Celtics Secure Ron Harper Jr. Amidst Free Agency Preparations
The Boston Celtics are reportedly finalizing a new three-year, $9 million contract with forward Ron Harper Jr. This agreement comes after the Celtics declined Harper’s previous $2.6 million team option for the upcoming season. The new deal allows both parties to commit to a longer-term arrangement, according to reports.
Harper, who is 26 years old, began the last season on a two-way contract before transitioning to a standard NBA contract. During his 29 games, he averaged 4.2 points and 1.7 rebounds. He also shot 35% on 80 three-point attempts. Notably, Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla started Harper in Game 7 of their first-round series against the Philadelphia 76ers, a game Boston lost 109-100. Harper played four minutes in that game and did not score any points.
League Landscape Shifts Ahead of Official Free Agency
The 2026 NBA draft recently concluded, and the trade market has already become active, altering the league’s landscape even before free agency officially begins. While free agency is set to open on July 6 at 12:01 p.m. ET, the negotiation window will commence earlier, on Tuesday at 6 p.m. ET. Teams approach this negotiation period with varying degrees of financial flexibility.
The league does not impose a hard cap like the NFL, meaning teams can, and often do, exceed the salary cap. The Memphis Grizzlies are currently the only team reported to be under the $165 million salary cap. The taxpayer threshold, set at $201 million, is often considered a more accurate benchmark for team spending. Teams that exceed this threshold incur tax penalties, and their non-taxpayer exception of $15 million is replaced by a taxpayer exception of $6.1 million.
Further penalties are imposed on teams that surpass the first tax apron of $209 million, with even more severe consequences for those exceeding the second apron of $222 million. Teams over the second apron face harsh restrictions, including the loss of the taxpayer exception and the inability to aggregate contracts in trades. Currently, only the Oklahoma City Thunder and Cleveland Cavaliers are projected to be over the second apron. The Denver Nuggets and Orlando Magic are also close to this limit, with less than $5 million in room below it.
Key Players and Teams in the Trade Market
Several early extensions have already influenced the upcoming free agent market. For instance, Los Angeles Lakers player Austin Reaves has reportedly agreed to a four-year, $185 million max extension to remain with the team. However, the early trade market has been equally, if not more, impactful.
Significant trades have already occurred, such as the Milwaukee Bucks sending Giannis Antetokounmpo to the Miami Heat for a package of picks and players before the draft. Following the draft, the Charlotte Hornets traded LaMelo Ball and Josh Green to the Minnesota Timberwolves in exchange for Naz Reid and a selection of picks.
The Boston Celtics are reportedly still actively engaged in trade discussions concerning their player, Jaylen Brown. The Celtics had previously included Brown in their offer for Antetokounmpo. Another prominent player who could be on the move is Kawhi Leonard. Reports suggest that the Los Angeles Clippers may trade Leonard if an extension cannot be reached before free agency begins.
The new league year will officially commence on July 1, at which point many of the agreed-upon extensions will take effect.
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Source: sports.yahoo.com
