Free Agency Notes: Rockets, Ty. Jones, Heat, Raptors, More
The Rockets are diligently working secure meetings with Dorian Finney-Smith, Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Luke Kennard when free agency gets underway at 5:00 pm CT, according to Kelly Iko of The Athletic (Twitter link).
Houston is viewed as the frontrunner to land Finney-Smith after the veteran forward declined his $15.4MM player option and didn’t immediately work out a new deal with the Lakers. Marc Stein has reported multiple times that the Rockets are prepared to offer the 32-year-old a four-year deal worth most of the non-taxpayer mid-level exception.
Alexander-Walker, meanwhile, is expected to leave Minnesota after the Timberwolves agreed to lucrative new contracts with Naz Reid and Julius Randle. The Hawks have been rumored as the favorite to acquire the versatile guard, but several teams are said to be interested in his services.
Atlanta is also rumored to have interest in Kennard, who is the third-most accurate three-point shooter in NBA history at 43.8%. He has spent the past two-plus seasons in Memphis, but is expected to leave the Grizzlies in free agency.
Here are a few more free agency-related notes and rumors:
- The Knicks could be a suitor for point guard Tyus Jones, per Ian Begley of SNY.tv (Twitter video link). “Tyus Jones is a name that I’m keeping an eye on,” Begley said. “Last summer, there was mutual interest…Jones was even willing to take a pay cut to come to New York. He ended up choosing Phoenix thinking it would be a very good situation for him — didn’t work out, so he’s back on the market.” New York can likely only offer the taxpayer mid-level exception or the veteran’s minimum, Begley notes.
- The Magic also expressed prior interest in Tyus Jones and he could be a good fit with Orlando depending on how much money he’s seeking in free agency, according to Josh Robbins of The Athletic. If it’s not Jones, the Magic will likely look to add a different veteran point guard to improve their shooting and offense, Robbins writes.
- Anthony Chiang of The Miami Herald released a guide for some of the options the Heat could explore in free agency. According to Chiang, guard Dru Smith is expected to return to Miami on a two-way deal after he was issued a two-way qualifying offer, but he has yet to accept that QO. Smith was on the verge of being promoted to a standard contract last season before suffering a torn Achilles tendon in late December.
- As of now, Michael Grange of Sportsnet.ca expects the Raptors to be “fairly quiet” in free agency (Twitter link). Toronto will likely fill out the end of its roster with minimum-salary deals. A veteran extension for starting center Jakob Poeltl remains a possibility as well, Grange adds.
- Zach Kram of ESPN.com lists seven “underrated players” who are about to hit the open market, including Chris Boucher, De’Anthony Melton and Gary Trent Jr.
Lakers Expect To Lose Finney-Smith, Add Free Agent Center
The Lakers are preparing to lose free agent forward Dorian Finney-Smith, who has received strong interest from the Rockets, but his departure will open up a salary slot in their pursuit of a center, sources tell Dan Woike of The Athletic.
The Bucks‘ Brook Lopez and the Hawks‘ Clint Capela are among their targets, according to Woike, along with Deandre Ayton, who reached a buyout agreement with the Trail Blazers on Sunday. L.A. will have the $14.1MM non-taxpayer mid-level exception available as it goes shopping for a big man.
Woike hears that the Lakers want to preserve their future cap space in hopes of landing another star to pair with Luka Doncic, possibly next summer, so any deal with a center might be short term.
Lopez played for the Lakers during the 2017/18 season and has frequently been mentioned as a possibility to return. The 37-year-old is likely the best outside shooter on the market, connecting at 37.3% this season while averaging 13.0 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 80 games.
Capela, 31, would bring more of a shot-blocking presence. He has been one of the league’s top rebounders, especially on the offensive glass, since coming to Atlanta in 2020, but his numbers were down across the board this season as his playing time declined to 21.4 minutes per night.
Ayton missed more than half the season due to a calf strain, but he’s only 26 and has put up good numbers when healthy throughout his career. The Lakers wouldn’t be able to reach a deal with Ayton until he completes the waiver process.
A source tells Woike that L.A. isn’t making calls to determine Austin Reaves‘ trade value after he turned down a four-year, $89MM extension offer. The Lakers still consider Reaves to be part of the future, per Woike, and expect to sign him to a larger deal when he becomes eligible.
As for Finney-Smith, Marc Stein – who previously identified the Rockets as a leading suitor for the veteran forward – reiterates (via Twitter) that the team is believed to readying a four-year contract offer for him. That offer is expected to be worth a significant portion of the non-taxpayer mid-level exception.
Cam Whitmore Has Drawn Trade Interest From Bulls, Nuggets
The Bulls and Nuggets are among the teams that have registered some level of interest in Rockets forward Cam Whitmore, according to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype.
Kelly Iko of The Athletic reported last week that Houston had been engaged in trade discussions involving Whitmore. He’ll earn $3.54MM in 2025/26 with a team option for ’26/27 worth $5.46MM.
Whitmore, who will turn 21 next Tuesday, has seen limited playing time during his first two NBA seasons and has been unable to establish himself as a regular part of the Rockets’ crowded rotation. The former No. 20 overall pick appeared in 51 games this past season, averaging 9.4 points, 3.0 rebounds and 1.0 assists in 16.2 minutes per night with .444/.355/.750 shooting numbers. He was out of the rotation completely in the playoffs, making just three brief appearances.
According to Scotto, Whitmore was nearly sent from Houston to Phoenix in the Kevin Durant trade, but the Suns opted for additional second-round draft compensation instead.
The Bulls appear to be keeping an eye out for a forward who can score, having been also linked to Warriors restricted free agent Jonathan Kuminga earlier this offseason. While Isaac Okoro – who is more of a defensive specialist – doesn’t really fit that bill, it’s worth noting that Scotto says the Bulls’ interest in Whitmore predated their deal to acquire Okoro, so it’s unclear whether Chicago’s interest in a forward – and Whitmore specifically – persists.
The Nuggets, meanwhile, are looking to supplement a talented starting lineup with reliable depth options. While their pathways to upgrades via trades or free agency are limited, Whitmore’s salary is modest enough that he would be a realistic target.
Stein/Fischer’s Latest: Jerome, Finney-Smith, Turner, Russell, T. Jones, Paul
The Grizzlies appear to be the leaders in the race to sign free agent guard Ty Jerome, according to Marc Stein and Jake Fischer of The Stein Line (Substack link). Jerome is coming off a breakout season, but his salary demands are too high for a Cleveland team on the brink of the second apron, so he’s considered a “lock” to leave in free agency. Stein previously mentioned Charlotte and Utah as other teams to watch for Jerome, but Memphis might be separating itself from the pack.
The main question, according to the authors, is how much the Grizzlies are willing to pay Jerome, who is believed to be seeking a deal starting around the $14.1MM non-taxpayer mid-level exception to Jerome. Memphis has been operating recently with the goal of creating enough financial flexibility to renegotiate and extend Jaren Jackson Jr. while matching any offers for restricted free agent forward Santi Aldama, so any offer for Jerome couldn’t get in the way of those goals.
League sources tell Stein and Fischer that the Grizzlies tried to find a taker for Cole Anthony over the weekend. Sending out Anthony’s $13.1MM contract could enable Memphis to acquire Jerome via sign-and-trade.
There’s more inside information from Stein and Fischer:
- As reported on Sunday, the Rockets appear to be the top threat to sign Dorian Finney-Smith away from the Lakers. Houston has the $14.1MM MLE available, but the authors hear that its offer may cover four years at a little less than the full amount. L.A. is still hoping to re-sign the 32-year-old forward, who was a part-time starter after being acquired from Brooklyn in December. Finney-Smith turned down a $15.4MM player option on Sunday, and Stein and Fischer report surprise throughout the league that his announcement wasn’t accompanied by a new deal with the Lakers.
- There’s “no tangible expectation” that Myles Turner will leave the Pacers in free agency, according to Stein and Fischer. There was some speculation that Indiana might reconsider a new deal with its starting center in the wake of Tyrese Haliburton‘s Achilles injury, but coach Rick Carlisle seemed to squash that when he said on a radio interview last week that re-signing Turner remains the team’s “No. 1 priority.”
- The Mavericks are expected to use their $5.7MM taxpayer MLE to sign Nets guard D’Angelo Russell to a two-year deal, Stein and Fischer add. Even with that addition, which would be the team’s 15th standard contract, they state that Dallas still hopes to open a roster spot to re-sign Dante Exum. The authors expect the Mavs to search for a team willing to take on Olivier-Maxence Prosper‘s $3MM contract for next season. The 2023 first-round pick has a $5.3MM team option for 2026/27, so it’s potentially a one-year commitment.
- The Magic‘s decision on Sunday to decline an $11MM option on Moritz Wagner and a $2.1MM option on Caleb Houstan could create an opportunity to sign free agent point guard Tyus Jones. If Jones leaves Phoenix, Stein and Fischer speculate it could lead to Chris Paul returning to the Suns, as they first reported on Sunday.
Rockets Sign Jabari Smith Jr. To Five-Year Extension
July 6: Smith’s deal is now official, according to the transaction log at NBA.com.
June 29: The Rockets intend to sign Jabari Smith Jr. to a five-year rookie scale extension worth $122MM, reports ESPN’s Shams Charania (via Twitter).
Smith was in and out of the Rockets’ starting lineup this season, but is presumed to be in line to take the starting power forward role following the Rockets’ trade for Kevin Durant.
The No. 3 pick in the 2022 draft, Smith posted a career-low in points per game as his role fluctuated and he dealt with injuries, but the appeal of his skill set in the modern game is clear. Smith has averaged 13.1 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 0.8 blocks while shooting 35.9% on 4.9 three-point attempts per game over the previous two seasons.
A tough-minded defender with a capable jump shot and some untapped potential as a shot creator, Smith will slot into a primarily off-ball role offensively next to Fred VanVleet, Alperen Sengun, and Durant, while helping create a defensive infrastructure as a skilled weak-side rim protector next to Sengun and Amen Thompson.
This contract will lock up the talented young power forward through the 2030/31 season. The Athletic’s Kelly Iko confirms (via Twitter) that the deal is fully guaranteed and contains no team or player options.
ESPN’s Bobby Marks expressed some surprise at how early the deal got done, as typically the first week of free agency remains the providence of players receiving max contracts, which Smith did not.
The Rockets still have Tari Eason‘s extension eligibility to consider, so whether the Smith deal impacts Eason’s candidacy remains to be seen. Yossi Gozlan of the Third Apron writes (via Twitter) that with the Smith extension, the Rockets are still $80MM below the 2026/27 luxury tax line, giving them room to extend both Durant and Eason.
There has been speculation that Houston might extend one Smith or Eason and wait until next year’s restricted free agency to decide on the other’s future, but outside of Durant, the Rockets have clearly prioritized continuity with the team that won 52 games last season, retaining VanVleet and Steven Adams while reportedly planning on bringing back Aaron Holiday, Jae’Sean Tate, and Jeff Green.
Rockets To Pursue Dorian Finney-Smith
The Rockets may be a prime candidate to secure the services of unrestricted free agent Dorian Finney-Smith, according to Mark Stein and Jake Fischer of The Stein Line (via Twitter), who say that Houston has emerged as a “viable landing spot” for the veteran forward.
Finney-Smith declined his $15.4MM player option on Sunday. Reporting at that time indicated that while there was still the possibility of returning to the Lakers, multiple other teams would be interested in the three-and-D specialist. It appears that the Rockets will be one of those teams.
Finney-Smith split time between the Nets and Lakers last season, averaging 8.7 points, 3.9 rebounds, and nearly a steal per game while shooting 41.1% from three. His numbers dropped somewhat when he arrived in Los Angeles, though his on/off-court numbers were strong and he was reportedly a positive influence in the locker room.
The Rockets, who retained Steven Adams earlier in the summer, recently unlocked access to their $14.1 MM non-taxpayer mid-level exception by re-signing Fred VanVleet on a cheaper deal for more years, which they could use on Finney-Smith as they continue attempting to build out a championship-caliber roster following the acquisition of Kevin Durant.
Rockets, Jock Landale Push Back Salary Guarantee Date
The Rockets and big man Jock Landale have agreed to push back the salary guarantee date on his contract for 2025/26, reports Fred Katz of The Athletic (Twitter link).
Landale’s $8MM non-guaranteed salary for next season was originally set to become fully guaranteed if he had remained under contract through Sunday. The two sides reached an agreement to move that date to next Monday, July 7, per Katz.
[RELATED: Early NBA Salary Guarantee Dates For 2025/26]
The extra eight days will give the Rockets more time to assess whether or not it makes sense to keep Landale on their books for next season.
Houston reportedly intends to re-sign free agents Aaron Holiday, Jae’Sean Tate, and Jeff Green, and the team could remain out of luxury tax territory while keeping Landale if all three of those players get minimum-salary deals. However, if one or more get more than the minimum or if the Rockets want to be able to go shopping in free agency with the non-taxpayer mid-level exception, Landale might become a cap casualty.
The 29-year-old played a limited role for the Rockets this past season, averaging 4.8 points and 3.3 rebounds in 11.9 minutes per game across 42 outings (three starts). He would likely be the club’s third-string center again if he returns, with Alperen Sengun and Steven Adams ahead of him on the depth chart, but his $8MM salary could potentially be useful for salary-matching purposes in a trade.
Landale’s contract also includes a non-guaranteed team option for 2026/27.
Southwest Notes: Flagg, Wells, Rockets, Tanke
Most No. 1 picks go to teams that are completely reliant on their transcendent play, but that’s not the case for Cooper Flagg and the Mavericks. That’s something Flagg is excited to take advantage of, according to ESPN’s Tim MacMahon, who notes that the former Duke star referred to it as a “blessing” not to be the immediate centerpiece of a rebuilding franchise.
In his introductory press conference on Friday, Flagg discussed how much he’s looking forward to learning from champions and veterans like Anthony Davis, Kyrie Irving, and Klay Thompson.
“I’m just looking forward to being a sponge. Just getting down here, I’m excited to just learn, soak it all in, and learn from the guys that are older and have been through it all before,” he said. “Those guys have so much knowledge. They’ve been through so much, and they have so much experience that it’s just going to be an incredible opportunity for me to learn and grow under them.”
Mavericks president of basketball operations Nico Harrison is excited about Flagg’s ability to work as a two-timeline linchpin.
“We’re in win-now mode, and so he adds to that, but he’s also the future of the franchise,” Harrison says.
We have more from the Southwest division:
- Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd is looking forward to taking advantage of Flagg’s impressive versatility, which he says will be tested in summer league, as Kidd plans on possibly using him as a point guard to see what he can do, writes Grant Afseth for Dallas Hoops Journal. “I want to put him at the point guard. I want to make him uncomfortable and see how he reacts,” Kidd says. “It is all right to fail. It is all right to turn the ball over.” Kidd sees Flagg’s development unfolding in a similar manner to how he approached the development of Giannis Antetokounmpo during Kidd’s time as the Bucks’ head coach.
- According to general manager Zach Kleiman, the Grizzlies‘ somewhat unexpected trade of Desmond Bane was influenced in part by contributions from an unexpected source, per Damichael Cole of the Memphis Commerical Appeal (via Twitter). “Jaylen’s emergence was a significant part of it,” Kleiman said of rookie wing Jaylen Wells. After being drafted 39th in the 2024 draft, Wells emerged as a primary wing defender and off-ball shooter, helping stabilize a lineup that was looking for answers at the wing position.
- The Rockets have hired Ryan Tanke as their chief operating officer, writes Danielle Lerner for the Houston Chronicle. Tanke was the COO for the Timberwolves and WNBA affiliate Lynx for the past six years, and had been in the organization for 27 years in total before stepping down as the franchise transitions to a new ownership group. One of his responsibilities in Houston will be overseeing the upcoming renovations to the Toyota Center, which Lerner writes is estimated to require $635MM in maintenance over the next 20 years.
Rockets Plan To Re-Sign Aaron Holiday, Jae’Sean Tate, Jeff Green
2:43 pm: Danielle Lerner of the Houston Chronicle (subscription required) confirms that the Rockets will decline Holiday’s option and have tentative agreements in place to retain Holiday, Tate, and Green.
She adds that the team expects to have its full non-taxpayer mid-level exception available, which points toward Landale being waived before his $8MM salary becomes guaranteed, though that hasn’t been confirmed yet.
12:26 pm: The Rockets don’t intend to let guard Aaron Holiday, swingman Jae’Sean Tate, or forward Jeff Green walk in free agency, according to Shams Charania of ESPN (Twitter link). Charania reports that Houston’s plan is to bring back all three players, re-signing them to new contracts.
While Tate and Green are headed for unrestricted free agency, the Rockets hold a team option on Holiday worth roughly $4.9MM. Charania’s report suggests Houston plans to turn down that option in order to bring back the 28-year-old on a new deal.
Holiday, Green, and Tate have all spent multiple seasons with the Rockets, but played fewer minutes in 2024/25 than they had in the past as the team’s young core continued to come into its own.
Holiday averaged 5.5 points and 1.3 assists in 12.8 minutes per game across 62 appearances, with a .437/.398/.829 shooting line; Tate logged a career-low 11.3 MPG in 52 games, contributing 3.6 PPG and 2.3 RPG; and Green put up 5.4 PPG and 1.8 RPG in 12.4 MPG across 32 outings (three starts).
Despite their modest roles, it seems as if Holiday, Tate, and Green still hold real appeal to the Rockets, though I wouldn’t be surprised if all three players return on minimum-salary contracts. Tate’s deal will be for one year, likely at the veteran’s minimum, confirms Kelly Iko of The Athletic (Twitter link).
As cap expert Yossi Gozlan tweets, bringing back the trio on minimum deals would allow Houston to hang onto Jock Landale‘s $8MM contract and stay out of tax territory. The big man’s salary is scheduled to become guaranteed if he remains under contract through Sunday.
If Landale is let go, the Rockets could use a chunk of the non-taxpayer mid-level exception without going into the tax.
Rockets’ Cam Whitmore Involved In Trade Talks
The Rockets have been engaged in trade discussions this week involving Cam Whitmore, sources tell Kelly Iko of The Athletic (Twitter link), who describes the situation as “fluid.”
The 20-year-old small forward has seen limited playing time during his first two NBA seasons and has been unable to claim a regular role amidst Houston’s collection of young talent. He appeared in 51 games this season, averaging 9.4 points, 3.0 rebounds and 1.0 assists in 16.2 minutes per night with .444/.355/.750 shooting numbers. He was out of the rotation completely in the playoffs, making just three brief appearances.
The Rockets were surprised to land Whitmore with their second pick in the 2023 draft when he slipped to 20th after once being considered a top-five prospect. Concerns about his defense and focus caused several teams to pass on him, and those questions have persisted during his time in the NBA.
Iko reported earlier this month that the Rockets had received trade inquiries about Whitmore, but added that management remains optimistic about his future and that neither he or his representatives have asked to be moved. However, that was before the team agreed to the Kevin Durant trade, which may create fewer developmental opportunities for Whitmore as Houston looks to take another step toward title contention.
Appearing Thursday on Get Up, ESPN’s Shams Charania speculated that Whitmore could have significant value as a trade asset (YouTube link; hat tip to Ben DuBose of Rockets Wire).
“Cam Whitmore is a young player with talent that has gotten interest around the league,” Charania said. “That’s someone that if you’re the Rockets, you could potentially move him for draft capital or a player that can help you now. If they are going to go into free agency or look into trades, I think a player that’s kind of the ilk of a Dillon Brooks, a wing-type player that can shore up that spot, that could be of interest for the Rockets.”
Whitmore may see an expanded opportunity for playing time if he doesn’t get dealt, depending on what the Rockets do in free agency. They’re sending two wing players to Phoenix in Brooks and Jalen Green, and Whitmore has already played two years in coach Ime Udoka’s system.
Whitmore has a $5.5MM option for 2026/27 that Houston or his new team will have to pick up before the start of next season. He will be eligible for an extension on his rookie-scale contract next summer.