NBA Free-Agent Rumors: Top Reports Surrounding Best Players After 2015 NBA Draft
The 2015 NBA draft is in the record books, paving the way for teams to now focus all their attention on free agency. The summer's annual spending spree begins on July 1 when players can begin negotiating deals.
This year's free agency promises to be just as interesting and noteworthy as last year. Players may negotiate deals differently, opting for short-term contracts to cash in next summer when the new television money kicks in to raise the salary cap.
That won't be the path everyone takes, as the ability to get long-term security now is appealing considering one injury can change a player's value forever.
Teams understand their needs more than ever following the draft, so here is the latest rumor roundup for free agency.
The LaMarcus Aldridge Favorite
LaMarcus Aldridge hasn't publicly stated it, but all signs point to the four-time All-Star finding a new home this summer.
ESPN.com's Chris Broussard and Marc Stein have reported Aldridge isn't expected to re-sign with the Portland Trail Blazers with the team's recent trade of Nicolas Batum as "an indication" of them acknowledging it.
Erik Gunderson of the Columbian reported that Aldridge has told Portland he won't be returning to the team he's played with for the last nine years. Trail Blazers general manager Neil Olshey told Mike Tokito of the Oregonian that Aldridge hasn't said anything of the kind.
However, with the chatter increasing, it would be an upset if the Trail Blazers retain Aldridge. Sports Illustrated's Chris Mannix reported that many teams around the league believe there's a clear favorite to land the 29-year-old:
The Spurs have never really dipped their toes into the free-agent pool during the Gregg Popovich era. They've signed role players, but the trio of Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili let them relax over the summer.
Now, with Parker slowing down and Duncan and Ginobili nearing the end of their careers, the Spurs will have to spend money. Kawhi Leonard is a restricted free agent who can command a lot of money, and Aldridge figures to get a max contract wherever he signs.
Despite those potentially high salaries, the Spurs seemed to have planned for that possibility by drafting Serbian Nikola Milutinov with the 26th pick. ESPN's Ramona Shelburne speculated as to how that pick fits San Antonio's plan:
No team is better at roster management than the Spurs. They have been flexible in the past because Duncan has constantly taken less money, earning $10.3 million last season. For comparison, Eric Gordon and Roy Hibbert each made nearly $14.9 million.
Popovich and the San Antonio front office will have to get more creative this summer to remain one of the best teams in a deep Western Conference. This franchise has earned the benefit of the doubt after 15 years of sustained success.
Aldridge appears to be one of the key pieces lined up for the Spurs to keep their run of consecutive 50-win seasons going.
Kevin Love Suitors
The greatest mystery of this summer revolves around Kevin Love and what he plans to do after opting out of the final year of his contract.
Cleveland Cavaliers general manager David Griffin told Chris Fedor of the Northeast Ohio Media Group that Love's decision isn't a concern to the team.
"I think he has been very clear with what his intentions are all along," Griffin said. "Any time he has stood in front of anybody he's said that. I'm not concerned about it."
The Cavaliers may have pulled a San Antonio trick on draft night by acquiring two second-round picks from Minnesota, which Sam Vecenie of CBS Sports notes will save the team money against the salary cap:
Cleveland also acquired Cedi Osman with the 31st pick. Jonathan Givony of DraftExpress.com noted Osman has said he planned to honor his contract with Turkey that runs for two more seasons before coming to the NBA.
When Love opted out of his deal, ESPN's Marc Stein reported Cleveland expected the move and wants to retain him before noting the potential market for the former All-Star:
"Sources tell ESPN.com that the Los Angeles Lakers and the Celtics are among the teams planning to make a run at Love in free agency. Sources say that the Portland Trail Blazers, furthermore, are likely to pursue the former Oregon high school star in the event that LaMarcus Aldridge -- as many league executives expect -- flees the Blazers in free agency.
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Love has a connection to the Los Angeles area, playing college basketball at UCLA, but Givony noted on Twitter that the Lakers feel good about their chances to sign Aldridge, which led to them taking D'Angelo Russell second.
If Love is just about getting paid, the Trail Blazers would be a nice landing spot. He's got a connection to the state and would play for a team competing for a playoff spot playing next to Damian Lillard.
If Love wants to compete for a championship and get paid, returning to Cleveland is still his best option. He can take a short-term deal to become a free agent again soon and cash in on the rising salary cap next summer.
Plus, the Cavaliers have every incentive to retain Love because it wouldn't look good trading a talented young player like Andrew Wiggins only to get one year of the player you received from Minnesota.
Miami's Grand Plan
It's an interesting time to be with the Miami Heat. They got a great value pick with Justise Winslow falling into their lap at No. 10 and are building a solid nucleus to make a return to the playoffs after missing out last year.
Heat president Pat Riley said after the draft that he hopes to work something out with Dwyane Wade if the 33-year-old opts out of his deal, via ESPN's Michael Wallace: "We want Dwyane back. There's no doubt about that. He's been here 12 years. We've had cordial discussions with him. The one thing I learned about free agency is that when a player has an opportunity to be a free agent, I think you give him the space and time to think about that."
Yet another pressing matter involves Goran Dragic, who was acquired from Phoenix at the trade deadline and has already opted out of his deal.
According to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald, Dragic's camp is hoping to get a bigger deal than the one Miami is reportedly set to offer:
"Amid an ESPN report that the Heat will offer Goran Dragic a five-year deal in excess of $80 million, the Dragic camp expects the proposal to be five years for between $90 million and $100 million.
That’s less than the $115 million Miami can offer but more than the four years and $86 million that another team can offer. The Heat and the Dragic camp remain optimistic a deal will get done with Miami.
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The Heat are in a similar position with Dragic that Cleveland is with Love. They didn't give up a player as good as Wiggins but did relinquish two first-round picks. That puts the pressure on them to re-sign Dragic to avoid giving up future assets for nothing.
It's also in Miami's best interest to re-sign Dragic because that would give the team a nucleus with the 29-year-old, possibly Wade, Winslow and Chris Bosh. That's a strong group to build around in a weak Eastern Conference.
Of course, potentially having three max players (Dragic, Bosh, Wade) would hamstring the Heat's ability to build a complete roster. But stars are what win in the NBA, and those three together, along with a potentially elite defender like Winslow, give the Heat a lot to work with.
