10 NBA Players Already Dominating 2015 Offseason Chatter
One wildly successful offseason can vault an NBA team from lottery status to championship contention. Just ask the Cleveland Cavaliers.
With so much importance riding on those few months of modifications, it's impossible to plot out summer plans too early. It's the Black Friday of the basketball world, and front offices are appropriately lining up for their shot at this free-agent crop's biggest stars.
Some of those targets aren't worth the trouble. Not because they lack ability; rather, it's due to the likelihood they'll start next season in the same place where they finish this one.
LaMarcus Aldridge has already voiced his desire to re-sign with the Portland Trail Blazers, per Joe Freeman of The Oregonian. Reigning NBA Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard left little room for drama when he told USA Today's Sam Amick that "I'm pretty sure I'll be in a [San Antonio] Spurs jersey for my whole life."
Suitors may still kick the tires on both, but the biggest offseason buzz surrounds those seen as more likely flight risks. The 10 players listed here might not all change locales over the summer, but for a number of different reasons—salary-cap constraints, awkward roster fits, desire for more money or a larger market—they look more obtainable than the aforementioned pair.
Jimmy Butler, SG, Chicago Bulls
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It's a good thing the Chicago Bulls have the option to match any offers made to swingman Jimmy Butler. Without it, they'd really be in trouble after failing to reach agreement on a contract extension before the season started.
Back in October, Butler's future seemed to be that of a complementary two-way player. He'd give everything he had at the defensive end, and any contributions made on the opposite side would be found money.
But once the season started, the 25-year-old shed that label and skyrocketed his ceiling. One All-Star berth and a slew of career highs—including points, rebounds, true shooting percentage and player efficiency rating—later, Butler is poised to become one of this summer's most coveted commodities.
The Bulls, according to the Chicago Tribune's David Haugh, "fully expect" to ink Butler to a maximum contract over the offseason. But they aren't the only ones eyeing him. Frank Isola of the New York Daily News reported that the Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat and New York Knicks are all "in play" for Butler. USA Today's Sam Amick and Jeff Zillgitt expect Butler to receive a max offer from L.A.
The most likely scenario still involves Butler staying in the Windy City. But Chicago will have to act quickly to help prevent another club from signing him to a deal that's structured in a way to make the Bulls hesitate to match (a la Chandler Parsons' deal with the Dallas Mavericks).
Goran Dragic, PG, Miami Heat
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The Miami Heat don't have any protection with point guard Goran Dragic. As soon as he declines his underpriced $7.5 million player option for next season, he'll be free to sign wherever he chooses.
Any team with a point guard void—or even a club with questions at the position—will surely give him a look.
Last season, Dragic was one of only three players to average at least 20 points and five assists while shooting 50-plus percent from the field, according to Basketball-Reference.com. Kevin Durant and LeBron James were the others. This year, per Basketball-Reference.com, Dragic is one of three averaging 16 points and four assists on 50 percent shooting. Durant and Blake Griffin are now his company.
At 28 years old, Dragic has presumably reached his peak. But the fact that he only became a full-time starter in 2012-13 could give him a better chance to continue growing than most players in his age group.
The Heat have to feel pretty confident in their ability to re-sign him—or they wouldn't have given up two future first-round picks to get him. But he previously said that "Every team in the NBA is an option me," per Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle and Bleacher Report. And the list of preferred destinations Dragic reportedly gave the Phoenix Suns included not only the Heat but also the Lakers and Knicks, per Yahoo Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski.
One look at the league standings highlights the importance of having a top-tier point guard in today's game. It isn't hard to imagine plenty of teams seeing Dragic as their key to championship contention.
Marc Gasol, C, Memphis Grizzlies
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LeBron James could make a cameo in this summer's free agency, but he'll only be around long enough to take another short-term deal with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
As far as realistic free-agent targets go, Memphis Grizzlies center Marc Gasol should sit atop every shopper's wish list. No matter which need teams are trying to address, the do-it-all big man should help scratch that itch.
"He passes, he scores, he defends, he rebounds," ESPN Insider Amin Elhassan wrote of Gasol, "as such, he can turn a team around in short order as the focal point on both offense and defense."
Gasol played his high school ball in Memphis and has spent the first seven seasons of his NBA career there. The Grizzlies have given him a nice high-low complement in Zach Randolph and a rising star in point guard Mike Conley.
But the market could offer its own attractions.
The San Antonio Spurs plan to make Gasol their top target if Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili retire, sources told Sporting News' Sean Deveney. Gasol hasn't ruled out anchoring the Knicks' triangle attack, per ESPN New York's Ian Begley. And any team with money to spend could figure out how to work Gasol into its plans.
His best NBA situation could be the only one he's ever known. But if he's willing to look elsewhere, clubs are ready to bring him on board.
Draymond Green, PF, Golden State Warriors
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Before the market can even begin to set for Golden State Warriors versatile forward Draymond Green, it first has to decide what type of player he is.
One scout told Bleacher Report's Howard Beck that Green is "a product of the system" and "just not that talented." ESPN.com's Ethan Sherwood Strauss, in laying out Green's Defensive Player of the Year credentials, noted that he is "versatile enough to apply defensive pressure to point guards and centers alike."
Golden State's offensive system undoubtedly helps Green, as sharpshooters Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson have a gravitational pull on defenders that opens up the floor. But Green's intelligence, intensity and adaptability are arguably the most potent weapons in Golden State's top-ranked defense.
He's part system player and part the reason that it works.
Some could debate whether that should make him a candidate for a max contract, but that might be an exercise in futility. One seems likely to come, whether in the form of an offer sheet from someone like the Detroit Pistons or from the Warriors themselves to keep the restricted-free-agent-to-be from the open market.
Mychal Thompson, Klay's father, said the Warriors will match any offer Green receives, per Bay Area News Group's Diamond Leung. But if Golden State can't shed salary this summer (cough, David Lee), it might be footing a luxury tax bill to keep Green around next season.
Either way, he'll keep people talking—about his game, about his price and about his place of employment for 2015-16.
Tobias Harris, SF, Orlando Magic
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Orlando Magic forward Tobias Harris has consolation-prize potential. If bigger names stick with their current clubs, the 22-year-old could launch up the free-agent big board.
He's a good scorer who keeps getting better on that side of the ball. He's just about set a new personal best in points per game for the third consecutive season. His three-point percentage has never been higher, and he's already established career highs in assists and three-point makes.
That sounds like someone the Magic should keep, particularly when they'll have the option to match any offers made. But Orlando is deep at both forward spots, and it just spent the fourth overall pick on Aaron Gordon, whose exposure could be limited if Harris sticks around.
That's why it isn't surprising to read that Harris "is believed to be obtainable," per Basketball Insiders' Steve Kyler. The Lakers, Knicks, Philadelphia 76ers and Atlanta Hawks have all been linked to Harris, Kyler notes.
Harris, a New York native, reportedly has the Knicks at the top of his list, a source told Marc Berman of the New York Post. And, according to ESPN's Chris Broussard, Harris' endorsement deal with Nike gives him an "upgrade" if he plays in Los Angeles, New York or Chicago.
He won't be the best player in this summer's free agency, but he might be the best one who actually changes teams.
Reggie Jackson, PG, Detroit Pistons
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Reggie Jackson's perseverance is paying off.
Since helping orchestrate his deadline move from the Oklahoma City Thunder to the Detroit Pistons, he has pounced on the starting gig he'd been openly campaigning for, according to The Oklahoman's Anthony Slater. It took him a little time to get comfortable, but he's been piling up the double-doubles since getting acclimated to his new digs.
While serving as OKC's spark plug, he had hinted at showing potential in a smaller, more controlled role. Despite having more responsibilities now, he has managed to increase his per-minute production without sacrificing efficiency.
But it's hard to say what this means for his future in Motown. The Pistons still have the injured Brandon Jennings on the books for next season, and their frontcourt (provided it doesn't change) could struggle with spacing alongside a career 29.4 percent three-point shooter.
Sources told Kyler that the Pistons are "very committed to keeping Jackson long-term" but added "there is a sense that there are limits to how far the Pistons will go in a new contract." Detroit can match whatever Jackson gets, but a suitor could give him something richer than the Pistons want.
Who might that suitor be? The Knicks could be one team to watch. Deveney writes that Jackson will be among the players who "factor prominently on the Knicks' radar," as New York looks for players who can help in both the present and the future.
Based on what Jackson has shown lately, his suitor list could quickly expand to every club facing a point guard problem.
DeAndre Jordan, C, Los Angeles Clippers
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Los Angeles Clippers center DeAndre Jordan rarely hurts for press time.
If he isn't generating his own buzz with acrobatic aerial finishes, his head coach, Doc Rivers, is keeping him in the news with a public campaign for Defensive Player of the Year consideration.
Comparatively speaking, talk has been rather quiet for Jordan on the free-agency front. Outside of the stir he created by declaring his "love" for New York City, per Berman, there hasn't been much noise about his summer plans.
There could be a presumption that Jordan quickly re-signs with the Clippers. He's the only defensive anchor on the roster, and his offensive limitations are somewhat eased by sharing the floor with two terrific passers in Chris Paul and Blake Griffin.
But with nearly $53 million owed to Paul, Griffin, J.J. Redick and Spencer Hawes alone next season, the Clippers aren't working with the biggest budget. Teams will try do use that against them, especially once Aldridge and Gasol come off the board. Rim protection is extremely important to stop today's dribble-penetration game, and the market will recognize Jordan's ability to provide it.
"He'll command a significant salary this offseason, and multiple suitors will throw $15-plus million at him to try to lure him away," wrote Bleacher Report's Dylan Murphy.
Even if the attention seems a bit light for Jordan's standard, the interest is absolutely there.
Kevin Love, PF, Cleveland Cavaliers
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At this point, Kevin Love is probably tired of hearing about Kevin Love. That's how much attention he's received during his first season with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Everything has been discussed ad nauseam: his minimal role in David Blatt's offense, his relationship with LeBron James that's (gasp) more coworkers than friends, his back spasms that have seemingly pestered him all season, etc.
Oh, and the fact he can opt out of his contract at season's end. That's always been a big talking point, even after Love told Northeast Ohio Media Group's Chris Haynes, "I don't plan on opting out." Considering the economic ramifications of that stance, it's hard to just accept his words at face value.
"If Love truly plans to opt into the final year of his contract, he’s being foolish," wrote NBC Sports' Dan Feldman. "Love has a $16,744,219 player option for next season. His max salary next season projects to be $19,027,800."
It's possible that Love meant he wouldn't consider leaving Cleveland. No one else can offer him LeBron as a teammate, let alone give him James and Kyrie Irving.
But this might come down to Love's comfort with his new gig. His scoring average has dropped nearly 10 points per game from last season. He was an All-Star starter for the West in 2014 and couldn't even get a reserve spot for the East this time around.
If Love wants a bigger role in a bigger market, Isola mentioned the Lakers, Knicks and Boston Celtics as potential landing spots. For all the chatter surrounding him, there hasn't been enough talk of how he can once again become a special player with elite-level skills.
Greg Monroe, PF, Detroit Pistons
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The interest in Pistons forward Greg Monroe likely hasn't changed much since he appeared on the restricted free-agent market last summer. The numbers posted during his fifth NBA season are almost identical to the ones he had in his fourth.
But there's one major difference between this year and last. Now, as an unrestricted free agent, he has complete control of his situation. And he should have no shortage of options to exercise that control.
Kyler listed Monroe as a possible target for the Philadelphia 76ers, Celtics, Lakers and Spurs. Zillgitt and Amick added the Hawks to that group.
As a back-to-the-basket scorer, Monroe isn't the easiest fit in today's pace-and-space league. He doesn't have the lateral quickness to defend on the perimeter nor the athleticism to change shots at the rim.
But he's a steady scorer in the post, a relentless rebounder and a creative, capable passer. Teams still have a use for those skills, especially when they're coming from a 6'11", 250-pound 25-year-old.
Several clubs will be Moose hunting this offseason. Unlikely as this seemed last summer, the Pistons could be among them. Coach and president basketball operations Stan Van Gundy always kept the door to Monroe's return open, and Monroe's agent said the possibility is still in play, per Vince Ellis of the Detroit Free Press.
Monroe's first foray into free agency didn't lack for drama. His second could be just as interesting.
Rajon Rondo, PG, Dallas Mavericks
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Dallas Mavericks point guard Rajon Rondo plays the right position to cash in on the free-agent market, but his pass-first play style could limit his potential earnings.
There's nothing wrong with setting the table, but Rondo uses his passing to try to compensate for his lack of a serviceable jumper. When he doesn't punish defenses for packing the paint against him, he makes it harder for himself and his teammates to find exploitable driving lanes.
The Mavericks have struggled to incorporate his ball-dominant style into their free-flowing offense. He had a public sideline spat with head coach Rick Carlisle. Dallas seems no more of a postseason threat now than it did before Rondo's arrival.
Only time knows how all of this will impact his future.
He previously characterized his free agency as being not "wide open (in terms of considering other teams" and not "closed (solely to the Mavericks)," per Amick. Rondo told Yahoo Sports' Marc J. Spears that his argument with Carlisle did not cause "a change of heart about wanting to be here."
But it's within reason to question how badly the Mavs want to keep him, especially if Monta Ellis also opts to test the market. It's also fair to wonder how many teams would want a shot at Rondo. The Lakers reportedly have him at the top of their list, according to Deveney, but Jordan Clarkson's development could shift their attention away from the lead guard spot.
Rondo is obviously talented, and he'd be an upgrade over several other starting point guards. But his market looks murky right now and highly unlikely to produce the max contract he set his sights on at the start of the season.
Salary information obtained via HoopsHype.com.
