2016 NBA Free Agents: Latest Rumors and Predictions for Kevin Durant and More
As 16 NBA teams start to turn their attention toward the playoffs, the front offices around the league are already focusing on next season.
The best organizations are always improving, whether that is through the draft or free agency. The latter will be especially important this summer with a number of high-profile players expected to be available. The teams that can bring in this top talent or at least retain their own stars will have a huge advantage in the 2016-17 season.
Here is a look at the latest rumors surrounding notable stars around the league.
He will be the biggest prize of the 2016 summer and, as of now, no one knows where Kevin Durant will end up next season.
Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical surprised many in February when he reported the Golden State Warriors would be favorites to sign the former MVP. However, there are plenty of teams still in the running for Durant's services.
ESPN.com's Calvin Watkins argued on behalf of the Houston Rockets, while also citing inside sources on possible destinations:
"Selling points for the Rockets include no state income tax in Texas, ability to team up with one of the league's best scorers in [James] Harden, and a bigger city with more marketing opportunities compared to Oklahoma City.
Durant hasn't given any hints he'll leave the Thunder. But speculation ranges from him playing close to home in Washington, D.C. or Los Angeles, where one Rockets official believes he'll reside if he leaves Oklahoma City and doesn't choose Houston.
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Harden and Durant would make up a deadly combination, although you can't count out the possibility of replacing Kobe Bryant with the Los Angeles Lakers.
In any case, the team that should be the most nervous is the Oklahoma City Thunder, who all of a sudden have a lot of competition for the face of their franchise. Bleacher Report's Howard Beck recently reported the "sense around the league" is that he has a "decent chance" of leaving his current team:
Despite all of the opportunities, however, the safest bet at this stage is that Durant does end up staying with the Thunder and making another run with teammate Russell Westbrook, even if it means signing a shorter contract.
DeMar DeRozan
Lakers fans will pray for Durant this offseason, but another superstar could end up joining the team instead. Bleacher Report's Kevin Ding put Durant in his "dream team" for Los Angeles next year, but noted DeMar DeRozan as a quality consolation prize:
Ding called DeRozan a "very likely candidate for the Lakers" as a hometown player who won't be afraid to take on the pressure of replacing Bryant.
This potential marriage was reported earlier in the year by ESPN.com's Zach Lowe, who called the 26-year-old guard "a lock to decline his option and hit free agency this summer."
"A bunch of teams, including DeRozan's hometown Lakers, are prepared to offer him a max deal starting at $25 million per season, and the Raptors know they will have to spend big to keep him," Lowe wrote.
The Raptors might not be able to afford the two-time All-Star at that price, and could see him end up going out of town.
Meanwhile, another team that will be interested is the New York Knicks. After recently discussing how much he loved playing in Madison Square Garden, DeRozan added, "[Would I look here] as a free agent? I don’t know," per Marc Berman of the New York Post.
This isn't much of an endorsement, but it also leaves the door open for a team that could desperately use another perimeter scorer.
Still, it appears the most likely scenario would be a cross-country trip to Los Angeles on a large contract.
While discussing Durant's potential move to the Rockets, Watkins also added that Dwight Howard's career with the Rockets is likely over:
"Howard, who is expected to become a free agent this summer, still wants to win and be paid like a superstar. He fired longtime agent Dan Fegan and hired Perry Rogers, whom he was attracted to because he'll be Rogers' only basketball client. Howard hopes to sign a max contract with a projected average salary of $30 million per season.
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This price range might be a bit too much for the majority of teams around the league based on this past season. With one game remaining, Howard is averaging just 13.7 points per game, which would be the lowest mark since his rookie season.
If the cost does come down, though, the Dallas Mavericks are one squad that would be interested, per ESPN.com's Tim MacMahon:
"Sources says the Mavericks' interest in Dwight Howard as a free agent this summer will be dependent on the price. The Mavs do not intend to be in on the bidding for Howard if it's in the neighborhood of a max contract, which would have a starting salary of more than $30 million. [...]
Concerns about the 30-year-old Howard's durability and desire have caused the Mavs to decide that he isn't worth a nine-figure investment over four years at this point.
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The upside is certainly there at the right cost. Howard is a five-time All-NBA first-team member and three-time Defensive Player of the Year, and if he ends up in the right situation, he could once again be a star.
Dallas has tried to bring Howard in before, and it seems like this time would be a good chance to finally get him.
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