On Wednesday, we published the latest iteration of our 2020 NBA free agent power rankings, with Lakers big man Anthony Davis and Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram atop the list.
Davis and Ingram have something in common, besides having been traded for one another last summer and becoming Western Conference All-Stars together in February — neither player is likely to change teams this fall when he reaches the open market.
Davis will be an unrestricted free agent, but there’s no compelling reason for him to leave Los Angeles. The Lakers were the team he wanted to join when he first requested a trade out of New Orleans, and his first year in L.A. has been a massive success. Despite the unusual circumstances created by the coronavirus pandemic, the Lakers remain in position to secure the No. 1 seed in the West and are one of a handful of teams with a legit chance to win the 2020 championship.
Ingram, meanwhile, will be a restricted free agent at season’s end, meaning the Pelicans will have the opportunity to control the process by matching any offer sheet he signs. It’s possible a rival suitor will put some pressure on the Pels if they don’t put the max on the table, but it’s hard to imagine a scenario in which New Orleans simply lets its rising young star get away. Sources within the Pelicans front office recently reiterated to ESPN that they consider Ingram a key cornerstone piece going forward.
If Davis and Ingram stay with their respective clubs, that means someone a little further down on our power rankings will become the top free agent to change teams this offseason.
That player seems unlikely to be Kings swingman Bogdan Bogdanovic or Timberwolves guard Malik Beasley, both of whom will be restricted. The Wizards have expressed strong interest in re-signing Davis Bertans and I’d expect the Raptors to work just as hard to retain Fred VanVleet, but perhaps an exorbitant outside offer could sway one of them away from his incumbent team?
How about Clippers center Montrezl Harrell or Thunder forward Danilo Gallinari? The Clips already have $109MM in guaranteed money on next season’s cap and may be reluctant to spend big to retain all three of their key frontcourt free-agents-to-be (Harris, Marcus Morris, and JaMychal Green). Oklahoma City, meanwhile, is positioned for a possible rebuild in 2021 and might not view Gallinari as part of its future plans.
Joe Harris (Nets), Serge Ibaka (Raptors), Morris (Clippers), Jerami Grant (Nuggets), Christian Wood (Pistons), and Paul Millsap (Nuggets) are among the next unrestricted free agents on our list who are candidates to change teams if the right opportunity materializes.
We want to know what you think. Who do you believe will be the best free agent to change teams this fall? Do you expect a lot of movement among top free agents, or do you think most of them are more likely to stay with their current clubs? If they do change teams, where do you see them landing?
Head below to the comment section to weigh in with your thoughts!
Anyone think Campazzo comes over? I think he could be a sleeper FA signing.
Only guarantee I can give is that Anthony Davis doesn’t give the Knicks heat or bulls or any team with space the time of day !
There’s a 0% chance Anthony Davis leaves the Lakers this offseason. When you give up 5 or 8 guys or whatever it was you expect to have a conversation with the man and ask him to stay at least a second year. That’s a no-brainer considering the cost involved to get Davis to LA.
Absolutely 100% he stays just as everyone thinks. I’m not saying anything new. What people may not realize is that the conversation happened. Absolutely. Is it legal, no
It’s unlikely to steal the FAs from Nets, Clippers and Raptors. Nets and Clippers are planning to trade for a star level player.
But did you ever hear there is a team name called Knicks?
The “criminals” know how to break your bank
How about offering contracts like this?
Harrell 4 years 120 million
VanVleet 4 years 109 million (Al Horford contract)
Ibaka 3 years 75 million
Harris 4 years 70 million
Raptors will pay neither Ibaka nor FVV stupid monies like that. Let them go to other teams for that monies.
Ibaka wants to stay 4 years 60 MM
FVV , no more than 20 MM. replace him with Dragic at 3 years for 40.
Now I am ranking the odd to change teams for top 15 players
1. JaMychal Green
2. Gallo
3. Christian Wood
4. Grant
5. Milsap
6. David Bertans
7. Harrell (has a problem with Doc Rivers?)
8. Joe Harris
9. Ibaka
10. Drummond (could opt out)
Not a bad list. I think Drummond opts in though, right?
With all the uncertainty going into the offseason I think most of the players with an option will decide to opt in, except of course for AD who will opt out in favor of a better deal from the Lakers. Whether it’s a 5-year deal for the max, or more likely a 1+1 to keep his options open since staying in LA long-term probably won’t be in his best interest.
2 trade ideas for the Knicks to get
Salary cap space 100 million
Trade Exception 37 Million
Knicks salary dump trade ideas
1. Trade Frank N, Smith Jr and Knox contracts to Hawks for a future 2nd round pick
2. Trade Randle and Mavs 2021 unprotected pick to Pistons for a future 2nd round pick
Contract remaining
Robinson 1.6 million salary
Barrett 8.2 million salary
That’s fine and dandy to dump all those guys but the reason the Knicks signed them in the first place is because the big names don’t come. You have to sign guys like Randall and Bobby Portis and whoever that third and fourth power forwards were they signed LOL. You need 15 NBA guys on your roster.
Don’t you all just love how there -is- a way for GSW to get both Giannis and AD this offseason? Like, it is not 100% off the table.
Would take some jaw dropping moves but still, not 100% never happening.
I can’t imagine how hurt everyone would be if it was Steph plus those two…
I can see Giannis and I’ve heard the talk and read the articles but I’ve heard nothing about Anthony Davis to the Warriors?
What have you heard, what do you know or you just making something up right now ? Because I haven’t heard a thing about that.
There isn’t anyway really they will get one let alone both ! What I guarantee though is neither bucks or Lakers are taking on Wiggins to make that happen for the warriors
Bertans and Beasley will probably be the two highest ranked guys to change uniforms. I also believe the Nuggets will lose somebody to FA, but I’m having a hard time deciding who would be most likely. Millsap, maybe?
Good Free agents
Nuggets 4
Clippers 4
Raptors 4