NBA Rumors: LeBron James, Paul George, Klay Thompson, Brandon Ingram, Isaiah Hartenstein, more

With NBA free agency beginning June 30th at 6 pm ET, HoopsHype has gathered the latest intel across the league on the top free agents entering the market.

LeBron James and Lakers free agent targets

The Lakers are expected to re-sign LeBron James in free agency, but the question is for how much?

As ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski mentioned, James is reportedly willing to take a discount if the Lakers can land an impact player via the mid-level exception, with Klay Thompson, James Harden, and Jonas Valanciunas mentioned among the names of interest.

However, Harden is projected to potentially earn somewhere closer to double that mid-level exception amount, with the Clippers interested in bringing him back in free agency, league sources told HoopsHype.

Thompson is expected to draw interest from the Lakers, Mavericks, and Magic, with the expectation that he’ll leave the Warriors at this juncture. It’s unclear if the mid-level exception would be enough financially for Thompson, given potential sign-and-trade interest from Dallas and interest from the Magic, who have cap space to spend. The Magic will meet with Paul George and have significant interest in Kentavious-Caldwell Pope, league sources told HoopsHype, which could limit their chances of ultimately spending big on Thompson.

Of the three players Woj mentioned, Valanciunas’ market is probably the closest in line with the mid-level exception value.

Paul George’s free agency meetings

Paul George is considered the top free agent on the market and will meet with the Los Angeles Clippers, Philadelphia 76ers, and Orlando Magic in free agency.

The 76ers will aggressively pursue George once free agency begins and are preparing a maximum contract offer, league sources told HoopsHype. In fact, there was a palpable buzz this weekend that George could ultimately end up with the 76ers by the end of his free agency, according to various league personnel members. A potential trio of former MVP Joel Embiid, George, and rising star Tyrese Maxey would give Philadelphia a formidable trio to compete against the reigning champion Boston Celtics and the New York Knicks, who just acquired Mikal Bridges and agreed to re-sign OG Anunoby.

The Magic are also prepared to meet with George and offer a max contract. The meeting shows how far the franchise has come in recent years under the coaching of Jamahl Mosley and the play of rising stars Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner.

To this point, the Clippers have essentially drawn a line in the sand that Kawhi Leonard’s three-year, $153 million deal is the most they’ll look to spend on George, league sources told HoopsHype. George, meanwhile, is seeking a four-year max contract in free agency. It remains to be seen if George indeed garners max offers from the 76ers and Magic, as expected, forcing the Clippers to reconsider their stance on the number of years and salary they’re willing to offer or risk losing him.

Brandon Ingram trade interest

One potential contingency plan that’s been bantered around the league if the 76ers fail to land George is Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram via trade. Another team to potentially keep an eye on for Ingram is the Sacramento Kings, HoopsHype has learned. For now, there’s only been exploratory interest from Sacramento in an Ingram pursuit.

While talks haven’t escalated yet with Sacramento for Ingram, the Kings have separately dangled a general trade package elsewhere around the league, including Kevin Huerter, Harrison Barnes, the No. 13 pick, which turned out to be Devin Carter, and future draft picks in the years to come as trade bait during the NBA Draft, league sources said.

With Carter now in Sacramento, who had him higher on their board than where he landed with the Kings, Sacramento can still dangle future trade picks with Huerter and Barnes to try and upgrade the team.

Klay Thompson’s potential next team

Klay Thompson’s tenure in Golden State may not be the only one coming to an end. The Warriors are also shopping Chris Paul and Andrew Wiggins in trade talks, league sources told HoopsHype.

Thompson is reportedly garnering significant interest from the Mavericks, as Marc Stein reported. After acquiring 3-and-D guard Quentin Grimes via the Tim Hardaway Jr. trade, Josh Green could become expendable and be a potential candidate for Golden State in a sign-and-trade deal for Thompson. Dallas also hopes to re-sign Derrick Jones Jr. with the mid-level exception in free agency, league sources told HoopsHype.

The Lakers have also entered the picture as an intriguing possibility, with LeBron James open to taking less money on his next contract to accommodate a financial pursuit of Thompson.

The Magic have also been connected as a team with expected interest in Thompson, but that belief has cooled compared to interested teams like the Mavericks and Lakers. Orlando is also expected to show significant interest in guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, league sources told HoopsHype.

Isaiah Hartenstein’s bidding war

During the weekend, there was a growing sense that the Oklahoma City Thunder and Orlando Magic would be the two top teams with significant interest in challenging the New York Knicks for the services of free agent center Isaiah Hartenstein, league sources told HoopsHype.

Some around the league believe Hartenstein could earn roughly $23 million per year on a multi-year deal from a rival franchise that could potentially sway him to leave New York, which can offer up to four years, $72 million.

Amid the expected Hartenstein courtship, rival teams have expressed trade interest in Magic center Wendell Carter Jr., including the New Orleans Pelicans, league sources told HoopsHype. The Pelicans are searching to add a center, with Jonas Valanciunas expected to depart in free agency, as previously reported on HoopsHype.

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope’s free agent market

There’s a growing belief around the NBA that Kentavious Caldwell-Pope won’t return to the Denver Nuggets.

During the weekend, the buzz surrounding a significant Orlando Magic pursuit of Caldwell-Pope in free agency grew louder, league sources told HoopsHype.

The Philadelphia 76ers are also monitoring Caldwell-Pope and have interest depending on how the team’s pursuit of top target Paul George goes.

Several NBA executives who spoke with HoopsHype project Caldwell-Pope to earn somewhere between $20-25 million per year.

The Nuggets appear prepared for the expected loss of Caldwell-Pope based on general manager Calvin Booth’s recent comments.

“It would be nice if he (Caldwell-Pope) is back,” Booth said. “We’d have a lot of continuity together, but all the stuff I’ve looked at with lineup stuff and everything, Christian Braun is one of the best net rating guys in the league — as is KCP. So I think if he (Braun) is to step into the starting lineup, I would project that we’ll be okay if KCP doesn’t return.”

Denver has been high on Braun for a while and promised him with their No. 21 overall pick back in the 2022 NBA Draft, league sources told HoopsHype. Braun shot 38.4 percent from 3-point range and played all 82 games last season.

Haywood Highsmith’s growing free agent market

Haywood Highsmith is expected to become a sought-after free agent on the market, given his 3-and-D skill set as a lockdown perimeter defender with a 7-foot-1 wingspan and shooting 40 percent beyond the arc last season.

The Miami Heat have already spoken with their free agent forward Highsmith and his agent, Jerry Dianis, about the possibility of a return, per the Miami Herald. However, Miami is expected to have stiff competition for Highsmith’s services on the open market.

Teams with significant cap space, including the Detroit Pistons, Charlotte Hornets, Utah Jazz, San Antonio Spurs, and Philadelphia 76ers, are expected to register interest in Highsmith once free agency begins, league sources told HoopsHype.

The Hornets will attempt to re-sign forward Miles Bridges, and the 76ers are prioritizing the free agency recruitment of Paul George, with any player after that on their board on hold.

Several teams with non-taxpayer mid-level exceptions available, such as the Indiana Pacers, Sacramento Kings, and potentially the Golden State Warriors depending on the futures of Klay Thompson, Chris Paul, and Andrew Wiggins are also expected to show interest in pursuing Highsmith, league sources told HoopsHype.

Given the expected interest in Highsmith, his free agency value could land him as much as the non-taxpayer mid-level exception, around $13 million. Previously, ESPN’s Bobby Marks projected Highsmith in the $8-10 million annual range.

For more on Highsmith, check out his appearance on The HoopsHype Podcast, where he discussed his journey from a D-II Player of the Year to NBA player, Heat Culture, Erik Spoelstra, the top players he’s guarded, his upcoming free agency, and more by clicking here.

Caleb Martin’s projected free agency value

Miami Heat swingman Caleb Martin declined his $7.13 million player option, as first reported by HoopsHype, and could potentially double that figure with various NBA executives around the league projecting Martin as a strong candidate to earn a non-taxpayer mid-level exception or more from contending teams.

What’s next for Tyus Jones?

Tyus Jones is considered one of the top point guards available in free agency.

Jones, who just turned 28, started all 66 games he played in Washington last season and made the most of his opportunity, shooting a career-high 48.9 percent from the field and 41.4 percent from 3-point range with 7.3 assists and 12 points per game.

Heading into free agency, Jones is looking for starting point guard money on the market. With Washington still in the early stages of a rebuild, there’s a growing sense the Wizards would be more open to a potential sign-and-trade, league sources told HoopsHype.

The notion of a potential sign-and-trade possibility was previously suggested a week ago by rival NBA executives in a HoopsHype report and has now gained more steam.

Cam Johnson drawing trade interest

Brooklyn Nets forward Cam Johnson has drawn recent trade interest from several teams, including the Toronto Raptors and Sacramento Kings, league sources told HoopsHype.

The Indiana Pacers and Orlando Magic also registered exploratory trade interest in Johnson, league sources told HoopsHype. However, Indiana had other items ahead in its pecking order, including agreeing to a four-year, $60 million deal with restricted free agent Obi Toppin, per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, and Orlando will pursue several free agents with their cap space, such as Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Isaiah Hartenstein first before considering acquiring a player and absorbing him into their cap space.

According to a report from Chris Fedor, the Cleveland Cavaliers could also have interest in Johnson. However, nothing has materialized on that front to this point, HoopsHype has learned.

Johnson shot 39.1 percent from 3-point range last season and is owed $68.82 million over the next three seasons on his contract.

With Brooklyn entering a rebuild, Johnson is considered one of several trade candidates, including Dorian Finney-Smith, Bojan Bogdanovic, Dennis Schroder, Ben Simmons, and backup center Day’Ron Sharpe, as previously reported by HoopsHype.

Spencer Dinwiddie’s free agent suitors

After averaging 16.5 points, 9.1 assists, 4.1 rebounds, and 1.1 assists for the Brooklyn Nets after being re-acquired by the franchise in the Kyrie Irving trade during the 2022-23 season, Spencer Dinwiddie’s role changed during the 2023-24 season.

The Nets traded Dinwiddie to the Toronto Raptors, who waived him before he signed with the Los Angeles Lakers, his favorite team growing up, marking the third straight season Dinwiddie has appeared in the playoffs.

Before signing with the Lakers, the Dallas Mavericks expressed significant interest in Dinwiddie once he became a free agent, as both teams valued his ability to penetrate off the dribble and guard on the perimeter.

Now, the Lakers and Mavericks are once again expected to have interest in Dinwiddie again as he enters free agency, league sources told HoopsHype.

Taurean Prince back to the Lakers?

While we’re on the topic of Lakers players, the team is interested in re-signing forward Taurean Prince, league sources told HoopsHype.

Prince shot 39.6 percent from 3-point range for the Lakers and started 49 of 78 games last season.

Should Prince return to the Lakers, rival NBA executives project Prince to potentially command a deal somewhere in the range of two years and $11 million, which could be done by using his non-bird rights where the Lakers can offer a contract beginning at 120 percent of his salary from the previous season.

Young Pacers drawing trade interest

As the Indiana Pacers have done their due diligence working the phones with NBA teams across the league, rival executives have inquired about Bennedict Mathurin and Jarace Walker, league sources told HoopsHype.

Both young players, however, haven’t been made available by Indiana, with the team looking to bring back its core in an attempt to make another deep playoff run this upcoming season.

Scottie Barnes extension details with Raptors

All-Star forward Scottie Barnes agreed to a five-year, maximum extension, which could be worth as much as $270 million, as ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported.

Barnes will become the highest-paid Raptors player ever, and he’s all in on Toronto with the extension agreement including no player or team option in the deal, league sources told HoopsHype.

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