Nuggets match Spencer Jones offer, Rockets add wings, Warriors keep Green
Plus: Kyrie Irving stays put in Dallas, and Miami pursues free-agent star forwards.
TL;DR
- Denver matched a $12 million offer sheet to retain restricted free agent Spencer Jones.
- Houston signed forward Julian Phillips while Golden State locked Draymond Green into a new deal.
- Dallas rejected trade offers for Kyrie Irving, signaling him as part of their core.
- Miami Heat targeting unrestricted free agents DeMar DeRozan and Bradley Beal to reshape the roster.
Trades and roster moves
Nuggets seal Jones, Rockets add depth, Irving staying put
Restricted free agents, wing depth, and trade refusals shape the late offseason picture.
Denver matched Oklahoma City's fully guaranteed two-year, $12 million offer sheet for restricted free agent Spencer Jones, locking the forward into the Nuggets' rotation. The match pushes Denver above the second apron—the NBA's hard salary cap—for the first time, a sign the franchise is comfortable eating luxury-tax penalties to keep its core intact (via HoopsHype).
Rockets sign Julian Phillips. Houston added 22-year-old forward Julian Phillips on a non-guaranteed contract, giving the team more wing depth as camps approach. Phillips, a 6-foot-8 athlete who has bounced between Chicago and Minnesota, becomes one of the few remaining free-agent forwards available (via Yahoo Sports).
Irving staying in Dallas. The Mavericks continue to reject trade offers for Kyrie Irving, signaling the 34-year-old guard as untouchable alongside Rookie of the Year Cooper Flagg and Luka Doncic. Irving, who is recovering from knee surgery, is expected to be ready by training camp and appears firmly in Dallas's title plans (via HoopsHype).
Draft and free agency
Draymond stays in Golden State, Heat hunts forward upgrades
Restricted free agent re-signings and aggressive free-agency pursuits reshape the West.
Draymond Green committed to staying with the Warriors after declining his player option, signing a new deal worth roughly $28 million annually. The four-time All-Star's re-signing came after LeBron James chose Philadelphia, making the Warriors' core around Stephen Curry secure heading into the season (via HoopsHype).
Heat targets star forwards. Miami is actively pursuing DeMar DeRozan as its top target and also monitoring Bradley Beal as the team looks to reshape around Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo. Both remain unrestricted free agents, and the Heat's pursuit signals an aggressive pivot after LeBron James headed to Philadelphia (via Bleacher Report).