NBA 2020 Free Agency explodes in $1.2 billion frenzy, Dwight Howard’s Sixers backflip

The NBA 2020 free agency period has exploded with a series of mega-deals and a spectacular backflip for Ben Simmons’ new All Star teammate.

Dwight Howard and De'Aaron Fox have headlined the first day of NBA free agency. Photo: Getty, AFP.

There is no drama like an NBA free agency feeding frenzy — and it’s what fans received on Saturday as the league erupted in a series of rich deals.

The big drama centres around the Lakers, Sacramento, Miami and Ben Simmons’ 76ers.

More than 20 deals were reported on Saturday in contracts worth a combined $US865 million ($1.2b).

Philadelphia announced the signature of rollercoaster centre Dwight Howard for a reported basement-level contract that will see the five-time All Star play for a sixth team in the last six seasons.

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The signing came after Howard announced on Twitter he was signing with the Lakers to stay in Los Angeles.

An hour later, his tweet was deleted and the Sixers were announcing he has agreed to a $US2.6 million, one season deal.

Dwight Howard got no love from the Lakers.

Reports emerged in the aftermath that Howard believed he had an official offer from the Lakers for $US3 million. However, Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports reported there was a communication breakdown with the Lakers claiming they had only presented a deal concept offer to Howard.

Suddenly the Lakers went cold.

While the Lakers reportedly failed to get back to Howard’s agent for more than an hour, the Sixers, though new general manager Daryl Morey and All Star Joel Embiid, chased Howard hard.

With the clock ticking away, Howard accepted a bargain basement offer of $2.6 million to join the Sixers.

His tweet was deleted.

Dwight Howard deleted the tweet.

“I would love to come back and play for the Lakers again,” Howard said, via Alex Kennedy of BasketballNews.com.

“Hopefully, this year, they give me a contract; that’s the biggest thing. I don’t want to play for free anymore. This year, it was like, ‘OK, I’ll do whatever.’ But I think I’ve earned… a contract.”

COMPLETED DEALS OF 2020 NBA FREE AGENCY

The NBA’s 2020 Free agency exploded in a series of big deals on Saturday.

As reported by foxsports.com.au, the deals were flying in thick and fast, headlined by De’Aaron Fox’s max extension with the Sacramento Kings:

— Pat Connaughton agrees to a two-year, $8.3M deal with the Milwaukee Bucks, via Adrian Wojnarowski

— Jakob Poeltl agrees to a three-year, $27M extension with the San Antonio Spurs, via The Athletic’s Shams Charana

— Davis Bertans agrees to five-year, $80M deal with the Washington Wizards, via Adrian Wojnarowski

— Christian Wood agrees to a three-year, $41M deal with the Houston Rockets (in a sign-and-trade), via Adrian Wojnarowski

— Marcus Morris agrees to a four-year, $US64M deal with Los Angeles Clippers, via ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski

— Jeraimi Grant agrees to a three-year, $US60M deal with Detroit, via The Athletic’s Shams Charania

— Joe Harris agrees to a four-year, $US75M deal with Broolyn, via ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski

— Derrick Jones Jr. agrees to a two-year, $19M deal with the Portland Trail Blazers, via Shams Charania

— Montrezl Harrell agrees to two-year $US19M deal with Los Angeles Lakers, via ESPN’s Brian Windhorst

— Goran Dragic agrees to a two-year, $US37.4M ($A51m) deal with the Miami Heat, via Shams Charania

— Meyers Leonard agrees to a two-year deal worth nearly $20M with the Miami Heat, via Adrian Wojnarowski

— Real Madrid guard Facundo Campazzo agrees to a two-year deal with the Denver Nuggets, via Adrian Wojnarowski

— Wesley Matthews agrees to a one-year, $3.6M deal with the Los Angeles Lakers, via Shams Charania

— Mason Plumlee agrees to a three-year, $25M deal with the Detroit Pistons, via Adrian Wojnarowski

— Drew Eubanks agrees to a three-year deal with the San Antonio Spurs, via Adrian Wojnarowski

— Dwyane Bacon agrees to a two-year deal with the Orlando Magic, via Vincent Goodwill

— Jahil Okafor agrees to a two-year deal with the Detroit Pistons, via Adrian Wojnarowski

— Patrick Patterson agrees to a one-year deal with the Los Angeles Clippers, via Adrian Wojnarowski

— De’Aaron Fox agrees to a five-year, $163M ($A223M) extension with the Sacramento Kings, with clause to reach $195.6M, via Shams Charania

— Jordan Clarkson agrees to a four-year, $52M deal with the Utah Jazz, via Adrian Wojnarowski

— Derrick Favors agrees to thee-year, $27M deal with the Utah Jazz, via Tony Jones

— Danilo Gallinari agrees to a three-year, $61.5M ($A84M) deal with the Atlanta Hawks, via Adrian Wojnarowski

— Dwight Howard agrees to $US2.6M, one-year deal with the Philadelphia 76ers, via Shams Charania

— Rodney Hood agrees to two-year, $21M deal with the Portland Trail Blazers, via Adrian Wojnarowski

— Malik Beasley agrees to four-year, $60M deal with the Minnesota Timberwolves, via Shams Charania

— Anthony Gill agrees to a two-year deal with the Washington Wizards, via Adrian Wojnarowski

— Trey Burke agrees to a three-year deal with the Dallas Mavericks, via Tim MacMahon

KINGS STAR SIGNS FIRST MAX EXTENSION

Sacramento’s De’Aaron Fox was the first player to get the monster bucks when Free Agency opened, signing a deal that could extend to more than $US196 million ($268M).

The Athletic’s Shams Charania reported Fox’s deal is a five-year contract with a base rate of $US163M.

With performance clause bonuses Fox could join the top echelon of highest paid players in basketball.

HEAT STAR’S HILARIOUS CONTRACT RESPONSE

Miami’s Goran Dragic needed just one minute of free agency to announce he is staying with the Heat.

The veteran shooter has reportedly signed a $US37.4 million, two-year deal.

Dragic joked he was coerced into the deal by teammate Jimmy Butler.

“Jimmy’s a tough guy... I didn’t want him chasing my ass,” he told AP Sport.

the Heat made a fairytale run in the Florida bubble to reach the NBA Finals this year.

Originally published as NBA 2020 Free Agency explodes in $1.2 billion frenzy, Dwight Howard’s Sixers backflip