NBA Free Agents 2015: Predictions for Top Names Ahead of Market's Opening
NBA free agency will either be quite interesting, with headline names such as LeBron James and LaMarcus Aldridge possibly changing teams, or one of the most anticlimactic periods in recent memory.
If it's anything like last week's NBA draft, expect things to hit a rather boring tone, with a few head-turners here and there, but no wow-worthy moves altering the landscape. The draft came with much hype thanks to its depth, but little in the way of trades and movement with the clock ticking.
Now for the good news: Odds are that things will get a bit crazy when the free-agency floodgates open. There are too many major names on the hunt for cash and new homes, and too many new homes with tons of cash to blow for things to wind up boring.
The biggest names aren't hard to figure out. Where they end up is a different story—the exception being James.
Kevin Love
Kevin Love doesn't like playing third fiddle to James and Kyrie Irving. Kevin Love...well, loves it in Cleveland. Kevin Love wants to be the man, the second option and everything in between.
So go the many wild narratives concerning one of the league's top big men, who opted out of his contract with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Folks know how it started and ended (for now, perhaps) with Love in Cleveland. The fit was odd, as the former UCLA star struggled to fit into the offense after years as the man in Minnesota. It ended odd, too, with a shoulder injury on a freak play, a mishap helping to doom the Cavaliers in the Finals against the Golden State Warriors.
It's impossible to know what's going on in the mind of Love, although it sounds like rumblings expect him to remain true to his word, as ESPN.com's Brian Windhorst reported: "Love may speak to other teams next week, but there is a growing belief across the league that he will back up statements made throughout the season and return to the Cavs. Several sources close to Love have indicated he is likely to stay in Cleveland."
Still, plenty of teams will make a major play for Love. In the Eastern Conference, a team such as the Boston Celtics has a need and just whiffed in the NBA draft in terms of making a big splash. In the Western Conference, the Portland Trail Blazers will need a big man to replace Aldridge, should he leave.
In the end, perhaps the safest presumption is that things will work out. It's true Love never budged on his stance about returning to Cleveland. Look for him to stay true to his word and avoid making the Cavaliers a laughingstock due to the Andrew Wiggins trade.
Prediction: Love re-signs with the Cavaliers
LaMarcus Aldridge
It seems the most obvious move of the offseason will be Aldridge's departure from the Blazers.
To his credit, Aldridge gave it a fair shot over the course of nine years with the team, averaging 23.4 points, 10.2 rebounds and 1.0 blocks per game last season. At some point, though, a superstar yearns for contention, a bigger stage and a team willing to splurge a bit on other superstars.
For now, Blazers, general manager Neil Olshey isn't ready to throw in the towel, via Mike Tokito of the Oregonian: “We’ve always known that LaMarcus is going to have a robust free-agent market. It was a market we were going to compete in. It’s a market we’re still planning to compete in. But in no way has he given us any indication that he’s not returning to the Trail Blazers.”
The clock's ticking 24 style, though.
All those teams mentioned in the Love sweepstakes? Feel free to consider them interested in Aldridge. Ditto for the Los Angeles Lakers and every team calling the state of Texas home.
Which is perhaps the biggest problem for the Blazers: The Dallas Mavericks and San Antonio Spurs present perhaps the biggest issue if Aldridge desires a return to his home state.
A nugget from Sports Illustrated's Chris Mannix confirmed as much:
While the above falls in the "alleged" category, it makes enough sense to take in a serious manner.
Aldridge-Spurs seems a pairing of perfection. The need is there, and the approach and demeanor of player and team seem similar, too. Perhaps most important of all to the star big man, the contending status and cash (with a few savvy front-office dealings) will be there, too.
Look for Aldridge to head back to Texas and put the Spurs over the top.
Prediction: Aldridge signs with the Spurs
Jimmy Butler
Perhaps the most combustible situation on this year's market is that between the Chicago Bulls and guard Jimmy Butler. While a restricted free agent, the stars seem ready to align for a breakup of epic proportions.
With the importance of guard play at an all-time high, the 25-year-old Butler, who's coming off a season in which he averaged 20.0 points and shot 46 percent from the field, remains a priority for any team in need.
Of which there are many. It's no secret Butler wants a short-term deal so that he can hit the market again when cap space takes a dramatic jump in a few years, and plenty of teams would be willing to take the gamble.
One such team sounds like the Lakers, according to Mark Medina of the Los Angeles Daily News: "Although Butler wants to sign a one-year deal with the Lakers, according to a league source familiar with his thinking, the Bulls are expected to match any offer for the restricted free agent."
Other teams may come into play, but this seems like it will be a two-man dance between the Lakers and Bulls. The deciding factor, though, will be Chicago's ability to match whatever offer comes Butler's way.
Chicago won't let Butler waltz to Los Angeles on a one-year deal. It will, however, lose most of its leverage, and as a long-term deal seems impossible, this same song and dance will happen again this time next year.
Prediction: Butler re-signs with the Bulls
All stats and info via ESPN.com unless otherwise specified.
