Transactions Rumors | Hoops Rumors

Gary Trent Jr. Remains With Bucks On Two-Year Deal

June 30th, 2025 at 10:03pm CST by Dana Gauruder

July 8: Trent’s new contract is now official, per NBA.com’s transaction log.

June 30: Free agent guard Gary Trent Jr. has agreed to a two-year, $7.5MM deal to remain with the Bucks, ESPN’s Shams Charania tweets. The second year includes a player option.

It’s slightly above the veteran’s minimum, so Milwaukee will apparently use its Non-Bird rights, which allows a team to re-sign a player for up to 120% of his previous salary or 120% of the league’s minimum salary (whichever is greater).

Trent played on the veteran’s minimum this past year despite being at least a part-time starter for Toronto the previous three seasons.

By getting a player option, Trent positions himself for another shot at free agency next summer when more teams are expected to have cap space.

Still just 26, Trent has been in the league since 2016. In his first season with the Bucks, he appeared in 74 games, making nine starts. He averaged 11.1 points, 2.3 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 1.0 steal per game.

Trent made 43.1 percent of his shots, including a near career-high 41.6 percent from deep. Of the 8.9 shots he took per game, a majority (5.9) were beyond the three-point arc.

After Damian Lillard went down with an Achilles injury, Trent had two huge offensive games in the playoffs. He scored 37 points in Game 3 against Indiana and 33 in Game 5 during Milwaukee’s first-round loss.

Jordan Clarkson Signs With Knicks

June 30th, 2025 at 8:51pm CST by Eli Cohen

July 7: Clarkson has officially signed with the Knicks, according to the NBA’s transaction log.

June 30: Jordan Clarkson will sign with the Knicks after he clears waivers, reports NBA insider Chris Haynes (via Twitter).

The Knicks had been expected to target Clarkson since news broke that he would be waived by the Jazz, writes Steve Popper of Newsday Sports (Twitter link). The veteran guard agreed to a buyout with Utah and was officially waived earlier today.

Ian Begley of SNY (Twitter link) confirms Popper’s report, saying that Clarkson had been considered a priority signing for the Knicks. Stefan Bondy of the New York Post reported (via Twitter) that the deal would likely be for the veteran’s minimum, around $3.6MM.

Clarkson averaged 16.2 points and 3.7 assists per game for the Jazz last season while shooting 36.2% from three. He played a career-low 37 games, with his season impacted both by injuries and by Utah’s tanking efforts.

The 2021 Sixth Man of the Year has been in Utah for over five years, with his best statistical season occurring in 2022/23, when he averaged 20.8 points, 4.4 assists, and 4.0 rebounds per contest. While he holds a career average of 2.9 assists per game, he became a better play-maker with the Jazz, whose point guard rotation was up-and-down during his tenure. He has averaged 4.5 assists to 2.7 turnovers over his last three seasons.

Clarkson brings a much-needed dose of ball-handling off the bench to the Knicks, whose reliance on star point guard Jalen Brunson at times left the team vulnerable to intense ball-pressure. A capable shot-creator, Clarkson will pair with fifth-year guard Miles McBride to firm up the Knicks’ depth as they look to build on last year’s Eastern Conference Finals run.

Bucks Re-Sign Taurean Prince

June 30th, 2025 at 8:40pm CST by Luke Adams

July 8: Prince is officially back under contract with the Bucks, according to a press release from the team.

June 30: The Bucks and free agent forward Taurean Prince have reached an agreement on a two-year, minimum-salary contract, reports Shams Charania of ESPN (Twitter links). The second year of the deal will be a player option.

Prince started 73 of the 80 games he played for the Bucks in 2024/25, averaging 8.2 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 1.9 assists in 27.1 minutes per night.

Prince’s ability to guard multiple positions on defense and knock down three-pointers on offense makes him a valuable rotation player on the wing. He made a career-high 43.9% of his attempts from beyond the arc in 2024/25.

Still, it’s worth noting that the 31-year-old struggled badly in the playoffs, scoring just six points on 2-of-10 shooting in 61 total minutes during the first-round series vs. Indiana. He lost his starting job after the first two games of the series and likely won’t be assured of reclaiming that role heading into training camp this fall.

Prince is the third Bucks free agent who has reached an agreement to re-sign with the team, joining Bobby Portis and Kevin Porter. However, Brook Lopez is leaving Milwaukee for the Clippers, so the club figures to be in the market for additional frontcourt help.

Hawks Sign Luke Kennard On One-Year Contract

June 30th, 2025 at 8:16pm CST by Dana Gauruder

July 8: The Hawks have made it official with Kennard, the team announced in a press release.

“We’re excited to add Luke to our group,” Hawks general manager Onsi Saleh said in a statement. “Luke is a great connector. He’s an elite shooter and proven play-maker with a high basketball IQ and team-first mentality. He fills multiple needs for us, and we believe he’s going to make our team better.”

June 30: The Hawks are signing free agent wing Luke Kennard on a one-year, $11MM contract, ESPN’s Shams Charania reports (via Twitter).

Quite a few teams were rumored to be interested in Kennard and he chose to go to the Hawks, who also agreed to a sign-and-trade on Monday to acquire another prominent wing, Nickeil Alexander-Walker.

The Hawks will use a majority of their mid-level exception to sign Kennard. The 29-year-old has long been regarded as one of the top 3-point shooters in the league. He has knocked down 43.8 percent of his 3s during his 460-game career.

Kennard appeared in 65 games with the Grizzlies this past season, the most action he’s seen since he played 70 games with the Clippers in 2021/22. He averaged 8.9 points, 2.8 rebounds and 3.3 assists while making 43.3 percent of his long-range shots in 2024/25.

Kennard will provide guard/forward depth to a Hawks team that’s clearly looking to move up in what appears to be a wide-open Eastern Conference.

Give Trae Young an assist: He helped recruit Kennard to Atlanta, Charania adds in another tweet.

Nickeil Alexander-Walker Heads To Hawks In Sign-And-Trade

June 30th, 2025 at 7:37pm CST by Dana Gauruder

July 6: The sign-and-trade deal sending Alexander-Walker to Atlanta is complete, according to press releases from the Hawks and Timberwolves.

June 30: Free agent guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker has agreed to a four-year, $62MM deal with the Hawks, ESPN’s Shams Charania reports (via Twitter).

The contract includes a fourth-year player option and a trade kicker, according to Charania (Twitter link).

The Hawks will acquire Alexander-Walker via a sign-and-trade using the $25MM trade exception created by last year’s Dejounte Murray trade, according to cap expert Yossi Gozlan (Twitter link). This will generate a trade exception for the Timberwolves worth half of Alexander-Walker’s starting salary.

The Timberwolves are also receiving cash considerations and a future second-rounder, Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic tweets. The pick is the Cavaliers’ 2027 second-rounder, according to Jake Fischer of The Stein Line (Twitter link).

By going the sign-and-trade route, Atlanta will be able to preserve its non-taxpayer mid-level exception and still has room under the luxury tax line to make use of it.

The Hawks were considered the frontrunners to acquire Alexander-Walker after the Timberwolves reached agreements with two of their other prominent players, Naz Reid and Julius Randle. According to insider Chris Haynes (Twitter link), Trae Young was instrumental in recruiting NAW to Atlanta.

Alexander-Walker emerged as one of the biggest names on the free agent market due to his three-and-D skills. He had a 23-point, six-assist outing against OKC in the Western Conference Finals.

The 26-year-old appeared in every regular season game this season, including 10 starts, averaging 9.4 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.7 assists. He made 38.1 percent of his threes and has knocked down 36 percent of them in his career. He now slots in as the Hawks’ sixth man, backing up Dyson Daniels at shooting guard.

Magic Sign Tyus Jones To One-Year Deal

June 30th, 2025 at 7:25pm CST by Eli Cohen

July 6: The Magic have officially signed Jones, the team announced in a press release (Twitter link).

“We are excited to welcome Tyus to the Orlando Magic family,” president of basketball operations Jeff Weltman said in a statement. “He is the ultimate pro, who will bring to our team a blend of IQ, play-making, and shooting. Known for his character and leadership, Tyus will be a tremendous mentor to our young core.”

June 30: The Magic have agreed to a one-year, $7MM deal with free agent point guard Tyus Jones, Shams Charania reports for ESPN (Twitter link).

Yossi Gozlan of the Third Apron notes (via Twitter) that if the Magic intend to stay under the luxury tax, they will need to shed salary elsewhere.

As ESPN’s Bobby Marks tweets, Jones’ contract will come out of Orlando’s non-taxpayer mid-level exception, which will hard-cap the Magic at the first apron.

Jones played for the Suns last season, averaging 10.2 points and 5.3 assists while shooting 41.4% from three and 89.5% from the free throw line. He spent time as both a starter and a reserve for Phoenix as it searched for answers with an ill-balanced roster.

The 29-year-old Jones joins a rapidly improving Magic team as the backup point guard, bringing stability and depth to the backcourt rotation. He also reunites with former Grizzlies teammate Desmond Bane, having spent three seasons together in Memphis.

Jones provides injury insurance for Jalen Suggs, who has played 53 games or fewer in three of his four NBA seasons. A high-level shooter and decision-maker, Jones can slot into the starting lineup when needed and work as an off-ball player alongside star ball-handlers Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner.

Celtics Sign Luka Garza To Two-Year Contract

June 30th, 2025 at 7:13pm CST by Eli Cohen

July 7: The Celtics’ deal with Garza is now being listed as official in NBA.com’s transaction log.

June 30: The Celtics have agreed to a two-year deal with center Luka Garza, reports ESPN’s Shams Charania (Twitter link). Keith Smith of Spotrac confirms (via Twitter) that the deal is a minimum-salary contract, which would come in around $5.3MM across those two seasons.

The 26-year-old Garza is entering his fifth season in the league. He began his career in Detroit before spending the past three seasons with the Timberwolves, with whom he averaged 4.5 points and 1.6 rebounds in 6.3 minutes per night in 92 total games.

Jon Krawcyznski of The Athletic tweets that the Celtics have had an eye on Garza for a while, having previously inquired about his availability.

After losing Kristaps Porzingis to the Hawks and Luke Kornet to the Spurs, and with Al Horford drawing significant interest around the NBA, the Celtics find their frontcourt rotation very thin, with just Xavier Tillman and Neemias Queta under contract.

Garza has never averaged more than 8.7 minutes per game, but he brings size, scoring and energy to a team that is looking to remain competitive as Jayson Tatum recovers from his ruptured Achilles.

Clint Capela Agrees To Three-Year Contract With Rockets

June 30th, 2025 at 7:03pm CST by Dana Gauruder

9:12pm: The Rockets are acquiring Capela in a sign-and-trade with the Hawks, according to Jake Fischer of The Stein Line (Twitter link), who reports that Houston is giving Atlanta a second-round pick swap in 2031 and cash to complete the deal.

7:03pm: The Rockets continued to retool their frontcourt by agreeing to a three-year, $21.5MM contract with Hawks free agent Clint Capela, ESPN’s Shams Charania tweets. The contract is fully guaranteed, Charania adds (Twitter link).

It’s no surprise that Capela, who lost his starting job in the second half of this past season, was leaving Atlanta. The Hawks are acquiring Kristaps Porzingis from the Celtics to be their starting big man, at least for next season.

Going to the Rockets, where he started his career, is somewhat of a surprise, given they already have one of the league’s top young big men in Alperen Sengun.

Houston also signed Steven Adams to a three-year extension in mid-June. Where Capela fits on the depth chart remains to be seen.

As for the contract terms, how they’ll acquire Capela is another mystery. Houston also agreed to a four-year deal with forward Dorian Finney-Smith on Monday, apparently via their non-taxpayer mid-level exception. That would mean the Rockets would have to work out a sign-and-trade to bring in Capela.

This past season, Capela started 41 of 55 games and averaged 8.9 points and 8.5 rebounds in 21.4 minutes. That was the first time in eight seasons Capela didn’t average a double-double. He was the Hawks’ regular starting center the previous four seasons after a six-year stay with Houston.

Clippers Sign Brook Lopez To Two-Year Deal

June 30th, 2025 at 6:53pm CST by Eli Cohen

July 6: Lopez is officially a Clipper, according to a press release from the team.

“Brook is an elite rim protector and range shooter who will bring a different dimension to our frontcourt,” president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank said in a statement. “He is also a former champion and a genuine pro who will be a great addition to our group.”

The second year of Lopez’s contract is a team option, tweets Fred Katz of The Athletic.

June 30: After spending seven seasons in Milwaukee, center Brook Lopez is headed back to Los Angeles, having agreed to sign a two-year, $18MM contract with the Clippers, sources tell ESPN’s Shams Charania (Twitter link).

The Clippers were known to be in the market for a reliable veteran big man to back up Most Improved Player runner-up Ivica Zubac. Based on the terms, it looks like they’ll be using a majority of the non-taxpayer mid-level exception to add Lopez.

Using the non-taxpayer mid-level will trigger a first-apron hard cap for the Clippers, who are about $8MM below that threshold, according to ESPN’s Bobby Marks (Twitter link). The club should also still have more than $5MM of its mid-level remaining, notes cap expert Yossi Gozlan (Twitter link).

Lopez had one of his better shooting seasons for the Bucks this year, hitting 37.3% of his 4.7 three-point attempts per night. However, his overall production was slightly down in terms of rebounding and rim protection as the Bucks dealt with a litany of injuries and chemistry issues.

The 37-year-old big man will slot in next to newly retained Nicolas Batum to form a heady, skilled defensive bench pairing. The center duo of Zubac and Lopez should provide the Clippers with a solid defensive anchor at all times, while Lopez will give the club a different look offensively than Zubac, who has made one three-pointer since entering the NBA in 2016.

The Bucks agreed to re-sign Bobby Portis yesterday and reached a new deal with Kevin Porter Jr. earlier today, but the loss of Lopez raises more questions about the direction of a team that will already be without its second star in Damian Lillard, who will miss most or all of 2025/26 with an Achilles tear.

Pistons Add Caris LeVert On Two-Year Contract

June 30th, 2025 at 6:41pm CST by Rory Maher

July 8: LeVert has officially signed with the Pistons, according to a press release from the team (Twitter link).

June 30: The Pistons are signing free agent wing Caris LeVert to a two-year, $29MM contract, reports Shams Charania of ESPN (via Twitter).

It’s a straight two-year deal with no player or team option for the 2026/27 season, tweets Omari Sankofa II of The Detroit Free Press.

The signing could be completed using either the full mid-level exception or cap room, depending on whether the Pistons operate over or under the salary cap.

A nine-year veteran, LeVert split last season between Cleveland and Atlanta after the Cavaliers traded him to the Hawks in February as part of the De’Andre Hunter deal. He made 64 combined appearances in 2024/25, averaging 12.1 points, 3.4 assists and 3.2 rebounds on .467/.373/.710 shooting in 24.9 minutes per game.

LeVert, who played four years of college ball in Michigan with the Wolverines, will be 31 years old in late August.

In addition to his familiarity with Michigan, LeVert also played under Pistons head coach J.B. Bickerstaff for two-plus seasons while they were members of the Cavs.

Grant Afseth first reported that Detroit was viewed as the frontrunner to land LeVert, with The Stein Line later confirming the rumor. The Hawks are reportedly targeting Nickeil Alexander-Walker as their primary free agent addition, though it might take a sign-and-trade to land him.

LeVert will bring versatile offense and play-making to the Pistons and will likely come off the bench behind Cade Cunningham and Jaden Ivey. He could also slot in as a small forward in certain lineups.

The Pistons pivoted to signing LeVert in the wake of the Malik Beasley gambling allegations.