NBA Free Agency 2016: Rumors and Predictions for Available Frontcourt Players
The NBA opens the free-agency floodgates on Friday when teams will promptly utilize an enhanced salary cap.
As noted by ESPN.com's Brian Windhorst, the league's cap will soar from $70 million to $94 million. Suddenly, far fewer teams are hampered by a lack of financial resources, which should create chaos on the open market.
There's plenty of cash to go around, and only one franchise will land this summer's ultimate prize, Kevin Durant. While the star forward has teams lining up merely for a meeting, there's plenty of other talented players in line to reap the rewards of the NBA's money uptick.
The rumor mill is often a deceiving place onlookers should not fully trust. In this case, however, three big men are linked to teams which make perfect sense for them. It wouldn't be surprising to see these tidbits come to fruition.
Hassan Whiteside
Free agency's biggest enigma, Hassan Whiteside will receive a massive payday despite his warts. The 27-year-old is coming off a season in which he averaged 14.2 points, 11.8 rebounds and 3.7 blocks per game for the Miami Heat.
Inconsistency and immaturity issues aside, he's too talented not to receive a fat check from someone needing a game-changing presence down low. According to ESPN.com's Marc Stein and Ramona Shelburne, the Los Angeles Lakers want to be that team:
"The Los Angeles Lakers plan to aggressively pursue Miami Heat center Hassan Whiteside when NBA free agency starts, according to league sources.
With rim protection and perimeter shooting ranking as the Lakers' foremost areas of concern heading into the open market, sources told ESPN that Whiteside has emerged as a priority target.
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Per ESPN.com's Michael Wallace, the center wishes to choose his new home once free agency officially opens on Friday. Although he broke out in Miami after toiling away on the Sacramento Kings bench and D-League, Whiteside won't award the Heat a hometown advantage
"I really don't think it's about loyalty. I think it's just about [finding] the best situation for myself," Whiteside said. "I didn't say [Miami] wasn't the best situation, but we're going to see what happens. It's not like I'm really counting the Heat out or counting on another team. It's just open."
Bleacher Report's Michael Pina strongly urged the Lakers to not sign Whiteside, arguing that he'll be too costly while not leading them into contention:
"As billboard-splashy and symbolically progressive as a Whiteside signing would be, an endless desert remains between the Lakers and a playoff spot—let alone championship contention—regardless of which free agents they acquire this summer.
With D'Angelo Russell, Brandon Ingram, Julius Randle and (presumably) Jordan Clarkson to serve as their foundation, the Lakers should make every decision with development as the primary goal. This isn't complicated.
Pay Whiteside upward of $95 million, and the entire concept of a meticulous rebuild goes out the window.
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He also cited Whiteside's me-first mentality as a hindrance to a young Lakers roster, on which he'd likely become the highest-paid player. Nevertheless, they have cash to spend and a major void to fill after Kobe Bryant's retirement. Whiteside is younger than most available players with a much higher ceiling, making him a high-upside risk the Lakers will take in hopes of escaping mediocrity.
Prediction: Whiteside signs long-term, max-contract deal with Los Angeles Lakers
The Chicago Bulls began their remodeling by trading Derrick Rose to the New York Knicks last week, and they're about to lose another former All-Star. According to Stein, Pau Gasol will enter the open market after refuting his player option:
After missing the playoffs for the first time in eight years, the Bulls are heading in a different direction. Gasol, who will turn 36 next week, isn't in a stage of his career conducive to rebuilding.
If he's searching for a contender, the San Antonio Spurs make perfect sense. On The Vertical Podcast with Chris Mannix (via Quixem Ramirez of the San Antonio Express-News), Adrian Wojnarowski labeled Gasol a "real priority" for the Spurs.
Wojnarowski said the Spurs desired the Spanish big man two years ago, when he instead signed with Chicago. In Spanish newspaper Marca (via HoopsHype), Gasol expressed admiration for the franchise and addressed the possibility of replacing legend Tim Duncan:
"There’s talk about passing of the torch with San Antonio and a hypothetical passing of the torch with Duncan. For starters, nobody knows if Tim is retiring and he’s somebody whom I have maximum respect for. In closing, I have to admit the Spurs would be an interesting option for me. I recognize I’m a fan of the way the franchise has done things over the years and the way they play basketball on the court.
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If one of them is content with riding the bench, Duncan retiring isn't necessary a prerequisite. Gasol would replace David West, who declined his option after playing out a team-friendly deal.
Before suffering a disappointing second-round loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Spurs collected a franchise-best 67 wins during the regular season. With or without Duncan, Gasol's fluid inside-out game and passing acumen would jell perfectly in San Antonio for a title run.
Prediction: Pau Gasol takes pay cut to sign two-year deal with San Antonio Spurs
Timofey Mozgov
Gasol could also follow Rose and team president Phil Jackson to the New York Knicks, who need a center after sending Robin Lopez to Chicago. But if his main goal is winning, San Antonio is clearly the superior option.
The Knicks will instead need to eschew marquee names and take a similar approach to last year, when they landed Lopez and Arron Afflalo on short-term deals. They need a center, but not someone who will take away touches from rising star Kristaps Porzingis. Rose and Carmelo Anthony will do enough of that on their own.
ESPN.com's Ian Begley tossed out a familiar but less exciting name for the Knicks, who are also pursuing another former Bull in Joakim Noah:
"The Knicks are interested in Joakim Noah, but he isn't the only big man on their radar. Another center some in the Knicks organization are high on is Timofey Mozgov, per league sources. The interest between Noah and the Knicks is strong and mutual. But Mozgov, an ex-Knick, provides an interesting alternative. With Carmelo Anthony, Derrick Rose and Kristaps Porzingis on the roster, the Knicks probably won't need a high-scoring center. Mozgov doesn't need touches and would provide mobile rim protection and rebounding.
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During his rookie campaign, the Knicks shipped Mozgov to the Denver Nuggets in a package for Anthony. A long-term project at the time, he carved out a role years later before getting traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers.
He played a pivotal role for the club during the 2014-15 season, averaging 10.6 points, 7.3 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game during the playoffs. This postseason, however, he fell out of favor with Cleveland embracing small-ball lineups. An immobile 7-footer is no longer a craved commodity, but the Knicks need a big body to replace Lopez and ease Porzingis' maturation.
Noah would offer the Knicks a hometown high-energy big man to facilitate the offense and play tough interior defense, but he's also a 31-year-old who was limited to 29 games last year. Mozgov is a younger, potentially cheaper option for a franchise that is still a ways away from serious contention.
Prediction: Mozgov rejoins New York Knicks on two-to-three year deal
