NBA Free Agency 2015: Latest Rumors and Predictions for Top Remaining Players
The NBA landscape shifted drastically Wednesday as free agents far and wide reportedly inked new deals and changed zip codes, but several hot commodities are still available as Day 2 of the midsummer signing period gets underway.
This time around, we're focusing on a trio of former Portland Trail Blazers who appear to be shipping out to new locales as the reigning Northwest Division champions undergo a complete overhaul in the personnel department.
With rumors flying at lightning speed, here's the latest on LaMarcus Aldridge, Robin Lopez and Wesley Matthews.
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Phoenix Pushing Hard For Aldridge
The San Antonio Spurs have been the consensus leaders in the Aldridge chase, but according to Yahoo Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski, the Phoenix Suns are giving them a run for their money:
With young studs in Brandon Knight and Eric Bledsoe, plus a fancy new rim protector in Tyson Chandler, the Suns are becoming a more attractive destination by the day.
However, USA Today's Sam Amick reports Aldridge's camp is taking its time, and will meet with another prospective employer before making a final call:
If the Suns do emerge as Aldridge's preferred destination, Phoenix will need to do some salary-cap gymnastics in order to squeeze him onto the team's balance sheet.
"Signing Aldridge would require payroll moves because the Suns entered free agency with $12 million of space," AZCentral.com's Paul Coro wrote. "They are able to exceed the cap to sign Knight to his five-year, $70 million contract because he is a restricted free agent."
Coro adds that Bledsoe was present during the team's recruiting pitch to Aldridge, and that his "inclusion in the meeting is another indication that the Suns are not looking to include Bledsoe in an Aldridge sign-and-trade deal."
So if we assume Bledsoe's not on the trade block, the Suns could try to clear space by dealing some combination of P.J. Tucker (due $5.5 million next season, per BasketballInsiders.com), Marcus Morris ($5 million for 2015-16) and Markieff Morris ($8 million).
Prediction: Aldridge signs a four-year, $81 million deal with the Spurs
Robin Lopez Looking East?
According to ESPNNewYork.com's Ian Begley, Lopez has already met with the Milwaukee Bucks and New York Knicks, each of whom are in the market for a starting center.
"The club will likely be in competition with the Los Angeles Lakers, Dallas Mavericks and Clippers for the big men on the market," Begley wrote of the Knicks. "It's worth noting that any team that misses out on Monroe, Aldridge or Jordan will likely have strong interest in Lopez."
With Chandler in the Suns' clutches, Lopez is one of the few quality centers remaining on the unrestricted free-agent market. DeAndre Jordan will be the biggest domino to fall in that sphere, and his decision could have serious implications for Lopez.
Since Jordan is split on whether to sign on with the Dallas Mavericks or return to the Los Angeles Clippers, according to Bleacher Report's Jared Zwerling, Dallas could emerge as a landing spot for Lopez should Jordan head back to Hollywood.
The Clippers won't be a viable destination for Lopez if Jordan signs with the Mavericks, though. Los Angeles can only sign Jordan because ownership of his Bird rights allows them to exceed cap thresholds in order to retain him. Should he bolt, the Clippers will be hard-capped and unable to offer free agents anything more than deals at the veteran minimum.
The Bucks could make bundles of sense for Lopez, though. Milwaukee's current platoon of centers is comprised of Zaza Pachulia, John Henson and Miles Plumlee, each of whom is not guaranteed to be with the club next summer. Pachulia's contract expires after the 2015-16 season, and Henson and Plumlee are each due qualifying offers. If those are eventually declined, they'd both become unrestricted free agents.
Prediction: Lopez inks a four-year, $57 million deal with the Milwaukee Bucks
Wesley Matthews Courted By Contenders
Matthews may have ruptured his Achilles in March, but potential suitors haven't been scared off by his temporarily gimpy status, according to Grantland's Zach Lowe and USA Today's Jeff Zillgitt:
Dallas is a no-brainer possibility for Matthews, namely because the Mavericks have a gaping hole at shooting guard following the departure of Monta Ellis.
But according to Amick, the two sides have reached a stalemate regarding financial considerations:
"A big part in where I land is me being a more focal point of the offense, a focal point of the team, the organization," Matthews said in June, according to the Oregonian's Jason Quick. "Because I feel like I've earned that. I feel like my body of work speaks for itself."
Although he appeared in just 63 games last season prior to the Achilles tear, Matthews still drilled a staggering 173 threes. Had he been healthy for the entirety of the regular season, Matthews would have easily eclipsed the 200-trey mark for the second straight season.
Also a post-up maven, Matthews scored in the 85th percentile with his back to the basket, according to Synergy Sports' play-type data provided to NBA.com.
If Matthews were to latch on with the Toronto Raptors, Dwane Casey's club would have a ridiculous corps of wings. With DeMar DeRozan already in tow and DeMarre Carroll added on a four-year, $60 million deal Wednesday, per Wojnarowski, Toronto could blitz teams with its myriad three-and-D threats.
Prediction: Matthews signs a four-year, $54 million pact with the Dallas Mavericks
