Throughout the season, Hoops Rumors takes a closer look at players who will be free agents or could become free agents this off-season. We examine if their stock is rising or falling due to performance and other factors. This week, we take a look at players from the Pacific Division:
Nicolas Batum, Clippers, 32, PF/SF (Up) – Signed to a one-year, $2.56MM deal in 2020
Batum had several teams interested in him last fall when Charlotte waived him and stretched out the $27.1MM remaining on his contract. He’s proven to be a bargain for the Clippers after signing for the veteran’s minimum.
Batum has been a regular presence in the rotation (28.4 MPG), serving as a “glue guy,” content to play defense and grab some rebounds without getting a lot of shot opportunities. His shooting percentage has dropped lately, but he’s still averaging a career-best 41.4% on 3-point attempts. It’s been a bounce-back season after he languished on the Hornets’ bench a year ago. He’ll get offers commensurate for a veteran role player.
Andre Drummond, Lakers, 27, C (Up) – Signed to a one-year, $794K deal in 2021
Cleveland couldn’t find a way to trade Drummond due to the $28.75MM in the final year of his contract. Once he cleared waivers, he had a choice of contenders and landed with the defending champions. It’s a tricky situation with Marc Gasol still on the roster and not thrilled about losing his starting role, but Drummond finds himself pursuing a championship for the first time in his career. If he can blend well with LeBron James and Anthony Davis once they return from injuries, the league’s most prolific rebounder can enhance his resume as he heads into unrestricted free agency this summer.
Damion Lee, Warriors, 28, SG/PG (Down) – Signed to a three-year, $4.5MM deal in 2019
Lee started 36 games for Golden State last season after the team went into tank mode. He earned his way from a two-way contract to a standard three-year deal. However, his 2021/22 salary – albeit a modest $1.9MM by NBA standards – isn’t guaranteed. It includes a partial guarantee of $500K if he’s still on the roster in mid-summer.
Lee has gotten steady minutes as a second-unit player, but really hasn’t contributed much offensively – he’s averaging 4.4 PPG over his last seven games. As a tax team, Golden State needs to fill its bench with low-cost options, so Lee could stick but the club could also seek a better scoring threat at that spot.
Frank Kaminsky, Suns, 28, PF, (Down) – Signed to a one-year, $1.88MM deal in 2020
It’s been a rough stretch for Kaminsky, who was placed under the league’s health and safety protocols at the beginning of the month. Prior to being sidelined, Kaminsky saw his playing time diminish – he averaged 3.5 PPG in 13.3 MPG during six appearances in March. Kaminsky was on Phoenix’s roster last season, had a $5MM option declined, then returned to the Suns after the Kings placed him on waivers. The ninth overall pick of the 2015 draft will find it difficult to regain his second-unit role once he returns. Kaminsky will likely have to settle for the veteran’s minimum to stick around in the league next season.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Batum is still the most impactful buyout signing of the season, and I doubt any of the others surpass him. I don’t know what happened with him last year in CHA, but he looks like the same guy he’s always been. The Clips did very little right this past off season, but in a league that places it’s highest premium on combo F’s, getting one this good for minimum was a coup.
People were talking about the Clippers so much last year, now they’re not.
I thought IBaka was one of the better fa signings as well outta Clipper town this off-season ….just hard to look past those 2 black eye contracts in Kennard and MM tho? Still baffling to me
Agree on Ibaka, as a great signing. It’s only tainted by the fact that they needed to subject themselves to the hard cap in order to sign him. It really limited their trade possibilities. MM’s overpay didn’t surprise me, it’s within the typical overpay range for a captive team (e.g., KCP, J.Harris, etc.). Kennard’s contract extension was an unforced error. I like the player, and believe he could have really helped the Clips with some of their issues. Still, zero reason to extend him in advance (unless it’s at a discount, they did it at a premium). Letting Harrell and J. Green both walk early for nothing at modest contract numbers really started the whole mess.
The only buyout player I could see rivaling the impact of Batum is Aldridge. It appears he has recognized his niche in Brooklyn and been a seamless fit for the team thus far. Although, it remains to be seen if his role diminishes once Durant returns to full health. Still, Aldridge is much more versatile than Jordan and Griffin at this stage of their respective careers
Agree. Aldridge, even if he doesn’t start (I’m surprised he has), will likely be in the closing 5 most nights. His buddy Durant turned him on a dime to BKN, and I doubt the pitch was to come and provide depth.
I like the Clippers….. West is deeper this yr, Top 4 are very good. Then Lakers, Blazers. Playoffs will be fun.
The top 5 looks good, including Portland, but after that there are a lot of questions with the Mavs, LAL, and Memphis who could all be play-in teams.
Not counting out Lakers yet. Yes they have to be healthy and that’s a real concern. Worse is them falling to 6th or lower. Then the road gets a lot harder.
Drummond up? Bad year, lost a toenail and won’t get paid as much. Well other than that.
Why wasn’t Kelly Oubre of GS mentioned here? His contract is up this year.
Athletic 3 with a good outside shot. Exciting to watch. Been grading well for the last 2 months.