Author: Monojit Mandal
An unidentified NBA executive predicted a wave of free agent deals and signings in what could be a busy summer. According to Howard Beck of GQ Sports, an Eastern Conference executive said: “It’s going to be an active summer”. However, the executive downplayed the excitement by comparing the projected movement of players to Memorial Day, not the Fourth of July, hinting that, although significant, the deals may not be game-changing.
While the free agent market may not be full of standout names capable of substantially altering the NBA’s balance of power, there are still several excellent players projected to receive major interest. Among them is Philadelphia 76ers point guard James Harden, who has a player option for next season and should become one of the most sought-after players on the market.
Other notable free agents expected to be heavily targeted include Kyrie Irving of the Dallas Mavericks, Fred VanVleet of the Toronto Raptors, Khris Middleton and Brook Lopez of the Milwaukee Bucks, Draymond Green of the Golden State Warriors and Nikola Vuevi of the Chicago Bulls.
Although the offseason is still in its early stages, there have already been notable deals. The Washington Wizards made headlines when they traded Bradley Beal to the Phoenix Suns for Chris Paul, Landry Shamet and draft picks. The Wizards then transferred Paul to the Golden State Warriors in exchange for point guard Jordan Poole and other picks.
The Boston Celtics made another big deal with three teams, trading point guard Marcus Smart to the Memphis Grizzlies, acquiring forward Kristaps Porziis from the Wizards and receiving point guard Tyus Jones from the Grizzlies.
In addition, rumors claim that more important players, such as Portland Trail Blazers point guard Damian Lillard, could be available for trade. Lillard has stated his desire for the Blazers to build a championship contending team around him, but the team’s choice to select point guard Scoot Henderson with the third overall pick in the 2023 NBA draft suggests that they may not be eager to trade a great player right away.
Although Lillard supposedly didn’t want a trade during recent meetings with Blazers management, industry experts think a trade is not out of the question. A trade for Lillard, especially for a championship contender like the Miami Heat, would certainly cause a stir and is a subject that should be constantly monitored during the off-season.