The NBA season is nearly at an end with the NBA Finals set. But while that is going on, several teams are maneuvering and getting ready for what might be a wild free agency.
There are several interesting storylines, from whether LeBron James will leave L.A. to what the Sixers do with their cap space. The Clippers have a few decisions to make beyond Paul George; the Warriors have to figure out Klay Thompson’s contract.
These storylines and more could shift the power balance in the NBA.
Free agency for all teams begins June 30 at 6 p.m. ET.
LeBron James’ free agency will get the most eyes this offseason. In his 20th season, he averaged 25.7 points, 7.3 assists, and 8.3 rebounds while shooting a career-high 41 percent from three.
There is plenty left in the tank for James, and it is just a matter of whether he’ll be a Laker or head elsewhere. As currently constructed, Los Angeles is not at a championship level, and the Western Conference is stacked with several teams ahead of the Lakers.
James can choose to stay and hope that Rob Pelinka will build a contender around him. Or he may decide to leave for a chance to contend elsewhere. The story gets complicated with Bronny James in the 2024 draft, though. James might try to join his son if he gets drafted to the right team.
The list of contenders with the cap space needed to sign James is very short. In reality, it is only the Philadelphia 76ers. It would be tempting to join Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey and return to the Eastern Conference. They could be the Lakers’ biggest competition for LeBron’s services.
The most likely scenario is that James returns to the Lakers. But strange things happen almost every offseason.
LeBron James is one of many names on Philadelphia’s wishlist. The Sixers have been planning on cap space this offseason; it influenced what they did or didn’t do at the trade deadline. Now, they are one of the centerpieces of free agency.
It has been rumored that Paul George is at the top of the Sixers’ list, and they feel they have a realistic chance to pry him away from the LA Clippers. The latest buzz has Philly looking at a possible reunion with Jimmy Butler should he try to force his way out of Miami, and they would be willing to give him a five-year max extension.
How the Sixers use their cap space is one of the major storylines this offseason. Either land a big fish or break their cap space into smaller pieces and fill out the roster. Either way, they are at the center of the free agency market.
The other LA team is at a critical fork in the road. After agreeing to an extension with Kawhi Leonard, the Clippers have many other free agents to deal with.
The Sixers’ pursuit of George is well known. The Clippers cannot afford to lose George, not just because of what he brings to the court, but because they are so over the cap they have no way to replace him if he leaves for nothing.
Geroge is not their only free agent. After that gets sorted, they have to re-sign James Harden and decide whether to bring Russell Westbrook back.
Harden played well for the Clippers this season. They will likely re-sign him after trading for him during the regular season.
The big question is what do they do with Westbrook, who provided a good spark off the bench for the Clippers. Is that a role Westbrook is happy to play again next season, or is he looking to get a more significant role?
The Clippers will be playing in their own arena next season, but who will be on the team is still up in the air
Last season was difficult for Thompson. At one point, he lost his starting job. He was in and out of the closing lineup. He shot well from three this past season, connecting on 38.7 percent, but he averaged the fewest points since his second yeah in the NBA.
The big concern is Thompson’s field-goal percentage, which has not reached the levels it was pre-injury. Over the last three seasons, he has not shot better than 43.6 percent from the field. The previous six seasons before the injury he shot between 44.4 percent to 48.6 percent.
Steve Kerr made his thoughts absolutely clear after they lost in the play-in tournament, saying, “We need Klay back”. But it comes down to price. Thompson turned down a two-year $48-million extension and it appears both parties are far apart on a deal.
Golden State is already a second-apron team and limited with the moves it can make. If it can bring Thompson back in free agency, it will be critical at what price.
All that said, it might be a challenge if the market for Thompson explodes and becomes too pricey for the Warriors.
Malik Monk finished second in the Sixth Man of the Year race, but he could have won it had he not sprained his MCL the last few weeks of the season. He was having a career year, averaging highs in points and assists.
Even though Monk is coming off an injury, there will be a market for a guard of his caliber, especially off the bench. The Kings cannot afford to lose him. He has played the role of a reserve playmaker and has helped to keep Sacramento’s attack flowing when Fox has gone to the bench.
Monk’s past two-year, $18 million deal looks like a bargain now, and he has more than deserved a raise. Having signed just a two-year deal, the Kings only have Monk’s early bird rights, which limits them to signing him to a four-year $78-millon deal. Even though that is a healthy raise for Monk, it might be a problem if a team makes a big run at him.
A team like Orlando might be interested in making a run at Monk with a need of his playmaking and shooting.
The above are some major storylines, but these are some honorable mentions.
DeMar DeRozan has said he wants to re-sign with Chicago, but considering how the last few seasons have gone, should the Bulls invest large dollars for the star wing player or look to get younger.
The Orlando Magic were the darlings of the East, having arrived early to the party. They pushed the Cleveland Cavaliers to seven games, but as mentioned above, they are in the market for improving their guard play.
Two former Raptors are up for new contracts with their new teams. It has felt like a forgone conclusion that both Pascal Siakam and O. G. Anunoby will re-sign with their new teams, but should there be issues during the negotiations, several teams will look to jump into the fray.