2016 NBA Free Agents: Latest Rumors and Predictions for Market's Buzzing Names
This is a wild time of year for NBA fans, with the playoffs, draft coverage and free-agency rumors all mixed together. Interestingly, that last group might be the most important for the future of the league.
The upcoming offseason will feature a long list of high-profile players potentially on the market, and where they choose to sign could have a major impact on the landscape of the NBA. Although there is still plenty of time for all of these stars to make their decisions, the rumors are already flying about potential destinations.
Here is some of the latest buzz regarding impact players who could possibly change teams this summer.
Rajon Rondo
After a couple of down years while recovering from a knee injury, Rajon Rondo looked like himself this season with the Sacramento Kings.
The point guard filled up the box score with six triple-doubles and finished with a league-best 11.7 assists per game. However, these numbers didn't help the Kings win all that often, which is a major reason the team is willing to part with the veteran guard.
ESPN.com's Zach Lowe wrote, "The latest scuttlebutt is that the Kings are prepared to cut bait with Rajon Rondo if the bidding for him gets beyond a certain threshold that is lower than we might imagine, given the Kings' recent transaction history."
Rondo signed with the Kings on a one-year deal last summer in a move that gave the four-time All-Star a chance to show he was healthy and could be productive. He took advantage of that opportunity but now might be pricing himself out of a deal with his current squad.
Sacramento clearly has a lot of question marks outside of DeMarcus Cousins, but considering its struggles this season, the organization might want to look in other areas to help turn around its fortunes.
As far as where Rondo could go, the New York Knicks could use a veteran point guard to run the show. Carmelo Anthony had a message to Rondo back in March about how he would fit in the triangle offense.
"I think Rondo—just me personally, I don’t want to be tampering—but I’ve heard he said he wouldn’t thrive in a system like this," Anthony said, per Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News. "I think he’d be perfect in a system like this."
He won't be short of options this summer, but the Kings likely won't be one of the teams in a bidding war.
Prediction: New York Knicks
DeMar DeRozan
While the Toronto Raptors are still competing for an NBA championship, their star player could have his sights on a future somewhere else.
ESPN's Stephen A. Smith recently explained how DeMar DeRozan wants to sign with the Los Angeles Lakers this offseason (via Ryan Ward of Lakers Nation):
"He’s made it very, very clear that he wants to be in L.A. He has family out there. He’s from out there. He wants to be in L.A. He wants to wear the purple and gold, and if there’s a way for it to happen, again he’s restricted, if there’s a way for it to happen, DeMar DeRozan will be in a Los Angeles Lakers uniform next season.
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DeRozan averaged a career-high 23.5 points per game this year and was selected to his second All-Star Game. He has shown in the past few years that he can be a go-to option for a contending team, something every team in the league could use.
Even if the Lakers are far from contention right now, they have a young core of quality players and are certainly headed in the right direction. What they need is a proven veteran who can be a star offensively, which is who they would get with DeRozan.
Additionally, the Raptors guard could provide the star power that will be missing without Kobe Bryant next year. While no one will be able to replace the future Hall of Famer, DeRozan could at least become a face of the franchise and a reason for fans to fill up the seats.
Meanwhile, the move makes sense for the player as well, as ESPN's Mark Jones argued:
As good as he is in Toronto, he could make a lot more in endorsements by being a star in Los Angeles. If he opts out of his current deal, you can expect the Lakers to be front-runners to sign the talented guard.
Prediction: Los Angeles Lakers
After a disappointing season, the Houston Rockets are targeting a lot of big-name players this offseason. Despite a long list provided by Sean Deveney of Sporting News, Al Horford is at the top:
"A person familiar with the organization told Sporting News that landing Hawks star Al Horford is the Rockets' top-line goal in free agency, and Ryan Anderson also would be a possibility. Also, expect Morey to be creative when pursuing sign-and-trade deals involving star players like Blake Griffin, Jimmy Butler or Carmelo Anthony, should they become available.
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Horford would make a lot of sense for the Rockets as the complementary center to guard James Harden that they expected Dwight Howard to be over the last few years. Unfortunately, injuries and attitude problems never allowed the former Defensive Player of the Year to reach his potential.
Meanwhile, Horford is a model of consistency and has even expanded his game over the past year, adding a three-point shot. He is less of a double-double threat than he was a couple of seasons ago but is still an efficient scorer who can provide some much-needed balance to a lot of teams.
Of course, this also means the four-time All-Star will have plenty of other options in free agency.
If Horford doesn't return to the Atlanta Hawks, there will likely be a long list of suitors ready to add one of the top centers in the league. Hoops Habit brought up a potential move to the Portland Trail Blazers:
This would make a lot of sense, giving Damian Lillard the post option he had with LaMarcus Aldridge. Another possibility for Horford is playing alongside Aldridge with the San Antonio Spurs, creating a dominant front line.
No matter what the center is looking for, he won't be short of options this summer.
Prediction: Houston Rockets
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