2022 June | Hoops Rumors

Mavericks To Hire Quinton Crawford As Assistant Coach

By Rory Maher | at June 17, 2022 7:04 pm

The Mavericks are hiring Quinton Crawford to be an assistant coach under Jason Kidd, sources tell Brad Turner of The Los Angeles Times (Twitter link).

Crawford, 31, has been an assistant coach with the Lakers for the past three seasons, getting his start during the team’s championship season in 2019/20. He’s viewed as an “up-and-coming, bright coach,” according to Turner.

Crawford was an assistant under former L.A. head coach Frank Vogel, who was fired after the season and subsequently replaced by Darvin Ham. With Ham looking to bring in his own staff, it’s not surprising that Crawford may have been given permission to look for other opportunities, assuming he was still under contract.

Kidd and Crawford have experience working together, as Kidd was also an assistant on Vogel’s staff from 2019-21. Kidd departed when he got the head coaching job in Dallas last June.

Crawford was the head video coordinator and a player development coach for Charlotte and Orlando the two seasons prior to joining the Lakers.

0 comments Dallas Mavericks Los Angeles Lakers Quinton Crawford

Kings’ No. 4 Overall Pick Drawing Serious Interest

By Luke Adams | at June 17, 2022 4:01 pm

The No. 4 overall pick, currently held by the Kings, is generating significant trade interest from teams further down in the draft order, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski said during NBA Countdown on Thursday night (video link).

With Jabari Smith, Chet Holmgren, and Paolo Banchero widely expected to be the first three players off the board next Thursday, teams interested in acquiring the No. 4 pick have a specific target in mind, according to Wojnarowski.

“That No. 4 pick that the Sacramento Kings hold is very much in play. There are a lot of teams trying to get deals done with Sacramento so they can move up to select Jaden Ivey,” Wojnarowski said. “That’s teams close to them in the lottery – (the Pistons and Pacers), who are five and six – the New York Knicks at No. 11, (the) Washington Wizards at No. 10, and even some teams outside of the lottery.”

While not everyone agrees on how many players make up the top tier of the 2022 draft class, Ivey has frequently been included in that group alongside the three big men, making him the odds-on favorite to be picked fourth overall. However, there are a number of reasons why the Kings may be inclined to pass on the opportunity to select him.

For one, Sacramento badly wants to make the playoffs and might prefer to use the No. 4 pick to trade for win-now pieces. Additionally, Ivey may not be an ideal fit next to De’Aaron Fox, since both are offense-first guards who aren’t great outside shooters or defenders. On top of all that, a report this week suggested Sacramento isn’t Ivey’s preferred landing spot.

Still, the Kings won’t trade the pick if they don’t like the return, according to Wojnarowski.

“Sacramento’s asking price is going to be significant to move in there,” Woj said. “I think they see this as essentially a four-player draft — there’s a drop-off after No. 4.”

The teams mentioned by Wojnarowski as potential trade partners would all make sense as landing spots for Ivey. He’d fit nicely next to Cade Cunningham in Detroit or Tyrese Haliburton in Indiana, given the size and versatility of those guards. The Knicks and Wizards, meanwhile, are in the market for a long-term solution at the point guard spot and could view Ivey as the answer.

Quinton Mayo reported on his Substack this week that the Wizards’ front office is “really high” on Ivey and has spent a good amount of time exploring trade-up scenarios.

39 comments 2022 NBA Draft Detroit Pistons Indiana Pacers New York Knicks Newsstand Sacramento Kings Washington Wizards Jaden Ivey

2022 NBA Offseason Preview: Phoenix Suns

By Luke Adams | at June 17, 2022 3:09 pm

Although the Suns finished the 2019/20 season by winning eight straight games, it was still their sixth straight season under .500, so when they followed it up by going 51-21 and making the NBA Finals in ’20/21, it came as a major surprise.

That ’20/21 performance put the Suns firmly in the conversation as contenders heading into ’21/22, meaning they didn’t catch anyone off guard with another hot start last fall. But not many league observers expected that hot streak to essentially last the entire regular season, as the club took yet another significant step forward by winning an NBA-high 64 games.

Phoenix’s rise came to an abrupt halt in the second round of the postseason, when the team failed to slow down Luka Doncic and fell to the underdog Mavericks in seven games. It cast a shadow over what was otherwise a terrific year and raises questions about where the club goes from here.

Are more roster upgrades needed to seriously contend for a title, or was this a championship-caliber team that just had a bad series? And how will Chris Paul‘s age, Deandre Ayton‘s free agency, and the ongoing investigation into team owner Robert Sarver‘s alleged workplace misconduct factor into the Suns’ outlook going forward?

The Suns’ Offseason Plan:

Let’s start with Ayton, the Suns’ only core player who isn’t already under contract for the 2022/23 season. He’ll be eligible for restricted free agency this offseason after failing to agree to an extension with the team last fall. Even though Phoenix was unwilling to give Ayton a five-year, maximum-salary contract a year ago, there had long been an expectation that the two sides would have an easier time reaching an agreement this summer — if not a max deal, then something very close to it.

However, since the night the Suns were eliminated from the playoffs – in a Game 7 in which Ayton was benched after playing just 17 minutes – one report after another has suggested that the big man’s return to Phoenix won’t be a foregone conclusion after all. Multiple reporters have identified the former No. 1 overall pick as potentially the biggest name to change teams this summer.

Ayton’s free agency will be fascinating for a few reasons. For one, despite the fact that the Suns apparently aren’t enthusiastic about paying Ayton $30MM+ per year on his next deal, all of those aforementioned reports have been adamant that the team won’t just let him walk away for nothing and will look to negotiate a sign-and-trade deal.

Given that so few teams have the ability to create enough cap space to sign Ayton outright, perhaps that’s how his free agency will play out. But it would be fascinating to see how Phoenix would respond if a rival suitor signs Ayton to a four-year max offer sheet. Would the Suns match it and plan on potentially trading Ayton down the road, despite the fact that his salary would put them well over the luxury tax line for the time being? The potential for a game of free agency “chicken” here is intriguing.

If the Suns do engage in sign-and-trade talks for Ayton, those negotiations will be complicated by the fact that base year compensation rules will apply to his new contract. On a maximum-salary deal, Ayton’s outgoing salary from Phoenix’s perspective would be just $15.25MM, while his incoming salary for a new team would be $30.5MM. Bridging that gap and making sure both teams are adhering to the NBA’s salary-matching rules will be tricky if Ayton’s new team is over the cap.

It’s virtually unprecedented for a free agent of Ayton’s caliber to accept his qualifying offer rather than negotiating a longer-term contract, but no player coming off a rookie scale contract has ever been eligible for a qualifying offer as lucrative as Ayton’s ($16.4MM), so it’s worth mentioning as a fallback option. If he were to accept that one-year QO, Ayton would be eligible for unrestricted free agency in 2023. It’s a long shot, but if the Suns play hardball with possible sign-and-trade partners and Ayton decides he doesn’t want to stay in Phoenix, it’s an option.

Based on the reporting to date, it sounds like the Suns’ preferred outcome would be to replace Ayton with a starting-caliber player earning in the $15-20MM range and to not spend maximum-salary money on their starting center. We’ll see if the right opportunity arises – for both Ayton and the Suns – to make that happen.

While resolving Ayton’s contract situation will be their top priority, the Suns will have to address their backup slots at point guard and center, where Aaron Holiday, Elfrid Payton, JaVale McGee, and Bismack Biyombo are all eligible for free agency. How Phoenix approaches those spots will depend in part on whether Ayton returns — or possibly on how much salary the team takes back in an Ayton sign-and-trade.

Sarver doesn’t have a reputation as an owner who spends big on player salaries and likely won’t be particularly enthusiastic about going deep into tax territory, so if Phoenix projects to be a taxpayer, I’d count on the team filling out its depth chart at point guard and center primarily with minimum-salary signings. If Ayton doesn’t return, the club would have more flexibility below the luxury tax line, opening the door to use its mid-level exception and perhaps to re-sign players like Holiday and McGee, who should command more than the minimum.

Devin Booker, Cameron Johnson, and Dario Saric are among the other Suns worth keeping an eye this offseason.

Booker qualified for a super-max contract extension when he made an All-NBA team this spring. If the Suns put a super-max offer on the table, it would add four more years to the two remaining on his current deal, starting at 35% of the 2024/25 cap. Even if we project a relatively conservative $130MM cap for ’24/25, that super-max contract would be worth in excess of $50MM per year.

There’s no guarantee the Suns move forward on that extension immediately, but it would cover Booker’s prime years (starting with his age-28 season) and Paul’s contract would be coming off the books by that point, so it would make sense for the two sides to get it done this summer.

Johnson will be eligible for a rookie scale extension this offseason and has probably earned a deal at least in the range of what fellow sharpshooter Kevin Huerter got from Atlanta a year ago (four years, $65MM). The Suns don’t necessarily have to push to finalize an agreement with Johnson before the 2022/23 season, since he’d be a restricted free agent next summer. But if they can get a relatively team-friendly price, like they did with Mikal Bridges, it’s worth pursuing.

Saric, meanwhile, will be returning from a torn ACL as he enters the final year of his contract. His $9.2MM expiring deal makes him a logical trade candidate, either in a salary-dump deal or in a package for a rotation player. However, at least one recent report suggested Phoenix is hopeful Saric can return to form as a frontcourt piece who can stretch the floor, and may not be looking to move him after all.

Salary Cap Situation

Note: Our salary cap figures are based on the league’s latest projection ($122MM) for 2022/23.

Guaranteed Salary

Devin Booker ($33,833,400)
Chris Paul ($28,400,000)
Mikal Bridges ($20,100,000)
Jae Crowder ($10,183,800)
Landry Shamet ($9,500,000)
Dario Saric ($9,240,000)
Cameron Payne ($6,000,000)
Cameron Johnson ($5,887,899)
Torrey Craig ($5,121,951)
Total: $128,267,050

Player Options

None

Team Options

None

Non-Guaranteed Salary

None

Restricted Free Agents

Deandre Ayton ($16,422,835 qualifying offer / $31,582,375 cap hold): Bird rights
Aaron Holiday ($5,791,702 qualifying offer / $11,941,653 cap hold): Bird rights
Ish Wainright ($1,816,044 qualifying offer / $1,816,044 cap hold): Non-Bird rights
Total (cap holds): $45,340,072

Two-Way Free Agents

Gabriel Lundberg ($1,616,044 cap hold): Non-Bird rights
Total: $1,616,044

Draft Picks

None

Extension-Eligible Players

Note: These are players who are either already eligible for an extension or will become eligible before the 2022/23 season begins.

Devin Booker (veteran)
Jae Crowder (veteran)
Cameron Johnson (rookie scale)
Dario Saric (veteran)

Unrestricted Free Agents / Other Cap Holds

JaVale McGee ($6,000,000 cap hold): Non-Bird rights
Bismack Biyombo ($1,811,516 cap hold): Non-Bird rights
Elfrid Payton ($1,811,516 cap hold): Non-Bird rights
Total: $9,623,032

Offseason Cap Outlook

With $128MM in guaranteed money committed to nine players, the Suns will, at the very least, operate over the projected $122MM cap in 2022/23.

The Ayton situation will dictate whether they end up over the projected tax line ($149MM) as well, but that looks like a good bet at this point — even if Ayton doesn’t return, Phoenix could end up taking on upwards of $20MM in salary in a sign-and-trade deal.

Cap Exceptions Available

Taxpayer mid-level exception: $6,392,000 ¹

Footnotes

This is a projected value. The Suns could instead have access to the full mid-level exception ($10,349,000) and bi-annual exception ($4,050,000) if they remain below the tax apron.

Salary and cap information from Basketball Insiders and RealGM was used in the creation of this post.

8 comments Hoops Rumors Originals Offseason Preview Phoenix Suns

Celtics Notes: Brown, Tatum, Finals Loss, Offseason

By Luke Adams | at June 17, 2022 1:43 pm

Although multiple Celtics players indicated in their post-game comments on Thursday night that their NBA Finals loss was a painful one, they did their best to frame their playoff run to within two games of a title as a positive experience and one they can build upon heading into next season, writes Tim Bontemps of ESPN.

“The future is bright,” Jaylen Brown said. “I always look at adversity as opportunities to shape an individual. For whatever reason, it wasn’t our time. That means we still got a lot to learn. Personally, I still got a lot to learn. For me, it’s always about growth. Continuing to get better, continuing to find different ways to lead. That’s what it’s about. The future is bright. I’m excited to get back next year.”

As Bontemps details in another ESPN story, Brown and Jayson Tatum accomplished a rare feat this season, becoming just the fourth 25-and-under duo to be the two top scorers on an NBA Finals team. Oddly, Bontemps notes, none of the other three duos (Hakeem Olajuwon and Ralph Sampson; Shaquille O’Neal and Penny Hardaway; and Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook) ever made it back to the Finals together.

Brown and Tatum will be hoping to avoid a similar fate, and Bontemps believes they’re well positioned to do so, since all of Boston’s core players are locked up for multiple seasons.

Here’s more out of Boston:

Head coach Ime Udoka believes the Warriors’ experience and on-court intelligence were deciding factors in the NBA Finals and sees room for the Celtics to improve in those areas. “I think the biggest part for us is the IQ section,” Udoka said, per Jay King of The Athletic. “That’s where we saw a huge difference in consistency with us and Golden State, just the little things that experience only can teach you. … A team like Golden State who has been there, done that. It was evident in a lot of ways.”
Jayson Tatum suffered a shoulder stinger during the Eastern Conference Finals, but declined to cite that injury as a reason for his up-and-down production (.367 FG%) in the Finals, according to Joe Vardon of The Athletic.
Udoka said he believes this series will go a long way toward helping Tatum adjust to being guarded like an All-NBA player going forward, Vardon writes in the same article. “This is only the start of how you’re going to be guarded and the attention you’re going to draw,” Udoka said. “I think this is the next step for him. Figuring that out, getting to where some of the veterans are that have seen everything and took their lumps early in their careers.”
In his Celtics offseason preview, Bobby Marks of ESPN (Insider link) acknowledges that some teams in recent years have been burned by relying on roster continuity, but argues that it wouldn’t be a mistake for Boston to do so, given that the team’s two stars still have room to improve and the right complementary pieces are in place.

55 comments Boston Celtics Jaylen Brown Jayson Tatum

Southwest Notes: Mavs, Dragic, Rockets, Pelicans, Spurs

By Luke Adams | at June 17, 2022 12:56 pm

The Mavericks intend to explore the possibility of signing veteran guard Goran Dragic in free agency this offseason, sources tell Marc Stein (Twitter link).

Dragic and the Mavericks have frequently been linked in the past, in large part due to Luka Doncic‘s presence in Dallas. Doncic and Dragic, who are both from Slovenia, have played together in international competitions and appear to have interest in teaming up in the NBA as well.

Dragic will be an unrestricted free agent this offseason and the Mavericks project to have more open roster spots than expected after agreeing to a four-for-one trade for Christian Wood. Trey Burke will be one of the outgoing pieces in that deal, so even if Jalen Brunson re-signs with Dallas, the club could use another point guard for depth purposes.

Here’s more from around the Southwest:

Auburn big man Jabari Smith was straightforward in explaining why he hasn’t felt the need to visit with the Rockets in the weeks leading up to the 2022 NBA draft, as Jonathan Feigen of The Houston Chronicle relays. The Rockets hold the No. 3 pick in the draft, but Smith only visited the Magic (No. 1) and Thunder (No. 2). “I don’t see myself falling below two,” Smith said. “Just keeping that mindset going into to it, that’s kind of my mindset. That’s why I kept it to those two.”
In a pair of stories for The Athletic, Will Guillory explores how the Pelicans‘ strategy in the draft has evolved since David Griffin was hired in 2019, and answers mailbag questions about the No. 8 pick and potential trade candidates on the roster. Guillory doesn’t think New Orleans will aggresively try to move Devonte’ Graham, but expects the team to gauge his market to see what’s out there.
Purdue’s Sasha Stefanovic indicated on his Instagram story today that he’s in San Antonio to work out for the Spurs, tweets James Boyd of The Indianapolis Star. Stefanovic doesn’t show up on ESPN’s list of 2022’s top 100 prospects, making him a long shot to be drafted.

10 comments 2022 NBA Draft Dallas Mavericks Houston Rockets New Orleans Pelicans San Antonio Spurs Goran Dragic Jabari Smith Sasha Stefanovic

Draft Notes: Rockets, Nuggets, Green Room, Houstan, Sharpe, Roddy

By Luke Adams | at June 17, 2022 11:32 am

Now that they’re poised to add the No. 26 pick to their list of draft assets, the Rockets are looking into the possibility of trading up in the draft, Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer reports within his latest mock draft. According to O’Connor, Houston has inquired about moving up from No. 3 into one of the top two spots in the draft, and has also explored the possibility of moving up from No. 17 into the late lottery.

Like Houston, the Nuggets have agreed to acquire an extra first-round pick (No. 30) and are trying to package it with No. 21 in order to move into the middle of the first round, O’Connor writes. However, O’Connor expects Denver to have to add a young player or a future asset to its package in order to make any real headway.

O’Connor’s newest mock draft includes a few more interesting tidbits, including his suggestion that there’s still some “chatter” about teams trying to trade for the Magic‘s No. 1 overall pick.

Here are a few more draft-related updates:

Five more players have been invited to the green room for next Thursday’s draft, reports Jonathan Givony of ESPN (Twitter link). Tari Eason, Jalen Williams, TyTy Washington, MarJon Beauchamp, and Jaden Hardy received invites, joining an initial list of 16 invitees. Of the 21 players invited to the green room, only Hardy (No. 22) and Beauchamp (No. 23) are outside of the top 21 prospects on ESPN’s big board.
Michigan’s Caleb Houstan, one of the only prospects to decline a combine invite this year, worked out this week for the Grizzlies and Nuggets, a source tells Givony (Twitter link). Those two teams control the last two picks of the first round.
Kentucky’s Shaedon Sharpe told reporters today that the Spurs, Thunder, and Magic are among the teams he has worked out for in the pre-draft process, tweets Chase Hughes of NBC Sports Washington. Sharpe will work out for the Pacers on Monday, a source tells James Boyd of The Indianapolis Star (Twitter link).
Colorado State forward David Roddy still has workouts coming up with the Thunder and Celtics, tweets Darren Wolfson of 5 Eyewitness News. By the time draft night arrives, Roddy will have visited “half the league,” Wolfson adds.

1 comment 2022 NBA Draft Boston Celtics Denver Nuggets Houston Rockets Indiana Pacers Memphis Grizzlies Oklahoma City Thunder Orlando Magic San Antonio Spurs Caleb Houstan David Roddy Jaden Hardy Jalen Williams MarJon Beauchamp Shaedon Sharpe Tari Eason TyTy Washington

Warriors Notes: Championship, Lacob, Veteran Core, Offseason

By Luke Adams | at June 17, 2022 9:09 am

The Warriors‘ championship this year vindicated the belief of team management and ownership that the team could build a “two-timeline” roster, using its lottery picks in 2020 and 2021 on young prospects rather than in trades for win-now help, writes Anthony Slater of The Athletic.

As Slater details, president of basketball operations Bob Myers and owner Joe Lacob believed the roster was talented enough to contend for a title without having to trade those picks. Golden State ultimately opted to draft and develop James Wiseman, Jonathan Kuminga, and Moses Moody while continuing to lean on veterans like Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, Klay Thompson, and Andrew Wiggins.

“They were doubted,” Lacob said on Thursday night, referring to the Warriors’ veteran stars. “But these guys are not 40 years old. We believed in that core. Not many teams have a core four. A lot of people say core three. I say core four. We’re spending the money to do that. Then, we supplement and surround that team.

“I know some people thought we could’ve done more, got another star. But who were we going to get? Who was available that would make a difference? We didn’t think there was, and we really wanted these young guys to be developed and learn from these guys. They have learned. We are going to be even better as a result of that in the years going forward.”

Here’s more on the NBA champions:

Lacob is confident that his club can continue to be a contender for years to come, as David Aldridge of The Athletic relays. “I intend to own this team for a long time and I intend to win as many championships as possible,” Lacob said. “It’s all about winning. That’s it. That’s all I care about. We’re going to do whatever it takes. The truth is, we’ve got really smart people who work in this organization, and we are, usually, going to figure it out and be real good.”
The Warriors’ fourth title in the last eight years left no doubt of their star trio’s place in NBA history, says Marcus Thompson II of The Athletic. “Individually, we all do different, unique things to impact winning,” Curry said of himself, Green, and Thompson. “We all have a sense of humility about what it takes to win and knowing that we respect what every single one of us brings to the table. But there’s also an ego with that, too. So there’s a healthy balance. And the rest of it is trust.”
Yossi Gozlan of HoopsHype looks ahead to the offseason decisions facing the Warriors following their championship run, while Kevin Arnovitz of ESPN revisits seven important moments from that run.
Oddsmakers and sportsbooks have made the Warriors the early favorites for the 2023 title, according to David Purdum of ESPN. Golden State is a little ahead of Brooklyn, Boston, Milwaukee, Phoenix, and the Clippers.

63 comments Golden State Warriors Draymond Green James Wiseman Joe Lacob Jonathan Kuminga Klay Thompson Moses Moody Stephen Curry

Top 50 NBA Free Agents Of 2022

By Luke Adams | at June 17, 2022 7:40 am

The NBA’s 2022 free agent period will tip off in less than two weeks, with teams and players permitted to agree to tentative deals as soon as June 30.

Listed below are our top 50 free agents for the 2022/23 NBA season.

While most of these players are on track to become unrestricted or restricted free agents, some have player or team options for ’22/23. Our list only includes the players we view as realistic bets to become free agents, which means a vet like Russell Westbrook, who is extremely unlikely to decline his $47MM+ player option, isn’t included. A player like Trey Lyles, who will almost certainly have his team option exercised, also doesn’t show up on this list.

Players who have contracts for next season aren’t listed here either, even if they’re candidates to be released. That group includes players like Danilo Gallinari, whose $21.45MM salary for 2022/23 is only partially guaranteed for $5MM.

We’ll update this list periodically leading up to June 30 to reflect the latest option decisions. For example, if James Harden picks up his player option for 2022/23, he’ll be removed from this list, with everyone below him moving up a spot and a new player entering the mix at No. 50. If Gallinari is waived, he’d be a good candidate to move into the top 50, bumping the 50th-ranked player off the list.

Our rankings take into account both a player’s short-term and long-term value. If we were to consider solely a player’s worth for the 2022/23 season, veterans like P.J. Tucker and Thaddeus Young would likely place higher, while younger free agents with upside, such as Donte DiVincenzo or Nic Claxton, might be ranked lower.

In addition to the players listed below, there are plenty of other notable free agents available this summer. You can check out our breakdowns of free agents by position/type and by team for the full picture.

Here are our top 50 free agents of 2022:

1. Bradley Beal, G, Wizards
Four or five players have a legitimate case to be considered this summer’s top free agent. I’m giving the nod to Beal despite a disappointing 2021/22 season in which he was limited to 40 games and made just 30.0% of his three-pointers. Even in his down year, Beal continued to expand his ability as a play-maker, posting a career high 6.6 APG. And in each of the two prior seasons, he averaged more than 30 points per game. He’s entering his age-29 season, so there’s no reason not to believe a bounce-back year is in the cards, along with a potential $200MM+ contract this summer.

2. Zach LaVine, G, Bulls
Despite being affected by a knee issue in 2021/22, LaVine has averaged 25.8 PPG, 4.8 RPG, and 4.7 APG on .491/.404/.851 shooting in his last two seasons in Chicago, earning his first two All-Star nods. By all accounts, his knee injury – which he addressed surgically in May – shouldn’t be a long-term concern, so the 27-year-old is in line for a massive payday this offseason, likely from the Bulls.

3. James Harden, G, Sixers
Harden appeared to be on track for the biggest contract of any of this year’s free agents, but an underwhelming 2021/22 season by his standards (22.0 PPG, 10.3 APG, .410/.330/.877 shooting) has raised some new concerns — and forcing a trade for a second consecutive year didn’t exactly burnish his image. Harden will turn 33 years old in August, so it’s conceivable that this season represented the start of his decline rather than a blip on the radar. Of course, even if Harden doesn’t recapture his MVP form, he’s still one of the NBA’s most talented play-makers and a dangerous scorer. He and the Sixers appear likely to compromise on a lucrative shorter-term deal.

4. Deandre Ayton, C, Suns (RFA)
The Suns didn’t give Ayton the five-year, maximum-salary contract extension he wanted a year ago and seem unlikely to put that offer on the table now that he’s a restricted free agent. That has opened the door for a possible Ayton exit, especially if another team is willing to offer him a four-year max deal (worth a projected $131MM). The Suns will do their best to create the impression they’ll match any offer sheet so that any rival suitor serious about landing the former No. 1 overall pick will have to negotiate a sign-and-trade.

5. Jalen Brunson, G, Mavericks
After locking up their first-round pick from the 2018 draft last year when they extended Luka Doncic, the Mavericks will face a more complicated negotiation this year with 2018’s second-rounder. Brunson has steadily improved in each of his four NBA seasons, putting up 16.3 PPG and 4.8 APG with a .502/.373/.840 shooting line in 2021/22. Perhaps most impressively, he thrived in the playoffs both with and without Doncic available, averaging 21.6 PPG overall as the Mavs got to within three games of the NBA Finals. Dallas faces serious competition from the Knicks and will likely have to give Brunson a fifth year and an annual salary of $25MM-ish to retain him.

6. Miles Bridges, F, Hornets (RFA)
Bridges reportedly passed on a four-year extension offer worth approximately $60MM last fall, which was the right call at the time and only looked smarter as the season progressed. As a restricted free agent this summer, it’s not out of the question that Bridges could double that figure. The 24-year-old forward saw his three-point percentage dip a little in 2021/22, from 40.0% to 33.1%, but otherwise improved across the board, establishing new career highs in PPG (20.2), RPG (7.0), and APG (3.8) while playing solid defense and exhibiting first-rate durability — his 2,837 minutes ranked second in the NBA.
Note: Bridges was arrested on felony domestic violence charges on the eve of free agency.

7. Anfernee Simons, G, Trail Blazers (RFA)
After generating buzz for years as a prospect, Simons began seriously delivering on that promise in his fourth season, averaging 17.3 PPG and 3.9 APG with a .405 3PT%. He boosted those numbers to 23.4 PPG and 5.8 APG with a .423 3PT% following Damian Lillard‘s abdominal injury. The Trail Blazers cleared space for him both on their cap and in their lineup by trading CJ McCollum in February, so it would be a surprise if he doesn’t remain in Portland.

8. Luguentz Dort, G/F, Thunder (RFA)
Players with team options rarely show up in this list, since a player on a team-friendly option typically doesn’t become a free agent at all — his club simply picks up the option. However, since declining his option made him a restricted free agent, whereas exercising it would have put him on track for unrestricted free agency in 2023, Dort had his option turned down by the Thunder. He should generate significant interest, since he’s one of the NBA’s best perimeter defenders and makes enough three-pointers (33.8% in the last two years) to keep defenses honest. But the Thunder would be able to match any rival offer he receives.

9. Collin Sexton, G, Cavaliers (RFA)
Sexton was one of the NBA’s most underrated scorers from 2019-21, averaging 22.5 PPG and doing so efficiently (.474/.376/.828 shooting). A torn meniscus ended his 2021/22 season after just 11 games and his defensive shortcomings will make some suitors nervous, but his scoring ability alone should warrant a $15MM+ annual salary. The Cavaliers will be in the driver’s seat in negotiations and should be comfortable retaining Sexton as long as the bidding doesn’t get too high.

10. Jusuf Nurkic, C, Trail Blazers
Nurkic was playing some of the best basketball of his career in February before being shut down due to plantar fasciitis. After the Blazers pivoted to a tank by trading away several key players at the deadline, the 27-year-old led the team to four consecutive wins entering the All-Star break, posting 21.5 PPG, 14.0 RPG, and 4.3 APG. The club lost 21 of its last 23 games once he headed to the sidelines for good. Nurkic earned $12MM this past season and there’s little reason to expect his next contract to start below that figure.

11. Mitchell Robinson, C, Knicks
A promising lob threat and rim protector, Robinson is just 24 years old, making him one of the summer’s youngest unrestricted free agents. He has averaged 11.3 rebounds and 3.0 blocks per 36 minutes during his first four NBA seasons, but expressed some dissatisfaction with his offensive role in New York, opening the door for a possible exit this summer. The Bulls and Pistons are among the teams that have been most frequently linked to him.

12. Bobby Portis, F/C, Bucks
After winning a championship with the Bucks in 2021, Portis accepted a below-market deal to return to the team for at least one more year. Coming off a strong season in which he set new career highs in PPG (14.6) and RPG (9.1) while playing significant minutes at center, he’ll likely turn down his player option and seek a raise, either in Milwaukee or elsewhere. The Bucks would be limited to offering Portis an Early Bird contract, which would start in the range of $11MM.

13. Tyus Jones, G, Grizzlies
The NBA’s leader in assist-to-turnover ratio for four straight seasons, Jones has turned the ball over just 326 times in 8,377 career NBA minutes. By comparison, Russell Westbrook turned it over 295 times in 2,678 minutes this season. Besides taking care of the ball and distributing it, Jones also set career highs in PPG (8.7) and 3PT% (.390) in 2021/22. It will be interesting to see whether he’s happy playing a backup/secondary role behind Ja Morant in Memphis or if he seeks out a team willing to offer him a bigger role.

14. Malik Monk, G, Lakers
Not much went right for the Lakers in 2021/22, but their minimum-salary signing of Monk was a big win. The former lottery pick, who never found his niche in Charlotte, was a fixture in Los Angeles’ rotation, averaging a career-high 28.1 minutes per game and knocking down 2.3 threes per contest at a 39.1% rate. The team had a positive net rating (+0.3) when he was on the court, compared to a -6.5 mark when he wasn’t. With no shortage of teams seeking shooting, Monk could get a deal worth the full mid-level exception ($10MM+).

15. Victor Oladipo, G, Heat
When we listed our top 50 free agents of 2021, I called Oladipo one of the toughest players to rank, placing him 50th. This time around, I once again find Oladipo’s stock tricky to assess, but I’m far more bullish on his prospects going forward. He was still working to regain his offensive form down the stretch and during the playoffs in Miami, but his defensive tenacity was back, and his comments to reporters suggested he was finally starting to feel fully healthy after losing a couple years to a brutal quad injury. Oladipo may not ever make another All-Star team, but he should have some impactful seasons left in him.

16. Donte DiVincenzo, G, Kings
A full-time starter for the eventual champion Bucks in 2020/21, DiVincenzo tore a ligament in his ankle during the team’s title run and never regained his old form before being traded to Sacramento at this year’s deadline. Appearing in 25 games down the stretch for the Kings, however, DiVincenzo showed some encouraging signs, averaging 10.3 PPG and 3.6 APG with a .368 3PT%. The 25-year-old is a solid three-and-D option with room to continue improving, and won’t be tied to a qualifying offer, opening up his market.

17. Bruce Brown, G/F, Nets
Brown does a little bit of everything on the court, playing and guarding multiple positions while providing some scoring (9.0 PPG), play-making (2.1 APG), rebounding (4.8 RPG), and even three-point shooting (40.4%) this season. Brown is the type of player who doesn’t need the ball on offense and can switch onto virtually anyone on defense, making him an ideal fit for any contending team. After accepting his $4.7MM qualifying offer a year ago, he’s now an unrestricted free agent and should get a raise, along with a multiyear commitment.

18. Kyle Anderson, G/F, Grizzlies
After enjoying a career year in 2020/21, Anderson failed to match those numbers in ’21/22, but he remains a solid defensive wing who rebounds well for his size and can act as a secondary play-maker. You’d ideally like to see him shooting and making a few more three-pointers, but he has shown some progress on that front in his last two seasons (35.1% on 2.7 attempts per game) and he’s still in his prime at age 28.

19. Chris Boucher, F/C, Raptors
Boucher was 25 when he made his NBA debut, so even though it doesn’t feel as if he’s been around that long, he’s already entering his age-30 season. As a result, teams may feel as if he doesn’t have more room to grow, and it’s probably safe to assume they’ll be nervous about his .297 3PT% in 2021/22. Still, Boucher is an athletic, energetic big man who can block shots and who limited opponents to 43.9% shooting this past season. He also made 35.8% of his three-pointers prior to 2021/22, so if teams count on him getting back to that level, he’s a candidate to earn an eight-figure salary.

20. P.J. Tucker, F, Heat
Tucker is a somewhat risky investment due to his age (37). He got pretty banged up by the end of the season and it’s unclear how much he has left in the tank. But he certainly continued to prove his value during his first year in Miami, starting 70 games and making 41.5% of his three-pointers (45.1% in the playoffs) for the Eastern Conference’s top seed. Tucker’s defensive versatility and playoff experience are his calling cards and will make him a popular target for teams with title aspirations until he shows signs of slowing down.

21. Nicolas Batum, F, Clippers
Now two years removed from being waived from the $120MM contract that earned him an “overrated” label, Batum is firmly back in the “underrated” camp, having excelled as a Swiss Army knife for the Clippers in the last two seasons on a pair of bargain contracts. Across two seasons and 126 games in Los Angeles, Batum – who has the size to match up with bigger scoring forwards – has recorded 8.2 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 2.0 APG, and 1.0 SPG with a .402 3PT% in 26.2 minutes per contest. He has talked about wanting to stick with the Clippers and may be willing to take a team-friendly deal to do so, but he has earned a raise on his $3.3MM player option.

22. Kevon Looney, C, Warriors
Few players have improved their stock this season as much as Looney, whose previous two years were marred by injuries and a reduced role. In 2021/22, he has started 80 of Golden State’s 82 regular season games and 13 of the team’s 22 playoff contests, serving as the sort of switchable big man every team covets. The 26-year-old put a stamp on a sterling contract year with his play in the NBA Finals — in six games, the Warriors outscored the Celtics by 48 points when he was on the court and were outscored by 24 points when he sat.

23. Mohamed Bamba, C, Magic (RFA)
It’s perhaps shortsighted to place Looney ahead of a former lottery pick like Bamba, who blocks shots (1.7 BPG), rebounds (8.1 RPG), shoots three-pointers (38.1%), and is only 24 years old. However, it remains unclear how eager contending teams will be to invest in Bamba, who was inconsistent and often injured in his first three NBA seasons before breaking out in 2021/22. While Looney has proven his bona fides in the Finals, Bamba will still have to show he can produce when the expectations and the stakes are higher than they were in Orlando this year.

24. Gary Harris, G, Magic
Harris has flown under the radar during the last season-and-a-half playing for a non-contending Magic team, but he had a solid bounce-back year in 2021/22, registering his best three-point rate (38.4%) since ’17/18 — and appearing in 60+ games for the first time since that season. Harris is in his prime at 27 years old, has multiple years of experience as a playoff starter under his belt, and should receive interest from teams looking for help on the wing.

25. Nic Claxton, C, Nets (RFA)
Injuries have played a part in limiting Claxton to just 94 regular season appearances in his first three NBA seasons, but he has flashed intriguing potential as a rim runner and interior defender when healthy. His age (23) and athleticism could make him a popular target for teams looking for an upside play at the center position. The Nets will have the ability to match any offer he receives, but already project to be a taxpaying team and may be reluctant to go too high.

26. Otto Porter Jr., F, Warriors
A former No. 3 overall pick whose previous contract was worth the max, Porter accepted a minimum-salary deal in 2021/22 and has outperformed it, playing a regular rotation role on a championship team. Having established himself as a reliable three-and-D wing during his early years in D.C., Porter battled injuries and never made the leap from role player to star, but the role he plays is a valuable one — he’s still just 29 and shouldn’t be pigeonholed as a minimum-salary player going forward.

27. Delon Wright, G, Hawks
Wright’s scoring rate fell off a cliff this past year in Atlanta, where he averaged just 8.5 points per 36 minutes, easily the lowest mark of his career. It’s not quite as worrisome as it sounds though. His .454 FG% and .379 3PT% were above his career marks — he just wasn’t looking for his shot very often. Wright was still a useful contributor as a ball-handler, play-maker, and defender, and his 6’5″ frame makes him a logical option this offseason for teams seeking a backcourt partner for an undersized guard.

28. Cody Martin, F, Hornets (RFA)
A key reserve for the Hornets, Martin averaged an extra 10 minutes per game in his third NBA season and improved his numbers across the board, setting new career highs in PPG (7.7), RPG (4.0), APG (2.5), SPG (1.2), FG% (.482), and 3PT% (.384). Martin probably shouldn’t expect a huge payday, but after proving his value on both ends of the court, he shouldn’t have to settle for another minimum-salary contract either.

29. Caleb Martin, F, Heat (RFA)
It feels a little lazy to list one Martin twin after another, but their breakout seasons were remarkably similar. Emerging as an important piece off the bench in Miami, Caleb averaged 9.2 PPG and 3.8 RPG on .507/.413/.763 shooting in 60 games (22.9 MPG), earning a promotion from his two-way contract. The Heat forward opted to just have his two-way deal converted into a rest-of-season contract rather than negotiating a multiyear deal, perhaps recognizing that he’ll have a better chance of securing a raise in the offseason than he would have in February.

30. John Wall, G, UFA
After a year in exile in Houston, Wall finally reached an agreement with the Rockets, paving the way for him to become an unrestricted free agent. He last played in 2020/21, averaging an impressive 20.6 PPG and 6.9 APG in 40 games (32.2 MPG), though his shooting percentages (.404 FG%, .317 3PT%) left something to be desired. The five-time All-Star is no longer in his prime at age 31, but he should be fully healthy after a season spent on the sidelines, and he’ll be eager to prove he has something left in the tank. He’s reportedly expected to join the Clippers.

31. Gary Payton II, G, Warriors
Payton has never signed a contract worth more than the minimum, but he looks like a good bet to do so this summer. After earning the final spot on the Warriors’ 15-man roster, he secured a regular spot in the rotation, carving out a niche as a defensive stopper. And while most of Payton’s value stems from his ability to slow down perimeter scorers, he had his best offensive season in 2021/22 too, chipping in 7.1 PPG in just 17.6 MPG and shooting an impressive 61.6% from the floor.

32. Marvin Bagley III, F, Pistons (RFA)
A former second overall pick, Bagley won’t be making the kind of money on his second contract that the players drafted around him in 2018 will be. Still, the Pistons gave up multiple second-round picks to acquire him at the 2022 trade deadline and, by all accounts, want to re-sign him to a multiyear contract. A deal in the Khem Birch range (three years, $20MM) seems within reach.

33. Isaiah Hartenstein, C, Clippers
With Serge Ibaka still rounding into form following offseason back surgery, Hartenstein emerged early in the year as the Clippers’ primary backup center and thrived in the role, making 62.6% of his shots from the field and handing out 2.4 APG in just 17.9 minutes per contest. He even flashed the ability to hit the occasional three-pointer (14-of-30) and played solid defense. Hartenstein has played for four teams in four NBA seasons and has never earned more than the minimum, but his performance this past season put him in a good position to land a multiyear deal and a raise.

34. Jae’Sean Tate, F, Rockets (RFA)
The Rockets declined Tate’s team option for 2022/23 even though they could have exercised it and still put him on track for restricted free agency a year from now. That’s a strong signal that they believe they’ll be able to lock him up on a multiyear deal to terms they like. Tate’s three-point shot (31.0%) could use some work, but he has showed an impressive ability to score (11.6 PPG on 50.1% shooting), rebound (5.4 RPG), set up teammates (2.8 APG), and defend during his two years in Houston.

35. Dennis Schröder, G, Rockets
It’s hard to believe we’re only a year-and-a-half removed from Schröder reportedly turning down an extension worth $80MM+. He had to settle for a one-year, $5.9MM deal in free agency a year ago and then had an up-and-down season that included a midseason trade from Boston to Houston. As a 28-year-old point guard who can score and set up his teammates, Schröder should get another deal at least in the range of the taxpayer mid-level exception, but his inconsistent outside shot and his defensive limitations mean the door is probably closed on the possibility of a huge payday.

36. Montrezl Harrell, C, Hornets
Harrell is only two years removed from winning the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year award with the Clippers, but he has had a hard time replicating that success in brief subsequent stints with the Lakers, Wizards, and Hornets. Although Harrell remains a talented interior scorer and an aggressive rebounder, he’s not a stout defender and gets played off the floor in certain matchups. That puts a ceiling on his earning potential, even if he should continue to draw interest as an offensive weapon off the bench.

37. Patty Mills, G, Nets
The Nets didn’t end up being the title-contending team Mills thought he was joining as a free agent last summer, but he can’t be blamed for the team’s disappointing year. The veteran guard was as good as ever in his age-33 season, averaging 11.4 PPG and making a career-high 227 three-pointers at a 40.0% rate. He even started a career-high 48 games due to Kyrie Irving‘s frequent unavailability. Whether or not he wants to remain in Brooklyn, Mills can probably do better as a free agent than he would simply picking up his $6.2MM option.

38. Jalen Smith, C, Pacers
After barely seeing any action as a rookie in 2020/21, Smith found himself out of the Suns’ plans — they turned down his third-year option for 2022/23 and eventually traded him to Indiana. With the lottery-bound Pacers, Smith began to flash the upside that made him a top-10 pick two years ago, averaging 13.4 PPG, 7.6 RPG, and 1.0 BPG on .531/.373/.760 shooting in a part-time role (24.7 MPG). Considering Smith is still just 22 years old, there will likely be at least one team willing to bet that his end-of-season run was legitimate, rather then the equivalent of garbage-time production. Although the Pacers hold Smith’s Bird rights, they won’t be able to offer him a starting salary higher than $4.67MM, the amount of his declined option.

39. Thaddeus Young, F, Raptors
Young had a strong season as a role player in Chicago in 2020/21, but his sizable expiring contract meant he had to be used as a salary-matching piece when the team acquired DeMar DeRozan via sign-and-trade. After falling out of the rebuilding Spurs’ rotation, Young was dealt in February to Toronto, where he had a chance to play regular minutes for a playoff team. While his days of averaging 15-plus points per game are behind him as he enters his age-34 season, Young is still a versatile on-court contributor and valuable locker room leader who will likely receive offers from multiple contenders.

40. Lonnie Walker, G/F, Spurs
Walker’s value is challenging to pin down. He averaged a career-high 12.1 PPG and 2.2 APG in 2021/22, but his three-point percentage dipped to 31.4% and the Spurs were much better with him off the court (+2.1 net rating) than on it (-3.0). Walker is still only 23 years old and has tantalizing two-way potential if he can put it all together, but his inconsistency is a concern.

41. Andre Drummond, C, Nets
Drummond will never be a maximum-salary player again, but his performance in 2021/22 showed he probably shouldn’t be a minimum-salary player either. He was particularly effective after being traded from Philadelphia to Brooklyn, where he started all 24 games he played for the Nets and averaged a double-double (11.8 PPG, 10.3 RPG). Even if Drummond has never been as strong a defensive player as his blocked-shot totals suggested, he’s one of the NBA’s best rebounders and a talented finisher around the rim.

42. Amir Coffey, G/F, Clippers (RFA)
Having spent two-and-a-half seasons on a two-way contract with the Clippers, Coffey finally received a well-earned promotion in March during a breakout season in which he recorded 9.0 PPG, 2.9 RPG, and 1.8 APG on .453/.378/.863 shooting in 69 contests (22.7 MPG). The 6’7″ Coffey, who turns 25 on Friday, has good length for a shooting guard and showed he’s capable of handling a larger role. Still, he only had 553 NBA minutes under his belt prior to 2021/22, so his lack of track record may make some suitors wary.

43. Jordan Nwora, F, Bucks (RFA)
An athletic wing with a career three-point rate of 37.0% and some defensive versatility, Nwora will turn 24 years old in September. His on/off-court numbers and defensive analytics weren’t especially impressive in 2021/22, but a team that misses out on this year’s top wings and wants to bet on a young player with untapped potential may try to force the Bucks’ hand with a strong multiyear offer.

44. Aaron Holiday, G, Suns (RFA)
Traded twice in the last year, Holiday maintained his steady production in Washington and particularly in Phoenix, where he made 44.4% of his attempts from beyond the arc and the Suns posted a +7.2 net rating in his 358 minutes — that mark was especially impressive because he spent only 114 of those minutes playing with Devin Booker and just eight alongside Chris Paul. At age 25, Holiday is already a solid backup point guard and may not have reached his ceiling yet.

45. JaVale McGee, C, Suns
At age 34, McGee probably won’t find himself in the middle of a bidding war this offseason. He has only averaged 20+ minutes per game once in the last 10 years and shouldn’t be relied upon to play a significant role, but he continues to produce at an elite level in small samples, averaging 20.9 points, 15.2 rebounds, and 2.5 blocks per 36 minutes for the Suns in 2021/22. He should be able to match or exceed last season’s $5MM salary on his next deal.

46. T.J. Warren, F, Pacers
There are a number of veteran free agents who would have made this list if not for injury concerns. Ricky Rubio and Joe Ingles, for instance, tore ACLs during the 2021/22 season — they probably won’t be ready for training camp and may not get back to 100% next season at all, so it’s hard to justify including them here. Warren, meanwhile, has missed nearly two full seasons due to left foot problems but is believed to be fully recovered heading into ’22/23. That makes him a more intriguing target than his fellow veterans who sustained their major injuries more recently. A team taking a flier on Warren as a wing scorer shouldn’t expect him to play like he did in 2019/20 (19.8 PPG on .536/.403/.819 shooting), but he’s still just 28 years old.

47. Robin Lopez, C, Magic
Like McGee, Lopez is a 34-year-old center coming off a one-year, $5MM deal. Lopez’s per-minute numbers don’t pop off the page like McGee’s do, but he’s more adept at doing the little things that don’t show up in the box score, like setting screens and boxing out on rebounds. He’d make sense as a backup center on a playoff team, though he was happy to play a modest role for the 22-60 Magic this past season.

48. Bryn Forbes, G, Nuggets
Forbes is one of the NBA’s best three-pointer shooters, making 41.3% of his attempts across six seasons, including 45.2% during the Bucks’ championship season in 2020/21. He’s not a good defender, which makes it hard to rely on him for a significant role or crunch-time minutes, but his ability to make shots and spread the floor makes him a useful rotation piece over the course of an 82-game season.

49. Derrick Jones, F, Bulls
Jones’ athleticism and defensive versatility helped earn him the full mid-level exception from Portland when he last reached the open market in 2020. However, his offensive game remains limited and the 17.6 minutes per game he averaged after being traded to Chicago last year represented his lowest mark since 2017/18. He’s still young (25) and would be a solid depth piece for most teams, but he’s unlikely to generate interest at the full mid-level again.

50. Danuel House, F, Jazz
House had to settle for a series of 10-day contracts and then a minimum-salary deal in 2021/22, but he played well for Utah both before and after getting a rest-of-season commitment. The 29-year-old wing helped shore up the Jazz’s perimeter defense and hit 41.5% of his three-pointers in a 25-game stint with the club. While it’s possible the bidding for House won’t go far beyond the minimum, he should have no problem securing a guaranteed roster spot heading into 2022/23.

Here are some of the other free agents we considered, in alphabetical order:

LaMarcus Aldridge, F/C, Nets
Carmelo Anthony, F, Lakers
Bismack Biyombo, C, Suns
Nemanja Bjelica, F, Warriors
Avery Bradley, G, Lakers
Thomas Bryant, C, Wizards
Facundo Campazzo, G, Nuggets (RFA)
DeMarcus Cousins, C, Nuggets
Goran Dragic, G, Nets
Dwight Howard, C, Lakers
Serge Ibaka, F/C, Bucks
Joe Ingles, F, Trail Blazers
Damian Jones, C, Kings
Jeremy Lamb, G/F, Kings
Damion Lee, G/F, Warriors
Markieff Morris, F, Heat
Mike Muscala, C, Thunder
Raul Neto, G, Wizards
Austin Rivers, G, Nuggets
Ricky Rubio, G, Pacers
Tristan Thompson, C, Bulls
Hassan Whiteside, C, Jazz

Pre-free agency updates:

June 19: Removed Jeff Green (No. 45) after he exercised his player option. Added Bryn Forbes.
June 23: Removed Pat Connaughton (No. 20) and Cory Joseph (No. 41) after they exercised their player options. Added Derrick Jones and Danuel House.
June 29: Removed Kyrie Irving (No. 5) after he exercised his player option and Taurean Prince (No. 40) after he agreed to an extension. Added John Wall after he was waived and Jae’Sean Tate after his team option was declined.

18 comments 2022/23 NBA Free Agents Hoops Rumors Originals Newsstand

Warriors Win 2022 Title, Stephen Curry Named MVP

By Dana Gauruder | at June 16, 2022 10:49 pm

The Warriors returned to the mountaintop on Thursday, closing out the Celtics in Game 6 of the Finals to secure their fourth championship since 2015.

Stephen Curry, a two-time Most Valuable Player, secured his first Finals MVP award with another clutch performance. He racked up 34 points, seven rebounds and seven assists in Game 6.

Curry’s 43-point outburst in Game 4 in Boston was a series changer. He received all 11 votes from a media panel, according to the NBA (Twitter link).

Kevin Durant was awarded the Finals MVP in Golden State’s last two runs in 2017 and 2018. Andre Iguodala was chosen in 2015.

Draymond Green and Klay Thompson also added a fourth championship to their résumés, as did head coach Steve Kerr (also a five-time champ as a player). Andrew Wiggins delivered stellar contributions, particularly on the defensive end, and Jordan Poole had some big offensive games after his breakout regular season.

All of those players are under contract for next season, though the Warriors have some key free agent decisions to make. Kevon Looney, Otto Porter Jr., Nemanja Bjelica and Gary Payton II will all be unrestricted free agents. However, Golden State’s younger players — James Wiseman, Jonathan Kuminga and Moses Moody — figure to play bigger roles going forward. The Warriors also own their first-round pick at No. 28.

The Celtics came up just shy of their first title since 2008. However, they figure to run it back next season with most of the same players that carried them through the rugged Eastern Conference playoffs. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown will gain valuable lessons from their first Finals experience and it will surprise no one if they lead another Boston team to the Finals in the near future.

All of their rotation players are under contract for next season, though the Celtics may make some tweaks, particularly in the backcourt. Boston, which projects to be a luxury tax team, traded away its first-round pick to San Antonio.

With the Finals decided, the offseason is officially underway. The June 23 draft is just a week away, with free agency beginning the following week.

136 comments Boston Celtics Golden State Warriors Newsstand Stephen Curry

And-Ones: Wembanyama, Russia, Draft’s Top 75, East Asia League

By Dana Gauruder | at June 16, 2022 10:11 pm

Victor Wembanyama, the potential No. 1 pick in the 2023 draft, may be leaving Asvel of the EuroLeague, Emiliano Carchia of Sportando relays. The 7’3” big man has an opt-out clause that must be exercised before June 26. He signed a three-year deal with Asvel last summer but only averaged 6.5 PPG and 3.8 RPG in 13 games last season. Paris Basketball, which will be competing in EuroCup next season, is pursuing him, according to L’Equipe.

We have more from around the basketball world:

Russian athletes continue to pay a price for the ongoing invasion of Ukraine. Teams from the Russian Federation have been suspended from participation in the 2022/23 EuroLeague and EuroCup competitions, Emiliano Carchia of Sportando tweets.
Jabari Smith and Paolo Banchero are the top-tier prospects in this year’s draft, John Hollinger of The Athletic writes. Hollinger places Jaden Ivey and Chet Holmgren in the next tier, with Bennedict Mathurin heading Tier III. Overall, Hollinger reveals his top 75 list.
The East Asia Super League tips off in October, and Alex Kennedy of the Basketball News takes a closer look at its potential impact.

0 comments 2022 NBA Draft 2023 NBA Draft International Bennedict Mathurin Chet Holmgren Jabari Smith Jaden Ivey Paolo Banchero Victor Wembanyama

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Month: June 2022