Kevin Durant, Kawhi Leonard, and Kyrie Irving have chosen their new teams. Big-name trade candidates like Anthony Davis and Russell Westbrook have been moved. Virtually every NBA team has used up all its cap room. In other words, there aren’t many major storylines from the 2019 offseason that still need to be resolved.
Still, as we prepare to enter the second month of the 2019/20 league year, there are a handful of subplots around the league that remain ongoing. Although August typically isn’t jam-packed with signings and trades, there still could be plenty of teams looking to tweak their rosters before training camps get underway in September.
Here are five offseason storylines that are still worth watching now that much of the summer fun is over:
1. Will the Thunder find a taker for Chris Paul?
After facing skepticism that they’d be able to get anything of value in return for Westbrook’s four-year, $171MM contract, the Thunder managed to score a pair of first-round picks (and two pick swaps) from Houston for the former MVP. The only problem? They had to take on Paul’s contract, which is even less team-friendly than Westbrook’s.
Despite some rumors and speculation that the Thunder might flip Paul to a team like the Heat, Pistons, or Timberwolves, it seems no trade talks gained traction. The last we heard, Oklahoma City is preparing to start the season with Paul on its roster. Still, CP3 almost certainly doesn’t have a long-term future in OKC, so it’s probably just a matter of time until trade rumors begin swirling around him again.
2. Will Andre Iguodala be traded or bought out by the Grizzlies?
Paul isn’t the only notable veteran on the trade block. The Grizzlies are said to be shopping Iguodala, hoping to flip him for positive value after acquiring him – along with a future first-round pick – in a salary-dump deal.
The Mavericks, Rockets, Clippers, and Nuggets are among the teams that have been linked to Iguodala, but all four clubs face roadblocks. Memphis wants to get rid of Iguodala’s $17MM+ salary without taking back a ton of money, which is problematic for teams like the Rockets and Clippers, who are right up against the tax line. The Mavs and Nuggets have a slightly easier path, but neither appears willing to part with a first-round pick for the former Finals MVP.
We’ll see which side blinks first as the Grizzlies look to maximize one of their veteran assets. Presumably, at some point, they’ll be willing to accept the best offer they can get rather than simply buying out Iguodala. But if a buyout happens, other teams – such as the Lakers – could enter the mix as potential suitors.
3. Will Team USA win the 2019 World Cup with a depleted roster?
Unsurprisingly, Team USA’s original 20-man training camp roster for the 2019 FIBA World Cup didn’t feature names like LeBron James and Stephen Curry, but there still appeared to be plenty of star power in the group, with James Harden, Anthony Davis, Damian Lillard, and Bradley Beal among the invitees.
Since that announcement though, all four of those stars have removed their names from World Cup consideration. So have Kevin Love, Eric Gordon, Tobias Harris, CJ McCollum, Paul Millsap, Zion Williamson, and DeMar DeRozan.
There’s still plenty of talent on USA Basketball’s tentative roster, led by 2019 All-Stars Kemba Walker, Kyle Lowry, Khris Middleton. And Team USA will still be the odds-on favorite entering the event, which runs from August 31 to September 15. Nonetheless, it remains to be seen which players will make up the 12-man roster that represents America in China. Here are the candidates for now:
- Kyle Lowry, G
- Donovan Mitchell, G
- Marcus Smart, G
- Kemba Walker, G
- Jaylen Brown, G/F
- Khris Middleton, G/F
- Harrison Barnes, F
- Kyle Kuzma, F
- Jayson Tatum, F
- P.J. Tucker, F
- Thaddeus Young, F
- Julius Randle, F/C
- Bam Adebayo, C
- Andre Drummond, C
- Brook Lopez, C
- Mason Plumlee, C
- Myles Turner, C
It’s also possible that a player from the 13-man Select Team (listed here) could be elevated to the World Cup roster.
4. Will noteworthy free agents like Shaun Livingston, Carmelo Anthony, and J.R. Smith find new homes?
Free agents flew off the board in a hurry on June 30 once teams and players were permitted to agree to deals. No big names are left on the board, but the list of remaining free agents includes a number of intriguing veterans.
Livingston and Smith have championships under their belt and could potentially play rotation roles for an NBA team if they decide to continue their careers. Anthony is a future Hall-of-Famer who may still have a little left in the tank.
Jeremy Lin, Iman Shumpert, Jonathon Simmons, Vince Carter, Thabo Sefolosha, Lance Stephenson, Kenneth Faried, Ryan Anderson, Nene, and Joakim Noah are among the other interesting veteran names still on the market.
5. Which players eligible for rookie scale extensions will sign them?
Former first-round picks who are entering the fourth and final year of their rookies contracts are eligible for rookie scale extensions this offseason. Ben Simmons of the Sixers and Jamal Murray of the Nuggets have already signed max deals, but they won’t be the only players to get rookie scale extensions before opening night.
As our list of eligible players shows, there are several other worthy candidates. Will the Raptors be willing to cut into their massive amount of projected 2020 cap room by extending Pascal Siakam early? Are the Pacers ready to commit big money to Domantas Sabonis after extending Myles Turner a year ago? Will Buddy Hield sign a lucrative new long-term contract after leading the Kings in scoring in 2018/19?
Jaylen Brown (Celtics), Brandon Ingram (Pelicans), Caris LeVert (Nets), Dejounte Murray (Spurs), and Dario Saric (Suns) are a few of the other potential extension candidates worth watching.
Honorable mention: Will anything happen on the Bradley Beal front?
As we explained on Friday, there’s no reason – from a financial perspective – for Beal to accept the Wizards’ three-year, $112MM contract extension offer anytime soon, even if he wants to remain in D.C. long-term. He could secure more dollars and years by waiting until next summer — or even by waiting until free agency in 2021.
As such, the Wizards won’t panic over the fact that Beal isn’t signing an extension right now. And there’s no reason to believe that his role as the Wizards’ leader and go-to scorer will change anytime before opening night in October.
Still, Beal’s situation is one worth keeping an eye on. With two years left on his contract for a team that seems to be headed for a rebuild, Beal is widely viewed as the NBA star most likely to launch “pre-agency” by requesting a trade.
Until that happens, there’s no story here — but if Beal were to ask for a deal, his situation would immediately shoot to the top of this list of offseason storylines to monitor.
Photos courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
What the Celtics do with Jaylen Browne will be interesting… trying to gauge his extension value is really difficult. Like is he a budding star or is he destined to be what he is? A solid overall wing player with an okay shot, solid defense and good physicality? And if he is just “what he is” what kind of value is that extension wise? And will be take it or bet on himself becoming a “star” between now and FA? My guess is that he views himself as a ‘potential star’ and as such will hold out until he either (a) plays and gets paid like one or (b) winds up a FA and resigns once he realizes his value is what he thought it was. As a Celtics fan I like Jaylen Brown… but he really hasn’t ever taken that “next step” many people were hoping for. Who knows maybe this is the year with Kyrie gone, etc. But I’m not sure, and trying to figure out what his value is from a $ perspective is really a difficult thing to do at this point in his career.
Nene opting out looks even worse now than when he did it in June
Lin, Faried or Nene need to be a Clippers.
Faried a hustle first small/power forward fits this teams mo.
Clipps need a back up big in Nene.
Clipps could use Lin’s veteran prowess at point.
CP3 to Heat still makes so much sense. I think ideally the Mavs get involved and take Dragic and give up Hardaway. OKC with SGA and Winslow could do with Hardaway and his shooting bug more importantly they don’t need another PG and Dallas could really do with Dragic.
I also think that Beal will move teams. He’s just to good of a player to stay and be second fiddle to John ‘hog the ball’ Wall and in a losing team. I could also see DeRozen moving too. He’s likely to opt out of his deal at the end of the year and the Spurs look like they could cash in on him and go get a young piece or two and start the youth movement. DeRozen for Crabbe and Reddish I think would make sense for both teams really. Atlanta gets a star to pair with Young, Collins and Hunter and only really give up Reddish for him. If you decide to keep him he could thrive playing off a lead guard that can shoot from range and has a team with good young talent. The Spurs get Reddish who could be a good 3 to go with Walker, White and Murray who run the backcourt in a new look young team.
Would this work for the Thunder in a Paul trade?:
Thunder get: Drummond, Rubio
Pistons get: Paul, Adams
Suns get: Reggie Jackson
Don’t think any of these teams agree to that deal. Pistons don’t want to trade Reggie’s expire 20M for CP3 and his big dollars long term. Plus they won’t really want to give up Drummond. Suns like Rubio cause he can create for others and play alright D, Jackson does neither of those things. Lastly the Thunder don’t need another PG with SGA and Schroder especially one that can’t shot well and one on a new long term deal.
Thunder: Hardaway and Winslow
Heat: CP3 and Ferguson and a 1st round
Mavs: Dragic and 2nd Round