Ahead of what could be a finite market for free agents this summer, Bobby Marks of ESPN projects deals that 10 veteran NBA stars should earn.
Only one team, Brooklyn, has space for a maximum contract, although several clubs will have their full mid-level exceptions available to use. Still, quality players could opt to agree to sign-and-trade deals with their current teams.
Marks estimates lucrative new contracts for several All-Stars, including Clippers guard James Harden, Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving, Timberwolves forward Julius Randle, and Rockets guard Fred VanVleet.
There’s more from around the basketball world:
- The league will have several free agents and players with options this summer. In a new piece, John Hollinger of The Athletic ranks his top 25 free agents — including potential free agents, a la Harden and Randle — heading into the 2025 offseason. Hollinger ranks Lakers forward LeBron James, even at age 40, as his top “realistic” free agent, ahead of Harden. The 21-time All-Star has a $52.6MM option for 2025/26.
- In two additional pieces for The Athletic, Hollinger takes stock of the best free agent point guard and shooting guard options on the market. Harden, Irving and VanVleet rank are tops among Hollinger’s preferred point guard options, while he thinks the best swingman players available are not quite at the top point guards’ level.
- After helping his Virtus Bologna club claim a title this week, former longtime NBA sharpshooter Marco Belinelli is retiring from basketball, per Johnny Askounis of Eurohoops. Belinelli, 39, has been playing in his native Italy for the past five seasons, following a 13-year NBA career that included a run to the 2014 championship with San Antonio.