Front office executives around the NBA, even on probable playoff teams, are already looking ahead to 2019’s free agent period, according to Brian Windhorst of ESPN.com, who notes that next summer’s group of star free-agents-to-be is generating plenty of early interest.
As Windhorst details, executives believe that many of the top players in 2019 free agency are viable candidates to change teams. In 2018, LeBron James signed with a new team, but most of the league’s other elite free agents, such as Kevin Durant, Chris Paul, and Paul George, re-signed with their current clubs. In 2019, Durant, Kawhi Leonard, Jimmy Butler, and DeMarcus Cousins are all viewed as at least decent bets to change teams, particularly since there will be so much cap room available around the NBA.
Teams are also keeping a close eye on Anthony Davis and Kyrie Irving, per Windhorst. Davis can’t reach free agency until 2020, but will be eligible for a super-max extension in 2019. If the Pelicans struggle at all this season or if Davis doesn’t immediately sign that extension with New Orleans, potential trade suitors for the star big man will be calling the Pelicans.
As for Irving, he has verbally committed to re-signing with Boston, but nothing is set in stone yet — plus, the Celtics would likely be reluctant to put a five-year max offer on the table if the star point guard battles injuries again, which could change the equation.
Circling back to Durant and the Warriors, Windhorst also observes that many people around the league think 2018/19 will be the last season that the team’s current core remains together. Durant is considered more likely to leave than Klay Thompson, but execs also wonder about Draymond Green‘s future, Windhorst notes.
Green will be extension-eligible again next offseason in advance of his 2020 free agency, and could even qualify for a super-max extension if he earns All-NBA honors. The versatile big man has talked about having taken a discount on his last deal and suggested that he doesn’t intend to do so again this time around.
We’re still more than eight months away from the 2019 free agent period getting underway, but with so much cap room available and so many big-name free agents potentially in play, it figures to be the subject of a ton of speculation throughout the 2018/19 season.
Green is on some serious medication if he thinks his 4 years at 20 contract was a discount
He’s on some good medication because he’s worth at least 140 mil 2020.
No one is giving that to a 30 yr old Draymond.
I would, his game translates until
He’s 35-36. A lot of what he does is fundamentals and effort.
“Fundamentals and effort” should never translate into big longterm contracts. The NBA is a talent-driven league. Just ask Joakim Noah.
Lol thank god you’re not a GM.
Lakers aren’t getting anyone next summer. Durant and Klay should re-sign just to make everyone mad lmaoo, Warriors 3-4 more chips.
Would love to see an NBA franchise go broke due to self imposed luxury tax hikes lol.
Fck it who cares, all the championships will be worth it.
The Warriors get a minimum of $35mm from season ticket holders to keep their seats every year. The arena and the championships keep them making money. Their was an article on it. These guys read an article and if it doesn’t say what they want, they ignore it. I read today if the Lakers don’t get a free agent this summer, they’ll push for Anthony Davis. Problem is they’d have to trade Ingram, Kuzma, Hart and the young guys to match salaries. (These Laker guys don’t understand this). The newly signed misfits wouldn’t be eligible to be traded for 3 months. I’ll be laughing so hard I’ll be bouncing off the walls when they lose out on Kawhi, Thompson, and Durant.
There must be a solution to this supermax
Contract and super team
No one will beat the warriors comes Jan
If all five players are healthy
90% three peat for warriors
Warriors!!!! Steph Curry Finals MVP lets get it!!
Those days are over for Curry. Durant is the man for GS now.
Have you watched the first 4 games? Curry looks pretty sharp.
This will be 4 championships in 5 years LeBron fans, but who is counting. For the media who says Durant is going to New York, I have 2 words, James Dolan. He can chose being miserable in New York for 4 years versus being happy with his friends and making more money for the next 5.
Pelicans have been hammering everyone so far this year and Kyrie committed, quit trying to make these guys leaving a thing.
Kyrie is going to the Knicks bud, don’t believe in words.
I actually think that it will be the Celtics that balk at paying him that drive things instead of Kyrie wanting to go somewhere else.
But I think Kyrie is overrated, injury prone, and not committed enough to basketball. Super talented, but I don’t think his talent will hold up over the length of that deal.
He won LeBron a championship though.
He never sniffed the playoffs without LeBron… and hes not the best player on the Celtics. Celtics are contenders for a title, only reason they won’t trade him for picks.
He was only 2 years in. He led them last year to the best record in the league until he got hurt.
He took the celtics to the playoffs last year before opting to miss them. Are you the Joffrey of basketball history?
He had knee surgery dude, like he fractured the knee cap with the Cavs in the playoffs. LeBron wanted him to keep playing. These LeBron obsessed fans won’t give Kyrie a break.
But the LeBron lovers will never admit it.
Nebrasketball nailed it.
He is better on that Celtics team though b/c of their defense
I think the Warriors will be together at least 1 more year after this. They’re going to play in that new building. After that is a different question
by joining the warriors it’s safe to assume durrant extended his career 2-3 yrs – on a nightly basis he’s not required to do the heavy lifting. plus he got a bunch of rings with a great group of teammates.
There are good players in a $20+mil plus range also. The Cavs can afford one in that range once 3 vets on partial last-year salaries are waived.
Based on their play so far, it looks like they will protect their firstrounder also.
With that, and hustling youngsters, and such a contract-skirmish going on, and hopefully Love still on board… the Cavs will get better than what they usually get in free agency.
Which is, in this century, by my count, by merit:
Lebron James 2014, 2.Larry Hughes 2005,
3.Mo Williams 2008, 4.Drew Gooden 2004,
5.(tie) a lot of past-their-primes.
DJordan or PMillsap would look good there, and a tall PG to complement Sexton like MBrogdon, DRussell, SDinwiddie, or DWright.