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Community Shootaround: Best Coaching Vacancy

June 5th, 2021 at 9:49pm CST by Arthur Hill

After a slow start to this year’s coaching carousel, three jobs have opened up over the past four days.

News broke Wednesday morning that Danny Ainge was stepping down as president of basketball operations for the Celtics and Brad Stevens had been selected to replace him. On Friday night, the Trail Blazers announced that Terry Stotts won’t return next year, and the Magic parted ways with Steve Clifford earlier today.

Decisions still have to be made about Scott Brooks in Washington and Nate Bjorkgren in Indiana, but for now the coaching rumors are focused on Boston, Portland and Orlando. All three jobs have some advantages as potential candidates consider their options.

The Celtics have two young foundation pieces in place with 23-year-old Jayson Tatum and 24-year-old Jaylen Brown both signed to long-term deals. Boston may try to trade Kemba Walker this summer, and a decision has to be made on free agent guard Evan Fournier. The team could also use an upgrade at center and a stronger bench, but Tatum and Brown should be enough to guarantee a playoff spot every year.

The Trail Blazers also have a solid foundation if they choose to keep it together. Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum are both under contract for the next three seasons, while Jusuf Nurkic has a partially guaranteed deal for next year. Norman Powell ($11.6MM) and Derrick Jones Jr. ($9.72MM) both have player options this summer and could be back even if they choose free agency. Portland has been to the playoffs in eight consecutive seasons, but has been knocked out in the first round four times in the past five years.

The Magic don’t have any stars in place, but they have a lot of young talent to build around. Jonathan Isaac, who is under contract through 2024/25, could develop into a franchise player if he can avoid injuries. He missed the entire season after tearing his ACL last August. Orlando is loaded with players 23 and under, including former No. 1 draft pick Markelle Fultz and recent first-round selections Cole Anthony, Chuma Okeke and Mohamed Bamba. The Magic unloaded most of their veteran talent at the trade deadline, but the future could be bright for a coach who’s willing to rebuild.

We want to get your input. Which of these situations offers the best opportunity for a new head coach? Please leave your answers in the comments section.

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Free Agent Stock Watch: Eastern Conference

June 5th, 2021 at 3:50pm CST by Dana Gauruder

Throughout the season, Hoops Rumors takes a closer look at players who will be free agents or could become free agents this offseason. We examine if their stock is rising or falling due to performance and other factors. With the playoffs in full swing, we take a look at players from the Eastern Conference:

Elfrid Payton, Knicks, 27, PG (Down) – Signed to a one-year, $4.77MM deal in 2020

Payton’s postseason role was reduced to something rarely seen in any sport – the starting lineup cameo. He played a few ineffective minutes, then never returned to the court for two games until coach Tom Thibodeau completely gave up on him. Payton started regularly all season but his post-All-Star break woes drove Knicks fans nuts. They won’t have to worry about a repeat – Payton will be an unrestricted free agent. Payton has been a starter throughout his career but it’s hard to imagine him getting much more than the veteran’s minimum to fill out someone’s bench next season.

Evan Fournier, Celtics, 28, SF (Down) – Signed to a five-year, $85MM deal in 2016

Fournier was the biggest acquisition the Celtics made at the trade deadline and they leaned on him heavily against the Nets with Jaylen Brown sidelined. Fournier averaged 15.4 PPG on 43.3% shooting from 3-point range in 33.4 MPG. Solid numbers, but he’s not the type of player who can carry a team. Fournier is expected to seek a contract similar to the one he signed with the Magic five seasons ago but is he really a $17MM a year player? There’s a general sense that Fournier may have to settle for the mid-level exception or something slightly above that figure.

Duncan Robinson, Heat, 27, SF (Up) – Signed to a three-year, $3MM deal in 2018

Robinson pumped in 24 points in Game 1 against the Bucks, then petered out the rest of the series. That won’t hurt him in restricted free agency. The Heat have to make a lot of tough decisions this offseason – one of them will be how big an offer sheet they’d be willing to match to retain Robinson. First, they’ll have to extend a $4.7MM qualifying offer but that’s a formality. During last season’s playoff run to the Finals, Robinson averaged 11.7 PPG. He’s a career 42.3% 3-point shooter and he’ll be looking for a big payday after playing on a rookie contract.

Alex Len, Wizards, 27, C (Down) – Signed to a one-year, $1.7MM deal in 2020

Len has passed through a handful of organizations over the past four seasons. He’ll be on the move again as an unrestricted free agent. Len received 40 regular-season starts from the injury-depleted Wizards after getting waived by the Raptors. His playing time shrunk throughout the first-round series against Philadelphia – he played a grand total of three minutes in the last two games. Whether or not Thomas Bryant can effectively return from his knee injury next season, Washington needs to upgrade its frontcourt. It wouldn’t be a surprise if the Ukranian-born Len explores European options.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

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Community Shootaround: Blazers Offseason

June 4th, 2021 at 9:31pm CST by Dana Gauruder

While the Lakers’ first-round flameout grabbed most of the media attention on Friday, another Western Conference franchise is facing similar questions after coming up short in the opening round.

The Trail Blazers were built for a deep postseason run and seemingly got a good draw against a Nuggets team playing without its starting backcourt. Despite the efforts of All-Star Damian Lillard, Portland lost to Denver in six games, creating a wave of uncertainty regarding the front office, coaching staff and roster.

The Trail Blazers have qualified for the playoffs in eight consecutive seasons, yet they’ve reached the conference finals just once – in 2018/19, when the Warriors swept them.

That was the only time in the past five seasons Portland has gotten out of the first round.

Lillard averaged 34.3 PPG and 10.2 APG against Denver and made 35 3-pointers but it still wasn’t enough. He was worn out and frustrated in the second half of Game 6 on Thursday as his shots stopped falling.

In an era when superstars seek greener pastures, Lillard has been unfailingly loyal to the Blazers organization. It may come to a point, perhaps this offseason, where the annual postseason disappointment finally gets to him.

It’s fair to wonder whether a shakeup is necessary in the front office and the coaching staff. President of basketball operations Neil Oshey acquired starting forwards Robert Covington in the offseason and Norman Powell at the trade deadline. But the second unit remained thin, in large part because recent draft picks Nassir Little, Anfernee Simons and CJ Elleby have made little to no impact.

Highly respected Terry Stotts has been the head coach as long as Lillard has been on the team. Does the team need a new voice and some fresh ideas to get over the hump?

Powell is expected to decline his player option in order to test the free agent market. Jusuf Nurkic’s contract is only partially guaranteed ($4MM of $12MM), though there’s no obvious replacement for him. Covington’s contract ($13MM in 2021/22) expires after next season.

The Blazers could look to trade him or CJ McCollum, but his three-year extension kicks in next season, making it difficult to break up the high-scoring backcourt.

That leads us to our question of the day: What changes should the Trail Blazers make in order to become a true title contender?

Please take to the comments section to weigh in on this topic. We look forward to your input.

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Poll: Brooklyn Nets Vs. Milwaukee Bucks

June 4th, 2021 at 12:07pm CST by Luke Adams

Three of the NBA’s four second-round matchups are set, and while the Sixers/Hawks and Suns/Nuggets series should be entertaining and competitive, the showdown between the Nets and the Bucks in the East looks like the clear headliner of round two at this point.

The Nets are the favorites to take home this year’s championship now that Kevin Durant, James Harden, and Kyrie Irving – who have combined for 27 All-Star nods, seven scoring titles, and two MVP awards over the years – are all healthy. No other NBA team can match Brooklyn’s offensive firepower, and the club made quick work of the Celtics in round one, dispatching Boston in five games.

Milwaukee, however, was one of the only teams that looked more impressive than Brooklyn since the postseason began — the Bucks’ win over Miami was the lone sweep of the first round, and it showed why this year’s squad may be more dangerous than the one that led the NBA in regular season wins in 2018/19 and ’19/20. With Jrue Holiday and P.J. Tucker now in the mix, the Bucks have a versatile, switchable defense to complement All-Stars Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton.

As John Hollinger of The Athletic writes, this series looks like an NBA Finals-caliber matchup. In fact, Hollinger predicts that whichever team wins this series will go on to win the championship, and I’m inclined to agree with him.

The Nets are the favorites, but the Bucks are one of the only teams in the NBA that could realistically hope to slow down Brooklyn’s superstar trio, according to Hollinger, who points out that the Bucks could assign Holiday to Irving, Middleton to Harden, and either Giannis or Tucker to Durant.

On the other side of the ball, the Nets’ have no obvious primary defender for Antetokounmpo if Jeff Green remains sidelined, Hollinger argues, since Giannis is too quick for most of Brooklyn’s bigs, but would likely to be able to overpower Durant.

Still, the Nets will have some advantages of their own. It remains to be seen whether Bucks center Brook Lopez will be able to hang with Brooklyn’s offensive attack, and if Lopez is forced off the floor, Milwaukee will have fewer options for smaller lineups with wing Donte DiVincenzo sidelined. While role players like Bryn Forbes and Bobby Portis provide offensive punch, the Nets would likely pick on them on defense.

Health will play a big part in this series — with DiVincenzo out for the postseason and Green potentially able to return for some or all of round two, the Nets seemingly have the injury advantage, but it’s worth noting that Irving, Harden, and Durant all missed time during the regular season due to health problems. If one of them turns an ankle or tweaks a hamstring against Milwaukee, it would quickly change the outlook of the series.

We want to know what you think. Are you picking the Nets or the Bucks to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals? How many games do you think the series will go?

Vote in our poll, then head to the comment section below to share your thoughts!

Trade Rumors app users, click here to vote.

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Poll Results: Hoops Rumors’ 2021 All-NBA Teams

June 3rd, 2021 at 8:09am CST by Luke Adams

The competition for the league’s 15 All-NBA spots was fiercer than ever in 2020/21, with tens of millions of dollars up for grabs for certain players based on the voting results. Since the NBA has already started to announce its end-of-season award winners, we wanted to give you an opportunity to vote on the All-NBA rosters for 2020/21 before they’re officially revealed.

Last Wednesday, we opened voting for the All-NBA First Team. We moved on to the Second Team last Friday, then opened the polls for the Third Team on Monday. The results of all those polls are in, so let’s check them out.

2021 All-NBA First Team

2021 All-NBA Second Team

2021 All-NBA Third Team

Your top vote-getters in the final round of polling who didn’t quite earn spots on the Third Team: Nets guard James Harden, Nets forward Kevin Durant, Pelicans forward Zion Williamson, and Pacers center Domantas Sabonis.

I think these All-NBA teams turned out pretty well, though mine would look a little different. I felt that Jimmy Butler, rather than Adebayo, was the most valuable Heat player this season, so I’d move Embiid to the Second Team and Gobert to the Third Team to open up a guard/forward spot for Butler.

I also might consider Doncic a forward to create room for Lillard on the First Team. Doncic isn’t really a forward, but I think he has a better case for the position than Embiid, and I’m not sure there’s another worthy First Team forward besides Antetokounmpo.

Additionally, even though all three Nets stars missed significant time, it seems wrong to have no Brooklyn players on the All-NBA teams this season, since the club had the league’s fourth-best regular season record and is the favorite to win a title. Durant missed over half the season and Harden played just 44 of 72 games — throw in Harden’s questionable behavior in Houston at the start of the season, and Kyrie Irving actually might have the strongest case of the three.

Irving was spectacular this season, with 26.9 PPG and 6.0 APG on an eye-popping .506/.402/.922 shooting line. Still, even he only played three-quarters of the season (54 games). Do his contributions outweigh Booker’s 25.6 PPG and 4.3 APG on .484/.340/.867 shooting in 67 games? I think the answer for me might be yes, but Booker is a fine Third Team choice.

It will be interesting to see which way the official voters go. Deciding on which positions to assign certain players could play a major role in the final results, since they’ll have a ripple effect on subsequent selections.

What do you think? Do you disagree strongly with any of these choices? Do you expect major discrepancies when the official All-NBA teams are announced? Let us know in the comment section!

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2021 NBA Free Agent Power Rankings

June 1st, 2021 at 3:09pm CST by Luke Adams

A year ago, the 2021 NBA free agent class looked absolutely loaded. But since then, several of the players who were on track to reach free agency this offseason have signed contract extensions with their respective teams, taking them off the market.

Giannis Antetokounmpo, LeBron James, Rudy Gobert, Paul George, and Jrue Holiday were among the veteran stars who went this route since last fall. Several up-and-coming stars who would have been restricted free agents in 2021 also inked long-term extensions ahead of time, including Jayson Tatum, Donovan Mitchell, De’Aaron Fox, and Bam Adebayo.

That doesn’t mean there’s no talent left on the free agent market this summer, but the list is lacking the star power it once had. Most teams should be fine with that though, since only a small handful of clubs project to have anything close to maximum-salary cap room.

Below, we’ve taken a crack at ranking the top free agents for 2021. This list attempts to capture each player’s expected value on the 2021 free agent market, rather than simply ranking them based on their present-day on-court contributions. As such, younger players who figure to sign long-term contracts sometimes rank higher than a veteran who may not receive that same sort of commitment.

If you need a refresher on which players will be free agents this fall, be sure to check out our FA lists sorted by position/type and by team.

With all that in mind, here’s the first installment of our 2021 free agent power rankings:

  1. Kawhi Leonard, F, Clippers (player option): As a flurry of stars signed extensions last offseason, Kawhi was essentially the one who didn’t. While that has left Leonard as the clear-cut top free agent of ’21, it’s not worth reading much into — he was also the only one of those stars who simply wasn’t extension-eligible. There has long been an expectation that Leonard will simply re-up with the Clippers this offseason, but another early playoff exit could certainly affect the length of that next deal, even if he doesn’t want to jump ship.
  2. John Collins, F, Hawks (RFA): When the Hawks and Collins discussed a possible extension last fall, the team was offering more than $90MM+ over four years, but the big man was said to be seeking the max. A year later, it’ll be fascinating to see if Atlanta is more willing to meet Collins’ asking price or if the team will let him go out and get an offer sheet.
  3. Chris Paul, G, Suns (player option): At one point, Paul looked like a lock to pick up his $44MM player option for 2021/22. After an All-NBA caliber season in Phoenix though, he now appears more likely to take the Gordon Hayward route, turning down that option in favor of a multiyear deal worth more overall money, even if it pays him a little less next season. His shoulder contusion is ill-timed though, as it’s a stark reminder to the Suns and other potential suitors about the downside of investing heavily in a 36-year-old point guard with an injury history.
  4. Mike Conley, G, Jazz: While Conley doesn’t have as decorated a résumé as Paul or Kyle Lowry, he has one key advantage over his fellow All-Star free agent point guards — he’ll be just 33 years old when he reaches free agency, not 35 or 36. That should make him a safer bet for a lucrative three- or four-year commitment.
  5. Jarrett Allen, C, Cavaliers (RFA): The Cavaliers surrendered a first-round pick to acquire Allen earlier this year, so they clearly don’t plan to let him walk. A commitment of at least $20MM per year seems likely — that number could go higher if Cleveland faces any serious competition for Allen’s services.
  6. Lonzo Ball, G, Pelicans (RFA): Ball reportedly drew interest from the Knicks and Bulls at the trade deadline, and it’s safe to assume both teams will renew that interest this summer — New York and Chicago will have cap room available and are still seeking a long-term answer at point guard. If either team is convinced Ball is that answer, it will put a lot of pressure on the Pelicans, who have some cap issues to figure out.
  7. Kyle Lowry, G, Raptors: Of all the players on this list, Lowry’s value in free agency may be the most difficult to assess. He’s a top-five player among this year’s FAs, but he’s 35 years old, and teams with cap room and a hole at point guard may prefer a younger option. I won’t be shocked if Lowry gets a $25MM-per-year commitment, but I’m not sure any team will give him more than two guaranteed years.
  8. DeMar DeRozan, G/F, Spurs: DeRozan is 31 and should have more prime years left than Lowry, his old Raptors teammate. DeRozan is as talented a scorer from inside the arc as any wing in the NBA and has developed into a genuinely talented play-maker, but he’s also never developed a three-point shot and isn’t a strong defender, making him a tricky fit on certain rosters.
  9. Dennis Schröder, G, Lakers: Although a crowded free agent market for point guards won’t do Schröder any favors, he’s in a better position than several others due to the Lakers’ cap situation. Letting Schröder walk for nothing won’t create any extra spending power for L.A., since the team would still be over the cap. So Rob Pelinka‘s front office will be under pressure to either re-sign Schröder or get some value for him in a sign-and-trade. That could mean the Lakers end up paying a little for him than they’d like to.
  10. Norman Powell, G, Trail Blazers (player option): Powell picked a good time to have a career year. Even though his numbers dipped a little following his trade from Toronto to Portland, he finished the season with a career-best 18.6 PPG on .477/.411/.871 shooting. As a capable, versatile defender who just turned 28, Powell is in line for a nice raise on this year’s $10.9MM salary.
  11. Duncan Robinson, F, Heat (RFA): A career 42.3% shooter from three-point range, Robinson will hit the market a year after sharpshooters Joe Harris and Davis Bertans got long-term deals worth $16-18MM per year. There’s no reason for Robinson not to pursue a similar payday, though his restricted status will reduce his leverage.
  12. Richaun Holmes, C, Kings: With no star centers set to hit the market this summer, a reliable, ascendant player like Holmes could receive plenty of interest from teams looking for a solution up front. Holmes doesn’t stretch the floor at all, but he’s a talented rim runner, rebounder, and rim protector who is coming off a career year at age 27.
  13. Tim Hardaway Jr., G/F, Mavericks: Hardaway has substantially increased his stock over the last two seasons in Dallas by hitting 39.4% of 7.4 threes per game, well above his career mark. As long as there’s a belief that mark is sustainable, he should be one of the most popular wings on the market.
  14. Kelly Oubre, F, Warriors: Oubre is nearly four full years younger than Hardaway, but hasn’t shown the same consistency from beyond the arc, making just 31.6% of his attempts in 2020/21. His 69.5% mark from the free-throw line was also his worst since his rookie season. Those shooting rates and his unflattering on/off-court numbers may give suitors pause this summer.
  15. Lauri Markkanen, F, Bulls (RFA): Markkanen never really hit his stride in Chicago, as he dealt with a constant barrage of injuries and played for three different head coaches during his four years as a Bull. Still, he’s only 24 years old and there should be plenty of teams willing to roll the dice on a power forward who knocked down over 40% of his threes last season.
  16. Spencer Dinwiddie, G, Nets (player option): Dinwiddie’s health makes him a bit of a wild card. While he’s expected to decline his $12.3MM option, it’s unclear whether there will be much of a bidding war over a player who missed nearly the entire 2020/21 season due to a partial ACL tear and wasn’t an especially efficient scorer in ’19/20. He’s a tier below the point guards who are higher on this list.
  17. Evan Fournier, G, Celtics: Fournier was miscast as a go-to option in Orlando, but is a solid complementary scorer who can make outside shots and function as a secondary play-maker. His stint with Boston hasn’t increased his stock, but probably hasn’t hurt it either.
  18. Gary Trent Jr., G, Raptors (RFA): When the Raptors dealt Powell for Trent at the trade deadline, Powell’s looming payday was believed to be a primary factor. But Trent seems in line for a payday of his own, albeit perhaps a slightly more modest one. At age 22, he’s the youngest player on this list, and he averaged a career-high 15.3 PPG with a .385 3PT% in 2020/21 for Portland and Toronto.
  19. Devonte’ Graham, G, Hornets (RFA): LaMelo Ball‘s emergence in Charlotte could make Graham expendable. Still, the Hornets likely won’t want to let him get away for nothing. The 26-year-old can make his threes (37.4% over the last two seasons) and set up teammates for baskets (6.5 APG).
  20. Montrezl Harrell, C, Lakers (player option): After considering about 15 different players for this spot, I ultimately settled on Harrell, who remained extremely productive on offense and a force on the glass with his new team, but hasn’t always been an ideal fit for what the Lakers needed in the middle. If he opts out, a team like Charlotte would probably offer him a raise.

I started with a list of about 50 or 60 candidates for this list. Here are 15 of the players who were among the final cuts and would be strong contenders for the top 35 if we kept going:

Mitchell Robinson (Knicks), Jalen Brunson (Mavericks), and Goran Dragic (Heat) are among the players who have team options for 2021/22 and would be candidates for this list if those options are declined. Since those decisions are out of their hands, they weren’t included here.

Photos courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

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Poll: 2021 All-NBA Third Team

May 31st, 2021 at 1:22pm CST by Luke Adams

The competition for the league’s 15 All-NBA spots was fiercer than ever in 2020/21, with tens of millions of dollars up for grabs for certain players based on the voting results. Since the NBA has already started to announce its end-of-season award winners, we want to give you an opportunity to vote on the All-NBA rosters for 2020/21 before they’re officially revealed.

We started last Wednesday with the First Team before moving onto the Second Team on Friday. We’ve closed those polls and now we’re wrapping things up by focusing on the Third Team.

Here are the voting results so far:

2021 All-NBA First Team

2021 All-NBA Second Team

Lillard is a lock for the Second Team if he doesn’t make the First Team, and Beal is absolutely a worthy second guard. The forward spot is a little trickier, though I think Randle deserves this spot. A healthy James would’ve been a strong contender for a First Team spot, but since he played just 45 of 72 regular season games, it won’t surprise me if he ends up on the Third Team in the actual vote.

As for the center spot, it’ll be interesting to see how voters handle the NBA’s generous dual positional eligibility for Embiid and Jokic. If they both make the First Team (one as a center, one as a forward), Gobert has a clear path to a Second Team spot. If not, Gobert will be bumped to the Third Team.

On that note, before we move on to the Third Team polls, don’t forget that several players qualify at multiple positions on the NBA’s official ballot. We won’t share that full list of notable multi-position players again here, but you can check it out in our Second Team post.

Be sure to take advantage of the opportunity to select two players apiece in both the guard and forward polls. We’ll leave the polls open for a couple days before sharing and breaking down the results later this week.

Vote for your All-NBA Third Team below, then take to the comment section to explain your picks!

Guards

(choose two)

Trade Rumors app users, click here to vote on the All-NBA Third Team guards.

Forwards

(choose two)

Trade Rumors app users, click here to vote on the All-NBA Third Team forwards.

Center

Trade Rumors app users, click here to vote on the All-NBA Third Team center.

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Community Shootaround: Playoff Check-In

May 31st, 2021 at 9:58am CST by Luke Adams

When we checked in on the NBA playoffs last Monday, we were coming off a weekend of upsets in the Western Conference, where the underdogs had taken a 1-0 lead in all four series.

A week later, the favorites have all won a couple games, but none have taken full control of their respective series.

The closest thing to an overwhelming favorite in the West’s first round? The Jazz, who rebounded from a Game 1 loss to the Grizzlies by winning the next two games and taking a 2-1 lead. Donovan Mitchell‘s return has helped buoy the team’s offense, and with a couple more wins, it’ll be easy to forget that things between him and the Jazz were pretty tense after he was held out of Game 1.

The other three series in the West, however, are all tied at 2-2 and remain very much up for grabs. The Trail Blazers/Nuggets matchup has been particularly back and forth, with betting site BetOnline.ag having made Portland a slight favorite despite the fact that two of the next three games will be played in Denver.

Unfortunately, injuries loom as a major factor in the other two Western series. A healthy Luka Doncic led the Mavericks to an impressive 2-0 lead vs. the Clippers, but a cervical strain hampered him in Los Angeles as Kawhi Leonard‘s squad stormed back to tie the series. If Doncic isn’t his usual self going forward, Dallas might not win another game this postseason.

Meanwhile, the Suns and Lakers are both dealing with injuries. Battling a shoulder ailment, Chris Paul has averaged just 9.5 PPG on .417/.250/.700 shooting in four games following an All-NBA caliber season. While Paul’s limitations seemed to be opening the door for a No. 7 seed to advance, Anthony Davis‘ groin strain will be a major factor going forward, as there’s no guarantee he’ll be available for Game 5. BetOnline.ag has the Suns as slight favorites here.

Over in the Eastern Conference, things aren’t so up in the air. The Bucks have already advanced, and the Sixers and Nets appear on the verge of following suit. Outside of a lone Boston win in Game 3, Philadelphia and Brooklyn have outclassed the Celtics and Wizards so far and seem very unlikely to collapse.

The East’s other series is also potentially just one game away from ending, but the Hawks aren’t viewed as a lock like those top seeds. Still, even though Julius Randle and the Knicks are more evenly matched with their opponents and could still make things interesting, they’ve struggled to match their regular season success so far in the playoffs. Randle, the team’s MVP, is shooting a dismal 27.4% from the floor.

We want to know what you think. Can we pencil in the Sixers, Nets, Hawks, and Jazz for the second round, or is still too early to call one or more of those series? How about the Blazers and Nuggets, the Suns and Lakers, and the Clippers and Mavs? How big a factor will those injuries be? Who do you see advancing beyond the first round?

Take to the comment section below to share your thoughts!

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Community Shootaround: Top Restricted Free Agents

May 29th, 2021 at 4:00pm CST by Dana Gauruder

This year’s free agent class could have been filled with superstars. The pool of impact players has been drained, as many of them signed extensions.

There are still some intriguing names that will hit the market this summer and many of them will be restricted free agents. Kendrick Nunn, Duncan Robinson, Hamidou Diallo, Gary Trent Jr., Josh Hart and Lauri Markkanen are some of the players who could receive offer sheets.

Three other names stand out on the list of RFAs – John Collins, Lonzo Ball and Jarrett Allen.

It’s rare that a highly productive young big like Collins would reach restricted free agency at this point in his career. Collins, 23, averaged 17.6 PPG and 7.4 RPG on a playoff team and he’s a career 38% shooter from deep.

Yet the Hawks seem lukewarm, at best, on Collins as a long-term partner for franchise player Trae Young. He reportedly turned down a $90MM extension offer, believing he could get a max deal, or something very close to it, in free agency.

Atlanta need only to extend a $7.7MM qualifying offer in order to make him a restricted free agent, giving the team the option of matching an offer sheet.

Collins has the opportunity to enhance his resume with a strong playoff showing. He contributed a ho-hum 12 points and seven rebounds to Atlanta’s Game 1 win on Sunday but counterpart Julius Randle shot just 6-for-23 from the field. Collins’ second postseason game was a disaster, as he went scoreless in 12, foul-filled minutes.

He contributed 14 points and six rebounds in Game 3 on Friday but, more importantly, helped to hold Randle to a 2-for-15 shooting night.

Ball’s qualifying offer is $14.36MM, so New Orleans has a tougher decision to make. Ball has long been rumored to be a primary target for the Bulls, who are seeking a natural point guard.

Ball’s name was bandied about in trade rumors this winter and it wouldn’t be a complete shock if the Pelicans choose to make him unrestricted. That would leave open the possibility of a sign-and-trade, rather than getting nothing if they decline to match an offer sheet.

However, it’s probably a safe assumption that Pelicans will extend the QO and see if Ball’s offers fall into their price range.

In contrast, the Cavaliers acquired Allen as part of the multi-team James Harden blockbuster with the intent of re-signing him. Allen, whose QO is $7.7MM, averaged 13.2 PPG, 9.9 RPG and 1.4 BPG after joining Cleveland.

Allen didn’t exactly turn around the Cavaliers’ fortunes but they seem committed to retaining the 23-year-old center. So if another team covets Allen, it will have to make a substantial offer to force the Cavs to think twice about matching.

That leads us to our question of the day: Among John Collins, Lonzo Ball and Jarrett Allen, which restricted free agent will receive the biggest offer this summer?

Please take to the comments section to voice your opinion on this topic. We look forward to your input.

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Free Agent Stock Watch: Pacific Division

May 28th, 2021 at 7:13pm CST by Dana Gauruder

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:

Kawhi Leonard, Clippers, 29, SF (Up) – Signed to a three-year, $103MM deal in 2019

Until Giannis Antetokounmpo and other All-Stars decided to sign extensions, the summer of 2021 was considered a free agent bonanza. Leonard’s free agent foray two seasons ago, after leading the Raptors to the NBA championship, was one of the big stories of that summer. He chose to go to Los Angeles and the Clippers mortgaged their future by trading for Paul George to give him a superstar sidekick. It could all unravel for the franchise this year if the Clippers lose to the Mavericks in the opening round. Leonard was expected to opt out this summer so that he could maximize his salary with his current team. Now, other contenders might kick the tires to see if Leonard would be willing to jump ship again. If nothing else, the Clippers’ front office will be sweating it out until Leonard signs the bottom line.

Cameron Payne, Suns, 26, PG (Up) – Signed to a two-year, $2.2MM deal in 2019

It’s become an annual and unfortunate occurrence in the NBA postseason – Chris Paul suffers an injury at the worst time. Paul’s shoulder issue has limited his minutes against the Lakers the last two games and those minutes have gone to Payne. Not surprisingly, Phoenix has lost both contests but Payne has posted respectable numbers, averaging 17 PPG, 6.5 APG and 2.5 SPG in 30 MPG. The 2015 lottery pick struggled to find an NBA home until he signed with the Suns for their games in the Orlando bubble. Payne has found his niche as a second-unit point guard and if the Suns don’t re-sign him, some other team will take him for that same role.

Alex Caruso, Lakers, 27, SG (Up) – Signed to a two-year, $5MM deal in 2019

Caruso doesn’t make a big dent in the stat sheet but he’s a pesky defender and energetic spark plug off the bench. He averaged 6.5 PPG, 2.8 APG, 2.3 RPG and 1.1 SPG in 24.3 MPG during the Lakers’ run to the championship last season. He’s averaging 21 MPG through their first three playoff games this season against the Suns. Caruso seems like a nice fit on the Lakers, dutifully playing his role while knocking down the occasional 3-pointer and looking to advantage of opportunities when his defender cheats off him. The unrestricted free agent will likely get a nice bump in salary.

Hassan Whiteside, Kings, 31, C (Down) – Signed to a one-year, $2.3MM deal in 2020

Whiteside was valued so much by the Heat in 2016 he was signed to a four-year, $98.4MM deal. Few teams will covet Whiteside’s services when he reaches free agency again this summer. He had to settle for the veteran’s minimum last offseason and his one season with the Kings was rather forgettable. He was relegated to backup duty, averaging 15.2 MPG in the 36 games that coach Luke Walton used him. Whiteside didn’t play after April 21, supposedly due to lower back tightness. He can still be useful as a rebounder and shot blocker in a reserve role but he’ll have to settle for the veteran’s minimum once again.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

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