NBA free agency live blog: News, reports, rumors and analysis as it happens

Adi Joseph

NBA free agency live blog: News, reports, rumors and analysis as it happens image

Day 1 of the most expensive summer in NBA history is over.

There's a billion dollars to be spent this summer. That's not an exaggeration. And that money is going to be spent on a weak free agency class, relatively speaking. Oh, but don't worry — next year's salary cap leap is nearly as large, and the class is much better.

Either way, the story lines are huge this summer. There's Kevin Durant, of course, out here changing the entire future of the NBA with his decision. There are veteran stars like Al Horford likely aiming for a big payday to take them through and out of their primes. There are restricted free agents, the young guys whose teams can match.

Sporting News is here to keep you updated on the latest comings and goings of this complex free agency. As the process unfolds, make sure you know what you need to know.

Team-by-team offseason previews, by SN cap expert Danny Leroux:

On the players ...

From here down, we'll include time stamps (Eastern) and headers to keep you informed of who went where when. We'll also embed tweets as rumors fly.

And here's Noah in a Knicks hat to prove it:
 

Jah bless

A photo posted by Joakim Noah (@stickity13) on

Translation:

Grizzlies flash the cash for Mike Conley

10:10 p.m. Friday — Memphis is winning the offseason, Jordan Greer writes, after agreeing to a reported five-year, $153 million max contract with its longtime point guard. The deal comes on the heels of the team agreeing to a four-year pact with free-agent forward Chandler Parsons reportedly worth between $94 million and $98 million. That's a lot of cash, and Grizz owner Robert Pera knows it.

Hawks swoop in and nab Dwight Howard

9:25 p.m. Friday — Sean Deveney gives Atlantans fair warning about this homecoming.

Solomon Hill makes Larry Bird look bad

Friday, 4:19 p.m. — Solomon Hill has not been a particularly good NBA player in his three seasons with the Pacers, but he plays hard and has potential as a defender. The Pelicans rewarded that by giving him a four-year, $48 million contract, per ESPN. That seems like a lot of money, period, but it particularly looks crazy when compared to the roughly $2.4 million option that the Pacers turned down on Hill for next season.

Wings fly off the board

Friday, 3:25 p.m. — Well, that happened quickly. The NBA free agency rush had been mostly for big men up until a mid-afternoon sweep of three top wings. To review:

• Chandler Parsons is going to the Grizzlies for four years and $98 million, per The Vertical. That's a brilliant addition for Memphis, which desperately needed perimeter help and a leading-scorer type. It's bad news for the Mavericks, who are looking at possibly being in another terrible free agency situation. However, Parsons at a max contract is a risk because his knees have not been in good shape.

• Evan Fournier will stay with the Magic for five years and $85 million, The Undefeated reports. This is an excellent deal for the restricted free agent, who could have tried to find a suitor to pay him that much on a four-year deal. Fournier is 23 and perhaps the most gifted scorer on the Magic roster, and the trade of Victor Oladipo could make him a full-time starter.

• Evan Turner joins the Timberwolves on a four-year, $70 million contract, according to The Vertical. The money isn't surprising here, but the fit might be. Turner was excellent in an under-the-radar, Andre Iguodala-esque way for the Celtics last season, but this now appears to be the Blazers' big move of the offseason.

Andre Drummond staying in Detroit

Friday, 12:32 p.m. — The Pistons will keep double-double machine Andre Drummond on a five-year, $130 million deal, ESPN reports. Drummond's contract will include a player option after Year 4. Drummond has his flaws (those free throws are still all-time ugly), but he won't turn 23 until August and is coming off a season in which he averaged 16.2 points and 14.8 rebounds per game. Detroit simply had to offer a max deal. Stan Van Gundy will work with Drummond to turn him into a monster down low like Dwight Howard in his prime Magic years. With Drummond locked down as part of a young core with Reggie Jackson, Kentavious Caldwell and Stanley Johnson, things are looking up for the Pistons.

Bradley Beal gets his near-max contract

Friday, 11 a.m. — The Wizards locked up their shooting guard for the next five years at about $128 million, ESPN reported. Here's a breakdown of what Beal must do to prove he's worth that contract — and how John Wall was in a similar situation three years ago.

Jeremy Lin heads to Brooklyn

Friday, 10:23 a.m. — Linsanity returns to New York! In a move many expected, the point guard sensation will sign with the Nets. The interesting part is Lin's contract value, reported at three years and $36 million by ESPN and The Vertical. With the way free agency is going, many would have expected a much larger deal for one of the top point guards on the market. Lin had an excellent 2015-16 for the Hornets, backing up and playing next to Kemba Walker. Brooklyn gives him a place where he should be the starter, and it's a terrific fit, as SN's Scott Rafferty explained in a video breakdown.

Ish Smith joins Pistons

Friday, 9:13 a.m. — The Pistons closed their backup point guard hole quickly in free agency, landing journeyman Smith on a three-year, $18 million contract, the Detroit Free Press and others reported. The salary is reasonable, the length is smart and Smith fits the biggest need on the Pistons' roster as they close in on keeping Andre Drummond.

Hassan Whiteside breaks that he's staying with Heat

Friday, 7:47 a.m. — One of the biggest free agents who seemed like he might switch teams has some news for you: He's back. Whiteside, the NBA's shot-blocking king, announced on The Players' Tribune that he was returning to Miami. Whiteside's contract likely is a four-year maximum deal, according to The Associated Press, and that's a fine risk to take on one of the most talented free agents. But how it affects Dwyane Wade's future remains to be seen.

D.J. Augustin to the Magic

Friday, 7:41 a.m. — The veteran point guard was a bit of a surprise signing compared to others who landed early contracts. Augustin inked a four-year, $29 million deal with the Magic, The Vertical reported, which seems like a strange start because there typically are journeyman point guards like the 28-year-old available later in free agency. Augustin averaged 7.5 points and 3.2 assists in 19.0 minutes per game for the Thunder and Nuggets last season, when he shot 40.5 percent on 3-pointers.

Jordan Clarkson returns to the Lakers

5 a.m. Friday — Los Angeles didn't stop at Timofey Mozgov on Friday morning. It later agreed to re-sign Clarkson, one of its young building blocks, to a four-year, $50 million contract, The Vertical reported. Clarkson, 24, was a restricted free agent, and the Sixers reportedly had a great deal of interest. Clarkson averaged 15.5 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.4 assists last season, his second in the NBA. He, D'Angelo Russell, Julius Randle and first-round draft pick Brandon Ingram now represent the core of the Lakers' roster.

Hornets pay to keep Nic Batum

4:45 a.m. Friday — Another example of just how much money is in the market: Batum agreed to a five-year, $120 million contract with Charlotte on Friday morning, The Charlotte Observer and The Vertical reported. Batum confirmed on Twitter he's staying with the Hornets.

That the Hornets are putting a lot of their offseason eggs in the 27-year-old's basket is not surprising. The Batum became an integral part of the team's perimeter-driven offense last season after arriving in a trade with the Trail Blazers. He averaged a career-high 14.9 points on 42.6 percent shooting (34.8 percent from 3-point range). He also set a career mark with 5.8 assists per game.  

DeMar DeRozan to re-sign with the Raptors

2:20 a.m. Friday — As expected, the All-Star shooting guard is staying in Toronto, and he's getting paid. USA Today and the Vertical reported the agreement Friday morning. According to The Vertical, DeRozan will receive $139 million-plus over five years, which is about $15 million less than a full max deal. DeRozan, 26, averaged a career-high 23.5 points, to go with 4.0 assists, 4.5 rebounds and 1.0 steals, last season.

Timofey Mozgov to the Lakers

12:45 a.m. Friday — Well, this was not what we expected as the first signing of the night. And the money ... whew. Mozgov, the Cavaliers' benched center, will make $64 million over four years with the Lakers, the Los Angeles Times and The Vertical reported. The Lakers need a center, but this seems like a pretty extreme move so early in free agency, with so many better free agent centers still on the market. Mozgov barely played for the Cavaliers during their championship run, and he turns 30 this month.

Joakim Noah to the Knicks

Wednesday — The first reported deal came more than 24 hours before free agency even kicked off — and before the sides were even allowed to talk. Noah will join longtime Bulls teammate Derrick Rose on the Knicks on a contract of about $18 million a year, The Washington Post reported. Other reports came out that Noah still planned to meet with teams, but most were fully expecting the Knicks to be far ahead in the process.

Noah may still have some energy in him, but he's aged poorly since finishing fourth in MVP voting in 2013-14, when he also won Defensive Player of the Year. But the deal reportedly is for four years, so the Knicks may be locking up their chances to improve given Carmelo Anthony's massive deal. Also, Noah may crimp Kristaps Porzingis' opportunities as a center.

Adi Joseph

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