Every NBA Offseason, Free Agency is one of the parts I love the most. Especially in the half hour leading up to and the half hour after it begins. So many reports consistently, of so many players switching franchises, new storylines to be told, and new beginnings for players. While this free agency class on the surface looks like nothing special, I am here to prove that wrong. The theme of this free agency class is imperfect players. If you’re anything like Bob or me as fans, you may want to steer clear of some of the headline players of this class, but there are some role players that may just make the difference for some contenders. Let’s look at some of the players to watch in this free agency class.
Kyrie Irving
As I said, imperfect. If you’ve been a reader of this blog for a while, you may know just to what extent Bob’s distaste of Kyrie Irving goes. He’s made multiple posts about Kyrie’s moronic escapades, from flip-flopping about wanting his own team to disappearing from the team at one time to refusing to take the vaccine. Kyrie has a long list of reasons for a team not to gamble on him, but some teams may just be crazy enough to take it, even with the many warnings that it DOESN’T WORK. NBA teams don’t learn. His destination? The most likely destination is, of course, re-signing with the Mavericks and giving his partnership with Luka another go. However, we’ve seen that Kyrie doesn’t care about ruining relationships with teams and if the Mavericks’ only reason to believe that Kyrie will re-sign is his loyalty to commit for a full season at least, to a team that he didn’t even choose to go to, then they need to make themselves more reasons. If he doesn’t re-sign, the Lakers and the long awaited LeBron reunion is well and truly on the cards.
James Harden
Is it time to end the James Harden in Philadelphia experiment? In my opinion, OF COURSE IT IS. If the Sixers want to commit to 2 or 3 more years of keeping on that hamster wheel with two stars who are about as inconsistent come playoff time as any two stars I’ve ever seen, they can go right ahead. Just another team for the Bucks, Celtics, and Heat not to worry about on their way to a free for all duel for the spot out of the East, go ahead. It looks like the only reason that James Harden won’t accept the player option is to negotiate a longer and more lucrative deal with Philadelphia. If he does leave the City of Brotherly Choking though, there are a number of teams who would salivate at the chance to get James Harden and solidify their ceiling in the second round. The Rockets may be the most likely candidate among them, reportedly looking to go to level 2 on the rebuild, and with so many young assets, may be able to acquire Harden in a sign and trade.
Khris Middleton
Finally, the big contract is done with, and Khris Middleton has a decision to make this offseason. Does he continue the grind in Milwaukee, being likely the third most important piece on a contender, or does he go to pastures anew? It doesn’t seem completely out of the question that he could ditch Milwaukee to unleash his full potential on his own team, with Houston sniffing around the prospect of bringing him in, but I still fully expect Middleton to renew with Milwaukee. Still scratching my head about him rejecting that $40m player option, though.
Kristaps Porzingis
Ah, my favourite wannabe All-Star is at it again, but we shan’t worry too much about this one. He WILL renew in Boston. Next.
Russell Westbrook
Aw, man. Where do I start with this man? Ever since Paul George left Oklahoma, Russell Westbrook’s career has been a disaster movie. Downed by “the shot” from Damian Lillard in his last Oklahoma City game, the second-best series-winning shot that postseason, crashed and burned in Houston, Washington, and the Lakers, scorching the earth behind him, and after less than half a season at the Clippers, is on the market again. I think his most likely destination is probably re-signing with the Clippers as I think he likes L.A., but honestly, he could go anywhere.
Fred VanVleet
Sayonara, Freddie. He’s done well in his time with the franchise, but it’s time to go. With the drafting of Gradey Dick by Toronto, Masai already seems to be preparing for life without VanVleet. Who else but Houston are in for him, and will offer him a two-year deal worth 83 MILLION DOLLARS. If the Raptors match it, either Masai is too attached to this team or he wants a sign and trade.
Draymond Green
This is finally the offseason that Draymond leaves Golden State. Draymond can finally leave Golden State of his own will, and the ultimate LeBron hugger will go only one place: The Lakers. Because the Lakers need another unpredictable big personality in the locker room just after getting rid of one.
D’Angelo Russell
D’Angelo could literally go anywhere this offseason. The Lakers want him back, but I don’t really see it happening, so I could see him joining anyone. Except the Timberwolves. Definitely one of the more interesting sagas going into Free Agency.
Nikola Vucevic
The last player I will be covering today, I remember being really high on the Bulls going into the 21/22 season. They had just signed Lonzo, Demar DeRozan, it was their first season of Vucevic, to add to a core of Zach Lavine and good role players. Then the injuries hit. Now the team is falling apart. Zach Lavine wants to leave, Lonzo hasn’t played in a year and a half, and Vucevic will be leaving. I don’t see Vucevic returning to the team next season. Houston is his most likely destination, of course, but Boston is also in the hunt for the good center they haven’t had in a while.
That’s all I wanted to rant about today. This free agency class looks more interesting than you think, and the storylines of some of the NBA’s most drama filled stars is in the balance.I’m Jim James, until next time.