For the rest of the regular season and postseason, Hoops Rumors is taking a closer look at players who will be free agents or could become free agents this offseason. We consider whether their stock is rising or falling due to their performance and other factors. Today, we’re focusing on a handful of Southeast players.
P.J. Tucker, F, Heat
2021/22: $7MM
2022/23: $7.35MM player option
Stock: Up ⬆️
Tucker will turn 37 years old in May, and there aren’t many non-stars in the NBA who could realistically turn down a $7.35MM guarantee at that age. Tucker might be in position to do so though. He has been everything the Heat hoped for this season, starting 56 games, playing stellar defense, and knocking down a career-high 44.9% of his three-point attempts. If that performance carries over to the postseason and he plays a key role in a deep playoff run, Tucker could realistically command one more multiyear contract this summer.
Mohamed Bamba, C, Magic
2021/22: $7.57MM
2022/23: RFA
Stock: Up ⬆️
Entering 2021/22, Bamba was facing a make-or-break year. He had battled injuries and failed to take major steps forward in his first three seasons after being drafted sixth overall in 2018. If this season had resembled his first three, he would’ve been hard-pressed to find more than a minimum-salary deal during his upcoming free agency.
Bamba has responded to the challenge, starting 52 games so far for a rebuilding Magic team and establishing new career highs in PPG (10.2), RPG (7.9), BPG (1.8), and MPG (26.1), among other categories. While he hasn’t yet reached the level that some envisioned when he was drafted, his ability to protect the rim and hit the occasional three-pointer (34.5% on 3.6 attempts per game) should make him a popular target for teams in need of a center this offseason.
Bamba will be a restricted free agent if Orlando extends him a $10.1MM qualifying offer. I expect the Magic will do so unless they don’t see Bamba as part of their future.
Thomas Bryant, C, Wizards
2021/22: $8.67MM
2022/23: UFA
Stock: Down ⬇️
Bryant hasn’t been bad since returning to action following his recovery from a torn ACL, but he hasn’t been the same player he was prior to the injury in 2019-21, when he averaged 13.4 PPG and 7.0 RPG with a .411 3PT%.
The Wizards have a -11.7 net rating when Bryant plays this season, compared to a -1.2 mark when he doesn’t. And there’s no guarantee he’ll see consistent minutes the rest of the way if Kristaps Porzingis stays healthy — Bryant was a DNP-CD in Porzingis’ Wizards debut on Sunday.
Gorgui Dieng, F/C, Hawks
2021/22: $4MM
2022/23: UFA
Stock: Down ⬇️
The Hawks presumably envisioned Dieng being a regular part of the frontcourt rotation when they used part of their mid-level exception to sign him last summer. And for a while, he was.
Dieng played in 28 of Atlanta’s first 33 games, but following a stint in the health and safety protocols and the emergence of Onyeka Okongwu, his role has all but disappeared. Dieng has only appeared in 12 of the team’s last 30 games, logging more than eight minutes just three times during that stretch. At this point, it’s hard to imagine the 32-year-old getting another offer above the minimum this summer.
Cody Martin, G/F, Hornets
2021/22: $1.78MM
2022/23: RFA
Stock: Up ⬆️
Cody’s twin brother Caleb Martin has gotten more press for his breakout year in Miami, but Cody has also taken his game to another level this season. He has averaged career highs virtually across the board, putting up 8.1 PPG, 4.1 RPG, 2.5 APG, 1.3 SPG and a .465/.406/.692 shooting line while playing an important role in Charlotte’s rotation.
While he’s probably not in line for a massive payday, Cody has assured himself of a qualifying offer (it’ll likely be worth $2.23MM) and should have some leverage to negotiate a multiyear deal with the Hornets, who won’t want to lose him in unrestricted free agency in 2023.
My predictions:
PJ Tucker: accepts his player option to stay in Miami
Mo Bamba: Magic don’t try to keep him and he leaves for a 1 or 2-year contract for around 5 mil a year
Thomas Bryant: Leaves and signs somewhere for a single year minimum
Gorgui Dieng: Goes unsigned until preseason/training and signs with a championship contender for veteran depth
Cody Martin: Signs 4 year contract to stay in Miami, unless a grater deal is offered
TBryant definitely worth more than the minimum & Cody is the one still in Charlotte, Caleb is in Miami
I feel like Thomas Bryant just needs to take a year to improve his value
No doubt Pj is staying, guys like him and Bobby Portis are staying till they get the early bird or full bird rights and their team can pay them appropriately above the cap
Hope Monk follows the same path but it would take a lot of {blind} faith
Funny how Bamba shoots the 3 ball better than Turner, but everybody says that Turner is a stretch 5 & here it says that Bamba can hit the occasional 3… seems a bit biased as well as wrong right?
Gorgui was only signed to hold down the backup 5 spot while Onyeka was recovering from his shoulder surgery. Once he came back Dieng’s job was done for the most part. This was always gonna be his last payday & I’m sure he understood that before the season started. Delon Wright’s value is a lil harder to ascertain tho. Id say it’s up, primarily bc of what he does as a defender. I could see plenty of teams willing to spend most or even all of their MLE on him this summer but I’m hopeful he runs it back with the Hawks
The Rockets or Pistons would be smart to offer Bamba a contract. He’s a young and big, long center. Good mobility for a guy his size. Has a chance to be special on D. Putting up nice numbers right now.
El Don with a good point. Yeah there is always bias in the media. Makes you wonder right !!!!!!
More centers than chairs available when the music turns off here the next 2~3 years
A player should always make as much as they can but likewise a GM should always try and exploit a market when they can
Portland resigning a guy like Nurk for around 15 AAV makes no sense to me today where they stand and how the market is going to play out
Orl’ and Bamba are an interesting situation tho, am curious to see how that one plays out
I think Gm’s will have an easy time fitting their starting C under the MLE the next couple years, no need to make firm commitments on fringy types
The landscape will look very similar to what NFL rbs are in currently