Hello friends who follow the NBA! Despite the offseason, the NBA has been very busy in recent days, with various trades coming out one after another. James jumped out of his contract and may take a salary cut to renew his contract, in order to bring in star players of the caliber of Harden and Klay, and if the Lakers do not bring in effective reinforcements, James will still sign a contract with a maximum salary. George is officially out of contract testing the free market, and he will meet with multiple teams. The Warriors are ready to lose Klay, and the Splash Brothers are disintegrating, but the Warriors are willing to sign and trade in order to increase Klay's salary. Let's take a look at the morning news.
1. Wei Shao returned to the Clippers
Major Will reportedly exercise his $4 million player option to return to the Clippers.
2. O'Neal returns to the Suns
O'Neal reportedly plans to sign a four-year, $44 million contract with the Suns. There are no player or team options in this contract and it is a fully guaranteed contract.
3. George enters the free agent market
George will reportedly decline to exercise his $48.7 million player option to enter the free agent market.
George and his team plan to meet with teams with cap cap cap and the Clippers starting this Sunday night.
The 76ers are expected to go after George strongly.
4. The Splash Brothers disintegrated
According to Shams of The Athletic, the Warriors are preparing to lose four-time NBA champion Klay in the free agent market. It was a parting of the ways between a legendary dynasty and a legendary player.
5. The Lakers, Clippers, and Mavericks will pursue Klay
Since the start of the free agent negotiation period two weeks ago, Klay and the Warriors have barely communicated and there have been no offers, according to Shams of The Athletic. The Warriors are willing to make a sign-trade with Klay to boost his potential earnings.
The Lakers, Clippers and Mavericks are expected to be strong suitors for Thompson. Multiple teams with salary space will also show interest in Thompson.
Klay is interested in playing with James with the Lakers, as long as the latter signs a contract extension with the Lakers. Thompson plans to negotiate with the Lakers and the Mavericks.
6. Brother-in-law becomes a free agent
Suns guard Damion Lee turned down a $2.85 million player option for next season to enter the free agent market, according to Scotto.
Last season, Damion Lee did not play due to injury.
7. James jumped out of the contract
James' agent, Rich Paul, told reporters that James has officially jumped out of the player contract option. He will discuss his next contract with the Lakers. If he is an influential player, he will prioritize the improvement of the squad. He has always insisted on doing everything he can to improve the squad.
8. James has conditions for a salary cut
According to Haynes, in order for the Lakers to have a full mid-range exception, James will need to take a salary cut of about $16 million next season.
The purpose of James' pay cut is not for the Lakers to use that full mid-range exception to sign one or two players in an effort to make minor repairs to the team. The Lakers' new signing must be a star-caliber player, or a near-star-caliber player who can accept that full-mid-range exception contract, which could also be a pay cut for that player. An average player is not enough, it has to be a player who can bring substantial improvement, and a star-level player, such as Klay and Harden, is a player who fits that condition.
If the full mid-range salary space created by James through a pay cut in his new contract can't get the Lakers to sign an impactful player, James will seek a max contract.
James' patience is limited, and the USA training camp will begin in Las Vegas in a week's time, and he needs to reach an agreement with the team to go to the camp.
9. Lefu will reach a new contract with the Heat
According to ESPN, Love will reject his $4 million player option. But both sides are enthusiastic about negotiating a new contract in the early days of the free agent market, which is expected to be agreed.
10. Magic refused to exercise the Ingalls option
According to ESPN, the Magic refused to exercise Ingalls' 11 million team option. But the two sides are expected to continue their conversation in the free agent market next week, with the 36-year-old Ingles entering his 11th NBA season.
11. Reddish returns to the Lakers
According to Shams, Reddish opted to exercise a $2.5 million player option to return to the Lakers next season.
12. The Magic do not exercise the Big Wagner team option
According to EPSN Register, the Magic have refused to exercise Moritz Wagner's $8 million team option, but both sides are interested in discussing a new contract in the free agent market.
13. The Grizzlies refused to enforce Kennard's contract
According to ESPN, the Grizzlies refused to execute Kennard's $14.8 million contract, and Kennard will be a free agent.
14. Martin jumped out of the contract
According to Scotto, Heat player Caleb Martin jumped out of his $7.12 million player option contract and became a free agent.
15. Holmes has rejected the player option
Wizards center Rejon Holmes has turned down a $12.8 million player option, according to Shams of The Athletic.
He will sign the Wizards to a new two-year, $25.9 million contract that runs through the 2025-26 season.
And of the $13.3 million for the 2025-26 season, only $250,000 is guaranteed.
16. The Lakers will trade Russell
According to reports, the Lakers are expected to aggressively pursue a Russell-centric trade. Previously, Russell opted to exercise the $18.69 million player option.