In his latest article for Bleacher Report, Howard Beck looks ahead to an upcoming offseason that figures to feature a four-team, big-market battle for many of the NBA’s star free agents. The Lakers, Clippers, Knicks, and Nets aren’t the only four clubs that will have the cap space necessary to add one or two maximum-salary players, but they’re the clubs most frequently cited as top destinations for those stars.
While the Knicks and Lakers are popular choices to land marquee free agents, Beck asked 10 executives and scouts to evaluate and rank those four New York and Los Angeles teams based on basketball considerations( such as roster, coaching staff, front office, and ownership), and seven placed the Nets and Clips in the top two. Eight ranked the Knicks last.
As Beck explains, the Lakers and Knicks are viewed with skepticism because of doubts about their young prospects, a lack of faith in the Lakers’ management duo of Magic Johnson and Rob Pelinka, and the poor reputation of Knicks owner James Dolan.
“Brooklyn and the Clippers have a decided advantage over the two marquee names because they’ve done far more in the last few years to position themselves to be sustainable than either New York or the Lakers,” one veteran GM told Beck.
Still, many Lakers and Knicks rivals wouldn’t necessarily be surprised to see those clubs do well in free agency, given the history and “mystique” attached to the two franchises.
“If the Knicks and Lakers get the guys, it means mystique and market really will matter more [than which franchise is run the best],” one GM said. “That’s terrifying.”
Here’s more from Beck’s piece, which is worth checking out in full:
- LeBron James tells Beck that this will be a “critical summer” for him and the Lakers, and he fully intends to help with recruiting stars to Los Angeles. “I will be as active as I need to be for this franchise to get better. That’s why I came here. I came here to win,” James said. “And obviously, we need to get better, as far as our personnel. We have an opportunity to get better. And there’s a lot of talent out there, and a lot of guys that can help our franchise. So I’ll be as active as I need to be for us to get better and go from there.”
- One assistant GM is skeptical that any star wings or point guards will want to team with LeBron, suggesting that the team will have to focus on star bigs. Rivals also view the Lakers as behind the curve in areas such as analytics, sports science, and player development, according to Beck. Still, the “glamorous sheen” attached to the franchise can’t be overlooked. “The Lakers can show up with a dead body in the room and not get arrested,” a rival official said. “It’s just the nature of the business we are in that they are perceived in this holy-grail-type situation.”
- According to Beck, rival executives around the NBA are nearly uniform in their belief that Kevin Durant will end up with the Knicks this summer. While no one knows for sure yet, “virtually everyone believes he’s leaving the Warriors,” Beck writes.
- Beck adds that it’s also “considered a given in NBA circles” that Durant and Kawhi Leonard won’t seriously consider the Lakers.
- Despite a widespread belief that the Knicks will land Durant, people around the NBA have far more praise for their cross-town rivals, Beck writes. “I think they’ve turned around the Brooklyn era,” a scout said of the Nets. “They’re one or two steps ahead of the Knicks.” Another executive offered the following assessment: “Who would want to go play with the Knicks? Who are your teammates? [Kevin] Knox isn’t even that good.”
Kemba, Kevin, and Zion to the Knicks.
Talk about a quick turnaround.
Max money for some second- or third-tier free agents and being mediocre for perpetuity is more likely.
The mavs were being talked about as a free agent destination. How much less attractive do they become if this KP thing isnt resolved by the summer?
If the Clippers add 2 max contracts they will be the best team in the west
What is the basis for all the belief in Durant going to NYC?
Market size, need for a star, cap room…take your pick. And those are just off the top of my head. I’m sure there are more detailed reasons.
Warriors can give him the most money and the warriors don’t care about how much they have to spend, so we will see, but yes most people can see why moving to NY would be so tempting
North Cali is a huge market… Anyway there’s the Nets… Has to be something else. Like joining Irving. But if someone knows that, why not say that?
Its more the NBA wants him to go to the Knicks. If he goes to the east coast it will be Washington so he can be closer to home. Watch him resign with GS.
I’m sure the NBA execs know more than I do, but I think Durant will be looking for a situation where he can push a team over the top and win some playoff games. Question is, are the Knicks that team? IMHO, they would need to recruit/draft some good talent to surround him with if that were to happen.
With all of the cap room available this offseason, there are going to be some BAD deals given out. It’s won’t be quite as bad as three years ago, but I have a feeling that in the 2020-21 season, we will be looking at a lot of immovable deals again.
There are significantly better players about to become free agents than 2016. These are superstars. 2016 was average starters
Teams may turn to big money for average starters when the star supply runs out… I doubt the NBA as a whole has ever had so much capspace money available. Teams have been not spending & offering short-term contracts that end in 2019.
NY is second only to LA as far as terrible places to live goes.
Sorry to disagree dude, but LA is a pretty awesome place to live… NYC not so much, right?
If you have money there’s not many better places to live than LA.
200k a year type money yea
I’ve lived in both LA and NYC and they both have great and terrible things about them. In LA the weather is great and if you don’t have to travel far for work it’s a great place to live. When I lived in Huntington Beach and worked in Irvine it was great. When I lived in North Hollywood and worked in Korea Town it was hell. In NYC there is way too many things to do which is why Noah said he’s too lit to play in NY. Best public transportation in the world. Both cities have some of the most beautiful women you’ll ever see but in NY it’s much easier to meet people. Much better restaurants in NY although the Mexican food in LA is amazing. Both cities are made for people with serious money. I live in BK now and sometimes Manhattan is too hectic, expensive, crowded, etc it just feels good to be there temporarily. Oh and LA the air is like brown. When you climb up Griffith Park or the San Gabriels you really see it.
“that’s terrifying” said the small market GM as he somehow just realized market size matters.
I think the consensus is that KD, Klay, Kawhi will say no to LAL. So Kyrie/Kemba, Jimmy, or Boogie. If they want a Top-Tier player, they would need to trade for one. So of the non-contenders… you have Kevin Love, Bradley Beal, Mike Conley, KAT, AD.
It would take a magic ping pong ball, all of their young players, and probably taking back Teague’s contract or Wiggins’ contract to get KAT. Minn is poorly managed, only way I could see it happening. Pretty unlikely tho.
Supposing they signed no premier guy… they could put together a 3’s only squad.
Bojan – 42.7% 3s
JJ – 39.2%
Ross – 37.4%
Lopez – 37.2%
Matthews – 38%
Collison – 41.8%
Green – 45.2%
Curry – 45.1%
defense is overrated…
odd that players don’t want to chase a ring with lebrona? next yrs circus will be a joke
Durant is 30, next year 31. He’s is in win now mode. Zion will be great in the NBA in 3-4 years. If Durant was 25, Zion would be a draw.