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It didn’t take long for the first wave of NBA free agents to find homes. One of the more notable moves was Paul George signing with the 76ers. James Harden also returned to the Clippers on a two-year contract.
While several players are already off the board, there are still some big names that have yet to sign. There are also some key depth pieces that could significantly help contending teams.
Let’s dig into the top five free agents still available and discuss some potential landing spots for them.
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LeBron James - SF
Potential Landing Spots: Lakers
James became a free agent after declining his $51.4 million player option for the 2024-25 season. However, there isn’t really any serious doubt that he will return to the Lakers. They used their second-round pick in the 2024 Draft to select his son, Bronny James, helping facilitate LeBron’s dream of playing with his son in the NBA.
James’ return to the Lakers is basically a formality. How much money he will sign for is now the only question mark. The Lakers are trying to add veterans to help improve their chances of making a deeper playoff run and James is reportedly willing to take a pay cut if the team can add the right player.
DeMar DeRozan - SG/SF
Potential Landing Spots: Clippers, Lakers, Bulls, Magic
DeRozan had a stellar three-season stint with the Bulls. He averaged at least 24.0 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 5.1 assists per game in each campaign. While not a great three-point shooter, he shot at least 48.0 percent from the field in all three seasons. He was the player that the Bulls turned to the most late in games with him being known for his clutch scoring abilities.
DeMar DeRozan with the ASSIST OF THE YEAR?! pic.twitter.com/xvgGDMQEhE
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) November 14, 2023
The Bulls look to be on their way to building a younger roster. They dealt away Alex Caruso and let Andre Drummond depart in free agency. They have brought in Josh Giddey and Jalen Smith, while also re-signing Patrick Williams. As they continue to try and trade Zach LaVine, they might be hard-pressed even to reach the Play-In Tournament next season.
There is still a chance that DeRozan could return to the Bulls. He has had a great relationship with the franchise and is one of their most popular players. However, if he wants to win now, he’ll likely need to go elsewhere.
With George gone, the Clippers could be in the mix to sign DeRozan. James has also reportedly been interested in having DeRozan join him on the Lakers. However, DeRozan would likely have to take a pay cut to play there. The Magic could use a veteran scorer to help lead their young team, but they don’t have the cap flexibility that they entered the offseason with after signing Kentavious Caldwell-Pope away from the Nuggets.
Klay Thompson - SG
Potential Landing Spots: Lakers, Mavericks
After playing his entire career with the Warriors, it appears that Thompson is destined to join another team. He is coming off a disappointing season in which he averaged only 17.9 points per game. That was his lowest mark since the 2012-13 season.
Despite his decline, Thompson still shot 38.7 percent from behind the arc last season. With his shooting and championship pedigree, he can still be a valuable veteran for a team looking to make a deep run in the playoffs.
.@windhorstESPN says the Lakers are "a step away" from being able to bring Klay Thompson to L.A. 👀 pic.twitter.com/hm4OfMWCab
— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) July 1, 2024
The top two teams that have been linked to Thompson are the Lakers and the Mavericks. Thompson’s father Mychal played for the Lakers and is also part of the team’s radio broadcast. That could play a factor in Klay’s decision. The Mavericks just made it to the NBA Finals and should be one of the top teams in the West again with Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving in the fold. The team went cold from behind the arc against the Celtics, so adding a shooter like Thompson could help them get over the hump and bring home a title.
Tyus Jones - PG
Potential Landing Spots: Wizards, Magic, Heat
As a member of the Grizzlies, Jones was one of the best backup point guards in the league. Whenever Ja Morant wasn’t available, Jones stepped up to keep them on a winning track. He then landed with the Wizards before last season, finally setting him up to be a regular starter.
Jones didn’t disappoint as a starter, finishing the season with averages of 12.0 points, 7.3 assists, 1.1 steals, and 1.6 three-pointers per game. The added playing time didn’t hurt his efficiency, either. In fact, he shot a career-high 48.9 percent from the field. From behind the arc, he shot a stellar 41.4 percent.
Tyus Jones floats it HIGH to end the half 🔥 pic.twitter.com/9lOtA31ci7
— NBA TV (@NBATV) January 24, 2023
Jones has proven that he can be a viable starter in the NBA. He likely wants to be paid like one, but do teams view him that way? He doesn’t bring a ton of size to the table, which hurts him on the defensive end.
The Wizards could bring back Jones, or explore sign-and-trade options. If the Magic don’t bring back Markelle Fultz, then Jones could slide in nicely as his replacement. The Heat did add Terry Rozier at the trade deadline last season, but their guard depth isn’t exactly stellar behind him and Tyler Herro. If Jones does find his way to a contending team, it would likely be in a backup role.
Miles Bridges - SF/PF
Potential Landing Spots: Hornets, Clippers, Suns
Talent is not the question with Bridges. Last season, he averaged 21.0 points, 7.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 2.3 three-pointers per game with the Hornets. He shot 46.2 percent from the field, 34.9 percent from behind the arc, and 82.5 percent from the charity stripe. He has averaged at least 20.2 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 3.3 assists in both of his last two seasons.
The problem with Bridges is that he comes with off-the-court issues. That makes it difficult for some franchises to justify paying up for his services. With fewer suitors than other players with his level of talent, he could find his way back to the Hornets, especially if he is looking for a long-term deal.
For contending teams who don’t have much cap space and are desperate for depth, Bridges could become an option if he is willing to sign a short-term team for a lower dollar amount. If he was willing to do that, the Clippers and Suns could come into play.
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