Top 10 Most Impactful Free Agents this Offseason
This free agency is one of the bigger classes that we have seen in the recent years. With names like Zach Lavine, Bradley Beal, and Deandre Ayton out in the market. Here are the Top 10 Most Impactful Free Agents This Offseason and there potential destinations.
Number 10: John Wall (Potential Destination: New Orleans Pelicans)
Image via BleacherReport
John Wall is a player that has always been athletic and a very agile guard ever since entering the NBA. Despite now being 31 years of age, Wall still has some significant time left in his career where he can make an impact for a contending team. Although Wall has not made an impact for the Houston Rockets as of recently and spent most of the year away from the team. A new beginning for Wall can really help jumpstart a good return in a very impactful role for a contending team. With that being said the New Orleans Pelicans seem to be a possible landing spot for the five-time all-star. As a backup guard Wall could excel off the bench and give the Pelicans that push they needed this past playoff series.
Number nine: Bobby Portis (Potential Destination: Philadelphia 76ers)
Image via NBA.com
Bobby Portis has made such a huge impact for the Milwaukee Bucks ever since he landed a spot on the roster. Shooting just under 40 percent from three-point range, Bobby Portis has been a great role player over the years and one of the big pieces that pushed the Bucks into winning the NBA Finals last season. A potential destination for Bobby Portis would be the Philadelphia 76ers. The Sixers have been lacking a bench piece or even a forward with shoot ability. This addition would help them matchup well with other rosters and increase the productivity of the bench.
Number eight: Luguentz Dort (Potential Destination: Oklahoma City Thunder)
Image via SportingNews.com
Luguentz Dort has really flourished with time in his role with the Oklahoma City Thunder. At the moment the Thunder have some of the most cap space in the entire NBA along with the number two overall pick in this year’s draft. Which would be assumed they will use for Gonzaga star Chet Holmgren. Lu Dort averaging 17 points per game this season, is a spark plug for the Thunder to have on their roster. With all of the draft picks that Same Presti has tallied up for the upcoming years, it would be a smart move for them to keep Dort around to go along with the young core. With that being said a potential destination for Dort would be the Oklahoma City Thunder. The system he fits in now has worked and the Thunder should have any intentions letting him go this offseason.
Number seven: Jusuf Nurkic (Potential Destination: San Antonio Spurs)
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Jusuf Nurkic has always been a huge part of the Blazers organization. He’s been through multiple playoff series with the organization and has always had a positive impact on the team. With the Blazer underperforming last season it has gotten them the number seven pick in the 2022 NBA draft. It is safe to say that the Blazers are now going to be in the heart of the rebuilding process if they let Nurkic walk. This will leave cap space for another star and help 22-year-old Anfernee Simons flourish more in his role with the team. A possible destination for Nurkic would be the San Antonio Spurs. Despite them already having Jakob Poeltl the Spurs could play him more often at the forward position or even test the trade market for his value. Nurkic would fit well under Popovich system and maybe help speed up the rebuild process in San Antonio.
Number six: Mo Bamba (Potential Destination: Charlotte Hornets)
Image via Orlando Magic Daily
Mo Bamba has had a slow start to his career. Being the sixth overall pick in the 2018 draft, Bamba took time to adapt to the NBA. His past season has been his best so far in the league, really using his shoot ability and proving that he can be a lethal shooter while also being a lockdown defender on the other end of the floor. The Orlando Magic have drawn the number one overall pick in this year’s draft and it’s safe to say that they will be browsing the big men and forwards that are going to be available in this draft class. A potential destination for Mo Bamba if the Magic decide not to bring him back is the Charlotte Hornets. A very young team seeking a center could be a perfect landing spot for Bamba. Adding a big that can shoot and also play lockdown defense could be a huge upgrade for the Hornets who are seeking playoff hopes.
Number five: Jalen Brunson (Potential Destination: Detroit Pistons)
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Villanova native Jalen Brunson had himself a fantastic season for the Dallas Mavericks. Although falling short to the Golden State Warriors in the Western Conference Finals, Brunson was a huge part of the Mavs team and could be seeking a close to if not equivalent to a max contract extension. Although Brunson’s father was just hired as an assistant coach for the New York Knicks, a team like the Detroit Pistons could seek another guard next to Cade Cunningham in the front court. The Pistons have cap space to play with it and may use it to their advantage to sign an impactful guard like Jalen Brunson this offseason.
Number four: Miles Bridges (Potential Destination: Charlotte Hornets)
Image via Charlotte Observer
Miles Bridges had himself his best season of his career so far. Tallying 20.2 points per game, 7.0 rebounds per game, and 3.8 assists per game via espn. The Charlotte Hornets have really turned there entire franchise around since drafting all-star LaMelo Ball. Miles Bridges really transformed into a pure scorer and it would be smart for the Hornets to try and keep him around for a long period of time. With that being said the Charlotte Hornets are the most suitable place for Bridges to land. With the Hornets still having cap space it’s possible for them to sign Bridges and still have room for a center that have need for a long time.
Number three: Bradley Beal (Potential Destination: Miami Heat)
Image via Sportsnet
Bradley Beal has been a natural scorer ever since joining the NBA. Formerly paired alongside Russell Westbrook, and John Wall. Bradley Beal has always found himself in the spotlight doing what he does best and that is scoring. The Washington Wizards have had their struggles in recent years and through all of it Beal has never had a change of heart. After coming off a lengthy contract with the Wizards, the team could be shifting into rebuild mode. Although Beal has been through many rebuilds with the team, it could be time for him to shop around and land else ware. A possible destination for Bradley Beal could be the Miami Heat. Miami fell short in game seven of the Conference Finals and with a star like Beal it could really put them over the top and take them to the NBA Finals. Creating a duo of Jimmy Butler and Bradley Beal could be a scoring duo capable of winning a championship.
Number two: Deandre Ayton (Potential Destination: Dallas Mavericks)
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Deandre Ayton and the Phoenix Suns have dominated the Western Conference over the past few years. Despite falling short in game seven of the conference finals, the Suns still have an opportunity to be one of the best teams in the league. It was made known after the brutal game seven loss that Ayton was frustrated and refused to check back into the game at any point when the team had been down more than 30 points. With that being said Ayton will be a restricted free agent at the end of the season and he may look else ware. A possible landing sport for Ayton could potentially be the Dallas Mavericks. Despite losing to them in game seven, the Mavericks have been seeking a center for a long period of time. Forming a duo of Deandre Ayton and Luka Doncic could be considered a similar duo to Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal.
Number one: Zach Lavine (Potential Destination: Portland Trail Blazers)
Image via Chicago Sun-Times
Zach Lavine has really evolved as a player since leaving the Timberwolves just five years ago. Lavine has always been an athletic guard but over his years in the league he has found himself really improving his shooting and playmaking over the years he’s developed in Chicago. Apart of the Jimmy Butler trade that sent him to Minnesota, Lavine has bloomed into a star that the league needs to look out for in the foreseeable future. A potential destination for Zach Lavine is the Portland Trailblazers. A shooting guard with tons of scoring ability would really help out all-star Damian Lillard’s hopes of making a deep playoff run. This duo would attract other free agents upon the next few years to really build up the city of Portland to its highest potential.
