In this blog, I’ll be previewing the top NBA Free agents. The two big fish in this year’s market are Dwight Howard, and Chris Paul. I'll be previewing and predicting where these players go.
Chris Paul: CP3 is the best player; he makes the entire team better. Now, it is very hard to call Chris Paul a free agent since it's a 95% chance he'll resign with the Clippers. They just got Doc Rivers, one of the best coaches in the league. It's been reported that these two talk daily and have a good relationship. CP3 to the Clippers.
Dwight "Pre-Madonna" Howard: Are you all ready for the summer of Dwight Howard? Dwight is finally a free agent. He was almost traded multiple times over the past two years. Dwight has said he doesn't want to return to the Lakers saying he doesn't like the fans. That's all you need to know about Dwight Howard! The two favorites to land Dwight are the Houston Rockets, and Dallas Mavericks. The Rockets do need to make a trade in order to get more cap space. Look for Thomas Robinson to be dealt in the coming days. Houston is the best fit for Dwight. They had one of the top offenses in the league last year with their Run N Gun offense. Adding Dwight only helps. Jeremy Lin was running lethal Pick N Rolls with Tyson Chandler who has no offensive ability. A Lin and Howard pick and roll could be a very good offense combination. Houston also had James Harden who is a top ten player and can score at will. Let's not forget about the Chandler Parsons who is a sharp shooter. Parsons is underrated and is under the best contract in the NBA. He doesn't even make 1 million dollars!!! If Dwight signs with Houston expect Omar Asik to be moved. The Mavericks have a lot of holes in their team; a lot of old players. Dwight to Houston!
Andre Iguodala: Iggy had a player option with the Nuggets he declined the option and he becomes the best wing player on the free agent market. The best fit for Iggy is to land in Detroit. Detroit has a lot of cap room and is in despite need of a SF. Another reason why Iggy might end up in Detroit is that the new coach is Maurice Cheeks. Cheeks’ was Iggy's coach with the 76ers for four years. Signing Iggy could put Detroit in the playoff picture for the 2013-2014. He is a nice player to go along with Greg Monroe and Andre Drummond. Iggy to Detroit!
Josh Smith: J-Smooth will not resign with Atlanta since they are rebuilding big time. Some people thought at the trade deadline that he would have been dealt so Atlanta could get some pieces back to help with the rebuilding process, but they decided to hold on to him. Now the main issue with Josh Smith is how much do you pay him? Smith thinks he is a max player he won't get that money. He'll end up with 4 years/12-13Million. Where does he go? If Houston doesn't land Dwight Howard, Smith fits in good there. Other teams involved are the Celtics. They could do a sign and trade and send Hump and picks to Atlanta for Smith. Dallas is there with all their cap space. How about the Spurs? They have the room to sign a big time player. Smith to Dallas
David West: West isn't leaving the Pacers, both sides need each other. West is a perfect player for Frank Vogel. If they let West walk, the Pacers are stuck with Tyler Hansbrough who isn't a starting NBA player but is a good bench player. The Pacers will sign West and will probably end up trading Danny Granger to improve their roster. West to Indy.
Paul Millsap: Millsap played for the Jazz last year and was another player who could have been traded but was held onto. The Jazz don't need a Power Forward since they have Derek Favors. A more likely possibility is a sign and trade with Millsap. I feel like the best fit for Millsap is the Washington Wizards. The Wizards have a back court of John Wall and Brandon Beal. They just drafted Otto Porter, a perfect fit. Now they need a big man that can score. A sign and trade that sends Emeka Okafor and picks to the Jazz for Millsap sounds like a good need. Okafor is on an expiring deal so the Jazz would have more cap space for 2014-2015. Millsap to the Wizards puts Washington in the playoff picture as well in the east. Millsap to Wizards!
JR Smith: Smith brings a ton of baggage with him and also awful defense. He opted out of his deal with the Knicks where he was scheduled to make a little over 3mil for next year. Smith will get more than 3mil. The Knicks can only offer JR a little over 5 million. JR is a big time scorer and can make more than 5 million in the open market. I don't expect him to leave New York. I mean do any of us actually think that? Smith to Knicks
Al Jefferson: Jefferson is a great offensive big man defensively EHHH!!! Jefferson will have many suitors but he will make less than what he is expecting to make. Will the Jazz let him walk? They are rebuilding, and signing Jefferson wouldn't make much sense. The Celtics have always been a fan of Jefferson; they are a good spot for him. But I like the Spurs and here they have 26 MILLION in cap room! Splitter is a free agent and he might be in line for a poison pill contact much like Omar Asik. Jefferson next to Duncan and Leonard is a great front court. Jefferson to Spurs!
Jeff Teague: In a league ran by point guards, Teague doesn't crack the top 15, but he is the second best point guard on the market this year so he'll get paid. The Hawks will extend a qualifying offer to Teague so it looks like he is staying there. Teague to ATL.
Brandon Jennings: This is an easy one. The Bucks can't lose him. However, they can match any offer he receives. Even though Jennings has said he wants to leave the city of Milwaukee, he will be staying. Too bad Jennings seems like a great guy and a born leader... Jennings to Bucks.
Nikola "Nets Killer" Pekovic: If the T-Wolves get a healthy Kevin Love back they have the potential to battle for a playoff spot. Pekovic is very important to this team. Last season Pekovic was at 16 points and 9 rebounds. He is an underrated player. Pekovic to T-Wolves.
Andrew Bynum: Where to begin with this one? Bynum had a wasted season in Philly after being traded there in the Dwight Howard deal. The 76ers could have had a very nice point guard and center combo of Jrue Holiday and Bynum, but now they have no one. Bynum will be playing next year but where, and how much? When healthy, he is a top 5 center. I wouldn't be shocked if he got paid 5 million a year. The Trailblazer’s need a Center, but I'm going with the Cavs! They need a center and they don't want to pay a lot. They need money for LeBron in 2014. If Bynum returns to his old self this year, Cleveland becomes more attractive to LeBron. Bynum to Cavs.
O.J Mayo: Mayo will have a lot of buyers. Sam Amick of the USA Today reported the Bucks, Jazz, T-Wolves, Clippers, Trailblazer’s, Bobcats and Bulls are interested. The ball is in Mayo's hands here (Which it usually is; don't expect a pass anytime soon). Does Mayo want money or does he want to win? Mayo isn't going to the Bucks, Jazz or Trailblazers. I could see the Bobcats offering a lot for Mayo because Michael Jordan isn't a good owner. The Bulls and Clippers would offer less but give him a great chance to win. I like the Wolves here. They can offer good money and Rubio Mayo Love Pekovic is good team. Mayo to T-Wovles!
Kevin Martin: Sam Presti and the Thunder have to resign Martin. After the one of the worst trades in history they can't let Martin walk. WHO TRADES AWAY JAMES HARDEN!!!!!!!!! Martin to Thunder.
Tony Allen: Allen is one of the great on ball defenders in the league. Offensively you wonder some times what he is doing, but any team would love to have him. Allen met with Memphis already. The Bucks are interest along with the Knicks, Pacers and Clippers. Allen isn't going to the Bucks. The Knicks will sign JR then have no room for Tony. The Pacers are a good fit but I have another idea for them. I think Tony takes less and goes to the Clippers. Doc Rivers and he have a great relationship. Allen to Clippers!
Kyle Korver: How did you make this list? Anyway, Kyle is a great shooter. He will find his way on a contending team. The Pacers, Bulls and Grizzlies make sense. I like the Bulls. They need scoring off their bench. Korver is a nice fit. Korver to Bulls.
Manu: This is simple. Manu returns to the Spurs or retires. I think deep down the Spurs hope he calls it quits, but Manu played an awful finals and will want to go out on a better note. Manu to Spurs.
Monta Ellis: Monta is in for it. He turned down big money from the Bucks and will regret it. He is the type of player no NBA team wants. Teams like the Bobcats and Suns will be offering him money he doesn't deserve. Monta to Bobcats!
Corey Brewer: Brewer is loved in Denver and is a great role player. He was a great player for George Karl. But Karl is gone now and it will be interesting to see what happens with Brewer. I think he stays with the Nuggets. Brewer to Nuggets.
Tyreke Evans: Here's where the Pacers get rid of Danny Granger. Sign and trade with the Kings for Evans another player and picks. Granger won't make the Pacers better. Evans to Pacers!
Andray Blatche: Blatche can sign the Nets Min at 490K and make 8million since he was amnestied by the Wizards. Blatche has said all along he wanted to resign with the Nets. Blatche to Nets.
Coming Up: The Knicks and Raptors just completed a trade I'll cover that next.
