NBA Free Agents 2015: The Most Likely Signing for Every NBA Team
The month of June is typically filled with rampant speculation in the NBA. By this time, only two of the league's fanbases are still fixated on their teams' immediate futures. The rest have already turned their attention to the annual draft and the start of free agency thereafter.
This time around, a lengthy layoff between the end of the conference finals and the start of the NBA Finals has only added fuel to the usual inferno of rumors and innuendo. There's no need to pile on with more pipe-dreaming of where Superstar X might land if the dominoes fall just so.
Instead, let's look at the potential craziness slated for July 1 through a more sober lens, focusing instead on each team's safest bets to sign this summer.
Keep in mind: The league's collective bargaining agreement is designed to give clubs a distinct home-court advantage in retaining their own free agents. The forecasts to come will strongly reflect that trend toward incumbency on the NBA's business side, especially with so many top-notch youngsters hitting the market as restricted free agents.
But like any talk of player movement a month ahead of time, there's still a heavy dose of conjecture contained herein, albeit one balanced by a serving of available information.
Atlanta Hawks: Paul Millsap, Power Forward
1 of 30
Getting the band back together may not be such an easy task for the Hawks, and not because of the embarrassing sweep that ended Atlanta's otherwise storybook season.
Paul Millsap, now a two-time All-Star, will be a free agent this summer. So, too, will DeMarre Carroll, the team's leading scorer from its first-ever run to the Eastern Conference Finals. Both can expect significant raises from their 2014-15 takes—$9.5 million for Millsap, $2.4 million for Carroll.
Even though the Hawks could muster more than $25 million in cap space and will have some semblance of Bird rights with each of those starters, keeping the two of them in town could be a tall order. Allow Grantland's Zach Lowe to explain:
"Millsap’s maximum salary will be about $18.9 million, meaning that if Millsap wants his max — or thinks he can get it from another team — the Hawks will have to dip into their cap room to pay him. If Atlanta goes over the cap, it can sign Millsap to a deal starting at only $16.6 million per season. And if they use $19 million in cap space on Millsap, they would not have enough left over to re-sign Carroll. ...
If some team really wanted to screw the Hawks, it could offer Millsap a two-year, $40 million deal, which would allow Millsap to get back into free agency when the cap skyrockets again in 2017, when he’ll be 32.
"
There will be other quality power forwards on the market this summer, including LaMarcus Aldridge, Greg Monroe and Draymond Green, among others. But finding one with Millsap's all-around and ever-expanding skill set—and one who fits as well in Atlanta, at that—figures to be much more difficult than signing another three-and-D wing in Carroll's mold.
Thus, if the Hawks have to choose one over the other, Millsap seems the better bet to get the nod.
Boston Celtics: Jae Crowder, Shooting Guard/Small Forward
2 of 30
The Boston Celtics will have their sights set on making a big splash this summer. More importantly, they'll have the resources to do so, between cap space (more than $20 million), draft picks (as many as 10 between now and 2018), franchise history (17 championships) and current infrastructure (a solid system under up-and-coming coach Brad Stevens).
But blockbuster deals are the unlikeliest of all to actually come through. If you're looking for a sure bet in Boston this offseason, put your money on Jae Crowder getting his. As reported by the Boston Herald, team president Rich Gotham made it clear that retaining Crowder, a restricted free agent, will be a priority of theirs this summer. As did general manager Danny Ainge, per CSNNE.com's Sherrod Blakely.
Crowder, for his part, wants to stay in Beantown, where he carved out a comfortable niche after arriving by way of the Rajon Rondo trade. The Marquette product averaged 9.5 points and 4.6 rebounds for the C's, and nailed the game-winner against Toronto in mid-April that sealed Boston's return to the postseason.
"I just think what I bring to the game and what they need…it’s a good fit," Crowder told Blakely. "Hopefully we can get something done that’ll keep me here for a long time."
Brooklyn Nets: Brook Lopez, Center
3 of 30
The Nets won't have much financial flexibility at their disposal this summer, even if/when Brook Lopez and Thaddeus Young opt out of their current contracts. At this point, Brooklyn's best bet to stay competitive—and, in turn, keep the pick they owe Boston in 2016 from sliding into the lottery—is to pay the proverbial piper to keep Lopez and Young in town, as the team has indicated it wants and is willing to do, per ESPN's Marc Stein.
That could complicate the Nets' long-term picture, as Stein wrote: "The far greater source of uncertainty is the size and scope of the contracts they would command as free agents, given that Brooklyn risks cutting into its July 2016 spending money if it lavishes too much on the incumbents."
Should Brooklyn be forced to choose, Lopez looks to be the more likely retention.
He was dynamite during the season's stretch run, averaging better than 19 points, nine rebounds and two blocks—and earning back-to-back Eastern Conference Player of the Week honors in the process—to help the Nets secure the No. 8 seed by way of a 13-6 finish.
Lopez was also far and away Brooklyn's most effective weapon in a first-round flameout against Atlanta, whom he torched for nearly 20 points, nine rebounds and more than two blocks per game.
Granted, the Nets have a more plausible in-house replacement for Lopez—Mason Plumlee—than they do for Young. But 7-footers of Lopez's considerable skill don't grow on trees, though, the one in Brooklyn's employ comes with concerns about his fragile feet.
Charlotte Hornets: Arron Afflalo, Shooting Guard
4 of 30
There's no guarantee that the Hornets will organize their offense around the inside-out tandem of Al Jefferson and Kemba Walker next season, mainly due to Jefferson's ability to opt out of his contract this summer. But if Big Al returns, Charlotte will need all the shooting it can muster on the market to spread the floor and maximize the effectiveness of its low-post focal point.
The Hornets will have more than a few potential targets to fill that void, with Bucks free agent Khris Middleton, Hawks swingman DeMarre Carroll and former UNC Tar Heel Danny Green among the strongest fits.
But as far as skills and affordability are concerned, Arron Afflalo may be Charlotte's best bet. According to Basketball Insiders' Steve Kyler, the Hornets had eyes for Afflalo at the February trade deadline but weren't able to outbid the Trail Blazers for his services.
Afflalo's poor performance as Wesley Matthews' stand-in in Portland (11.2 points in 19 regular-season starts, 1.7 points in three playoff games), influenced in part by a shoulder injury, may turn off the Hornets somewhat. Then again, as desperate as Charlotte is for outside shooting, it might not have a better choice than the UCLA product.
Assuming, of course, that he declines his option (worth nearly $8 million) for 2015-16.
Chicago Bulls: Jimmy Butler, Shooting Guard
5 of 30
There’s no telling yet how the Bulls’ coaching change, from Tom Thibodeau to Fred Hoiberg, will affect their approach to free agency this summer. After firing Thibs on May 28, the Bulls officially announced Hoiberg's hiring on Tuesday. It seems safe to suggest, though, that Jimmy Butler will be a big part of the proceedings.
Come July, the All-Star swingman will be a restricted free agent after turning down a four-year extension worth $40 million this past October, per ESPN’s Marc Stein. Chicago will probably have to shell out a lot more than that to keep Butler in its employ. Making that commitment would push the notoriously frugal Bulls into luxury-tax territory, unless the front office finds a taker for one of its tradable bigs (i.e. Taj Gibson).
But the Bulls can ill-afford to lose Butler at all, even less so for nothing in return. Beyond his two All-Defensive nods, Butler has proven himself capable of handling some of Chicago’s playmaking, scoring and ball-handling duties—a must for anyone paired in the team’s backcourt with the fragile Derrick Rose.
Butler, 25, will have no shortage of suitors this offseason, but only the Bulls will have the right of first refusal.
Cleveland Cavaliers: LeBron James, Small Forward
6 of 30
All signs point to LeBron James and Kevin Love staying in Cleveland in 2015-16. Love, in particular, has already made it clear, per ESPN's Dave McMenamin, that he "truly expect(s) to be suiting up for Game 1" with the Cavs.
The question is, by what means will James and Love return to Rock City? Both stars own lucrative player options for 2015-16, and both would seem keen to exercise them in preparation for the looming TV money bonanza of 2016.
Then again, each could just as easily opt out, re-up for raises on two-year deals with options for 2016-17 and explore the market in earnest next July.
Either way, look for James to be back in wine and gold next season and for Love to follow suit.
Dallas Mavericks: Patrick Beverley, Point Guard
7 of 30
Last summer, the Mavericks mucked up Houston's free-agent plans by snagging Chandler Parsons' signature. This time, Dallas has its sights set on another Rocket ticketed for restricted free agency: Patrick Beverley.
And, as it happens, the Mavs are using the former to lure the latter.
"I hear from Chandler every day," Beverley said, per The Houston Chronicle's Jonathan Feigen. "It’s hard, but I try not to think about it. I can’t talk about contracts. It’s going to be a fun summer. I have put myself in a position to be set for life and that’s something that I never thought was possible growing up."
Indeed, Beverley will be a richer man by the time the 2015-16 season rolls around. He could command close to an eight-figure salary on the market, despite his annual injury concerns.
Dallas could certainly use a player of Beverley's talent and tenacity. The Mavs thought Rajon Rondo would be their future at point guard before their partnership went awry. In Beverley, Dallas would have a floor general who's a capable shooter from deep (36.1 percent from three for his career) and whose effort and intensity are both beyond reproach.
Denver Nuggets: Jameer Nelson, Point Guard
8 of 30
According to Bleacher Report's Jared Zwerling, the Nuggets currently appear poised to remove the "interim" tag from Melvin Hunt's title as the team's head coach. That move would be music to the ears of many, chief among them Jameer Nelson.
"Mel, he has me in his corner, fighting for him," Nelson said, per The Denver Post's Christopher Dempsey. "I wish him nothing but the best. He did a great job of sticking with us when things got tough. It was a tough situation. We were a losing team and he took over as the interim coach, and he did a great job."
Nelson's endorsement won't be the be-all, end-all for the Nuggets, but it can't hurt. Per Dempsey, Denver wants Nelson back in the fold, and Nelson, for his part, would like to oblige. The 33-year-old former All-Star played well after joining the Nuggets via trade in January, pouring in 9.6 points and 3.7 assists while serving primarily as Ty Lawson's backup.
If Lawson and the Nuggets split this summer, as Basketball Insiders suggests, Denver will need a steady, heady veteran to hold the fort at the point. The only question is, how would Nelson return: by picking up his $2.8 million player option or by opting out and re-upping on a multiyear deal?
Detroit Pistons: Reggie Jackson, Point Guard
9 of 30
The Pistons wouldn't have traded for Reggie Jackson at the deadline if they didn't believe he could be a solid solution at point guard for them.
To that end, Jackson delivered. He averaged 17.6 points and 9.2 assists—including two triple-doubles and one 20-assist explosion—in 27 games with Detroit.
"We want Greg [Monroe] back, we want Reggie back," Stan Van Gundy said before the Pistons' season finale, per Pro Basketball Talk's Brett Pollakoff. "Again, they all have decisions to make in the whole thing. Our decision process will obviously be what to offer and all of that, but we want those guys back. And then we’ve got to talk about all of our other guys, too."
Detroit won't be short on cap space this summer, especially if Monroe takes his talents elsewhere. But Jackson's situation could be tricky to navigate, given both his restricted free agency and the presence of Brandon Jennings, recovering from an Achilles injury, on the roster.
Still, look for Jackson and the Pistons to work something out, even if doing so requires a spot of pressure from other suitors.
Golden State Warriors: Draymond Green, Forward
10 of 30
The Warriors appear poised to pull out all the stops to keep Draymond Green this summer. He'll be a restricted free agent, and though it'll cost Golden State a pretty penny to keep him—both for his own salary and for the luxury tax he's likely to incur—the team's higher-ups don't seem overly concerned about bearing the financial burden. Warriors owner Joe Lacob told The San Jose Mercury News' Tim Kawakami back in February:
"Numbers would dictate - anyone can look at them - that we’re very likely in the luxury tax and very likely very substantially, next year. And you know what? We’re OK with that. I tell Bob all the time; he keeps asking me, ‘Are you sure?’ We’re prepared to do whatever it takes to win a championship; I’ve said that before. You want to do it when the timing is right. Maybe the timing’s right, right? We’re pretty good. And so, I think we need to take advantage of that and go for it.
"
Golden State might already have a title to brag about once July rolls around. That level of success would only bolster the Warriors' case for keeping Green, who's been invaluable to their stratospheric rise this season.
And, for what it's worth, Green's own mother thinks he should put down roots in Northern California, rather than pursue a future with a team closer to his hometown of Saginaw, Michigan.
"I want him to stay in the place that will be the most productive for his career, and I want what makes him happy," Mary Babers-Green told The Detroit Free Press' Joe Rexrode. "The Bay loves Dray, and Dray loves the Bay. I've got NBA TV."
Houston Rockets: Josh Smith, Forward
11 of 30
The Rockets will be faced with a number of free-agent decisions this summer. They've got a situation at point guard to sort out, with Patrick Beverley and Jason Terry ticketed for the market, and a search for a third star to begin again.
Compared to those challenges facing general manager Daryl Morey in the coming months, retaining Josh Smith should be a cinch.
Once a whipping boy for fans in Atlanta and Detroit, Smith emerged as a legitimate threat at power forward for Houston during the team's remarkable playoff run. He averaged 14.6 points and shot 43.6 percent from three in eight postseason starts, the first three of which coincided with the Rockets' historic comeback against the Los Angeles Clippers.
For what it's worth, Smith, an unrestricted free agent, sounds keen to run it back in Clutch City.
"They know what it takes to win championships," Smith told Grantland's Charles Bethea of the Rockets. "They’re bringing that presence to the table, and it’s hard to kind of fight somebody that’s already been there and won rings. It’s also fun to play with a guy, Dwight [Howard], who I’ve known since preschool. We’re just big kids out here."
And, as NBA.com's David Aldridge noted, J-Smoove can settle for a team-friendly deal if he feels so inclined:
"He can name his price, sitting on the $28 million the Detroit Pistons paid him in December to go away. He and the team seem comfortable with each other, but bidness is bidness. The Rockets already have $57 million committed to next season on their top nine guys, and that doesn't include cap holds on their first-round pick, Smith and Terry, or Brewer's $4.9 million player option.
"
Smith may not be the one to put the Rockets over the top, but if Houston can keep him at a reasonable rate, it may have enough resources remaining to find a top-notch floor general to complete a formidable core.
Indiana Pacers: Lavoy Allen, Power Forward/Center
12 of 30
The Pacers are poised to employ a different style of play next season, one that features a faster pace and more time for Paul George at the four. The biggest victim of that potential shift: Roy Hibbert, a potential free agent (he holds a $15.5 million player option for 2015-16) whose production in 2014-15 (10.6 points, 7.1 rebounds) hardly matched his importance to the team.
"We assume he's going to be back and if he comes back, we're probably going to play another style," said Pacers President of Basketball Operations Larry Bird, per The Indianapolis Star's Candace Buckner. "And I can't guarantee him anything. He's going to have to earn it."
Whether Hibbert stays or goes, the Pacers will keep their eyes peeled for other options in the middle. They may not have to look far, with free-agent Lavoy Allen well within their purview. Bird made clear his desire to give the 6'9 Temple product more run next season should Allen return to Indianapolis.
"We want to play a controlled way, but we want to play a little smaller at times," Bird said, per The Indianapolis Star. "Like Lavoy Allen, if he comes back, we'd like to get him in there more."
Far be it for Allen to say "no" to the Legend himself.
Los Angeles Clippers: DeAndre Jordan, Center
13 of 30
There have been rumblings in L.A. about discord between DeAndre Jordan and Chris Paul. As Fox Sports' Bill Reiter recently revealed:
"Sources say Paul's well-known edginess and drive ground on Jordan's nerves for much of the year. Contributing to the problem was Paul's view that Jordan lacked the appropriate commitment to working on his free throws, including not working enough with the Clippers shooting coach on that issue, sources said.
"Things aren't good there," a league source familiar with the inner workings of the Clippers organization said. Asked if the issues between the two were serious, the source said, "Oh yeah. (Jordan) might leave. He really might."
"
Clippers coach Doc Rivers did his best to dispel those rumors during an appearance on The Beast 980 in L.A. "I can put this to rest: They get along great," Rivers said (via ESPN's Arash Markazi). "Clearly, like everybody, they don't get along all the time, and they don't get along with me all the time, either, by the way. I don't see that as an issue."
Whatever fissures may or may not exist between Jordan and Paul probably pale in comparison to the allure of the money and comfort on offer for Jordan in L.A. The Clippers can offer Jordan a five-year, $108.7 million deal—as opposed to the four-year, $80.7 million max he could snag elsewhere—in addition to a familiar role, as a defensive stopper and first-rate finisher, on a title contender.
All that may not be enough to retain Jordan in the end, but at the very least, it should give the Clippers a serious leg-up on the competition for their center's services.
Los Angeles Lakers: DeMarre Carroll, Shooting Guard/Small Forward
14 of 30
Once upon a time, an eventual union between Rajon Rondo and the Lakers looked like a foregone conclusion. He and Kobe Bryant were meeting for breakfast and affectionately referring to one another as "a------s," all while L.A.'s Steve Nash experiment was creeping toward its ultimate failure.
But the Lakers are no longer quite so desperate for help at the point, now that rookie Jordan Clarkson's shown himself to be a promising prospect. Rondo, for his part, didn't do himself any favors with the way he flamed out in Dallas.
Assuming Bryant and Julius Randle return to health and the team takes a big man with the No. 2 pick in the 2015 draft, the Lakers will have only a gaping hole at small forward to fill in their starting lineup.
To that end, DeMarre Carroll currently looks like the clearest fit. According to Sporting News' Sean Deveney, the Lakers have "big-time interest" in Carroll's services and will have the requisite cap room to put their money where their mouth is.
The Lakers could use a two-way player like Carroll on the wing. He could help to cover for an aging Bryant's defensive deficiencies while propping up the team's quotient of shooters and slashers.
Certainly, head coach Byron Scott would appreciate Carroll's toughness and tenacity. And Clarkson might not mind having another Missouri alum starting beside him.
Memphis Grizzlies: Marc Gasol, Center
15 of 30
Re-signing Marc Gasol will be the Grizzlies' first, second and third order of business for the summer. From the start of the 2014-15 season onward, Gasol has said that he'll explore his options, albeit while maintaining that his long-standing connection to the city of Memphis will play a part in his decision.
Money figures to be a factor as well, as it is for all free agents. The Grizzlies can offer Gasol around $108 million over five years—nearly $30 million more than any other team can by rule.
That sort of scratch may be too much for Gasol, 30, to pass up. So might the opportunity to continue to star in a city that Gasol has often described as his second home.
Miami Heat: Goran Dragic, Point Guard
16 of 30
Despite what all the recent kerfuffle about Dwyane Wade's future in South Beach would suggest, as documented by the Miami Herald's Dan Le Batard, he and the Heat still have the rest of June to sort out their differences and avoid the awkwardness of Wade trying (probably in vain) to find better terms for himself elsewhere.
Goran Dragic, on the other hand, can't negotiate a new deal with the franchise until July 1, when he becomes an unrestricted free agent. So far, all reports suggest that Dragic wants to stay with the team that traded for him at this season's deadline.
"As long as I’m in a happy environment and a healthy organization, that’s the most important thing," Dragic said per The Palm Beach Post's Jason Lieser. "The next three, four, five years—I want to spend it on this kind of team, like the Miami Heat. They have great players, great coaching staff and great training staff."
It should come as no surprise, then, that per The Miami Herald's Barry Jackson, Dragic still has the Heat atop his list of potential suitors. But Dragic's preference for Miami may well hinge on Wade being there as well.
That being said, if Wade and Pat Riley patch things up within the month, the Heat seem all but assured of keeping Dragic in the mix.
Milwaukee Bucks: Khris Middleton, Shooting Guard
17 of 30
This much we know for certain: Khris Middleton is going to get paid this summer. In this golden age of the "three-and-D" wing, Middleton's combination of size (6'7"), shooting ability (46.7 percent from the field, 40.7 percent from three, 85.9 percent from the line in 2014-15) and youth (he'll turn 24 in August) makes him a precious commodity in the NBA.
The question is, who's going to pay him? If Middleton had his way, the Bucks would.
"I hope to be back here," Middleton said, per Fox Sports Wisconsin's Andrew Gruman. "I feel like we have a great young team going in the right direction. I would love to be a part of that here. I definitely feel like everybody wants me back here. But at the end of the day, it's a business so you have to make the right decision for you. I'd just love to be here."
Chances are, Milwaukee would too, especially if the team hopes to maintain its standing as one of the league's elite defenses next season. Middleton's length, quickness and ability to switch seamless with the likes of Michael Carter-Williams, Jared Dudley and Giannis Antetokounmpo all factored prominently into the Bucks' brilliance on that end.
Minnesota Timberwolves: Kevin Garnett, Power Forward
18 of 30
On the surface, Kevin Garnett seems as strong a candidate as any to retire from the NBA this summer. At 39, Garnett no longer looks or performs like even a shell of his older self—a point driven home by his painfully inconsistent play over the past two seasons. Now that he's out of contract, Garnett could decide to hang up his sneakers without concern for professional obligations.
But the Timberwolves didn't send Thaddeus Young to Brooklyn just so they could squeeze five games out of the Big Ticket for his return for Minneapolis. Rather, they brought him in to contribute while in uniform, as both a player and a mentor to Minnesota's youngsters.
Per Bleacher Report's Howard Beck, Garnett seems inclined to give it another go before he draws the curtains on his Hall of Fame career:
"Those who know Garnett best believe he will play another season or two, as a role player and mentor. After that, many believe Garnett will be given a share of the franchise, or perhaps seek to purchase the club himself, with an investment group."
Technically, the Wolves will have to dip into free agency to bring Garnett back for 2015-16. But he's not likely to draw interest from elsewhere around the league, nor is he bound to make anything approaching the eight-figure market rate that he's become accustomed to over the course of his two decades in the Association.
New Orleans Pelicans: Norris Cole, Point Guard
19 of 30
Shortly after the Pelicans were eliminated from the playoffs, Grantland's Zach Lowe wrote that New Orleans had no intention of rocking the boat its roster is currently in:
"They won’t have much cap room even if Omer Asik and Norris Cole leave, and all indications are the Pelicans would like to re-sign everyone.," Lower wrote. "That would allow them to stay over the cap and use the full midlevel exception to sign another veteran cog."
The Pelicans' stance could soften, depending on whatever input (if any) the front office fields from new head coach Alvin Gentry.
Assuming New Orleans is keen to run things back, Cole appears to be the most likely free-agent returnee.
For one, the Cleveland State product was a mini-revelation in the Crescent City, averaging 9.9 points and 3.2 assists during the regular season (and 8.8 points in the playoffs) after arriving by way of a midseason swap with Miami. His role could be just as crucial in 2015-16, depending on if/how long Jrue Holiday is able to fend off injury this time around.
As far as the business end is concerned, the Pelicans will have the right to match any offer that comes Cole's way, assuming they first extend to him a qualifying offer worth a shade over $3 million.
ESPN's Marc Stein corroborated the notion that New Orleans wants to bring back Asik. But the titanic Turk's return is uncertain, in large part because he'll be unrestricted in his free agency this summer.
New York Knicks: Greg Monroe, Power Forward
20 of 30
Without a shot at either Jahlil Okafor or Karl-Anthony Towns, the Knicks will head into the summer of 2015 in search of a big man, preferably one who can operate effectively within the triangle offense. Marc Gasol and LaMarcus Aldridge both fit that description, but neither seem likely to take their talents to New York at this point.
Short of those moonshots, the Knicks' best bet may well be to cast their lot with Greg Monroe. The Georgetown product is a proven low-post scorer who can threaten opposing defense with his mid-range jumper and his passing acumen.
Per The New York Daily News' Frank Isola, there's plenty of reason to believe Monroe and the Knicks will find their way to one another when all is said and done this summer:
"Maybe the worst kept secret in the NBA is that Phil Jackson plans to pursue Detroit Pistons forward Greg Monroe in free agency this summer. In fact, one league executive called it "about as close to a done deal as you can get." ...
Still, the talk among scouts and executives who attended the Portsmouth Invitational is that Monroe is Jackson’s primary free-agent target. It’s easy to connect the dots; Monroe’s agent, David Falk, is one of the few agents that Jackson has a relationship with going back more than 20 years when Falk was representing Michael Jordan. Falk is looking for a max contract for Monroe and the Knicks, coming off the worst season in franchise history, are happy to oblige.
"
Oklahoma City Thunder: Enes Kanter, Center
21 of 30
The Thunder went through great pains to put together the three-team deal that brought Enes Kanter to Oklahoma City at the trade deadline. Between that and the 18.7 points and 11 rebounds that Kanter averaged for the team in 26 games, the Thunder aren't keen to let the 23-year-old walk.
"Enes is someone we are committed to seeing in a Thunder uniform moving forward," general manager Sam Presti told The Oklahoman's Darnell Mayberry.
Such a commitment could cost OKC well into eight figures per year. Moreover, retaining a defensively deficient big man at that rate, with all the uncertainty surrounding Kevin Durant's tenure in the Sooner State, may complicate matters for the Thunder.
To their good fortune, though, Kanter will be a restricted free agent. As such, the Thunder will have every opportunity to retain the Turkish center if they so choose.
Orlando Magic: Tobias Harris, Forward
22 of 30
During his introduction as the Magic's next head coach, Scott Skiles insisted that he and Tobias Harris have a "great relationship" and that rumors suggesting a rift between the two during their time together in Milwaukee were just that: rumors.
"I was instrumental in drafting him," Skiles said, per CBS Sports' James Herbert. "Tobias is a very, very good person and a very, very good player. That combination isn't always easy to find."
The Magic seem to agree. According to The Orlando Sentinel's Brian Schmitz, general manager Rob Hennigan not only wants to bring back Harris, a restricted free agent, but it also willing to match any offer sheet to do so.
Throw in the 22-year-old's stated preference to remain in Orlando, per Basketball Insiders' Steve Kyler, and an extension of the partnership between Harris and the Magic, at this point, seems a strong possibility.
Philadelphia 76ers: Wesley Matthews, Shooting Guard
23 of 30
Good luck to the 76ers in free agency this summer; they're going to need it.
To be sure, Philly won't be short on cap space. But convincing a player of any standing or experience to partake in the Sixers' rebuilding experience will be difficult, barring a willingness on the team's part to pay well above the market rate for talent.
In some respects, Wesley Matthews may be the perfect fit in Philly.
The team could use a wing player of any repute, with Nerlens Noel and Joel Embiid taking over the frontcourt and the No. 3 pick in the 2015 draft likely to be spent on either D'Angelo Russell or Emmanuel Mudiay—both gifted point guards. Matthews would bring the sort of shooting to spread the floor in Sam Hinkie's basketball utopia and the leadership to guide an exceedingly young group through its growing pains.
Moreover, no team has shown greater patience with injuries than the Sixers. If they were fine with the extended rehabs of Noel, Embiid and Jason Richardson, surely, they wouldn't turn away Matthews on account of his recovery from an Achilles injury...would they?
Phoenix Suns: Brandon Knight, Point Guard
24 of 30
The Suns sacrificed a sizeable portion of their chip stack (i.e. Tyler Ennis, Miles Plumlee and the Lakers' protected pick) to bring Brandon Knight to Phoenix at the trade deadline. It stands to reason, then, that the Suns will go to great lengths to keep Knight, a restricted free agent, in their employ.
Both sides have reason to be concerned. Phoenix may not be keen to shell out beaucoup bucks to a point guard coming off ankle surgery. Knight, on the other hand, could have reservations about sharing a backcourt with Eric Bledsoe long-term, though, recent comments Knight said on SiriusXM NBA Radio suggest otherwise (via AZ Central's Paul Coro):
"As far as playing with Eric goes, I think it's a great thing because you have two players who can attack at any time. Instead of having one team focus on just one of us, being able to have two guys who can really break down a defense at any time, I think will not only make it easy for myself but also make it easier for him as well.
If Eric was a selfish guy, then I think it wouldn't work but both of us being pretty unselfish guys and really just wanting to win and also being familiar with each other, I think that helps the situation.
"
Portland Trail Blazers: LaMarcus Aldridge, Power Forward
25 of 30
Portland already has potential replacements in place at center (Meyers Leonard) and shooting guard (C.J. McCollum) should Robin Lopez and Wesley Matthews decide to take their talents elsewhere.
Where the Trail Blazers don't have a fallback plan is at power forward, though, any team would have a tough time finding someone to adequately fill in for LaMarcus Aldridge. All the more reason, then, for Portland to pull out all the stops to keep him.
The Blazers may have no other choice. According to ESPN's Marc Stein, a return to his Texas roots could be in the cards for Aldridge, who has the Spurs atop his wish list and could be courted by the Mavericks and Rockets, among others.
The thing is, there's no obvious opening at power forward in either San Antonio or Dallas, with Tim Duncan likely to return and Dirk Nowitzki still hanging around, respectively. Houston, on the other hand, won't have the cap space to ink Aldridge outright and may not be able to offer the sort of starring role that LaMarcus is supposedly looking for.
If nothing else, the Blazers can offer Aldridge more money than anyone else to go along with a spot as a co-star, next to Damian Lillard, on a team with both significant upside in the crowded Western Conference and the adoration of Rip City's rabid fanbase. That may not be enough to bring Aldridge back, but it's about as good a shot as Portland has with any free agent at this point.
Sacramento Kings: Andre Miller, Point Guard
26 of 30
As the NBA's elder statesman at the age of 39, Andre Miller would be well within his rights to retire right now.
But the Kings didn't deal for Miller at the trade deadline just so he could hang up his sneakers at the end of the season. Chances are, they—and by they, I mean head coach George Karl—want Miller, whose family lives in Sacramento, to serve as a veteran voice on the floor and in the locker room under the Kings' latest regime.
And with Darren Collison holding down the starting gig in Sactown and Ray McCallum still learning the ropes behind him, the Kings could use Miller to play spot minutes behind the former and mentor the latter.
San Antonio Spurs: Tim Duncan, Center
27 of 30
Tim Duncan has yet to announce whether he intends to return to the Spurs or retire for good, but early reports from B/R's Ric Bucher and CBS Sports' Ken Berger point to the former.
Duncan's performance this past season suggests the same. The future Hall of Famer was once again tapped for the All-NBA and All-Defensive teams after leading San Antonio to 55 wins in 2014-15.
Then again, Duncan's age (39) and the tread on his tires could just as easily lead him to call it quits. Those same factors seem to be nudging 37-year-old Manu Ginobili in that direction, per Berger.
If Duncan does come back, he'll do so as a free agent; his current contract expired at the conclusion of the Spurs' most recent campaign.
Toronto Raptors: Lou Williams, Guard
28 of 30
If their embarrassing first-round ouster at the Wizards' hands is any indication, the Raptors are due for an offseason of sweeping change. General manager Masai Ujiri has hesitated to truly put his stamp on this squad thus far, but he may be more inclined than ever to do so this summer.
Strange as it may seem, that effort could begin with retention of one of the few bright spots from Toronto's collapsing core. As ESPN's Marc Stein wrote, "You likewise have to figure Lou Williams isn't far off lock-to-return status, either, after winning Sixth Man Award honors this month."
Indeed, if the Raptors plan to proceed with Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan as their staples, they could use a guard of Williams' scoring talents to lighten the load on their overburdened backcourt. Williams, for his part, may be inclined to stay, given the career year (15.5 points per game) he enjoyed north of the wall and the fact that he told TSN's Josh Lewenberg:
"[Staying in Toronto] would be ideal for me. Just the culture that they're building here, just the identity that this team and this town has, I really want to be a part of it. I look forward to it. I don't want to say hopefully we get something done, I'm really positive that we will get something done. I don't see why not, at this point. So I just look forward to the future here.
"
Then again, calling out the team's newer fans probably isn't the best way to secure such a future in Toronto.
Utah Jazz: Brandon Bass, Power Forward/Center
29 of 30
The Jazz don't have any obvious holes in their roster. They went 19-10 after the All-Star break and will be counting on Alec Burks' return from injury and the continued growth of their young core (i.e. Gordon Hayward, Derrick Favors, Rudy Gobert, Dante Exum and Trey Burke) to carry them closer to the West's crowded playoff picture.
Utah will have some cap space with which to work this summer, but as The Salt Lake Tribune's Tony Jones wrote, general manager Dennis Lindsey will have to tread carefully, for the sake of his team's future: "The Jazz have established a pretty solid core, which the club would like to keep together long-term. Even with the salary cap set to jump in the next few years, that isn't going to be cheap."
In the meantime, the Jazz could use some size, shooting and veteran savvy to round out the group they have on hand. If Utah's keen to kill all those birds with a single stone, the team would do well to pursue Brandon Bass, a steady big man with a solid mid-range shot who can probably be lured in by a short, cap-friendly contract—albeit while competing for a niche currently filled by Trevor Booker.
Washington Wizards: Drew Gooden, Power Forward
30 of 30
By all accounts, the Wizards will spend the offseason biding their time and counting their pennies in preparation for 2016, when Kevin Durant will be an unrestricted free agent.
As such, don't expect Washington to splash any serious cash at free agents on July 1. If the Wizards do move aggressively in one direction or another this summer, they'll likely do so by dangling the likes of Nene and Martell Webster in trades.
Even those maneuvers may be more than what Washington has the will to pull off. As Grantland's Zach Lowe wrote:
"Stasis tends to win out in D.C., especially when the team is doing well. That is the curse of being in the East: The conference is so weak, the Wiz have a legitimate shot to make the Final Four without Wall. Getting that far makes a big shakeup politically dicey. It’s easier to be complacent, even if success is in part a mirage stemming from the league’s geography-based conference system.
"
That being said, the Wizards may be inclined to keep their team in tact as much as they can. That includes retaining Drew Gooden, who found his comfort zone as a solid stretch 4 during his two seasons in D.C. and, at 33, can probably be re-signed at a bargain-basement rate.
And for those of you wondering why Paul Pierce isn't in this spot: If Pierce returns to Washington, he'll likely do so by opting into the final year of his deal rather than via free agency.
Josh Martin covers the NBA for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter.
