What each NBA team’s fans want in free agency
Many want LeBron James, but that’s not happening.
Let’s keep this simple. Everyone has a wish list, NBA fans included. SB Nation’s team sites are run by some of the biggest fans of them all. So we asked each team site one question:
What your team have to do to make your fan base OVER THE MOON HAPPY this summer?
Twenty-four of the 30 team sites responded to our prompt, which is a pretty decent grade if this was an exam of some sort. Some of the answers are interesting. Others are straight-up sad.
Chicago Bulls: Blog a Bull
Chicago just has to keep things simple and not try to jump the gun on the rebuild. There still is a lot of work to be done with this team before they can even become a playoff contender, let alone a team who will make some noise in the conference. For Chicago to have a good offseason, they just have to maintain the focus on keeping their own free agents. The Bulls have 6 free agents, but the two of them they should be focused on getting back is Zach LaVine and David Nwaba, particularly on affordable and tradeable contracts. Another means of using their cap space this season would be to acquire 2018-19 expiring contracts, picking up an asset along the way.
Portland Trail Blazers: Blazers Edge
In the end, only one thing will release the tension and allow the puzzle to be worked properly. The contract millstone around Portland’s neck must loosen, which means trading away at least one expensive player. Candidates include Evan Turner (2 years, $36 million remaining), Maurice Harkless (2 years, $22 million), Meyers Leonard (2 years, $22 million), and McCollum (3 years, $83 million). McCollum would need to bring back talented players to avoid Portland falling from grace. Any of the others could be dumped for no return and the Blazers would still end up better in the long run. They’d create room to re-sign free agents, exercise exceptions, or clear cap space in 2020. None of those options are viable at the moment.
Brooklyn Nets: Nets Daily
Net Income: I see look at free agency the way doctors look at the Hippocratic Oath: Rule No. 1 “first, do no harm.” The Nets should have $50+ million in cap space and their own first rounder (YAY!) next summer. That hasn’t happened since they moved to Brooklyn in 2012. They shouldn’t jeopardize that. That said, they should try to clear the logjam at the guard position.
Pooch: Get a serviceable big that can split time with Jarrett Allen. Obviously everybody wants the big splash, but that simply isn’t happening in Brooklyn. If they get a big and they remain healthy then we should see some progress following a 28-win season.
Lorenzo: Spend wisely. Or, really, don’t spend at all. Save your money for next season. The Nets aren’t ready yet, so let’s not pretend like they are.
https://www.netsdaily.com/2018/6/28/17512056/nba-free-agency-2018-brooklyn-nets
What would make me happy as a Nets fan?
Save your money this season and sign Klay Thompson next summer.
Toronto Raptors: Raptors HQ
That said, the biggest free agency question for the Raptors right now is: can the team bring back Fred VanVleet? He’s headed into restricted free agency, and due for a sizable raise. It would be a hell of a story, and a nice win, to get the team’s sixth man and steadying force stowed securely on the roster for the foreseeable future. But, as has been pointed out, this may be part of the Raptors’ problem.
Detroit Pistons: Detroit Bad Boys
The best-case scenario is that the free agent market is so tepid that the team can bring back Anthony Tolliver at forward. If not maybe James Ennis can return. Otherwise it is sign a league minimum guy and pray for a breakout.
Yikes.
Memphis Grizzlies: Grizzly Bear Blues
It appears these guys want Will Barton, or a wing who can score. Anything’s better than Chandler Parsons, I guess.
Golden State Warriors: Golden State of Mind
I’m looking for another high percentage shooter who doesn’t completely suck on defense. Nick Young was a disaster in the regular season, but redeemed himself in the playoffs.
My “over the moon” want list includes guys like Ersan Ilyasova, Trevor Ariza, or maybe even Tyreke Evans.
Rich keep getting richer, SMH.
Los Angeles Clippers: Clips Nation
The answer is simple: after moving on from Chris Paul and Blake Griffin over the course of the last year, the Clippers need to add top-tier talent to their roster. Effective role players, progressing young players, and cap flexibility are all important elements of a good team, but none are as crucial as the fact that, in order to contend for an NBA Championship, you need one (or more) of the league’s very best players.
Phoenix Suns: Bright Side of the Sun
Obviously, LeBron James isn’t going to sign with the Phoenix Suns, but there are still names on the free agent board who would bring plenty of new eyeballs to their on-court product. Still in need of help at point guard and power forward, someone like Aaron Gordon in sign-and-trade scenarios clearing out the current logjam on the wing (package built around T.J. Warren, Marquese Chriss and future first) would be ideal.
Atlanta Hawks: Peachtree Hoops
Peachtree Hoops wrote a dissertation about their need for a backup point guard, like Seth Curry or Shabazz Napier, and a second-string wing like Mario Hezonja.
Cleveland Cavaliers: Fear the Sword
Obviously, keeping LeBron would be great.
Los Angeles Lakers: Silver Screen & Roll
For starters, the team needs to sign Paul George. That in itself is something that simply has to happen with the amount of smoke still lingering in the canyons since last summer’s noise. Once we have George in the fold, next step is adding some royalty in grandest fashion in one—LeBron James. Fresh off a frustrating finals defeat, James is almost certainty taking his talents out of Cleveland once again, and Los Angeles with it’s bountiful cap space and endless In-N-Out drive-thrus will be waiting with welcoming arms. Oh yeah, and there also is some guy named Kawhi Leonard out there who also seems to like Staples Center.
Oklahoma City Thunder: Welcome to Loud City
1. Re-sign Paul George
2. Re-sign Jerami Grant
3. Get Terrance Ferguson in the weight room
4. A Good Backup for Steven Adams
5. Figuring out what to do with Carmelo Anthony
Charlotte Hornets: At the Hive
Before we begin, close your eyes and take a deep breath. Picture Nicolas Batum. Now picture his contract. Think how you would feel if he were traded away. Imagine the cap space the Charlotte Hornets could use to adequately upgrade the roster. Feels good, right?
Now stop. Throw it from your mind, and never think of it again.
Milwaukee Bucks: Brew Hoop
After locking into long-term money with John Henson, Mirza Teletovic (now only a $3.5 million mark on the cap sheet) and Matthew Dellavedova, the Bucks major transaction last summer was a lonesome Tony Snell contract. Milwaukee’s primary tool in this cap-strapped summer is their mid-level exception (up to $8.6M), but happiness mainly boils down to what the Bucks shouldn’t do: overpay for Jabari Parker.
Houston Rockets: The Dream Shake
The question asked above in the headline can be simply answered in two words: LeBron James.
Minnesota Timberwolves: Canis Hoopus
What will make much of the fan base unhappy is something that is likely to happen: The re-signing of Derrick Rose, who was brought in late last season. Ignoring anything else, he brings nothing to the roster at this point. He really has not been a good player in several years, and doesn’t do anything the Wolves need.
Philadelphia 76ers: Liberty Ballers
When it comes to potential Sixers transactions, there’s some polarity within the fanbase. And so, approaching this topic through a utilitarian point-of-view, the one move that would make fans ecstatic would be to acquire LeBron James as a free agent.
Denver Nuggets: Denver Stiffs
Obviously, the best case scenario for the Nuggets would be to somehow land LeBron James.
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On the flip side, the Nuggets also could have a complete strike out in free agency. They are going to be over the cap so they’re limited to exceptions to add talent outside the organization.
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Realistic fans should be hoping for a compromise. James will likely end up elsewhere, but the Nuggets finding a suitor for one of their expiring contracts and creating enough room to re-sign Barton seem like a likely outcome, which wouldn’t be terrible.
Utah Jazz: SLC Dunk
Land the third core piece to Utah’s dynamic duo of Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell.
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What would it take to get Jabari Parker?
Oh my.
New Orleans Pelicans: The Bird Writes
The dream scenario comprises of Cousins signing for significantly less than his potential maximum of $30.3 million while Rondo accepting a modest pay raise on his $3.3 million earned last season.
Indiana Pacers: Indy Cornrows
Let’s be honest. The move that would make Pacer fans the happiest would be for the team to re-sign Lance Stephenson.
Miami Heat: Hot Hot Hoops
Look, I get it. Not many NBA teams can realistically dream about landing a superstar during free agency, but with how Pat Riley has managed to do it several times during his tenure with the Miami Heat you just figure it won’t be long now before he’ll get his true chance to land a “whale”.
Sacramento Kings: Sactown Royalty
I don’t know that there’s a realistic move that could thrill Kings fans. Sure the Kings could magically sign Kevin Durant or LeBron James, but beyond that “over the moon happy” isn’t really on the radar. Really I think it would be nice to see the Kings land a good player under the age of 28 and not overpay him. In a market that doesn’t expect to see lots of money being thrown around, it would be great if the Kings could be a team finding great bargains.