Impact free-agent players missing
This summer’s market looks soft unless stars such as Leonard or Paul opt out of deals.
Now that the 2020-21 NBA championship trophy resides in Milwaukee behind the standout performances by Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo, the rest of the league’s teams are in chase mode to see how they might be able to claim the crown next season.
Aside from a blockbuster trade, the best way is for teams to use the free-agent market as a vehicle to seek major roster upgrades. Free agency opens Aug. 2.
This year’s class of free agents is not considered strong, especially compared with the 2019 group that had Kevin Durant, Kawhi Leonard, Kyrie Irving and Jimmy Butler, all of whom opted out of the final year of their deals to change teams.
The top unrestricted free agents that teams will be pursuing are Toronto point guard Kyle Lowry, Utah point guard Mike Conley and San Antonio shooting guard DeMar DeRozan.
DeRozan, who starred at Compton High and USC, has interest in returning home to play for the Lakers, even if it is for less than the $27.7 million he earned last season in San Antonio, according to people not authorized to speak publicly.
Though the Lakers didn’t acquire Lowry at last season’s trade deadline, he remains interested in joining them, according to people with knowledge of his situation.
“It’s a very average freeagent group for unrestricted
free agents,” one Western Conference executive said. “For example, there is no KD or a Giannis. The best guys are DeRozan, Lowry and Conley.
“But if some guys opt out of their contracts and become unrestricted free agents, then that changes things.”
If the Clippers’ Leonard and the Phoenix Suns’ Chris Paul elect to decline their player options and become
free agents, they would make things much more interesting.
Leonard, who is due to make $36 million next season, and Paul, who is due to make $44.2 million, have a deadline of Aug. 1 to let their teams know their decisions.
“No one expects Paul or Leonard to leave their teams if they opt out, but you never know,” another West executive said. “But there has been enough noise about
Paul going to the Knicks. So, one just never knows.
“And, honestly, that makes this fun. Stressing, but fun.”
Both L.A. teams have some work to do to put together a roster.
The Lakers essentially have six players under contract next season — LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Kyle Kuzma, Marc Gasol and Alfonzo McKinnie, whose contract is a team option.
Center Montrezl Harrell has a player option for $9.7 million, and a deadline of July 31 to let the Lakers know.
Dennis Schroder, Wesley Matthews, Alex Caruso, Jared Dudley, Markieff Morris, Andre Drummond and Ben McLemore are unrestricted free agents.
Talen Horton-Tucker, who was given a qualifying offer by the Lakers on Thursday, is a restricted free agent.
Clippers center Serge Ibaka holds a player option for next season at $9.7 million. His deadline is Aug. 1. Reggie Jackson and Nicolas Batum are unrestricted free agents who had good seasons for the Clippers and probably will command salaries higher than what they made last season.
Center DeMarcus Cousins is also an unrestricted free agent.
There are some other interesting free agents on the market. Guard Spencer Dinwiddie, who starred at Woodland Hills Taft High and Colorado, declined his player option for $12.3 million with Brooklyn to become an unrestricted free agent.
Dinwiddie, who missed most of last season because of an anterior cruciate ligament injury, has interest in joining the Lakers.
Blake Griffin, Nerlens Noel and Jeff Green also are unrestricted free agents.
Lonzo Ball, John Collins, Jarrett Allen, Duncan Robinson and Gary Trent Jr. are restricted free agents.
“It’s a big free-agent class, but only a handful of really good ones,” an Eastern Conference executive said. “There could be some good moves to make for teams.”