NBA Rumors: 10 Bold Free Agent Movement Predictions for the Summer
NBA free agent rumors are starting to slowly swirl as we head down the final stretch of the season. It's time to start figuring out who is going to land where.
A lot of it is going to depend on the NBA's labor situation, but we've taken 10 of the bigger names on the free agent market and handicapped where they are going to go. These are names like Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph, who both come off of the books this year.
Who do you want your team to sign this offseason? Leave it in the comments.
No. 10: J.R. Smith to New Orleans
1 of 10
If J.R. Smith doesn't think he's going to be back in Denver, I'll have to agree with him.
Not only that, but he's been at odds with Denver coach George Karl over the years, and despite his production, it doesn't seem like a great fit anymore. However, a place that might work is New Orleans. We all know the Hornets are trying to build around Chris Paul and keep him in town, and bringing in Smith, who can drain threes with the best of them, would be a great move.
David West may not be back, but there's no reason the Hornets can't find ways to build a contender without him.
Complicating things will be the ownership situation in New Orleans and the league's involvement. That should be something to keep your eyes on as we head into the offseason.
No. 9: Michael Redd to Cleveland
2 of 10
Cleveland is clearly in rebuilding mode and struggling on offense.
The Cavaliers have salary cap room this offseason, and a cost-effective move could be Michael Redd, who is hitting the market after two major knee injuries. There is no way Redd will get a huge deal again, but there's no reason he can't sign a one-year deal with a team like Cleveland to try and prove his worth to the league.
Cleveland could certainly use the offense. For the right price, it's worth a gamble. Some contenders may be interested, but it would be hard for Redd to prove his value in a bench role. Furthermore, it seems like the type of move the Cavaliers would make, kind of like the Baron Davis deal. A one-year deal would extend things further to when Cleveland has a ton of cap space.
No. 8: Jason Richardson to Memphis
3 of 10
Jason Richardson and the Orlando Magic are talking about a new contract according to reports, but the sides are far apart.
Orlando has guys that can shoot the ball, but Richardson is certainly one of the better ones on the roster. The Magic would love to have him, but so would a lot of teams. Memphis is looking to get out from under O.J. Mayo, and the Grizzlies could have a need at the shooting guard position.
Plenty of teams will be interested, but if Memphis is serious about contending, this would be a move that could form a pretty dangerous lineup.
No. 7: Yao Ming to Golden State
4 of 10
Golden State may have already tipped its hand with this one.
A report came out recently that suggested the Warriors will be in pursuit of Yao Ming and possibly Greg Oden in the offseason. The Warriors have plenty of offense; the team just has no real interior presence to speak of.
I'm not sure Houston will be up for more of the same with Yao's injury-prone nature, but the Warriors could take the plunge.
No. 6: Andrei Kirilenko to New Jersey
5 of 10
This is one that has been starting to brew for a while now.
Andrei Kirilenko played for New Jersey owner Mikhail Prokhorov's Russian team before coming to the NBA. Therefore, it's natural to believe that with that connection in place, the two sides could come to an agreement on a deal.
Furthermore, the Nets inquired about Kirilenko at the deadline, only to end up trading for Deron Williams instead.
No. 5: Marc Gasol to Memphis
6 of 10
Marc Gasol has emerged as a solid big man in Memphis. The Grizzlies have also made it clear they want to keep him as he becomes a restricted free agent this year.
Memphis has a ton of money coming off of the books, as I noted earlier, and Gasol is clearly a major part of the team's plan to build a contender. It seems all but certain that Gasol will stay in Memphis and continue to build towards a title.
It would certainly be a great signing by the Grizzlies.
No. 4: Caron Butler to New Orleans
7 of 10
Caron Butler is going to look to cash in this offseason, but it all depends on his knee.
Butler has said he wants to stay in Dallas and believes the Mavericks will re-sign him at the end of the year, but I'm not so sure about that. Dallas tried to move him at the deadline, and Tayshaun Prince could be a really viable option for the Mavericks.
Dallas will surely be interesting, but a team like New Orleans, who will want to keep Chris Paul in town, could use a guy like Butler to help make the Hornets look more attractive to the All-Star point guard.
No. 3: Tayshaun Prince to Dallas
8 of 10
It's no secret that Dallas wants Tayshaun Prince.
The Mavericks pushed hard to trade for Prince before the trade deadline, but the Pistons wouldn't budge. Caron Butler's contract is coming off of the books, and Prince has said he would love to play for a championship again.
It all adds up for the Mavericks to make a run at Prince, but there will be multiple suitors.
No. 2: David West to New Jersey
9 of 10
David West has expressed concern about the state of the New Orleans Hornets and his future with the team is highly in doubt.
A team that will be looking to make a splash is New Jersey. The Nets just traded for Deron Williams and will want to show him that they're serious about keeping him in town and putting a winning team around him in Brooklyn.
West would go a long way towards proving that.
No. 1: Zach Randolph to Orlando
10 of 10
Zach Randolph has had a monster season in Memphis, but I don't see him back with the Grizzlies.
The Orlando Magic tried to trade for Randolph at the trade deadline, but there wasn't really any room to get a deal done. The Magic could really use another big man to pair with Dwight Howard. With $14 million-plus in salary coming off of the books, Orlando could make a move for the big man.
However, it all depends on whatever the next salary cap number is.
