“A Comprehensive Guide to the 2024 NBA Free Agency: Important Dates, Notable Free Agents, Team Needs, Potential Trades, and Major Questions Answered as the Highly Anticipated Offseason Signing Period Officially Kicks Off on June 28 for Basketball Fans Everywhere”

Everything you need to know as the free agency negotiation period opens. Contracts can be signed and made official on July 6.

Last week, the league’s next generation arrived.

This week? The landscape shifts even more – with free agency opening today.

5 STORIES IN TODAY’S EDITION 🏀

June 30, 2025

Free Agency 101: Everything you need to know about how free agency works

Names To Watch: Tracking some key players who could be available, according to Shaun Powell

Trade Tracker: Some of the top reported trades from a flurry of moves made last week

What’s Next: Key dates to circle this July, from NBA Summer League to WNBA All-Star

Basketball Buzz: 2025 Draft recap, OKC’s title parade and more content from around the NBA

BUT FIRST … ⏰

Honoring a WNBA legend…

Sarah Stier/Getty Images

Immortalized: Candace Parker’s No. 3 jersey with the Sparks was retired and raised to the Crypto.com Arena rafters on Sunday, celebrating her illustrious 13 seasons with the team.

1. FREE AGENCY 101: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

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Welcome to the NBA’s annual offseason frenzy.

Free Agency Moratorium – a period allowing teams to negotiate and reach agreements with free agents – opens today at 6 p.m. ET, commencing a week of deals, decisions and roster reshuffling across the league.

Before diving into who’s available, it’s worth understanding how free agency works – so we’ve answered some frequently asked questions below:

What is the timeline of free agency?

On June 23, the day after Game 7 of the NBA Finals, teams were allowed to begin negotiations with upcoming free agents on theirroster

Today, June 30, teams are allowed to begin negotiations with all other upcoming free agents, starting at 6 p.m. ET

On Sunday, July 6, teams may begin signing free agents to contracts, starting at 12:01 p.m. ET

What’s the difference between a restricted free agent and an unrestricted free agent?

Restricted Free Agents can sign an offer sheet with any team, but the player’s original team can retain him by matching the terms of that offer

Unrestricted Free Agents, in short, are free to sign with any team, including their previous club. Once they sign, they are a part of that team

David Berding/Getty Images

What’s a player option and how does it differ from a team option?

A player option grants a player the power to decide whether to opt into his current contract for another year or become an unrestricted free agent

For example, if a player has a three-year contract with a fourth-year player option, that means if he exercises the option, his contract extends through the fourth season

If he chooses not to exercise the option, he becomes an unrestricted free agent

A team option follows the same guidelines, except the team chooses to exercise the option rather than the player

June 29 was the last day for a player or team option to be exercised

Free Agent Tracker: See every 2025 free agent and their current status here

2. NAMES TO WATCH: SOME OF POWELL’S KEY PLAYERS WHO COULD BE AVAILABLE

Nathaniel S. Butler + Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images

From veteran All-Stars to versatile bigs with Playoff experience, this year’s free agent pool offers plenty of talent ready to make an impact.

Check out some of Shaun Powell’s best players who could be available, along with their current status:

Myles Turner (IND | UFA): After 10 seasons with Indiana, the longest-tenured Pacer will hit the market. The 6-foot-11 stretch big shot 39.6% from deep last season en route to 15.6 ppg and continues to offer solid rim protection.

Jonathan Kuminga (GS | RFA): In 23.4 minutes per game last season, Kuminga averaged 15.3 points on 48.4% shooting. Despite having four seasons under his belt, he’s still only 22 years old.

James Harden (LAC ➡️ LAC): In his 16th season, Harden finished fifth in assists (8.7) and averaged 22.8 ppg, earning his 11th All-Star nod. The 35-year-old reportedly declined his player option and intends to sign a new 2-year deal with the Clippers.

Julius Randle & Naz Reid (MIN ➡️ MIN): Both eligible for player options, Randle (3 years) and Reid (5 years) have reportedly each agreed to new deals with Minnesota, keeping the Wolves’ dynamic frontcourt intact.

Melissa Tamez + Sarah Stier/Getty Images

Cam Thomas (BKN | RFA): For the second straight season, the 23-year-old guard led the Nets in scoring, posting a career-high 24.0 ppg.

Dennis Schröder (DET | UFA): Schröder has suited up for nine teams in his 11 NBA seasons, including three last year. The veteran guard delivered quality minutes for Detroit in the 2025 Playoffs, averaging 12.5 ppg on 49.1% shooting.

Ty Jerome (CLE | UFA): The 6-year veteran tallied a career-high 12.5 ppg last season while shooting 43.9% from 3 off the bench, helping Cleveland to an Eastern Conference-best 64 wins.

Chris Paul (SAS | UFA): At age 40, the 12-time All-Star finished seventh in assists last season (7.4) while offering veteran leadership to a young Spurs squad.

Joe Murphy + Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images

Other Notable Free Agents

D’Angelo Russell (BKN | UFA)

Josh Giddey (CHI | RFA)

Nickeil Alexander-Walker (MIN | UFA)

Quentin Grimes (PHI | RFA)

Brook Lopez (MIL | UFA)

Other Notable Names With Player/Team Options

LeBron James (LAL | PO) – will reportedly exercise player optionwith LAL

Kyrie Irving (DAL | PO) – will reportedly sign extension with DAL

Fred VanVleet (HOU | TO) – will reportedly sign extension with HOU

Bobby Portis (MIL | PO) – will reportedly sign extension with MIL

3. TRADE TRACKER: SOME OF THE RECENT TOP REPORTED DEALS

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Free Agency Moratorium tips off today, but the trade market is already buzzing. A flurry of reported deals have taken shape over the past week, with several big names on the move.

Here’s a look at some of the biggest reported trades so far this summer – with many yet to be finalized.

Rockets reportedly land KD

Rockets Receive: Kevin Durant

Suns Receive: Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, Khaman Maluach (No. 10 overall), Jahmai Mashack (No. 59 overall), two 2026 2nd-round picks, 2030 2nd-round pick (via Boston), 2032 2nd-round pick

Magic officially acquire Desmond Bane

Magic Receive: Desmond Bane

Grizzlies Receive: Cole Anthony, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Yang Hansen (No. 16 overall; traded to Blazers), three 1st-round picks (Unprotected 2026, 2028 & 2030), 2029 1st-round pick swap (top two protected)

Hawks reportedly receive Porziņģis in 3-team deal

Hawks Receive: Kristaps Porziņģis, 2nd-round pick

Nets Receive: Terance Mann, Drake Powell (No. 22 overall)

Celtics Receive: Georges Niang, 2nd-round pick

Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images

Celtics reportedly trade Holiday for Simons and picks

Celtics Receive: Anfernee Simons, two future 2nd-round picks

Blazers Receive: Jrue Holiday

Pelicans reportedly deal McCollum for Poole, plus others

Pelicans Receive: Jordan Poole, Saddiq Bey, Micah Peavy (No. 40 overall)

Wizards Receive: CJ McCollum, Kelly Olynyk, future 2nd-round pick

Cavs, Bulls reportedly swap Okoro & Ball

Cavs Receive: Lonzo Ball

Bulls Receive: Isaac Okoro

Dive Deeper: John Schuhmann’s numbers to know for 15 reportedly traded players.

4. UP NEXT: SUMMER LEAGUE & MORE KEY DATES

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The 2024-25 season is officially in the books, but the offseason action is just getting started. Below are some key dates to circle on your calendar heading into July:

June 30: Each NBA team may begin negotiating with all other upcoming free agents, beginning at 6 p.m. ET

July 5-6, 8: California Classic Summer League at Chase Center in San Francisco – featuring the Warriors, Lakers, Heat and Spurs

July 5, 7-8: Salt Lake City Summer League at Jon M. Huntsman Center in Utah – featuring the Jazz, Grizzlies, Thunder and 76ers

July 6: Each NBA team may begin signing free agents to contracts, beginning at 12:01 p.m. ET

July 9: PlayStation NBA Creator Cup in Las Vegas (10 ET, YouTube/NBA App)

July 10: NBA2K Summer League in Las Vegas – featuring all 30 NBA teams – tips off with an ESPN doubleheader: Mavs vs. Lakers (8 ET), followed by Spurs vs. 76ers (10 ET). See full 76-game schedule here

July 18: STARRY WNBA 3-Point Contest and the Kia WNBA Skills Challenge (8 ET, ESPN)

July 19: The 2025 AT&T WNBA All-Star Game (8:30 ET, ABC)

July 20: NBA2K Summer League in Las Vegas concludes with championship game at 10 ET on ESPN

5. BASKETBALL BUZZ: WHAT’S HAPPENING AROUND THE NBA

Even at season’s end, plenty continues to transpire around the wide world of basketball.

Take a look at recent happenings around the NBA – from last week’s 2025 Draft to the Thunder’s championship celebration.

Game On: Rosters for the PlayStation NBA Creator Cup’s two squads – Team Mark and Team T Jass – were announced Friday

Journey Complete: Multiple members of the “Future Starts Now” initiative achieved their hoop dreams with selections at Wednesday’s draft

Dream To Reality: Hear from some 2025 first-round picks on what being Drafted meant to them after years and years of hard work

5 Takeaways: Ben Couch’s five top stories from Round 1 of the 2025 Draft

Cooper Flagg has drawn plenty of eyeballs – and cameras – since the Mavs selected him with the No. 1 overall pick in last week’s Draft.

Sights On Stars: Anthony Davis, Kyrie Irving and Klay Thompson will all play alongside Flagg in Dallas, giving him a chance to learn from three All-Stars turned NBA champions

Date With Dallas: Flagg has already been active in his new city, hitting the court with local youth Friday and getting to know the community

Jim Poorten/NBAE

The championship celebration was in full swing for the Thunder last week following their storybook ending. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was front and center for all of it.

SGA On Film: Check out frames of the Kia NBA MVP and Finals MVP celebrating in the OKC streets at Tuesday’s championship parade

Golden Touch: Inside the Paycom Center, Shai shared the Larry O’Brien Trophy with the OKC faithful