NBA free agency officially begins today, June 30, 2025, at 6 p.m. ET, when teams can start negotiating with any free agents.
📰 Here’s what’s unfolding in NBA Free Agency
⏳ Today (June 30, 2025)
- 6 p.m. ET: Moratorium period when teams can begin talks—but can’t sign deals yet sbnation.comen.wikipedia.org+1reddit.com+1.
- The moratorium runs into early July. The surge of negotiations is now underway; teams are beginning to make calls, host workouts, and gauge interest.
đź“… Coming Up
- July 6, 2025, at noon ET:
- Official signing window opens—teams can finalize free-agent contracts and trades sbnation.com+13nba.com+13espn.com+13.
Notable Headlines Today
- LeBron James has opted into his $52.6 million player option with the Lakers, but speculation surrounding potential trade scenarios persists.
- Deandre Ayton, post buyout from the Trail Blazers, is now an unrestricted free agent, free to sign with any team nba.com+15silverscreenandroll.com+15nypost.com+15.
- Timberwolves are likely to lose Nickeil Alexander-Walker, as they look to free up cap space; Hawks and Pistons are interested in posting and com+4sbnation.com+4nba.com+4.
- Spurs are searching for a backup big behind Wembanyama, with veteran names like Brook Lopez and Bobby Portis in the mix, expressnews.com.
- Bucks are eyeing offloading contractors like Andrew Wiggins or signing guys like Guerschon Yabusele, depending on cap moves, brewhoop.com+1expressnews.com+1.
- The Knicks declined P.J. Tucker’s option but picked up Ariel Hukporti’s; they’ve cleared around $11.4 million below the second apron.
🔓 Notable Unrestricted Free Agents
- Dorian Finney‑Smith (F) – Opted out of his $15.4 M Lakers contract, now a UFA; strong wing fitting various teams’ needs.
- Nickeil Alexander‑Walker (G/F) – Timberwolves unlikely to retain him; Pistons and Hawks are frontrunners to sign
- Kevin Porter Jr. (G) – Declined the option; officially entering free agency.
- Jonathan Kuminga (SF) – Restricted, but may seek sign-and-trade if Warriors don’t match.
- Jaxson Hayes (C), Alex Len (C), Markieff Morris (F/C) – Lakers UFAs per Silver Screen & Roll
- Gary Payton II, Walker Kessler, and Daniel Gafford – Also highlighted as a Lakers free-agent option.
đź“‹ Free Agent Snapshot
| Player | Status | Position(s) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dorian Finney‑Smith | UFA | F/SF | Picked up by Lakers; exploring new opportunities |
| Nickeil Alexander-Walker | UFA | G/F | Off contract from Bucks, now on the market |
| Kevin Porter Jr. | UFA | G | Lakers free agents: potential league-wide interest |
| Jaxson Hayes, Alex Len, Markieff Morris | UFA | C / F/C | Lakers free agents; potential league-wide interest |
| Jonathan Kuminga | RFA (may be sign-and-trade) | SF | Bulls are likely re-signing or will draw other bids |
| Myles Turner | UFA | C | High-tier center; one of the top available bigs |
| Josh Giddey | RFA | PG | Bulls are likely to re-sign or will draw other bids |
| Malik Beasley | UFA | SG | Under Federal Investigation may hurt his free agency |
| SportsSavvyMagazine |
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