An expectation that Bradley Beal will soon become an unrestricted free agent is affecting the markets for free agent guards Chris Paul, Russell Westbrook, and Malcolm Brogdon, who are drawing interest from many of the same teams, writes Jake Fischer of The Stein Line (Substack link).
According to Fischer, the Clippers, Lakers, Bucks, and Timberwolves are among the teams expected to have interest in signing Beal if and when he finalizes a buyout agreement with the Suns, which seems increasingly likely. A previous report also identified the Warriors as a possible suitor for Beal, with the Heat viewed as less likely after their trade for Norman Powell.
The Clippers and Bucks are known to have interest in Paul, Fischer points out, so if Beal ends up with one of those teams, it would likely rule that club out for CP3, perhaps increasing the odds of the 40-year-old reuniting with the Suns.
As for Brogdon, he has the Clippers, Suns, Lakers, Warriors, Timberwolves, and Bucks are also among the teams that have registered some level of interest in him, along with the Pelicans and Kings, Fischer reports.
Free agents like De’Anthony Melton and Ben Simmons may also find themselves involved in this game of backcourt musical chairs, according to Fischer, who suggests that their potential landing spots should become more clearer once one or two of those top guards – starting with Beal – finds a new home.
Here are a few more notes on free agents from around the NBA:
- There was no traction on the Jonathan Kuminga front over the weekend, sources tell Anthony Slater of The Athletic (Twitter link). According to Slater, the Kings have been the most aggressive suitor for the Warriors restricted free agent so far, but nothing has come close. In fact, the market for all of the top restricted free agents remains “ice cold,” Slater adds.
- The Pacers are expected to reunite with a pair of familiar faces to fill out their frontcourt. Speaking to reporters today, president of basketball operations Kevin Pritchard said the club is planning to re-sign James Wiseman and that things are trending in the right direction with restricted free agent Isaiah Jackson (Twitter links via Tony East).
- Veteran center Jaxson Hayes gave up his right to veto a trade this season when he re-signed with the Lakers, reports Dan Woike of The Athletic (Twitter link). By default, a player re-signing with his previous team on a one-year contract gets a de facto no-trade clause, but a team can ask a player to waive that right as part of his new deal.
James Wiseman rising from the ashes… here’s wishing him good health.
He has always been in the ashes hasn’t been good since high school.
he’s barely played any basketball at all since high school
Monk salary $19 million 2024-25 season, overpaid
44% FG
32% 3PT’
Warriors would sign Kuminga 4 years $90 million (4th year player option) and send him to Kings.
Kings get Kuminga, Moody and a top-20 protected First
Warriors get Murray and Monk
Potential grade:
Kings A
Warriors B
Kuminga and Moody – both age 22
Murray is a stud
So you grade a trade much worse for one team even though you yourself suggested it? Cool
fantasy land prerogative
Instead of Moody send out Heild.
Looks like the Pacers have found their replacement for Turner.
Wiseman is right on track to blossom. It is an unwritten rule that big men take 3 years to develop even with college. Wiseman had no college. COVID-19 screwed up his first season. Knee injury destroyed his 2nd season. If the Warriors hadn’t of won in ’22, which they didn’t think they were capable of, and the bench hadn’t sucked a$$ the title defending season, he wouldn’t have been traded. He had one the biggest big man coaches in the world, so the decision wasn’t taken lightly.
Wiseman has only 150 games under his belt. This year he should blossom. Good for him.
That’s quite a leap of faith. I don’t think it’s likely though. Not exactly a lot of teams banging down the door.
Maybe. He climbed the depth chart last season before he went down. They don’t have anyone else. He’ll have a full season to grow.
He has a career average of nine points a game. The Indiana Pacers are gonna be a team of misfits and broken toys.
He’s young developing player. What do you expect? Ben Wallace had a career scoring average of 5.7. He is now in the Hall of Fame.
Giants74 one thing that you and I agree on is that Wiseman, like most bigs, has missed in a fair chance to develop.
I do worry that this year feels like a set up for him, though, insofar as an Achilles tear typically takes a full year of play in addition to the off year to recover from.
I hope the Pacers go slow with him, and that James can avoid looking at the social media that affects him so badly.
CP3 to Clippers
Beal to Bucks
Brogdan to Phoenix
Russ to Minny
Rings = o
Beal is the one most teams will wait on. He can make a big difference for right team. I’m sure he and his agent. Have a few teams in mind already. I know most teams can sign him to vet minimum. But which team can sign him after the one year. To a contract of his liking. That will eliminate some teams.
You catching up yet ???? (arete18) …..
CP3 reunion with the Clipps just makes sense. Would love to see it.