NBA free agency: Veteran leaves Warriors to team up with Victor Wembanyama

NBA free agency has kicked off and a veteran has chosen to play with the league’s next best thing instead of chasing a championship.

Chris Paul is set to form a partnership with Victor Wembanyama at the San Antonio Spurs next season after agreeing a one-year $A16 million deal with the franchise, reports said Sunday as NBA free agency got underway.

The 39-year-old, 12-time NBA All-Star, who played for Golden State last season, will now spend his 20th season in Texas as he chases an elusive first championship ring.

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Paul was used sparingly by the Warriors last year, making only 18 starts at an average of 11.9 points and 7.3 assists.

However, the likely future Hall of Famer provides crucial experience in a young squad that is being built around the talents of French prodigy Wembanyama under the guidance of veteran coach Gregg Popovich.

Paul is also an avowed admirer of Wembanyama, describing the towering 224cm centre as the player best placed to be the figurehead of the league in years to come.

The Ringer’s Kevin O’Conner wrote on X: “This is beautiful. HOF PG near the end of his career joining a future HOF at the start of his.”

“Wemby is different and he’s the guy you’re talking about after the game,” Paul said. “Wemby is the guy that, after the game in the locker room we all were talking about playing against him. We literally all had to change how we shot a little bit.”

Chris Paul is leaving the Warriors... Photo: Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images/AFP.

...to join forces with Wemby at the Spurs. (Photo by CHANDAN KHANNA / AFP)

The Warriors announced earlier Sunday they had waived Paul in a move to save luxury tax funds.

Golden State star guard Klay Thompson is now a free agent. The 13-year NBA veteran, every second of it played for the Warriors, is expected to have talks with Dallas, Philadelphia, the Clippers and the Los Angeles Lakers.

In other free agency news on Sunday, James Harden was reported to have reached a two-year deal to stay with the Los Angeles Clippers.

With teams unable to confirm new deals, media reports revealed most player moves in the opening hours of the scramble for clubs and talent to come to terms to reshape the landscape for the 2024-25 season.

The NBA moratorium period begins Monday and ends on Saturday.

Paul George, a former Clippers forward, was the biggest name in the available talent pool and his deal was expected to set the tone for more moves.

He was expected to have talks with Philadelphia and Orlando. Those clubs and Oklahoma City have the most salary cap space to offer deals to free agents.

Harden, according to multiple reports, reached a deal worth $A105 million to spend the next two seasons with the Clippers.

Paul George is the biggest name set to change teams. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope is leaving the Denver Nuggets to join the Orlando Magic on a three year, $A99 million deal.

The 31-year-old has won titles with the Nuggets and LA Lakers.

Forward Kevin Love was expected to re-sign with Miami for $A12 million over two seasons, The Athletic and ESPN reported, while ESPN reported centre Obi Toppin was set to return to Indiana on a four-year deal worth $90 million.

Turkish centre Omer Yertseven was set to be released by Utah, ESPN said. Another free agent is Lakers star LeBron James, although he is expected to re-sign with the Lakers to play alongside son Bronny next season.

James reportedly has said he would take a pay cut if it would help the Lakers sign certain top free agents such as Thompson.

The NBA announced the salary cap for the 2024-25 campaign was set at $US140.588 million with the tax level for the season at $US170.814 million and the minimum team salary at $US126.529 million.

Bronny James and LeBron James are set to be LA Lakers teammates. (Photo by Alex Bierens de Haan / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / AFP)

Meanwhile, LeBron James has decided to opt out of the final year of his Los Angeles Lakers contract in order to secure a new deal with the team, per multiple reports.

James, a four-time NBA champion, dumps a deal that would have paid him $A77 million next season, ESPN and The Athletic reported, and becomes a free agent but looks to return on a potential maximum three-year deal worth $162 million.

Bronny James, the 19-year-old son of LeBron, was drafted 55th of 58 picks in the NBA Draft on Friday by the Lakers, and is set to become part of the NBA’s first father-son duo alongside his 39-year-old dad.

The Lakers said they want to re-sign the elder James, a four-time NBA Most Valuable Player, and could swing a deal with him that would provide more money for the Lakers to swing trade or free agency deals for certain players.