NBA Free Agents 2015: Latest Rumors and Predictions for Top Remaining Veterans
The big-ticket names may be off the open market, but there are still some viable veterans who can be had at reasonable prices available in free agency.
While acquiring one of these remaining free agents won't automatically turn a team into a contender, it will help solidify a roster by adding depth and putting a rotation in place. These players won't put up 20 points per game, but if they can muster an average of 20 minutes of relief for starters, they'll have done their jobs.
Players who can provide quality relief off the bench will be highly coveted at this juncture, and we can expect them to receive interest from several potential suitors. That said, let's take a look at some rumors surrounding a few such free agents and predict where they're likely to call home for the coming season.
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Amar'e Stoudemire
Big men have been at the heart of the biggest moves in free agency this year, and watching the sagas of DeAndre Jordan and LaMarcus Aldridge play out was quite interesting. However, with those two frontcourt monsters plucked off the open market, role players like Amar'e Stoudemire have begun to garner interest from squads in need.
Stoudemire may be 32 years of age, but he's still a great presence in the locker room and a viable player off the bench. He last played for the Dallas Mavericks, making 23 appearances and one start a season ago. During that span he averaged 10.8 points and 3.7 rebounds while shooting 58.1 percent from the floor in just 16.5 minutes per game.
Following Jordan's decision to spurn the Mavericks and re-sign with the Los Angeles Clippers, Mark Cuban and Co. looked to Stoudemire to help their suddenly thin frontcourt, according to a tweet from Sam Amick of USA Today:
Unfortunately for Dallas, the veteran center appears more likely to take his talents to South Beach. Ian Begley of ESPN.com tweeted Stoudemire and the Miami Heat are "close" to striking a deal:
While being "close" doesn't necessarily mean a deal will get done, that sure appears to be the case in this situation. Stoudemire will need to take a massive pay cut to play for Pat Riley's squad, but considering he already owns a home in Miami and will certainly have a role in the team's frontcourt rotation, we should expect the center to ink a contract in the very near future.
Prediction: Stoudemire signs with Miami
Carlos Boozer
Speaking of big men who are still capable of providing valuable minutes in a frontcourt rotation, Carlos Boozer has received plenty of interest while on the open market. The veteran power forward spent last season with the Los Angeles Lakers, making 71 appearances and 26 starts. He averaged 11.8 points and 6.8 rebounds per game while shooting 49.9 percent from the floor.
Earlier in the free-agency period, Boozer to the Clippers seemed like a lock, as the team thought it was losing Jordan to the Mavericks. In fact, Ben Bolch of the Los Angeles Times tweeted there was mutual interest between the two parties:
As we know, the Clippers brought Jordan back into the fold, pushing any deal with Boozer to the back burner. The team may still be interested in the veteran as a backup, but they will have to contend with several other interested squads. Chris Broussard of ESPN.com tweeted Boozer's potential suitors:
While Los Angeles could use Boozer as a backup to Jordan and Blake Griffin, his time would be limited in the team's star-studded rotation. The loss of Amir Johnson makes the Toronto Raptors an intriguing fit for Boozer, and the New Orleans Pelicans could use a fifth big man; however, the if the Mavericks lose out on Stoudemire—a likely scenario—expect them to make a very strong push for the power forward.
Prediction: Boozer signs with Dallas
Keeping the frontcourt trend going, small forward Josh Smith is still available for teams in need of a shooter off the bench. While Smith has produced over his 11 NBA seasons, he's been wildly inconsistent from downtown, shooting just 28.5 percent for his career—a fact that is likely keeping him on the open market.
Still, Smith can be an asset when he shows patience in picking his shots, and he is coming off a 2014-15 campaign in which he averaged 12.0 points, 6.0 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game while shooting 43.8 percent from the floor for the Houston Rockets.
While Houston would like to keep Smith in the fold as a rotational player, the Sacramento Kings are making a push for the forward, according to a tweet from Jason Jones of the Sacramento Bee:
It can be difficult to lure a player away from a familiar setting, but the Kings may have an asset that will help that cause. Marc J. Spears of Yahoo Sports tweeted why Smith may be inclined to strongly consider moving to Sacramento:
Reuniting with Rajon Rondo will probably weigh heavily in Smith's ultimate decision. Having the opportunity to play alongside a former teammate and friend doesn't happen every day, and we should expect Smith to jump at the chance.
Prediction: Smith signs with Sacramento
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.jpg?w=600 "Offseason Moves for Every Team 👉")