NBA Free Agents 2016: Latest Rumors and Predictions for Top Perimeter Scorers
The rumors moved quickly in the first few hours of NBA free agency, with everyone trying to lock up their targets as soon as possible.
While no deals can officially be signed until July 7, teams were allowed to officially start talking to players at 12:01 a.m. ET on July 1. Shockingly, that is about exactly when agreements start being made around the league.
The good news is this is a deep free-agent class, so as names continue to come off the board, all you have to do is look further down the list for a quality pickup. These players might be in that second tier, but they could all still make an impact. And in this market, they won't come cheap.
Eric Gordon
When healthy, Eric Gordon has shown he can be a quality scorer and elite shooter from the 2-guard position. While a little undersized at 6'4", he has averaged 16.6 points per game during his eight-year career, including 22.3 per game one year with the Los Angeles Clippers.
With his 38.3 percent three-point shooting, it's clear why teams would be interested in him.
One of those teams is the New York Knicks, who are on the brink of signing Joakim Noah, per Shams Charania of The Vertical. Marc Berman of the New York Post reported the interest in Gordon:
"According to an NBA source, Rose has reached out to Gordon, the free-agent shooting guard who’s had injury issues, but is the best 3-point shooter on the market.
Another NBA source told The Post the Knicks’ interest in the 6-foot-4 Gordon is gaining heavy traction within the organization as they desperately search for an affordable starting shooting guard.
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Derrick Rose has proved himself as a recruiter with Noah and will also do whatever he can to bring in his former AAU teammate. The front office clearly wants this as well, with Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical even going as far as calling Gordon the team's "top perimeter target."
Of course, this does come with a major risk, which Robin Lundberg of ESPN Radio outlined:
Gordon only played 45 games last year and hasn't played more than 64 since his rookie season, 2008-09. With Noah playing only 29 and Rose's susceptibility to injury, this would be a lot of money thrown around for players you can't trust to be in the lineup.
Still, it seems the Knicks are going full steam ahead with their plan of acquiring big-name talent, even if all of them were at their best in 2011.
Predicted destination: Knicks.
Dion Waiters
You don't need to light up the scoreboard to get a lot of interest in the open market.
Dion Waiters averaged just 9.8 points per game this year, but he appeared to have found his role this past season with the Oklahoma City Thunder as a quality bench scorer who can play defense and make big shots when needed.
As a result, the former No. 4 overall pick has a lot of suitors this offseason, per Dave McMenamin of ESPN:
Waiters has indicated his interest in staying in Oklahoma City, noting his comfort off the court. He was resolute when asked about whether he wanted to re-sign with the team after the Western Conference Finals, per Anthony Slater of the Oklahoman:
"Of course. Why not? Since I got here I feel as though they have helped me become a better person off the court. It’s not even about basketball. I’ve never been connected with a group of guys like this that I’m actually close to. Why not? The best fans in the world. I’m definitely looking forward to coming back.
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As a restricted free agent, the Thunder will get a chance to match any offer made, so this entire process could be moot.
On the other hand, a good-enough offer could price the Thunder out of the running. According to Alex Kennedy of Basketball Insiders, one team might attempt this strategy:
Though it would still be up to Waiters, the Sacramento Kings could provide the most money while also giving him a chance to be a featured player within the offense. Although he could expect fewer wins than he'd enjoy in Oklahoma City, the rest of the situation might seal the deal.
Predicted destination: Kings.
Chandler Parsons
After two solid years on the court for the Dallas Mavericks, Chandler Parsons is looking for a big deal this offseason. With at least two teams seriously bidding on him, it appears as though he will get it.
Tim MacMahon of ESPN.com reported a successful meeting with the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday:
"A source described Chandler Parsons as 'really impressed' with Portland's presentation, which included a four-year max offer and emphasized the Trail Blazers' vision for him. Owner Paul Allen, general manager Neil Olshey, coach Terry Stotts and star point guard Damian Lillard traveled to Los Angeles to meet with Parsons, who is intrigued by the possibility of joining a playoff team with a young core.
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Meanwhile, ESPN's Marc Stein added that the Memphis Grizzlies remain in the hunt and will all but guarantee Parsons gets his max deal:
The problem with the Grizzlies is their biggest draw might not be around much longer. Mike Conley has a lot of interest on his own from around the league and could sign elsewhere this offseason, leaving Memphis without a proven point guard and creating a tougher road to get back to the playoffs.
On the other hand, the Trail Blazers have the backcourt set, with Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum combining for 45.9 points per game last season. Parsons could fit in perfectly with his outside shooting, sliding into the starting lineup at the 3 and improving a team that reached the second round of the playoffs in 2015-16.
Portland just makes too much sense not to complete a deal.
Predicted destination: Trail Blazers.
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