Published by AK98
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The NBA offseason is here and phones are ringing off the hook in front offices across the league. Everyone is looking to increase their win totals from the previous season, some even feeling they’re one piece away from an NBA Championship. Some teams will find their perfect fit. Others will overpay and wind up in financial prison.
So which players are hot commodities? Who’s the best value for their buck? What teams are bound to overreach? Who are the top NBA Free Agents?
Those questions & more will be the ones we’ll be answering. So let’s get to it.
NBA Free Agents #1 Kyrie Irving
“Uncle Drew” still has some tread left on his tires. At 31 years of age, he has at least another three-year contract that he can play top-tier basketball. Last season, he averaged 27.7 ppg / 5.1 rpg / 5.5 apg which are numbers any team would gladly welcome. Imagine what the NBA Finals would’ve looked like had the Miami Heat had a player with that kind of production on their roster. May have been a different story.
But the problem isn’t the play; It’s the personality.
Kyrie has been a headache for front offices since he won a ring back in 2016 with the Cleveland Cavaliers (having hit a historic three-pointer in Game 7 of the NBA Finals against the Golden State Warriors). From Boston, to Brooklyn, to vaccine-refusal and claims of black people being the original Jews, to missing the playoffs with Dallas after a mid-season trade (a team who made the WCF of the NBA Finals last year), it is clear that Kyrie has volatility issues.
This is a major red-flag for teams relying on ultimate trust and team chemistry. But, if you’re a franchise looking to just roll the ball out there every few days in hopes of breaking .500, this is your man.
Top Suitors: the Miami Heat, the Dallas Mavericks, the Chicago Bulls, the Los Angeles Lakers, and the Phoenix Suns
Destination Pick: Dallas Mavericks
He only played half a season with them and still put up all-star numbers. The team was already a mess, having lost the magic from the previous year. Similar to Kevin Durant and Devin Booker in Phoenix, the smart play would be to give him another year to see if he can work things out with Luka Doncic.
NBA Free Agents #2 James Harden
“The Beard” is no spring chicken. At 33 years of age, he can still produce, having averaged 21.0 ppg / 6.1 rpg / 10.7 apg with the Philadelphia 76ers last season. But his absence in crucial games of the NBA Playoffs has critics wondering if he still has the legs for an +82 game season/playoffs. He is still a top-notch playmaker, but he no longer is the dynamic scoring threat he once was. Former 76ers head coach Doc Rivers said coaching Harden was “challenging”.
Harden has been bouncing around similar to Irving, having gone from Oklahoma City, Houston, Brooklyn, 76ers, and whoever is next on that list. He is seemingly a plug & play for a team in need of a ball-dominant PG. Many have Harden as the top free agent this NBA offseason. His game has aged well, going from a “first-option” to “distributor” role, but as a top-earner in the league, is the juice worth the squeeze?
Top Suitors: The Chicago Bulls, Toronto Raptors, Phoenix Suns, Chicago Bulls, and Los Angeles Lakers
Destination Pick: Phoenix Suns
Only two of the aforementioned teams are legitimate championship contenders. Lebron is old as dirt and is merely buying time until the day he can play with his son. His son will be a frosh at USC this fall, so he has another year. The Suns, however, could use a replacement for aging Hall-of-Famer PG Chris Paul (should they choose to waive him & eat +$13M of his money due next year). Suns desperately need 3 point shooting & willing passer. Harden meets both of those criterias.
NBA Free Agents #3 Kristaps Porzingas
Kristaps was a THE high-value prospect of yesteryear, having been the draft gem when The Zen Master Phil Jackson was ruling over the New York Knicks. Mark Cuban saw his potential and had him shipped to Dallas, but unfortunately inconsistency & injuries have plagued his stay.
But, he went to the Washington Wizards this past season and stayed relatively healthy while finding some of his old flare, averaging 23.2 ppg / 8.4 rpg / 2.7 apg. While the Wizards were not a playoff team, on a personal level, Porzingis had great success. He saw more games than he sat, and for KP, that’s a win.
People forget, Porzingis is only 27 years old. They talk about him like he’s a dinosaur who’s only got a year or two left in the league. If he can stay committed to his pliability, physical therapy, nutrition, and taking care of his body, he should have at least two more contracts left to cash in on.
Top Suitors: The Dallas Mavericks, New York Knicks, Los Angeles Lakers, Oklahoma City Thunder, and the Euroleague
Destination Pick: The Los Angeles Lakers
The Lakers Anthony Davis is at his best when he plays his natural PF position. The 7’3” Porzingis would fill in nicely at the C position, mainly because of his shooting range and ability to spread the floor. He doesn’t need to fill in the paint, leaving Davis the ability to hunt in the post.
With his ability as a spot-up shooter from behind the arc, there is no doubt he would help Lebron stat chase in the assist category. He’d get to stay on a relevant team & play competitive basketball in the toughest division in the NBA, the Pacific Division of the Western Conference.
*Honorable Mention: Fred VanVleet
Sorry, Fred. We see you. And you’ve earned your way to the tops of people’s lists because of your dual-threat capabilities (offense/defense). I just couldn’t do all PGs on the list, so I had to leave you off this one. But that doesn’t mean your talent will be overlooked. Just ask your wallet in a few weeks.