On the eve of NBA free agency, two point guards are making moves. Word got out that Kemba Walker would be signing with the Boston Celtics after the Charlotte Hornets failed to offer him a max contract and Kyrie Irving will be signing with the Brooklyn Nets.
D’Angelo Russell, Brooklyn’s pot-toking free agent point guard, might be headed back to the Los Angeles Lakers. Now that the Celtics and Nets filled their point guard roles, the Lakers seek out Russell’s services.
Meanwhile, the Jimmy Butler hunt is heating up with the Houston Rockets and Miami Heat interested in his services. The problem with the Rockets is that they have to move Clint Capela and Chris Paul if they want to pay Jimmy Butler big bucks.
Of course, as the clock ticks closer to the actual NBA free agency deadline at 6pm ET on June 30th, everyone wonders if there will be any last second surprises? Like Kevin Durant and Kawhi Leonard signing with the New York Knicks together? Or the Knicks shunned by this year’s top crop of free agents?
Kemba: CLT > BOS
Kemba Walker loved playing in Charlotte. He wanted to stay and considered taking a smallish pay cut to remain as a member of the Hornets. However, he’d be foolish to leave $51 million on the table or at least $10 million per season.
Michael Jordan might be one of the greatest players of all time, but he struggled to assemble a true championship team under his watch in Charlotte.
With MJ’s mind more focused on financial matters instead of team chemistry, the team was in a position where the Hornets couldn’t pay Walker the money he deserved. It’s a sad situation, but that’s what happens when you have bloated contracts for mediocre players.
The Hornets were in a bad spot, but really didn’t take matters into their own hands to clear the necessary space to accommodate a max contract for Walker.
With Kyrie Irving bouncing to Brooklyn, the Boston Celtics were glad to open up the checkbook for Walker. Brad Stevens is bummed that Irving left the team, but he picked up a high-volume scoring replacement that will be fun to watch.
Kyrie: BOS > BKLYN
The Brooklyn Nets cleaned house at the end of the season in order to put themselves in a position to lure two big-name free agents to NYC. They traded Allen Crabbe to the Atlanta Hawks to clear cap space.
Why play for the cursed Knicks and their malcontent owner that secretly loathes players and would rather be playing guitar in the Eagles, when you can still have the same benefits of the largest media market in the world by playing in the hippest part of the city aka Brooklyn?
Those thoughts were on Kyrie Irving’s mind when he decided to migrate across the East River to Kings County, which is home to the Brooklyn Nets. Now that the Nets locked up Irving, will he have enough sway to persuade Kawhi Leonard or Kevin Durant to join him in the hipster capital of the world?
According to the Westgate SuperBook in Las Vegas, the Boston Celtics are 12/1 odds to win the 2020 NBA Championship.
The Brooklyn Nets are 20/1 odds to win the 2020 title before free agency officially began.
Meanwhile, the LA Lakers with LeBron and AD, are the favorites on the board at 3/1 odds to win the NBA championship.