2025 NBA Free Agency and Trade Grades for Every Day 2 Deal
The 2025 NBA offseason is here, and Bleacher Report is ready to guide you through all the chaos with instant reactions to free-agency signings, trades, releases and more.
This is your one-stop shop for news and analysis of the NBA's rapidly shifting landscape. So, feel free to bookmark!
As the news rolls in, we'll be grading all of it on our typical A-F scale, and it started yesterday. Report cards from Monday's action can be found HERE. And grades for Tuesday's action can be found below.
Key Terms and Quick Recap
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But first, a primer!
As we sort through another summer of player movement, a quick run through some key terms should be helpful.
Player Option: If a team gives a free agent a player option, it means that he is free to choose whether he wants to stay or go in the final year of the deal. For example, if someone signed a three-year deal with a player option, he could opt in to that third year and play for whatever team holds the contract, or opt out and become a free agent.
Team Option: A team option functions just like a player option, except the organization wields the decision-making power. The team has the option of keeping a player on the roster for that final year or letting him become a free agent.
Max: Max deals are determined by a number of factors, including the size of the league's salary cap in a given year and the amount of experience a player has. The cap in 2025-26 is $154.6 million. Players with no more than six years of NBA service can sign max contracts with a starting salary of 25 percent of that number. Players with seven to nine years of experience can sign maxes worth 30 percent of the cap. And players with 10-plus years of service can sign maxes that start at 35 percent of that number.
Mid-Level Exception: The mid-level exception allows teams that are already over the salary cap to sign a player (or players) to deals that do not exceed a certain threshold. For 2025-26, that threshold is $14.1 million.
Taxpayer's Mid-Level Exception: Teams that are above the $187.9 million luxury tax line still have access to a mid-level exception, but it's smaller. For this season, the taxpayer's mid-level exception is $5.7 million.
This offseason, specifically, there was also a ton of movement that happened in advance of the official start of free agency. You can find a list of all the moves that preceded Monday, including the Kevin Durant and Desmond Bane trades, HERE.
And finally, though this isn't necessarily a hard and fast rule, think about the grades below on this scale:
A = Heist | B = Everybody Wins | C = Meh | D = Huh | F = That you, Nico?
Now, let's get to Tuesday's action.
Oklahoma City Thunder Extend Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
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Contract: Four years, $285 million (via ESPN's Shams Charania)
Grade: A
This was about as much of a no-brainer as a contract extension can get.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander turns 27 this month. Theoretically, he's just now entering his prime. And he's coming off one of the greatest guard seasons in NBA history, having secured a scoring title, league MVP and Finals MVP in rapid succession.
In 2024-25, when SGA was on the floor, the Oklahoma City Thunder had a point differential around that of a 72-win team. The core that just won the title with him is largely locked in for the next few years.
This extension ensures that OKC will remain at or near the top of the title contenders' tier for the foreseeable future.
Milwaukee Bucks Sign Myles Turner
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Contract: Four years, $107 million (via ESPN's Shams Charania)
Option: Player
Grade: A
One day after losing 37-year-old Brook Lopez to the Los Angeles Clippers, the Milwaukee Bucks landed the 29-year-old version of him in Myles Turner. And they orchestrated a stunning series of moves to pull this off.
To carve out enough cap space for Turner, the Bucks waived star point guard Damian Lillard, who ruptured his Achilles in the playoffs. He'll have the remaining $113 million his contract stretched over the next five years, leaving the Bucks with a $22.5 million dead cap hit through the remainder of the decade.
It's a pretty drastic move, but given Lillard's age and the injury he just suffered, it makes sense as the means to add Turner. Over the last three seasons, Turner has averaged 16.8 points, 7.0 rebounds, 2.0 blocks and 1.7 threes while shooting 37.7 percent from deep.
It makes sense to pair Giannis Antetokounmpo with a 5 who can shoot and pull opposing bigs away from the paint, leaving the area around the basket freer for Giannis' drives. He's also a high-end rim protector whom the Bucks can build a defense around.
After signing several of their own free agents to reasonable deals in the opening hours of free agency, it's starting to feel like the Bucks could be winners this summer.
Milwaukee Bucks Waive Damian Lillard
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Grade: B
From a purely sentimental perspective, waive-and-stretching Damian Lillard may seem pretty cold.
Lillard was under contract through 2026-27, when he had a $58.5 million player option. Now, he'll be without a team while he rehabs from a torn Achilles.
He's still going to get $113 million he's owed, though. And when he's cleared to play again, presumably ahead of the 2026-27 season, he'll be an unrestricted free agent with his pick of suitors around the league.
On Milwaukee's side of this decision, it makes good short-term sense to turn a roster spot that was going to give the team nothing into Myles Turner, especially with much of the rest of the East decimated for 2025-26.
But this move isn't completely without risk. The salary cap is projected to go up each year for the foreseeable future, but spending $20-plus million on a player who's not on the team each season through 2030 isn't ideal.
Denver Nuggets Trade Dario Šarić to the Sacramento Kings for Jonas Valančiūnas
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Nuggets Grade: A+
Kings Grade: Incomplete
The Denver Nuggets have spent all of free agency throwing haymakers.
After trading Michael Porter Jr. for Cameron Johnson and signing Bruce Brown yesterday, they addressed a glaring need at backup center by moving Dario Šarić for Jonas Valančiūnas.
It's abundantly clear why Denver's side of this deal makes sense. The Nuggets signed Šarić with the taxpayer's mid-level exception last summer, but he was only in the rotation for a handful of games.
Presumably using part of the traded player exception that was created by the MPJ deal yesterday to replace him with a productive backup 5 is a clear win. Valančiūnas averaged 10.4 points, 7.7 rebounds and 2.0 assists in only 18.8 minutes per game last season between the Washington Wizards and Sacramento Kings.
For Sacramento, it feels like something else has to be on the horizon. Šarić doesn't make a ton of sense for them, so a buyout or his inclusion in a future trade wouldn't be surprising. The fact that he's on an expiring contract and makes half of what JV does could be a factor as well, since it enabled them to have access to the full non-taxpayer mid-level exception while staying under the tax line.
Denver Nuggets Sign Tim Hardaway Jr.
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Contract: One year, veteran minimum (via Tony Jones of The Athletic)
Grade: B
Last season, Tim Hardaway Jr. earned $16.2 million with the Detroit Pistons. The Denver Nuggets just landed him on a one-year, veteran-minimum deal.
At that price, he's a steal.
Hardaway averaged 11.0 points and 2.2 threes per game while shooting 36.8 percent from deep with the Pistons last year. As a pure catch-and-shoot option off the bench, the veteran shooter has the ability to swing a game or quarter for the better.
In concert with the rest of the Nuggets' acquisitions this offseason (Cameron Johnson, Bruce Brown and Jonas Valančiūnas), it's even easier to get excited about this deal.
Denver's bench has been a near-constant concern over the last five years, and it's now been infused with three helpful veterans, while the starting lineup got a bit more versatile with Johnson stepping in for Michael Porter Jr.
Detroit Pistons Sign Duncan Robinson (via Sign-and-Trade)
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Contract: Three years, $48 million (via ESPN's Shams Charania)
Grade: A-
Veterans and outside shooting were big parts of the Detroit Pistons' revival in 2024-25. And early in free agency, it looked like they were going to lose a bit of both.
Malik Beasley and Tim Hardaway Jr. were first and second on the team in total three-point attempts. The former is under federal investigation over gambling allegations, and the latter agreed to join the Denver Nuggets.
The most notable addition in their place was Caris LeVert, who could be a nice piece, but isn't the kind of volume outside shooter Cade Cunningham needs to play with to thrive.
Well, now they have exactly that kind of player in 31-year-old Duncan Robinson.
For his career, Robinson has averaged 11.3 points and 2.8 threes while shooting 39.7 percent from deep. And his ability to get threes up in volume, as well as his willingness to move when he's off the ball, will fit great with Cunningham, who is one of the league's more dangerous playmakers.
The deal cost Detroit Simone Fontecchio as part of the sign-and-trade, but Robinson will provide what Fontecchio was supposed to (and likely more).
Toronto Raptors Extend Jakob Poeltl
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Contract: Four years, $104 million (via ESPN's Shams Charania)
Grade: C+
Jakob Poelt is an underrated creator thanks to both his passing and offensive rebounding. He's also a solid backline defender who is probably worth this deal in a vacuum.
But for the Toronto Raptors specifically, it feels like a bit of a wheel-spinner.
Poeltl doesn’t stretch the floor whatsoever. For a team headlined by three uninspiring shooters in Scottie Barnes, Brandon Ingram and RJ Barrett, that is potentially a real problem.
Sacramento Kings Sign Dennis Schröder
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Contract: Three years, $45 million (via ESPN's Shams Charania)
Grade: B+
After a series of increasingly inexplicable moves cost them Tyrese Haliburton and De'Aaron Fox in recent years, the Sacramento Kings found themselves in dire need of a point guard. Journeyman playmaker Dennis Schröder is a solid one to land on.
Last season, he played for the Brooklyn Nets, Golden State Warriors and Detroit Pistons and averaged 13.1 points and 5.4 assists in 28.1 minutes per game.
For a team that runs so much offense through Domantas Sabonis, the point guard would ideally be able to shoot a bit better than Schröder, who's a career 34.2 percent shooter from deep. However, he has shown an ability and willingness to get off the ball, and his downhill creation for himself and others will take a lot of pressure off Sabonis, Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan.
New York Knicks Sign Guerschon Yabusele
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Contract: Two years, $12 million (via ESPN's Shams Charania)
Option: Player
Grade: B+
After spending several years overseas, Guerschon Yabusele had a breakout campaign for the injury-plagued Philadelphia 76ers in 2024-25. He averaged 11.0 points, 5.6 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.5 threes in 27.1 minutes per game while shooting a career-high 38.0 percent from deep.
He may not be mobile enough to always stay in front of NBA forwards on the perimeter, and he may not be tall enough to deal with starting 5s. But as a tweener who can at least survive at either spot against second units, his outside shooting and versatility could be a significant boost to the New York Knicks' bench.
Milwaukee Bucks Sign Gary Harris
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Contract: Two years (via ESPN's Shams Charania)
Option: Player
Grade: A-
The Milwaukee Bucks made a pair of seismic moves when they waived Damian Lillard and signed Myles Turner. All of the smaller signings they've made make more sense when analyzed through that context.
Taurean Prince, Gary Trent Jr. and now Gary Harris will all have very narrow, defined roles in the offense mostly piloted by Giannis Antetokounmpo. All three have proven capable of fulfilling that role.
Surrounding the Giannis-Turner two-man game with dangerous catch-and-shoot threats should make Milwaukee tough to defend.
While Harris had a few years when it looked like his defense might be slipping, he's coming off a 2024-25 campaign in which he ranked in the 95th percentile in defensive estimated plus-minus.
Milwaukee Bucks Trade Pat Connaughton and Two 2nd-Round Picks for Vasilije Micić
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Bucks Grade: D+
Hornets Grade: A
The Milwaukee Bucks have been on fire for most of Day 2 of free agency, but this trade (via ESPN's Shams Charania) is a bit of a head-scratcher.
Yes, they need a playmaker in the wake of Damian Lillard's release, and Vasilije Micić makes just over $1 million less than Pat Connaughton in 2025-26, when both are on expiring deals. However, Micić has struggled mightily to produce in the NBA.
Last season, he averaged 6.6 points and shot only 34.8 percent from the field in 41 games between the Phoenix Suns and Charlotte Hornets.
Micić's creative passing ability could be interesting for a Milwaukee squad that's suddenly in need of a point guard. He may shoot better on a team with so much defensive attention diverted toward Giannis Antetokounmpo, but giving up two second-rounders for a 31-year-old with a career box plus/minus of minus-5.6 is surprising.
The other side of the deal isn't nearly as difficult to explain. Connaughton doesn't add any long-term money or obligations to the rebuilding Hornets' books. Turning Micić into multiple second-round picks feels like a coup.
Milwaukee Bucks Sign Jericho Sims
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Contract: Two years (via ESPN's Shams Charania)
Option: Player
Grade: B
Jericho Sims has never had a significant role in the NBA, including over the tail end of last season with the Milwaukee Bucks. But he's a fine signing on (presumably) the minimum for a team that needs some depth behind Myles Turner.
There's at least a chance he can develop into a rotation player who offers a little more pressure on the rim as a lob threat than the outside-shooting Turner does.
Toronto Raptors Sign Sandro Mamukelashvili
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Contract: Two years, $5.5 million (via ESPN's Shams Charania)
Option: Player
Grade: B+
Sandro Mamukelashvili may not be known by many NBA fans outside Milwaukee or San Antonio, but at this price, he's worth a flier from the Toronto Raptors.
The 6'11" Mamukelashvili averaged 6.3 points and 1.0 threes in just 11.2 minutes per game last season while shooting 37.3 percent from deep.
For a team with Scottie Barnes and Brandon Ingram, neither of whom commands a ton of attention outside the three-point line, having a big who can hit triples could be crucial for keeping the paint clear.
Boston Celtics Sign Josh Minott
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Contract: Two years, $5 million (via ESPN's Shams Charania)
Grade: B+
Through three NBA seasons, Josh Minott has played only 463 minutes across 93 games. So, it's tough to get a feel for what kind of player he might be for the Boston Celtics.
But Minott has also averaged 21.2 points in 17 career G League appearances and even showed a little playmaking ability there.
This is certainly a flier, but during Boston's gap year, he may get a chance to show more of the athleticism and motor that got him drafted with a second-round pick in 2022.
Charlotte Hornets Re-Sign Tre Mann
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Contract: Three years, $24 million (via ESPN's Shams Charania)
Grade: C
Tre Mann re-signing with Charlotte isn’t necessarily surprising. He’s coming off an injury-abbreviated 2024-25, in which he averaged 14.1 points and shot 40.0 percent from deep.
The price point, though, raises eyebrows.
The aforementioned numbers came from just 14 appearances. And Mann has yet to have a single season with even close to an average box plus/minus. In most matchups, he’s undersized on defense and a little erratic on the other end.
Ultimately, this probably isn’t a huge deal for a rebuilding team in a year when the cap is over $150 million. The contract could wind up being a helpful trade chip. And who knows? The 24-year-old playmaker could prove well worth it.
But this was one of the bigger head-scratchers of the day.
Cleveland Cavaliers Sign Larry Nance
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Contract: 1 Year (via Marc Stein)
Grade: B
In an offseason in which the Cleveland Cavaliers have potentially lost some depth (Ty Jerome was one of the best reserves in the NBA last season), fans have to be encouraged to hear Larry Nance Jr. is back.
When healthy (and that’s a huge caveat in Nance’s case), he’s a switchable small-ball 5 who can create a bit and pass the ball better than most bigs. Over the last two years, he’s also hit 43.3 percent of his three-point attempts.
But he’s also struggled with availability throughout his career and is joining a bench with Lonzo Ball, one of the biggest injury risks in the league.
The glass-half-full view of this deal is fun, but Nance has to be able to stay on the floor to help.
