2022 NBA Free Agency: Tracking Day 1 Rumors, Contracts, and More originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
NBA free agency technically starts Thursday night, but the action has already started.
The league gave us a blockbuster deal on Wednesday afternoon with the Spurs and Hawks reportedly agree to a trade that will send All-Star guard Dejounte Murray to Atlanta and beyond Danilo Gallinarithree first round draft picks, and a pick swap to San Antonio.
Teams can begin negotiating with free agents at 6 p.m. ET on Thursday, meaning we should see more player moves as teams look to renew their roster for the 2022-23 season. While the top free agents — Bradley Beal of Washington, James Harden of Philadelphia, and Zach LaVine of Chicago — are expected to stay put, a large number of other talented players may switch teams in the coming days.
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Will the Boston Celtics country one of these players? The Celtics aren’t expected to make a big splash, but are interested in adding a bank scorer and/or playmaker while looking to build on a great campaign for 2021-22.
There will be no shortage of NBA rumors and news throughout the day, so keep it here for the latest updates leading up to 6pm ET. (All times East)
4 p.m.: Danilo Gallinari is interested in the Celtics, Heat and Bulls after being waived by the Spurs, ESPN’s Dave McMenamin reported.
3:35 pm: Danilo Gallinari is entering the open market, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
3 p.m.: How is this for a bomb?? Kevin Durant has filed a transaction with the Brooklyn Nets, The Athletic’s Shams Charania reports.
The Phoenix Suns are Durant’s “preferred” landing spot, according to Yahoo Sports’ Chris Haynes, but the Miami Heat is also reportedly on its list with several other teams willing to offer trading packages.
11:35 am: The Hawks continue to ponder more moves in the wake of the Murray trade, according to Bleacher Report’s Jake Fischer.
11:24 am: It wouldn’t be an NBA free agency without cryptic emojis! Phoenix Suns forward Jae Crowder has been rumored as a potential trade candidate†
11:15 am: Tobias Harris is apparently a name to watch out for… ESPN’s Brian Windhorst reported Thursday morning on “Get Up!” that the Philadelphia 76ers might look to trade the veteran forward.
9:25 AM: Could Danilo Gallinari be an option for the Celtics? Boston will be interested in signing the six-foot-tall Italian forward if he is sacked by Spurs, according to multiple reports.
9:20 am: Boston “not expected to make radical changes” this off-season, Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated reports. Mannix also noted that scoring the perimeter bank will be the Celtics’ “priority” in the free-agent and trading markets.
9:17 am: Kemba Walker is expected to be bought out by the Detroit Pistons and become a free agent. Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN reports.
9 o’clock: The Hawks can swap Kevin Huerter or Bogdan Bogdanovic after adding Murray, The athletic Chris Kirschner and Sam Amick reported on Wednesday evening. Huerter would fit into Boston’s exception for $17.1 million traded players and could be an intriguing option for the C’s, as our Chris Forsberg recently detailed†