Written by James Herbert at CBSSports.com
The first round will be over soon, and that will leave only eight teams in the playoffs. For the other 22, the focus will be entirely on the draft and free agency. That means it’s time to start thinking about what’s going to happen on July 1. Here’s a look at the most interesting storylines heading into free agency, from the value of Dion Waiters to the possibility of Otto Porter being a max player.
Playoff heroes
Like a draft prospect with a strong NCAA Tournament, most years there is at least one free-agent-to-be who shines under the bright lights of the postseason and solidifies his standing in the league.
JaVale McGee, Warriors: One of the best stories in the NBA right now, McGee was productive in a limited role for the Warriors during the regular season and ignited runs almost every time he hit the court against the Portland Trail Blazers in the playoffs. Golden State signed the center to a non-guaranteed minimum contract last summer; he has obviously earned a raise and some security. There are still questions, however, about how he’ll function on a team where he’s not such a perfect fit. The Warriors might want to bring him back, but they also have to deal with the fact that big man Zaza Pachulia and David West will be free agents again, too.
Nene, Rockets: How brilliant does Houston look for using its $2.9 million room exception on Nene last July? He shot 28-for-33 (84.8 percent) against the Thunder, and it has been clear all season that he works well as a screen setter and finisher in Mike D’Antoni’s system. He will turn 35 in September, though, which means he might want to get his last long-term deal now.
Joe Ingles, Jazz (restricted): Keeping Ingles won’t be the Jazz’s top priority (more on that soon), but he has evolved into a vital part of the team. Few players combine his size, shooting, passing and defensive versatility, making him one of the league’s most underrated role players before the playoffs started. After all the damage he has done to the Clippers, it’s unlikely Utah will be able to re-sign the 29-year-old on the cheap.
Franchises at the crossroads
NBA players don’t have many opportunities throughout their careers to choose where they work; when superstars hit the open market, their decisions can drastically alter the course of franchises.
Chris Paul, Blake Griffin, J.J. Redick, Clippers: It’s difficult to disentangle these three players — if even one of them leaves, the Clippers will not be the same. They don’t have potential replacements waiting in the wings, and they have been defined by their core four (these three and DeAndre Jordan) for the last four years. If this group breaks up, then there should be a documentary about it one day, if only for the section about their 2015 playoff collapse against the Rockets. If it stays together, then president and coach Doc Rivers will continue to be challenged every offseason in terms of making sure the rest of the rotation gives the Clippers a chance to compete.
Gordon Hayward, George Hill, Jazz: Regardless of whether Utah gets past the Clippers, it has an awesome thing going. The Jazz have a nice mix of emerging stars and proven veterans, with some promising prospects on the fringes of their rotation. They are also as vulnerable as any team going into the offseason with their No. 1 option and their starting point guard hitting free agency. Giving Hayward a maximum contract is a no-brainer, but HIll’s situation is murkier. After trading a lottery pick for Hill and then seeing him fit as well as they hoped, watching him walk would be almost as awful as losing Hayward.
Kyle Lowry, Serge Ibaka, Raptors: In the last four years, Toronto has gone from one of the league’s laughingstocks to a fringe contender and a place where guys actually want to play. Most of this progress, however, could be undone quickly if Lowry decides he’d like to go elsewhere. If the Raptors can finish off the Bucks and put up a good fight against the Cavaliers, it will be easy for the front office to justify giving Lowry a max deal and Ibaka at least something close to it. If they can’t, then things could get interesting. It’s also worth noting that forwards Patrick Patterson and P.J. Tucker will hit free agency, too.
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