Irving to stay in Dallas, Green to Warriors in NBA free agency — reports

NEW YORK, United States — Kyrie Irving and Draymond Green have agreed to three-year deals with Dallas and Golden State, respectively, as the NBA free agency period begins on Friday.

A former All-Star with Cleveland, Irving was dogged by off-court controversy in Brooklyn and was traded to Dallas in February of last year, where he has agreed to stay with the Mavericks for $126 million with an option for the remainder of his career.

Irving missed more than 50 games with the Nets because he did not get his Covid vaccination and eight more because he refused to apologize for promoting an anti-Semitic film. The Mavs missed the NBA playoffs despite his 27-point average in 20 games.

ESPN and The Athletic report that the Warriors signed forward Green to a four-year contract worth $100 million. Golden State salary tax money will be saved by Green’s $22.3 million next year, even though he opted out of his contract.

NBA announced that salaries would be capped at $136.021 million for the 2023-24 season with minimum payroll being $122.418 million and salary tax beginning at $165.294 million.

According to NBA rules, free agency negotiations cannot take place until Friday and new contracts cannot be signed until Thursday, so news reports are the only source of information about NBA club moves for the upcoming season.

Bruce Brown, a 26-year-old guard who scored 11.5 points a game for the Nuggets while playing a career-high 28.5 minutes a game, is reported to have signed with Indiana for a two-year deal worth $45 million. In their championship run, the 26-year-old guard scored 11.5 points a game and played a career-high 28.5 minutes.

ESPN and The Athletic reported that Portland has signed forward Jerami Grant to a five-year, $160 million deal. Los Angeles still wonders what will happen to star Damian Lillard.

Several NBA players reportedly agreed to re-sign with their teams, including Kyle Kuzma who signed with Washington for $102 million over four years, Coby White who agreed to stay with Chicago for three years for $40 million, and Caris LeVert who will stay with Cleveland for two years for $32 million, ESPN and The Athletic reported.

Harden’s fate remains unknown

A $102 million deal agreed to by the Milwaukee Bucks and Khris Middleton should extend the Bucks’ ability to keep Greek big man Giannis Antetokounmpo, who could leave in 2025.

In addition, Brook Lopez, whose Bucks contract expired last season, was still uncertain.

As the best team in the NBA last season, the Bucks lost in the first round to Miami.

It is likely Lopez’s potential suitor was taken off the table when the Los Angeles Lakers agreed to a deal with guard Gabe Vincent, according to The Athletic.

He will reunite with ex-Brooklyn teammate Kevin Durant with the Phoenix Suns, according to The Athletic.

ESPN and The Athletic report that 76ers All-Star guard James Harden opted into his $35.6 million contract for next season, but it was done so that the team could work on a trade.

Having been traded from Houston to Brooklyn in 2021 and then from the Nets to the 76ers in 2022, Harden, who turns 34 in August, could wind up on his fourth team in six years.

Harden is reportedly being pursued by the Los Angeles Clippers and the New York Knicks.

Obtaining more talent around Joel Embiid if he hopes to spark a championship run for the Sixers in exchange for any Harden deal will be crucial.

The Houston Rockets are expected to make a major move for Fred VanVleet, a 29-year-old point guard who helped Toronto win the 2019 championship.