The Bucks are rescinding their qualifying offer to free agent guard Ryan Rollins, reports NBA insider Chris Haynes (Twitter link). Rollins opened the new league year as a restricted free agent, but this decision will make him unrestricted.
The move is probably more about maximizing the Bucks’ cap room than an indication the team no longer has no interest in retaining Rollins. Milwaukee is making a series of moves in order to open up the space necessary to sign Myles Turner to a four-year, $107MM contract.
Still, it means that the Bucks will no longer have the right of first refusal on Rollins, so he could sign outright with a new team without Milwaukee having a chance to match.
Rollins had a bit of a breakout season in 2024/25, registering averages of 6.2 points, 1.9 assists, and 1.9 rebounds in 14.6 minutes per game, along with a shooting line of .487/.408/.800. He had only made 25 appearances across two NBA seasons prior to ’24/25.
We have several more items of interest relating to free agency:
- After reportedly discussing a deal with the Pistons, the Kings won’t be sending out Malik Monk as part of their Dennis Schröder addition, according to Marc Stein and Jake Fischer of The Stein Line (Twitter links). Schröder could still be acquired via sign-and-trade, since Sacramento has a trade exception large enough to accommodate his three-year, $45MM deal, but it sounds like he may end up just going into the team’s non-taxpayer mid-level exception.
- With Monk staying in Sacramento, the Kings are less likely to sign free agent point guard Russell Westbrook, Stein adds (via Twitter).
- After opting out of his contract on Sunday, free agent forward Duncan Robinson appears unlikely to return to the Heat, multiple league sources tell Anthony Chiang and Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald. Miami is exploring sign-and-trade opportunities and the Pistons are among the interested teams, an Eastern Conference source tells the authors. Robinson is the franchise leader for most made three-pointers, but his playing time declined this season and the Heat may consider it too costly to bring him back. A contract agreement with Davion Mitchell gives Miami $173.8MM committed to 14 players for next season, about $14MM away from the luxury tax. Chiang and Jackson suggest the team might re-sign free agent Alec Burks to fill Robinson’s role as a three-point specialist.
- Signing Deandre Ayton once he clears waivers remains a possibility, but the Lakers are also exploring other options in free agency and trades, according to Dan Woike of The Athletic (Twitter link). Sources tell Sam Amick of The Athletic (Twitter link) that Al Horford is getting “serious consideration” from both the Lakers and Warriors.
Arthur Hill contributed to this story.
Detroit will have to remain over the cap to S+T Schroeder. If they don’t take Monk, they could use the TPE to acquire Robinson, and LeVert would be signed with the MLE.
Can always s&t Fontecio for Duncan as well if need be
The more options dry up for LAL, I guess the more likely that they turn to the Nets and Claxton. Problem is that after losing DFS, they probably want to hang onto Vanderbilt now. I could see the Nets taking Kleber, basically bc they have no one over 28(?) and could use a veteran leader or two… but I don’t know that they would want Vincent, tho both are on expiring deals. But they’ll need to find a way to make the $ work.
So, maybe this goes back to a 3 team deal with the Spurs and Barnes..?
ShaqFoo, What offer from the Lakers makes the Nets give Claxton?
It sees to me that the Nets have been willing to take eat other teams big contracts in exchange for FRP’s (i.e., MPJr for Cam Johnson), but I don’t see the Nets giving up on any of their valuable young players?
I’m not saying you’re wrong, only asking to know more…
The Nets should take Knecht and consider him as a FRP in a deal with the Lakers. He’s the type of spacer that the Nets need to go with the plethora of distributors they have now.
Beal and George are Westbrook former teammates.
Total contract amounts
Bradley Beal $251 million
Paul George $212 million
Westbrook $3 million? Do the GMs understand? What is the fairness?
IMO, Westbrook is most healthy of the three and is the best player of the three.
He’s also 36 years old.
Timing is everything. Beal got his max from his original team, and George got his because the Sixers/Daryl concluded they needed a 3rd star.
Westbrook is kind of like Iverson was at the end of his career – a ball dominant player that has to find a team willing to allow that given all his other weaknesses.
Just the way things worked out for him. He’s made a lot of coin over his career, so I wouldn’t worry too much about the current inequity of the situation.
If you had watched Westbrook this season (or any of his recent few seasons), you’d know exactly why he’s a vet minimum guy. He shouldn’t be playing more than 15 minutes on any given night, and the Nuggets found that out the hard way.
Really …… he avg 28 mins. 13.3 pts, 5 reb, 6.1 ast.
He was their sixth man really. You understand what that means. Russ had issues with coaching. He still is hot headed. Only reason he doesn’t get bigger offers. He obviously has put up better numbers than most sixth men. His playing isn’t the issue. Plus he still plays both ways.
We will take him in NY ……. no problem
The NBA Salary “Cap” is the most confusing piece of geekery ever created
And somehow it gets MORE complicated with every new CBA
And to think it was made more complicated due to one team being HUGELY successful with 3 of its draft picks from the ‘09-‘12 timeframe – building from the ground up – which caused a couple upper-tier free agents in the middle of last decade to want to be part of team basketball at its finest, which led to quite possibly the last NBA dynasty we may see in a while. The jealousy and resentment Brawny Sensation and Klutch Spurts have against Steph Curry and the Warriors organization is incredulous – but understandable to a degree.
TLDR: Davey J bringing up that the Curry and the Warriors are the reason for the new CBA
It took the league office to get LeBron a title win during the dynasty. TV deals let the commish pick the champs.
Horford to dubs makes sense.
He’d probably help the Lakers too, but he isn’t a lob threat.
Lakers going to stand around exploring options while another team will come in and snap him up.
Charlotte should be rushing in with a good offer for him cause they don’t have another in the middle and the untapped potential in Ayton paired with their good young core would be massive.
Meanwhile Lakers have already missed out on Lopez, Turner and Capela, if Ayton is off the board then goodluck to them. Mark Williams and Jonas Valaucanes were both just traded, so they can’t pull the pitty us everyone knows we need a centre and is being mean card.
I seen in the latest post hyping up Jake LaRavia. Yeah nah he’s going to be a massive downgrade from DFS and this team refuses to do anything meaningful to make themselves a better side
Pelinka should have been fired years ago
Jeannie’s errand boy
The new Hornets front office seems to be doing things right. I wouldn’t risk putting together a questionable personality and disinterest in basketball like Ayton with Lamelo and Bridges… it’s an unnecessary risk that I wouldn’t want to take. I think Ayton will sign with Indiana now that they lost Turner.
I go agree about the risks but they need someone and option are getting thin.
Would be a great addition if it works out for them but also agree he does make sense for the Pacers now
Ayton single handedly revived the ” Just Breathin'” nickname.
…real great offseason for the Heat…real poor choices by me in buying the jersey I bought, literally yesterday…should have just gone woth the Mitchell and ness Wade to replace my original raggedy one….they’re obvipusly stuck with Rozier and Herro, and should have moved pieces to try to open up some spots to change the roster over….but it is what it is
Don’t know why Alrc Burks would re-sign after the Heat had him in the shadow realm all year, despite him being a significant plus for them on the floor
Multiple poor draft choices in a row, 2 abhorrent trades, and it is what it is
It fees like the Heat, like the Lakers and Clippers, take for granted that FA’s will favor them because of their location, brand, etc. Over the years, these teams beat the small-market ones.
But the luster seems to be off the Heat these days.
I dont care about names; i’m talking about flexibility to add the skillsets they need around Bam. Heat have only ever got Bosh and LeBron the one time, Luol Deng, and Jimmy. Pretending they get FAs all the time and rely on that to ever do anything isnt accurate. They just need roster space and to actually keep the young, cheap guys they bring in, but they’ve gone away from the Heat identity the last 2-3 years, and now its put them up against the wall, after the new rules really hurt them.
Dru Smith better look the same and stay healthy somehow, and Pelle Larsson better take the step forward and stop fouling, and Andrew Wiggins better stop being a little b!+@# (I’m actually tired of watching thos dude play woth zero heart, and no will, in matchups he shpuld dominate too)..and I dont want to see Kel’el Ware again, but I’m obviously stuck if they wouldn’t trade him for Kevin durant for some unforseen reason, so he better move his feet, be more active, set actual screens, and make an actual effort to at least pretend to defend near the rim, and also start knocking down shots at least…and if Burks is back, I better not see him or Highsmith in the shadow realm for zero reason
Lakers and Warriors seriously considering Horford. Really? Lols. Make it sound like such a privilege don’t they. You Sure it’s not Al considering them and more.
Hey all you “Luka to the Lakers was fixed by the league” folks: Why isn’t the league helping them find a big man?
Rome wasn’t built in a day. Watch when Bron leaves.
Horford is not playing far from home. If he leaves Boston he will stay in East. For the minimum he will sign with Knicks. His community and his homey are in NY.
Vente Dominicano ……