With NBA free agency just hours away, buzz continues to circulate around the league, and it’s moving fast.
Veteran point guard Dennis Schroder appears poised to sign a two-year deal with the Sacramento Kings using the non-taxpayer mid-level exception, per Marc Stein and Jake Fischer of The Stein Line. Meanwhile, free agent guard D’Angelo Russell is widely expected to land with the Dallas Mavericks on a two-year pact at the taxpayer mid-level.
Elsewhere, the Memphis Grizzlies are considered the frontrunners for Ty Jerome, with rival teams anticipating a deal in the $9–10 million range annually. Jerome has drawn strong internal support in Memphis and could provide depth behind Ja Morant and newcomer Kentavious Caldwell-Pope.
Here’s more from Stein and Fischer:
— The Los Angeles Clippers are viewed as a possible landing spot for veteran center Clint Capela, who’s drawing interest from multiple teams in need of frontcourt help. L.A. is seeking a reliable backup to Ivica Zubac, with Drew Eubanks unlikely to return.
— If the Lakers are unable to re-sign Dorian Finney-Smith, they’re expected to turn their attention to free agent guard De’Anthony Melton. The defensive-minded guard earned the full mid-level last year but is unlikely to command that kind of deal again after missing most of the season with a torn ACL.
— Tre Jones is expected to re-sign with the Chicago Bulls, backing up earlier reporting from K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Sports Network. Jones’ return gained momentum following Chicago’s trade of Lonzo Ball to the Cleveland Cavaliers.
— The Milwaukee Bucks are exploring sign-and-trade options for Pat Connaughton and have identified at least two potential paths to a deal. Any move would likely require a sweetener, though Milwaukee may be aiming to get back a rotation-level player in return.
— The Washington Wizards are actively testing the NBA trade market for Marcus Smart and Kelly Olynyk, even though Olynyk’s arrival from New Orleans isn’t official yet. Washington could look to flip the veteran big man as part of a larger roster shake-up.
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