2023-07-01 07:42:32
Free agency in the NBA has begun – and in the first three hours alone, contracts for more than 1.5 billion US dollars were negotiated, the thickest of them with the Indiana Pacers. Dennis Schröder joins the Toronto Raptors while Kyrie Irving stays with the Dallas Mavericks.
Will dribble in the Toronto Raptors jersey in the future: Dennis Schröder (l.). IMAGO/USA TODAY Network
Schröder’s agent Mark Bartelstein confirmed to ESPN that his protégé will play for the Toronto Raptors starting next season. The 29-year-old, who then tweeted the name of his new team in capital letters on Saturday night (local time), is said to receive a two-year contract worth 26 million US dollars. A whopping salary jump for the German national player, who last played for the Los Angeles Lakers for the minimum salary of $ 2.6 million a year.
With the Lakers, who were beaten by the eventual NBA champion Denver Nuggets in the conference finals, Schröder averaged 12.6 points and 4.5 assists last season. In ten NBA years, Schröder has made the playoffs eight times.
Payday for Pöltl – Lakers get Vincent from Miami
In Toronto he can count on a good chance of a place as a starter. Schroeder takes over for departed Fred VanVleet, who will join the Houston Rockets (three years, $130 million). Schröder also meets Jakob Pöltl in the Raptors. The Austrian extends his contract in Canada by four years ($80 million).
The Lakers may lose Schröder, but they were busy at the start of free agency: Point guard Gabe Vincent, who surprisingly made it into the NBA finals with the Miami Heat, has signed a three-year contract for $33 million in Los Angeles. With the forwards Taurean Prince (most recently Minnesota Timberwolves) and Cam Reddish (Portland Trail Blazers), the Lakers steered further free agents into the City of Angels. With Rui Hachimura, an important player also renewed for another three years ($51 million).
Irving remains in the Mavericks jersey
The launch of Free Agency also brought news to Dallas Mavericks fans. Kyrie Irving, who recently spoke with the Phoenix Suns, agreed to a new three-year, $126 million deal with the Mavs. The eight-time All-Star moved from the Brooklyn Nets to Dallas in February. Now the 31-year-old will continue to play alongside Luka Doncic. The Mavericks also secured the services of Seth Curry. The 32-year-old guard, most recently with the Nets, has played for the Mavs in 2016/17 and 2019/20.
“If Draymond doesn’t come back then we’re not a championship team,” said Steve Kerr at the end of the season. Now the head coach of the Golden State Warriors has one less thing to worry regarding and can tackle another ring: Draymond Green agreed with the Warriors on a new four-year, $100 million contract. The 33-year-old has been a 11-year-old with the California team, which most recently hired Chris Paul.
Maximum contracts for Haliburton and Bane
Officially, new contracts can only be signed from July 6th, but at the start of free agency one highly paid contract following the other was announced. The AP news agency calculated that contracts for more than $1.5 billion were negotiated in the first three hours alone.
Done: Tyrese Haliburton will earn $260 million over the next five years. IMAGO/USA TODAY Network
According to ESPN, the Indiana Pacers issued the thickest contract on the first day, which they extended to maximum pay with point guard Tyrese Haliburton. The 23-year-old, who made his debut as an All-Star last season, has raked in $260 million over five years. Shooting guard Desmond Bane also received a maximum contract with the Memphis Grizzlies (five years, 207 million). It’s the first $200 million deal the Grizzlies are spending in franchise history.
A selection of other deals at the start of Free Agency:
– The three-time All-Star Chris Middleton extended with the Milwaukee Bucks (three years, $102 million)
– Forward Straw Grant stays with the Portland Trail Blazers (five years, $160 million)
– Bruce Brown (last major role player at Masters Denver) signs with Indiana Pacers (two years, $45 million)
– Altstar Derrick Rose signs with the Memphis Grizzlies for two years
– Kyle Kuzma renewed with the Washington Wizards (four years, $102 million)
– Forward Cameron Johnson signs new contract with Brooklyn Nets (four years, $108 million)
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