The Lakers’ first move of free agency was made official on Saturday afternoon, with the franchise announcing that it re-signed Max Christie.

While the organization didn’t announce the terms of the deal, Christie is returning on a four-year, $32 million contract, with the final year of the deal being a player option, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.

Christie was slated to become a restricted free agent last Sunday when teams were officially allowed to start negotiating deals with free agents not previously on their rosters, but the Lakers and Christie agreed to a new contract an hour before that negotiating period opened up.

In a new league rule, teams could start negotiating with upcoming free agents who finished the just-completed season on its roster the day after the NBA Finals ended on June 17.

The 21-year-old Christie, who doesn’t turn 22 until February, was the Lakers’ second-round draft pick in 2022 (No. 32 overall).

He’s shown flashes of a 3-and-D skillset in his two seasons with the Lakers, specifically as an on-ball defender, spot-up shooter and defensive rebounder.

His role fluctuated last season under previous coach Darvin Ham.

Since joining the Lakers, Christie has averaged 3.8 points and two rebounds and shot 37.8% on 3-pointers in 108 regular-season games (10 starts).

During head coach JJ Redick’s introductory news conference on June 24, Redick and Lakers general manager and vice president of basketball operations Rob Pelinka mentioned Christie when discussing the organization’s player-development plans.

The free agency moratorium, a period in which teams may not sign most free agents or make trades, ended at 9:01 a.m. on Saturday.

— Khobi Price

Clippers sign Bamba

Veteran center Mo Bamba officially signed with the Clippers, the team announced Saturday. Although no contract details were given, it is reportedly a one-year deal.

Largely a rotation player, Bamba appeared in 57 games for the Philadelphia 76ers last season, taking over the starting center job when 2023 MVP Joel Embid was out for two months after having knee surgery.

The 7-foot Bamba averaged 4.4 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.1 blocks in his lone year with the Sixers.

He is expected to back up Clippers starter Ivica Zubac after the departure of Mason Plumlee (Phoenix Suns) and Daniel Theis (Europe).

The Orlando Magic selected Bamba with the overall No. 6 pick in the 2018 draft out of the University of Texas. He played for the Magic for four-plus seasons before being part of a four-team trade that landed him with the Lakers.

The Lakers waived him after the 2023 season, and he then signed with the Sixers.

In college, Bamba was named to the All-Big 12 Second Team, Big 12 All-Defensive Team and Big 12 All-Freshman Team in his lone season with the Longhorns.

— Janis Carr

James makes his summer league debut

Oversized headphones on his ears and dressed in full Lakers gold as he geared up for his NBA Summer League debut, rookie Bronny James looked so much like his famous father it caused some people at Chase Center in San Fancisco to do a double-take.

Even down to their familiar mannerisms and facial expressions. Then, Bronny took his place in the starting lineup for and his professional career was formally underway.

James missed his initial two shots while playing nearly six minutes in his first run of action — grabbing a defensive rebound 1 minute, 20 seconds into the game then missing a 21-foot jump shot moments later. He came up short on a 26-foot 3-point try at the 4:23 mark of the opening quarter before getting a breather.

James received cheers and a warm ovation when he returned to the court at the 8:17 mark of the second quarter. He was initially whistled for his first career foul on a 3-point attempt by Sacramento’s Xavier Sneed on the right wing with 7:23 remaining, and James argued briefly before the play went to replay review and was overturned. James missed a 3 off the front rim from the top of the arc at 7:04.

Then, at last, James scored his first NBA points on a driving layup 5:51 before halftime.

Around the league

The Charlotte Hornets are keeping forward Miles Bridges after the forward was re-signed to a three-year, $75 million contract, according to a person familiar with the situation.

• The Philadelphia 76ers continued to build around their star trio of Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and Paul George with the addition of free agent forward Caleb Martin, a person with knowledge of the deal told The Associated Press on Saturday.

• The Atlanta Hawks completed a trade that sends high-scoring guard Dejounte Murray to the New Orleans Pelicans for a package of two first-round draft picks and three veterans.

The trade announced by the Hawks sends guard Dyson Daniels, forward-center Larry Nance Jr. and center Cody Zeller to Atlanta.

The Hawks will receive a 2025 first-round pick and a conditional 2027 first-rounder. The 2027 pick will be a top-four protected selection that will be the least favorable of picks attached to the Pelicans and Milwaukee.