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Devin Booker to sign huge Suns contract extension

Via ESPN.com:

Phoenix Suns star Devin Booker has agreed on a four-year, $224 million supermax extension, his agents, Jessica Holtz and Melvin Booker of CAA Basketball, told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.

Booker’s deal begins in 2024-25 and brings his total contract value to six years and $295 million.

Booker, 25, has become the face of the Suns franchise since being drafted 13th overall by Phoenix in the summer of 2015, including leading the Suns — alongside future Hall of Famer Chris Paul — to the NBA finals in 2021.

Nikola Jokic to sign huge Nuggets contract extension

Via ESPN.com:

Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic has agreed to the largest contract in NBA history — a five-year, $270 million supermax extension, his agents, Jeff Schwartz and Mike Lindeman of Excel Sports, told ESPN on Friday.

Jokic, the two-time reigning Most Valuable Player, is now secured to the Nuggets for a total of six seasons for $303 million.

The deal includes a player option and a trade kicker. The contract will kick in during the 2023-24 season at $46.6 million and climb every season until 2027-28, when Jokic is set to make $61.5 million.

Orlando Magic sign Gary Harris to contract extension

The Orlando Magic have signed guard Gary Harris to a contract extension, President of Basketball Operations Jeff Weltman announced today.

Per multiple reports, Harris’ extension is a two-year, $26 million deal.

Harris (6’4”, 210, 9/14/94) played in 61 games (30 starts) last season with Orlando, averaging 11.1 ppg., 2.0 rpg. and 1.8 apg. in 28.4 minpg., while shooting .384 (116-302) from three-point range and .874 (83-95) from the free throw line. He led (or tied) the team in scoring five times and in assists four times. Harris scored in double figures 37 times and 20+ points six times, including a season-high 28 points on Jan. 8 @ Detroit. He scored his 5,000th career NBA point on Dec. 8 @ Sacramento.

Originally selected in the first round (19th overall) of the 2014 NBA Draft by Chicago, Harris has appeared in 468 career NBA regular season games (374 starts) with Denver and Orlando, averaging 11.8 ppg., 2.5 rpg., 1.9 apg. and 1.17 stlpg. in 28.8 minpg., while shooting.363 (705-1,944) from three-point range and .812 (719-885) from the free throw line. He has also played in 28 career playoff games (26 starts), averaging 10.8 ppg., 3.1 rpg., 2.0 apg. and 1.00 stlpg. in 32.0 minpg.

Harris was acquired by Orlando from Denver, along with R.J. Hampton and a future first round draft pick, in exchange for Gary Clark and Aaron Gordon on Mar. 25, 2021. He has played in 81 games (49 starts) with the Magic, averaging 10.9 ppg., 1.9 rpg. and 1.9 apg. in 27.5 minpg., while shooting .380 (140-368) from three-point range and .874 (125-143) from the free throw line.

Bradley Beal to stay with Wizards

Per ESPN.com, “All-Star guard Bradley Beal has agreed to a five-year, $251 million maximum contract to stay with the Washington Wizards, his agent Mark Bartelstein of Priority Sports tells ESPN as NBA free agency opened Thursday. Beal, who has played his entire 10-year career with the Wizards, has now committed himself to the franchise for the duration of his prime.”

Lu Dort re-signing with Thunder

Per ESPN.com, “shooting guard Lu Dort has agreed to a five-year, $87.5 million deal to stay with the Oklahoma City Thunder, his agent, Thad Foucher of Wasserman, told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Dort, 23, who is considered one of the NBA’s best wing defenders, signed with the Thunder in 2019 as an undrafted rookie on a two-way contract and emerged as a starter for Oklahoma City’s playoff team that season.”

Utah Jazz trade Royce O’Neale to Brooklyn Nets

The Brooklyn Nets have acquired forward Royce O’Neale in a trade with the Utah Jazz for a 2023 first round draft pick (the least favorable of the Brooklyn/Houston first round pick swap and Philadelphia’s first round pick that was previously acquired by Brooklyn).

“We are excited to welcome Royce and his family to Brooklyn,” said Nets General Manager Sean Marks. “He is a versatile wing defender and floor spacer whose tenacious style of play fits the fabric of the team we are building.”

O’Neale (6’6”, 215) appeared in 370 games (230 starts) across five seasons (2017-22) with Utah, recording averages of 6.2 points, 4.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 25.7 minutes per game while shooting 44.8 percent from the field, 38.1 percent from 3-point range and 79.6 percent from the free-throw line. The 29-year-old appeared in and started 77 games for Utah during the 2021-22 season, averaging a career-high 7.4 points on 45.7 percent shooting from the field, 38.9 percent shooting from 3-point range and 80.4 percent shooting from the free-throw line with 4.8 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.1 steals in 31.2 minutes per contest. O’Neale has also seen action in 40 career playoff games (29 starts) over five postseason appearances with the Jazz, registering averages of 8.3 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 30.9 minutes per game while shooting 47.0 percent from the field, 39.9 percent from 3-point range and 69.8 percent from the free-throw line. Prior to signing with Utah, the Killeen, Texas, native played one season (2016-17) for Gran Canaria in Spain’s ACB and one season (2015-16) for MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg of the German Bundesliga after going undrafted in the 2015 NBA Draft. He previously played two collegiate seasons (2013-15) at Baylor and two collegiate seasons (2011-13) at the University of Denver.

Timberwolves sign Taurean Prince to contract extension

The Minnesota Timberwolves have signed forward Taurean Prince to a contract extension.

Prince, 28, wrapped up his sixth season in the NBA, first with the Timberwolves, seeing action in 69 games (eight starts), averaging 7.3 points on a career-high 45.4% shooting, 2.5 rebounds and 1.0 assists in 17.1 minutes per game.

The Baylor product saw one of his best games of the 2021-22 season in Minnesota’s 130-115 victory over the Denver Nuggets on Feb. 1 when in 24:01 of action off the bench, Prince scored a season-high 23 points on 8-of-12 shooting, including a season-high 6-of-9 from three, nine rebounds, two assists and two steals. The game marked his eighth career game with 6+ threes and became the ninth player in Wolves history to connect on 6+ triples off the bench.

For his career, the 6-7 forward has appeared in 370 regular season games (218 starts) with the Atlanta Hawks, Brooklyn Nets, Cleveland Cavaliers and Timberwolves, averaging 10.5 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game. Prince has seen action in 11 career playoff games (six starts) and has averaged 8.8 points on 49.4% shooting, 3.6 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game.

The San Marcos, Texas native was originally drafted by the Utah Jazz in the first round (12th overall) of the 2016 NBA Draft. He was acquired by the Wolves in a trade with the Cavaliers on Aug. 3, 2021.