The Free agency starts with a bang with XXL contracts for Nikola Jokic, Bradley Beal and Devin Booker. Nicolas Batum remains with the LA Clippers.
After the Kevin Durant bomb, the Free agency got off to a strong start with several huge contracts announced. Double MVP of the regular season, the 27-year-old Serbian international pivot Nikola Jokic has agreed with the Nuggets for a record extension to 264 million dollars over five years. An info from Shams Charania from The Athletic et Stadium, specifying in passing that the “Joker” will have a player option at $ 60 million for the last year of his contract, in 2027-28. Recall that the person concerned completed the past season, his seventh in the NBA and with the Nuggets, with 27.1 points, 13.8 rebounds, and 7.9 assists on average in 2021-22 (79 matches).
Jokic isn’t the only one to break the bank, however. According to the same Charania, Phoenix Suns star Devin Booker, 25, has said yes to a four-year, $214 million supermax extension, as he just finished 2021-22 with 26.8 points, 5 rebounds and 6.8 assists. $214 million is a lot. But that’s less than the $251 million that Bradley Beal, 29, will earn over five years in Washington, according to Adrian Wojnarowki ofESPN… The difference is that Jokic and Booker will be aiming for the title next season. For Beal, it will be harder.
Batum stays with Clippers, Brunson leaves for New York
One thing is certain: the summer will be hot in the NBA. And it’s not Kevin Durant’s trade request that will lower the temperature… If the Suns and the Heat have the preference of “KD”, it is said that the Lakers would like to attract said Durant and Kyrie Irving in their nets… For the rest, we note that the 33-year-old French international Nicolas Batum has, unsurprisingly, said yes to stay two years with the Los Angeles Clippers (ESPN), that the Knicks will sign Mav Jalen Brunson for $110 million over four years (The Athletic), five years at $100 million with the Blazers for Anfernee Simons, five years at $87.5 million for Lu Dort who will therefore stay at OKC (ESPN)… Non-exhaustive list, at the heart of an evening where we also learned that the interior of Memphis Jaren Jackson Jr. will be out for four to six months. In the meantime, Jokic, Beal and Booker can rest easy.