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Tim BontempsESPN
The NBA Finals were over just a few days ago but The Association has no plans to stop.
The league’s next generation of players will be welcome to the fold this week when they are Orlando Magic The 2022 NBA Draft will begin Thursday night at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center. As teams start to plan their next steps, they will be able to take advantage of free agency and join the summer league. Golden State Warriors.
These are the names that will be worth your attention this summer. Zach LaVine, Bradley Beal And Jalen Brunson Stay with the current team. Where is the Deandre Ayton Saga centered on the Phoenix Suns? What will it take to make the Los Angeles Lakers retool around LeBron James And Anthony Davis After last season’s failure to make the playoffs?
Here are 10 of the most important questions that the NBA will face heading into an exciting offseason.
Mock draft: First-round changes and lottery movement
1. How will the Warriors rebuild for their title defense?
Golden State emerged from two years in the wilderness to claim a fourth title within eight years and reestablish its dynasty. The fifth title will be difficult to achieve, however.
Kevon LooneyThe salary of, whose offensive rebounding and interior defense played a crucial role in the Warriors’ run, will likely rise to $5.2 million by 2021-22. This could also be true for Gary Payton IIAfter years of trying to establish a solid foothold within the NBA, he seems poised to finally get the best for his career.
Extension decisions also await the WarriorsParticularly with Andrew WigginsThe deal is still good for one year. Jordan PooleThe only person who will be able to exercise restricted free agency is, who is one year away. The Warriors have already spent a record $350million in payroll and luxury taxes payments in 2021-22. They are now on track to reach $400 million each season.
2. What will the Lakers do to retool around Anthony Davis and LeBron James?
LeBron was already a 13-year veteran of the playoffs when he arrived in Los Angeles. He has missed the playoffs twice in four seasons with the Lakers — L.A.’s 33-50 mark this season was his worst ever. Changing those fortunes will require a lot of work This summer. It started with the hiring of former Milwaukee Bucks Frank Vogel’s assistant Darvin Ham will replace Frank Vogel as coach.
Next,? How to fill out a roster once you have it. Russell Westbrook And Kendrick Nunn As expected, those who opt in to their deals will be right around the luxury line, with six players currently under contract. (This assumes Westbrook will stay in Los Angeles next year, which seems to be the best path forward.
The Lakers will have to fill the remaining nine roster slots with minimum players, and the taxpayer’s middle-level exception. This may not be enough for the Lakers to retain their unrestricted, free-agent guard, one of their bright spots from last year. Malik Monk.
James will have to make a decision in August about whether or not to renew his contract. He can also be unrestricted and free in 2023 if he doesn’t choose to.
3. Where is Jazz heading?
After the loss to the USA, Utah was likely to have a turbulent offseason. Dallas Mavericks In the first round, Quin Snyder, Jazz coach, resigned after eight successful seasons.
Following two consecutive disappointing postseason exits the focus will shift now to how Jazz CEO Danny Ainge will reshape this team His first offseason as a full-time manager will determine whether the All Star partnership will be broken up. Donovan Mitchell And Rudy Gobert After five seasons together.
The Jazz have few options for drastically changing the roster if they don’t get a pick in Thursday’s draft. Ainge will also make the decision on who will succeed Snyder at Utah’s bench. This is one of the remaining coaching spots in the league. (Charlotte holds the other, after Kenny Atkinson accepted the job last week only to reverse on that decision Per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, it was a few days back.
It was expected that the extended partnership would be established in the City of Brotherly Love, after the 76ers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey was reunited at the 2022 trade deadline.
While that’s likely to continue, a disappointing playoff run leaves both sides with decisions. Will Harden opt in to his $47 million player option, or will he look at the free-agency landscape. In order to provide more financial flexibility for the future, can they agree on a longer-term contract with a lower number of players?
You can also find other Philly players here Danny GreenDue to a knee injury sustained in the playoffs, he will likely miss the entire season of next year. However, he has a $10m expiring contract that can be used for a trade-chip — along with the No. The 23rd pick in Thursday’s draft was after Brooklyn chose to take the Harden-sponsored first-rounder next year instead.Ben Simmons trade.
2:05
Stephen A. Smith discusses Kyrie Irving’s postgame comments about the Nets’ struggles.
Irving and the Nets have exactly the same options as Harden in Philadelphia.
Meanwhile, the Nets have plenty of decisions to make They will also be trying to improve on their disappointing first round sweep by the Eastern Conference champions. Boston Celtics.
Patty Mills A player option is available for next season. Bruce BrownThe agent will be unrestricted and free. Nic ClaxtonThe restricted-free agent is a Brooklyn rim presence at both ends, who fulfills a need in Brooklyn that is not in great supply.
The Nets will once again be among the most expensive teams in NBA history, as they must fill several positions at the bench.
6. Will Deandre Ayton stay with the Phoenix Suns or will he be traded?
It is amazing how a year can make a big difference.
Ayton’s integral role in helping the Phoenix Suns reach the NBA Finals was being recognized in June 2021.
Ayton was sent home after the Mavericks beat them in Game 7. the future of the 2018 No. 1 pick is unclear.
To reshape his roster and trade away from Ayton, will Phoenix sign a deal-and-trade with Ayton? Or will he agree to a sign-and-trade deal with Ayton that would likely see the Suns match his offer sheet?
7. What will Zach LaVine and Bradley Beal do?
Next month, the three guards aged between 20 and 30 years old will be free agents without restrictions.
LaVine has just come off a knee operation, but will still be active in the offseason. likely to have his choice of max contract offers Although a return is possible to the Chicago BullsThe most likely outcome seems to be that he traded five years ago for him. The odds are that Beal will make a similar decision Resign with the Washington Wizards If he chooses to walk away from the contract’s final year between now June 30 and June 30,
The more interesting situation lies in DallasBrunson, who was a key part of the Mavericks run to the Western Conference finals, will be unrestricted at age 25 as he is an unrestricted agent. After agreeing to trade for Brunson, Christian Wood Last week, Brunson and the Mavericks reached a deal that could propel them into the luxury tax.
The New York Knicks — a team to which Brunson has many tiesRick Thibodeau, his father, could offer him a lucrative deal to get him out of there. The possibility exists that he could be lured away by a healthy offer. Detroit PistonsHe could be an interesting match for him next year’s No. 1 pick, Cade Cunningham.
8. What will be the top of the NBA draft Do you want to shake it?
The top three draft picks for this year per ESPN’s Jonathan GivonyAuburn’s projected top three are. Jabari SmithThe order is: Gonzaga’s Chet Homgren and Duke’s Paolo Banchero. It is not clear what order the items should be placed in, however.
Givony predicts Smith will be the Magic’s top selection, with Holmgren coming in second. Oklahoma City Thunder Banchero is third in the rankings Houston Rockets.
The top three are the most important. Things can get chaotic quickly. These are the Sacramento KingsDetroit Pistons Indiana Pacers, Portland Trail Blazers And New Orleans Pelicans The next five choices are available.
9. What will the combination guard market look like when there is no agency?
The most fascinating aspect of free agency is the fact that four very similar players are restricted free agents. Anfernee Simons (Portland). Collin Sexton (Cleveland Cavaliers) and extension candidates Poole (Golden State) and Tyler Herro (Miami HeatThey will be paid. They are all explosive offensive players, with questionable defensive skills.
Simons will likely stay in Portland, especially after the election. CJ McCollum Was dealt midseason in order to clear a spot for next to Damian Lillard He is grateful. Sexton’s free-agent status will be interesting as he missed nearly the entire season due to meniscus surgery. Cleveland has plenty of money moving forward.
Herro and Poole are both fascinating extensions candidates. They both have been key players in Finals runs. Herro helped Miami reach the Finals two year ago, while Herro was in Golden State’s title win.
1:09
Marcus Spears explains why Zion Williamson could be a cornerstone of the Pelicans, if he is committed.
10. What percentage of the 2019 draft class’s top players will be extended immediately?
The Memphis Grizzlies And Ja Morant They will almost certainly all agree to a max contract extension at free agency. Three of the five other top picks in 2019 NBA Draft — Zion Williamson (New Orleans Pelicans), RJ Barrett (New York) and Darius Garland (Cleveland), could be subject to slightly more complicated negotiations.
Williamson and Griffin discussed the possibility of Williamson signing a re-signing agreement with New Orleans. But, having played a total of 85 games over his three first NBA seasons, including zero in 2021-22, there might be some negotiation surrounding any guarantees that could be included in the deal to provide protections for New Orleans in the future.
Barrett could be the first Knick to have his rookie contract extended since Charlie Ward’s 1999 extension. Barrett made some improvements over his first three seasons but it could be difficult negotiations for both sides.
Garland, on his other hand, will be looking to find something in this range after a breakthrough third season that saw Garland make his first All-Star Game appearance and finish third in Most Improved Players voting.