Retaining DeMar DeRozan was a high priority for the Toronto Raptors, even with the price tag to match.According to multiple reports, the Raptors and DeRozan reached agreement on a deal that could be worth between $139 million and $145 million over six years, pushing his annual earnings to about $30 million per season. While terms of the deal can be finalized with verbal agreements, DeRozan cannot re-sign until the NBA moratorium on free agent signings is lifted July 7.If the framework of the deal holds, the contract would be the second-highest in league history.The maximum contract the Raptors could offer was approximately $153 million for five years.DeRozan made $9.5 million last season, when he averaged 23.5 points per game along with 4.5 rebounds and 4.0 assists. DeRozan, 26, is the shooting guard in the Raptors' high-output backcourt alongside All-Star point guard Kyle Lowry. The Miami Heat, Los Angeles Lakers, Dallas Mavericks and Philadelphia 76ers reportedly had shown interest in meeting with DeRozan. Last week, DeRozan said he was committed to making it work with the Raptors, who can turn their attention to re-signing center Bismack Biyombo.DeRozan was the ninth overall pick in 2007.

Free agent backup point guard D.J. Augustin agreed to a four-year deal with the Orlando Magic, according to reports Friday.Augustin, 28, finished the past season with the Denver Nuggets after a deadline trade from the Oklahoma City Thunder. In 28 games with the Nuggets, he averaged 11.6 points and 4.7 assists. Augustin played 62 total games last season, averaging 7.5 points and 3.2 assists in 19 minutes per game. He made 40.5 percent of his 3-point tries combined with the Thunder and Nuggets.In nine NBA seasons, Augustin has had stops in Charlotte, Indiana, Toronto, Chicago, Detroit, Oklahoma City and Denver.Augustin's impending move to the Magic will reunite him with his former Indiana Pacers coach, Frank Vogel.The deal can't be officially signed until the free-agency moratorium is lifted July 7.

Free agent guard O.J. Mayo has been dismissed and disqualified from the NBA for violating the league's anti-drug program, the league announced Friday.Under the terms of the NBA/NBPA Anti-Drug Program, Mayo is eligible to apply for reinstatement in two years.Mayo, 28, previously served a 10-game suspension for performance-enhancing drugs in 2011.Mayo has played the last three seasons with the Milwaukee Bucks. He played in 41 games last season, averaging 7.8 points and 2.9 assists. In March, Mayo fractured his ankle when he accidentally tripped heading down the stairs of his home, causing him to miss the rest of the season. Mayo was originally a No. 3 draft pick of Memphis, where he spent the first four seasons of his career. Mayo joined Dallas for one season before signing with Milwaukee.In his career, Mayo has averaged 13.8 points, 2.9 assists and 3.1 rebounds.The NBA, teams and the Players Association are prohibited from publicly disclosing information regarding the testing or treatment of any player under the Anti-Drug Program, other than to announce a player's suspension or dismissal from the league.

DeMar DeRozan is staying put.The free agent guard agreed to re-sign with the Toronto Raptors, multiple media outlets reported early Friday, According to The Vertical, DeRozan will get a five-year, $139 million-plus deal.The Los Angeles-area native held his free agent talks in his hometown, The Vertical reported.DeRozan, 26, is coming off the best season of his seven-year NBA career, all of which has been spent with Toronto. He averaged a career-high 23.5 points in addition to 4.5 rebounds and 4.0 assists in 78 games (all starts). He was selected to the Eastern Conference All-Star team for the second time.Since entering the league as the ninth overall pick in the 2009 draft out of USC, DeRozan has career averages of 18.1 points, 3.9 rebounds and 2.6 assists.He helped the Raptors advance to the Eastern Conference finals this year, contributing 20.9 points, 4.2 rebounds and 2.7 assists in 20 playoff games.DeRozan won't be able to sign a contract officially until the league moratorium is lifted July 7.

Hassan Whiteside returned to the Miami Heat on the first day of NBA free agency, agreeing to terms on a four-year, $98 million contract. Whiteside, who played internationally and bounced around the developmental league before blossoming with the Heat, made $980,000 with the Heat last season. "I played on eight teams since college," Whiteside told the Players Tribune on Friday. "I'm not ready for their to be a ninth."The Heat had the first meeting with Whiteside at the open of free agency on Friday at 12:01 a.m. and reiterated he was key to their future success. Dallas met with the 7-footer shortly after the Heat and Whiteside posted pictures to snapchat in the early morning hours of Friday indicating a decision would be made in the morning.Vice president Pat Riley said Whiteside was the team's top priority even as talks with 34-year-old shooting guard Dwyane Wade fell apart late last week. Riley said Wade, the pillar of Miami's successful run since he was drafted in 2003, is still coveted by the Heat. Whether another team bumps Miami with a contract that trumps what the Heat might offer is to be determined. Whiteside was reportedly offered a five-year, $130 million max deal from the Mavericks.He led the NBA with 3.4 blocks per game last season.

First-year Knicks coach Jeff Hornacek and team president Phil Jackson made the center position a high priority entering free agency and within hours of the market open Friday had the framework of a four-year, $72 million contract with Joakim Noah.Noah, 31, spent his entire career with the Chicago Bulls and could average $18 million per season.He played only 29 games last season and has been prone to injury. Noah is not a strong shooter - 38.3 percent from the field last season -- but his passing skills are suited for the triangle offense that often positions pivot players in the high post. The Knicks are planning to keep "elements" of the offense Jackson used to win championships with the Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers. He's a high-energy rebounder and defender and given the number of shoot-first players the Knicks have collected - including acquiring Noah's former teammate Derrick Rose from the Bulls - but the durability questions loom large for the Knicks.Chronic foot issues forced the Bulls to manage minutes and Noah missed at least 10 games five of the past seven seasons.

The Los Angeles Lakers and free agent center Timofey Mozgov reached an agreement on a four-year deal worth $64 million, according to multiple reports Friday.In addition, the Lakers and restricted free agent shooting guard Jordan Clarkson agreed on a four-year, $50 million deal.The deals can't be formally signed until the free agency moratorium ends on July 7.Mozgov, who turns 30 on July 16, averaged 6.3 points and 4.4 rebounds for the Cleveland Cavaliers last season in a reserve role during the team's NBA championship run. The 7-foot-1 center earned $5 million in 2015-16.The Cavs traded two first-round picks to the Denver Nuggets for Mozgov in January 2015. In 2014-15, he averaged 10.6 points and 6.9 rebounds in 46 games, and started all 20 games during the postseason.Mozgov's role this past season was reduced and he averaged just 1.2 points in 5.8 minutes during the postseason, including a combined 25 minutes in the Cavs' seven-game NBA Finals win over the Warriors.Clarkson, 24, averaged 15.5 points, four rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.1 steals in 79 games for the Lakers in his second NBA season after averaging 11.9 points and making the NBA's All-Rookie team in 2014-15. The Missouri product was drafted 46th overall in 2014.

Jeremy Lin booked his return to New York on Friday, agreeing to a contract with the Brooklyn Nets on the opening day of free agency.The verbal agreement can be made official on July 7, when the league moratorium on contract signings is lifted. Yahoo Sports reported the three-year deal was worth $36 million with a fourth-year player option.Lin took the NBA by storm during a 2012 stint with the Knicks dubbed by the media as "Linsanity" but has bounced around the league and most recently played for the Charlotte Hornets. He opted out of the second year of his contract.Lin averaged 11.7 points, 3.0 assists and 3.2 rebounds for the Hornets last season. The 28-year-old signed a two-year, $4.3 million deal with Charlotte last summer. Lin previously signed a three-year, $25 million deal with the Houston Rockets as a restricted free agent with the Knicks.Lin said at the end of the season that he would be "very interested" in returning to the Hornets but wanted to seek a long-term deal and explore the open market.The Nets waived 34-year-old point guard Jarrett Jack on Thursday.

Free agent forward Nicolas Batum agreed to a five-year, $120 million deal to re-sign with the Charlotte Hornets, according to multiple reports Friday.The deal reportedly includes a player option on the final season. Free agents can officially sign contracts on July 7 when the the free-agency moratorium is lifted.Batum, 27, had scheduled a Friday meeting with the Dallas Mavericks but struck a deal hours into free agency to remain in Charlotte.Batum averaged a career-high 14.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 5.8 assists with the Hornets last season.Batum helped the Hornets win 48 games, 15 more than they won the previous season, and return to the playoffs for just the second time in the last six seasons. The Hornets earned the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs before losing to the Miami Heat in seven games in the first round.The Hornets acquired Batum last summer in a trade with Portland, where he spent his first seven seasons.

Veteran point guard Jarrett Jack was released by the Brooklyn Nets.Jack was shopped via trade before the start of free agency but the Nets decided to release him Thursday rather than pay his $6 million salary for the 2016-17 season. The Nets are responsible for $500,000 of that deal.Jack turns 33 three days before the start of the regular season. Drafted by the Denver Nuggets 22nd overall in 2005, Jack was traded to the Trail Blazers and made several stops before spending the past two seasons with the Nets, including the Pacers (2008-09), Toronto Raptors (2009-10), New Orleans Hornets (2010-2012), Golden State Warriors (2012-13), Cleveland Cavaliers (2013-14).One possible landing spot is Indianapolis, where the Pacers hired Nate McMillan as head coach. McMillan was part of the decision-making team in Portland when the Blazers acquired Jack in 2005 and quickly named him the starting point guard.

Free agent center Joakim Noah is reportedly eyeing a deal with the New York Knicks.The longtime Chicago Bulls standout might quickly reach a contract agreement Friday with the Knicks, both The Vertical and ESPN.com reported Wednesday night.NBA free agency opens at 12:01 a.m. ET on Friday, though players can't officially sign contracts until July 7.Both websites reported that Noah will meet with Knicks president Phil Jackson shortly after the negotiating window opens. Other teams are interested in Noah, but they are viewed as unlikely to land his signature.A move to New York would reunite Noah with former NBA Most Valuable Player Derrick Rose, who was traded from the Bulls to the Knicks last week.The Knicks are in the market for a big man after sending center Robin Lopez to Chicago in the Rose trade.Noah, 31, appeared in a career-low 29 games last season. He was out early in the season due to a left shoulder tear, then sustained a season-ending dislocation to the same shoulder in January.He averaged a career-low 4.3 points a game to go along with 8.8 rebounds (his lowest average in eight years) and 3.8 assists (his lowest figure in five years).Over nine seasons with Chicago, Noah averaged 9.3 points, 9.4 rebounds, three assists and 1.4 rebounds per game.The No. 9 overall pick in the 2007 NBA Draft after leading Florida to two NCAA championships, Noah was the 2013-14 Defensive Player of the Year and a two-time All-Star.

Oklahoma City Thunder coach Billy Donovan is turning back to clock at 12:01 a.m. Friday when free agency opens as part of their pitch to retain superstar Kevin Durant. Donovan plans to be front and center when the Thunder host Atlanta Hawks All-Star power forward Al Horford, who could fill the starting spot created when the team traded Serge Ibaka to the Orlando Magic on draft night for guard Victor Oladipo. Horford played for Donovan at the University of Florida, where the Gators repeated as national champions. Donovan left the Gators last summer after 19 seasons to replace Scott Brooks as head coach of the Thunder.Horford averaged 15.2 points and 7.3 rebounds and played all 82 games for the Hawks last season. He spent his entire nine-year career with the Hawks.

Kevin Durant is on the clock.As free agency kicks off Friday, the Oklahoma City Thunder All-Star is the most coveted basketball commodity since LeBron James made The Decision in 2010.Durant met with the Thunder, with whom he spent his first nine seasons, on Thursday in Oklahoma City before shifting a series of meetings to New York with potential suitors that will include 2015 NBA champion Golden State and perennial Western Conference contender San Antonio.James is again a free agent, continuing a recent trend of opting out of his deal every June to maximize his leverage and earnings potential now and down the road. But after carrying Cleveland to the championship, James said he isn't going anywhere.Most likely to move? That is to be determined, but we outlined best fits for the top 15 NBA free agents with 10 more to keep an eye on as the summer shopping season shifts gears.1. Kevin Durant, Thunder: The most coveted free agent since LeBron James in 2010, Durant has half the league lining... [More]

Dwyane Wade is prepared to take his talents from South Beach and shop his services to other suitors when free agency begins Friday.The Miami Heat lifer has made more than $300 million in salary since the franchise drafted Wade fifth overall in 2003.ESPN.com reported initial contract discussions between Wade and the Heat have not produced a common ground, meaning the star guard could consider leaving the franchise where he has played 13 seasons and won three titles.Wade's representatives have made it known to multiple teams over the past several days that he will be on the market and Yahoo Sports said the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers could have interest in Wade.A Chicago native who attended Marquette, Wade made a visit to the Bulls in 2010 before the "Big 3" of LeBron James, Chris Bosh and Wade announced they would sign contracts with the Heat.Last summer, Wade and the Heat battled back and forth before finally agreeing on a one-year, $20 million deal for this past season."I hope... [More]

Tim Duncan exercised his $6.4 million player option for next season but retirement remains an option.Duncan had ups and downs in 2015-16 in the regular season and playoffs but said he is still weighing whether to play one final season after helping the San Antonio Spurs win a franchise-best 67 games and tying an NBA record for going 40-1 at home this season.The Spurs were eliminated by the Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday night in the second round of the playoffs.After a loss in Game 6 of the Western Conference semifinals, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich joked that Duncan and Manu Ginobili could go another five years. Duncan wasn't in a talking mood after that defeat but the introspective veteran will be 41 next season."I'll get to that after I get out of here and figure out life. That's it," said Duncan.Popovich feigned surprise when quizzed about Duncan's immediate future."Do you know something that I don't know? I just wanted to make that clear. Tim was playing really well. So we played... [More]

Kevin Durant plans to meet with the Oklahoma City Thunder before free agency begins Friday.Durant is officially a member of the Thunder until his contract runs out at 12:01 a.m. Friday when he becomes eligible to meet with other teams as an unrestricted free agent.ESPN.com reported Durant is scheduled to meet with Thunder executives along with his agent in Oklahoma City before returning to California, where he is shooting a commercial.Durant, 27, is considering meetings in Los Angeles the New York Knicks and Golden State Warriors but will not meet with the Lakers, per the report.Knicks star Carmelo Anthony said Monday in a television interview that his recruitment of Durant has already begun and will not be affected "whether he meets with the Knicks or not.""I'm with KD now; he's right downstairs," Anthony told ESPN. "We've been together. We've been talking. I do consider myself part of the Knicks so that meeting has already taken place."Durant, who has spent his entire nine-year career... [More]

Kevin Durant is just days away from becoming a free agent and remains tight-lipped about his future plans.For now, he's still a member of the Oklahoma City Thunder, and he said he really liked the draft-night trade in which the franchise acquired guard Victor Oladipo, forward Ersan Ilyasova and draft pick Domantas Sabonis from the Orlando Magic in exchange for forward Serge Ibaka."It's a good move, man," Durant said at a Team USA media availability session in New York. "I like Oladipo, he's one of my good buddies, a friend of mine. Definitely going to miss playing with Serge. He contributed so much to our organization and to the city. Just what he's done for us, he's always going to be remembered in OKC what he's done for the community and his hard work on the court. So we wish him the best."Durant wasn't so chatty when it comes to his impending free agency on July 1."We'll figure things out," Durant said. "It's three days away."--Veteran Richard Jefferson announced he would retire following... [More]

Kevin Durant is just days away from becoming a free agent and remains tight-lipped about his future plans.For now, he's still a member of the Oklahoma City Thunder, and he said he really liked the draft-night trade in which the franchise acquired guard Victor Oladipo, forward Ersan Ilyasova and draft pick Domantas Sabonis from the Orlando Magic in exchange for forward Serge Ibaka."It's a good move, man," Durant said at a Team USA media availability session in New York. "I like Oladipo, he's one of my good buddies, a friend of mine. Definitely going to miss playing with Serge. He contributed so much to our organization and to the city."Just what he's done for us, he's always going to be remembered in OKC what he's done for the community and his hard work on the court. So we wish him the best."Durant wasn't so chatty when it comes to his impending free agency on July 1."We'll figure things out," Durant said. "It's three days away."Durant reportedly plans to add face-to-face meetings with... [More]

Richard Jefferson announced he would retire following the Cleveland Cavaliers' victory in Game 7 of the NBA Finals, but now wants to play multiple more seasons, according to Chris Mannix of Yahoo Sports.With rumors swirling that the 36-year-old may join friend Luke Walton's coaching staff with the Los Angeles Lakers, Jefferson now appears to be leaning toward returning as a player. He averaged 5.5 points and 17.9 minutes while starting five of 74 games last season.Jefferson started two of the Cavs' 21 playoff games, averaging 5.4 points and 18.1 minutes while providing a strong defensive presence. The 14-year veteran has played in 1,082 career regular-season games, posting averages of 13.3 points and 4.2 rebounds.

Kevin Durant plans to add face-to-face meetings with the Boston Celtics, Miami Heat and Los Angeles Clippers in addition to previously reported talks with the Golden State Warriors, San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder at the outset of free agency.Durant is still officially a member of the Thunder until his contract runs out at 12:01 a.m. Friday when NBA free agency begins.A league source confirmed to ESPN of the six team meetings with Durant and his representatives.Durant, 27, is also considering meeting with the New York Knicks but has no plans to talk to his hometown Washington Wizards, according to ESPN.Knicks star Carmelo Anthony told ESPN on Monday that his recruitment of Durant has already begun and will not be affected "whether he meets with the Knicks or not.""I'm with KD now; he's right downstairs," Anthony told ESPN. "We've been together. We've been talking. I do consider myself part of the Knicks so that meeting has already taken place."Durant has been in New York in... [More]