NBA free agency burst open this week, sparking immediate activity across the league. teams wasted no time making significant moves to reshape their rosters for the upcoming season. Early agreements saw major players changing destinations, with several teams positioning themselves for contention. Despite an official signing moratorium in place until later this week, verbal agreements quickly surfaced, setting the stage for a busy offseason.
NBA Free Agency Opens: Flurry of Early Deals
The 2025 NBA free agency period officially began Monday evening. However, deals were reportedly being struck well before the clock hit 6 PM ET. This early rush included both unrestricted free agents and sign-and-trade scenarios. The activity highlights teams’ eagerness to address needs and build winning rosters. Many agreements cannot be formally announced until the league’s moratorium period lifts, expected on Sunday, July 6th. This creates a unique dynamic where news leaks through various sources before becoming official team statements.
Key Teams Make Strategic Additions
Several franchises stood out as early movers, implementing strategic plans to enhance their teams through free agency and other offseason maneuvers like the recent NBA Draft and trades.
Spurs Bolster Frontcourt for Wembanyama
The San Antonio Spurs focused on adding size and depth around rising star Victor Wembanyama. They reportedly agreed to a deal to bring center Luke Kornet over from the Boston Celtics. The agreement is said to be for four years and worth $41 million. Kornet provides immediate frontcourt depth. He is known for his efficiency, shooting 68% from the field over his last three seasons, primarily off the bench. This move is particularly significant as Wembanyama is recovering from deep vein thrombosis diagnosed earlier this year. Kornet was a member of the Celtics’ 2024 NBA title-winning squad. The Spurs also recently added another potential piece to their young core by drafting guard Dylan Harper with the second overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. Harper offers scoring and lead ballhandler potential.
Rockets Continue Offseason Transformation
The Houston Rockets remained highly active, building on their offseason overhaul. They landed veteran forward Dorian Finney-Smith on a reported four-year, $53 million contract. Finney-Smith previously played for Dallas, Brooklyn, and the Lakers. He adds defensive versatility and shooting, having shot 41% from three-point range last season while averaging 8.7 points. Houston’s busy start continued with the reported return of center Clint Capela. Capela spent his first six NBA seasons in Houston before five years with Atlanta. He is expected to rejoin the Rockets on a three-year deal. These free agency additions complement the Rockets’ major recent trade acquisition of superstar forward Kevin Durant from Phoenix. That blockbuster trade is also awaiting formal league approval. Houston is strategically building around their young core, reportedly unwilling to part with players like Amen Thompson or Alperen Sengun in trades.
Mavericks Address Backcourt Needs
The Dallas Mavericks targeted help in their backcourt. They reportedly reached an agreement with guard D’Angelo Russell on a two-year contract worth nearly $13 million. This signing is timely, especially given that newly re-signed Kyrie Irving is rehabbing from an ACL tear and may not be ready to play until midseason. Russell is expected to provide crucial depth and scoring alongside Irving and complementing the team’s impressive front line. That frontcourt includes Dereck Lively II, 10-time All-Star Anthony Davis, and No. 1 overall draft pick Cooper Flagg. The Mavericks secured Flagg, a potential franchise cornerstone, after winning the draft lottery with just a 1.8% chance.
Hawks Make Trade & Signing Moves
The Atlanta Hawks were also involved in early free agency action. They added guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker from Minnesota via a sign-and-trade agreement. The reported deal is for four years and $62 million. As part of the trade, Minnesota is set to receive a draft pick, cash, and a trade exception. This move comes as the Hawks saw center Clint Capela reportedly return to Houston. Atlanta is also reportedly interested in re-signing free agents Caris LeVert and Larry Nance Jr., valuing their contributions and fit. The Hawks were also active in the draft, notably trading their #13 pick (Derik Queen) to New Orleans for the #23 pick (Asa Newell) and a future first-round pick.
Magic Target Win-Now Success
The Orlando Magic made moves aimed at bolstering their roster for immediate contention in the Eastern Conference. They signed guard Tyus Jones to a one-year deal. Jones joins an Orlando team that recently made a significant trade acquisition, landing guard Desmond Bane from the Memphis Grizzlies. The Bane trade, involving multiple draft picks, signaled Orlando’s shift to a “win-now lens” strategy, particularly addressing their need for shooting where they ranked last in the league last season. Bane is a proven scorer and a career 41% three-point shooter. The Magic are hoping for better health this season from core players like Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner, and Jalen Suggs, aiming to be a legitimate threat in the East. Notably, Tyus Jones’ brother, Tre Jones, also agreed to a new deal, returning to the Chicago Bulls.
Beyond the Top Teams: Other Notable Signings
The early free agency period saw activity extending beyond the teams mentioned above. Many other deals were reported as the window opened:
The Los Angeles Clippers added center Brook Lopez from Milwaukee on a reported two-year, $18 million deal. They also retained forward Nicolas Batum on a two-year contract. Star guard James Harden also declined his option for a new deal and a raise with the Clippers.
Veteran guard Bruce Brown is set to return to the Denver Nuggets, the team he helped win the 2023 NBA title.
Center Kevon Looney, who spent his first 10 seasons with Golden State, agreed to a two-year deal with the New Orleans Pelicans.
Guard Caris LeVert is reportedly signing a two-year deal worth nearly $15 million annually with the Detroit Pistons. The Pistons saw a dramatic improvement this past season, winning 44 games to earn the No. 6 seed in the East after winning just 14 games in 2023-24.
Center Luka Garza joined the Boston Celtics on a reported two-year, $5.5 million deal, filling a depth spot after Kornet’s departure.
Forward Julius Randle reportedly returns to the Minnesota Timberwolves with a potential $100 million deal.
Veteran forward Bobby Portis is staying with the Milwaukee Bucks.
Guard Duncan Robinson terminated his contract with the Miami Heat, though a return remains possible.
- Forward Joe Ingles also reportedly agreed to return to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
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These moves demonstrate the widespread nature of early free agency discussions, with teams addressing various needs across the league.
NBA Financial Landscape Updates
Adding context to the flurry of deals, the NBA officially announced the salary cap and tax levels for the upcoming 2025-26 season. The salary cap is set at $154.647 million. This represents the maximum allowable 10% increase from the previous season’s level. The luxury tax level for the 2025-26 season has been set at $187.895 million. These figures provide the financial framework guiding team spending and contract negotiations during the free agency period.
Broader Context: Draft and Superstar Contracts
While free agency dominates headlines this week, it’s part of a broader, active NBA offseason. Just days before free agency, the league held the 2025 NBA Draft in New York. The draft saw the Dallas Mavericks select Cooper Flagg first overall and the San Antonio Spurs take Dylan Harper second. The draft featured numerous trades involving picks and players, further altering team rosters.
Concurrent to the free agency opening, major contract news also surfaced. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder reportedly agreed to a record-setting four-year, $285 million supermax extension. This deal, while not a free agency signing, highlights the massive financial commitments teams are making to secure their foundational superstars for the long term. Gilgeous-Alexander is coming off an MVP and Finals MVP season, leading the Thunder to a championship.
Together, the draft, trades (like the Durant and Bane deals), early free agency signings, and major extensions like Gilgeous-Alexander’s paint a picture of a dynamic offseason where teams are aggressively pursuing different strategies to build contenders.
Frequently Asked Questions
What were some of the biggest early signings in 2025 NBA free agency?
Several notable players agreed to deals early in free agency. Key reported signings included center Luke Kornet joining the Spurs for $41 million over four years, forward Dorian Finney-Smith returning to Texas with the Rockets on a four-year, $53 million contract, and guard D’Angelo Russell reportedly signing a two-year deal worth nearly $13 million with the Mavericks. Other significant reported moves included Nickeil Alexander-Walker to the Hawks, Tyus Jones to the Magic, Brook Lopez to the Clippers, and Bruce Brown back to the Nuggets.
Which teams were most active with early deals as NBA free agency began?
The San Antonio Spurs, Houston Rockets, Dallas Mavericks, Atlanta Hawks, and Orlando Magic were among the teams making significant early moves. The Spurs added frontcourt depth around Wembanyama. The Rockets continued their roster transformation with veteran additions complementing their recent Durant trade. The Mavericks addressed their backcourt needs. The Hawks made a sign-and-trade, while the Magic added a guard and integrated their recent Desmond Bane trade. Numerous other teams, including the Clippers, Nuggets, Pelicans, and Pistons, also reportedly secured new or returning players quickly.
How does the NBA’s signing moratorium affect free agency announcements?
The NBA’s signing moratorium is a period, typically lasting several days after free agency opens, during which teams can agree to deals but cannot formally sign most contracts. This is why reports of agreements surface quickly, often through agents and league sources, but official team announcements are delayed. The moratorium allows the league office time to finalize salary cap and tax figures and process information before contracts are officially executed and registered. For 2025, the moratorium is expected to lift on Sunday, July 6th.
Conclusion
The opening of NBA free agency delivered on expectations, bringing a rapid-fire series of reported agreements across the league. From strategic depth signings like Luke Kornet to high-value veteran additions such as Dorian Finney-Smith and Clint Capela, teams like the Spurs, Rockets, Mavs, Hawks, and Magic wasted little time executing their offseason plans. Coupled with the recent NBA Draft and impactful trades and extensions, the early days of free agency underscore the diverse approaches teams are taking to build competitive rosters within the league’s financial framework. The coming days, especially as the signing moratorium lifts, promise even more official announcements and continued roster shaping across the NBA.
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