NBA rumors: Pre-2017 NBA Free Agency rumor roundup
By Dayton Brown
NBA rumors will get even more wild when the clock strikes 9 P.M. Pacific Time, as NBA Free Agency officially begins.
NBA rumors mean one thing: Free agency in the NBA is nearly upon us.
It’s already going to be more exciting than this year’s playoffs; heck, this offseason has already been more jam-packed compared to series sweep after series sweep in April and May.
Two All-Stars, Jimmy Butler and Chris Paul, were traded, and prompted many to deem their new squads as “Super Teams.”
So many other transactions have already happened and will begin to happen later tonight when free agency officially begins. Moves are going to happen fast, and if you don’t have Adrian Wojnarowski’s tweet notifications, get right on that.
Until then, let’s preview some potential moves and discuss other rumors circling the NBA free agency world.
Point Guard Shuffling
George Hill may be on his way out of Utah. Teams like Chicago and Sacramento could use Hill as a starting point for their young squads. Other teams, such as Philadelphia or Toronto, could also use his veteran presence to make a playoff push.
Rajon Rondo’s player option was declined by Chicago, making the triple-double threat free to sign wherever he wants.
Guys like Steph Curry and Jrue Holiday are expected to sign new contracts with their teams once free agency starts, so no drama there.
Jeff Teague, Derrick Rose, Patty Mills and Shaun Livingston are all unrestricted free agents themselves. They’d be very nice backup pick ups for most teams in the league.
Teague is reportedly joining Minnesota, so one domino has fallen.
Recently, John Wall has been offered an extension by Washington, likely putting his future move from the Wizards on hold.
Veterans Getting Cut
Other than Tim Quarterman being traded, the Blazers have been silent outside of draft night.
That changed today when the team declined to pick up Festus Ezeli’s $7.3 million option, making the injury-plagued center a free agent.
Add Rondo to that waive list, along with his teammate Isaiah Canaan, and former Blazer, Gerald Henderson.
Where Will the Stars Go?
After making it seem he wants to leave Los Angeles, Blake Griffin has re-upped with the Clippers. He was planning a meeting with Phoenix when free agency started, but obviously that fifth year made him think twice about leaving LA.
Boston is a hot destination Gordon Hayward. The forward, an unrestricted free agent, is meeting with three teams: Boston, Miami, and Utah.
Boston has the best roster of the three, with All-Star Isaiah Thomas at point, fantastic rotation players including Jae Crowder and Avery Bradley, and the team is coming off an Eastern Conference Finals berth.
But Miami has a young squad and upbeat lifestyle that could attract Hayward more than winning right away.
I doubt he will go back to Utah, but he may shock the world and do just that.
Paul George was just traded to Oklahoma City for Victor Oladipo and Domantas Sabonis, making the West stronger than ever. More on RCP about George and the Northwest Division soon.
Next: Blazers officially cut Festus Ezeli
Other notable free agents include Serge Ibaka, Andre Igoudala, Paul Millsap, and Nerlens Noel. But the biggest questions revolve around Joe Ingles. Where will he go? Will the Clippers actually sign him this time around?
Those questions, and all the other covered in this piece, will be answered within the coming days, and could happen in just a couple of hours.