NBA free agency is well underway and as is to be expected from one of the league’s most frantic periods, there is plenty to unpack.
Now that the dust has settled from the first few days, it’s time to catch up on where Australia’s best basketball players have ended up.
Patty Mills stands out as the biggest story from an Aussie perspective, with the guard being traded twice since starting out free agency as a member of the Brooklyn Nets.
Mills was traded to the Houston Rockets early in the off-season, yet it wasn’t long before he was re-routed to the Oklahoma City Thunder for draft compensation.
Oklahoma City is acquiring Brooklyn guard Patty Mills as part of a broader deal through Houston, sources tell ESPN. The Thunder will receive draft compensation to take on Mills’ $6.8M expiring deal.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 2, 2023
With one year left on his deal, Mills joins Boomers teammate Josh Giddey for the 2023-24 season, a pairing which will be previewed in this year’s FIBA World Cup.
The Australian connection in Oklahoma City doesn’t stop there however, with forward Jack White signing a two-year deal worth an estimated $4 million.
This marks the 25-year-old’s first fully guaranteed NBA contract, having played for the championship-winning Denver Nuggets under a two-way deal last season.
Australian forward Jack White has agreed on a two-year deal with the Oklahoma City Thunder, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. Agent Sammy Wloszczowski of @SIGSports negotiates deal that brings the former Nuggets two-way wing to OKC.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 1, 2023
Jock Landale signed the biggest deal of the Aussies so far this off-season, getting rewarded for his strong play for Phoenix with a four-year, $32 million contract to join the Houston Rockets.
While the numbers on that deal may look large, the bigman isn’t quite able to take his foot off the accelerator, with only the first year of the contract being guaranteed.
The Rockets agreed with free agent center Jock Landale on a four-year, $32M deal — with only the first season guaranteed, sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 1, 2023
Joe Ingles also signed a solid deal, heading to the Orlando Magic on a two-year, $22 million contract.
The 35-year-old wing will provide some veteran leadership to a young Magic squad who look to make a push out of the bottom of the standings.
Free agent F Joe Ingles has agreed on a two-year, $22 million contract with the Orlando Magic, his agent Mark Bartelstein of @PrioritySports tells ESPN. An accomplished role player and presence for a young Magic roster. pic.twitter.com/LdYzJdGbcF
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 30, 2023
Dante Exum is the last Aussie to have made a move in free agency so far, returning from a two-year stint in the EuroLeague to sign a one-year deal with the Dallas Mavericks.
The former fifth overall pick hasn’t stepped foot on an NBA floor since 2021 as a member of the Cleveland Cavaliers, however some strong showings in Europe saw him return to the US.
Free agent G Dante Exum – a former No. 5 overall pick – is returning to the NBA on a guaranteed deal with the Dallas Mavericks, his agent Brandon Rosenthal tells ESPN. After leading Partizan to their first title in a decade, Exum brings his perimeter versatility to the Mavs.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 2, 2023
While there is nothing concrete yet, Portland wing Matisse Thybulle has received an offer sheet from the Dallas Mavericks. As a restricted free agent, the Trail Blazers can match any offer that Thybulle receives.
In non-Australian NBA free agency news, Fred VanVleet’s three year, $130 million with Houston and Kyrie Irving’s three-year $126 million to stay at Dallas stand out as some of the biggest deals signed, while Portland superstar Damian Lillard has made a bombshell trade request.