The NBA Free Agency period has begun with a bang, with a host of massive deals being done in the opening hours.
And Aussie Joe Ingles has been a part of the action, landing a new team in a move that was sensationally announced on social media.
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ZION SET TO POCKET MONSTER DEAL
It’s Zion Williamson’s turn to get paid.
The injury-riddled big man is signing a five-year rookie max contract with the Pelicans, Shams Charania reported Friday morning. The deal will pay Williamson up to $AUD338 million and keeps Williamson under contract through the 2027-28 season.
Williamson, the first overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, is averaging 25.7 points and 7.0 rebounds per game across his three year NBA career.
The 21-year-old has yet to fulfill the lofty expectations bestowed upon him coming out of Duke because of his inability to stay on the court.
CHICAGO KEEPS PRIZED POSSESSION
One of the biggest stars still on the market now has one of the biggest deals of NBA free agency.
All-Star Zach LaVine agreed to a five-year, $215.2 million max contact with the Bulls on Thursday, agent Rich Paul told The Athletic.
An eight-year NBA veteran after being a first-round pick in 2014, the shooting guard made the postseason for the first time in 2022. He averaged 24.4 points, 4/6 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game last season en route to getting a second straight All-Star nod.
Despite being non-committal in his end-of-season press conference, there seemed to be little worry among Bulls brass LaVine would return.
INGLES LANDS NEW TEAM
Aussie sharpshooter Joe Ingles has joined the Milwaukee Bucks, as revealed by his superstar wife Renae Ingles in an all-time social media post.
Ingles left the Utah Jazz in heartbreaking fashion after suffering an ACL injury, bringing to a close a lengthy and successful stint there, but will now team up with superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo in Milwaukee.
Ingles, 34, averaged 7.2 points, 3.5 assists and 2.6 rebounds last year.
The deal is worth $6.5 million USD, according to Yahoo Sports.
Fellow Aussie Patty Mills inked a two-year, $14.5 million USD agreement to remain with the Nets, ESPN reports. he initially opted to become a free agent before signing the new deal.
KNICKS GET SUPERSTAR POINT GUARD
The New York Knicks have a point guard after a decade of pain at the position.
Mavericks star Jalen Brunson has reportedly signed a whopping $110 million USD deal over four years – far more than Dallas was willing to pay to retain him – while the Knicks have had to dump a host of veterans to create room in their salary cap to afford the star.
Kemba Walker, Alec Burks and Nerlens Noel have each been ousted by Brooklyn, while they’ve given up the No. 11 overall draft pick.
25-year-old Brunson enjoyed a career-best year in points (16.3), assists (4.8), rebounds (3.9) and minutes (31.9). He guided the Mavericks to the Western Conference finals by posting 21.6 points, 4.6 rebounds and 3.7 assists in the playoffs, and stood up in Luka Doncic’s absence in the first round.
SIXERS MAKE MOVES
Rockets guard Trevelin Queen has joined the 76ers on a two-year, $3.3 million contract, according to Yahoo Sports.
Philly have also landed 29-year-old Danuel House from the Knicks on a two-year deal.
The Athletic reports that 37-year-old veteran PJ Tucker will join the 76ers on a three-year, $33.2m USD deal from the Heat.
The Heat will retain Victor Oladipo on a one-year contract, giving him another chance after an injury-plagued season saw him appear just eight times.
The Sixers are also hoping to lock in James Harden on a discount deal, with ESPN reporting a meeting will be held between the two parties this weekend.
JOKIC LANDS RECORD DEAL
In one of the first deals of the free agency period, Nikola Jokic made history.
The two-time NBA MVP inked a five-year, $264 million deal with the Denver Nuggets according to The Athletic.
It is the richest deal in NBA history. The 27-year-old averaged career highs last season with 27.1 points and 13.8 rebounds per game.
FORMER ALL-STAR BOLSTERS CONTENDERS
Free agent center Andre Drummond, 28, appears to be on his way to the Chicago Bulls, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic.
Already with starting center Nikola Vucevic under contract through the 2022-23 season, Drummond will provide a rim-protecting and rebounding presence as a role player for the Bulls.
Among centers last year, Vucevic averaged the fifth-most minutes per game at 33.1. Drummond, who averaged 10.3 rebounds and 11.8 points in 22.3 minutes per game for the Nets last year, could be in store to give the soon-to-be 32-year-old a little more rest in the upcoming campaign.
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EVERY DEAL
Lu Dort, Thunder agree to five-year, $87.5 million deal, via ESPN
Nic Claxton, Nets agree to two-year, $20 million deal, via ESPN
Jusuf Nurkic, Trail Blazers agree to four-year, $80 million deal, via Yahoo
Lonnie Walker IV, Lakers agrees to one-year, $6.5 deal, via The Athletic
Marvin Bagley III, Pistons agree to three-year, $37 million deal, via Yahoo
Patty Mills, Nets agree to two-year, $14.5 million deal, via ESPN
Jae’Sean Tate, Rockets agree to three-year, $22 million deal, via The Athletic
Troy Brown, Lakers agree to deal, via The Athletic
Nic Batum, Clipvias agree to two-year deal, via ESPN
Thad Young, Raptors agree to two-year, $16 million deal, via Yahoo
Tyus Jones, Grizzlies agree to two-year, $30 million deal, via ESPN
Chris Boucher, Raptors agree to three-year, $35 million deal, via ESPN.
Joe Ingles, Bucks, agree to one-year, 6.5m deal, via Yahoo
Davon Reed, Nuggets agree to two-year deal, via Denver Post
Dewayne Dedmon, Heat agree to two-year, $9 million, via The Athletic
Wes Matthews, Bucks agree to deal, via Yahoo
Trevelin Queen, 76ers agree to deal, via ESPN
Anfernee Simons, Trail Blazers agree to four-year, $100 million deal, via ESPN
Mohamed Bamba, Magic agree to two-year, $21 million deal, via Yahoo
Devin Booker, Suns agree to four-year, $214 million deal, via The Athletic
Danuel House, 76ers agree to two-year, $8.5 million deal, via ESPN
Nikola Jokic, Nuggets agree to five-year, $264 million deal, via The Athletic
Bobby Portis, Bucks agree to four-year, $49 million deal, via ESPN.
Amir Coffey, Clipvias agree to three-year, $11 million deal, via ESPN
Damian Jones, Lakers agree to two-year deal, via ESPN
Javon Carter, Bucks agree to two-year deal, via The Athletic
Bradley Beal, Wizards agree to five-year, $251 million deal, via ESPN
DeAndre Jordan, Nuggets agree to deal, via The Athletic
Isaiah Hartenstein, New York Knicks agree to two-year, $16 million deal, via The Athletic
Victor Oladipo, Heat agree to one-year, $11 million deal, via ESPN.
PJ Tucker, 76ers agree to three-year, $33 million deal, via The Athletic
Malik Monk, Kings agree to two-year, $19 million deal, via The Athletic
Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks agree to four-year, $110 million deal, via The Athletic.
Zach LaVine, Chicago Bulls agree to five-year, $215.2 million deal, via The Athletic
Zion Williamson, New Orleans Pelicans agree to five-year, $338 million deal, via The Athletic
