By Adrian Stewart Co
Veteran guard Chris Paul is not heading anywhere after agreeing to a four-year, $120 million contract extension to remain with the 2020-2021 NBA season runner-up Phoenix Suns.
In a report by Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports, Paul decided to stay with the Suns following their failed NBA championship bid against the Milwaukee Bucks last season.
Aside from Paul, the Suns also renewed backup guard Cameron Payne to a three-year, $19 million deal, while also inking center JaVale McGee to one-year, $5 million contract.
Miami Heat also bolstered its roster after locking in veteran point guard Kyle Lowry to a three-year, $90 million deal via sign-and-trade with his former team Toronto Raptors.
The Heat also added defensive forward P.J. Tucker on a two-year deal and also renewed the contracts of five-time NBA All-Star Jimmy Butler and three-point gunner Duncan Robinson.
New York Knicks, meanwhile, locked up Derrick Rose to a three-year, $43 million contract extension, while also agreeing to a four-year deal with French gunner Evan Fournier.
The Knicks also retained free agent guard Alec Burks via three-year, $30 million contract, while center Nerlens Noel is also returning on a three-year, $32 million deal.
Los Angeles Lakers, on the other hand, bolstered its bench by bringing back former franchise players in Dwight Howard, Trevor Ariza and Wayne Ellington on one-year deals.
Also signing up with new teams were Kelly Olynyk and Trey Lyles (Detroit Pistons), Reggie Bullock and Sterling Brown (Dallas Mavericks), Zach Collins and Doug McDermott (San Antonio Spurs), Lonzo Ball and Alex Caruso (Bulls), Devonte Graham and Garrett Temple (New Orleans Pelicans) Torrey Craig (Indiana Pacers), Daniel Theis (Houston Rockets), Cody Zeller (Portland Trail Blazers), Jeff Green (Denver Nuggets), and Alex Len (Sacramento Kings).
Renewing their contracts were Tim Hardaway Jr. and Boban Marjanovic (Mavericks), Jamychal Green, Austin Rivers and Will Barton (Nuggets), Mike Conley (Utah Jazz), Jarrett Allen (Cleveland Cavaliers), Bobby Portis (Milwaukee Bucks), TJ McConnell (Pacers), Gary Trent Jr. (Toronto Raptors), Moe Harkless (Kings), Mike Muscala (Oklahoma City Thunder), Furkan Korkmaz (Philadelphia 76ers), and Nicolas Batum (Los Angeles Clippers)./ASC, WDJ