0 out of 5
- Christian Petersen/Getty Images
After a busy few days, the 2022 NBA free agency period has begun to wind down, although there are still plenty of quality veterans.
Most of these players will be looking to join suitors, especially those who have recently lost free agents at key positions.
Now that you’ve guessed where players like Deandre Ayton, Collin Sexton, Dennis Schroder and others will land, here’s where more of the top free agents should sign.
1 out of 5
- Abby Parr/Getty Images
Whiteside is a former league leader in rebounds and blocked shots and has now become one of the best backup centers in the NBA.
As the backup behind Rudy Gobert with the Utah Jazz last season, Whiteside still averaged 8.2 points, 7.6 rebounds, 1.6 blocks and shot 65.2 percent overall in just 17.9 minutes per game.
Among all players who caused four or more shots per game at the rim, Whiteside ranked eighth overall, holding opponents to 53.1 percent shooting. That was a more expensive percentage than guys like Myles Turner, Kristaps Porzingis, Joel Embiid and Anthony Davis registered.
The Clippers should be in the market for backup center Ivica Zubak after Isaiah Hartenstein left to sign a two-year deal with the New York Knicks.
Whiteside will only need to fill minutes as a rebounder and rim protector and won’t need to play a big offensive role with a stacked roster that includes Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, Norman Powell, John Wall, Reggie Jackson and Marcus Morris Sr.
After signing minimum contracts the past two years, getting Whiteside another veteran contract is important for the Clippers, who are already projected to have the highest salary cap in NBA history with $191.8 million committed so far.
2 out of 5
- Jordan Johnson/NBAE via Getty Images
The Rudy Gobert trade gave the Wolves arguably the best frontcourt in the NBA, but gutted the backcourt in the process.
Patrick Beverley and Malik Beasley were both sent to the Utah Jazz in the deal, while free agent Josh Okogie left to sign with the Phoenix Suns. Wolves have since signed sniper Bryn Forbes, but could use another ball-handler and defender to compensate for the losses of Beverley and Okogie.
Rivers is still only 29, although he is now entering his 11th NBA season. He has played in 60 total playoff games through seven postseason games and would help shore up what has become somewhat of a decimated bench since the Gobert trade.
Rivers’ value lies in his versatility. He can line up at any guard position, act as a playmaker or scorer depending on the situation and plays solid defense. As a member of the Denver Nuggets last season, he also made 37.0 percent of his catch-and-shoot threes.
If D’Angelo Russell has to miss time, Rivers could step in as the starter, something he did for the Nuggets 18 times last year. He’s used to sharing the bleachers with stars since his time alongside Nikola Jokic, James Harden, Bradley Beal, Russell Westbrook, Chris Paul and Anthony Davis. He would be an excellent addition to the dressing room of a Wolves side looking to chase titles for the foreseeable future.
Trading Gobert was huge for Minnesota, but it also means they’ll likely need another guard like Rivers in the rotation now.
3 out of 5
- Harry How/Getty Images
Even now, at age 38, Anthony has proven he can still be a reliable defender and offensive threat off the bench for a contender.
He averaged 13.3 points, 4.2 rebounds, 1.0 assists and a career-high 0.8 blocks for the Lakers last season while hitting 37.5 percent of his 3-pointers. Los Angeles needed his outside shooting, and Anthony still made an overall positive impact in his 19th season, registering a plus-2.0 swing rating (64th percentile) for Cleaning the Glass.
With each year likely being his last, staying with the Lakers or setting up a date with the New York Knicks should be Anthony’s only two considerations.
“If Carmelo wanted to come back and … play out his last year in the NBA here [with the Knicks]that was on the table and I haven’t heard anything about it being off the table,” SNY’s Ian Begley reported.
As tempting as it is to return to New York for nostalgic reasons, the Lakers are a better fit for basketball. They can offer Anthony a bigger role considering the Knicks have Julius Randle and Obi Taupin already manning the power forward spot.
There’s also the all-time scoring list to think about, as Anthony sits just 307 points behind Shaquille O’Neal for eighth and 1,711 points shy of reaching 30,000 career points. If he wants any chance to climb higher (Wilt Chamberlain is still 3,130 points ahead in seventh place), he’ll need a few more years in the role he played last season.
Anthony could spend at least one more year with LeBron James by staying in Los Angeles, and the Lakers could actually be a contender again if they can somehow land Kyrie Irving and Joe Harris or Seth Curry from the Brooklyn Nets.
4 out of 5
- Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images
After losing JaVale McGee in free agency to the Dallas Mavericks and with Deandre Ayton’s future in Phoenix looking in doubt, the Suns should jump at the chance to sign Cousins while they still can.
The 31-year-old proved he can still play while with the Milwaukee Bucks and Denver Nuggets last season, continuing to be a force on the glass and as an offensive center.
Cousins averaged 21.6 points, 13.5 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.8 steals and 1.1 blocks per 36 minutes in 48 games last season. He also made 55.4 percent of his shots from inside the arc, while showing decent three-point shooting (30.3 percent).
The Suns have already re-signed center Bismack Biyombo to be their defensive force under center, and Cousins could give them an offensive option as well. Injuries over the last four years may keep him from playing much more than 20 minutes a night, but the Suns have enough talent on the roster that Cousins won’t need to play a huge role.
The four-time All-Star will give Phoenix the depth they may soon need at the center position.
5 out of 5
- Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images
Bubble TJ Warren is still the vision NBA teams have to hope for, even if the veteran forward has missed nearly two full seasons while dealing with a stress fracture in his leg.
A team that can be patient with his return to the court and could use a rotational wing? Grizzlies.
Memphis has enough talent up and down the roster to allow Warren to take his time getting back into NBA game shape, and Kyle Anderson leaving in free agency means the 28-year-old could be a valuable backup and in both forward positions.
In his last healthy season, Warren averaged 19.8 points, 4.2 rebounds, 1.2 steals and 53.6 percent shooting overall and 40.3 percent from three. With starting power forward Jaron Jackson Jr. recently undergoing surgery for a stress fracture in his leg, Warren would give the Grizzlies a potential replacement starter if Jackson were to miss the start of the 2022-23 season.
The Grizzlies also have all of their $10.5 million average exception to use and could offer Warren much or all of it to convince him to sign. With caps disappearing around the league, Memphis would represent the best combination of win, role and money for Warren.
Add Comment