Offseason Beat: NBA Free Agency: Pacific
Welcome to the second installment of Rotoworld’s division-by-division 2016 NBA free agency preview. Next up is the Pacific division, exploring the team needs and free agent situations of the Warriors, Clippers, Lakers, Suns and Kings.
Previous installments:
Northwest Division (Ryan Knaus)
Salary info from spotrac.com
Golden State Warriors
2015-16 Record: 73-9 (.890)
Free Agents: Harrison Barnes (R), Festus Ezeli (R), Ian Clark (R), James Michael McAdoo (R), Leandro Barbosa, Brandon Rush, Marreese Speights, Anderson Varejao
Payroll Approximation: $75.5 million
Biggest Needs: With Harrison Barnes an RFA and likely to generate at least a near max deal, the Warriors need to prioritize the small forward position the Kevin Durant recruitment tour. Additionally, Golden State will see several key bench contributors enter free agency, so we could be looking at a a very different group of faces enter the mix for 2016-17. I’ll be watching closely just how hard the club decides to push in order to retain Festus Ezeli, especially with Andrew Bogut having just one year remaining on his current contract.
The Warriors have been linked to a number of prominent names since rumor season started, but none trump the chase for Durant. Even if KD spurns Stephen Curry and Co., it’s certainly possible to envision that the Dubs chase a player like Nicolas Batum rather than automatically assume Barnes would return. I have a feeling the UNC product will want to be treated like a priority rather than a backup in free agency, especially since his role is so capped in his current situation. Regardless, Golden State will have the last word because they’ll have the right to match any offer sheet Barnes signs with another franchise.
Prediction: No Durant, No Problem: The Warriors still land a big name.
Los Angeles Clippers
2015-16 Record: 53-29 (.646)
Free Agents: Cole Aldrich, Jeff Ayres, Jamal Crawford, Jeff Green, Wesley Johnson, Luc Mbah a Moute, Pablo Prigioni, Austin Rivers
Payroll Approximation: $77.2 million
Biggest Needs: Although Doc Rivers the GM has faced his fair share of challenges to date during his front office tenure, the current maze may be the most puzzling he’s been forced to piece together: rebuilding the bench. With the exception of Jeff Ayres, the Clippers will face a tough task in bringing back the other names on the team’s impending free agent list. Jamal Crawford took home yet another Sixth Man of the Year Award, Cole Aldrich played well when presented the opportunity, Wesley Johnson found some consistency and Austin Rivers learned how to be an effective NBA player. It will be difficult—but not impossible—to replace what those guys brought to the table, but Los Angeles is going to have to get creative.
Outside of upgrading the second unit, the small forward spot has been a gaping hole for a while now and continues to be a void. Even if Paul Pierce shuns retirement and continues playing, it may be just about time to fix that.
The question that has already developed as the theme of the season is the following: Is this the Clippers last shot? Some might argue that L.A. has already missed its window, and with both Chris Paul and Blake Griffin holding an Early Termination Option (ETO) for the 2017-18 campaign, the Clips are going to have to do some critical self-evaluation that the organization simply hasn’t had to do in the past, especially when weighed against championship-level expectations.
Prediction: The Clippers will flirt with Kevin Durant, but that’s as far as it’s going to get. Look for Los Angeles to explore the trade market for wings.
Los Angeles Lakers
2015-16 Record: 17-65 (.207)
Free Agents: Tarik Black (R), Jordan Clarkson (R), Marcelo Huertas (R), Ryan Kelly (R), Brandon Bass, Kobe Bryant, Roy Hibbert, Robert Sacre, Metta World Peace
Payroll Approximation: $23.1 million
Biggest Needs: Is upgrading every position too ambitious of an ask? In all sincerity, the Lakers have their biggest holes on the wing and in the middle of the key, so it should be of no surprise that Los Angeles just tabbed Brandon Ingram as its newest member of the core. Nor should it come with any shock that the pursuit of Hassan Whiteside in free agency is officially on and popping. It can be argued that the team would benefit by stretching/waiving Nick Young’s contract, but Mitch Kupchak, Jim Buss and everyone else under the hot Hollywood lights will likely want to ensure that Young’s replacement is on board before Swaggy may be set free.
Other than Larry Nance Jr. and Lou Williams, the Lakers bench—which was previously littered with garbage—should be filled with different names and be much improved from what we’ve been (too) used to seeing. The Ryan Kelly–Robert Sacre era should be over, and for that we can all be thankful.
Los Angeles is going to be connected to a number of prominent names—except Kevin Durant—like every other offseason, but 2016 is different in that it’s the first chapter in “Life After Kobe.” With Luke Walton as head coach and now the unquestioned captain of the ship, it’s time for the Lakers to begin sailing in the right direction.
As for Jordan Clarkson, expect L.A. to re-sign him before J.C. even gets an opportunity to have an offer sheet presented. There’s an interest on both sides to remain together for the long haul, and the Lakers aren’t going to let a second-round gem walk out the door for absolutely nothing.
Prediction: Lakers steal Hassan Whiteside away from Pat Riley’s Miami Heat on a maximum contract.
Phoenix Suns
2015-16 Record: 23-59 (.280)
Free Agents: Chase Budinger, Jon Leuer, Ronnie Price, Mirza Teletovic
Payroll Approximation: $57.5 million
Biggest Needs: The Suns should be doing everything in their control to use a surplus (point guard) in order to address a weakness (power forward). While Mirza Teletovic had a better than expected season, GM Ryan McDonough can’t fool himself into believing that the long-term answer at PF is already on the roster. I’m not committed to the Alex Len–Tyson Chandler pairing, especially with Chandler now a much more attractive trade chip given the current salary landscape.
There’s been chatter of Rich Paul pushing for Eric Bledsoe to escape Phoenix, but the Suns are going to have a much easier time moving Brandon Knight. Bledsoe’s health issues are going to hamper any team with interest and influence the potential offer as a result, and you don’t want to give up on Bledsoe at a discount because his upside as an game-changing player is considerably higher than Knight’s.
It’s all about the frontcourt for the Suns, but it’d be nice to see Phoenix add some additional depth on the wing, as well.
With the exception of an erroneous report of a Brandon Knight trade, we haven’t heard a whole lot from this group since the season ended. While it’s true that Dragan Bender and Marquese Chriss are now in the fold, the Suns still need to prioritize adding a veteran four capable of making an immediate impact that meshes with Earl Watson’s style.
Prediction: Phoenix emerges as a legitimate player in the Ryan Anderson sweepstakes & moves Tyson Chandler before the season begins.
Sacramento Kings
2015-16 Record: 33-49 (.402)
Free Agents: Eric Moreland (R), Seth Curry (R), Quincy Acy, James Anderson, Rajon Rondo
Payroll Approximation: $56.6 million
Biggest Needs: Rajon Rondo is a free agent, Darren Collison’s immediate future is up in the air and the Kings have no idea who is going to play point guard. Let’s start there.
It would sure be nice to see some better names at shooting guard, and that would certainly help to explain the reported interest in swingman Courtney Lee. A solid veteran to have in a locker room that needs all of the help it can get, Lee is a two-way player who brings two things (defense, 3-point shooting) the Kings are going to need. If Vlade Divac’s club winds up moving on from Rudy Gay—even with the drafting of Malachi Richardson and should Lee come aboard—Sacramento is going to have to go out and get some additional help at small forward. With Willie Cauley-Stein, Kosta Koufos and DeMarcus Cousins projected to eat up plenty of frontcourt minutes, the Dave Joerger Takeover Tour ought to target as much shooting as it can find as well as a real floor general.
Moving Marco Belinelli for a first-round pick (No. 22, Richardson) was an absolute no-brainer decision, and it might not have been Sacramento’s best move on draft night. Acquiring Bogdan Bogdanovic and two 2016 first-round selections (13, 22) in exchange for No. 8 overall was another clear winning move, and maybe—just maybe—we’re starting to move in the right direction here. Just don’t sign Dion Waiters to be the starting two.
Prediction: Kings trade Rudy Gay before the season begins.
