CLEVELAND, Ohio -- NBA Free Agency 2018 is officially underway and all eyes are on LeBron James.
But unlike past years, the rest of the league isn't waiting patiently for James' decision. Instead, teams are aggressively making deals.
Shortly before midnight, Paul George agreed to stay with the Oklahoma City Thunder, announcing those intentions at a party with Russell Westbrook and Thunder management. The Houston Rockets struck a deal with point guard Chris Paul, giving him a four-year max contract. DeAndre Jordan made a one-year commitment to play with the Dallas Mavericks, the team he famously spurned to stay with the Clippers a few years back. Kevin Durant agreed quickly, taking a one-plus-one deal to stay in Golden State and become a free agent again in 2019.
There will be plenty more to come during Day 1. Nothing can be signed until July 6, when the moratorium ends.
Follow along here for the latest updates and rumors throughout:
2:53 p.m.: The Lakers, shut out to this point, are staying active. Another target: Rockets big man Clint Capela, who is a restricted free agent. Houston seems inclined to match any offer for the shot-blocker who is coming off a career year. However, they have plenty of money tied up already, especially after handing out the max to Chris Paul. It seems a long shot for Los Angeles.
2:23 p.m.: The Mavericks have made some noise this off-season, moving up in the draft for Luka Doncic and getting an agreement with free agent DeAndre Jordan early Sunday morning. There's not much left for the Mavericks to spend. But Yahoo Sports identifies how Dallas may choose to punctuate their expensive summer.
1:43 p.m.: With the Lakers rumored to have interest in DeMarcus Cousins, teaming him up with LeBron, it's fair to wonder how the two would fit together. Kevin O'Connor of The Ringer explores the possibility and whether it would work.
"Like Chris Bosh and Kevin Love, Cousins can space the floor from 3, and can also play down low. Skinny Love isn't the bruiser inside like he once was, but Cousins can still toss bodies. James has never played with a big exactly like Cousins--a superior ball handler in the open court to Bosh and Love. Cousins could alleviate the pressure off James as an initiator of the offense and a pick-and-roll ball handler--provided James is willing to give up the rock--while playing at a slower offensive pace, with a physically brutal style of play."
12:19 p.m.: When the Sixers meet with LeBron's agent this afternoon, there is one thing they will focus on selling, the one piece that could play a role in LeBron's decision.
11:15 a.m.: James and his reps have already chatted with Cavs GM Koby Altman in the early stages of free agency. Next up: A discussion with the Philadelphia 76ers. At least, that's the plan, according to ESPN.
10:35 a.m.: With a new head coach in the mix and the possibility of James leaving the Eastern Conference, it will be an interesting summer in Canada. The Raptors started their activity by agreeing to a deal with one of their own key pieces. According to Yahoo Sports, Fred VanVleet, a finalist for Sixth Man of the Year, will have a new two-year contract.
10:04 a.m.: What was the nature of that call between James, his agent Rich Paul and Cavaliers GM Koby Altman? That's being kept quiet, according to our Joe Vardon.
"Sources declined to characterize the nature of the call. Was James listening to Altman's pitch to rejoin the Cavs, maybe sign the largest contract in the league? Or was it courtesy call for James to tell his hometown team himself that he's decided to move on? James' interest in joining the Lakers is strong, sources told cleveland.com.
A source said late Saturday night that at least Paul and Altman would speak, and ESPN was first to report that the league's most mega free agent was also on the call."
9:28 a.m.: While Cleveland's attention has been on James, the Cavaliers also have to figure out what to do about restricted free agent Rodney Hood, who will have plenty of suitors, according to Yahoo Sports.
Hood was one of the four arrivals midseason, a roster shakeup that helped give the team new life heading into the postseason. He bounced in and out of head coach Tyronn Lue's playoff rotation, getting significant playing time in the last two games of the NBA Finals. Hood averaged 10.8 points on 44.2 percent from the field and 35.2 percent from 3-point range in 21 regular season games with the Cavs.
9:08 a.m.: Much of the chatter with LeBron has centered on three teams: Lakers, Cavaliers and 76ers. But Yahoo Sports' Chris Mannix has another that's showing strong interest, and it's the Denver Nuggets.
They locked up franchise player Nikola Jokic for another five years early Sunday morning and also got a deal done with Barton. After missing out on the playoffs last season, they are clearly looking to make a splash and rise up the Western Conference standings by pursuing a meeting with James.
From Mannix:
"Denver has been in contact with James' agent, Rich Paul, and has doggedly tried to position the team as James' best option, the source said. Paul George's decision to re-sign with Oklahoma City has taken a potential James teammate in Los Angeles off the board, and thus far the Lakers' talks with San Antonio for Kawhi Leonard have gained no traction."
9:05 a.m.: With George back in OKC and the Thunder also agreeing to a three-year, $27 million contract with Jerami Grant, what does that mean for the future of Carmelo Anthony, who opted into his massive contract prior to free agency? Well, Alex Kennedy of Hoopshype has a theory.
8:53 a.m.: With teams being strapped for money this off-season, players pounced quickly shortly after midnight. Here is a roundup of all the smaller deals that were agreed to and reported early:
8:45 a.m.: It's been a busy start to free agency for the Houston Rockets. Shortly after Chris Paul announced his return, sealing it with an "Unfinished Business" post on Twitter, Houston watched as versatile swingman Trevor Ariza agreed to a lucrative one-year deal worth $15 million to join the Phoenix Suns.
That's, no doubt, a significant blow to the team with the league's best record during the 2017-18 season. However, the Rockets still have other decisions to make, including one on center Clint Capela. ESPN has the latest on that:
8:39: a.m.: With the Lakers' dreams of pairing James and George together in Los Angeles dashed, will they turn their attention to a different super team combination? According to The Undefeated's Marc Spears, DeMarcus Cousins, who is coming off an Achilles injury, is on the radar.
James has stated numerous times that he believes Cousins is the best, most talented big man in the NBA.
8:21 a.m.: While LeBron flew into Los Angeles on the first day of free agency -- a not-so telling coincidence considering he lives in LA during the summer -- the four-time MVP and his agent Rich Paul were in contact with the Cleveland Cavaliers early Sunday morning, according to ESPN's Dave McMenamin.
James isn't expected to drag his choice out over several days. He knows what he wants and he's very familiar with the Cavaliers after leading them to four straight NBA Finals since returning as a free agent in 2014 following four seasons in Miami. Because they own his "Bird rights" the Cavs can offer James more money than any other team -- a five-year, $207 million deal. But the lure of Los Angeles has some believing he will leave Cleveland again.
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