TheNBA's free agencyperiod began Monday evening, June 30, with several notable names expected to be available on the market. Free agency will provide teams with the opportunity to reshape and retool their rosters to take one step closer to their respective NBA championship aspirations. Several big-name players who had the potential to become free agents are no longer expected to be available. That list includesLakers star LeBron James,Clippers standout James HardenandTimberwolves forward Julius Randle. Centers Myles Turner and Al Horford are among the top unrestricted players on the market as of Sunday evening. Chris Paul, Tyus Jones and Josh Giddey are expected to be among the top unrestricted guards available. Malik Beasley also could be among the list of notable guards, but instead will be the subject of one another storyline after it was reported he is beinginvestigated for gambling on NBA games. USA TODAY Sportswill have live updates and analysis on all of the NBA free agency news and rumors as they happen: NBA FREE AGENCY:Who are the biggest names on the market? NBA free agency officially began on Monday, June 30, at 6 p.m. ET. Teams and players can now start agreeing to the terms of a contract. Teams and players, however, will have to wait until July 6 for contracts to be officially signed. The Grizzlies are continuing their roster overhaul. All-Star forward Jaren Jackson Jr. is expected to ink a renegotiated, five-year, max contract extension worth $248 million,according to ESPN. Jackson was on a favorable contract that he had outperformed. Memphis' trade of Desmond Bane helped clear up the cap space required to make this deal happen.The Grizzlies shipped him to the Magic, but then — following a separate trade with the Trail Blazers — drafted Cedric Coward at No. 11 overall. Coward essentially becomes a low-cost replacement for Bane. ESPN also reports thatthe Grizzlies also locked backup forward Santi Aldamato a three-year, $52.5 million deal. It's not often that consistent, double-digit scorers hit the open market. But as theUtah Jazzcontinue to remake their roster, Jordan Clarkson has finalized a buyout,according to the Athletic, making him an unrestricted free agent. Clarkson, 33, averaged 16.2 points, 3.7 assists and 3.2 rebounds in 37 games last season. Clarkson had carved out a role as Utah's sixth man and became known for providing a scoring spark off the bench. Given his ability to score off the bench, Clarkson could draw interest from contenders looking to bolster their depth. Forward Nicolas Batum, a steady presence off the bench for theLos Angeles Clippers, will sign a two-year deal worth $11.5 million, per ESPN. After locking up one of their reserve forwards earlier Monday in Ziaire Williams, the Nets moved to do the same for backup center, Day'Ron Sharpe.ESPN reportsthat Sharpe is set to sign on a two-year deal to keep him in Brooklyn, worth $12 million. Veteran forward Joe Ingles will be playing his 12th season in the NBA, returning to theMinnesota Timberwolveson a one-year contract worth $3.6 million,according to ESPN. Knicks forwardJosh Hart had a funny response to the news, writing: "Man someone tell him to go head and retire already" in a social media post. Free agent forward Ziaire Williams is on the verge of signing a two-year, $12 million deal to return to theBrooklyn Nets,ESPN reports. Williams, the No. 10 overall pick in the 2021 draft, averaged 10 points and 4.3 rebounds in 63 games with the Nets last season. Center DeAndre Ayton is finalizing a buyout agreement with thePortland Trail Blazers,according to ESPN, which will make him a free agent -- and one of the more interesting players available. Ayton was acquired by the Blazers in 2023 as part of a three-team trade with Phoenix and Milwaukee. He's played in only 95 games in two seasons with Portland, averaging 15.7 points and 10.6 rebounds per game. As part of the contract he signed with the Suns, Ayton was scheduled to make $35.6 million next season. The biggest stories, every morning. Stay up-to-date on all the key sports developments bysubscribing to USA TODAY Sports' newsletter. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:NBA Free agency tracker: Live updates on news, rumors
