0 of 5
Brett Davis / Associated Press
The NBA’s 2021 negotiation deadline is now less than two months, although a negotiation by four successful James Harden teams has already caused ripples throughout the league.
Harden joining the Brooklyn Nets means that other title contenders can now be pressured to improve their lists, while the Nets themselves are looking to build some depth.
Bradley Beal has become the name to watch while the league’s top scorer is being lost in the Washington Wizards 3-9. He is far from the only big name that could be moved, however.
With the activity already underway, here are some more transactions to be observed as the term approaches.
1 of 5
Tony Dejak / Associated Press
Pairing James Harden with Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving looks like a cheat code in attack, although taking the team from Jarrett Allen, Taurean Prince and Caris LeVert has severely damaged Brooklyn’s defense and depth.
Since the negotiation by Harden, the Nets have a defensive rating of 119.2, which is the penultimate in the NBA in that period.
While one of those encounters was against a strong Milwaukee Bucks team, the Nets lost two games to the Cleveland Cavaliers (who were losing Kevin Love), gave 124 points to a Miami Heat team without Jimmy Butler or Tyler Herro and allowed Nikola Vucevic the Orlando Magic to illuminate them by 34 points in 63.6 percent shooting.
Pivot DeAndre Jordan (5.8 points and 6.8 rebounds per game) has not been as ineffective in nearly a decade and will be destroyed if called upon to defend Joel Embiid, Bam Adebayo or Giannis Antetokounmpo in a series of playoffs.
The Nets cannot negotiate a first round choice for the next eight draft, meaning that they have limited upgrade opportunities.
But JaVale McGee is an option. The 33-year-old has an average of 8.2 points, 6.2 rebounds and 1.1 blocks in just 16.8 minutes per game for the Cavaliers, but left the rotation behind Andre Drummond and Allen.
The Nets received a $ 5.7 million exception for disabled players of Spencer Dinwiddie’s ACL break at the end of the season, and they could use it to absorb McGee’s $ 4.2 million salary. Sam Amico FortyEightMinutes reported that the Nets and Cavs have already met twice to discuss an exchange for the big man.
Brooklyn could also use its exception to negotiate for other veteran centers like Ed Davis, Nerlens Noel or Bismack Biyombo.
2 of 5
Eric Gay / Associated Press
With the Houston Rockets undergoing a complete makeover, PJ Tucker is probably the next veteran to leave.
Houston was in no hurry to change the 35-year-old, including offering him an extension, according to The Athletic’s Kelly Iko and Sam Amick. They also noted that “the teams have already made several calls to Houston about the possible acquisition of Tucker”.
The triple power forward with a $ 8 million expiring contract must be one of the easiest veterans to move in the league. He has played a key role in the qualifiers in Houston and Toronto over the past five years, and can start as a big player or serve as a main reserve.
Since Tucker refused to sign any extensions Houston offered, an exchange seems inevitable.
The Minnesota Timberwolves “kept in touch” with the Rockets about Tucker, according to Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic. Although they need a breakthrough in strength, they are also last in the West, with a 4-11 record. Giving up anything of value for Tucker with the season ending seems questionable.
Expect a candidate to end up winning Tucker’s draw.
The Boston Celtics have needed a real striker for years. The Brooklyn Nets, Portland Trail Blazers and Denver Nuggets also need defensive help.
With Russell Westbrook and James Harden out of Houston, Tucker is expected to be next.
3 of 5
Rick Scuteri / Associated Press
The Dallas Mavericks is good enough to do a deep playoff run now, but it should also be closely monitoring the 2021 free agent class.
With Kristaps Porzingis on a maximum contract and Luka Doncic eligible to sign his own extension this off-season, the Mavs’ last chance to make a big splash at the free agency may be this summer.
Although some of the best potential free agents have already signed extensions that removed them from the table, many talents will still be available. Victor Oladipo, DeMar DeRozan, John Collins, Lauri Markkanen, Kyle Lowry and Andre Drummond will all be free agents, and each can help create a Big Three in Dallas.
The Mavericks have no guarantee of space for a maximum salary yet, however.
Josh Richardson carries a $ 11.6 million player option, and the Mavericks can choose whether to pay Willie Cauley-Stein $ 4.1 million next season.
Dallas should be looking for updates to the list now, while getting some extra wages out of books for 2021-22.
Drummond is in a $ 28.8 million contract that is expiring and should be available after the Cleveland Cavaliers negotiated for Jarrett Allen. The Mavs could close a deal around James Johnson and Dwight Powell, thus removing the remaining two years and $ 22.8 million. Dallas is only 24th in rebounds this season (rebound percentage of 48.4), while Drummond is almost leading the NBA in glass cleaning for the fourth consecutive season.
Otto Porter Jr. ($ 28.5 million) and LaMarcus Aldridge ($ 24.0 million) could also act as parts in agreements that are expiring and are able to help now.
4 of 5
Charles Rex Arbogast / Associated Press
While a handful of young players (Jayson Tatum, Donovan Mitchell, Bam Adebayo, De’Aaron Fox, OG Anunoby, etc.) avoided agency by signing extensions before the season, other young stars were unable to reach an agreement with their current clubs .
John Collins, Lauri Markkanen and Lonzo Ball will now become restricted free agents during the summer, leaving their futures with their current teams in doubt.
Jarrett Allen was another player of the 2017 class that was not extended. By not signing any additional contracts with the Brooklyn Nets, he was eligible to be negotiated as part of the deal with James Harden and will almost certainly reopen with the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Nets are already immersed in the luxury tax, so a new deal for Allen would have put even more financial pressure on the franchise.
A difference in money is probably the reason why Collins, Markkanen and Ball also do not have long-term business. It can also be the reason why at least one of them is negotiated before the deadline.
John Collins wanted maximum money from the Atlanta Hawks, but only received an offer in excess of $ 90 million, according to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst. The Chicago Bulls and Markkanen had about a $ 4 million difference in starting salary numbers, according to NBC Sports Chicago’s KC Johnson. Ball probably should have accepted any reasonable offer that the New Orleans Pelicans presented him, given his big drop at stake last season.
Although Ball and Markkanen can still be moved, Collins seems the most likely candidate.
As a great combo, Collins is facing a packed Hawks attacking court with Clint Capela, Danilo Gallinari, Onyeka Okongwu and De’Andre Hunter, who overtook Collins as the team’s second highest scorer behind Trae Young.
Since the Hawks may need to give the 23-year-old a maximum deal or lose him for nothing in the off season, expect him to be traded – and possibly Markkanen or Ball too.
5 of 5
Andy Clayton-King / Associated Press
A 6-9 record at the start of the season has the Miami Heat near the bottom of the Eastern Conference, largely because of injuries and players lost due to health and safety protocols related to COVID-19.
Although it is still relatively early, the East is becoming much tougher than the version Miami ended on top of the last campaign.
The Philadelphia 76ers started 12-5 to lead the conference, the Brooklyn Nets could now have the best NBA attack with James Harden, and the Milwaukee Bucks should be better suited for the postseason with Jrue Holiday on board.
Miami certainly should feel under pressure to do something, and a switch to Bradley Beal would be the final answer.
O Miami HeraldBarry Jackson noted that the Heat has a “high” level of interest in negotiating with Beal if Washington Wizards 3-9 makes it available.
While Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo would be off the table, a deal centered on Tyler Herro, Duncan Robinson and first-round choices in 2025 and 2027 should be enough to attract Washington’s interest. Miami should go all-in to win a title, especially since Butler, 31, accumulated many miles early in his career by playing under Tom Thibodeau at the Chicago Bulls.
The Wizards won’t want to switch Beal, but the 27-year-old could certainly ask for a way out. With a 21-year-old star in formation at Herro’s table, they could get a good return for their established star.