An active 2020 trade deadline has likely watered down the free-agent market this summer, a pattern far from the norm after a combined $4 billion was spent on more than 150 players last July, Bobby Marks of ESPN.com explores.
There were a total of 12 trades within the 48-hour window of the trade deadline this year, with high-profile players such as D’Angelo Russell, Andre Drummond, Andrew Wiggins and Clint Capela switching teams.
As Marks notes, the 2020 free agency class is projected to be mediocre for the most part. The Knicks could have upwards of $50MM to spend (though they’ll likely wait until the following summer for stronger talent), with the Hawks, Pistons, Hornets, Suns, and Heat also set to have north of $20MM.
Beyond Anthony Davis, some of the top unrestricted free agents this summer include Fred VanVleet, Montrezl Harrell, Danilo Gallinari and Serge Ibaka. Drummond ($28.7MM), DeMar DeRozan ($27.7MM) and Evan Fournier ($17MM) all have player options in their contracts, while Brandon Ingram and Bogdan Bogdanovic are set to enter restricted free agency.
Here are some other odds and ends from around the basketball world:
- Free agent guard Archie Goodwin has signed in Germany with Ratiopharm Ulm, the team announced, as relayed by Sportando. Goodwin, 25, holds NBA experience with the Suns, Pelicans and Nets, most recently playing in Turkey. Goodwin was drafted with the No. 29 overall pick by Oklahoma City back in 2013.
- Former NBA forward Thomas Robinson has signed in Russia with BC Khimki, the team announced on social media. Robinson signed a one-month deal with an extension until the end of the season. The 28-year-old has played for Sacramento, Houston, Portland, Philadelphia, Brooklyn and Los Angeles across his professional career, spending time with the Spurs during summer league in 2019.
- Warriors associate head coach Mike Brown has agreed to be the head coach of the Nigerian men’s basketball team, according to Marc J. Spears of ESPN’s The Undefeated (Twitter link). Brown will coach Nigeria during the 2020 Tokyo Olympics this summer, with Nigeria BB president Musa Kida reportedly looking for a high-profile coach that holds NBA experience.
Pels have 5 they can re-sign– BI, Favors, Etwan, Jah, Kenrich. They’re at $83mil now. Getting all might be a bit much but they will likely max out Ingram, which is likely what it will take to keep him.
Sacto has already settled Bogdans into the lineup so they’re confident they can retain him.
Could the Cavs have gotten one of the others? No matter now with Drummond.
Apparently, the Cavs front office didn’t think they would be able to attract mor draw any interest from anyone on par with or better than Drummond..
With their lack of growth and direction, piss poor drafting, lack of leadership, inability to develop young players, and with it being Cleveland and all, I’m pretty sure they already knew they would strike out trying to attract and/or sign any tier 1 or tier 2 type free agents..
What would be hilarious is if Drummond still chooses to opt out, saying the heck with the money, and getting the heck out of there. Not that Cleveland really gave up anything to get him, but it would still be a huge indictment of their team…
He would have to have had a really good finish to this year to opt out… I doubt it, and an opt-in has already been announced. If Houston does unusually good or bad, that may matter. If Beilein changes his offense for him, that could matter. But I doubt it.
If Cle offered an overpay to someone on that list that could be enough despite your factors. We won’t know now. That is probably what Detroit will do now with the new capspace! Prob with VanVleet.