Throughout the season, Hoops Rumors takes a closer look at players who will be free agents or could become free agents this offseason. We examine if their stock is rising or falling due to performance and other factors. With the playoffs in full swing, we take a look at players from the Western Conference:
Andre Drummond, Lakers, 27, C (Down) – Signed to a one-year, $794K deal in 2021
Drummond had a golden opportunity to show he could perform in the biggest moments. He was reportedly promised a starting spot by the Lakers after he reached a buyout agreement with Cleveland and cleared waivers. Drummond withered in the spotlight and was benched for Game 6 of the first-round series with Phoenix.
Coach Frank Vogel lavished praise on Drummond after the season, saying “We’re hopeful that he’s a Laker for a long time.” That seems like a long shot, considering how the postseason played out.
The two-time All-Star is still only 27 but his status has fallen dramatically over the past two seasons. He might be fortunate to receive the mid-level from a team seeking an elite rebounder.
Serge Ibaka, Clippers, 31, PF/C (Down) – Signed to a two-year, $19MM deal in 2020
Ibaka said last month he’s been dealing with back pain all season caused by a pinched nerve. It continued to hamper him to the point where he underwent back surgery on Thursday. He only appeared in 41 games during the regular season and had been limited to two postseason games.
Several contenders were interested in Ibaka during free agency last year due to his postseason track record. He was considered the Clippers’ most important addition during the offseason but now they’ll have to strive for a championship without one of their top frontcourt players. Ibaka holds a $9.72MM option on his contract for next season and it’s a safe bet he’ll take the guaranteed money.
Langston Galloway, Suns, 29, SG (Down) – Signed to a one-year, $2MM deal in 2020
Galloway signed a one-year contract for the veteran’s minimum to join an improving team seeking a second-unit shooter. He was Detroit’s top reserve a season ago but the opportunities haven’t been there in Phoenix. He only saw action in 40 games during the regular season and has made two cameos in the playoffs. The Suns have gone with a three-man rotation in the backcourt – Chris Paul, Devin Booker and Cameron Payne – rendering Galloway as a spectator. Galloway will likely have to settle for a similar contract next season from a team that promises to give him more playing time.
Tim Hardaway Jr., Mavericks, 29, SG (Up) – Signed to a four-year, $71MM deal in 2017
The Mavericks need to improve their supporting cast around Luka Doncic but they don’t want to lose Hardaway. Despite his Game 7 clunker (11 points, 1-for-9 on threes), Hardaway and Dorian Finney-Smith were the team’s most impactful players besides Doncic during the first-round series against the Clippers.
The Mavericks have made re-signing Hardaway a high priority. They’ll have some competition for his services and they to be cognizant of weighing down their future cap with enigmatic Kristaps Porzingis on the books for three more seasons (including a player option). But Hardaway is in a good spot to get another lucrative multiyear deal.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
I like THJ but Mavs need someone better. I’m not sure why Dallas is not a destination place for free agents.
Dallas is within a big market, but it’s not a glamorous market (like a Miami, NY or LA). Dallas/Fort Worth is similar to Chicagoland (for an NBA player anyway). It’s just a large cluster of mixmasters, buildings and homes. Not really known for it’s night life. Allot of strip clubs though.
Chicago has night life. Plenty of that in River North downtown. Not like NYC, but it is there if you want it. Not sure how Chicago is anything like Dallas, which reminds me more of Phoenix, a post-interstate-highway city, spread out all over the place like Jacksonville.
Yea every city in America has some form of night life. Just not glamorous. When one thinks of Chicago you think about the museums, the food, the Cubs, the culture, but not beautiful woman (not saying they aren’t there) or night clubs. I wasn’t trying to compare the cultures and infrastructures. I was comparing the attraction of NBA players wanting to play there.
Probably why Porzingis went to Dallas
Perhaps Ibaka can join his former team mates in Brooklyn and continue the re assembling of the failed OKC Thunder team.
Certainly Drummond could find a home there, he is a younger version of DeAndre Jordan.
The Nets would be far better off getting Ibaka instead of Westbrick.
James Harden is fat and quit on his teammates and team.
Andre Drummond should try link up in Toronto with Siakim. They desperately need a centre that can rebound and that’s Drummond best skill.
They also have great shooters in FVV, Trent Jr, Siakim and so on to space the floor for him in some line ups and they have caps space with Lowry leaving
I’ll ask Mutombo to make his appearance… no no no no no.
I expect
At least 5 teams offer $20 million+ contract to Drummond
At least 2 teams offer $85 million + to Hardaway
$20M to Drummond for how many years? Not 1, or even 2. At least 3.
You expect a lot of things, Sillybot.
2/20 is Drummond’s ceiling imo
He doesn’t fit a rebuilding team, playoff team, or really anything in0between, somebody will bite tho, but I bet they prefer a 1 year ink to 2 from him
He looks very slow now just a big body off the bench. I don’t see him as a starter unless a team is desperate. He is a back up center on any playoff team. If he gets more than 20 minutes a game that team is very bad.
The odd thing is the guy is not slow and as graceful as a gazelle in the open court and can actually lead a fastbreak pretty well handling the ball!-
Somethings off in the brain, he gets more nervous the closer to the rim he gets and slows down
Almost feels like he rejected being coached at all levels and just skated by with that amazing basketball body God gifted him
On a bad team with unlimited mins/usage the guy will no doubt will fill the stat sheet up just based on that body alone but thats nothing you pay for even if your a bad team so his options are dropping like flies
He can run the floor but his movement sideways is slow. He can’t keep up on moving side to side.
Drummond needs to spend o year on an MLE or less. Might be decent with humility. Spends too much time evaluating his benefit before moving. It’s a good habit for rebounding but he wants to be an offensive hub too and is too ponderous for that.
Surprised the Suns never went to Galloway.
No fan of Ibaka or Hardaway, if Hardaway gets a raise.
This year Drummond was a disappointment to Lakers fans. Yes he has a big body, and yes he can rebound. His flaw to me is that his hands are no good for catching the ball. Too many dropped passes, too many turnovers. We know off course he does not score from outside. So he does a few things well but is not a complete player. I would not want to overpay for him and don’t care one way or the other if he comes back next year. I’ve got to agree- the Mid-Level-Exception or less. Probably less.