The lack of teams with ample salary-cap space this summer will present a tough choice for Clippers center DeAndre Jordan, as Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer explains. Jordan has a player option of $24.1MM this summer and multiple league executives told O’Connor he probably wouldn’t receive an annual salary approaching that on the open market. Some of the teams that will have cap room, such as the Nets, Hawks and Sixers, aren’t looking to add a veteran center at a high salary, O’Connor continues. It’s plausible that Jordan will opt in and take his chances on the open market in 2019, O’Connor adds.
Also around the Pacific Division:
- The lack of elite, established players on their current rosters will make it tough sell for the Lakers and Clippers to land LeBron James this summer, Marc Spears of The Undefeated opines. The Lakers could sign two major free agents this summer, but the Clippers don’t have that much cap room, Spears notes. The Clippers may have hurt their cause to sign a top free agent by trading away Blake Griffin in the first year of his long-term contract, Spears adds.
- Forward Tobias Harris has been traded three times during his career and he’s taken the latest one in stride, as he told Joel Brigham of Basketball Insiders. Harris was the top player acquired by the Clippers in the Griffin blockbuster. “My first trade from Milwaukee to Orlando was a situation where I just wanted to prove myself to the league,” Harris said. “When I was traded from Orlando to Detroit, it was a situation where I wanted to help the team get to the playoffs, and that’s similar to this one here, too.”
- Willie Cauley-Stein establishing his market value is among the storylines surrounding the Kings the remainder of the season, according to James Ham of NBCSports.com. Cauley-Stein has to emerge as the defensive stopper he was in college and improve his rebounding to earn an extension this offseason, Ham continues. The development of the De’Aaron Fox–Bogdan Bogdanovic backcourt and the need for Buddy Hield to become a playmaker are some of the other things to watch, Ham adds.
DJ isn’t going to get a max contract in free agency. He’s an elite rebounder and a good defender but is limited elsewhere. I think somebody would give him a four year deal worth $15m+ per year, but I doubt a deal comes close to the $24.1m he could make on his option unless its highly frontloaded/backloaded.
LeBron is going to HOU so it doesn’t matter what the Lakers try.
I don’t see him going to the west. Wants to beat the warriors in the finals. Honestly think his best bet on a growing young team is the Sixers. Need a dominant big to dethrone the warriors.
Don’t see Lebron leaving Cleveland
I’m with Dionis on this
Lebron is not leaving Cleveland period, he has control over everything in Cleveland. He is worshipped there and is not going anywhere. That Brooklyn pick might go as high as 5, if the Cavs can get Trae Young it’s a lock he stays. I think he stays regardless, this team has depth and is good enough to give him a shot at titles over the next 3 years.
LeBron James to the Sixers… why did 30 something % of the players at A/S weekend vote against that? They’re scareeeedddd! Embiid = Hakeem / Wilt combo w/range (taking too many 3s this year, but still around 30%) and Simmons is a taller, longer LBJ in the making – needs work on the jumper & range obviously.
Big ? is Fultz. Will he become Flash (Wade ceiling) or is he just a guy that can drive/slash and defend and can’t shoot (he is a plus at that). If he’s that guy – he’s on par with Fox/Ball – one dimensional offense.
Have cheaper, young bench players – Saric, TLC, McConnell, RoCo, Holmes, Korkmaz, Bolton (draft & stash)
Have a lottery pick in the Lakers pick as well – could be Miles/Mikal Bridges, Wendell Carter. And their own pick – Trevon Duval? SGA? Shake Milton?
OR some outside the box thinking – they trade for a combo-guard with a palatable contract if Fultz is a complete bust. Fournier, Josh Richardson, Snell, Gary Harris? Lot of teams looking for cap relief.
Could also look at ST and LT contracts for UFAs like Will Barton (27), Hezonja (22), Evans (28), Ellington (30), Retain Belinelli (31).
Sixers are in a prime position. They have enough cap space to make big move next year – they could sign LBJ AND CP3 if they wanted to create the banana boat.