NBA Free Agency 2015: Predicting Where Unsigned Stars Will Land
There’s really no “offseason” in the NBA.
Shortly after the NBA Finals, we get the draft and then an always entertaining summer of free agency, trades and all kinds of buzz. Soon, before we even realize it, basketball is back.
For now, with the Golden State Warriors living life to the fullest following their first championship in 40 years, we’ll have to settle for some moving and shaking over the next few months.
Let’s take a look at two superstars—both unrestricted free agents—who are likely to be in different uniforms the next time they take the court.
As the Portland Trail Blazers sit with wet eyes and a box of tissues, superstar forward LaMarcus Aldridge appears to be moving on to bigger and better things.
Aldridge’s behavior during the postseason was kind of like a Young Thug song—you don’t know exactly what it means, but you do know it means something.
During a Game 3 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies in Round 1 of the playoffs, the 29-year-old gave an alarming answer to a question asked by ESPN reporter Chris Broussard.
“I asked him, 'Look, is Portland going to be your first choice?’” Broussard said (h/t CBS Sports). “And he just smiled and said, 'We'll see.' It's not a ringing endorsement for the Blazers.”
We’ll see, huh—those two words inspire as much confidence as “bad news.”
Even before Broussard’s bomb, the Oregonian’s Jason Quick reported that after Game 2 (another loss), the Blazers were given the option “to stay the night and fly home on the team charter, or return to Portland on their own.”
Aldridge formed his own one-man wolf pack and rolled solo.
It now appears he could be rolling back to his hometown team, the Dallas Mavericks.
B/R’s Ric Bucher reported June 9 that “a source familiar with Aldridge's thinking said several weeks ago that the about-to-be 30-year-old power forward was aggressively exploring options other than returning to Portland.”
Here’s more from Bucher:
"Of his potential suitors, league sources indicate that the Mavericks are the biggest threat to pull Aldridge away from the Blazers, but it's the general idea of returning to Texas, not a specific destination, that appeals to him. Both the Mavericks and Spurs, of course, could have the requisite cap space, reputation of success and location.
Both also may not be perfect fits. Several sources have indicated that the Spurs, for whatever reason, are either off his list or not very high on it.
"
The Houston Rockets are pretty tied up with big money owed to James Harden and Dwight Howard, but the Mavs could make the necessary moves to acquire LMA if they are his desired destination.
Dirk Nowitzki told ESPN’s Tim MacMahon that Aldridge would be more than welcome in Big D.
“We’d love to have him,” Nowitzki said June 16. “He’s a great midrange shooter. He plays bigger than he is on the defensive end. He’s a good rebounder on both ends of the floor and on that left block, he’s a beast. So I mean, he’s a really, really good player.”
MacMahon also reported that Dirk “has made it clear that he’d be happy to move to the bench to accommodate the homecoming of Aldridge.”
That’s dedication right there.
Aldridge’s return to Dallas wouldn’t be quite LeBron James-back-to-the-Cleveland-Cavaliers level, but it’d be huge. Expect the versatile big man to come back to his hometown and help turn the Mavs into a fierce contender in the West.
Opposing coaches are already shivering at the thought of trying to stop LMA and Nowitzki—who could form the league’s top one-two punch down low.
Everybody hates Rajon Rondo.
Well, sorry to rain on the anti-Rondo parade, but here’s the truth: The 29-year-old can still play.
His brief stay with the Mavericks was toxic for both parties, and it severely hurt the point guard’s image. In actuality, both he and coach Rick Carlisle behaved immaturely at times.
But that chapter of his playing career is pretty much finished.
Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports reported the Sacramento Kings are looking into trading Rudy Gay in order to make room for Rondo. Woj wrote there is “mutual interest, with Rondo intrigued with the idea of a potential one-year deal in Sacramento that could help to rebuild his league-wide value, sources said.”
Hm, interesting.
Hoops Critic’s Josh Eberley is one of many who questioned Sacramento’s line of thinking here:
Eric Rosenthal of Page 2 Sports concurred:
While the criticism of Sac-town's out-of-control front office is warrant, let's take a deep breath on this deal. The important part of the Woj report is the duration—just one year.
With the salary cap expected to skyrocket next summer, Rondo would be betting on himself this season under the notion that he could play himself into big money the next time he hits free agency.
Sacramento is very dysfunctional, but adding a veteran point guard hungry to improve his reputation around the league could calm the waters a bit. Trading DeMarcus Cousins would ruin the promise of signing Rondo, though.
The Los Angeles Lakers could also be lurking in the shadows on this one, but the smart money is on Rondo inking a one-year deal with the Kings and then retesting the market a summer from now. If Rondo returns to his old, elite self, expect L.A. to make a push a year from now.
Hate on him all you want, but Rondo isn't done. Don't rule out a big-time comeback by the shifty, creative point guard in 2015-16.
