With the NBA draft complete, front offices now shift their focus to the soap opera that is NBA Free Agency. Many teams are looking to add key players in a push for a championship, while players are looking to cash in on a massive payday. Here are the top players that will be hitting the open market this summer.
Paul George (SF) - The former 2010 first-round pick is likely to decline his $48 million player option heading into the 24/25 season and will become an unrestricted free agent. The 9-time All-Star is looking for one more long-term contract with a contender, and finally achieve his first-ever NBA championship. The 34-year-old is coming off another solid season putting up 22 ppg & 5 rebounds on 47% shooting from the field. PG has stated he wants to stay on the West Coast, and it seems he will sign and remain a Clipper, kicking off a fresh start in a brand-new arena.
Tyrese Maxey (PG) - An incredible 23/24 season from the former Kentucky guard has put him in line to receive a massive max extension from the Philadelphia 76ers. Maxey averaged 26 ppg & 6 assists on 45% shooting, and was the 76ers best player when Joel Embiid was out hurt. Maxey will most certainly be signing a 5 YR, $205 million deal to remain a sixer for the foreseeable future.
LeBron James (SF) - Hard to believe it but James has been a Laker for six seasons. There was some speculation that the 20x All-Star was going to decline his player option and move elsewhere, but that all changed yesterday. With the Lakers drafting Bronny James in the second round of the draft yesterday, it all but guarantees Lebron will finish his career with the purple and gold. He will most likely sign with the Lakers on a massive 3 Yr, $160 million contract, ($53 per year) and have one last go at winning his 5th Larry O’Brien trophy.
DeMar DeRozan (SF) - Still an incredible mid-range scorer at the age of 34, the former top-ten pick is expected to have some heavy suitors next week. The Bulls don't seem willing to commit to a rebuild or a championship so I don't see him returning to Chicago. I believe that if Philly whiffs on PG, and resigns Maxey, they become prime candidates for DeRozan. He is still putting up great numbers with 24 ppg on 48% shooting in the 23/24 season. He would be an excellent 3rd option for Philly, somewhere in the range of 2 Year $80/90 million.
Other names that are free agents this summer include James Harden, who has made enemies with about half of the GMs in the league and will most likely resign with the Clippers. A washed Klay Thompson is also a free agent, and it would be hard to imagine him ever leaving Golden State, so I expect a 3-year deal of around $25/$30 million per year will keep Klay in the Bay Area for the rest of his career.
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