NBA Free Agency Day 1: LeBron Out, Wiggins Cashes In Sport By lines July 1, 2026 NBA free agency detonated on June 30, 2026, with LeBron James informing the Los Angeles Lakers he plans to leave. The Golden State Warriors sit at minus 500 favorites to sign LeBron James, per DraftKings. Warriors Chase LeBron While the Contract Wave Breaks LeBron James, age 41, told the Los Angeles Lakers he plans to play elsewhere in 2026-27. LeBron James spent eight seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers before this decision. LeBron James first signed with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2018 on a four-year, $153 million deal. LeBron James and Anthony Davis then won the Los Angeles Lakers the 2020 NBA title. DraftKings prices the Golden State Warriors at minus 500 to sign LeBron James in 2026. The Cleveland Cavaliers follow at plus 300 and the Miami Heat at plus 1000. The San Antonio Spurs trail at plus 2000, per DraftKings. Andrew Wiggins opted into a $30.2 million salary, then added a two-year, $34 million Miami Heat extension. Andrew Wiggins now projects to earn $64 million through 2028-29, per NBA.com reporting. Jusuf Nurkic returned to the Utah Jazz on a two-year, $22 million contract. Luke Kennard agreed with the Phoenix Suns on two years worth $13 million, per ESPN reporting. The Oklahoma City Thunder exercised Luguentz Dort’s $17.7 million option for the 2026-27 season. The Golden State Warriors also target Anthony Davis in a trade, per CBS Sports reporting. Austin Reaves declined a $14.9 million option to re-sign with the Los Angeles Lakers. Austin Reaves agreed to a four-year, $185 million maximum deal, a record for an undrafted NBA player. The Miami Heat entered free agency after trading for Giannis Antetokounmpo earlier in June 2026. The Giannis Antetokounmpo deal lifted Miami Heat title odds from 30-1 to 18-1, per Yahoo Sports. The Miami Heat now pair Giannis Antetokounmpo with Bam Adebayo for the 2026-27 season. The Miami Heat also kept Andrew Wiggins on the new two-year, $34 million extension. A LeBron James exit ends the Anthony Davis pairing that won the Los Angeles Lakers the 2020 title. A Golden State Warriors move would reunite LeBron James with Stephen Curry and Draymond Green. NBA free agency negotiations opened June 30, 2026, with signings official once the league moratorium lifts. Watch whether the Golden State Warriors formalize the LeBron James pursuit within days. Related Sports Coverage Warriors Chase LeBron and AD as Free Agency Opens Kawhi Leonard Traded to Raptors in Clippers Deal Suns Land Miles Bridges as Hornets Stockpile Picks Sources: ESPN, CBS Sports, and NBA.com free agency reporting, June 30, 2026.
