NBA latest news on Andre Drummond plus the other reports

In the latest NBA news, Andre Drummond has signed a two-year contract with the Philadelphia 76ers, adding significant depth to their frontcourt with his rebounding prowess and defensive skills.

Drummond’s move to the 76ers is part of a broader wave of activity in the league, which has seen numerous signings and trades reshaping team rosters ahead of the new season.

Among the latest transactions, the Miami Heat have bolstered their lineup by acquiring sharpshooter Duncan Robinson on a multi-year deal, while the Los Angeles Lakers have brought in veteran guard Patty Mills to strengthen their backcourt.

Meanwhile, the Golden State Warriors have re-signed their defensive stalwart Draymond Green, ensuring his leadership and versatility remain integral to their championship aspirations.

Additionally, trade rumors continue to swirl around several high-profile players, with whispers of potential blockbuster deals that could further alter the competitive landscape of the NBA.

The buzz and anticipation around these moves are palpable as teams gear up for what promises to be an exciting and unpredictable season.

Andre Drummond is set to sign a two-year, $10 million deal with the Philadelphia 76ers, sources told ESPN, confirming multiple reports.

 

Philadelphia brings back Drummond, who spent the first half of the 2021-22 season with the 76ers before going to the Brooklyn Nets as part of the James Harden trade at that February’s trade deadline.

 

 

Having spent the past two seasons playing behind Nikola Vucevic in Chicago, Drummond gives Philadelphia an elite backup option behind former MVP Joel Embiid, who missed a large chunk of last season with a knee injury.

 

The 76ers are set to meet with LA Clippers forward Paul George, the top free agent on the market, per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, as they look to fill out the roster around their star tandem of Embiid and guard Tyrese Maxey, who is expected to get a massive new contract this summer as well, as a restricted free agent.

 

Drummond, who turns 31 in August, found his niche as a solid backup center after starring with the Detroit Pistons to begin his career. He remains a prolific rebounder, averaging 9 in just over 17 minutes last season. In his 10 starts, he averaged nearly 18 rebounds. Drummond is coming off a two-year, $6.6 million deal signed with the Bulls in 2022.

 

 

Other latest NBA signings, news, buzz and reports

Adrian Wojnarowski provides an update on Klay Thomspon’s free agent saga and how LeBron James called the star when free agency began to try and lure him to the Lakers. (0:57)

With the NBA Finals and draft complete, the league’s top decision-makers now have their eyes set on the free agency and trade landscape.

 

The free agency window opened Sunday at 6 p.m. ET, and teams and players are already making moves in what could be an impactful summer of deals and contract extensions.

 

 

The free agency pool this summer is loaded with big names such as LeBron James and Paul George, both of whom declined the final year of their respective deals and are testing the waters. Other stars such as Klay Thompson will enter the summer as unrestricted free agents. James Harden would have joined him, but he’s already agreed to a deal to return to the Clippers.

 

Our NBA insiders will be tracking all of the latest signings, buzz, news and reports throughout the summer and into free agency, so stay tuned as we report on the biggest moves that will shape the league.

 

Philadelphia 76ers guard Kelly Oubre Jr. has agreed on a two-year, $16.3 million deal to stay with the franchise, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. This deal also includes a player option on the 2025-26 season. In his first season with the 76ers, Oubre averaged 15.4 points and led the team in steals (1.8).

 

Dallas Mavericks forward Derrick Jones Jr. and the LA Clippers have agreed to a three-year, $30 million deal, sources told ESPN’s Ohm Youngmisuk.

 

June 30 report

10:30 p.m. ET: Speaking on “SportsCenter,” ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski added that Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James reached out to Klay Thompson as soon as the free agency period began Sunday.

 

Wojnarowski said that Thompson’s time with the Golden State Warriors is “essentially over” and that the four-time NBA champion has held discussions with the Lakers and the Dallas Mavericks. Two other teams eyeing Thompson include the Philadelphia 76ers and the LA Clippers.

 

“These negotiations will go into tomorrow and there will not be a resolution tonight,” Wojnarowski said.

 

10:05 p.m. ET: Naji Marshall has agreed on a three-year, $27 million deal with the Dallas Mavericks, sources tell ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Marshall has been a rotation staple for the New Orleans Pelicans, having originally signed a two-way deal in 2020 after going undrafted. The 26-year-old forward had his most efficient year of his career this past season, shooting 46.3% from the field and 38.7% from 3.

 

The Mavs are also pursuing a sign-and-trade option for Klay Thompson, sources told ESPN’s Tim MacMahon, who added that Derrick Jones Jr.’s decision to switch agents this week complicated hopes of Dallas re-signing him due to NBPA guideline of 15-day wait to change representation.

 

9:57 p.m. ET: Mason Plumlee has agreed on a one-year deal with the Phoenix Suns, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. The 34-year-old big man averaged 5.3 points and 5.1 rebounds for the LA Clippers last season.

 

8:45 p.m. ET: Free agent center Jonas Valanciunas has agreed on a three-year, $30 million deal with the Washington Wizards, sources tell ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Valanciunas, 32, gives the rebuilding Wizards a veteran presence and more depth at center after they drafted French big man Alex Sarr with the No. 2 pick in last week’s NBA draft.

 

8:30 p.m. ET: Chris Paul will sign with the San Antonio Spurs, sources told ESPN’s Kendra Andrews. He will sign for a one-year, $11 million deal, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.

 

Paul was waived earlier Sunday by the Golden State Warriors, who had a deadline to guarantee his $30 million salary for this season. Instead, the 39-year-old point guard will join the Spurs as an unrestricted free agent and bring veteran leadership to a team headlined by Rookie of the Year Victor Wembanyama.

 

8:14 p.m. ET: The Philadelphia 76ers are the strong frontrunner to sign Paul George after his agent and the LA Clippers held a conversation that resulted in no new movement and an acknowledgment by both that he is unlikely to return, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.

 

The Sixers are set to meet with George in California on Sunday night.

 

George was seeking a four-year deal but the Clippers had wanted to give him three years, similar to the contract structure Kawhi Leonard signed midseason.

 

In a statement, the Clippers said: “We negotiated for months with Paul and his representative on a contract that would make sense for both sides, and we were left far apart. The gap was significant. We understand and respect Paul’s decision to look elsewhere for his next contract.”

 

The team added that it had also looked into a sign-and-trade scenario for George.

 

7:55 p.m. ET: The LA Clippers may be ready to move on from Paul George, according to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst. Appearing on “NBA Today” Windhorst discussed how the Clippers’ handling of Kawhi Leonard’s extension — signed in January — could impact George’s future.

 

“When they signed Kawhi to that deal … they never told Paul George about it. Paul George found out about it when the rest of the world found out about it,” Windhorst said. “[The Clippers’] actions over the season and their actions here in free agency indicate they’re ready to move on from Paul George.”

 

7:28 p.m. ET: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope is finalizing a three-year, $66 million deal to sign with the Orlando Magic, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Caldwell-Pope won championships with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2020 and the Denver Nuggets in 2023.

 

7:20 p.m. ET: The New York Knicks view the Oklahoma City Thunder as Isaiah Hartenstein’s most likely destination in free agency if the center leaves New York, sources told ESPN’s Tim MacMahon. The Thunder have significant cap space this summer and can outbid the Knicks on a Hartenstein deal.

 

7:18 p.m. ET: Former Chicago Bulls center Andre Drummond is heading to the Philadelphia 76ers on a two-year, $10 million deal, sources confirmed to ESPN’s Tim Bontemps. Drummond averaged 18.9 rebounds per 36 minutes (9.0 per game) for the Bulls last season.

 

6:34 p.m. ET: Kevin Love is returning to the Miami Heat on a two-year deal, sources confirmed to ESPN’s Tim Bontemps. The deal has no player or team option in the second year.

 

6:18 p.m. ET: The Utah Jazz are planning to waive center Omer Yurtseven, a source told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Yurtseven, who becomes an unrestricted free agent, averaged 4.6 points per game last season.

 

6:05 p.m. ET: Klay Thompson plans to have discussions with the Dallas Mavericks, Los Angeles Lakers, LA Clippers and Philadelphia 76ers in the opening hours of free agency, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Thompson has spent his entire 13-year NBA career with the Golden State Warriors.

 

6:00 p.m. ET: Center Luke Kornet has agreed on a one-year deal to return to the Boston Celtics, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.

 

5:52 p.m. ET: James Harden is planning to return to the LA Clippers on a two-year, $70 million deal, a league source confirmed to ESPN’s Ohm Youngmisuk. The second year of the deal is a player option.

 

5:43 p.m. ET: The Golden State Warriors are waiving veteran point guard Chris Paul, whose $30 million salary for 2024-25 would have become guaranteed if he was on the roster past today, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Paul becomes an unrestricted free agent heading into his 20th season.

 

5:05 p.m. ET: The Orlando Magic will be a team to watch for center Isaiah Hartenstein and guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, according to ESPN’s Bobby Marks.

 

The Magic will have $49 million in salary cap space to bolster a side that reached the playoffs last season. The team has already declined the options of Moritz Wagner and Joe Ingles.

 

Hartenstein may still yet return to the Knicks, while Caldwell-Pope could find a new home after a solid two-year stint with the Denver Nuggets that included the 2022 NBA Finals title.

 

5:01 p.m. ET: Restricted free agent guard Max Christie intends to sign a four-year, $32 million deal to stay with the Los Angeles Lakers, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. The deal includes a player option. Christie, the 35th pick in the 2022 draft, has shown promise as a future Lakers rotation player.

 

4:55 p.m. ET: The NBA officially announced salary cap numbers for the 2024-25 season, with the cap set at $140.588 million, slightly lower than what was projected during the season. The luxury tax line is at $170.814 million, the first apron is at $178.132 million and the second apron is at $188.931 million. The non-taxpayer midlevel exception is worth $12.822 million, and the taxpayer midlevel is set at $5.168 million.

 

4:05 p.m. ET: The New York Knicks may add another player to their trade with the Brooklyn Nets that will see Mikal Bridges head to Madison Square Garden for a package that includes up to five first-round draft picks, according to ESPN’s Bobby Marks. It could be a current player on the Knicks’ roster or someone used in a sign-and-trade situation.

 

Marks adds that New York will go up to the $189.5 million second apron, giving them more flexibility in filling out their roster if they trade Mitchell Robinson and attempt to sign Isaiah Hartenstein.

 

1:50 p.m. ET: Restricted free agent forward Obi Toppin intends to sign a four-year, $60 million contract to stay with the Indiana Pacers, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.

 

10:53 a.m. ET: The Chicago Bulls are struggling to offload Zach LaVine, ESPN’s Bobby Marks said. “There is no market for Zach LaVine. They are trying to give him away and attach a first-round pick. I’ve been told that by multiple, multiple people, and that is not happening.”

 

10:49 a.m. ET: LeBron James has told the Los Angeles Lakers that he would accept a pay cut if they can find an impact player with their midlevel exception, which is roughly $13M, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. “Whether that’s a Klay Thompson, James Harden, Jonas Valanciunas, maybe a couple of others,” Wojnarowski said.

 

10:37 a.m. ET: The Detroit Pistons are hiring J.B. Bickerstaff as the franchise’s next head coach, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Bickerstaff comes to Detroit after five seasons leading the Cleveland Cavaliers, including two straight postseason appearances.

 

12:38 a.m. ET: Restricted free agent Patrick Williams has an agreement to return to the Chicago Bulls on a five-year, $90 million deal, sources confirmed to ESPN’s Jamal Collier. The fifth year is a player option.

 

June 29 reports

10:40 p.m. ET: The San Antonio Spurs did not tender an offer to Dominick Barlow, which allows him to become a free agent, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. There could be interest from the Spurs to sign Barlow in free agency.

 

7:15 p.m. ET: Paul George, who declined his $48.7 million option with the LA Clippers, will take meetings with the Clippers, Orlando Magic and Philadelphia 76ers during his free agency, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. The meetings will begin Sunday night after free agency opens and Monday.

 

6:46 p.m. ET: Bol Bol intends to return to the Phoenix Suns on a one-year deal, sources tell ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. The reserve center averaged 5.2 points and 3.2 rebounds in his first season in Phoenix.

 

6:10 p.m. ET: The LA Clippers want to retain Paul George but know there are advantages of staying out of the second apron, according to ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne. With the new collective bargaining rules, Clippers are remaining firm because of how restrictive reaching that level is for team building.

 

As to why the Philadelphia 76ers would be a good fit for George, Shelburne explains: “This is why [the 76ers] were so diligent in preserving max cap space for this summer. They have two young guys stars [in Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid], one a former MVP. And a great path to contention in the East, if PG wants that extra year and [money].

 

As ESPN’s Bobby Mark explains in his free-agency primer, George is eligible to sign a four-year, $221 million contract with the Clippers or a four-year, $212 million contract with a team that has cap space (or in a sign-and-trade).

 

5:15 p.m. ET: The Memphis Grizzlies are declining guard Luke Kennard’s $14.8 million option, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Both sides are eager to pursue a restructured deal, with Kennard a career 44 percent 3-point shooter and a key figure for a team looking to contend in the Western Conference.

 

5:00 p.m. ET: The Orlando Magic are declining Mo Wagner’s $8 million team option but the sides have interest in discussing a new deal in free agency, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.

 

4:55 p.m. ET: Chicago Bulls forward Torrey Craig has picked up his $2.8 million option, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.

 

4:45 p.m. ET: Nine-time All-Star Paul George will test free agency after declining his $48.7 million on Saturday, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. He will set meetings with teams that have cap space beginning on Sunday night. George opting out eliminated the possibility the of the LA Clippers signing and trading the forward.

 

3:07 p.m. ET: The Detroit Pistons are declining Evan Fournier’s $19 million team option, sources tell ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. That will give the Pistons up to $50 million in cap room for the franchise. Pistons president Trajan Langdon is eager to use the team’s space to take on contracts with future draft assets.

 

1:41 p.m. ET: Royce O’Neale intends to sign a new four-year, $44 million deal to return to the Phoenix Suns, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. The forward will be a key part of Suns’ rotation a new long-term deal. O’Neale arrived in a deadline trade with the Brooklyn Nets.

 

1:21 p.m. ET: The Atlanta Hawks will not deliver a qualifying offer to forward Saddiq Bey, clearing the way for him to become an unrestricted free agent, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. The 28-year-old forward averaged 13.7 points and 6.5 rebounds before suffering a torn left ACL in late March. He’s expected to make a full recovery.

 

12:20 p.m. ET: LeBron James intends to opt out of the final year of his contract with the Los Angeles Lakers worth $51.4 million, a source familiar with his plans told ESPN’s Dave McMenamin. James will look to sign a new deal to stay in Los Angeles, the source said.

 

11:20 a.m. ET: The Houston Rockets are picking up forward Jae’sean Tate’s $7.6 million option for the 2024-25 season, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Tate, 28, played in 65 games (nine starts) for the Rockets last season.

 

11:00 a.m. ET: Miami Heat forward Kevin Love is declining his $4 million player option for 2024-25, but both sides are enthusiastic about negotiating a new deal in the opening days of free agency, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.

 

10:57 a.m. ET: LA Clippers guard Russell Westbrook is picking up his $4 million option for 2024-25, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Westbrook, 35, averaged 11.1 points, 5 rebounds and 4.5 assists last season in a sixth man role for L.A.

 

10:40 a.m. ET: The Portland Trail Blazers are picking up the option for guard Dalano Banton, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Banton averaged 16.7 points after joining the Blazers just before the 2024 trade deadline.

 

10:37 a.m. ET: The Orlando Magic are declining forward Joe Ingles’ $11 million team option but sides are expected to continue dialogue in free agency next week, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Ingles, 36, will be entering his 11th NBA season.

 

9:49 a.m. ET: The LA Clippers will not tender a qualifying offer to guard Brandon Boston Jr., sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. The move will clear the way for Boston, the 51st pick in 2021, to join unrestricted free agency.

 

9:00 a.m. ET: What does the future hold for Brandon Ingram after the New Orleans Pelicans traded for Dejounte Murray on Friday? ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, appearing on “SportsCenter,” said the situation “is going to be a dance for a while.”

 

“They’ve been open to looking at trades for Ingram,” Wojnarowski added. “Their intent is to try to keep him, but I think there’s still uncertainty right now.”

 

1:41 a.m. ET: Los Angeles Lakers guard D’Angelo Russell plans to exercise his $18.7 million player option and return for next season.

 

Russell shot a career-high 41.5% on 3-pointers last season. That included a career-high 39% on off-the-dribble 3-pointers, which ranked tied for third-best last season per Second Spectrum. Russell signed a two-year, $37 million deal, but he was heavily rumored to be a trade piece for the Lakers almost as soon as the contract was signed.