NBA Free Agency 2018: Updates on LeBron James, Paul George, Chris Paul and others during Day 1



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CLEVELAND, Ohio – NBA Free Agency 2018 is officially underway and all eyes are on LeBron James.

But unlike in previous years, the rest of the league does not wait patiently for James' decision. Instead, the teams aggressively make offers.

Shortly before midnight, Paul George agreed to stay with the Thunder of Oklahoma City, announcing these intentions at a party with the management of Russell Westbrook and Thunder. The Houston Rockets reached an agreement with playmaker Chris Paul, giving him a four-year contract. DeAndre Jordan made a one – year commitment to play with the Dallas Mavericks, the team he despised to stay with the Clippers a few years ago. Kevin Durant quickly agreed, accepting a more than one contract to stay at Golden State and become a free agent again in 2019.

There will be a lot more to come during Day 1. Nothing can be signed before the July 6, date when the moratorium ends

Follow here for the latest news and rumors throughout:

2:23 pm: The Mavericks have made noise this off season, going back into the draft for Luka Doncic and get an agreement with the free agent DeAndre Jordan early Sunday morning. There is not much to do for the Mavericks. But Yahoo Sports identifies how Dallas can choose to punctuate their expensive summer.

1:43: With the Lakers rumored to have interest in DeMarcus Cousins, teaming up with LeBron, it's fair to wonder how both Would fit together. Kevin O'Connor of The Ringer explores the possibility and if it would work.

"Like Chris Bosh and Kevin Love, Cousins ​​can space the floor 3, and can also play at low play. Skinny Love is not the inside slugger as he It was once, but Cousins ​​can still throw out bodies. Never played with a big one like Cousins ​​- a top outdoor ball handler at Bosh and Love.Cousins ​​could lighten up the pressure on James as an initiator of the offense and a pick-and-roll ball manager – provided James is ready to give up rock – while playing at a slower pace, with a physically brutal playing style "

12:19: When the Sixers meet With LeBron's agent this afternoon, there's one thing they'll be focusing on on the sale, the only piece that could play a role in LeBron's decision.

11:15: 19659007James and his representatives have already discussed with Cavs GM Koby Altman in the early stages of the free agency. Next appointment: A discussion with the Philadelphia 76ers. At least that's the plan, according to ESPN.

10:35 am: With a new head coach in the mix and the possibility for James to leave the Eastern Conference, this will be an interesting summer in Canada. The Raptors started their business by accepting an agreement with one of their own key pieces. According to Fred Sports, Fred VanVleet, runner-up for the sixth man of the year, will have a new two-year contract.

10:04: What was the nature of this call between James, his agent Rich Paul and GM Cavalier Koby Altman? This remains silent, according to our Joe Vardon.

"The sources refused to characterize the nature of the call: did James listen to the Altman pitch to join the Cavs, perhaps sign the biggest contract of the league? that he decided to move on, James's interest in joining the Lakers is strong, said sources at cleveland.com

A source has said Saturday night that Paul and Altman would at least speak, and ESPN was first to report that the league's largest free agent was also on the call. "

9:28: While Cleveland's attention has been on James, the Cavaliers also need to find out what to do about restricted free agent Rodney Hood, who will have a lot of contenders, according to Yahoo Sports.

Hood was one of four mid-season arrivals, a reshuffle of alignment that helped the team find a new life in the playoffs. He has bounced in and out of the coaching rotation of head coach Tyronn Lue, getting a significant playing time in the final two games of the NBA Finals. Hood averaged 10.8 points on 44.2% on the field and 35.2% on a three-point range in 21 regular season games with the Cavs.

9:08: 194659007 Many conversations with LeBron have been centered on three teams: Lakers, Cavaliers and 76ers. But Chris Mannix of Yahoo Sports has another one that shows great interest, and that's Denver Nuggets

They locked up franchise player Nikola Jokic for another five years early Sunday morning and also got a deal with Barton. After missing the playoffs last season, they are clearly looking to make a splash and climb to the top of the Western Conference by meeting with James.

From Mannix:

"Denver was in contact with James 'agent, Rich Paul, and tried to position the team as James' best option, said the The sign with Oklahoma City has kidnapped a potential James teammate in Los Angeles, and up to here the Lakers talks with San Antonio for Kawhi Leonard have not gained traction. " [19659002] 9: 05h00: With George back to OKC and the Thunder also accepting a $ 27 million deal with Jerami Grant for three years, what does that mean for the future of Carmelo Anthony, who opted for his contract? Well, Alex Kennedy of Hoopshype has a theory.

8:53 AM: 19659007] With short cash teams this season, players quickly jumped shortly after midnight. Here is an overview of all the smaller transactions that were agreed and reported at the beginning:

8:45 am.: C'is a free agency start for the Houston Rockets. Shortly after Chris Paul announced his return, sealing him with a post "Unfinished Business" on Twitter, Houston looked like versatile Trevor Ariza accepted a lucrative one-year contract worth 15 millions of dollars to join the Phoenix Suns. doubt, a major blow to the team with the best record in the league during the 2017-18 season. However, the Rockets still have other decisions to make, including one on the Clint Capela center. ESPN has the latest news on this subject:

8:39: am: With the dreams of the Lakers to match James and George together in Los Angeles rushed, will they turn their attention to a combination of super different team? According to Marc Spears of The Undefeated, DeMarcus Cousins, who has just suffered an Achilles injury, is on the radar.

James has repeatedly stated that he believes that Cousins ​​is the best, most talented great man in the NBA.

8:21: While LeBron landed in Los Angeles on the first day of the free agency – a coincidence not so revealing considering that he lives in Los Angeles during the – The four-stroke MVP and his agent Rich Paul were in contact with the Cleveland Cavaliers early Sunday morning, according to Dave McMenamin of ESPN.

One does not expect James to drag his choice over several days. He knows what he wants and he is very familiar with the Cavaliers after leading them to four consecutive NBA finals since returning as a free agent in 2014 after four seasons in Miami. Because they own his "bird rights", the Cavs can offer James more money than any other team – a $ 207 million deal over five years. But the lure of Los Angeles has made it seem like he will leave Cleveland again.

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