NBA free agency 2025: Tracking the biggest moves from Day 1

Jackson Jr. contract: $240 million, Five Years (per ESPN's Shams Charania)

Jackson Jr. contract: $240 million, Five Years

Jerome contract: $28 million, Three Years

Letting him walk at the end of next season would’ve left a gaping hole on the Grizzlies’ roster, one they had no realistic way to fill. JJJ has been the team’s defensive foundation for years and has now blossomed into a reliable 20-point scorer as well.

Still, the new deal raises a few eyebrows. Despite his shot-blocking prowess, Jackson has always struggled on the glass and needs a bruising, traditional big next to him to thrive on both ends of the floor.

The first true curveball of NBA Free Agency Day 1 came out of Denver, where the Nuggets shipped off 27-year-old sniper Michael Porter Jr. to the Brooklyn Nets in exchange for Cameron Johnson.

Denver had to sweeten the deal by tossing in an unprotected 2032 first-round pick, a gamble that might well be worth the long-term risk.

While Johnson is two years older than Porter, he brings a more versatile skill set to the table. He's not just a high-level shooter—he’s also a nimble defender on the wing and has flashed better court vision.

Last season, Johnson turned in career-best numbers, putting up 18.8 points, 3.4 assists, and 2.8 made threes per game, while converting 39% from downtown. With Nikola Jokić drawing defensive gravity, Johnson’s game could level up even further.

As for Brooklyn, MPJ may not be a building block for the long haul—he's signed through 2026-27—but leveraging their cap space to land a proven scorer and add a future asset was a shrewd play.

That 2032 pick could become a gem, especially if Jokić is out of the picture by then. And if Porter helps bring a winning mindset to Brooklyn in the short term, all the better. If not, the Nets weren’t exactly poised for a deep playoff push anyway.

Memphis also quietly made smart moves, bringing in Ty Jerome, who was one of the NBA’s most efficient bench players last season.

In just under 20 minutes per game, Jerome posted 12.5 points, 3.4 assists, 1.6 threes, and 1.1 steals, all while boasting a 60.6% effective field goal percentage—the kind of production any second unit would kill for.

Now he joins a Grizzlies squad that desperately needed steady guard play, especially when Ja Morant is sidelined. And with Desmond Bane gone, there’s room for Jerome to earn big minutes alongside Ja too.

Even better? Memphis is only committing around 6% of their cap to land him. It’s the kind of under-the-radar signing that could pay off big.

As per Shams Charania, Santi Aldama also plans to sign a three-year, $52.5 million deal to stay with the Grizzlies.

Contract: $13 million, Two Years

This looks like solid business for D'Angelo Russell, a 29-year-old floor general whose shooting had been reliable, knocking down 38.4% from deep over four seasons before this past campaign, where that number took a nosedive to 31.4%.

With Kyrie Irving expected to miss a big chunk of the season, the Dallas Mavericks could certainly benefit from Russell’s perimeter game and his knack for manipulating defenses in pick-and-roll sets.

However, there’s a caveat: Russell has routinely graded out as one of the league’s weakest defenders, according to Dunks and Threes' estimated plus-minus. That makes this move a bit of a head-scratcher, especially considering Nico Harrison's repeated emphasis that “defense wins championships” ever since the team went all-in on Luka Dončić.

Alexander-Walker contract: $62 million, Four Years 

Kennard contract: $11 million, One Year

Nickeil Alexander-Walker has emerged as one of the more intriguing names in this year’s free-agent market, and he’s now Atlanta-bound. The Hawks have added him to an already defense-heavy, multi-skilled wing group.

After a solid 2024-25 campaign in which NAW averaged 9.4 points, 2.7 dimes, and 1.7 triples while hitting 38.1% from beyond the arc, he now slots into a rotation that features Dyson Daniels, Zaccharie Risacher, and Jalen Johnson, a trio already known for giving opposing offenses nightmares.

Best part? Atlanta only had to part with a second-rounder and a bit of cash in a sign-and-trade to get it done. That’s smart front-office work.

But the Hawks weren’t done there. They’ve also added Luke Kennard, giving the squad a historic-level marksman to space the floor. Kennard ranks third all-time in career three-point shooting percentage, and he’s been even better recently, burying 45.4% of his threes over the past five seasons, and leading the league twice in that span.

Beyond his sniper's touch, Kennard has quietly rediscovered his playmaking form, showcasing the ball-handling and passing chops that made him so valuable during his Detroit days. He’s more than just a shooter—he’s a secondary creator who could effectively steer the offense when Young sits.

The Boston Celtics wasted no time making their first splash in free agency Monday night.

Following the reported departure of Luke Kornet to the San Antonio Spurs, Boston shored up its frontcourt by inking Luka Garza to a two-year, $5.5 million deal, per ESPN's Shams Charania.

The 26-year-old big man was originally picked in the second round of the 2021 NBA Draft by the Detroit Pistons, coming off a stellar college stint at Iowa, where he took home the Lute Olson Award as Division I’s top player. After a rookie campaign in Detroit, Garza spent the next three seasons with the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Last year, he saw limited action off the bench, averaging 3.5 points and 1.4 boards in just 5.6 minutes across 39 games. Minnesota declined his team option earlier Monday, officially making him an unrestricted free agent—and opening the door for the Celtics to scoop him up.

Contract: $41 million, Four Years

Luke Kornet is headed south for a fresh start.

The former Boston Celtics big man is cashing in this offseason, reportedly landing a four-year, $41 million deal with the San Antonio Spurs, per ESPN's Shams Charania.

Kornet carved out a valuable role off the bench during his five seasons in Boston, blossoming into a reliable rotation piece. After playing a supporting role in the Celtics’ 2024 championship run, the 7-foot-2 center followed it up with a breakout campaign in 2024-25, averaging 6.0 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 1.0 blocks across 73 appearances—his best numbers yet.

He kept that momentum rolling into the playoffs, delivering a standout Game 5 performance in the Eastern Conference semifinals against the New York Knicks. Coming off the pine, Kornet posted 10 points, nine boards, and a career-best seven blocks in 26 minutes—swinging the game Boston’s way and adding to his postseason résumé.

Contract: $21.5 million, Three Years

This one's a bit of a head-scratcher.

The Houston Rockets already have Alperen Şengün and Steven Adams anchoring the middle, with Jabari Smith Jr. ideally getting a slice of time at the five in smaller lineups. So, the addition of Clint Capela raises a few eyebrows. Outside of the occasional burst as a classic rim-running, pick-and-roll option, it’s tricky to see where he fits into the current mix.

The big-man depth chart now feels overcrowded. But given the price tag, Houston might be willing to live with the logjam.

Prince's contract: $7.1 million, Two Years

Kevin Porter Jr. contract: $11 million, Two Years

Taurean Prince doesn’t exactly fill up the stat sheet in other areas, and the Milwaukee Bucks were noticeably worse when he was on the court last year. Still, there’s a clear justification for bringing him back: the man can flat-out shoot.

He knocked down a sizzling 43.9% from deep last season and owns a career mark of 38.4%. With Giannis Antetokounmpo commanding double-teams every other possession, having reliable floor-spacers like Prince is essential—even if they don’t bring a ton else to the table.

Meanwhile, Kevin Porter Jr. quietly found a groove after landing in Milwaukee midseason. In just under 20 minutes per night across 30 games, he averaged 11.7 points, 3.7 assists, and drilled over 40% of his triples. It was arguably the best stretch of his career—and a handy lift for a Bucks team in need of backcourt depth.