FA and Trade Predictions -- All Teams
Posted: Tue Jul 04, 2017 8:30 am
We're closing in on the last few major free agent signings - Hayward, George Hill, Gallo, Otto Porter -- and less noteworthy but still significant ones like Zach Randolph, Tony Allen, Jonathan Simmons and J. Green. There are also a potential major trade target in Melo along with the possibility of trades for Gallo, Randolph or perhaps others.
So here's where I think some noteable free agents and potential trade targets will end up when the dust settles on this summer's free agent frenzy:
Gordon Hayward -- Stays in Utah (He should go to Boston for the best chance to win, but my gut tells me he'll stay with the Jazz)
George Hill -- Lakers. (You'd think he could find a better destination that the Lakers where he'll be little more than a mentor or maybe temporary place-holder for Lonzo Ball and likely no playoffs. But the Lakers are the only team reported to be pursuing him aggressively, so I'm guessing he ends up there. I'm surprised he's lasted this long. He's be a nice plan B for the Celtics if they don't land Hayward. He would seem to be a great fit for the Clippers using the MLE or more if the Clippers can clear space with a deal. He would seem to be a more logical target for the Clippers than Gallo. Dallas would be another good fit to mentor Dennis Smith).
Gallo -- Clippers. (The reports of a deal are too detailed and persistent not to be true. I think it's a foregone conclusion he ends up with the Clippers, who will be the gimpiest team in the League with Griffin and Gallo. They'll also be the most front-court oriented team in the League. He'd be a nice Plan B for the Boston if they don't get Hayward. He should wait for that to shake out before agreeing to go to the Clippers).
Otto Porter -- Wizards. (Apparently, he still hasn't decided whether to sign the Kings's max offer sheet. But that shouldn't matter because I can't see the Wizards letting him go).
Zach Randolph -- Memphis. (Latest report has the Cavs aggressively pursing him. We haven't heard of anyone else in hot pursuit. Not sure whether they still have their MLE to sign him. Would he take the vet minimum to go there? Maybe he would for the chance to play with LeBron and win a championship at age 36 in the final act of his career. But Memphis has Bird rights to pay him far more than the Cavs and since the Griz have no cap room, re-signing Randolph seems like something they'll have to do to stay competitive).
J. Green -- Memphis. (The Griz aren't letting this guy go. They'll match any offer)
Tony Allen -- Memphis. (Again, the Griz can't afford to let this guy go and they have Bird rights to match any offer. Matching won't be hard because Allen's not going to get any significant offers).
Jonathan Simmons -- Spurs
So here's where I think some noteable free agents and potential trade targets will end up when the dust settles on this summer's free agent frenzy:
Gordon Hayward -- Stays in Utah (He should go to Boston for the best chance to win, but my gut tells me he'll stay with the Jazz)
George Hill -- Lakers. (You'd think he could find a better destination that the Lakers where he'll be little more than a mentor or maybe temporary place-holder for Lonzo Ball and likely no playoffs. But the Lakers are the only team reported to be pursuing him aggressively, so I'm guessing he ends up there. I'm surprised he's lasted this long. He's be a nice plan B for the Celtics if they don't land Hayward. He would seem to be a great fit for the Clippers using the MLE or more if the Clippers can clear space with a deal. He would seem to be a more logical target for the Clippers than Gallo. Dallas would be another good fit to mentor Dennis Smith).
Gallo -- Clippers. (The reports of a deal are too detailed and persistent not to be true. I think it's a foregone conclusion he ends up with the Clippers, who will be the gimpiest team in the League with Griffin and Gallo. They'll also be the most front-court oriented team in the League. He'd be a nice Plan B for the Boston if they don't get Hayward. He should wait for that to shake out before agreeing to go to the Clippers).
Otto Porter -- Wizards. (Apparently, he still hasn't decided whether to sign the Kings's max offer sheet. But that shouldn't matter because I can't see the Wizards letting him go).
Zach Randolph -- Memphis. (Latest report has the Cavs aggressively pursing him. We haven't heard of anyone else in hot pursuit. Not sure whether they still have their MLE to sign him. Would he take the vet minimum to go there? Maybe he would for the chance to play with LeBron and win a championship at age 36 in the final act of his career. But Memphis has Bird rights to pay him far more than the Cavs and since the Griz have no cap room, re-signing Randolph seems like something they'll have to do to stay competitive).
J. Green -- Memphis. (The Griz aren't letting this guy go. They'll match any offer)
Tony Allen -- Memphis. (Again, the Griz can't afford to let this guy go and they have Bird rights to match any offer. Matching won't be hard because Allen's not going to get any significant offers).
Jonathan Simmons -- Spurs