NBA UPDATE: Draymond Green, Kyrie Irving and Kyle Kuzma are among stars agreeing huge new deals… here’s all the updates as teams commit over $1BN in just the first HOUR of free agency
NBA free agency has already seen a number of players sign huge, career-changing contracts, signaling a quick start.
Teams started to spend a significant amount of money within the first hour of free agency opening, with an estimated $1.02 billion in salary being committed.
Details are subject to change, and players who are switching teams cannot formally sign with new teams prior to July 6.
Kyrie Irving staying in Dallas
According to reports, Kyrie Irving has decided to sign a $126 million, three-year contract with the Dallas Mavericks, putting an end to rᴜmors that he will look elsewhere in the free-agent market.
The contentious NBA champion from 2016 moved from the Brooklyn Nets to Texas in February after asking for a trade, but the group missed the playoffs. In free agency, Irving had been connected to a number of teams, including the Phoenix Suns, Miami Heat, and Houston Rockets, but he decided to stay with the Mavericks.
Draymond Green stays in Golden State
Draymond Green has reportedly signed a new four-year, $100 million contract, which will keep him with the Golden State Warriors.
The four-time NBA champion has subsequently agreed to a hefty new contract that will keep him playing until he turns 37 after declining his $27.5 million player option last week.
Additionally, it opens the door for Green to retire with the Warriors after spending his entire career with them. Green was selected with the 35th overall pick in the 2012 draft.
He is a four-time All-Star and won championships with the squad in 2015, 2017, 2018, and 2022.
Rich Paul, the CEO of Klutch Sports, negotiated Green’s contract.
Fred VanVleet gets a max deal from Houston
The Houston Rockets and Fred VanVleet have reached a three-year, $130 million maximum agreement.
With the Toronto Raptors last year, VanVleet averaged 19.3 points, 7.2 assists, and 4.1 rebounds.
The point guard, who is 29 years old, played a significant role in the Toronto Raptors’ triumph in the 2019 NBA Finals and was selected to his first All-Star game for the 2021–2022 season.
VanVleet was one of the most sought-after free agents this offseason, and he has since earned a sizable salary as he appears destined to be the focal point of newly hired head coach Ime Udoka’s new endeavor.
Kyle Kuzma remains a Wizard
According to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, Kyle Kuzma and the Wizards have reached an agreement on a four-year, $102 million contract that will retain the star forward in Washington.
Kuzma recently chose not to exercise the $13 million player option in his contract for the upcoming season, allowing him to leave the team and become a free agent. Despite this, he previously stated he was open to staying with the organization.
“It is absolutely a choice… Kuzma remarked, “I’ve had a terrific time here. “I have significantly improved my game here, and there are good people here.” I’d be lying if I said I didn’t have a choice.
The upcoming 28-year-old averaged a career-high 21.2 points and 7.2 rebounds and was anticipated to be one of the more sought-after free agents this summer.