Post by Jeremiah Hill on Jan 17, 2019 4:53:55 GMT
Who will be the big players in Free Agency next season. Here are my predictions.
Atlanta - Cap room expected $57 mil
I honestly don't know if he will be a player. He might keep playing the waiting game given that A. His team isn't really about to make any sort of jump. B. There aren't THAT many good free agents. He is going to have to decide whether to resign Mirotic but we'll see how that shakes out.
Boston - $60 mil
If Ian takes the same approach I did during my time resigning a major free agent I anticipate him spending most of his focus on Embiid. There are other teams that can potentially make an offer for him, and they absolutely should if only to put on the pressure. And it's not like missing out on other free agents is going to kill his upward mobility because even with a maxed Embiid he can offer another max the year after.
Brooklyn - $60 mil
He's gonna make a splash I think but I'm not 100% sure. He's sort of in a might as well situation with that much money but he's been really smart with his cap and might choose to wait as well.
Dallas - $40 mil
I think Barton is declining that PO so he's gonna have room for a max. He'll have to sign players but I don't know if Danny will be a player for max guys. He'll be competing for highly coveted good but low/mid range guys who have potential.
LA LAkers - $15 mil
Los Angeles has to make a decision, move some guys and make room so he can combine his resigning of TJ Warren with another good FA and try and make a move. Or he could play the waiting game. I don't really have a read on West's tendencies yet.
Memphis - $40 mil
Memphis's next offseason will leave them with sizeable holes in the roster. Once again though, the potential to wait for a better free agent class is there however there is something to be said (not only for Memphis but also every other potential wait team) that competition might be less fierce for the top guys this year if more people choose to wait.
New Orleans - $75 mil
New Orleans will be the biggest player in OSFA in my opinion, with Gordon Hayward rounding into form a bit earlier this month he's probably gonna be a declining that option. That said it's not a guarantee if you look at his last few games, but still even if he accepts he's still got 4 roster spots open minimum and a promising young star in JJJ to market to players.
New York - $25 mil
With several team options that are declined imo he'll have a nice chunk of change to try and sign a guy. But with Aaron Gordon and Nurkic both free agents that 25 mil might not be useful for much else than getting them back.
Philly - $50 mil
I honestly see the 76ers sitting pat and just waiting it out and seeing what he has with his young guys before making a major money commitment.
Toronto - $0 mil
With Green sucking it up, he might accept that PO. But with so many open roster spots he's gonna be that annoying guy that snatches up random min level guys that we all want to have.
Utah - $40 mil
He has 40 mil and 1 open roster spot. I honestly see him being a big player in the trade market more than anything because he's got 2 draft picks and could use the roster space and cap room to absorb salary from someone in exchange for a late 1st or multiple 2nds.
Summary -
This will be the offseason of deciding as a GM whether you want to attack or wait it out simply due to a lack of major free agents on the market that will be absolute difference makers, however they could be difference makers for the right squads.
Atlanta - Cap room expected $57 mil
I honestly don't know if he will be a player. He might keep playing the waiting game given that A. His team isn't really about to make any sort of jump. B. There aren't THAT many good free agents. He is going to have to decide whether to resign Mirotic but we'll see how that shakes out.
Boston - $60 mil
If Ian takes the same approach I did during my time resigning a major free agent I anticipate him spending most of his focus on Embiid. There are other teams that can potentially make an offer for him, and they absolutely should if only to put on the pressure. And it's not like missing out on other free agents is going to kill his upward mobility because even with a maxed Embiid he can offer another max the year after.
Brooklyn - $60 mil
He's gonna make a splash I think but I'm not 100% sure. He's sort of in a might as well situation with that much money but he's been really smart with his cap and might choose to wait as well.
Dallas - $40 mil
I think Barton is declining that PO so he's gonna have room for a max. He'll have to sign players but I don't know if Danny will be a player for max guys. He'll be competing for highly coveted good but low/mid range guys who have potential.
LA LAkers - $15 mil
Los Angeles has to make a decision, move some guys and make room so he can combine his resigning of TJ Warren with another good FA and try and make a move. Or he could play the waiting game. I don't really have a read on West's tendencies yet.
Memphis - $40 mil
Memphis's next offseason will leave them with sizeable holes in the roster. Once again though, the potential to wait for a better free agent class is there however there is something to be said (not only for Memphis but also every other potential wait team) that competition might be less fierce for the top guys this year if more people choose to wait.
New Orleans - $75 mil
New Orleans will be the biggest player in OSFA in my opinion, with Gordon Hayward rounding into form a bit earlier this month he's probably gonna be a declining that option. That said it's not a guarantee if you look at his last few games, but still even if he accepts he's still got 4 roster spots open minimum and a promising young star in JJJ to market to players.
New York - $25 mil
With several team options that are declined imo he'll have a nice chunk of change to try and sign a guy. But with Aaron Gordon and Nurkic both free agents that 25 mil might not be useful for much else than getting them back.
Philly - $50 mil
I honestly see the 76ers sitting pat and just waiting it out and seeing what he has with his young guys before making a major money commitment.
Toronto - $0 mil
With Green sucking it up, he might accept that PO. But with so many open roster spots he's gonna be that annoying guy that snatches up random min level guys that we all want to have.
Utah - $40 mil
He has 40 mil and 1 open roster spot. I honestly see him being a big player in the trade market more than anything because he's got 2 draft picks and could use the roster space and cap room to absorb salary from someone in exchange for a late 1st or multiple 2nds.
Summary -
This will be the offseason of deciding as a GM whether you want to attack or wait it out simply due to a lack of major free agents on the market that will be absolute difference makers, however they could be difference makers for the right squads.