NBA free agency: Norman Powell to
Chicago in another All-Star move as teams continue shaping rosters
[July 02, 2026]
By TIM REYNOLDS
MIAMI (AP) — Add Norman Powell to the list of this past season's
All-Stars who are changing addresses this summer in NBA free agency.
Powell has agreed to a two-year deal that could be worth up to $45
million with the Chicago Bulls, a person with knowledge of the talks
said Wednesday. Powell also had received some interest from the
Detroit Pistons, said the person, who spoke to The Associated Press
on condition of anonymity because the contract cannot be finalized
until July 6 at the earliest.
ESPN and Chicago Sports Network were among those who first reported
the agreement between Powell and the Bulls, who will hold a team
option for 2027-28. Powell spent this past season in Miami, where he
became an All-Star for the first time and averaged 21.7 points in 58
games with the Heat.
Miami will have a very different look this coming season, after the
acquisition of Giannis Antetokounmpo in a trade that sent Tyler
Herro and others to Milwaukee. Powell will be joining his fifth
team, after past stints with Portland, the Los Angeles Clippers,
Toronto and the Heat.
All-Stars on the move
Powell is among six — and there likely will be more — All-Star
selections from 2026 alone to be on the move this offseason.
He joins Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee to Miami), Kawhi Leonard and
Brandon Ingram (the headliners of a trade that brings Leonard back
to Toronto and sends Ingram to the Los Angeles Clippers), LeBron
James (who is leaving the Los Angeles Lakers for a yet-to-be-decided
team), and Jaylen Brown (traded by Boston to Philadelphia for Paul
George and draft picks).
Of the 62 players with at least one All-Star selection in the last
five years, just over half — 33 of them — have changed teams at
least once in that span.
Nikola Vucevic returns to Orlando
Nikola Vucevic has signed a deal to return to the Orlando Magic,
agreeing on a one-year deal for just under $4 million, a person with
knowledge of those talks confirmed.
Vucevic is second all-time on the Magic list in rebounds, third in
points and fourth in games played. The 35-year-old center has been
in the league for 15 seasons, nine of those with Orlando — and now
joins a young core led by Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner.
Orlando needed another post option after losing Moritz Wagner in
free agency to Brooklyn — and Vucevic, who still has a home in
central Florida, was the natural fit.
Moritz Wagner, the brother of Franz Wagner, is signing a two-year
deal with the Nets.
Vucevic averaged 15.1 points this past season for Chicago and
Boston.
Also Wednesday, the Magic re-signed forward Jonathan Isaac. He was
waived last week in a procedural move, only to be brought back as
expected for what will be his 10th season with the club (including
two he missed with injury).
Mitchell Robinson, Mike Conley Jr. to Boston
Mitchell Robinson just won a title with New York, and now the center
will chase another in Boston.
The Celtics agreed to a $47.4 million, three-year deal with
Robinson, a person with knowledge of that agreement told the AP. And
veteran guard Mike Conley Jr. also is headed to the Celtics on a
one-year deal, a second person with knowledge of that agreement
said.
Robinson's deal includes a third-year option. Conley is set to play
a milestone 20th season in the NBA.
Marcus Smart to Houston
Marcus Smart, the NBA's defensive player of the year in 2022, is
about to join his fourth team in a span of 17 months after agreeing
with the Houston Rockets on a two-year deal worth about $12.7
million, a person with knowledge of those talks told the AP.
[to top of second column] |
Miami Heat guard Norman Powell (24) drives to the basket against
Charlotte Hornets forward Miles Bridges during the second half of an
NBA play-in tournament basketball game in Charlotte, N.C., April 14,
2026. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond, File)
Smart was with Memphis as recently as February
2025, then was sent to Washington to complete that season and spent
this past season with the Lakers.
He averaged 9.3 points and started 54 games for the Lakers in
2025-26.
Tobias Harris to San Antonio
The Western Conference champion Spurs got another veteran, adding
Tobias Harris on a two-year deal worth about $15 million this coming
season and about $16 million in 2027-28, a person with knowledge of
the agreement told the AP.
Including playoff games, Harris has played in 466 victories over the
last decade — the sixth most of any player in the league over that
span. Harris, who turns 34 later this month, averaged 13.3 points
this past season for Detroit.
John Collins to Detroit
Forward John Collins is changing teams again, after agreeing to a
three-year contract with the Pistons, a person with knowledge of
those negotiations told the AP.
ESPN reported the deal is worth $51 million.
The Pistons will be Collins' third team in as many seasons. He
started his career in Atlanta, then spent two seasons in Utah (until
2024-25) and played for the Clippers last season.
Lakers reload
The Lakers are thoroughly retooling their roster following James’
decision and Smart’s departure. After agreeing to a major trade to
acquire center Walker Kessler from Utah, they added forward Sandro
Mamukelashvili and guards Quentin Grimes and Collin Sexton in free
agency, a person with knowledge of those talks told the AP.
Mamukelashvili, a bulky power forward with an outside shooting
touch, played his way into a multiyear deal with the Lakers by
scoring a career-high 11.2 points per game and hitting 38.9% of his
3-point attempts for Toronto last season and then opting out of his
contract.
Grimes is a former Dallas teammate of Luka Doncic who provides
strong on-ball defense and versatile offensive skills. Grimes posted
a photo of himself as a child wearing Lakers gear on social media
Wednesday.
Sexton has been a consistent scorer throughout his first eight NBA
seasons with four teams. He averaged 15.4 points and 3.3 assists per
game last season for Charlotte and Chicago.
Kelly Oubre Jr. to Indiana
The Indiana Pacers, who played in the NBA Finals in 2025 and expect
to be a playoff contender again this coming season, have agreed to
terms with Kelly Oubre Jr. on a two-year deal. ESPN and The
Indianapolis Star reported it to be worth around $17 million.
Oubre averaged 14.1 points for Philadelphia this past season.
___
AP Sports Writers Kyle Hightower in Boston and Greg Beacham in Los
Angeles contributed to this report.
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