Looming Questions Heading Into NBA Offseason
Ever since the summer that LeBron made his decision to head to South Beach the NBA’s off-seasons have been bonkers. DeAndre Jordan deciding to sign with the Mavericks only to renege, KD heading to the Bay on the Fourth of July, and Kyrie Irving demanding a trade after three consecutive Finals appearances stand out as some of the more memorable moments over that time. This summer is bound to be among the wildest given the state of the league. Here are five major storylines that will play a pivotal role in determining the league’s hierarchy come 2018-2019.
1. Where will LeBron go? The King has already accomplished what he sent out to do upon returning to Cleveland by delivering the city its first championship in over 50 years. He could stay put, but by leaving and joining a team with a superior supporting cast, LeBron could better position himself to win championships. My gut tells me he is gone, but I am not sure as to where. I would say LeBron winds up in either Houston, Philadelphia, or Los Angeles.
2. What will the Spurs do with Kawhi? This is a mystery to me. For years, Kawhi was viewed as a silent soldier: a player who laced ‘em up, didn’t say a word, and went out and balled. But now there are all of these reports depicting him as a prima donna who craves a larger market; more of a spotlight. I still think that Gregg Popovich could mend their relationship, in a similar manner to how he and LaMarcus Aldridge did a year ago, but I wouldn’t bet on it. If the Celtics or the 76ers can pry Kawhi away from San Antonio, and he is 100% healthy (which isn’t a given), that could put either team over the top in the Eastern Conference.
3. Who will the Lakers land? Magic Johnson and Rob Pelinka are going to sign multiple players to significant contracts this offseason. They have the cap room and they have the young weaponry to be an appealing destination to many of the elite players in the league. I imagine that the Lakers will target LeBron, Paul George, Chris Paul, and might even try to entice the Spurs by offering some of their up and coming talent for Kawhi. There is also the possibility that the Lakers could go another route in which they pursue second tier free agents this summer and then go all out for Klay Thompson and Jimmy Butler in the summer of 2019.
4. What type of money will DeMarcus Cousins get? The polarizing big man is coming off his most productive season as a pro (25 points, 13 rebounds, and 5 assists per game), but he also tore his Achilles in late January. Boogie is eligible for a contract worth approximately $140 million over four years with the Pelicans, but it is unlikely that New Orleans would hand over that type of capital to a player his size coming off of a significant injury, especially given that they advanced in the postseason with him on the sidelines. Perhaps it makes sense for them to offer Cousins somewhere in the neighborhood of 2 years and $50 million. That would give DeMarcus serious cash, but it also wouldn’t cripple the Pelicans long-term if his injury was of the variety that prevented him from fully recovering. If Cousins turned that type of offer down and chose to test the open market, maybe a team like the Mavericks would be willing to offer 4 years/$100 million, but given the questions surrounding his injury and his enigmatic personality it isn’t a sure thing. It absolutely sucks that Boogie tore his Achilles because he and AD were terrorizing the league. The way in which teams view Cousins this offseason and the type of money that they are willing to throw at him will be very, very interesting.
5. Will Melo and the Thunder reach a buyout? We can all agree on one thing: Carmelo Anthony is not worth $28 million a season. I am not certain that he ever was, but contracts are just that, and the soon to be 34-year-old chucker, coming off of his worst season in basically every quantifiable category, is set to run alongside Russell Westbrook for another season. Sam Presti must do everything in his power to get Carmelo out of OKC. If that means swallowing $15-$20 million, then so be it. Anthony is a cancerous player and an uninspiring teammate.
