Speculation circulated, questions continued to be asked, and the rumors continued. But finally, NBA free agency is upon us.
The gates have officially opened with teams receiving the go-ahead for negotiations starting at 6 p.m. ET. Contracts cannot be signed until July 7. However, it is only a matter of time before gears shift as rumors of finished deals materialize.
While there is a lot, and I mean a lot, of action expected to revolve around the NBA, there are a few major figures on our radar. Those to watch closely as their next move could change the landscape of the league.
At the time of this writing, both Draymond Green and Kyrie Irving have agreed to remain on their respective teams. Both are excellent players at their best and controversial figures in basketball. Green’s time at Golden State has a spot in the form of Jordan Ball. Instead of covering it up, the Warriors did the right thing by moving Paul and keeping Green. In doing so, they have preserved their title winning essence while continuing to build towards another championship.
On the other hand, the Dallas Mavericks decided to play it all on Irving despite his failure to make the playoffs after his late addition last season. It’s as simple as making a deal in hindsight. But now that they’ve got him and Luka Doncic for a full season (assuming they don’t get hurt) and two more seasons after that, the possibilities are endless for the Mavs.
Other noteworthy deals include Kyle Kuzma’s resignation from the Wizards, Chris Middleton’s move to Milwaukee, and Bruce Brown’s move to Indiana after becoming the lifeblood of the Denver Championship.
within the first hour, We got closure on some stars. Meanwhile, some question marks still hover over others.
How far does loyalty take you?
It’s something that causes a lot of anxiety as we await Damian Lillard’s future. For the past decade, Lillard has been the face of Portland. There is no question of mutual love between the two parties, but even good relationships have to come to an end sometimes.
A lot of factors come into play in this mode; Frustration, lack of understanding, and the feeling of not getting what you need from the other.
Lillard and the Trailblazers had runs, but the frustration was blatantly rotten by PDX. Is it time for Lillard to move on from Portland in pursuit of the title he so well deserves? Should the organization bring in veteran talent to keep him or focus on a youth future? As a franchise, you can see both episodes as a way to pay Lillard for his unwavering loyalty. Whether it’s about liberating him or giving him a reason to stay.
Rumored suitors include the Clippers, Nets, and Heat—Miami is the obvious front runner in this race if there ever was one.
Can we continue to trust the process?
Oh, Philly, there is so much potential, so much talent, so many chances met with flops.
When a team’s battle cry is “confidence in the process,” it doesn’t necessarily scream confidence. However, it shows no shortage of optimism. However, do you wait until your arms are weak to hold the participation cups and runner-up medals? I have moved players, fired coaches, and brought the City of Brotherly Love to its knees, to no avail.
Last season’s Player of the Year winner was Joel Embiid. But the 76ers couldn’t catch a break. There’s an ever-revolving door to the cast surrounding him, but James Harden had a glimmer of hope as his actor. Or so we thought.
Given his past accomplishments, it’s hard not to give Harden some grace. But he constantly sits on the fence between being an asset and a liability when he disappears when you need him most. While we know for sure, Embiid is still stuck, Harden’s future in Philadelphia remains uncertain.
If the 76ers leave, the market is wide open for the former MVP. Like Lillard, the Clippers can be Hit Harden’s possible landing sites. Returning to Houston is also one of many possibilities. The process continues to bloom and the answers are not far away.
- Posted on 06/30/2023 at 23:50 PM
- Last updated on 01/07/2023 at 04:50 AM