NBA Free Agency 2016: Rumors and Predictions for Top Open-Market Players
The 2016 NBA draft helped teams especially near the top of the order fill some key holes on their rosters, but the biggest splash moves may be still yet to come when free agency begins.
Numerous rumors are bouncing around regarding the biggest names slated to hit the open market. Certain teams are linked to the top standouts, which leaves at least some room to make predictions as to where the marquee stars will land.
Below is a breakdown of the latest buzz, along with projections as to where the players involved are going to end up based on the chatter.
Rumors, Predictions for Top Players
Magic, Pistons and Lakers Covet Al Horford
ESPN.com's Marc Stein reported Orlando, Detroit and Los Angeles were among the teams intending to "make a run" at the longtime Atlanta Hawks big man.
Horford is a four-time All-Star who has the flexibility to play the 4 or the 5, which only improves his chances to secure a maximum payday and naturally expands his list of suitors. Although he could return to Atlanta, the team hasn't been close enough to championship contention to justify Horford doing so.
The 30-year-old is entering the latter stages of his prime and will want to be with a team ready to win relatively soon. What makes the three teams Stein reported on tricky is they aren't likely to make it past the first round of the playoffs next year.
From a pure personnel standpoint and based on its recent results, Detroit is a solid option for Horford, where he'd team with rebounding machine Andre Drummond to make up one of the NBA's better frontcourts.
But Horford doesn't seem like the type of stretch 4 who would fit well with the Pistons. His range does extend to the three-point arc, yet Horford would have his work cut out in Detroit when opponents go with small-ball lineups to counter the Pistons' uptempo style.
Considering Orlando just traded for Serge Ibaka during Thursday's draft, per The Vertical's Adrian Wojnarowski, adding Horford to the mix shouldn't be as much of a priority with Nikola Vucevic already at center.
That leaves the historic Purple and Gold—a fit Shane Young of Bball Breakdown doesn't believe will happen but acknowledged how exotic it would be:
This scenario may not be so far-fetched, though. Horford would join a burgeoning young core featuring No. 2 overall picks on the perimeter in D'Angelo Russell and Brandon Ingram, Jordan Clarkson and Julius Randle.
The combination of Horford and Randle is an intriguing one. Randle has excellent ball-handling skills and is a strong rebounder, whereas Horford brings the interior defense and provides spacing on offense to play off Randle well.
Although other teams will make a big push for him, Horford could well be persuaded to join the beginning of something potentially special in Los Angeles. He may embrace the opportunity to be, more or less, the new face of the Lakers and surprise almost everyone by signing with L.A. as the post-Kobe Bryant era begins.
Prediction: Al Horford Signs with Lakers
Warriors, Knicks Among Top Pursuers of Kevin Durant
According to a report from Stein, Golden State is proceeding to make Durant its top free-agent target this offseason after its seven-game NBA Finals loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers.
For a squad that just set an NBA record with 73 regular-season wins, the prospect of adding Durant is extremely exciting.
Given the caliber of player Durant is, ridiculous "undefeated" talk could spring up. The Warriors could also alternate resting any one of their stars throughout the 2016-17 campaign and still have a chance to beat most opponents.
Durant's Oklahoma City Thunder led the Warriors 3-1 in this year's Western Conference Finals before falling in seven games. OKC's trade involving Ibaka netted guard Victor Oladipo, lottery pick Domantas Sabonis and Ersan Ilyasova, bolstering the depth to the frontcourt. That makes leaving the Thunder more difficult for Durant.
But the Dubs aren't the only ones keen to get in on the Durant sweepstakes. Stein previously mentioned Golden State among seven other teams with legitimate interest in landing the four-time scoring champion and 2013-14 league MVP.
Among them was the New York Knicks. When New York traded for point guard Derrick Rose, team president Phil Jackson told him of his plans to recruit Durant to the Big Apple, per the New York Daily News' Frank Isola.
Rose's best playing days seem behind him, while Kristaps Porzingis is still a bit too raw and Carmelo Anthony requires too much usage to make enough room for Durant on the squad.
One quote in particular from the end of the Thunder's season stands out, and it came from guard Randy Foye.
"You can look Kevin in his eyes, you can hear him talk about OKC," Foye said, per ESPN.com's Royce Young, "and you know where his heart is at."
Look for Durant to team up once again with fellow star Russell Westbrook on a retooled roster to give it a go for a championship in Oklahoma City for at least one more year.
Prediction: Kevin Durant Re-signs with Thunder
Mavericks Prioritizing Hassan Whiteside and Mike Conley
ESPN.com's Stein and Tim MacMahon reported the Dallas Mavericks are keen to acquire the Miami Heat center and the veteran Memphis Grizzlies floor general to upgrade the roster in two key areas.
Both players would make a lot of sense, but as Stein and MacMahon observed, that would mean the Mavs wouldn't have enough room to retain small forward Chandler Parsons. The report stated Dallas is willing to take the risk of Parsons walking in order to land Whiteside and Conley.
The big priority here figures to be Whiteside. He still has a ton of upside to explore even after a season where he averaged 14.2 points, 11.8 rebounds and 3.7 blocks per contest.
Last offseason, the Mavs nearly lured DeAndre Jordan away from the Los Angeles Clippers before he opted to stay with his incumbent team at the last minute. A Mark Cuban-owned team isn't likely to let a similar opportunity slip for a second year in a row.
Whiteside's presence would be especially valuable for the aging Dirk Nowitzki, who could still be fresh enough on offense to thrive at age 38 with Whiteside protecting the paint.
As for Conley, his merit as a max-contract player is debatable. Dallas could instead try to re-sign Deron Williams, a serviceable starter who wouldn't cost nearly as much.
MacMahon did provide an interesting tidbit regarding Conley's interest in the Mavs:
Memphis Grizzlies general manager Chris Wallace seemed quite confident in April his team would retain Conley, however, when he said, per Chris Vernon of ESPN 92.3 FM, "We are undefeated in re-signing our core players, and we will remain so. We are going to re-sign Mike Conley."
Stein and MacMahon also noted how Memphis can offer Conley an additional fifth year on a prospective max contract since it owns his Bird rights.
Overpaying for Conley on a thin point guard market wouldn't be in the Mavs' best interest. Someone such as Jeremy Lin, Brandon Jennings, D.J. Augustin or even Greivis Vasquez could provide a lift offensively, while Whiteside's massive presence in the paint would offset any of their deficiencies on defense.
Predictions: Hassan Whiteside Signs with Mavericks; Mike Conley Re-Signs with Grizzlies
