NBA: Where Will Free Agents Sign?
The NBA offseason has already been enticing, as we've seen the Philadelphia 76ers and Boston Celtics swap the No. 1 and No. 3 picks, who were used on Markelle Fultz and Jayson Tatum, respectively, while the Los Angeles Lakers traded D'Angelo Russell and Timofey Mozgov to the Brooklyn Nets, just days before they selected Lonzo Ball with the No. 2 pick.
Meanwhile, the Minnesota Timberwolves turned Kris Dunn, Zach LaVine, and the No. 7 pick into Jimmy Butler and Justin Patton. And we can't forget about the Atlanta Hawks dealing Dwight Howard to the Charlotte Hornets.
But even with all of that, and more, happening in a few short weeks, we haven't even come close to the frantic drama that will take place next month, beginning on July 1, when free agency officially starts. There are a ton of quality pieces on the market, including a handful of All-Star caliber athletes, and our NBA Staff is here to predict where said players end up at the start of next season. Here we go.
Gordon Hayward (Utah Jazz - SF): Hayward averaged 21.9 points and 5.4 rebounds per game last season, leading the Utah Jazz to a 51-31 record. He's the best true free agent on the market, and there are several teams lining up to pitch their organizations, headlined by the Celtics, Miami Heat, and of course, the Jazz.
Charles Post: Boston Celtics.
Blake Stoll: Boston Celtics.
Chase Zayac: Miami Heat.
Bosuntunde Aduroja: Boston Celtics.
Ariun Paige: Boston Celtics.
Billy Collins: Boston Celtics.
Chris Paul (Los Angeles Clippers - PG): Paul put up 18.1 points and 9.2 assists with the Los Angeles Clippers last year, before being bounced in Round 1 by the Jazz. He's struggled to advance in the playoffs for his entire career, but there's no doubting that Paul is a Hall of Fame player. In the latter years of his career, he's looking for a championship opportunity. According to reports, he'll meet with the Clippers, Denver Nuggets, Houston Rockets, and San Antonio Spurs.
Charles Post: Los Angeles Clippers.
Blake Stoll: San Antonio Spurs.
Bosuntunde Aduroja: Los Angeles Clippers.
Ariun Paige: Los Angeles Clippers.
Billy Collins: San Antonio Spurs.
Blake Griffin (Los Angeles Clippers - PF): Griffin scored 21.6 points and grabbed 8.1 rebounds per game in 61 games with the Clippers, and even though he is a perennial All-Star and was the No. 1 pick in the 2009 NBA Draft, he's battled serious injuries over the last two years. The Celtics, Clippers, Heat, Nuggets, Oklahoma City Thunder, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Portland Trailblazers are potential destinations.
Charles Post: Oklahoma City Thunder.
Blake Stoll: Portland Trailblazers.
Chase Zayac: Boston Celtics.
Bosuntunde Aduroja: Los Angeles Clippers.
Ariun Paige: Los Angeles Clippers.
Billy Collins: Minnesota Timberwolves.
Kyle Lowry (Toronto Raptors - PG): Lowry has been half of one of the NBA's best backcourts over the last three years, alongside DeMar Derozan, and last year, Lowry scored 22.4 points and 7.0 assists per night, but according to multiple reports, he's unlikely to re-sign with the Toronto Raptors. Other possible landing areas are the Dallas Mavericks, Jazz, Nuggets, New Orleans Pelicans, Rockets, Spurs, and Timberwolves.
Charles Post: Minnesota Timberwolves.
Blake Stoll: Houston Rockets.
Chase Zayac: Houston Rockets.
Bosuntunde Aduroja: Philadelphia 76ers.
Ariun Paige: Toronto Raptors.
Billy Collins: Minnesota Timberwolves.
Paul Millsap (Atlanta Hawks - PF): Millsap is one of the NBA's quietest All-Stars, but he's been productive every season for a decade, and now it's time to get paid max-contract money. There are a lot of options for Millsap, and it was reported that the Atlanta Hawks were attempting to sign-and-trade him, before he left during free agency. Some places that would welcome Millsap are the Chicago Bulls, Celtics, Heat, Jazz, Nuggets, Timberwolves, and I'm guessing the Hawks would like to have him back.
Charles Post: Miami Heat.
Blake Stoll: Denver Nuggets.
Chase Zayac: Minnesota Timberwolves.
Bosuntunde Aduroja: Houston Rockets.
Ariun Paige: Miami Heat.
Billy Collins: Utah Jazz.
Jrue Holiday (New Orleans Pelicans - PG): Holiday is one of the better point guards in the league, averaging 15.4 points and 7.3 assists per game last season, on an underachieving Pelicans squad. He's probably on the way out, and he'll have his eye on the Brooklyn Nets, New York Knicks, Mavericks, Nuggets, and more.
Charles Post: Denver Nuggets.
Blake Stoll: Dallas Mavericks.
Chase Zayac: Dallas Mavericks.
Bosuntunde Aduroja: New Orleans Pelicans.
Ariun Paige: Denver Nuggets.
Billy Collins: New Orleans Pelicans.
Danilo Gallinari (Denver Nuggets - SF): Gallinari doesn't get a ton of love but he's been at least a 15.0 points per game scorer for 5-out-of-8 seasons, including 18.2 points and 5.2 rebounds per game in 2016-17. He'll have plenty of suitors that need a wing that can score consistently from the perimeter, and he can do just that. The Celtics, Clippers, Heat, Rockets, and others will chase the veteran.
Charles Post: Houston Rockets.
Blake Stoll: Denver Nuggets.
Chase Zayac: Denver Nuggets.
Bosuntunde Aduroja: Dallas Mavericks.
Ariun Paige: Brooklyn Nets.
Billy Collins: Brooklyn Nets.
Serge Ibaka (Toronto Raptors - PF): Ibaka put up 14.8 points and 6.8 rebounds per game, partly with the Raptors, after being traded mid-season. He is one of the best power forwards in the game, mainly because of his ability to defend inside and score from the outside. The Clippers, Heat, Jazz, Nuggets, Raptors, and Rockets are all interested.
Charles Post: Toronto Raptors.
Blake Stoll: Toronto Raptors.
Chase Zayac: Toronto Raptors.
Bosuntunde Aduroja: Toronto Raptors.
Ariun Paige: Toronto Raptors.
Billy Collins: Los Angeles Clippers.
Pau Gasol (San Antonio Spurs - C): Gasol is a Hall of Fame player and he's on the last legs of his career, but he's still be valuable over the last couple of seasons, averaging 12.4 points and 7.8 rebounds for the Spurs last year. The Hawks, Heat, Mavericks, Memphis Grizzlies, Rockets, and others could give Gasol a call during the offseason.
Charles Post: San Antonio Spurs.
Blake Stoll: San Antonio Spurs.
Chase Zayac: San Antonio Spurs.
Bosuntunde Aduroja: San Antonio Spurs.
Ariun Paige: San Antonio Spurs.
Billy Collins: San Antonio Spurs.
Dwyane Wade (Chicago Bulls - SG): Wade scored 18.3 points and 3.8 assists per game with the Bulls last season, but now with Butler on his way to Minnesota, he'll likely seek a buy-out in order to become an unrestricted free agent. The Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers, Charlotte Hornets, Heat, and Spurs are places Wade might end up.
Charles Post: Cleveland Cavaliers.
Blake Stoll: Chicago Bulls.
Chase Zayac: Miami Heat.
Bosuntunde Aduroja: Chicago Bulls.
Ariun Paige: Chicago Bulls.
Billy Collins: Chicago Bulls.
Photo Credit: Gambling Sites.
