NBA’s 2021 Free Agency Moratorium Ends
The NBA’s 2021 free agency moratorium has officially ended, as of 11:00am central time, meaning teams are now allowed to conduct official business. The moratorium is the period at the start of the NBA league year when teams are permitted to agree to trades and free agent contracts, but can’t yet formally finalize them.
[RELATED: 2021 NBA Free Agent Tracker]
There are a number of types of deals that can be finalized during the moratorium, as we’ve seen this week. Teams can sign first-round picks to their rookie contracts, two-way contracts can be made official, and players signing minimum-salary contracts can also finalize those deals. Still, most of the deals agreed upon since August 2 are not yet official.
Although the end of the moratorium signals the beginning of official business for many teams, those teams aren’t obligated to immediately finalize deals reached during the moratorium. Salary-cap machinations and intertwined trades mean that patience will be required on certain moves.
The Jazz, for instance, agreed to trade for the rights to No. 40 pick Jared Butler in a draft-night deal with the Grizzlies. However, before Utah can acquire Butler from Memphis, the Grizzlies will have to acquire him from the Pelicans, who were technically the team that selected Butler on draft night. Those trades are two of at least a dozen from July or early August that still need to be finalized.
[RELATED: 2021 NBA Offseason Trades]
Now that the moratorium has lifted, we’ll be updating our stories of contract and trade agreements to reflect when they become official.
For top headlines from the last week, like the deals involving John Collins, Chris Paul, Kyle Lowry, and other big-name free agents, we’ll bump those stories to the top of the site or publish new stories so you don’t miss news of them becoming official.
However, since we don’t want to bury new news amidst confirmation of old signings, our stories on smaller deals won’t be moved to the top of our feed unless there are new developments or details.
Andre Iguodala Signs One-Year Deal With Warriors
AUGUST 10: Igoudala’s new deal with the Warriors is now official, the team announced today in a press release.
AUGUST 6: Free agent forward Andre Iguodala has agreed to return to the Warriors, telling Jonathan Abrams of The New York Times that he’ll sign a one-year deal with Golden State. His intention is to finish his career with the franchise.
According to Anthony Slater of The Athletic (Twitter link), Iguodala – like fellow free agents Otto Porter and Nemanja Bjelica – will receive the veteran’s minimum from Golden State.
A report on Thursday indicated that Iguodala – who became a free agent after the Heat turned down his $15MM team option – had narrowed his choices down to the Warriors, Lakers, and Nets, while a follow-up report this morning from Jordan Schultz of ESPN (Twitter link) suggested the decision would likely come down to Brooklyn vs. Golden State.
In the end, the opportunity to reunite with the Warriors won out for the 37-year-old, who previously earned three titles with the team.
“Who would have thought I’d have the opportunity to go back to the place where I was able to have, whatever you want to call it, legacy years, in terms of the accomplishments, winning multiple championships, the relationships that I was able to build with some of my closest friends and teammates?” Iguodala said. “The relationship with the fans, the relationship with the Bay, the opportunity to end it here, was just something special.”
Iguodala, who routinely averaged between 15-20 points per game for the 76ers early in his NBA career, is no longer much of an offensive threat, having put up just 4.4 PPG, 3.6 RPG, and 2.3 APG on .396/.323/.585 shooting in 84 games (20.9 MPG) over the last two seasons in Miami.
However, the veteran forward remains a reliable, versatile defender and brings veteran leadership to a locker room. He told Abrams that he’s looking forward to taking on a mentor role for the Warriors’ young players.
As for how much longer Iguodala plans to spend in the league before his retirement, that decision remains up in the air, as Abrams relays.
“I think I’ve got some more time left,” Iguodala said. “Where I’m comfortable at is I can decide when I’m ready to go. I think I want to leave with just a little bit left. I don’t want to go out on one leg. I know I’ve got a few more years. It’s just my decision whether it’s one or two or three or whatever it may be. I shouldn’t even say three. One or two.”
Bulls RFA Lauri Markkanen Seeking “Fresh Start”
Bulls restricted free agent forward Lauri Markkanen is looking to leave Chicago this offseason, he tells Finnish journalist Antti-Jussi Sipilä of Yle.fi (hat tip to Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports).
“We have offers from several different teams,” Markkanen said in Finnish. “I want a fresh start to my NBA career somewhere else.”
The seventh overall pick in the 2017 draft, Markkanen showed a ton of promise as a stretch four during his first two NBA seasons, posting a career-high 18.7 PPG and 9.0 RPG on .430/.361/.872 shooting in 52 games (32.3 MPG) in 2018/19. However, his development trajectory has leveled off since then, as he has battled a series of injuries and provided up-and-down production.
Chicago issued Markkanen a $9MM qualifying offer last week, making him a restricted free agent and giving the team the right to match any offer sheet he signs.
With cap room drying up across the league, there are few teams left that could realistically sign the 24-year-old outright to an offer sheet that exceeds the Bulls’ qualifying offer or the full mid-level exception ($9.5MM). The Hornets were said to be mulling an offer sheet for Markkanen, but have since reached a deal with Kelly Oubre that projects to eat up most or all of their remaining space.
The Thunder and Pelicans are among the teams that could realistically generate enough room to make a play for Markkanen. However, there have been no reports indicating either club is considering an offer sheet. A sign-and-trade would also be a possibility to get Markkanen to a new team that doesn’t necessarily have the space to sign him outright, but that would require the Bulls’ cooperation and they’d seek at least an asset or two to let him walk.
A report earlier this week stated that the Spurs had interest in Markkanen in the DeMar DeRozan sign-and-trade, but weren’t comfortable meeting his asking price. The Timberwolves are also believed to have interest, but don’t have a ton of cap flexibility.
One additional option for Markkanen would be to accept his one-year qualifying offer, which would allow him to become an unrestricted free agent in 2022. However, if he’s eager to leave Chicago, that’s likely not his preferred path.
The Bulls’ interest – or lack thereof – in hanging onto Markkanen will likely dictate how this situation plays out. If the team is willing to let him go after reshaping its roster this week, a sign-and-trade seems like a plausible outcome.
Alen Smailagic Signing With Serbian Team
After being released by the Warriors earlier this week, Alen Smailagic has wasted no time securing a new deal overseas.
Serbian club KK Partizan announced in a press release on Friday that Smailagic is signing a three-year contract with the team. It’ll be a homecoming for the young forward/center, as he was born and raised in Belgrade.
Smailagic, who turns 21 later this month, spent a season with the Santa Cruz Warriors in the G League in 2018/19 before Golden State drafted him with the 39th overall pick in 2019.
Although the Dubs were said to be high on the big man’s potential, Smailagic never really took any major steps forward at the NBA level, appearing in just 29 games (7.7 MPG) and averaging 3.0 PPG and 1.5 RPG across two seasons in Golden State. He was waived before his salary for 2021/22 became guaranteed.
Technically, Smailagic isn’t set to clear NBA waivers until later today, but KK Partizan’s announcement suggests no claim is expected.
2021 NBA Draft Pick Signings
Free agent news has dominated NBA headlines over the last few days, but teams around the league are also taking care of the rookies they drafted on July 29, signing them to their first NBA contracts. Because cap holds for first-round picks count for 120% of the rookie scale instead of 100% in the current Collective Bargaining Agreement, there’s little incentive for teams to wait to lock up their first-rounders.
For first-round picks, rookie contracts are fairly rigid, having essentially been predetermined. The NBA’s rookie-scale structure dictates that first-rounders will be signed to four-year deals, which include two guaranteed years, then team options in years three and four.
The value of those contracts depends on where a player was drafted. This year, No. 1 overall pick Cade Cunningham figures to sign a four-year deal worth in excess of $45MM, which represents the maximum allowable 120% of his scale amount. No. 30 pick Santi Aldama, on the other hand, would be in line for a four-year contract worth just over $10MM.
The full breakdown of this year’s first-round rookie salaries and contracts can be found right here — if you see a first-rounder listed below as “signed,” you can assume his contract looks like that, unless otherwise indicated.
Second-round picks, meanwhile, aren’t assured of two guaranteed seasons, though some players will receive them. Teams can sign second-rounders to whatever amount they choose, using cap room or various exceptions. Those players who immediately join their NBA teams figure to earn a minimum salary or something slightly above the minimum. We’ll make a note of contract details for second-rounders below, as they become available.
Finally, some second-rounders – and perhaps even some first-rounders – won’t sign NBA deals immediately. They may get two-way contracts, play in the G League, or head overseas to refine their games while their NBA teams retain their rights. We’ll make note of that below too, wherever it’s applicable.
Here’s a breakdown of 2021’s draft pick signings. This list will continue to be updated as more draftees sign their first NBA contracts:
First Round:
Detroit Pistons: Cade Cunningham, G, Oklahoma State: Signed- Houston Rockets: Jalen Green, G, G League Ignite: Signed
- Cleveland Cavaliers: Evan Mobley, F/C, USC: Signed
- Toronto Raptors: Scottie Barnes, F, Florida State: Signed
- Orlando Magic: Jalen Suggs, G, Gonzaga: Signed
- Oklahoma City Thunder: Josh Giddey, G, Australia: Signed
- Golden State Warriors: Jonathan Kuminga, F, G League Ignite: Signed
- Orlando Magic: Franz Wagner, F, Michigan: Signed
- Sacramento Kings: Davion Mitchell, G, Baylor: Signed
- Memphis Grizzlies: Ziaire Williams, G, Stanford: Signed
- Charlotte Hornets: James Bouknight, G, UConn: Signed
- San Antonio Spurs: Joshua Primo, G, Alabama: Signed
- Indiana Pacers: Chris Duarte, G, Oregon: Signed
- Golden State Warriors: Moses Moody, G/F, Arkansas: Signed
- Washington Wizards: Corey Kispert, F, Gonzaga: Signed
- Houston Rockets: Alperen Sengun, C, Turkey: Signed
- New Orleans Pelicans: Trey Murphy, G, Virginia: Signed
- Oklahoma City Thunder: Tre Mann, G, Florida: Signed
- Charlotte Hornets: Kai Jones, F/C, Texas: Signed
- Atlanta Hawks: Jalen Johnson, F, Duke: Signed
- Los Angeles Clippers: Keon Johnson, G/F, Tennessee: Signed
- Indiana Pacers: Isaiah Jackson, F, Kentucky: Signed
- Houston Rockets: Usman Garuba, F, Spain: Signed
- Houston Rockets: Josh Christopher, G, Arizona State: Signed
- New York Knicks: Quentin Grimes, G, Houston: Signed
- Denver Nuggets: Bones Hyland, G, VCU: Signed
- Brooklyn Nets: Cameron Thomas, G, LSU: Signed
- Philadelphia 76ers: Jaden Springer, G, Tennessee: Signed
- Brooklyn Nets: Day’Ron Sharpe, C, North Carolina: Signed
- Memphis Grizzlies: Santi Aldama, F/C, Loyola (MD): Signed
Second Round:
- Washington Wizards: Isaiah Todd, F, G League Ignite: Signed
- Four-year, $6.89MM contract. First three years guaranteed.
- Oklahoma City Thunder: Jeremiah Robinson-Earl, F, Villanova: Signed
- Four-year, $7.89MM contract. First two years guaranteed.
- Four-year, $7.89MM contract. First two years guaranteed.
- Los Angeles Clippers: Jason Preston, G, Ohio: Signed
- Three-year, $4.46MM contract. First two years guaranteed.
- New York Knicks: Rokas Jokubaitis, G, Lithuania: Will play overseas
- New Orleans Pelicans: Herb Jones, F, Alabama: Signed
- Three-year, $5.32MM contract. First two years guaranteed.
- Three-year, $5.32MM contract. First two years guaranteed.
- New York Knicks: Miles McBride, G, West Virginia: Signed
- Three-year, minimum-salary contract. First two years guaranteed.
- Charlotte Hornets: JT Thor, F, Auburn: Signed
- Four-year, $6.64MM contract. First two years guaranteed.
- Chicago Bulls: Ayo Dosunmu, G, Illinois: Signed
- Two-year, minimum-salary contract. Fully guaranteed.
- Sacramento Kings: Neemias Queta, C, Utah State: Signed
- Two-way contract.
- Utah Jazz: Jared Butler, G, Baylor: Signed
- Two-year, minimum-salary contract. Fully guaranteed.
- San Antonio Spurs: Joe Wieskamp, F, Iowa: Signed
- Two-way contract.
- Detroit Pistons: Isaiah Livers, F, Michigan: Signed
- Three-year, $4.46MM contract. First two years guaranteed.
- Three-year, $4.46MM contract. First two years guaranteed.
- Portland Trail Blazers: Greg Brown, F, Texas: Signed
- Three-year, minimum-salary contract. First two years guaranteed.
- Brooklyn Nets: Kessler Edwards, F, Pepperdine: Signed
- Two-way contract.
- Boston Celtics: Juhann Begarin, G, France: Will play overseas
- Toronto Raptors: Dalano Banton, G, Nebraska: Signed
- Two-year, minimum-salary contract. First year fully guaranteed. Second year partially guaranteed.
- Toronto Raptors: David Johnson, G, Louisville: Signed
- Two-way contract.
- Atlanta Hawks: Sharife Cooper, G, Auburn: Signed
- Two-way contract.
- Brooklyn Nets: Marcus Zegarowski, G, Creighton: Signed G League contract
- Philadelphia 76ers: Filip Petrusev, F, Serbia: Will play overseas
- Los Angeles Clippers: Brandon Boston, G, Kentucky: Signed
- Three-year, minimum-salary contract. First two years guaranteed.
- Detroit Pistons: Luka Garza, C, Iowa: Signed
- Two-way contract (later converted to standard deal).
- Philadelphia 76ers: Charles Bassey, C, Western Kentucky: Signed
- Three-year, minimum-salary contract. First year guaranteed. Second year partially guaranteed.
- Milwaukee Bucks: Sandro Mamukelashvili, C, Seton Hall: Signed
- Two-year, two-way contract.
- Oklahoma City Thunder: Aaron Wiggins, G/F, Maryland: Signed
- Two-way contract.
- Charlotte Hornets: Scottie Lewis, G, Florida: Signed
- Two-way contract.
- Detroit Pistons: Balsa Koprivica, C, Florida State: Will play overseas
- New York Knicks: Jericho Sims, F, Texas: Signed
- Two-year, two-way contract.
- Brooklyn Nets: RaiQuan Gray, F, Florida State: Signed G League contract
- Milwaukee Bucks: Georgios Kalaitzakis, G, Greece: Signed
- Three-year, minimum-salary contract. First year partially guaranteed.
- Three-year, minimum-salary contract. First year partially guaranteed.
NBA 2021 Free Agency: Day 4 Recap
With cap space drying up around the NBA and guaranteed roster spots increasingly harder to come by, the rate of free agent agreements has slowed significantly since Monday night.
We’re still waiting for a handful of notable free agents to find homes, including Dennis Schröder, Lauri Markkanen, and Reggie Jackson. The exact details of the Kyle Lowry sign-and-trade deal between the Heat and Raptors remain a mystery. And technically, Kawhi Leonard is still on the board, though we’re mostly wondering what his new contract with the Clippers will look like, not whether he’ll actually change teams.
In the meantime, there were a few stories worth highlighting from Thursday, including new deals for this year’s Most Improved Player and a former Executive of the Year.
Let’s round up the highlights from Day 4 of NBA free agency…
Julius Randle and the Knicks agreed to a four-year contract extension worth at least $106.4MM.- The Raptors signed Masai Ujiri to a multiyear extension and gave him a new title in addition to team president: Vice chairman.
- The Hornets and Kelly Oubre have agreed to a two-year, $26MM+ deal.
- The Raptors agreed to re-sign Khem Birch to a three-year, $20MM deal and agreed to a two-year deal with Ishmail Wainright.
- Lou Williams and the Hawks agreed to a one-year, $5MM deal.
- The Suns agreed to re-sign Frank Kaminsky to a one-year, minimum-salary deal and are reportedly nearing an agreement with Elfrid Payton on a one-year deal.
- The Wizards waived Caleb Homesley and made Garrison Mathews an unrestricted free agent.
The free agency moratorium will lift on Friday at 11:00am CT, at which point this week’s free agent deals and trade agreements will start becoming official.
We can still expect new deals to be reported on a daily basis for a little while, but since they’re not coming in at the same fast and furious pace they were earlier in the week, this will likely be our last daily roundup of 2021’s free agent action unless Friday is especially busy. Be sure to check our tracker to keep up with the latest deals.
Previously:
Free Agent Rumors: Iguodala, Oubre, Williams, Smith
A reunion between the Warriors and defensive specialist Andre Iguodala could be in the works. Iguodala has narrowed his choices to his former team along with the Nets and Lakers, Shams Charania of The Athletic tweets. Iguodala, 37, played 63 regular-season games with the Heat this past season and averaged a modest 4.4 PPG in 21.3 MPG, with a majority of his field-goal attempts coming from beyond the arc. Iguodala won three rings in six seasons with the Warriors.
We have more free agent buzz:
- Free agent forward Kelly Oubre is in discussions with the Hornets, David Aldridge of The Athletic tweets. Oubre averaged 15.4 PPG and 6.0 RPG for Golden State last season but only made 31.6% of his 3-point attempts. The Hornets are also reportedly pondering an offer sheet to Bulls free agent Lauri Markkanen — with approximately $14MM in cap room remaining, they wouldn’t be able to sign both players unless one accepted a very team-friendly rate.
- Before Lou Williams chose to return to the Hawks, the Lakers, Warriors and Bucks showed interest in the three-time Sixth Man of the Year award, according to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype. Williams opted for a one-year, $5MM agreement with Atlanta.
- Free agent guard Dennis Smith Jr. won’t return to the Pistons, Marc Berman of the New York Post tweets. That’s no surprise, considering Detroit drafted Cade Cunningham with the No. 1 pick and reached an agreement with Cory Joseph after declining its team option on him.
Southwest Notes: Spurs, Batum, Finley, Kerr, Green
The five-team trade the Spurs are involved in continues a trend of the teamstockpiling draft picks, Tom Orsborn of the San Antonio Express-News notes. The Spurs will gain a 2022 second-round pick along with Chandler Hutchison from the Wizards in the agreed-upon multi-team swap, highlighted by the Lakers’ acquisition of Russell Westbrook. San Antonio is also acquiring three picks – a first-rounder and two second-rounders – in the DeMar DeRozan sign-and-trade with the Bulls.
We have more from the Southwest Division:
- The Mavericks were among the teams interested in Clippers forward Nicolas Batum before he agreed to re-sign with Los Angeles, Marc Stein of Substack tweets. The Warriors also checked in on Batum before he chose to take a two-year deal with a player option from the Clippers.
- The Mavericks have officially announced the promotion of Michael Finley to assistant GM/VP of basketball operations, the team’s PR department tweets. Finley will work under new president of basketball operations Nico Harrison in his expanded front office role.
- Warriors coach Steve Kerr is ecstatic that one of his former assistants, Willie Green, got the Pelicans‘ head coaching job and believes he’ll have little trouble growing into the role, Kerr told William Guillory of The Athletic. “There’s just kind of this quiet dignity and intelligence about him that the players will really appreciate,” Kerr said. “And then I think, like all coaches, he’s going to have to find his voice and find his style. I’m sure he’s going to hire a great staff to help him do that. And he’ll grow into the job, but I think he’ll be fantastic.”
Solomon Hill Signs With Hawks On One-Year Deal
AUGUST 5: Hill has officially signed, according to a team press release. It’s a minimum-salary deal.
AUGUST 2: Free agent forward Solomon Hill has agreed to re-sign with the Hawks on a one-year deal, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski tweets.
In his eight-year career, Hill has played for five teams. In part due to frontcourt injuries, Hill saw action in 71 regular-season games, including 16 starts.
He was the fifth option offensively, averaging just 4.2 shot attempts and 4.5 PPG in 21.3 MPG. He also appeared in 14 playoff games during the team’s run to the conference finals, though his playing time dropped. He only appeared in four games against the Bucks during the Eastern Conference Finals.
However, the front office valued Hill enough to bring him back on a short team deal, likely the veteran’s minimum or something close to it.
Pacific Notes: DeRozan, Clippers, Curry, Vogel
About an hour before word broke on Tuesday that DeMar DeRozan had agreed to join the Bulls via sign-and-trade, Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports reported that DeRozan intended to meet with the Clippers. So did that meeting actually happen before DeRozan reached a deal with Chicago? Haynes shared some details in the latest episode of his Posted Up with Chris Haynes podcast.
“The Clippers’ brass were on their way to DeMar’s house,” Haynes said. “Things got a little bit more interesting with the Bulls, it looked like a deal was going to get done with Chicago, and DeMar DeRozan’s agent Aaron Goodwin called the Clippers out of courtesy and was like, ‘You know what, let’s not waste anybody’s time. Out of respect to you guys, let’s cancel this meeting. (DeRozan)’s going to go elsewhere.'”
Haynes added that the Clippers were going to have to do “a ton of work” on their roster to be able to make DeRozan a competitive offer, suggesting that the veteran wing – who received an $85MM commitment from Chicago – wouldn’t have been willing to settle for the taxpayer mid-level exception ($5.9MM), which was all L.A. realistically had at its disposal.
“DeMar DeRozan was not going to any team and taking the mid-level. He wasn’t,” Haynes said. “Not the full mid-level, not the taxpayer mid-level. He wasn’t having it.”
Here are a few more updates from around the Pacific:
- Speaking to Marcus Thompson II of The Athletic after news of his new $215MM extension with the Warriors broke, Stephen Curry said he loves the players Golden State drafted last Thursday and was happy to hear the team was pursuing veteran free agents this week, even if top targets like Patty Mills and Nicolas Batum are headed elsewhere. “I would be disappointed if there was ever a vibe that you’re complacent or that you’re not proactive and looking to always get better,” Curry said. “So if you’re telling me we’re trying to go after Batum, we’re trying to go after Patty, and things didn’t line up like that, then that’s just how the league works. But if there’s ever a situation where you don’t feel that commitment from upstairs, then we have issues. I haven’t felt that this summer.”
- Thompson adds in the same story that the fourth year on Curry’s extension was a “minor sticking point,” given its unprecedented cap hit, but the Warriors ultimately relented. Curry, who will turn 38 during the 2025/26 season, will earn a staggering $59.6MM that year.
- Now that the Lakers have nearly finished filling out their roster with a handful of free agent commitments, the next big question for the franchise to answer is Frank Vogel‘s status, writes Bill Oram of The Athletic. Vogel is a candidate for an extension, since he’s entering the final year of his contract as the team’s head coach.