At midnight Eastern standard time, NBA free agency begins. There have been all sorts of rumors circulating for impending free agents like DeAndre Jordan and LaMarcus Aldridge. Let’s get caught up to celebrate title aspirations and major money deals.
The Lakers are looking to make a huge splash in free agency for Kobe Bryant’s alleged last season in the NBA. As of June 30th, the Lakers are reportedly making attempts at both Clippers free agent big man DeAndre Jordan and Trailblazers big LaMarcus Aldridge.
Jeanie Buss, Kobe Bryant, Byron Scott, Mitch Kupchak and James Worthy will all be at the meeting the Lakers have to recruit Aldridge. He’s also scheduled to meet with the San Antonio Spurs. That meeting is expected to be attended by coach Gregg Popovich along with Tim Duncan and Tony Parker, per Yahoo! Sports.
The Clippers used the hometown Hollywood factor to convince DeAndre to stay, by having actor Jamie Foxx join Jordan and Clippers’ President and coach Doc Rivers at a recent dinner.
- Also said to be on the Lakers radar, Cleveland Cavalier free agent Iman Shumpert. Iman isn’t the only Cav who chose the player opt out. Both JR Smith and Kevin Love did also. Love is reportedly expected to re-sign with the Cavs. LeBron James, the force behind the Cavs resurgence back to the top of the Eastern Conference opted out too.
- NBA playoffs breakout star Matthew Dellavedova is a restricted free agent as well.
- The Miami Heat and Dwyane Wade will hit the negotiating table once again. In the summer of 2014, DWade signed a two-year deal with the Heat for 31.1 million. He left money on the table for the Heat to sign LeBron and Chris Bosh. This summer Wade is reportedly looking for a significant upgrade from the $16.1 million he would’ve received next season, if he didn’t exercise his player option.
- The Chicago Bulls are reportedly not willing to gamble with losing restricted free agent shooting guard Jimmy Butler. The Bulls are expected to match any offer for Butler, and have reportedly given him a max qualifying offer of 5-years $95 million, causing him to “pause” his meeting scheudle with other teams.
• Dallas Mavericks small forward Al-Farouq Aminu is scheduled to visit several teams including the New York Knicks and Boston Celtics, reports TNT’s David Aldridge.
• The New York Knicks are the rumored landing spot of Detroit Pistons forward Greg Monroe and Portland Trailblazers guard Arron Afflalo per Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports.
• Memphis Grizzlies officials will be in Spain to meet with center Marc Gasol when free agency begins, reports 92.9 FM ESPN’s Chris Vernon. The Grizz are the only team Gasol is meeting with.
July 9th is the first day teams can officially sign free agents.
