The Charlotte Hornets and All-Star guard LaMelo Ball have agreed on a designated rookie maximum extension, multiple media outlets reported Saturday. The five-year deal is reportedly worth up to $260million.

Ball’s new deal comes a day after his draftmates – Indiana’s Tyrese Haliburton and Memphis’ Desmond Bane – also agreed to max rookie extensions.

Ball was the third overall pick in the 2020 draft and was named the 2021 Rookie of the Year. In his second season, Ball was selected as an All-Star.

A 6-foot-7 playmaker, Ball averaged career highs last year of 23.3 points and 8.4 assists but was limited to 36 games due to injury.

Ball missed the start of last season due to a slow-healing sprained left ankle, and his campaign ended abruptly in February when he fractured his right ankle.

Bucks keep Lopez

The Milwaukee Bucks are bringing back veteran center Brook Lopez after agreeing to a two-year, $48million contract, according to multiple media reports.

The agreement comes a day after the Bucks and swingman Khris Middleton reportedly agreed to a new three-year contract.

Lopez, 35, has been a pillar in the frontcourt next to Giannis Antetokounmpo since joining the Bucks in 2018 and helped Milwaukee win an NBA title in 2021.

Lopez finished second in voting for Defensive Player of the Year last season and averaged a career-high 2.5 blocks. He added 15.9 points per game last season while shooting 53.1 percent from the field and 37.4 percent from 3-point range.

Lakers retain Reaves, Russell

The Los Angeles Lakers have reached agreements to keep starting guards Austin Reaves and D’Angelo Russell, according to media reports.

Reaves, who was a restricted free agent, will reportedly receive a four-year, $56million deal, while Russell’s deal is worth $37million over two seasons.

After going 43-39 last season, the Lakers are hoping to build on a run to the Western Conference finals.

Behind LeBron James and Anthony Davis, Reaves was the Lakers’ third-leading scorer in the playoffs at 16.9 points per game, while Russell was fourth at 13.3 points per game.

DiVincenzo joins Knicks

Donte DiVincenzo agreed to a four-year, $50 million deal to join the Knicks and former Villanova teammates Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart.

DiVincenzo spent last season with the Warriors and won an NBA title with the Milwaukee Bucks in 2021, though he played in just three playoff games before tearing a ligament in his ankle.

He played a career-high 72 games last season for Golden State and averaged 9.4 points. 

Cavs land Strus in 3-team swap, Heat shed salary

Max Strus is headed to the Cleveland Cavaliers as part of a three-team trade and will receive a four-year, $63million contract, according to media reports.

The San Antonio Spurs landed Cedi Osman, Lamar Stevens and a future second-round pick in the deal.

The Miami Heat only received a future second-round pick in the deal but created some salary cap flexibility that could aid in acquiring a high-priced player like Damian Lillard or James Harden.

Strus scored a career-high 11.5 points per game last season for the Heat and was a key contributor in Miami’s run to the NBA Finals.

Brooks leaves Grizzlies for Rockets

Dillon Brooks is moving to the Rockets on a four-year deal worth nearly $80 million.

ESPN is reporting the deal may become a sign-and-trade, one that would create a massive trade exception for the Memphis Grizzlies.

Brooks averaged 14.3 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.6 assists in 73 games last season for Memphis.

He became a key player for a Grizzlies team that made the playoffs each of the past three seasons, earning a reputation as one of the league’s premier wing defenders.

Brooks was fined by the NBA for not talking to the media after some playoff losses last season and was ejected in Game 3 of the first-round series against the Lakers for striking LeBron James in the groin. That was after he called James “old” and led the NBA with 18 technical fouls last season, earning a pair of one-game suspensions in the process.

Westbrook stays with Clippers

Russell Westbrook will continue his run with the Los Angeles Clippers, agreeing to a two-year deal with the team he ended last season with.

The deal is worth $7.8 million, with the second year a player option, according to sources.

Westbrook began last season with the Los Angeles Lakers but was traded to the Utah Jazz at the deadline. He never played for the Jazz and was signed by the Clippers on February 22.

The 9-time All-Star averaged 15.8 points, 7.6 assists and 4.9 assists in 21 regular-season games with the Clippers.