Portland Path Blazers guard Damian Lillard brings the ball up towards the New York Knicks in Portland, Ore., Tuesday, March 14, 2023. The place for the previous Weber State star lands could have a ripple impact across the league. Craig Mitchelldyer, Related Press
Philadelphia 76ers’ James Harden performs throughout the second half of Recreation 6 of Japanese Convention semifinal, Thursday, Might 11, 2023, in Philadelphia. Matt Slocum, Related Press
August is nearly at all times the quietest month of the NBA calendar. However this yr, some vital strikes might ignite among the hottest NBA summer time discourse.
Whereas the shine of free company has worn off and the thrill of Las Vegas Summer season League has dissipated, there are nonetheless free brokers who haven’t inked offers, and top-tier gamers who're ready to be traded.
Dame and The Beard
Clearly James Harden and Damian Lillard high the checklist with regards to star-level gamers that might be on the transfer this summer time.
It’s not a secret that each gamers need to go away their present groups and that they each have desired locations. Lillard requested for a commerce from the Portland Path Blazers and desires to play for the Miami Warmth and Harden needs to depart the Philadelphia 76ers to affix the Los Angeles Clippers.
Although Lillard’s and Harden’s decisions of most well-liked NBA cities come as no shock to anybody, the truth that these selections are dragging out into the latter a part of the offseason does add fairly a little bit of intrigue.
If Harden or Lillard find yourself on a workforce not in Miami or L.A., that might change the dynamic of the NBA and have ripple results that contact practically each workforce. Sadly, there’s not a lot else to do apart from wait and see what occurs.
Free brokers nonetheless in the marketplace
This wasn’t essentially the most star-studded offseason by way of free brokers, however there are nonetheless some gamers obtainable that might characteristic in a beginning unit or on the very least are rotation-level gamers.
On the high of this checklist is Kelly Oubre Jr., who has spent the final two years in Charlotte and is coming off a profession season by way of manufacturing, averaging 20.3 factors per recreation for the Hornets.
There’s been some rumblings suggesting that the Chicago Bulls and Cleveland Cavaliers have curiosity in Oubre, however since he’s an unrestricted free agent, there’s no assure on the place he’ll find yourself.
Christian Wooden stays a free agent, though there are reviews that a number of groups might start a mini bidding conflict for the massive man.
Wooden was with the Dallas Mavericks final season, however the Mavericks had been rumored to be purchasing Wooden for a lot of the season main as much as the commerce deadline. Although it’s a little bit of a crimson flag that the Mavericks had been tired of re-signing Wooden and he hasn’t landed a deal but, there’s nonetheless proof that Wooden might be a helpful backup 4 or stretch 5.
Over the previous 5 seasons Wooden has averaged double-digits in scoring with some spectacular rebounding numbers, whereas additionally including a dependable 3-point shot to his recreation, taking 4.2 3-pointers per recreation final season and hitting at a 37.6% clip.
The Bulls have additionally been reportedly fascinated with Wooden together with the Los Angeles Lakers.
Timberwolves guard Jaylen Nowell rounds out the highest tier of the remaining free brokers. The 24-year-old spent his first 4 years in Minnesota, however is now set to signal a brand new deal elsewhere and has been linked to the Mavericks, although no affords have been reported.
Nowell averaged 10.8 factors off the bench for the T’Wolves final season.
Accessible NBA veterans
Along with these listed above, there are additionally a handful of attention-grabbing veteran gamers which have but to discover a house for the 2023-24 season.
Austin Rivers, Will Barton, Shaq Harrison, JaMychal Inexperienced, Hamidou Diallo, Terrence Ross, T.J. Warren, Justise Winslow, Derrick Jones Jr. and Terence Davis are all nonetheless obtainable to signal. Whether or not these gamers could be had for a veteran minimal or be a part of a biannual or midlevel exception deal, they might be helpful signings.
After all, for any of the remaining free brokers, the issue is that there's a massive chunk of NBA groups which are ready to see what occurs with Harden and Lillard earlier than they finalize their rosters.
Philadelphia 76ers’ James Harden performs throughout the second half of Recreation 6 of Japanese Convention semifinal, Thursday, Might 11, 2023, in Philadelphia.
Matt Slocum, Related Press