This article is part of our NBA Offseason series.
The NBA's free agency period got underway Monday night, with the floodgates opening as soon as the 6:00 PM ET deadline passed. While all agreed-upon contracts cannot be officially signed until the league's moratorium expires at noon ET on Friday, August 6, a number of key players have already committed to new deals.
The action kicked off with Jimmy Butler and the Heat coming to terms on a four-year extension that will keep Butler in Miami for the duration of his prime. Not long after, Chris Paul agreed to a deal with Phoenix believed to be worth as much as $120 million over four years. If Paul plays out the contract, he'll remain with the Suns until age 40.
Mike Conley and Jarrett Allen were among the other notable players to ink new deals with their current teams. Meanwhile, Lonzo Ball is on the move to Chicago as part of a sign-and-trade agreement that brings Tomas Satoransky and Garrett Temple to New Orleans.
One of the biggest names on the market, Kyle Lowry, will reportedly land in Miami as part of another sign-and-trade, the details of which have not been fully fleshed out.
While we're still waiting on some major dominoes to fall, it's never too early to start assessing how player movement will shape the fantasy landscape next season.
Here is where we'll keep a running tally of each free agency move, along with some brief fantasy analysis. Be sure to check back throughout the week for RotoWire's take on each transaction as it happens:
Major Transactions
Knicks lock up Julius Randle with $117M extension
The deal: Four years, $117 million
Fantasy analysis: Rather than kicking the can down the road for one more year, the two sides opted to preserve some flexibility and tack on a four-year extension to the $19.8 million Randle is set to earn in 2021-22 on the final year of his previous deal. The Knicks will return virtually their entire roster from last season, in addition to bringing in Evan Fournier and Kemba Walker. Coming off of easily the best statistical year of his career, Randle may be hard-pressed to replicate his 2020-21 production -- especially if Walker can stay healthy -- but he's now locked in as the face of the Knicks franchise through his prime years.
Kemba Walker maneuvers to Knicks
The deal: One year, roughly $8 million (per Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report)
Fantasy analysis: Walker becomes one of the most productive players to ever execute a buyout, but the Thunder clearly have no qualms about losing the money. Once he clears waivers, he'll find a new home with the Knicks. Despite Walker's recent injury history stemming from a seemingly permanent knee issue, New York management decided to bet on his talent, adding him to a revamped core that now includes Evan Fournier and some legitimate depth.
In his 99 appearances across the past two seasons, Walker has averaged 19.9 points on 42/37/88 shooting, 4.8 assists, 3.4 rebounds and 1.0 steals in 31.4 minutes. However, that was on the Celtics who also had Gordon Hayward for one season along with Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum -- a crew that handled the ball plenty themselves. On the Knicks, Walker won't have as much competition from high-level players for touches, so there's a chance the 31-year-old can manage a statistical bump. Fantasy managers still need to exercise caution when drafting Walker considering his knee problems, but he's a clear top-50 talent with upside for a top-30 finish if he can stay even remotely healthy.
John Collins returns to Atlanta
The deal: Five years, $125 million
Fantasy analysis: Collins is one of the best mid-first-round draft picks in recent memory, with the former 19th overall pick inking a huge deal to stay with the Hawks. Collins' production took a step back last season with the addition of Clint Capela to the frontcourt, but the result was a trip to the Eastern Conference Finals.
Collins has quietly been one of the league's most efficient offensive players, finishing top-17 in true shooting percentage every year of his career and scoring 19.2 points per game across the past two seasons on 57/40/82 shooting. Averaging 18-and-7 last year, Collins ranked 62nd in fantasy on a per-game basis. He finished a shocking 12th two seasons ago, but it will be hard for Collins to reach those heights again with the surrounding talent on the Hawks.
Bulls land DeMar DeRozan in sign-and-trade
Bulls get: DeMar DeRozan (three years, $85 million)
Spurs get: Thaddeus Young, Al-Farouq Aminu, future first-round pick, two future second-round picks
Fantasy analysis: Obviously, this a major acquisition for Chicago, which already added Lonzo Ball via a separate sign-and-trade Monday night. Chicago can now start Ball, Zach LaVine, DeRozan, Lauri Markkanen and Nikola Vucevic in what's suddenly one of the most potent lineups in the entire league. DeRozan is coming off of averaging 21.6 points, 6.9 assists, 4.2 rebounds and 0.9 steals per game in San Antonio last season. While he shot 49.5 percent from the field and 88.0 percent at the line, DeRozan was just 19-of-74 from three-point range on the year.
All three of DeRozan, LaVine and Vucevic will probably take a hit -- fantasy wise -- as is the default when three 20-plus-point-per-game scorers join forces. LaVine's value is probably the safest, while DeRozan will have to find his place on a roster where he's no longer the obvious No. 1 scorer.
Given his lack of shooting, DeRozan could be tasked with staying on to lead the second unit when LaVine and Vucevic are out of the game. While his scoring could dip under 20 points per game for the first time since 2012-13, DeRozan should remain an above-average source of assists who helps fantasy managers in field goal percentage, steals and, especially, free throw percentage.
In San Antonio, Young figures to slide in as the first big man off the bench, at worst. It's possible he could even beat out Doug McDermott for a starting spot. The veteran always seems to find a way to make a fantasy impact, and that was no different last season when he put up a career-high 4.3 assists per game. Over a 30-game stretch from Jan. 25 through the end of March, Young averaged 13.1 points, 7.3 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 1.4 steals and 0.7 blocks in 25.6 minutes per game.
Kyle Lowry to Heat in sign-and-trade*
Heat get: Kyle Lowry (three years, $90 million)
Raptors get: Goran Dragic, Precious Achiuwa, future second-round pick
Fantasy analysis: While the official details are yet to be confirmed, it appears the Heat will send Goran Dragic, Precious Achiuwa and a second-rounder to Toronto as a means of facilitating the sign-and-trade. The three-year commitment to a 35-year-old guard is a pretty significant risk for Miami, but the Heat are desperate to re-tool around Jimmy Butler and make another deep postseason run. Lowry steps in as the obvious starter at point guard ahead of Tyler Herro, and his arrival makes Kendrick Nunn even more expendable. Miami will likely do what it can to limit Lowry's workload, but the roster is thinner than in years past, so don't expect a major drop-off in minutes.
Suns, CP3 agree to four-year contract
The deal: Four years, $120 million
Fantasy analysis: After leading the Suns to the NBA Finals, Paul has been rewarded with a substantial contract, despite being 36 years old. After dealing with injury concerns earlier in his career, Paul has been shockingly healthy lately, playing 140 regular-season games (four missed games) across the past two seasons.
Paul has ranked 25th and 24th in eight-category leagues (per game) during the past two seasons, and there's not much reason to expect a drastic change in that respect. As he heads toward his late-30s, the injury concerns won't disappear, but Paul has proven he still has plenty left in the tank as he enters his 17th NBA season.
Lonzo Ball headed to Chicago in sign-and-trade
Bulls get: Lonzo Ball
Pelicans get: Tomas Satoransky, Garrett Temple, future second-round pick
Fantasy analysis: The Bulls finally get an established, pass-first point guard with defensive upside to complement the scoring of Zach LaVine and Nikola Vucevic. Ball should play a similar role with Chicago as he did over the past two seasons in New Orleans, where he averaged 13.1 points, 6.4 assists, 5.5 rebounds and 1.4 steals. Ball has also cemented himself as a legitimate three-point threat, hitting 3.1 threes per game last season at a well-above-average 37.8 percent clip. His arrival shouldn't drastically affect any of the Bulls' key players, though it's possible Coby White's usage takes a slight dip.
In losing their point guard, the Pelicans will try to make do with some combination of Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Kira Lewis and Satoransky -- a multi-position player who could see upwards of 30 minutes if trusted by the coaching staff. However, it's possible the ultimate result will be more touches for Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram. Alexander-Walker will especially make for an intriguing flier in fantasy drafts, as he showed flashes last season and averaged 18.2 points per 36 minutes.
Warriors lock up Curry with $215M extension
The deal: Four years, $215 million
Fantasy analysis: Things can always change but this could be the deal that keeps Curry in a Warriors uniform for the entirety of his NBA career. The 33-year-old is the first player in league history to sign two contracts worth at least $200 million. Of course, the contract doesn't really change anything for Curry, who firmly re-asserted himself as the most dangerous offensive guard in the league last season. The return of Klay Thompson after two years off could result in slightly fewer shots for Curry, though he's already won a pair of MVPs with Thompson at his side.
Heat extend Jimmy Butler on max deal
The deal: Four years, $184 million
Fantasy analysis: Butler is still under contract for the 2021-22 season, and he holds a player option for 2022-23, but the Heat will move to lock up their star wing into the middle of the decade. The soon-to-be-32-year-old is coming off of one of the best statistical seasons of his career, having averaged 21.5 points, 7.1 assists, 6.9 rebounds and 2.1 steals across 52 appearances.
The one concern is that Butler is an injury risk -- he's played 65 games or fewer in each of the last four seasons -- but through two years in Miami, he's been a seamless cultural fit. While the arrival of Kyle Lowry could siphon some touches away from Butler, the Marquette product shouldn't lose much -- if any -- fantasy value heading into 2021-22. Butler finished last season ranked eighth in 8-category per-game value (20th in total value).
Tim Hardaway Jr. re-ups in Dallas
The deal: Four years, $74 million
Fantasy analysis: Hardway has provided good secondary scoring and three-point shooting for the Mavericks since arriving via trade late in 2018-19. Since joining Dallas, he's made 2.9 threes per game at 38.6 percent, fueling a 16.1 points per game scoring average. His role isn't expected to change moving forward. Fantasy managers can continue taking him late in standard drafts, as he's hovered around the 130-150 range in per-game production over the past three seasons.
Jazz ink Mike Conley to new extension
The deal: Three years, $72.5 million
Fantasy analysis: Not much changes for Conley or the Jazz, who will likely bring back the same core from last season's 52-win team. When healthy, Conley has been a perfect fit next to Donovan Mitchell in the backcourt, but he's missed 53 games (including playoffs) over the last two seasons. If he can move past the hamstring issue that plagued him for much of 2020-21, Conley could sniff top-50 value in 8-cat leagues.
Devonte' Graham gets $47M from Pelicans in sign-and-trade
Pelicans get: Devonte' Graham (Four years, $47 million)
Hornets get: Future first-round pick
Fantasy analysis: After losing their starting point guard earlier in the night, the Pelicans got a starting point guard back in a sign-and-trade with the Hornets. Graham saw a reduced role in Charlotte last season, and the mid-season emergence of LaMelo Ball made him expendable.
However, he'll have an opportunity in New Orleans to reach the numbers he put up during his breakout 2019-20 season, when he averaged 18.2 points, 7.5 assists and 3.4 rebounds -- notably hitting 3.5 threes per game at 37.3 percent. On paper, Graham makes sense as a floor-spacer around Zion Williamson, and the two figure to develop pick-and-roll chemistry. Graham ranked 54th overall (per game) in 8-cat leagues in 2019-20 and 113th last season.
Cavs keep Jarrett Allen with five-year deal
The deal: Five years, $100 million
Fantasy analysis: As expected, the Cavs have a deal in place to keep the 23-year-old center around, despite taking a big man in Evan Mobley with the No. 3 overall pick in the draft. The internal belief is that Allen and Mobley can play together, and the hefty financial commitment would appear to back up that notion.
In 51 games for the Cavs after coming over from Brooklyn as part of the James Harden deal, Allen posted 13.2 points, 9.9 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.4 blocks per game while shooting 60.9 percent from the field. While Mobley's development will be a priority, those numbers should be replicable -- especially if the Cavs move on from one or both of Kevin Love and Larry Nance this offseason.
Duncan Robinson gets record-setting extension from Miami
The deal: Five years, $90 million
Fantasy analysis: When Robinson puts pen to paper, his deal will be the largest in NBA history for an undrafted player. He's proven to be one of the best three-point shooters in the NBA over the past two seasons. In his past 145 appearances with Miami, he's made 3.6 threes per game at a 42.7 percent clip, fueling his scoring average of 13.3 points. His role shouldn't change going forward. He ranked 137th in fantasy on a per-game basis last season and 114th two seasons ago. Fantasy managers in head-to-head categorical leagues in need of three-point shooting can justify taking him earlier, however.
Knicks land Evan Fournier
The deal: Four years, $78 million
Fantasy analysis: Fournier has been one of the league's more underrated wing options for the last several years. Since the start of 2016-17, Fournier has averaged 17.0 points on 45.1 percent shooting, 3.2 assists, 3.0 rebounds and 1.0 steals in 31.7 minutes per game. He figures to see a similar role with the Knicks, as it appears he'll be the team's starting shooting guard in 2021-22. He's ranked as high as 63rd (2019-20) on a per-game basis in fantasy.
Norman Powell gets $90M from Blazers
The deal: Five years, $90 million
Fantasy analysis: Powell split last season between the Blazers and Raptors, cobbling together career-highs in points (18.6), assists (1.9), steals (1.2) and made three-pointers (2.5) per game, as well as three-point percentage (41.1%) and free-throw percentage (87.1%). Given Powell's track record, those numbers should be mostly replicable, but it's possible his scoring takes a slight step back. After finishing 75th in per-game value (8-cat) last season, Powell should again be a high-floor source of scoring, threes and steals who's worth a mid-to-late-round pick in standard leagues.
Richaun Holmes staying in Sacramento
The deal: Four years, $55 million
Fantasy analysis: Retaining Holmes is a major win for the Kings, who get the 28-year-old on a very reasonable contract. Holmes is coming off a career year in virtually every meaningful category, and while Sacramento added both Tristan Thompson and Alex Len, Holmes is easily the No. 1 option at center. Holmes' counting stats aren't eye-popping -- 14.2 PPG, 8.3 RPG, 1.6 BPG -- but he's the rare big man who shoots north of 60 percent from the field and is a plus-contributor at the free throw line (79% over the last two seasons).
SGA signs max extension to remain with Thunder
The deal: Five years, $172 million
Fantasy analysis: The way the Thunder operate, it wasn't clear if they'd be willing to commit to Gilgeous-Alexander at the max -- and it also wasn't clear if SGA would be willing to spend more of his formative years in a deep rebuild. Both of those question marks were thrown out the window with this deal, which includes incentives that could push it over $200 million. While the Thunder will likely struggle for at least another year or two, Gilgeous-Alexander is now firmly installed as the franchise's keystone asset.
Trae Young signs rookie supermax
The deal: Five years, $170 million
Fantasy analysis: Nothing changes in the short-term, but the Hawks now have Young locked up and can continue to hone the pieces around him. It felt like Young went up a level and solidified his place as one of the future faces of the league during the playoffs, and this contract -- which could elevate to more than $200 million if Young makes an All-NBA team next season -- certainly backs that up.
Spencer Dinwiddie to D.C. in sign-and-trade
Wizards get: Spencer Dinwiddie (three years, $62 million)
Nets get: 2024 second-round pick, 2025 second-round pick swap
Spurs get: Chandler Hutchison, 2022 second-round pick
Fantasy analysis: The Dinwiddie signing is actually part of a much larger, much more complicated five-team deal that also involves the Lakers and Pacers.
Coming off of a torn ACL, Dinwiddie has some health concerns, but that didn't stop the Wizards from reportedly handing him roughly $20 million annually. At that figure, Dinwiddie is the clear favorite to start at point guard, replacing Russell Westbrook in the backcourt next to Bradley Beal. Washington still has Raul Neto, and it added Aaron Holiday in a draft-night trade, but Dinwiddie is far and away the top option at point guard. He may not reach his numbers from 2019-20 -- 20.6 PPG, 6.8 APG -- but Dinwiddie is in an advantageous fantasy position.
Hutchison probably doesn't move the needle for the Spurs, but San Antonio is suddenly a good place for the former first-round pick to rehab his value. He'll battle Devin Vassell, Doug McDermott, Thaddeus Young, Lonnie Walker and Keldon Johnson for minutes.
Other Notables
Chandler Hutchison re-routed to Spurs
Wizards get: Spencer Dinwiddie from Nets
Nets get: Future second round pick, future pick swap
Fantasy analysis: Since being drafted 22nd overall in 2018, Hutchison has struggled to find a consistent role and has played just 97 games. Last season between the Bulls and Wizards, he averaged 4.3 points and 3.1 rebounds in 13.8 minutes per game. He shouldn't see much of a role increase with the Spurs.
Frank Kaminsky back with Suns
The deal: One year
Fantasy analysis: Kaminsky helped play a depth role in the frontcourt for the Suns, though he was essentially ousted from the rotation once the playoffs began. In his 47 appearances last season, he averaged 6.6 points, 4.0 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 15.2 minutes. The addition of JaVale McGee and potential emergence of second-year big Jalen Smith could cut into Kaminsky's workload.
Atlanta retains Lou Williams
The deal: One year, $5 million
Fantasy analysis: The three-time Sixth Man of the Year will sign a contract with Atlanta after being dealt there last season. After joining the Hawks, the veteran guard averaged 10.0 points, 3.4 assists and 2.1 rebounds in 21.0 minutes. He could be in for a similar role next season, though Atlanta isn't short on guard depth, so it's possible he sees a reduction in minutes in his age 35 season.
Eric Paschall dealt to Utah
Jazz get: Eric Paschall
Warriors get: Future second-round pick
Fantasy analysis: The Warriors adding Jonathan Kuminga, Otto Porter, Moses Moody and Nemanja Bjelica essentially rendered Paschall expendable. A second-round pick out of Villanova in 2019, Paschall heads to a slightly better situation in Utah, but he'll likely struggle to carve out enough of a role to warrant attention in fantasy. As the roster currently stands, Paschall figures to compete primarily with fellow-offseason-addition Rudy Gay for minutes.
Heat retain Victor Oladipo
The deal: One year, veteran's minimum
Fantasy analysis: Oladipo spent time with the Pacers, Rockets and Heat last season. However, he appeared in just four games for Miami before injuring his surgically-repaired right quad again, forcing him to undergo another surgery. Despite reports that he could be ready to go by November, the situation effectively destroyed his options in free agency.
He'll return to the Heat on a one-year, minimum deal in hopes of proving he can stay healthy and be a productive, starting-caliber option on the wing. Aside from purely staying on the court, Oladipo needs to prove he can revert back to being an efficient offensive player. Over the past three seasons (88 appearances), he's posted shooting splits of just 41/33/75. Fantasy managers should consider taking Oladipo in the final rounds of a standard drafts simply due to his pedigree as a two-time All-Star who absolutely needs to prove himself this season. There might not be 30 minutes per game available for him, but he could still be worth a roster spot if he sees minutes in the mid-to-upper 20s.
Kings hang onto Terence Davis
The deal: Two years, $8 million
Fantasy analysis: Davis was dealt from the Raptors to the Kings last season, and he had the best stretch of his career with Sacramento. In his 27 appearances, he saw 21.5 minutes and averaged 11.1 points, 3.3 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.0 steals. He also made 2.0 threes per game at a 37.2 percent clip. He'll come off the bench and could again see low-20s minutes on the wing.
Enes Kanter returning to Boston
The deal: One year, TBA
Fantasy analysis: Back on the team with which he spent the 2019-20 campaign, Kanter returns to Boston after averaging a double-double last season for the second time in his career. Injuries to Jusuf Nurkic aided Kanter's production in Portland, however, and in Boston he'll face stiff competition for minutes from Robert Williams and Al Horford. As usual, Kanter will find his way into minutes off the bench, but his role will almost certainly be reduced relative to 2020-21. With that said, if Williams and/or Horford are injured, Kanter would immediately become an elite source of rebounds.
Pacers sign TBT hero Keifer Sykes
The deal: TBA
Fantasy analysis: Sykes went undrafted out of UW-Green Bay in 2015. He has NBA Summer League, preseason and G League experience, but he's most recently been playing overseas. In 2020-21, he suited up for South East Melbourne in the NBL, where he averaged 14.4 points, 5.0 assists and 3.1 rebounds in 27.1 minutes. Sykes hit the game-winning three to win The Basketball Tournament on Tuesday night. He'll be a depth option at point guard for the Pacers and could spend time in the G League.
Tony Bradley finds work in Chicago
The deal: One year, veteran's minimum
Fantasy analysis: The 23-year-old is coming off the best season of his career, notably averaging 8.7 points and 6.1 rebounds in 18.0 minutes after being traded to the Thunder. Bradley figures to be the primary backup at center behind Nikola Vucevic, though Lauri Markkanen could see some time as a small-ball five if he ends up returning to Chicago. Regardless, Bradley won't be worth targeting in fantasy outside of very deep leagues.
Magic re-sign Moritz Wagner
The deal: Two years, TBA
Fantasy analysis: Not much to see here. Having Wagner around will be good for his younger brother, Franz, who Orlando selected with the eighth pick in the 2021 Draft, but Moritz is unlikely to make a fantasy impact. In addition to Franz, the Magic have a host of big men ahead of him on the depth chart, including Wendell Carter, Mo Bamba, Robin Lopez and Chuma Okeke.
Talen Horton-Tucker remains with Lakers
The deal: Three years, $32 million
Fantasy analysis: The Lakers paid up to retain the 20-year-old Horton-Tucker, who showed great promise last preseason and had flashes during the regular season, as he averaged 9.0 points, 2.8 assists, 2.6 rebounds and 1.0 steals in 20.1 minutes. Horton-Tucker should see a similar workload in 2021-22 after the Lakers shored up their wing rotation by adding Wayne Ellington, Malik Monk, Kent Bazemore, Carmelo Anthony and Trevor Ariza.
Lakers add Kendrick Nunn to now-crowded bench
The deal: Two years, $10 million
Fantasy analysis: With Nunn in the fold, the Lakers have completely re-tooled their roster around LeBron James and Anthony Davis, swapping out some depth pieces to bring in a third star in Russell Westbrook. Nunn will likely vie for minutes at both guard spots alongside Wayne Ellington, Talen Horton-Tucker, Malik Monk and Kent Bazemore. The Illinois product is coming off of averaging 14.6 points, 3.2 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 2.2 made threes (38.1% 3Pt) per game for the Heat last season. He reportedly turned down multiple, more-lucrative offers from other teams, but the second year of the deal is a player option, so Nunn will have a chance to hit free agency again next summer.
Hornets bring in Ish Smith
The deal: Two years (second year team option), $4.5 million guaranteed
Fantasy analysis: Smith should be in line to see relatively consistent backup point guard minutes with the Hornets behind LaMelo Ball. Smith saw 21.0 minutes per game last season and averaged 6.7 points and 3.9 rebounds. It's possible he sees a slightly reduced workload in 2021-22 and should be avoided in fantasy outside of very deep leagues.
Heat add Markieff Morris for forward depth
The deal: One year, TBA
Fantasy analysis: Morris spent last season with the Lakers, where he saw a backup role and averaged 6.7 points, 4.4 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 19.7 minutes per game. The Heat's power forward depth is much thinner than the Lakers heading into next season, so Morris should have more opportunities in Miami than he would have in Los Angeles in 2021-22. Morris and PJ Tucker could split time at the position.
76ers get depth at forward with Georges Niang
The deal: Two years, $6.7 million
Fantasy analysis: The 76ers will gain a depth piece at forward in Niang, who has been a steady rotation player for the Jazz over the past two seasons. That said, he's unlikely to see minutes in the 20s and won't be fantasy-relevant.
George Hill makes return to Bucks
The deal: One year, TBA
Fantasy analysis: After spending last season between the Thunder and 76ers, Hill will return to the Bucks, which is where he spent all of the 2019-20 season. With Milwaukee that season, he averaged 9.4 points, 3.1 assists and 3.0 rebounds in 21.5 minutes per game. It wouldn't be surprising if he saw a similar workload in 2021-22, though a slight reduction could be expected.
Spurs bring over Jock Landale from NBL
The deal: Two years, TBA
Fantasy analysis: The 25-year-old Australian center was the 2021 NBL Grand Final MVP. On the season as a whole with Melbourne, he averaged 16.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.3 blocks in 27.6 minutes. He also has three-point ability, as he made 1.4 threes per game at a 38.9 percent clip. It's possible he'll slot in as the Spurs' backup center. If that's the case, he could be worth a flier in deep fantasy leagues.
Jazz add Hassan Whiteside to back up Gobert
The deal: One year, TBA
Fantasy analysis: Whiteside has been unable to find a stable home recently, and Utah will mark his fourth stop in as many years. He figures to be a true backup center behind Rudy Gobert. As a result, we can expect Whiteside to put up similar numbers to his time in Sacramento last season, where he averaged 8.1 points, 6.0 rebounds and 1.3 blocks in 15.2 minutes.
Magic pick up Robin Lopez
The deal: One year, $5 million
Fantasy analysis: Lopez will head to his fourth team in as many seasons following stops in Chicago, Milwaukee and most recently Washington. Lopez appeared in 71 games for the Wizards last season, averaging 9.0 points, 3.8 rebounds and 0.6 blocks in 19.1 minutes. He'll once again fill a backup role in Orlando, where he'll slot in behind Wendell Carter and compete with Mo Bamba -- assuming he remains on the roster -- for minutes.
Knicks bring back veteran Taj Gibson
The deal: One year, $2.7 million
Fantasy analysis: The 36-year-old, New York native will return to his hometown team for a third consecutive season after appearing in 45 games a year ago. Gibson averaged nearly 21 minutes per game -- probably more than the Knicks expected, though injuries to Mitchell Robinson (foot) were a contributing factor. If Robinson can stay healthier this season, Gibson could see his workload dwindle closer to 10-to-15 minutes per contest.
Abdel Nader set to return to Phoenix
The deal: Two years, $4.2 million
Fantasy analysis: Injuries limited Nader to just 24 games last season, but the Suns seem to like the Iowa State product's versatility and three-point shooting. Nader probably won't play enough to be a target in most fantasy leagues, however.
Pelicans ink Didi Louzada to four-year deal
The deal: Four years, TBA
Fantasy analysis: Louzada didn't join the Pels until late-April, and he only appeared in the final three games of the regular season once the team had waved the white flag. It's very much unclear what his role will be next season, but he shouldn't be considered in most fantasy leagues.
Nets win Patty Mills sweepstakes
The deal: Two years, $12 million
Fantasy analysis: One of the top remaining free agents on the market, Mills is a huge signing for the Nets, who already have the most-talented roster in the NBA. Mills will provide much-needed depth and three-point shooting behind Kyrie Irving and James Harden. In San Antonio last season, Mills averaged 10.8 points per game and hit a career-high 2.4 threes per game at a 37.5 percent clip. When Harden and Irving are healthy, the Nets won't ask too much from Mills, but he'll provide high-level insurance when either of the two stars is out of the lineup.
Melo commits to joining Lakers over Knicks
The deal: One year, TBA
Fantasy analysis: It was widely believed that Anthony was debating between the Knicks and Lakers, and he ultimately decided to team up with one of his best friends in LeBron James. While Anthony has been past his prime for several years, he's aged rather gracefully into a score-first forward who shot better than 40 percent from three in Portland last season. Anthony will primarily compete with fellow-veterans Trevor Ariza and Kent Bazemore for minutes in the frontcourt. He may be of use to fantasy managers in dire need of threes and free-throw percentage help.
Malik Monk latches on with Lakers
The deal: One year, TBA
Fantasy analysis: The Lakers may have missed out on Patty Mills, but Monk is a decent consolation prize with plenty of upside at age 23. Injuries and off-court issues led to Charlotte parting ways with the 2017 lottery pick after four years, but no one has ever questioned Monk's ability to pile up points in a hurry. Over a 16-game stretch from late-January to early March last season, Monk averaged 16.9 points and 3.0 three-pointers per game on 46-44-81 shooting splits. His opportunities may be more limited in LA, but he gives the Lakers an intriguing young player to develop behind fellow-free-agent-addition Wayne Ellington.
Rodney Hood joins defending champs
The deal: One year, TBA
Fantasy analysis: A torn Achilles in 2019 has reset Hood's career, but he'll join the Bucks in a low-expectation role off the bench. While Hood's numbers last season weren't pretty, he's a proven scorer who adds much-needed outside shooting.
Nets add veteran James Johnson
The deal: One year, TBA
Fantasy analysis: Johnson has bounced all over the league in recent years, but he now lands in an excellent situation with the prohibitive 2022 title favorites. After retaining Blake Griffin, Johnson becomes a luxury add for the Nets, who primarily value his defensive versatility.
76ers sign Andre Drummond to replace Dwight
The deal: One year, TBA
Fantasy analysis: Drummond is coming off of an unceremonious finish to the season in Los Angeles, where he never quite found a consistent role and struggled on defense in the team's Round 1 loss to the Suns. At this point in his career, Drummond's flaws are well-known, but he remains an elite volume rebounder and lob finisher who's averaged at least 1.0 block and 1.0 steal in each of his nine NBA seasons. In Philly, Drummond will slot in as the primary backup to Joel Embiid, but he has a much higher fantasy floor than Dwight Howard. If/when Embiid misses time, Drummond will become a highly sought-after streamer and DFS play.
Warriors get Otto Porter for the minimum
The deal: One year, veteran's minimum
Fantasy analysis: Porter's stock has taken a major hit since leaving Washington, but make no mistake that landing him on a minimum deal is a huge get for Golden State. Of course, there's a chance that Porter can't stay healthy and doesn't move the needle, but at the very least he should be able to cash in spot-up threes at a much better rate than Kelly Oubre.
Gabe Vincent re-ups with Heat
The deal: Two years, $3.5 million
Fantasy analysis: Vincent took on a slightly larger role last season, but when the Heat are fully healthy he probably won't be a part of the regular rotation.
Jazz add Rudy Gay on 1+1
The deal: Two years, $12.1 million
Fantasy analysis: This is a solid payday for Gay, who will turn 35 in mid-August. The deal includes a player option for the 2022-23 season. The ex-Spur's field goal percentage has dropped in each of the last two seasons -- he bottomed out at 42.0% in 2020-21 -- but he's become a better three-point shooter who can still score and rebound.
Sam Dekker making return to NBA
The deal: One year, TBA
Fantasy analysis: Dekker fell out of the league following the 2018-19 season, but after two years overseas he'll get another chance with the Raptors. Dekker will likely play a minimal role, essentially serving as this year's version of Matt Thomas, who was not retained.
Nets retain Bruce Brown on one-year deal
The deal: One year, $4.7 million
Fantasy analysis: Retaining Brown on a qualifying offer is a boon for the top-heavy Nets, who desperately need Brown's defense and versatility. Overall, Brown is not a major fantasy contributor, but he proved last season that he can be a capable weekly streamer if Kyrie Irving and/or James Harden are sidelined.
Warriors bring in Nemanja Bjelica
The deal: One year, TBA
Fantasy analysis: It's likely a veteran's minimum deal for Bjelica, who split last season between the Kings and Heat. He played a career-low 16.1 minutes per game in 2020-21, but he'll team with Otto Porter to fill the vacancies left by Kelly Oubre and Kent Bazemore. Two seasons ago, Bjelica averaged 11.5 points, 6.4 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 0.9 steals and 1.9 made threes (41.9% 3PT) for the Kings.
Dewayne Dedmon returns to Miami
The deal: One year, TBA
Fantasy analysis: Compared to Miami's other moves, Dedmon doesn't really move the needle, but he'll provide necessary depth at center behind Bam Adebayo. That will be especially important with Precious Achiuwa reportedly on his way to Toronto as part of the Kyle Lowry sign-and-trade.
Miami retains Max Strus
The deal: Two years, $3.5 million
Fantasy analysis: Simply a depth piece for Miami, Strus appeared in a career-high 39 games last season, providing some depth amid injuries and COVID-19-related absences.
Bucks take flyer on Semi Ojeleye
The deal: One year, TBA
Fantasy analysis: After allowing P.J. Tucker to sign in Miami, the Bucks hope Ojeleye can partially replace what the veteran brought defensively. Ojeleye fell out of favor in Boston last season but has hit better than 37 percent of his three-point attempts over the last two seasons.
Portland signs Ben McLemore
The deal: One year, TBA
Fantasy analysis: The former top-10 pick will join his fifth team in as many years as he looks to re-establish himself as a reliable catch-and-shoot option. But after hitting 40-plus-percent of his threes in 2018-19 and 2019-20, McLemore shot just 34.6 percent from deep between Houston and the Lakers last season.
Derrick Rose returning to Knicks on three-year deal
The deal: Three years, $43 million
Fantasy analysis: Other than spending almost $80 million on Evan Fournier, the Knicks have used their cap space to retain their guys. Rose had struggled to find a permanent home since leaving Chicago in 2016, but he proved to be an excellent fit with the Knicks in his second tour with the franchise. Over a 20-game stretch to close the regular season, Rose averaged 17.6 points, 3.0 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 1.1 made threes in 28.3 minutes per game off the bench.
He finished just inside the top-120 per-game value (8-cat) last season and should be set for a similar role as a high-minute sixth man. The question is whether Rose can replicate last year's elite shooting splits (48.7% FG; 41.1% 3PT; 88.3% FT in 35 games with the Knicks).
Gary Trent, Raptors agree to $54M deal
The deal: Three years, $54 million
Fantasy analysis: Trent was dealt from the Trail Blazers to the Raptors at the deadline last season. He appeared in 17 games (15 starts) with Toronto and averaged 16.2 points, 3.6 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.1 steals in 31.8 minutes. On the season as a whole, he made 2.8 threes per game at a 38.5 percent clip. The 22-year-old should continue to see starter's minutes with the rebuilding Raptors as he continues to develop into one of the league's better three-point shooters. Trent ranked 169th in 8-cat leagues on a per-game basis last season.
Kelly Olynyk headed to Detroit
The deal: Three years, $37 million
Fantasy analysis: After splitting last season between the Heat and Rockets, Olynyk will head to Detroit to join Cade Cunningham on one of the up-and-coming teams in the Eastern Conference. Olynyk played a key depth role in Miami for the last few seasons, but he was able to spread his wings in Houston after coming over midseason as part of the Victor Oladipo trade.
Across 27 games in a Rockets uniform, Olynyk averaged 19.0 points, 8.4 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.8 three-pointers per contest, while putting up a 55-39-84 shooting line. Those numbers likely won't be sustainable, but Olynyk projects to start at center -- or at the very least push Isaiah Stewart for the job -- after Detroit parted ways with Mason Plumlee via trade last week. Olynyk's primary competition for minutes will come from Stewart, who led all rookies in total blocks and total rebounds last season.
Will Barton sticking with Nuggets
The deal: Two years, $32 million
Fantasy analysis: The injury bug has bitten Barton lately, as he's appeared in just 157 games across the past three seasons. However, he's proven to be a nice utility backcourt/wing option for the Nuggets during that time, averaging 13.2 points, 5.0 rebounds and 3.3 assists in 30.8 minutes. With Jamal Murray (knee) out for most, if not all, of next season, Barton could take on more playmaking responsibilities. He could be worth a flier in the last rounds of a standard fantasy draft.
Nicolas Batum returning to Clippers on two-year deal
The deal: Two years, TBA
Fantasy analysis: Batum resurrected his career in Los Angeles last season, coming out of the woodwork to start 38 games and shoot better than 40 percent from three. With Kawhi Leonard likely to miss most of the regular season, the Clippers will need an encore from Batum, but at this stage in his career he's no longer an all-around fantasy threat.
Alex Caruso headed to Chicago
The deal: Four years, $37 million
Fantasy analysis: Caruso has gained somewhat of a cult following from Lakers fans over the past four years, but he's proven to be one of the league's better defensive guards with some secondary playmaking upside. Over the past three seasons, he's averaged 6.4 points, 2.5 assists, 2.4 rebounds and 1.1 steals in 19.9 minutes. In Chicago, he has potential to play a sixth-man role in the backcourt, playing reserve minutes behind newly-acquired Lonzo Ball and Zach LaVine. That said, he probably only has upside as a deep-league flier in fantasy.
Dallas signs Reggie Bullock away from Knicks
The deal: Three years, $30.5 million
Fantasy analysis: Bullock is coming off one of the best seasons of his career with the Knicks. In 30.0 minutes per game, he averaged 2.5 made threes at a 41.0 percent clip, fueling his 10.9 points per game scoring average. He'll provide the Mavericks with better floor spacing and could end up starting alongside Tim Hardaway. Bullock ranked 162nd in fantasy last season on a per-game basis, as he's essentially a single-category specialist.
P.J. Tucker to sign with Miami
The deal: Two years, $15 million (second year is a player option)
Fantasy analysis: Tucker appears in line to slot in as the Heat's starting power forward with Trevor Ariza and Andre Iguodala out of the picture. He saw his role reduced heavily once he joined Milwaukee last season, but with Miami, he could vault back up to 30-plus minutes per night. If that's the case, he could return to fantasy-relevancy. He was a top-130 player during his final two full seasons in Houston, where he averaged 7.1 points (1.6 threes), 6.2 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.4 steals in 34.3 minutes.
Rockets add Daniel Theis via sign-and-trade
The deal: Four years, $36 million
Fantasy analysis: Theis saw action with the Celtics and Bulls last season, with the big man averaging 9.6 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.7 assists. It's not clear which of Theis, Christian Wood and rookie Alperen Sengun will nab the two starting frontcourt spots, but even if Theis comes off the bench, he should see sixth-man minutes. He's ranked as high as 108th (2019-20) in fantasy on a per-game basis.
Bobby Portis running it back in Milwaukee
The deal: Two years, $9 million
Fantasy analysis: For the second consecutive offseason, Portis will prioritize winning over money. He reportedly turned down multiple, more-lucrative offers to remain in Milwaukee and help the Bucks defend their title. The Bucks may switch out a few pieces on the fringes, but the roster will essentially look the same next season, so Portis will likely return to his role as the first big man off the bench. As a points-rebounds contributor who doesn't block shots at a high rate, Portis' fantasy value is fairly limited, and there's a good chance his red-hot three-point shooting (47.1% 3PT last season) takes a step back.
Blake Griffin coming back to Brooklyn
The deal: One year, TBA
Fantasy analysis: Following a buyout from the Pistons, Griffin signed with the Nets in March of last season. He took on the smallest role of his career but was effective while surrounded by Brooklyn's immense talent. In 21.5 minutes per game, he averaged 10.0 points, 4.7 rebounds and 2.4 assists.
Given his injury history, the Nets will likely continue to be cautious with his minutes, though it's possible we see him creep into the mid-20s. Either way, the days of Griffin being rostered in standard leagues are gone. There will be games where he looks like his former-All-Star self, but those will be few and far between given his current role.
Lakers bring in Kent Bazemore
The deal: One year, veteran's minimum
Fantasy analysis: After cleaning house to acquire Russell Westbrook and parting ways with Alex Caruso, the Lakers are desperate for capable rotation players. Ideally, the 32-year-old Bazemore isn't playing more than 15 or 20 minutes per night, but on this roster he could end up playing a larger role than the one he held in Golden State last season. The Old Dominion product has always been an excellent source of steals -- at least 1.0 per game in six straight seasons -- but he doesn't offer enough elsewhere to warrant rostering in most fantasy leagues.
Trail Blazers bring in Cody Zeller
The deal: One year, TBA
Fantasy analysis: This move probably signals the end of the Enes Kanter era in Portland. Zeller should fill in a backup role at center behind Jusuf Nurkic. Zeller has issues staying healthy, but he's proven to be effective when available. Over the past three seasons, he's averaged 10.3 points, 6.9 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 23.2 minutes per game. He could see a similar role with the Blazers, though much of his workload will be tied to Nurkic and if he can have a bounceback season.
Trey Lyles headed to Detroit
The deal: Two years, $5 million
Fantasy analysis: Lyles has struggled to find a stable home, with the Pistons marking his fourth team since being drafted 12th overall by the Jazz in 2015. He's flashed potential as a rebounder and floor spacer, and Detroit is a good spot for him to land to boost his stock with a rebuilding team, though his contract suggests he'll be far from a priority in the rotation. With Kelly Olynyk, Isaiah Stewart, Jerami Grant, Saddiq Bey and Sekou Doumbouya on the roster, Lyles could have trouble cracking the night-to-night rotation.
Dwight Howard returning to Lakers
The deal: One year, TBA
Fantasy analysis: All indications are that it's a one-year, veteran's minimum deal for Howard, who returns to the team he helped propel to a title in the Orlando bubble. Set to turn 36 in December, Howard's days as the league's most dominant big man are far in the rear-view, but he's embraced his late-career role as a serviceable backup five. With Marc Gasol still on the roster and Anthony Davis vowing to play more center this season, Howard likely won't see enough minutes to be viable in most season-long fantasy leagues.
Austin Rivers returning to Denver
The deal: One year, TBA
Fantasy analysis:
Rivers had a nice late-season run after coming over from the Knicks, but he remains an inefficient scorer who doesn't contribute much in other categories. With Jamal Murray sidelined to begin the season, Rivers will help pick up the slack, but he's more attractive as a DFS flyer than a season-long fantasy asset.
Suns add JaVale McGee
The deal: One year, $5 million
Fantasy analysis: McGee continued to be a per-minute monster in backup roles for Cleveland and Denver last season, with the center averaging 7.3 points, 5.2 rebounds and 1.2 blocks in 14.7 minutes. In joining the Suns, he should play a similar role while backing up Deandre Ayton. McGee can mostly be avoided in fantasy outside of very deep leagues.
Cory Joseph returning to Pistons
The deal: Two years, $10 million
Fantasy analysis: Detroit received Joseph from Sacramento in the Delon Wright deal last season, and Dwane Casey will get to keep one of his favorite veterans from his days in Toronto. A versatile guard who can play both spots, Joseph is a better real-life player than fantasy commodity. As was the case near the end of last season, his role will likely be difficult to predict on a week-to-week basis for a rebuilding team that will be focused on youth development and, eventually, lottery positioning.
Nerlens Noel inks three-year deal with Knicks
The deal: Three years, $32 million
Fantasy analysis: Noel has continued to prove his worth as one of the league's better traditional backup centers, though he managed to essentially split time with Mitchell Robinson last season. In 24.2 minutes per game, he averaged 5.1 points, 6.4 rebounds, 2.2 blocks and 1.1 steals while shooting 61.4 percent. Fantasy managers in need of typical big man stats can feel relatively safe grabbing Noel in the last rounds of standard drafts. Aside from injury, the move would likely only backfire if Robinson makes a huge leap.
Pacers re-sign T.J. McConnell to four-year deal
The deal: Four years, $35.2 million
Fantasy analysis: McConnell is coming off the best year of his career, and the 29-year-old is being rewarded with a long-term contract. In 26.0 minutes per game, he averaged 8.6 points, 6.6 assists, 3.7 rebounds and 1.9 steals while shooting an impressive 55.9 percent from the field. He should continue seeing mostly backup minutes, but he's proven to be a great failsafe for when the Pacers' starting backcourt is injured. Fantasy managers in need of a high-floor guard could give him a shot with one of their final picks in a standard draft.
Torrey Craig to Indiana on two-year deal
The deal: Two years, $10 million
Fantasy analysis: Nothing to see here from a fantasy perspective. Craig might not even be an every-day player for the Pacers when the whole team is healthy. Even fantasy managers in deep leagues can stay away despite Craig's three-and-D potential.
Spurs hand Doug McDermott $42 million
The deal: Three years, $42 million
Fantasy analysis: While McDermott is coming off the best season of his career, the move is a bit surprising given McDermott's age (29) and the Spurs' seemingly-rebuilding status. Last year with the Pacers, he averaged 13.6 points per game with the league's 13th-best effective field-goal percentage (61.6). Given the amount of money he was handed, it wouldn't be surprising to see McDermott start and see upwards of 30 minutes per game. He should have some fantasy potential if that happens, but he's also never ranked higher than 206th on a per-game basis.
Alec Burks staying in New York on three-year deal
The deal: Three years, $30 million
Fantasy analysis: Burks joined the Knicks last season where he played a nice sixth-man role. In 25.6 minutes per game, he averaged 12.7 points, 4.6 rebounds and 2.2 assists while shooting 41.5 percent from beyond the arc. However, with Derrick Rose returning, Evan Fournier joining and RJ Barrett getting better, it's not really clear if Burks will be able to find the same level of success in 2021-22. He's a deep-league flier only.
JaMychal Green returning to Denver
The deal: Two years, $17 million
Fantasy analysis: Green spent last season with the Nuggets, where he played a reserve frontcourt role as a floor-spacer and rebounder. In 19.3 minutes per game, he averaged 8.1 points and 4.8 boards while hitting 1.4 threes at a 39.9 percent clip. His role shouldn't change significantly in 2021-22.
Mavs bring in Sterling Brown
The deal: Two years, $6.2 million
Fantasy analysis: Brown is coming off a career-year with the deep-rebuild Rockets, where he averaged 8.2 points, 4.4 rebounds and 1.4 steals while hitting 1.8 threes at an impressive 42.3 percent clip. He may not be an every-day player for the Mavs, however, so he can be ignored in almost every fantasy draft.
Jeff Green joins Nuggets on two-year deal
The deal: Two years, $10 million
Fantasy analysis: Green's revolving door of teams continues. He found himself in an impactful role with Brooklyn last season, with the veteran averaging 11.0 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.6 assists as a multi-position wing/frontcourt option. He should occupy a similar role with the Nuggets next season, likely acting as a backup to Michael Porter and Aaron Gordon.
Maurice Harkless inks two-year deal with Kings
The deal: Two years, $9 million
Fantasy analysis: After coming over from Miami, Harkless averaged 24.9 minutes per game with the Kings and started 20 of his 24 appearances. With Marvin Bagley injured for much of that stretch, the veteran posted 6.9 points, 2.9 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.1 steals. He should continue to see minutes in the low-to-mid-20s as a three-and-D option at forward.
Furkan Korkmaz gets three years, $15M from Sixers
The deal: Three years, $15 million
Fantasy analysis: With this move, Philly management retains one of the last remaining pieces of The Process. The recently-turned-24-year-old is a proven three-point shooter, making 1.9 threes per game over the past two seasons at a 39.0 percent clip. He should continue to see minutes in the low-to-mid 20s. Only fantasy managers in deep leagues should consider drafting Korkmaz.
Kings bring in Alex Len on two-year deal
The deal: Two years, TBA
Fantasy analysis: Not much to see here. Len will probably fill his typical backup role with a few spot starts here and there if there's an injury to Tristan Thompson or Richaun Holmes. In the event the Kings don't retain Holmes -- an unrestricted free agent -- Len's situation becomes a bit more interesting, but it's still unlikely that he'll be relevant in most fantasy leagues.
Spurs take a chance on Zach Collins
The deal: Three years, $22 million
Fantasy analysis: Since being drafted 10th overall by the Trail Blazers in 2017, Collins has played in just 154 games, and he missed all of last season. Collins suffered another setback this past June, when he re-fractured the surgically repaired left foot that kept him on the sideline. When healthy early on, Collins showed some promise, but this is still a major leap of faith by the Spurs, who already splurged on Doug McDermott's $42 million contract.
Long-term, there's reason to believe Collins can recapture the buzz that made him a lottery pick, but at this point he has to be counted among the biggest injury risks in the league. With his recovery likely to extend into training camp, and perhaps beyond, Collins likely won't be drafted in most fantasy leagues.
Lakers add shooting with Wayne Ellington
The deal: One year, TBA
Fantasy analysis: Ellington gives the Lakers some much needed shooting as the journeyman shot 42.2 percent from three last season. The 33-year-old is a one-category specialist, but he's averaged 2.5 makes on nearly 39 percent shooting over the last five seasons. Playing alongside LeBron James and Russell Westbrook should only lead to more wide open catch-and-shoot looks.
Trevor Ariza set to join Lakers
The deal: One year, TBA
Fantasy analysis: The 36-year-old may be nearing the end of the line, but he'll likely see consistent minutes for a top-heavy Lakers roster in need of wing defenders. In 28.0 minutes per game last season for the Heat, Ariza quietly averaged 9.4 points, 4.8 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.0 steal and 1.7 made threes.
Solomon Hill returning to Hawks
The deal: One year, TBA
Fantasy analysis: Hill is a nice depth piece who topped 20 minutes per game last season, but he's not a consideration in the vast majority of season-long leagues.
Suns retain Cam Payne on three-year, $19M deal
The deal: Three years, $19 million
Fantasy analysis: After years of struggling to stick in the NBA, Payne found himself as one of the league's better backup point guards in 2020-21. His impressive postseason play likely earned him much of this contract, as he averaged 9.3 points, 3.2 assists and 2.5 rebounds while shooting relatively efficient. He should continue to see backup minutes behind Chris Paul. He'll only be fantasy-relevant in deep leagues or if Paul misses extended time.
Boban Marjanovic sticking with Mavs
The deal: One year, TBA
Fantasy analysis: Marjanovic isn't an every day player for the Mavericks, so this move essentially has no impact in season-long fantasy outside of tragically-deep leagues. He'll occasionally pop off for a monster game when Dallas' other centers are sidelined, so fantasy managers in daily leagues should continue to at least monitor the health of the Mavericks' frontcourt.
More updates to come...
