Summer doesn’t officially start under NBA free agency is born, so mark July 1st as the first day of sun and relaxation. Actually, when free agency starts on the first day of July, relaxing may have to be put on hold, as the constant rumor swirling involving some of the top names in the NBA may be difficult to track. In other words, there may be nothing relaxing about the first week of July.
That’s music to the ears of NBA fans, though, as it could have some huge names changing teams and shaking up the league. We can probably safely bet on some big names staying put, of course. LeBron James opted out but is 99.9% certain to latch back on with his hometown Cleveland Cavaliers. Restricted free agent Kawhi Leonard probably isn’t going anywhere, either, while it’s also highly unlikely big man Marc Gasol seriously considers leaving Memphis.
Those big names aside, there could still be a lot of action over the next week and there could still be some mammoth-sized players getting huge deals in new cities. And that’s not even counting all of the crazy trade rumors (DeMarcus Cousins to Lakers, anyone?). With that, let’s head into free agency prepared for the chaos as we break down the top-10 stars that could actually change teams:
LaMarcus Aldridge, PF, Portland Trail Blazers
Ridge has supposedly already informed the Blazers he’s had enough of Portland and will be moving on, so it’s probably safe to say he’s gone. Of course, he won’t want for suitors, so the bigger question is now where will he actually go? He could return home to Texas and play for the Spurs or Mavericks (who both would reportedly love to have him) or he can be a part of a massive, quick rebuild with the Knicks or Lakers. You can throw a dart and potentially be right here, but the Lakers seem to be picking up a lot of steam in the LaMarcus Aldridge sweepstakes.
Kevin Love, PF, Cleveland Cavaliers
Love opted out with King James and like LeBron, he’s probably headed back to Cleveland. Unless he’s not. Love had a very up and down season with the Cavs and with rumors swirling that Tristan Thompson could somehow trump him in a return, he could decide to take his talents elsewhere. He’s been linked to the Lakers, Celtics and even the Rockets (although that doesn’t make as much sense) and it’s anyone’s guess where he ultimately goes. Long-term, Love may not stick with the Cavs, but for now, the hot speculation is that he’ll be in Cleveland come next year.
Jimmy Butler, SG, Chicago Bulls
Butler bet on himself last summer when he opted not to do a big deal with the Bulls and is now heading into restricted free agency and looking at a huge deal. Except, he’s not. Rather than hit it big now, the word on the street is that Butler wants a short deal so he can really make bank when the new CBA kicks in. That’s spawned nice rumors involving a short-term deal with the Lakers. Whether that’s true or not remains to be seen, as it could also be a negotiating tactic to get the Bulls to give Butler the deal he wants right now. Either way, with changes going on in Chicago and the new CBA looming, it’s believable that Butler is weighing all of his options.
DeAndre Jordan, C, Los Angeles Clippers
If there’s actually a rift between Jordan and star point guard Chris Paul, there’s a decent chance the star center is a goner. If not, he’ll probably take all of the money and stay with a very solid Clippers team. If Jordan is on his way out of town, though, he’ll surely have several destinations to choose from. The Bucks are interested but should be low on his list, while the Mavericks and Knicks are the likely leaders. Rumors suggest Dallas leads the way, and it’s probably down to the Mavs or a return to the Clippers at this point.
Brook Lopez, C, Brooklyn Nets
Lopez is an interesting case, as he’s been involved in trade rumors for the past two years and also has a very shaky injury history. He opted out of his current deal with the Nets recently but despite everything, reports suggest Brooklyn wants him back and will break the bank to keep him. That could have Lopez staying in Brooklyn, but they won’t win easily with teams like the Knicks and Bucks trying to pry him away first.
Paul Millsap, PF, Atlanta Hawks
The Hawks are in a tough spot, as they currently only have enough money to keep either Paul Millsap or DeMarre Carroll. Carroll is the younger player who still has some untapped upside, so it’s very possibly Millsap is the odd man out. That could involve a sign and trade (Jazz, anyone?) or it could just mean Millsap goes to the highest bidder out on the open market. That could include Millsap replacing Greg Monroe in Detroit, replacing Ridge in Portland or signing on with the Celtics. It’s still possible the Hawks make enough moves to keep Millsap, but he’s still going to be one of the hottest names in free agency.
Greg Monroe, PF, Detroit Pistons
Speaking of Moose, he’s done with the Pistons and his options seem to be wide open. He’s not quite as versatile as Millsap or half the shooter, but he’s bigger and younger. Monroe is definitely going to have a lively market and could choose from the likes of the Knicks, Suns and Celtics.
Dwyane Wade, SG, Miami Heat
Wade could be opting out of his deal with the Heat and considering how much money he was set to make, it’s somewhat alarming. Is he really going to make more money elsewhere or with a new deal with Miami, or does he just want out of the only franchise he’s ever played for? The rumors are wild, as some have suggested Wade could return to his hometown and play with the Bulls, or he could head to the Lakers for a quick rebuild. Heck, he could even join his pal LeBron in Cleveland. Those are all possibilities, or he could stay in his current deal and stick with the Heat for another season.
Draymond Green, F, Golden State Warriors
Green is another interesting free agent, as he just won a title and could easily stay with the Warriors, but he’ll be in insanely high demand. Green has ties to the Pistons (he played at Michigan State) and he could replace Paul Millsap in Atlanta, while there should be teams lining up for his services due to his ridiculous versatility. The Rockets might be the most interesting destination, but Green could just as easily stick in Golden State.
Wesley Matthews, SG, Portland Trail Blazers
If Matthews is the guy he was before he went down with a torn Achilles last year, he belongs as our 10th guy on this list. He’s a two-way #2 guard that shoots the lights out and defends at an elite level. He also knows his role and is a great team guy, which should put him high on many teams’ lists. The big question is his health, while Matthews is nearing 30 and may want a little too much money. The writing on the wall suggests he’s done in Portland, though, which could make his trajectory wide open in free agency. He’d be a great fit with teams like the Lakers, Knicks, Suns and Kings, while more teams would surely come calling.
Think there is a bigger NBA free agent on the move? Let us hear about him in the comments below!
