With the NBA season coming to a close, it is time to look towards free agency. This summer, numerous superstars are set to hit the open markets including Kevin Durant, Kawhi Leonard, Kyrie Irving, and Jimmy Butler to name a few. Pretty much every single one of the top free agents has been linked to one of the two most populous cities in America: New York and Los Angeles. Today, we will be looking at how all of these teams will be competing with each other to land the game's biggest talents.
Let's start with the Nets, who threw a wrench into everyone's plans yesterday. They traded Allen Crabbe and two firsts to the Atlanta Hawks for Taurean Prince and a second. This deal was mostly done to clear cap space. Now, Brooklyn has the opportunity to pair D'Angelo Russell with a second star, or let Russell walk and sign two max free agents. Kyrie Irving has already been closely linked to both the Nets and the Knicks, and given Brooklyn has a much better management and coaching situation, Irving could definitely go to Brooklyn. If he were to sign with the Nets, it could prompt Kevin Durant to join Irving there too. However, a more likely scenario is that the Nets land Jimmy Butler, who is a perfect second star and has wanted to play with Irving for years.
Moving on, the Nets' next door neighbors could be in for some trouble. Earlier in the season, the Knicks were expected to surely land Kyrie, Durant, and maybe even Zion Williamson in the draft. With Brooklyn's cap room, there is no reason for any team to pick the Knicks over the Nets. New York has a terrible owner and has been a pretty depressing organization for a while despite receiving a lot of national attention. By going to Brooklyn, a star could not only try and lead the Nets to a title, but they could have Brooklyn finally come out of New York's shadow. The Knicks still are expected to get KD, and do not rule out a potential Anthony Davis trade centered around the #3 overall pick. Knowing the Knicks, they will probably settle for Terry Rozier on a max deal.
Going across the country, the Lakers are also a prime free agent destination. Unlike the other big market competition, they only have one max contract spot( the other one is LeBron James). The Lakers are rumored to compete in the Kyrie Irving bidding, and Kemba Walker would be a safe backup option. If they don't sign a point guard, they could look towards Warriors sharpshooter Klay Thompson or Magic center Nikola Vucevic. Much like the Knicks, the Lakers' appeal has shot down significantly after serious issues amongst the franchise's elite were brought to light. Still, they are a big contender for many of the B-List stars, as both KD and Kawhi Leonard have said they do not want to play alongside LeBron.
Finally, we look at the best team(record-wise) amongst this group: The Los Angeles Clippers. Similar to the Nets, the Clips have also been a little brother to the Lakers, and have yet to win a championship. That could all change this summer. They can clear enough space for two max free agents by trading Danilo Gallinari, and many players have been rumored to be interested, with Kawhi Leonard leading the pack. Leonard has been tied to LA since his trade demand from the Spurs last season as he is from the LA area and owns a house there. He has to decide whether to join the Clips or stay with the Eastern Conference Champion Raptors. The Clippers are also rumored to be a dark horse candidate for KD, who would get the same big market and chance to bring glory to a franchise that the Knicks have to offer. Los Angeles also could make an Anthony Davis trade if they fail to sign two maxed out stars.
All in all, this offseason is going to be one of the best in NBA history, especially in the biggest markets in America. Teams will not only be fighting to add championship talent, but are also fighting for the approval of the city they play for.
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