Free agency used to be a seismic event on the NBA calendar. With the rise of “pre-agency,” resulting in many stars being traded and then extending with their new teams before they ever reach the market, it has become a comparatively low-key affair.
If a team is hoping to radically alter its core, free agency probably isn’t the right course to take. However, it is a valid way to fine-tune and refine a roster.
This year’s market – which officially opens Tuesday at 6 p.m. Eastern – doesn’t figure to alter the NBA landscape, but it could help several teams take important steps forward. Oh, and the league’s all-time leading scorer is available, too.
Below, five of The Athletic’s reporters each chose two player-team pairings they would like to see, including writing the final chapter in LeBron James’ career, finding the Minnesota Timberwolves some much-needed front-court depth after the LaMelo Ball trade, and getting Cade Cunningham a wingman.
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Christian Clark
LeBron James to the Warriors
Yes, I want to see the basketball version of “The Expendables” happen. It was a thrill to watch Stephen Curry and James win gold while playing for Steve Kerr in the 2024 Paris Olympics.
The Warriors need to lighten Curry’s load offensively. They ranked 24th in points per 100 possessions after Jimmy Butler went down with an ACL tear in January. James might be in his golf dad era, but he’s still got plenty of pop.
He could easily slide into a wing creator role while Butler recovers. Imagine how much fun he’d have finding Curry for ridiculous 3s and serving up alley-oop passes for Warriors rookie Yaxel Lendeborg? This could be a feel-good story, and even if the Warriors failed to win multiple playoff rounds, it wouldn’t be viewed as a disappointment.
Sandro Mamukelashvili to the Timberwolves
The Timberwolves’ frontcourt depth was depleted after they traded Julius Randle to the Brooklyn Nets and sent Naz Reid to the Charlotte Hornets in the LaMelo Ball deal. They need another big guy. How about Mamukelashvili, who was one of the most impactful bench players in the NBA last season with Toronto?
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Mamukelashvili can become an unrestricted free agent if he declines his $2.8 million player option for next season. The burly 6-foot-9 Mamukelashvili is a confident stretch big who barrels to the rim off the dribble. He made 38.9 percent of his 3s on nearly four attempts per game last season. It’d be a blast to watch him play next to Ball and Edwards in a five-out offense. Timberwolves coach Chris Finch could also use Mamukelashvili at power forward next to Rudy Gobert. Now all they have to do is make the math work, which won’t be easy.
Law Murray
Deandre Ayton to Nets
The conversation about the Lakers center situation has made it quite clear that Los Angeles would ideally move on from Ayton, the only player on the team that started more than 70 games. Good luck with that maneuver. The possibility of Ayton leaving of his own accord has been less discussed.
There’s a reason Ayton’s value is so maligned. When he looks bad, he can look be quite bad, from an inconsistent motor to a pronounced struggle to catch the ball. Edward Scissorhands is a more reliable interior receiver. But Ayton still converted 67.1 percent of his field goals while averaging 8.0 rebounds per game. With Nic Claxton traded in the deal that brought Randle in, Brooklyn could add another center to go with Day’Ron Sharpe. Ayton is right there.
D’Angelo Russell to Rockets
Russell has a player option worth nearly $6 million, and you might not even realize that he finished last season on Washington’s roster. I’d expect Russell to opt in and then get his wings. That would allow a team such as Houston to snap Russell up on a veterans’ minimum.
Russell might be down to his last legs as an NBA player, after Russell flaming out of Dallas’ rotation. That was an especially bad look given the horrible point guard play the Mavericks had all of last season. Houston could use another point guard option with Fred VanVleet returning from a torn ACL, and Russell can either show that he still has something left, or that’ll be it for him even though he is only 30 years old.
Eric Nehm
Rui Hachimura to the Spurs
The Spurs will have access to the non-taxpayer midlevel exception (roughly $15 million) this offseason. Ultimately, the Lakers could be comfortable matching that salary to retain Hachimura, assuming he wants to be in L.A. San Antonio might want to force the Lakers to do just that.
San Antonio clearly thought there was some value in starting a stretch four next to Victor Wembanyama, as they started Harrison Barnes for the first 47 games of this season before changing to a lineup that featured another guard. Hachimura started in 41 of his 68 games with the Lakers this season and knocked down 44.3 percent from 3 on his way to 11.5 points and 3.3 rebounds per game. With his ability to stretch the floor on offense and switch on defense, Hachimura would provide more size and give the Spurs even more lineup options, while not requiring a lot of shots to be useful.
Khris Middleton to the Heat
This one feels pretty simple. Middleton won a championship in Milwaukee with Giannis Antetokounmpo in 2021 and he was the man that the Bucks relied upon in the clutch. He does not move as well as he once did after multiple surgeries, so he would not be as impactful as he was during his time in Milwaukee. But there is no denying his chemistry with Antetokounmpo.
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As the Heat scour the league for players to fill out their roster next to Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo, Middleton could provide scoring, playmaking and creation, while also providing great size at his position. He is not able to stay in front of quicker players like he used to on defense, but he remains incredibly smart and understands how to play the game. Let’s get the band back together.
Joe Vardon
LeBron James to the Lakers
I understand this may raise a few eyebrows, given my place of residence and shared history with the player. I wouldn’t, like, kick the neighbor’s dog if he wound up in Cleveland. But I don’t think it will happen — nor do I think it would be a good fit.
I want to see him finish his career with the Lakers, because, primarily, he wants to live in Los Angeles. The Lakers can pay him way more than the Cavs can, which I think would be a problem in Cleveland. How do you think LeBron would feel about walking into the locker room, looking around, and realizing he is barely outearning Craig Porter Jr. and being behind Sam Merrill on the payroll?
I also want to see LeBron play a full season with Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves running the offense. I get it: The Lakers feel far away from being able to compete with Oklahoma City or San Antonio, so perhaps one more championship is not in the cards. But his final season, whenever and wherever that is, will be a circus, and the Lakers as an organization can handle it. I don’t want to watch LeBron be miserable living away from home for his final season, either. So if he is putting off retirement, I hope it’s to return to the Lakers.
Dean Wade to the Lakers
Wade is a good fit for the Lakers, who are defensively challenged. He was most comfortable in Cleveland when he didn’t have to shoot. He wouldn’t have to shoot often on a team with Luka, Reaves and (maybe) LeBron. Wade can guard almost any position, and the Cavs often used him to guard the other team’s best scorer.
By rule, the Cavs can pay Wade whatever they’d like because they have his Bird rights — they would just go even further beyond the aprons. Assuming they’re trying not to do that and he leaves, Wade can go be the Lakers’ defensive anchor and completely avoid the spotlight on offense. He can hit open shots, making him a nice fit. In an underwhelming free-agent class, perhaps you weren’t counting on Wade’s name being on this list. But I’d like to see him in L.A.
Mike Vorkunov
Robert Williams III to the Spurs
It’s a deep cut, but I would love to see the Spurs add size and skill along the frontline next to Wembanyama. They did some of that in the draft, but it seems hard to fathom that late-first-round picks could help a title contender right away.
Williams, if healthy, could be a good player next to Wemby or serve as a capable backup. The NBA Finals made it clear that the Spurs need to add some size, and Williams would be an interesting answer.
Norm Powell to the Pistons
Let’s make it happen. The Pistons sure seem like they’re trying to get a second big playmaker alongside Cade Cunningham. Powell can fill that role. It might be a rough transition from winters in Miami to winters in Detroit, but his skills would be valuable there.
He could take some of the burden off Cunningham. The Pistons are talented enough and have won enough in the regular season that they should be thinking about how they can take the next step in the playoffs. They’ll need enough scoring to keep up with the Knicks and Celtics. Powell would help.
