is considered the frontrunner to land George, according to Wojnarowski.
Date: June 30
Source: Shams Charania, The Athletic
LA is looking to move on from Russell Westbrook, according to Charania. The former MVP has one year remaining on his contract and Charania adds that there is mutual interest between Westbrook and the Nuggets.
Date: June 30
Source: Shams Charania, The Athletic
After finishing with the West’s top seed in 2023-24 the Thunder are looking to make improvements to the roster. The team is preparing to meet with free agent center Isaiah Hartenstein, per Charania.
OKC has an abundance of cap space and can bolster its frontcourt with Hartenstein, who grew into a major role as a rebounder and underrated playmaker for the Knicks last season.
Date: June 30
Source: Adrian Wojnarowski, ESPN
Klay Thompson’s time with the Warriors appears to officially be coming to an end. As free agency begins, Thompson is lining up meetings with Philadelphia, both Los Angeles teams and Dallas, according to Wojnarowski.
Ahead of the deadline to guarantee his $30 million salary for the 2024-25 season, the Warriors have waived Paul, according to Haynes. Paul is now an unrestricted free agent and will receive interest from the Lakers and Spurs, among other teams.
There is growing optimism that Philadelphia will be able to sign Paul George, according to Haynes. George, who has spent the last five seasons with the LA Clippers, can sign in Philadelphia outright due to the team’s available cap space.
Dallas is viewed as a real contender to add four-time champion Klay Thompson. “There is optimism” that the Mavericks can sign Thompson while re-signing Derrick Jones Jr., according to Stein. Jones drove up his value as a free agent during Dallas’ run to the 2024 NBA Finals.
The 76ers enter the offseason with plenty of cap space and room to improve after a first-round exit. Philadelphia is looking into ways it can sign two marquee free agents in Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Paul George, according to Stein.
Klay Thompson’s time with the Warriors appears to be on the verge of an end. Thompson is not expected back with Golden State, according to Charania, who adds that there have been virtually no talks between the two sides in weeks and reports Thompson is “determined” to find a new home.
George is now set to hit free agency on Sunday, eliminating any potential sign-and-trade scenario that would have made him more attainable for certain teams.
The 76ers are reportedly the top suitor with a chance to lure George away from Los Angeles.
The Suns are re-signing forward Royce O’Neale to a four-year, $44 million deal. Phoenix acquired O’Neale from the Nets at the trade deadline and plugged him into the rotation as a key 3-and-d role player.
LeBron James intends to opt out of his deal with the Lakers and become a free agent, declining his $51.4 million player option.
James is fully expected to return to the Lakers, Charania reports, but opting out will allow him to sign a long-term deal that could include a no-trade clause and even create flexibility for the franchise in free agency.
Clippers PG Russell Westbrook is exercising his $4 million player option and will return to the team in 2024-25.
Westbrook’s status was up for debate because of the low cost of his option, but the former MVP found a comfortable sixth man role with the Clippers and will try to be part of a championship effort in his 17th NBA season.
The Pelicans have made their splash, acquiring former All-Star guard Dejounte Murray from the Hawks in exchange for Larry Nance Jr., Dyson Daniels and two first-round picks.
Murray’s output on both ends of the floor was fine in his two seasons with the Hawks, as he averaged 22.5 points, 5.3 rebounds and 6.4 assists per game this past season, but he didn’t always mesh with Trae Young the way Atlanta expected and entered the offseason as a prime trade candidate.
The Raptors have elected to pick up Brown’s $23 million team option for the 2024-25 season. That allows Toronto to keep a valuable trade chip who is on an expiring contract going into this offseason and beyond.
Date: June 28
Source: Adrian Wojnarowski, ESPN
Golden State and Paul intend to move back the date to Sunday to guarantee the $30 million on his 2024-25 contract. That allows the Warriors to continue to explore potential trade destinations for the veteran floor general.
MORE: 2024 NBA free agency sleepers, from Andre Drummond to Obi Toppin
Date: June 28
Source: Marc Stein, NBA insider
With Thompson’s situation with the Warriors in the balance, Dallas is a team that could swoop in and sign the veteran sharpshooter.
“With [the Mavericks’] newfound financial flexibility after securing the Tim Hardaway Jr.-to-Detroit trade, they are another team intent on exploring the feasibility of signing Thompson once he makes it to free agency,” Stein wrote in his Substack.
Date: June 28
Source: Sam Amick and Anthony Slater, The Athletic
The Warriors reportedly have “legitimate interest” in making George a part of their new core with Stephen Curry and Draymond Green.
That makes Golden State’s Klay Thompson situation even more difficult, as there “remains no official contract offer and little contact between Thomspon and the Warriors,” per the Athletic.
Date: June 28
Source: Marc Stein, NBA insider
Two-time NBA champion Caldwell-Pope and the Mavericks have “mutual interest” if he does not get a deal done with the Nuggets. It’s worth noting that Denver reportedly does not “want to participate in a sign-and-trade with an in-conference rival.”
