Massive Deals Headline Start Of NBA Free Agency

After weeks of speculation and rumor, NBA free agency finally began at 6pm ET on June 30. The free agent list might not have been as star-studded as in recent years. However, there was plenty of talent potentially on the move.

Leading the pack were the likes of Draymond Green and Kyrie Irving. Green had declined his player option with the Warriors while Irving had declined to sign an extension in Dallas. Furthermore, Irving’s story was especially interesting. He went from being unwanted by most of the league to having six meetings scheduled for the start of free agency.

It didn’t take long for the reports to start flying in after free agency officially opened. While many of the deals were ones that the rumor had expected, there were certainly a few surprises to keep the night fresh. Let’s take a look at everything that happened in the first ~12 hours of free agency.

Related: James Harden pushing for trade to the Clippers

Massive Deals For Green, Irving, VanVleet

Draymond Green
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA – MAY 10: Draymond Green #23 of the Golden State Warriors brings the ball up court during the third quarter against the Los Angeles Lakers in game five of the Western Conference Semifinal Playoffs at Chase Center on May 10, 2023 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

Draymond Green indeed returned to the Warriors, netting a four-year, $100 million deal to run it back with The Splash Brothers. While some wild rumors had emerged about Green, no one really expected him to sign anywhere other than Golden State. However, getting his signature means the Warriors will stay in title contention this season.

Kyrie Irving
DALLAS, TX – APRIL 5: Kyrie Irving #2 of the Dallas Mavericks shoots the ball against the Sacramento Kings in the second half at American Airlines Center on April 5, 2023 in Dallas, Texas. The Mavericks won 123-119. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)

Meanwhile, Kyrie Irving did end up re-signing with the Mavericks on a three-year, $126 million deal. It’s unclear what the full story with Irving is, whether he did in fact meet with six teams or was simply trying to squeeze a better offer out of the Mavericks. Regardless, the veteran will remain in Dallas for the foreseeable future.

Fred VanVleet
TORONTO, ON – APRIL 12: Fred VanVleet #23 of the Toronto Raptors reacts after hitting a three point shot at the end of the second quarter against the Chicago Bulls during the 2023 Play-In Tournament at the Scotiabank Arena on April 12, 2023 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Andrew Lahodynskyj/Getty Images)

Elsewhere, Fred VanVleet signed the biggest-ever contract for an undrafted player. After rumors placed the deal at two years and $83 million, VanVleet’s Rockets contract is a three-year, $130 million behemoth.

Related: Draymond Green shades Jordan Poole in roster builder TikTok

Other Stars Land Mammoth Re-Signings In NBA Free Agency

Kyle Kuzma
WASHINGTON, DC – MARCH 18: Kyle Kuzma #33 of the Washington Wizards handles the ball against the Sacramento Kings at Capital One Arena on March 18, 2023 in Washington, DC. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images)

Massive deals were the commodity of the day, with a number of other players landing major contracts with their current teams. Kyle Kuzma returned to the Wizards for four years and $102 million. He is expected to player a major role in the Wizards’ rebuild.

<a href=Tyrese Haliburton” class=”wp-image-691953″ srcset=”https://wp.hnhh.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/GettyImages-1476020090.jpg 1024w, https://wp.hnhh.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/GettyImages-1476020090-300×200.jpg 300w, https://wp.hnhh.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/GettyImages-1476020090-768×512.jpg 768w” sizes=”(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px” />
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – MARCH 24: Tyrese Haliburton #0 of the Indiana Pacers dribbles the ball against the Boston Celtics during the first quarter at the TD Garden on March 24, 2023 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Brian Fluharty/Getty Images)

But as June 30 became July 1, there were a number of massive re-signings. A little after midnight, the Pacers gave Tyrese Haliburton a max contract extension – five years and worth up to $260 million. Earlier in the day, the Pacers had added former Nugget Bruce Brown on a two-year, $45 million deal.

Desmond Bane
MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE – APRIL 26: Desmond Bane #22 of the Memphis Grizzlies brings the ball upcourt against the Los Angeles Lakers during Game Five of the Western Conference First Round Playoffs at FedExForum on April 26, 2023 in Memphis, Tennessee. (Photo by Justin Ford/Getty Images)

Just minutes after the Haliburton deal was announced, Desmond Bane re-signed with Memphis for five years and $207 million. Furthermore, it is the first-ever $200 million contract given out by the Grizzlies.

Related: Las Vegas Aces sign A’ja Wilson to two-year extension

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Kyrie Irving Meeting Six Teams In Free Agency

On June 27, Kyrie Irving was “close” to re-signing with the Dallas Mavericks. The market for Irving was “extremely limited, perhaps almost nil” according to Adrian Wojnarowski. The Mavericks had not only the interest but also the financial ability to sign Irving. The maximum offer Dallas could offer was 5 years, $272.9 million.

However, a day later, it was reported that Irving would be meeting with the Phoenix Suns. While the Suns are incredibly cap-burdened, the appeal of joining a title-hunting superteam in Phoenix certainly has its appeals. Well, as the offseason continues to grow wilder, it’s now being reported that Irving will have at least six free-agency meetings around the league.

Read More: Clippers make Ivica Zubac available for trade amid James Harden speculation

Irving Interest Explodes

Per Bill Reiter of CBS Sports, Kyrie Irving has six meetings scheduled for June 30, when free agency officially begins. The first two meetings are the ones already reported. Irving will meet with the Mavericks as they try to retain the veteran they traded for in the middle of last season. Then there’s the aforementioned Suns, with their superteam plans. However, the other four options represent a wide range of playing experiences for Irving. Whether it’s with a title contender or rebuilding franchise, there’s a little bit of everything on the table.

Read More: Pistons scaring off trade suitors for Bojan Bogdanović with first-round pick demand

The Miami Heat are reportedly meeting with Irving, following their failure to trade for Bradley Beal and the continued uncertainty of Damian Lillard’s availability. Meanwhile, the Rockets join the hunt for Irving after losing out on James Harden. Whether Irving is the preference to Fred VanVleet, or whether he will be a veteran leader alongside VanVleet, remains to be seen. Meanwhile, both LA teams are also meeting Irving. For the Lakers, it’s likely they want a title run before they potentially lose LeBron to whichever team drafts Bronny. Meanwhile, the Clippers could be pulling a Suns and building a superteam, no matter the cost, to finally win them a championship. Where do you think Irving will land? This is a developing story and we’ll have any updates here at HotNewHipHop.

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Moriah Mills Claims She’s Pregnant Amid Zion Williamson Drama

Moriah Mills has been a menace over these past few weeks. For those who don’t know who she is, well, she is the alleged mistress of Zion Williamson. Overall, she would tell you she was the main chick. However, she has ultimately taken on the role of his stalker ever since he announced he was having a child with another woman. This has subsequently led to numerous social media freakouts in which she has tweeted up a storm about the NBA star. In fact, she even got her Twitter account suspended for her efforts.

At this point, it feels like there is nothing Moriah Mills won’t do for attention. She recently got “Zion” tattooed on her face, which was some of the wildest clout chasing we have seen in a minute. Now, however, her latest move could actually be quite damaging to Williamson, if it turns out to be false. In the Instagram post below from Neighborhood Talk, you can see that Mills posted what appears to be a positive pregnancy test.

Read More: Moriah Mills Twitter Account Suspended, NBA Twitter Reacts

Moriah Mills Can’t Help Herself

If she actually is pregnant, then that means Zion has two children on the way. However, if she isn’t pregnant, then this is one of the saddest attempts at attention we have ever seen. Overall, this is the type of stuff you don’t play with. Although, no one is giving Mills the benefit of the doubt due to her previous actions. It is the sad reality of the situation, although it is completely Mills’ fault here. Only time will tell whether or not she is really telling the truth about her pregnancy.

Throughout all of this, Zion Williamson has yet to actually give Mills attention. Instead, he has simply sat back and watched from a distance. Hopefully, everything works out for him in the end. Let us know your thoughts on this situation, in the comments section down below. Additionally, stay tuned to HNHH for the latest news and updates from around the entertainment world.

Read More: “Stop Moriah Mills” Petition Launches Amid Ongoing Zion Williamson Drama

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Moriah Mills Twitter Account Suspended, NBA Twitter Reacts

In case you haven’t noticed, Moriah Mills has been the main character on NBA Twitter over the past few weeks. Overall, this is due to the fact that she has been consistently trying to antagonize the likes of Zion Williamson. Although he has yet to respond to her claims, she continues to hit him with a barrage of tweets. For the most part, fans believe she is akin to a crazed stalker. Even if her allegations were proven true, some just don’t see how the harassment is justified.

Last night, Moriah Mills took things a bit too far. She took to Twitter to make the claim that she had sex tapes of Zion on her phone. Moreover, she was threatening to leak them to the general public. Overall, this is a pretty serious crime that you just can’t commit. Otherwise, it would come with a very heft penalty. Well, one of those penalties just so happens to be losing your Twitter account.

Moriah Mills Twitter Has Fallen

As you can see from the tweet above, Moriah Mills no longer has access to her Twitter account. Instead, it has been evaporated into the ether. Although we don’t know how long this suspension will last, it is clear that Twitter took action after the threats. Furthermore, NBA Twitter could not be any happier about this new reality. Fans immediately took to the platform to post memes and reaction videos that truly encompass how to it feels to be freed from the Moriah Mills ridiculousness.

Twitter Rejoices

Hopefully, Zion Williamson can rest just a bit easier knowing that Mills can no longer hurt him from afar. Whether or not this keeps up, remains to be seen. Mills still has her TikTok account, which is now making its way into everyone’s algorithm. No matter what, Zion will have other things to worry about, such as his standing with the New Orleans Pelicans. The team is looking to make some deals ahead of the draft, and Zion is part of the rumor mill. Let us know your thoughts on all of this, in the comments section below. Additionally, stay tuned to HNHH for more news and updates from around the sports world.

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Zion Williamson Trade Rumors Get Crucial Update

Zion Williamson has been at the center of some harsh reports over the last few weeks. Firstly, he was being accused by porn star Moriah Mills of being unfaithful. Overall, the Mills stuff has been extremely humiliating. Although the internet is largely on his side, having his alleged business aired out like this has been hard to watch. Moreover, it has come with all sorts of rumors about his status in New Orleans and what is going to happen to him, moving forward.

For instance, there are some people trying to say the New Orleans Pelicans want to trade him. Essentially, the Pelicans are reportedly looking at the second or third pick in the draft. However, in order to get this, they will need to trade someone like Brandon Ingram or Zion, hence all of the rumors. However, as William Guillory of The Athletic reports, these Zion rumors are extremely far-fetched right now.

Read More: Moriah Mills Hits Zion Williamson With Sex Tape Threats

Zion Williamson Speculation Grows Larger

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JANUARY 25: Zion Williamson #1 of the New Orleans Pelicans is seen prior to the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves at the Smoothie King Center on January 25, 2023 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

“Zion getting traded before Thursday’s draft is fairly unlikely, multiple league sources tell The Athletic. Each was granted anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss potential trades,” Guillory wrote. “The Pelicans have yet to even include Williamson in any formal offers made to the teams holding top-3 picks, league sources tell The Athletic. There have been varying reports about how much interest Charlotte or Portland would even have in shipping off the No. 2 or No. 3 picks in a potential Williamson trade.”

At this point, it is unlikely that Zion will be in another jersey next year. However, the off-court drama needs to stop. Otherwise, the Pelicans may have to get involved. Hopefully, Williamson can leave it all on the court this year. Let us know what you think of all this, in the comments section below. Additionally, stay tuned to HNHH for more news from the sports world.

Read More: Cam’Ron Coins Hilarious New Phrase After Zion Williamson Drama

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Wilt Chamberlain Rookie Uniform Auctioned For Record $1.79M

Wilt Chamberlain as a rookie was already an unstoppable force. He averaged over 37 points and 27 rebounds per game that season, making it to the Eastern Conference Finals (where his Philadelphia Warriors lost to Bill Russell’s Boston Celtics in six games). This was the 1959-1960 season, the first of many for Wilt’s storied career. His jersey during that season has just been immortalized at auction, selling for a record $1.79 million. (TMZ Sports broke the news first.)

SCP Auctions, Inc., a memorabilia store in Laguna Niguel, CA, claims the sale is a record for any vintage sports item. Chamberlain’s number 13 jersey with the patented “Phila” shorthand is an easily recognizable piece of memorabilia. The man was a walking stat sheet, averaging 30 points a game for his career and almost 23 rebounds a game. He shot well over 50 percent from the floor and rarely came out of the game, averaging almost 46 minutes. (A basketball game lasts 48 minutes.)

Read more: Mychal Thompson Calls Out Stephen A. Smith For Controversial Wilt Chamberlain Take

Wilt Chamberlain’s Legacy

(Original Caption) Boston Celtics’ Bill Russell (rear) pins Warriors’ Wilt Chamberlain’s right arm, and holds him, during a wild 4th quarter in which both sides fought. Boston won the game, 119-104, at Boston Garden, to take a 3-2 game advantage over the Warriors in the series.

A tireless rebounder and a prolific scorer, Wilt used his 7-foot-1 height to his advantage as one of the tallest centers around in the 1960s. He played an entire decade with the Philadelphia/San Francisco Warriors/76ers, heralding the organization through multiple locations and name changes. He spent the last five years of his career with the L.A. Lakers, playing every game save for one injury-ridden season. At the height of his powers, he averaged a whopping 50 points and 25 rebounds per game. No one in the NBA today could ever dream of coming close.

Wilt’s jersey came with the short shorts worn at nearly every home game during the ’59-’60 season. Three authenticators photo-matched the uniform to pictures of the late Wilt dominating that year, confirming its legitimacy. Wilt Chamberlain won both Rookie of the Year and MVP honors in his first NBA season, a sign of things to come. Wilt was nothing short of incredible throughout his entire life, until his death in 1999. The new owner of “The Big Dipper’s” jersey and shorts (unknown at this time) should be ecstatic to have such a priceless piece of sports history.

Read more: This Wilt Chamberlain Highlight Reel Has NBA Fans In Awe

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Jimmy Butler Delivers Message To Heat Teammates From The Beach

Jimmy Butler is easily one of the best players in the league when it comes time for the postseason. Although he hasn’t been able to win an NBA title, there is no doubt that he wills his teams to victory. Overall, the Miami Heat had no business being in the NBA Finals this season. That said, they were still able to make it all the way. It was a truly incredible run that showcased how important it is to have a well-rounded team. While the Finals were a wash, they at least put up a good fight.

Subsequently, the Denver Nuggets are currently being seen as contenders and even favorites for next year. However, very few people are giving the Heat a chance in 2023-24. Mostly, this is due to the fact that they were an eighth seed this past season. Typically, runs like this one take a bit of luck and are hard to replicate. That said, Butler is still very happy with his team’s efforts. He explained as such in a recent Instagram video, where he congratulated his teammates on an amazing season.

Read More: Stephen A. Smith Doubts Jimmy Butler’s Star Power

Jimmy Butler Speaks

He noted that an NBA season is an incredibly difficult thing to get through. Moreover, he revealed that there aren’t any teammates in the world that he would rather go through the journey with. While losing in the NBA Finals surely stung a bit, the path to those Finals was something to behold. Furthermore, it is something that he is going to remember for the rest of his life. It’s a great message that fans can surely be proud of.

Soon, the NBA offseason will begin and teams will be able to make changes to their rosters. The Heat is a team that is being hit with numerous rumors. For instance, some believe they will be going after Damian Lillard. Only time will tell whether or not that is the case. Let us know what you think of this, in the comments section below.

Read More: Jimmy Butler Moons Bam Adebayo During Press Conference

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Bam Adebayo Trade Packaged Reportedly Being Eyed By Blazers

Bam Adebayo was an amazing player for the Miami Heat this season. In fact, he was one of the reasons why the team was able to get all the way to the NBA Finals. Although they ended up losing out in the end, there is no denying that Adebayo and Jimmy Butler are an incredible duo. At this point, fans are just excited to see what he can do in the future. This is especially true as the Heat are rumored to be looking at a ton of options, including the likes of Damian Lillard.

Speaking of the Portland Trail Blazers, the team is trying to improve. Lillard never seems to make up his mind on whether or not he wants to be traded. Consequently, the Blazers are looking to trade the third overall pick to acquire a player that can pair nicely with Dame. One of those players is none other than Bam Adebayo. As Jake Fischer of Yahoo! Sports reports, the Blazers are reportedly coming up with a package for Bam. However, the Heat are extremely unlikely to accept.

Bam Adebayo To Portland?

“Miami brass seems very unlikely to consider any Portland overture that doesn’t include standout rookie Shaedon Sharpe, in addition to a package of the No. 3 pick and Anfernee Simons that the Blazers, sources said, have made available in discussions with other teams,” Fischer reported. Needless to say, Bam Adebayo is not going to the Blazers. Instead, it is more likely that Dame ends up in Miami and Adebayo stays put. The Heat are one piece away from really becoming a title favorite. Dame would put them over the edge.

Overall, the Blazers appear to be in a very bad way at this point. They simply can’t get anything done correctly right now. Dame has had his career wasted and some fans are starting to get extremely frustrated. Moreover, their inability to just blow things up and start fresh has been nothing short of aggravating to watch. Let us know what you think of the Blazers strategy, down below. Additionally, stay tuned to HNHH for more news from around the music world.

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Kyrie Irving Bidding War Reportedly Non-Existent

Kyrie Irving is easily one of the best point guards in the entire NBA. However, there have been some issues with him in regard to how much he has actually played as of late. Overall, it feels like every single year is filled with some kind of drama concerning Kyrie. For a lot of people, this has become hard to watch. Moreover, for other NBA teams, it is simply unacceptable. In order to win titles, you need your players to be available, and Kyrie has not been able to accomplish that.

Having said all of this, Kyrie Irving is set to become a free agent this offseason. After an unsuccessful few months with the Dallas Mavericks, he will now get to choose where he goes next. So far, reports indicate that he is interested in returning to the Mavs. Furthermore, he has even tried to recruit LeBron James along with him. A team of Kyrie, Luka, and LeBron would be wild, although it probably wouldn’t work out so well.

Read More: Kyrie Irving Reportedly Trying To Recruit LeBron James To Dallas

Kyrie Irving Options

DALLAS, TX – APRIL 5: Kyrie Irving #2 of the Dallas Mavericks shoots the ball against the Sacramento Kings in the second half at American Airlines Center on April 5, 2023 in Dallas, Texas. The Mavericks won 123-119 (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)

According to reporter Marc Stein, some felt like a bidding war could take place for Kyrie. Unfortunately for the point guard, that has not been the case. Instead, very few teams are interested in the PG. The Dallas Mavericks seem to be the only team that wants him. This is obviously a good thing for the Mavs, who now have all sorts of leverage. Although, Kyrie and Luka were not a great duo, and that should absolutely give some people some pause, moving forward.

At this point, it is clear that this NBA offseason will be interesting to watch. With players like Kyrie looking for new contracts, we are bound to get a ton of great storylines. Let us know what you think of all this, in the comments section below. Additionally, stay tuned to HNHH for more news from around the sports world.

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Chris Paul’s Feelings Towards The Grizzlies Revealed

Chris Paul is certainly one of the best point guards to ever play the game of basketball. However, there is one accolade that is missing from his career. Of course, we are talking about an NBA title. He was two games away from winning one back in 2021 with the Phoenix Suns. Although, the Milwaukee Bucks ultimately bested them. Now, it is at a point where Paul is no longer with the Suns, and will be looking for his next team to play with.

Right now, Chris Paul is on the Washington Wizards. Overall, it is becoming increasingly clear that they are going to waive him. Perhaps even a sign and trade is on the table. However, the fact remains that we will likely be seeing Paul in a brand-new jersey next year. There are plenty of teams that could use him, including the Memphis Grizzlies. With all of the Ja Morant stuff going on, it is clear that they could use a veteran leader. Ultimately, Paul would be perfect in that role.

Read More: Chris Paul To Be Aggressively Pursued By San Antonio Spurs

Chris Paul To Memphis?

However, it does not seem like Chris Paul has any interest in actually going down South. Zach Lowe of ESPN asked around the league about the possibility, and the response was pretty telling. “I asked some people last night, would he ever want to go to Memphis and be the veteran mentor that this team, who’s not going to have its point guard for the first 25 games of the season, so badly needs? Didn’t get a lot of good feedback on that one,” he said.

So there you have it Grizzlies fans. Do not expect Chris Paul to come and save your franchise and youth next season. Instead, it is likely that Paul will go to a team like the Clippers, or maybe another potential title contender. Let us know where you would like to see CP3, in the comments section down below. Additionally, stay tuned to HNHH for more news and updates from around the sports world.

Read More: JJ Reddick Reveals Chris Paul’s Best Championship Chances

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