BREAKING: Trail Blazers & Deandre Ayton finalizing buyout 🚨 Becomes a key free agent | SportsCenter

BREAKING: Trail Blazers & Deandre Ayton finalizing buyout 🚨 Becomes a key free agent | SportsCenter

back in the NBA we are just hours away from free agency but evidently Julius Randle won’t be seeing that because the three-time all-star forward intends to sign a three-year deal worth 100 m to remain a part of the big three in Minnesota notably the T- Wolves reportedly have Nas Reed locked into a deal as well randle’s coming off one heck of a postseason run careerhighs and points per game and shooting percentage and so now we get the chance to welcome back Sean Serani the man whose screen time has to be absolutely absurd right about now uh and look to begin right there where I just started the the T-Wolves and all the activity that they’ve ma had thus far leading into free agency what does that mean for solidifying their roster
critical to get uh Julius Randle back in the mix at that three or $100 million they got Nas Reed resigned earlier to keep that core together with Anthony Edwards we know Rudy Gobear is already there these two big men as well big part of it jaden McDaniels as well but what this does mean is Nikil Alexander Walker is likely to depart elsewhere in free agency this team is already in the second apron they are heavy in on this team as far as luxury tax concerned so they’re going to mitigate it a little bit you have to sacrifice a little bit when you’re this deep into the luxury tax but this is a team that’s clearly pushed all his chips in and they traded Carl Anthony Towns away last off season so this is really their core here with Rudy Goar Naz Reed Julius Randall at the bigs now on the opposite end of the spinning spectrum is Portland right and what do we have breaking news on that front there portland Trailblazers and DeAndre uh Aton their center they are finalizing a contract buyout he will become a free agent this is a sudden surprising addition to the free agent market because he had $35 million left on his deal next season but he’s set to become a free agent this is a fresh opportunity for both times both sides we know the Blazers just added Yang Hansen at number 16 overall pick so they’re pretty deep in terms of young talented bigs listen DeAndre Aiden is one of four players to averaged 10 points 10 rebounds the last seven seasons in the NBA and remember just in 2021 he was a top three player on that Suns team that made it to the NBA finals against the Bucks so this is a guy that has a lot of talent
yeah when he came over from Phoenix he was supposed to be the future now on his way out they got Donovan Klingan and Hansen like you said so we’ll see where they go another Western Conference team making moves the Rockets what’s the latest move from them today i think this was a little bit of a surprise jabari Smith Jr agreed to a 5-year $122 million deal rookie extension with the Rockets so not not the deal was surprised but the fact that he’s the first rookie extension guy off the board in that class and so he’s the only player in the 2022 draft class to have 2500 points 1,500 rebounds the Rockets believe in his ability long-term so much they excluded him from any uh conversations around Kevin Durant they landed Kevin Durant anyway and so the Rockets they’ve done their business fast and furious these last 15 days we see it right there with all the extensions they gave Emma Udoka massive extensions stephen Adams Jabari Smith uh retain all their free agents fred Vanble JH Tate Aaron Holiday Jeff Green and the biggest of them all the acquisition of Kevin Durant
yeah similar to Minnesota right they know where they’re at where they are in this Western Conference so make the push when you can now Sean Detroit Pistons guard Malik Beasley made some headlines today with gambling allegations uh what all does that entail so I’m told federal investigators are probing Pistons guard Malik Beasley on allegations of gambling on NBA games and prop bets and the allegations stem from the 2023 24 NBA season I’m told and his attorney told me today “An investigation is not a charge malik is afforded the same right of the presumption of innocence as anyone else under the US Constitution he has not been charged of anything right now but his free agency has essentially stalled out i’m told he was on track to sign a three-year $42 million deal with the Pistons ahead of this free agency teams can negotiate with their own free agent that’s what was going on but now these talks are paused this investigation is active and ongoing
yeah tough situation there i mean like you say investigation not a charge but still not a lot teams can do with him while all that’s happening sean Shirani with the various latest with the NBA got a lot coming up from you over the next couple week baby
exactly my friend appreciate it Shams that is because the NBA free agency period officially begins tomorrow 6 Eastern 3 Pacific and we’ll have our NBA Today free agency specials tomorrow and Tuesday at 7 Eastern and 4 Pacific on ESPN [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause]

Shams Charania joins SportsCenter to discuss the breaking news of the Portland Trail Blazers and Deandre Ayton finalizing a contract buyout, making him a free agent and the contract extensions signed by Julius Randle and Jabari Smith Jr.

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