At 6 pm ET on June 30, the doors to the NBA free agency flew wide open, allowing organizations and players to officially begin discussing deals.
While contracts can’t be finalized until July 6, the feed was almost immediately flooded with news of done deals and Kevin Durant’s trade request.
For details and analysis on the biggest signings of the 2022 NBA free agency so far, read on. First, here are the headline signings:
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Jalen Brunson (Mavericks to Knicks)
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Bradley Beal (Wizards Extension)
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Nikola Jokić (Nuggets Extension)
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P.J. Tucker (Heat to 76ers)
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Chris Boucher (Raptors Extension)
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Devin Booker (Suns Extension)
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Gary Payton II (Warriors to Trail Blazers)
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Andre Drummond (Nets to Bulls)
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Anfernee Simons (Trail Blazers Extension)
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Karl-Anthony Towns (Timberwolves Extension)
This is honestly my favorite part of the year NBA wise.
— Thelonious Martin (@KingThelonious) June 29, 2022
Drafting and free agency is an art.
Some teams are Picasso, other teams are kids finger painting.
Jalen Brunson (Knicks: $104m, 4yr)
After successive seasons of improvements with the Dallas Mavericks, Jalen Brunson ventured into a welcoming free agency, with the point guard accepting an average salary of $26 million from the New York Knicks.
The Knicks finally have a reliable guard who put up 16.3 points, 4.8 assists, and 3.9 rebounds while munching 31.9 minutes per game in 79 appearances last season. As it stands, he’ll join Julius Randle and R.J. Barrett to form the Knicks’ core.
Bradley Beal (Wizards: $251m, 5yr)
Having been drafted by the Washington Wizards in 2012, Bradley Beal has opted to extend his stay beyond a decade, signing the maximum contract extension of $251 million over five years.
Injuries aside, Beal remains among the most explosive scorers in the NBA, and if co-star Kristaps Porziņģis can also keep fit and the chemistry clicks, they could become a menacing duo for the Wiz.
Nikola Jokić (Nuggets: $264m, 5yr)
It looks as though the best player in the NBA is sticking with the Denver Nuggets for a reported “supermax” contract extension of $264 million over five years.
The two-time MVP walked to both accolades in 2021 and 2022, and while such a contract makes team-building more complicated, the towering 27-year-old Serbian – who put up 27.1 points, 11.0 defensive rebounds, and 7.9 assists – looks to be worth every cent.
P.J. Tucker (76ers: $33.2m, 3yr)
To address the elephant in the room, P.J. Tucker is, indeed, 37-years-old, but the 2006 second-round pick by Toronto delivers versatility in defence that will help to add balance to the Philadelphia 76ers.
This move was facilitated by James Harden opting out of his contract for a more cost-effective one, specifically to allow the 76ers to build back stronger, which will surely help their NBA odds of winning the Championship next season.
Chris Boucher (Raptors: $35.25m, 3yr)
Canadian-St. Lucian power forward Chris Boucher is one of the great rags-to-riches stories of the modern Toronto Raptors, with the team moulding him from a G League regular into a menace from the bench.
Securing their key free agent will be a significant coup for the Raptors this summer, with the 29-year-old’s elite rebounding, shot-blocking, and decent points contribution solidifying the floor for the playoffs shoo-ins.
Devin Booker (Suns: $214m, 4yr)
Having played a key role in the Phoenix Suns surging to the best record in the NBA (64-18), there was little doubt that the organization would put big money on the table for 25-year-old Devin Booker.
Having recently earned his first All-NBA first-team selection, onlookers only expect him to continue to improve, upholding the Suns as a popular pick in the betting markets next season.
Gary Payton II (Trail Blazers: $28m, 3yr)
The NBA champions have lost one of their most cost-effective players this summer, with defensive ace Gary Payton II cashing in on his newfound fame to the tune of $28 million over three years with the Portland Trail Blazers.
The 29-year-old broke out as a steals leader last season, now joining a team desperate for defensive nuance. The NBA free agency never fails to entertain, with more big-money contracts and seismic trades bound to be on the horizon.
*Credit for all images in this article belongs to AP Photo*
FIRST PUBLISHED: 1st July 2022
