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2018 NBA offseason

The 2018 NBA offseason.

A chronological guide to the transactions and decisions surrounding the 2018 NBA offseason.

Open the full season →Every offseason by year

In the order it happened

The transaction timeline

The draft, major signings, trades and roster decisions are ordered chronologically. Complete draft boards, trade packages and free-agent jersey changes are embedded at the moment they happened.

  1. June 21 · Draft-night trade

    Dallas and Atlanta link Luka Dončić and Trae Young forever →

    Atlanta selected Dončić for Dallas, then received Young and a future first-round pick. The exchange gave both franchises a foundational creator and made every stage of their careers part of the same debate.

    The complete trade package is preserved beside this moment →

    07TradeJune 21, 2018To DALDALDONČIĆ77To ATLATLYOUNG1120191STround assetLuka–Trae draft swapDAL receives Rights: Luka Dončić · No. 3ATL receives Rights: Trae Young · No. 5, Protected 2019 Dallas first3 original assets · 2 outcomes tracedOpen trade →

  2. Draft night · NBA Draft

    Deandre Ayton goes first overall to Phoenix Suns →

    Phoenix Suns used the No. 1 pick on Deandre Ayton. The complete 2018 NBA draft board preserves every selection and each available player profile.

    The complete draft board is preserved beside this moment →

    Draft board

    2018 NBA

    01
    1

    First overall selection

    Deandre Ayton

    Phoenix Suns

    Open every pick

  3. July 1 · Free agency

    LeBron James chooses the Los Angeles Lakers

    James signed a four-year contract after carrying Cleveland to a fourth straight Finals. The move ended his second Cavaliers chapter, restored star power to the Lakers and gave Los Angeles the centerpiece for its eventual 2020 championship build.

    Follow the jersey change beside this moment →

    06Free agencyJuly 1, 2018From CLECLEJAMES23To LALLALJAMES23LeBron chooses Los AngelesJames ended Cleveland's four-year Finals run and restored a superstar centerpiece to a Lakers organization that had missed five consecutive postseasons.Cleveland Cavaliers → Los Angeles LakersOpen offseason →

  4. July 2 · Free agency

    DeMarcus Cousins joins the champion Warriors

    Golden State used its taxpayer midlevel exception on Cousins while the All-Star center recovered from a torn Achilles, adding another famous name to a team that already featured four reigning All-Stars.

    Follow the jersey change beside this moment →

    30Free agencyJuly 2, 2018From NOPNOPCOUSINS0To GSWGSWCOUSINS0Cousins adds another All-Star name to Golden StateThe injured center took a taxpayer-midlevel deal with the defending champions while recovering from a torn Achilles.New Orleans Pelicans → Golden State WarriorsOpen offseason →

  5. July 6 · Re-signing

    Paul George stays in Oklahoma City

    Rather than return to his native Los Angeles, George recommitted to the Thunder and Russell Westbrook. His decision preserved Oklahoma City's star partnership and preceded the best individual season of George's career.

  6. July 18 · Trade

    Toronto wagers its future on one season of Kawhi Leonard →

    The Raptors sent franchise icon DeMar DeRozan, Jakob Poeltl and a protected first to San Antonio for Leonard and Danny Green, accepting enormous relationship and injury risk for a genuine championship ceiling.

    The complete trade package is preserved beside this moment →

    14TradeJuly 18, 2018To TORTORLEONARD2TORGREEN14To SASSASDEROZAN10SASPOELTL2520191STround assetKawhi to TorontoTOR receives Kawhi Leonard, Danny GreenSAS receives DeMar DeRozan, Jakob Poeltl, Protected 2019 Toronto first5 original assets · 2 outcomes tracedOpen trade →