Throughout the season, Hoops Rumors takes a closer look at players who will be free agents or could become free agents this off-season. We examine if their stock is rising or falling due to performance and other factors. This week, we take a look at players from the Southeast Division:
Moritz Wagner, Wizards, 23, PF/C (Down) – Signed to a three-year, $5.99MM deal in 2018
Wagner’s younger brother Franz is pursuing a national championship with Michigan and could be a lottery pick this summer. Moe Wagner, who played in the national championship game with the Wolverines in 2018, is currently biding his time on the Wizards’ bench.
Despite the season-ending injury to starting center Thomas Bryant, Wagner has fallen behind Alex Len and Robin Lopez in Scott Brooks’ rotation and hasn’t gotten his number called in the last four games. Washington declined its fourth-year option on Wagner in December, so he’ll be an unrestricted free agent this summer. A first-round pick by the Lakers in 2018, Wagner can only hope he’ll get a fresh start after seeing his career stall in Washington.
Kris Dunn, Hawks, 27, PG/SG (Down) – Signed to a two-year, $10MM deal in 2020
Dunn left Chicago and signed a two-year deal with the anticipation that he’d be a second-unit mainstay in Atlanta. Hawks fans are still waiting to see Dunn take the court. He underwent right ankle surgery in late December and has yet to make his team debut, though he has returned to practice. For a team intent on making the postseason, the Hawks may not have the luxury of waiting for Dunn to get into a rhythm. Thus, there’s no guarantee he’ll be in the rotation when he suits up. Dunn likely agreed to a $5MM player option with the aim of playing well enough to test the market again this summer. It’s a safe bet now he’ll exercise that option.
Duncan Robinson, Heat, 26, SF (Up) – Signed to a three-year, $3.1MM deal in 2018
Robinson’s name has been linked to some trade rumors, but whether or not Miami retains him, he’ll be making way more money next season. Robinson is expected to command an offer in the $15-$20MM range annually as a restricted free agent. That’s the value of a wing who can consistently knock down 3-pointers. Robinson established himself as a big-time shooter when he made 44.6% of his 3s last season in his second NBA campaign. That percentage is down to 38.9% this season but he’s still receiving around 30 MPG as a starter in coach Erik Spoelstra’s rotation.
Devonte’ Graham, Hornets, 26, PG/SG (Down) – Signed to a three-year, $4MM deal in 2018
It’s been a rough season for Graham after his breakout sophomore campaign in which he averaged 18.2 PPG and 7.5 APG. He’s dealt with some injuries, including a sore knee, and now he’s lost his starting job to rookie phenom LaMelo Ball.
The less he plays, the more time he spends hanging around the 3-point line rather than attacking the rim. With Ball leading the pack for the Rookie of the Year award, there’s speculation that Graham – a restricted free agent after the season — is available in trade talks. If Charlotte doesn’t deal Graham, it will have to decide how much it’s willing to pony up to retain him if he receives an offer sheet.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images
Duncan Robinson
3 pointer
Last year 45%
This year 39%
Contract would go down from $100 million to $70 million
Clips should take a look at Graham. That assumes they want to actually acquire a PG that can help them this year and beyond, under their hard cap and for assets they possess. Otherwise, the FO should continue to put out stories about being interested in every name PG from Rose to Ball so they seem like they’re doing their jobs.
Yes, I’m sure there has been a lot of politics centered on the PG for a few years.
Clippers still have 2027 First Round pick swap to use
Assume that there is no hard cap issue, it’s hard to trade Kennard
Kennard has base year salary restriction
which means Clippers need to trade his current year $5 million salary to 12 million salary?
I think Graham is a very good idea for the Clippers, but the key for them would be to unload Patrick Beverley without taking back his full salary. The ideal match up for the Clippers would be the Knicks. The Knicks have a need at PG and enough cap room to absorb the majority of Beverley’s deal. The only hitch would be that Beverley is signed for next year also. They can’t trade their 27 1st unless it is a swap, but perhaps if the Clippers added in 2 or 3 of their many future 2nd round picks (they have 3 of Detroit’s future 2nds) with Beverley, the Knicks might bite.
How’s this look?
Knicks get
Patrick Beverley
DET 2024 2nd round pick
DET 2025 2nd round pick
Clippers get
Devonte Graham
Bismack Biyombo
Hornets get
LAC 2022 2nd round pick
Frank Ntikilina
Patrick Patterson
The Knicks lose some cap space this off season, but gain a solid PG along with a couple of potentially high 2nd rounders and they still should have some space to use. The Clippers get some much salary relief along with a young PG they need. The Hornets add a 22 2nd rounder of which they had none along with a Ntikilina on a flyer and Patterson as a replacement big. Frankly, it is better than losing Graham for nothing or letting waste away on the bench.
I don’t see any reason why the Clips would want to move Beverley, who (like Lou Williams) is more valuable to them than anything they get in return. He’s still a truly elite defender, against guards and wings (all sizes), and a good 3 pt shooter. Next year, if things don’t go well in the playoffs, sure, but right now they should be all about this coming playoff season. Honestly, if they’re thinking of salary dump right now, I’d question whether their FO has any kind of clue, and if I’m KL, I already have one foot out the door.
I would offer Patterson (or MK) and all 3 seconds for Graham. Beverley is better off not playing all his minutes at the point.
Knicks should have to give up more. And isn’t LAC trying to trade LouW?— I could be wrong.
Are they trying to trade him? I see LouW mentioned in rumored trades, but I always thought that was because of the matching / hard cap rules. Maybe not. But he’s still playing critical minutes for a good team and making only 8 mm a year on an expiring deal.
I think @hiflew was compensating the Knicks for taking on Beverley’s contract. For me, the beauty of acquiring a 1.6 mm player is it doesn’t need to involve half the league.
I predict Wagner signs for more than the current $3mil. Most of his stats are still rising, and he’s good with the ball. Brooks is more likely to be fired. Rebounds okay at 6-11 but not physically. Not saying he’s Jokic but good-with-the-ball was once his only apparent skill also.
Jokic? Wagner isn’t close to Bjelica who makes $7.1 Why is Brooks in any danger of getting fired? What coach could do better? Wagner is 100% expendable. More so than Brooks, by a wide margin.
Wiz should be better, and it’s 5 years for Brooks, the last 3 losing… not promising. Should get 1.5 years more.
Actually Wagner should be better too, but is easy to keep; cheap and not too popular. I hope he moves to get another chance but some GM would have to overlook he has had two already and frankly, also the aggravating face & manner. He’s a tweener so would need to be schemed with say, a John Collins, hint.
A good bar bet, who goes first! A year or two from now, somebody be like, by the way you owe me.