Free agents potentially of-interest

[Jamaaliver]

8 Tempting NBA Free Agents to Avoid This Summer

Not Leaving so Don't Bother: Brandon Ingram, New Orleans Pelicans (Restricted)



If Brandon Ingram's inclusion rings a little hollow, well, that's the point. A max contract is his market value. The New Orleans Pelicans understood this when they acquired him and didn't shop him around at the trade deadline. They won't suddenly be scared away by offers they've known were coming for a year.

Spoiler:

Interested parties could get cute and try to sign Ingram to a short-term max that allows him the opportunity to re-explore free agency in the near future. Eh. That's more effective for players who aren't no-brainer maxes. Ingram is certainly that in this year's market, and after battling injuries on a few occasions—including a blood-clot issue last season—he may not be so keen on signing a short-term contract.

This all presumes he even tests the waters. He might not. The Pelicans should come in with an offer seconds after free agency begins and have the ability to bake in a fifth year. Beyond that, the league doesn't have much of a max-contract market.

Teams can always create space, but only Atlanta, Detroit, Miami and New York have relatively effortless access to whatever ends up being Ingram's exact price point. It doesn't make much sense for any of them to tie up spending power in a player they won't land.

The Hawks are the closest thing to an exception. They should have no issue chiseling out $40-plus million in space, giving them plenty of flexibility to spare. They can, perhaps, afford to throw their hat into the ring on the off chance the Pelicans get pocket shy.

UFAs Who Will Cost Too Much to Poach: Montrezl Harrell, Los Angeles Clippers



Montrezl Harrell exists in a weird space. He's a high-impact player for one of the best teams in the league, but it isn't quite clear whether he's indispensable or how well his skill set will translate to a different situation.

His functional relentlessness is completely scalable. Whichever team signs him will be acquiring his limitless motor. That's part of why you pay him. He'll outwork pretty much everyone, seamlessly fit within different pick-and-roll combinations, bruise his way to buckets in the post and disarm defenses with head-down off-the-dribble attacks from the perimeter.

Giannis Antetokounmpo and Nikola Jokic are the only other players averaging more than 18 points while shooting better than 59 percent on twos. Harrell's scoring opportunities are easier, but damn. Any team with money and a need up front (Charlotte) or addiction to bigs (New York) can come up with enough reasons to throw the bag at him.

And yet, not all rosters are built to capitalize on what Harrell does best. His offensive work ethic largely requires an elite—or semi-elite—playmaker. Without three-point range, he's a non-starter at power forward. Then again, certain squads cannot roll out a 6'7" center who doesn't dominate the glass or thrive as a primary backline defender without thinking twice.

Paying him won't be hard for the Clippers to reconcile. They know he fits, and unless they have another big-man acquisition in the works, he's more matchup-proof than Ivica Zubac (albeit not as much as JaMychal Green). Other teams don't have that informational luxury. And for what it'll cost to get him out of Hollywood—figure at least $17 million annually—that money should be spent on someone who's more of a sure thing.

Bleacher Report

[Spud2nique]

8 Tempting NBA Free Agents to Avoid This Summer

Not Leaving so Don't Bother: Brandon Ingram, New Orleans Pelicans (Restricted)



If Brandon Ingram's inclusion rings a little hollow, well, that's the point. A max contract is his market value. The New Orleans Pelicans understood this when they acquired him and didn't shop him around at the trade deadline. They won't suddenly be scared away by offers they've known were coming for a year.

Spoiler:

Interested parties could get cute and try to sign Ingram to a short-term max that allows him the opportunity to re-explore free agency in the near future. Eh. That's more effective for players who aren't no-brainer maxes. Ingram is certainly that in this year's market, and after battling injuries on a few occasions—including a blood-clot issue last season—he may not be so keen on signing a short-term contract.

This all presumes he even tests the waters. He might not. The Pelicans should come in with an offer seconds after free agency begins and have the ability to bake in a fifth year. Beyond that, the league doesn't have much of a max-contract market.

Teams can always create space, but only Atlanta, Detroit, Miami and New York have relatively effortless access to whatever ends up being Ingram's exact price point. It doesn't make much sense for any of them to tie up spending power in a player they won't land.

The Hawks are the closest thing to an exception. They should have no issue chiseling out $40-plus million in space, giving them plenty of flexibility to spare. They can, perhaps, afford to throw their hat into the ring on the off chance the Pelicans get pocket shy.

UFAs Who Will Cost Too Much to Poach: Montrezl Harrell, Los Angeles Clippers



Montrezl Harrell exists in a weird space. He's a high-impact player for one of the best teams in the league, but it isn't quite clear whether he's indispensable or how well his skill set will translate to a different situation.

His functional relentlessness is completely scalable. Whichever team signs him will be acquiring his limitless motor. That's part of why you pay him. He'll outwork pretty much everyone, seamlessly fit within different pick-and-roll combinations, bruise his way to buckets in the post and disarm defenses with head-down off-the-dribble attacks from the perimeter.

Giannis Antetokounmpo and Nikola Jokic are the only other players averaging more than 18 points while shooting better than 59 percent on twos. Harrell's scoring opportunities are easier, but damn. Any team with money and a need up front (Charlotte) or addiction to bigs (New York) can come up with enough reasons to throw the bag at him.

And yet, not all rosters are built to capitalize on what Harrell does best. His offensive work ethic largely requires an elite—or semi-elite—playmaker. Without three-point range, he's a non-starter at power forward. Then again, certain squads cannot roll out a 6'7" center who doesn't dominate the glass or thrive as a primary backline defender without thinking twice.

Paying him won't be hard for the Clippers to reconcile. They know he fits, and unless they have another big-man acquisition in the works, he's more matchup-proof than Ivica Zubac (albeit not as much as JaMychal Green). Other teams don't have that informational luxury. And for what it'll cost to get him out of Hollywood—figure at least $17 million annually—that money should be spent on someone who's more of a sure thing.

Bleacher Report

Prolly stays in LA but I like Trez at 15 mill.

[Spud2nique]

Ingram don’t bother. Where’s Sturt at?

[jayu70]

Bertans making sure he doesn't get injured in the restart.

Read on Twitter

[jayu70]

This leaves an already meh FA class even 'meh-er'

Agents are encouraging players with player options to consider opting in for next season, while telling clients in Europe to take the “sure thing” over there and stay abroad, because no NBA team is keeping them around with its 15th roster spot.

“I’m telling all my clients to opt in,” another agent said. “Although they won’t tear up the CBA if we actually have basketball this summer, they will want to make changes to BRI based on the overall losses.”

– via David Aldridge and John Hollinger @ The Athletic

[HMFFL]

This guy

Read on Twitter

Sent from my SM-N975U using RealGM mobile app

[jayu70]

Read on Twitter

?s=20

[Jamaaliver]

A solid option at SG that fits what we're looking for offensively and fits in with the timeline of our core.

Malik Beasley, G | 23 years old | Minnesota Timberwolves

2019-20 stats: 11.2 points, 2.7 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 42.5/38.8/81.8

Beasley mostly came off the bench in the 2018-2019 season and averaged 11.3 points in 23 minutes per night. But in the 18 games he started, he scored 15.9 points per game on a ridiculous 55.9/50.0/93.8 shooting line. In his 14 games after being traded to Minnesota, he really flashed impressive skills that forced his way onto this list, even with the up-and-down career in Denver. In those 14 games, Beasley averaged 20.7 points on 47.2 percent from the field and 42.6 percent from 3. He set himself up for a big payday this summer, when he’s a restricted free agent. It wouldn’t stun me to see him get a bigger deal than expected, even in what is expected to be a muted marketplace. At 23, he’s one of the higher upside guys on which a team could bet.

The Athletic

Watch on YouTube

[Radioblacktive1]

Hell yes

[D21]

Both Bertans and Beasley would be great

[jayu70]

Comprehensive list of bubble Free Agents!

Read on Twitter

?s=20

[Radioblacktive1]

Out of that list, the people we should talk to/realistically get: Jerami Grant because duh. Harry Giles because his skillset is so intriguing and I feel like he might blow up soon and I would like if that happens in a Hawks uniform. Wouldn’t mind Jae Crowder. I like Melton but I think Shaq Harrison might be smarter since he’s cheaper and bigger for a similar skillset.

[Jamaaliver]

I'd be okay extending a fat one year deal for AB. He's had some questionable, hard to get past legal issues in his past, but having him as a vet defensive presence off the bench could be useful from game to game.

Dark-Horse Destinations for NBA's Most Interesting 2020 Free Agents

Avery Bradley (Player Option): Atlanta Hawks

Avery Bradley's $5 million player option is even more fascinating after he decided not to join the Los Angeles Lakers in Disney World. He spent the season tackling tough on-ball assignments and drilled 36.4 percent of his threes, but has he built up enough goodwill to guarantee a windfall larger than roughly mini-MLE money?

The Lakers better hope not. They only have his non-Bird rights. If he costs more than $5.7 million to retain, they'll have to tap into their own MLE to keep him.

Players still viewed as three-and-D options will always have a market, but Bradley's efficiency has waxed and waned over the years, and he's not big enough (6'2") to pester starrier wings. He's best served on a team that has a premier table-setter, and that can allow him to focus on a singular defensive cover.

Atlanta checks both boxes. Trae Young's off-the-dribble escapism would ensure Bradley gets his fair share of wide-open three-point looks, and the Hawks still need defensive go-getters in the backcourt. Covering up for Young is a 35-plus-minutes-per-game job. Cam Reddish cannot do it on his own.

Bradley's fit in Atlanta is even more interesting if he's willing to accept a short-term windfall. The Hawks will have access to max money, and Young wants to make the playoffs now. Rather than burn long-term capital in a depressed free-agent market, they could try selling a fringe-MLE candidate on a lucrative one- or two-year pact.

Bleacher Report

[Spud2nique]

I'd be okay extending a fat one year deal for AB. He's had some questionable, hard to get past legal issues in his past, but having him as a vet defensive presence off the bench could be useful from game to game.

Dark-Horse Destinations for NBA's Most Interesting 2020 Free Agents

Avery Bradley (Player Option): Atlanta Hawks

Avery Bradley's $5 million player option is even more fascinating after he decided not to join the Los Angeles Lakers in Disney World. He spent the season tackling tough on-ball assignments and drilled 36.4 percent of his threes, but has he built up enough goodwill to guarantee a windfall larger than roughly mini-MLE money?

The Lakers better hope not. They only have his non-Bird rights. If he costs more than $5.7 million to retain, they'll have to tap into their own MLE to keep him.

Players still viewed as three-and-D options will always have a market, but Bradley's efficiency has waxed and waned over the years, and he's not big enough (6'2") to pester starrier wings. He's best served on a team that has a premier table-setter, and that can allow him to focus on a singular defensive cover.

Atlanta checks both boxes. Trae Young's off-the-dribble escapism would ensure Bradley gets his fair share of wide-open three-point looks, and the Hawks still need defensive go-getters in the backcourt. Covering up for Young is a 35-plus-minutes-per-game job. Cam Reddish cannot do it on his own.

Bradley's fit in Atlanta is even more interesting if he's willing to accept a short-term windfall. The Hawks will have access to max money, and Young wants to make the playoffs now. Rather than burn long-term capital in a depressed free-agent market, they could try selling a fringe-MLE candidate on a lucrative one- or two-year pact.

Bleacher Report

Not even considering the legal issues, he’s a shell of his old self. I like the type of player he is but he has a ton of miles for a 30 year old and he’s always had crazy injury issues. He wouldn’t be an impact vet for us in terms of getting us to the playoffs imo, he would be more of that VC mentor type which is great but at this point we need results from the bench as far as wins go.

[Jamaaliver]

How about this guy as our backup PF?

Jerami Grant



Jerami Grant is apparently leaning toward declining his $9.3 million player option, a decision that suggests he can get more than the MLE, or that he's fine with signing a long-term deal at a near-identical annual salary.

The Denver Nuggets will be in a bizarre position if he explores free agency. They can pay him more than anyone, but his fit hasn't proved seamless. He's nailing 40 percent of his treys and is one of the few players who can capably defend four to five positions, and yet, his on-off numbers aren't pretty. Denver is 8.6 points per 100 possessions worse on defense with him in the game and losing the minutes he plays with Nikola Jokic.

Wonky splits aren't end-all barometers. Grant hasn't played poorly...and at age 26, he might consider playing for a one-year balloon payment.

Bleacher Report

[Spud2nique]

How about this guy as our backup PF?

Jerami Grant



Jerami Grant is apparently leaning toward declining his $9.3 million player option, a decision that suggests he can get more than the MLE, or that he's fine with signing a long-term deal at a near-identical annual salary.

The Denver Nuggets will be in a bizarre position if he explores free agency. They can pay him more than anyone, but his fit hasn't proved seamless. He's nailing 40 percent of his treys and is one of the few players who can capably defend four to five positions, and yet, his on-off numbers aren't pretty. Denver is 8.6 points per 100 possessions worse on defense with him in the game and losing the minutes he plays with Nikola Jokic.

Wonky splits aren't end-all barometers. Grant hasn't played poorly...and at age 26, he might consider playing for a one-year balloon payment.

Bleacher Report

Hell yes! Love this guy.

[_s_t_u_r_t_]

As a general statement, with only a handful of teams even having any cap space to speak-of, it feigns logic that any sub-All-Star-caliber player who is making more than the MLE would opt in to a player option.

That'd be some serious poker playing, and would take some extra-large kahunas on the part of both the player and his agent.

And in the case of verbal promises, only slightly less so, given the literal millions at-stake.

[Jamaaliver]

^Unless a player and his agent have been assured that one of the few teams with cap space is prepared to offer a higher (or longer) salary in a depressed FA market...

[kg01]

^Unless a player and his agent have been assured that one of the few teams with cap space is prepared to offer a higher (or longer) salary in a depressed FA market...

Yeah. Under normal circumstances, you'd think some GM would be dumb enough to panic-overpay a guy. But these aren't "normal" circumstances.

I mean, shiiiii, it's been like a whole month since I insulted @jammallo. Who would've thunk that'd happen? Certainly not me.

[Spud2nique]

^Unless a player and his agent have been assured that one of the few teams with cap space is prepared to offer a higher (or longer) salary in a depressed FA market...

Yeah. Under normal circumstances, you'd think some GM would be dumb enough to panic-overpay a guy. But these aren't "normal" circumstances.

I mean, shiiiii, it's been like a whole month since I insulted @jammallo. Who would've thunk that'd happen? Certainly not me.

Really? So you were just kickin it here a month ago. Good to know.