NBA free agency tracker: Mike Conley staying in Utah, Lonzo Ball agrees to deal with Bulls
One NBA season morphs into another.
NBA free agency is here, not that far ahead of next season.
Following two unusual seasons in which COVID-19 impact the regular season and playoffs, the league is slated to get back on its regular schedule this season.
FYI: Training camp opens Sept. 28, and the regular season begins Oct. 19.
There are some All-Stars and future Hall of Famers available and then a bunch of solid role players in free agency. Who ends up where? Which teams have salary cap space or the front-office know-how to get a franchise-altering deal done?
Here are players who reached deals with teams during free agency.
Monday’s deals (Aug. 2)
► Point guard Lonzo Ball agreed to a four-year, $85 million offer sheet with the Chicago Bulls, and the New Orleans Pelicans have two days to match the contract if they want to retain Ball.
► Miami restricted free-agent guard Duncan Robinson reached a five-year, $90 million to stay with the Miami, a person familiar with negotiations told USA TODAY Sports.
► Restricted free-agent center Jarrett Allen agreed to return to the Cleveland Cavaliers on a five-year, $100 million contract, a person with knowledge of the deal told USA TODAY Sports. This gives the Cavs their rim-protecting big who is a solid pick-and-roll player with an improving offensive game. Allen averaged 12.8 points, 10 rebounds and 1.4 blocks last season.
► Will Barton agreed to a two-year, $32 million to stay with the Denver Nuggets, two people familiar with the deal confirmed to USA TODAY Sports. The Nuggets considered retaining Barton to be their biggest off-season priority. Barton provided dependable scoring and defense during his seven years there. The Nuggets will sorely need Barton’s services to offset the loss of point guard Jamal Murray, who remains sidelined indefinitely with a torn ACL in his left knee.
► All-Star guard Mike Conley agreed to a three-year, $72.5 million deal to stay with the Utah Jazz, a person familiar with the terms confirmed to USA TODAY Sports. The Jazz considered retaining Conley to be their biggest off-season priority. Though Conley missed all but Game 6 of the Jazz’s second-round loss to the Los Angeles Clippers because of a right hamstring injury, the Jazz are optimistic Conley will be fully healthy next season.
► Guard T.J. McConnell will stick with the Indiana Pacers on a four-year, $35 million deal, according to The Indianapolis Star.
► Forward-center Kelly Olynk plans to sign a three-year, $37 million with the Detroit Pistons.
► Center Nerlens Noels agreed to return to the New York Knicks on a three-year, $32 million deal.
► Guard Alec Burks agreed to return to the Knicks on a three-year, $30 million deal.
► Guard Cameron Payne will re-sign with the Phoenix Suns on a three-year, $19 million deal.