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Celtics Exercising Team Option On JD Davison

June 29th, 2025 at 3:32pm CST by Rory Maher

The Celtics are exercising their 2025/26 team option on the contract of JD Davison, according to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype (Twitter link).

Davison’s $2.27MM salary for next season is fully non-guaranteed, so the move doesn’t necessarily mean that Celtics will retain the 22-year-old guard — if they wanted to, they could waive him before the season starts without incurring a cap hit.

Davison was selected 53rd overall in the 2022 draft after one college season at Alabama. He has spent virtually all of the past three campaigns on a two-way deal with Boston, but was converted to a multiyear standard contract just before the 2024/25 regular season ended.

While Davison’s NBA contributions have been very modest to this point – 36 total regular season appearances for a total of 198 minutes over the course of his three seasons – he has been a standout performer in the NBA G League, having claimed the MVP award with the Maine Celtics in ’24/25.

Davison appeared in 45 combined games with Maine last season, averaging 25.6 points, 7.7 assists, 5.1 rebounds, and 1.4 steals in 34.6 minutes per game, with a shooting line of .482/.332/.762. Maine went just 8-8 in the Tip-Off Tournament, but the 6’1″ guard led the team to a 21-13 record and a No. 3 playoff seed in the G League’s regular season.

The Celtics have three veterans (Torrey Craig, Al Horford and Luke Kornet) on standard deals heading for free agency. Second-year forward Drew Peterson, who was on a two-way contract in ’24/25, will also be a free agent.

Kings Pick Up Option On Keon Ellis’ Contract

June 29th, 2025 at 3:28pm CST by Dana Gauruder

The Kings are picking up their $2.3MM option on Keon Ellis‘ contract, James Ham of The Kings Beat tweets. The guard’s salary for next season won’t be fully guaranteed until January.

If Sacramento had declined the option and instead given him a qualifying offer of approximately $2.9MM, Ellis would have been a restricted free agent. This move could signal that they’re confident an extension agreement can be reached prior to next offseason. If the two sides don’t agree to an extension, he’ll become an unrestricted free agent a year from now.

Ellis’ current contract is a bargain by any standard. He appeared in 80 games last season, including 24 starts. He averaged 8.3 points, 2.7 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.5 steals per night.

Entering his fourth season, the undrafted Ellis is valued for his defense and his ability to shoot beyond the arc. He has made 42.9 percent of his three-point attempts during his first three seasons.

He currently projects as backup to Zach LaVine but the Kings are expected to be very active in the free agent and trade markets.

Warriors To Pick Up 2025/26 Option On Gui Santos

June 29th, 2025 at 3:15pm CST by Rory Maher

The Warriors are exercising their 2025/26 team option — valued at $2.22MM — on forward Gui Santos, a source tells Anthony Slater of The Athletic (Twitter link).

Although the team option will be picked up, Santos’ salary for next season will remain non-guaranteed, Slater notes.

A 6’8″ combo forward from Brazil, Santos was the No. 55 overall pick of the 2022 draft. He spent the 2022/23 season as essentially a draft-and-stash prospect, except he was playing for the Warriors’ NBA G League affiliate in Santa Cruz rather than in another country.

Santos signed his first NBA contract in 2023, and after a limited role as a rookie in ’23/24, he was able to carve out rotation minutes this past season as a high-energy role player. In 56 games in ’24/25, he averaged 4.1 points, 3.1 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 13.6 minutes per contest, with a shooting line of .458/.330/.690.

In case you missed it, the Warriors are also exercising their team option on second-year big man Quinten Post, whose $1.96MM salary for next season is now fully guaranteed.

Sixers To Decline Option On Lonnie Walker’s Contract

June 29th, 2025 at 3:01pm CST by Dana Gauruder

The Sixers are declining their $2.9MM option on Lonnie Walker IV’s contract, ESPN’s Shams Charania tweets.

Walker was productive for the injury-riddled Sixers during the second half of the season. He appeared in 20 games and averaged 12.4 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.5 assists. However, Philadelphia has major salary cap concerns heading into free agency, which undoubtedly factored into the front office’s decision.

After being waived by Boston just before the start of the season, Walker spent time with Zalgiris Kaunas in the EuroLeague while awaiting his next NBA opportunity. He signed a two-year contract with Philadelphia in late February.

Prior to his stint with the Sixers, Walker appeared in 322 regular season games with the Spurs, Lakers, and Nets from 2018-24. He’ll now be seeking another opportunity as an unrestricted free agent.

Point Guard Rumors: Paul, Suns, Clippers, Hornets, Ty. Jones, Magic

June 29th, 2025 at 2:48pm CST by Luke Adams

A return to the Suns is a possible outcome for Chris Paul in free agency, according to Marc Stein and Jake Fischer of The Stein Line (Substack link).

As Stein and Fischer explain, the Suns are likely to be in the market for point guard help if Tyus Jones exits in free agency. Paul, meanwhile, is known to prefer to play closer to his family in Los Angeles. While an earlier report suggested the veteran point guard would like to play in L.A., it sounds like he’ll consider other options out west as well.

That doesn’t mean that playing with a Los Angeles team is off the table for Paul, however. According to Stein and Fischer, the Clippers are “weighing” a reunion with Paul, who played for the organization for six seasons from 2011-17. Even with James Harden expected to return, the Clips are known to be in the market for another guard, having been linked to Nickeil Alexander-Walker, among others.

While the Mavericks‘ interest in Paul has been reported for weeks, it doesn’t sound like CP3 is enthusiastic about spending another year in Texas, away his family, after playing in San Antonio in 2024/25. As Stein and Fischer note, there’s also a sense that the Mavs might be headed for a deal with D’Angelo Russell to address the point guard hole created by Kyrie Irving‘s ACL tear.

The Hornets had been mulling a run at Paul, a North Carolina native, but recognized that he was unlikely to have interest in playing for a rebuilding team so far away from his home, per Stein and Fischer. Charlotte pivoted to another veteran guard, having made a deal with Utah this afternoon to acquire Collin Sexton.

Meanwhile, with Jones seemingly headed for a split with the Suns, one of the teams with interest in him is the Magic, according to The Stein Line’s duo. While Jones wasn’t an ideal fit in Phoenix, the 29-year-old still put up solid offensive numbers, including 10.2 points and 5.3 assists per game with a 41.4% mark on three-point attempts.

Pacers Picking Up Option On Tony Bradley’s Contract

June 29th, 2025 at 2:41pm CST by Dana Gauruder

The Pacers are exercising their option on backup center Tony Bradley, Michael Scotto of HoopsHype tweets.

The option is worth $2.94MM. However, it doesn’t mean Bradley’s roster spot is necessarily safe. The option is non-guaranteed, so the team could decide at some point during the offseason to let Bradley go.

After not playing in an NBA game the previous season, Bradley saw action in 14 regular season contests for Indiana, averaging 4.4 points and 3.0 rebounds in 8.1 minutes. He played on a pair of 10-day contracts before receiving a standard deal in late March.

Bradley actually played a bigger role in the postseason, seeing action in 11 games in which he averaged 1.5 points and 1.9 rebounds in 7.1 minutes. He played in the last three games of the NBA Finals.

Bradley has had stints with Utah, Philadelphia, Oklahoma City and Chicago during his career.

Warriors Exercising 2025/26 Option On Quinten Post

June 29th, 2025 at 2:40pm CST by Rory Maher

The Warriors are picking their 2025/26 team option on big man Quinten Post, reports Michael Scotto of HoopsHype (via Twitter). The move ensures that Post’s $1.96MM salary for next season will be fully guaranteed.

Post was the 52nd overall pick of last year’s draft out of Boston College. The 25-year-old spent most of his rookie season on a two-way deal with Golden State, but was promoted to a two-year standard contract in February.

In 42 regular season games last season, including 14 starts, the Dutch center averaged 8.1 points and 3.5 rebounds in 16.3 minutes per contest. Notably, he shot a team-best 40.8% from three-point range, providing a different look in the front court as a stretch five.

While Post’s roster spot seems secure after having the option exercised, the Warriors could still undergo a number of changes this offseason, with eight more players who could become free agents. The only other team option decision still pending is forward Gui Santos, whose $2.2MM salary for next season is non-guaranteed.

Pelicans To Decline Option On Guard Elfrid Payton

June 29th, 2025 at 2:25pm CST by Dana Gauruder

The Pelicans are declining their $3.15MM team option on guard Elfrid Payton, Michael Scotto of HoopsHype tweets.

New Orleans signed Payton to a pair of 10-day contracts, then inked him to a two-year standard contract near the end of the season. However, the second year was non-guaranteed and the team’s new front office regime, headed by Joe Dumars, chose not to retain the veteran.

Payton did provide the injury-riddled Pelicans with some quality minutes in 18 appearances, including seven starts. Though he shot poorly from the field, he averaged 8.1 assists in 21.1 minutes per game. He also had a six-game stint with Charlotte on a pair of 10-day hardship contracts after languishing in the G League for two seasons.

Payton, 31, played for Orlando, Phoenix and New York earlier in his pro career, which began in 2014. He’ll now seek another opportunity as a backup point guard in unrestricted free agency.

While Dejounte Murray is working his way back from an Achilles tear, New Orleans drafted Jeremiah Fears in the lottery with the expectations he’ll be their long-term answer at the point.

Free Agent Notes: Rollins, CP3, Aldama, Grimes, Wolves, E. Miller

June 29th, 2025 at 1:57pm CST by Luke Adams

The Bucks have tendered a qualifying offer to guard Ryan Rollins, making him a restricted free agent, a league source tells Eric Nehm of The Athletic (Twitter link).

After starting the 2024/25 season on a two-way contract in Milwaukee, Rollins was promoted to a rest-of-season standard deal in March. He played a regular role in the backcourt, especially when Damian Lillard missed time for health reasons, and had a solid season, with 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.

His qualifying offer is worth a projected $2.58MM and will give the Bucks the right of first refusal in the event that he signs an offer sheet with a rival team.

Here are a few more free agency notes and rumors from around the NBA:

Echoing other recent reporting, Tim Reynolds of The Associated Press (Twitter link) says the belief around the NBA is that veteran point guard Chris Paul will play at least one more season and wants to do so in Los Angeles to be close to his family. It’s unclear whether that means the Clippers and Lakers will be the only options he considers or whether other West Coast teams might be in play.
Zach Lowe of The Ringer (YouTube link; hat tip to RealGM) says he has heard that Grizzlies restricted free agent Santi Aldama will have “full mid-level deals waiting for him” when he hits the market. Memphis would have the ability to match any offer sheet Aldama signs or could simply directly negotiate a new deal with him.
Within a story that examines the challenges the Sixers will face as they try to retain both Quentin Grimes and Guerschon Yabusele in free agency, Tony Jones of The Athletic cites sources who say Grimes is hoping to sign a contract that averages $25MM annually. An earlier report indicated the restricted free agent guard is expected to land a starting salary worth at least $16MM.
The Timberwolves, who are expected to lose Nickeil Alexander-Walker in free agency, would like to add another ball-handler if they can, tweets Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic. Minnesota likely won’t be able to offer outside free agents more than the veteran’s minimum due to the team’s position relative to the second tax apron.
The Bulls have issued a two-way qualifying offer to forward Emanuel Miller, reports Michael Scotto of HoopsHype (Twitter link). The move makes Miller a restricted free agent after he had a solid 2024/25 season in the G League with the Texas Legends and Windy City Bulls.

Heat’s Duncan Robinson Opting Out Of Contract

June 29th, 2025 at 1:07pm CST by Luke Adams

Heat forward Duncan Robinson is opting out of his contract for 2025/26 in order to become an unrestricted free agent, according to Shams Charania of ESPN (Twitter link), who says the veteran sharpshooter will work with the team to either figure out a new deal or accommodate a move elsewhere.

Robinson held an early termination option ahead of the ’25/26 season rather than a traditional player option. They have similar functions, but in order to become a free agent, Robinson will technically exercise the option to terminate his contract early, rather than declining that option and playing out his contract. If it were a traditional player option, exercising it would mean opting in.

Had Robinson opted into the final year of his deal, his $19.9MM salary for ’25/26 would have become partially guaranteed for $9.9MM, which would have forced Miami to decide whether to guarantee his remaining $10MM or waive him in order to create $10MM in savings.

Now that Robinson has opted out, he’s not guaranteed any of that money. But he the Heat could potentially work out a multiyear deal that features a more team-friendly cap hit and ensures that the 31-year-old still earns that $9.9MM — and then some.

The possibility of a new three-year deal to keep Robinson in Miami is one idea that has been floated, tweets Tim Reynolds of The Associated Press.

One of the NBA’s best three-point shooters, Robinson has fired up 7.2 attempts per game from beyond the arc in 423 regular season appearances and has knocked down 39.7% of them. In 2024/25, he averaged 11.0 points, 2.4 assists, and 2.3 rebounds in 24.1 minutes per game, with a shooting line of .437/.393/.887, across 74 outings (37 starts).

As Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald tweets, Robinson’s decision takes the Heat from $8MM over the projected luxury tax line to $12MM below it. That gives the team enough breathing room below the tax to either bring back the forward on a new contract or perhaps add a replacement via trade/sign-and-trade or the mid-level exception.