Wild doesn’t begin to describe the first few hours of the NBA free agency period. More than 30 top free agents went flying off the board as the NBA began its negotiation period before teams can officially sign free agents Saturday. The biggest news came from Brooklyn, where the Nets won the Kevin Durant sweepstakes and reportedly will add Kyrie Irving to their roster as well. Durant’s departure leaves a hole in Golden State, which will partly fill it with D’Angelo Russell — but lose Andre Iguodala to Memphis in the process. Elsewhere, Jimmy Butler appears bound for Miami and Al Horford for Philadelphia. And several stars signed maximum deals to stay with their current teams.
So KD is headed to New York, but not the part of New York everyone thought. He and Kyrie are both Brooklyn boys now, along with DeAndre Jordan.
Brooklyn is making a clean sweep tonight: Brooklyn will sign Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and DeAndre Jordan, league sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 30, 2019
He’s not quite Kevin Durant, but D’Angelo Russell keeps the Warriors relevant in the NBA title picture.
D-Lo is a Warrior. Wow.
Golden State has acquired D’Angelo Russell in a sign-and-trade deal worth $117M over 4 years, per @wojespn pic.twitter.com/TVuVLkDd2a
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) July 1, 2019
Jimmy Butler’s landing spot? Miami, which is executing a three-way trade with Philadelphia and Dallas that will also send Goran Dragic to Dallas.
The Heat is still working on options to complete the Jimmy Butler sign and trade with Philadelphia, according to a league source. Out of respect for Goran Dragic, the Heat are working with him and his representatives to find a trade partner by July 6.
— Ramona Shelburne (@ramonashelburne) July 1, 2019
The Sixers, for their part, will lose Butler but reportedly will gain Al Horford.
ESPN story on Al Horford agreeing to a free agent deal with the 76ers, who have transformed their roster again. https://t.co/uu7TwAU4vI
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 1, 2019
Jamal Murray (Nuggets), Kristaps Porzingis (Mavericks), Tobias Harris (76ers) and Khris Middleton (Bucks) were among those who re-signed with their previous teams.
Denver Nuggets rising star Jamal Murray has agreed to a five-year, $170M maximum contract extension, agent Mike George of OneLegacy tells @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 1, 2019
TOP STORIES
• Durant, Irving Make Nets the Talk of the Town in New York | NBC New York
• Stunning D’Angelo Russell, Andre Iguodala trades leave Warriors fans in shock | SF Gate
• Sources: Heat finalizing sign-and-trade for Butler | ESPN.com
• Horford leaves Celtics to join Sixers for $109M | ESPN.com
• Jamal Murray agrees to five-year, $170M extension with Nuggets, league source says | Denver Post
