The rumor mill never stops churning in the NBA, but it's especially busy this time of the year.
Following the NBA Draft comes free agency, which opens at 6 p.m. ET on Friday, June 30, when teams can begin negotiating with free agents. While players can agree to new deals, most contracts can't be officially signed until 12:01 p.m. ET on Thursday, July 6.
Expect to see a lot of rumors between now and then. The Sporting News is tracking the biggest ones below.
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Kyrie Irving to meet with numerous teams
Date: June 30
Source: Bill Reiter, CBS Sports; Kelly Iko, The Athletic
Rumor: Kyrie Irving will meet with the Mavericks, Suns, Heat, Rockets, Lakers and Clippers when free agency opens. Dallas, Houston and Phoenix's interest in Irving was previously reported by Bleacher Report's Chris Haynes.
Cavaliers join Max Strus sweepstakes
Date: June 30
Source: Marc Stein, Substack
Rumor: Max Strus could land somewhere other than the Pacers, such as the Cavaliers, who have "a strong interest" in Strus as they look to add more shooting.
Don't be surprised if the Heat complete a sign-and-trade to get at least a trade exception.
Pistons to acquire Joe Harris
Date: June 30
Source: Adrian Wojnarowski, ESPN
Rumor: The Nets are trading Joe Harris and two second-round picks to the Pistons. The move will create a $19.9 million trade exception for Brooklyn, giving it "flexibility to explore more deal-making this summer."
Clippers, Knicks emerge as James Harden options
Date: June 29
Source: Adrian Wojnarowski, ESPN
Rumor: The Clippers and Knicks are expected to be "among the teams" that will engage with the 76ers on a potential trade for James Harden, who picked up his player option for the 2023-24 season.
According to The Athletic's Sam Amick, Kawhi Leonard and Paul George are "on board" with the idea of Harden joining the Clippers.
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Harrison Barnes reaches extension with Kings
Date: June 29
Source: Adrian Wojnarowski, ESPN
Rumor: Barnes and the Kings have reached an agreement on a three-year, $54 million contract extension on the eve of free agency. Barnes played a key veteran role for Sacramento last season, averaging 15.0 points and 4.5 rebounds per game.
James Harden picking up player option
Date: June 29
Source: Adrian Wojnarowski, ESPN
Rumor: James Harden has picked up his player option for the 2023-24 season, but he and the 76ers are "beginning to work together in exploring trade scenarios." Harden has likely played his last game with the 76ers.
Kyrie Irving to meet with Suns
Date: June 29
Source: Chris Haynes, Bleacher Report
Rumor: Kyrie Irving is expected to meet with the Suns, Mavericks and "possibly other teams," including the Rockets, when free agency begins.
While the Suns are "still being ultra-aggressive" in adding talent to their star core of Devin Booker, Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal, they would be hard-capped if they acquired Irving in a sign-and-trade. They aren't expected to have access to the midlevel exception either, so they would be limited in ways they could sign Irving.
Fred VanVleet expected to sign with Rockets?
Date: June 29
Source: Marc Stein, Substack
Rumor: In talking to various teams, it has reached a point where it would be "a legitimate leaguewide surprise now" if both Fred VanVleet and Dillon Brooks don't make verbal agreements to join the Rockets when free agent negotiations open on Friday.
Houston is expected to offer VanVleet a two-year, $83.6 million contract. His role on the Rockets would be to "start changing their culture as a leader and example-setter for a young team."
MORE: Fred VanVleet replacements: Raptors eyeing these guards in free agency
Pacers weighing offer for Max Strus
Date: June 29
Source: Marc Stein, Substack
Rumor: Max Strus is expected to earn a contract higher than the full $12.4 million midlevel exception. One team that is "strongly weighing" an offer for Strus is the Pacers, who are projected to have around $30 million in cap space.
Indiana's offer to Strus could be in the three-year, $48 million range.
Bulls, Nikola Vucevic working on extension
Date: June 28
Source: Shams Charania, The Athletic
Rumor: Nikola Vucevic and the Bulls are nearing a three-year, $60 million extension.
The Sporting News' Steph Noh ranked Vucevic as the 10th-best player in this year's free agent class. He's averaged 18.2 points, 11.1 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game with the Bulls.
Kyrie Irving likely to return to Mavericks
Date: June 28
Source: Adrian Wojnarowski, ESPN
Rumor: Outside of Dallas, the market for Kyrie Irving is "extremely limited." The expectation is he returns to the Mavericks.
"The question will be what kind of a deal does he go back on — how many years on a contract," Wojnarowski said. "I don't think the money will be as much of an issue as how many fully guaranteed years are there for Kyrie Irving. I think that's where the negotiation is going to be between he and the Mavericks."
"The market for Kyrie Irving — legitimate places that he would leave Dallas for that make sense, that are available to him — it's extremely limited, perhaps almost nil. I think the full expectation is that he returns [to the Mavs]."
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPointsApp) June 28, 2023
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The Mavericks almost acquired Deandre Ayton in draft-day deal
Date: June 27
Source: Marc Stein, Substack
Rumor: The Suns engaged in "advanced discussions" with the Mavericks on a Deandre Ayton trade during the 2023 NBA Draft. The trade fell through, but a "resumption of the Ayton talks could not be ruled out."
The proposed deal would have been Ayton for Tim Hardaway Jr., Richaun Holmes and JaVale McGee. The Suns "balked" at the inclusion of McGee.
Rockets linked to numerous free agents
Date: June 27
Source: Jake Fischer, Yahoo Sports
Rumor: The Rockets are considering "short-term, high-salary contracts" in an effort to land some of the top names in free agency. Players they have been linked to include Austin Reaves, Fred VanVleet, Dillon Brooks and Brook Lopez.
The Rockets are said to be prepared to offer VanVleet a "very competitive deal" to lure the one-time All-Star away from the Raptors. Brooks is the top wing on Houston's radar, while Lopez is its top center.
Pistons offer sheet for Cameron Johnson gaining steam
Date: June 27
Source: Jake Fischer, Yahoo Sports
Rumor: The possibility of the Pistons offering restricted free agent Cameron Johnson a "massive offer sheet" has gained steam around the league. The Nets are expected to match "any practical offer" for Johnson.
When the Suns traded Johnson, head coach Monty Williams said he and Mikal Bridges "are like my family." Substack's Marc Stein wrote that Johnson has "a huge new fan" in Detroit after the Pistons hired Williams.
