As we relayed earlier this evening, an ESPN panel was asked where they think some of the top-projected free agents of 2019 might end up next summer.
The panel believes that both Kyrie Irving and Jimmy Butler will end up with the Knicks, while Kawhi Leonard will sign with the Lakers and both Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson will remain with the Warriors in the bay area.
It would still take some doing for the Knicks to open up the cap space for a second max-salary player, but Irving and Butler have reportedly talked about teaming up, potentially in The Big Apple. Moreover, Irving is from the NYC area.
As for Leonard, he and the Lakers have been linked for a while now, with the 27-year-old star already reportedly stating his preference for Los Angeles. Additionally, the Lakers will easily have the cap room to sign Leonard after mostly signing players to one-year deals this summer.
Finally, both Durant and Thompson could be casualties of the Warriors’ luxury tax concerns, especially if the team doesn’t win it all this season and ownership sees the championship window closing, however unlikely that may be.
So, our question tonight is, which of ESPN’s five predictions is most likely to come to fruition? Irving to the Knicks, Butler to the Knicks, Leonard to the Lakers, Durant staying with the Warriors, or Thompson staying with the Warriors?
Vote below in our poll, then head to the comment section to make your case for your pick.
Trade Rumors app users, click here to vote.
In a somewhat recent interview Kalyn Thompson said he would consider giving the Warriors a hometown discount to be able to stay. Even if Warriors don’t win a championship this year I think the execs will still spend big for 2019-2020 season as that is when the Warriors new stadium opens. They won’t want to look like they are giving up on current dynasty team in the year of a new stadium. They will want strong season ticket sales.
Best pro sport free agent signing goes to
Kevin Durant
Two years
Two rings
Two MVP
Who are worst signing???
You mean to say “who has been better?”
If the Warriors win again 1 of Klay/KD will bolt to the Lakers
Or both
Or try four peat
For Kyrie: If he stays in Boston he’ll make $180MM, play with one of the 3 best coaches in the NBA, and play with a team that could be in the Finals for the next several seasons. They can trade for Jimmy Butler without hurting the team. They have a brand new training facility that Kyrie could use for his knee.
For the Knicks: They’ll have cap space for Kyrie, but not Butler. They still wouldn’t be very good. They have one of the worst owners in the NBA, and a new coach. Like Brad Stevens said he’s not talking to Kyrie about free agency. He’s letting this season talk for him. Kyrie isn’t talking to anyone about free agency. He would make $139MM in New York. Kyrie turned down the extension because he wants the extra $80MM next summer.
For Durant and Thompson, they have lucrative shoe deals in China that might help offset a contract issue. They are winning championships and making money. The new arena is the kicker. They will both want to play in it. Thompson has said he wants to play his entire career with Steph. Durant has said he’s not going anywhere. He likes winning championships.
Good points, but Durant could turn the tide by moving on & winning a title elsewhere.
The surprising espn pick though is Irving & Butler to the Knicks. I wonder what the Vegas odds are for that… that play might get pretty steep odds! I guess a number of factors are in place but still.
I check out Yahoo and Bing Sports several times a day. They have the most up to date information. Since I like Indiana and Boston, I check out the Indy Star ($1 a month) and Boston Herald (free) daily. The Chicago Tribune is free too. I know the Detroit Free Press is more business than Sports. I check out the L.A. Times for west coast information. Sports Illustrated and Sporting News are once a week. NBC Sports has good articles too. This keeps me busy. They get a lot from Yahoo and ESPN here. Like you said, ESPN likes to speculate a lot. A lot of the Kyrie talk I think is just for talk in a big media market in New York. I don’t see Kyrie wanting to play for Dolan. They have a mess.
As a Celtics fan, I’m growing more and more convinced Kyrie will bolt for the Knicks. He would gain more exposure for his brand and become more marketable while also being the number 1 on a team. A move to NY would be everything he would want.
That said, I hope Boston grass develop Rozier and extend him. The more experience and confidence he gets, the better he will be. Rozier showed he can be a superior point guard in this league and I hope he gets his shot to fully blossom and lead a team. Losing Kyrie would not be as catastrophic to Boston as people would think.
While I agree with you kyrie leaving is not that big a deal to the celts since they have enough talent, living in nyc I don’t understand why people think it necessarily means a player will all of the sudden be a bigger star.
You don’t see Porzingas as a big star to everyone do you? I can tell you in the west coast no one gives a flying F about him.
Plus kyries brand is big enough. Celtics one of main two teams in the history of the league. He’s one of only 9-10 with a signature shoe. Plus I’m sure he likes to win. Knicks are a piece of s$&( organization. Will never will. You think he and Butler are enough to move the needle? GTFOOH
Knicks can make a couple of easy moves to open up cap room for a second max contract. As for the lineup: Irving, Butler, Knox, Porzingus, and whoever their top draft pick will be next year (a top 5 I would say), along with a decent bench, I’d say the Knicks would be an improved team.
Keep in mind the auto of not only playing in NY, but also the marketing dollars that come with paying in NY on Madison Avenue. As much as NBA stars make on the court, some make more than double their salary off the court.
aura*, playing*
No way Klay leaves he’ll take less if he has to
Klay is a lock to stay in GSW
KD is almost a lock to stay in GSW
Kawhi I really have got no idea about him
Kyrie is gonna go to Knicks
Butler have no idea apart that he will not stay in Minny
Honestly think the only likely prediction is klay and KD staying put. I think Draymond and Cousins will leave first and the Warriors will maintain Steph, Klay, Durant until they find replacements. Kawhi is nore likely a Clipper than a Laker and I am not sold on kyrie to the knicks. Still holding out hope the Suns blow up and emerge as a wildcard for Kyrie and Butler
I don’t see how the Knicks have a better chance of getting Kyrie/Butler than BK Nets. Nets already have the cap space, have young talent in place, just as big a market as Knicks, and are very much a team on the rise. Atkinson is a coach players want to play for as well. Nets building a great culture
I’m surprised that Klay doesn’t have more votes, he strikes me as the most obvious one.
As for why no one is talking of Kyrie and Jimmy to the Nets Freddie, it’s simple, as much as the Knicks have long been bad, and the Nets are looking more attractive, it’s still the Knicks and Nets! The media talks Knicks, the Mecca is a draw, and let’s be honest, living in Manhattan is more appealing than Brooklyn.
Factor in that while the Nets are starting to put together a nice young roster, they don’t have Porzingis who other stars have talked about wanting to play with. Knox already looks like he’s going to be very good as well. Atkinson is a nice young coach, but Fiz gives the Knicks the most legit bench boss they’ve had since D’Antoni.
Kyrie is staying in Boston period. He is the MAN here. Al doesn’t want it and Brown and Tatum haven’t earned it yet. Hayward is a perfect fit for him as he makes baskets without needing a lot of touches. It’s all media. All Kyrie has said it dies t make sense talking extension until next year because he’s eligible for much more money. Face it. Celtics Warriors next 3 years in the finals
Boring if warriors are loosing team
Boring if warriors are winning finals