The NBA free agency period officially kicked off on the 30th of June at 6 pm ET and, as it so often does, got off to a hot start. Names like Bradley Beal, Zach LaVine, James Harden, and Deandre Ayton were all unsurprisingly the targets of plenty of speculation, but for the most part, the biggest names have already signed new contracts, and most of them will stay with the same teams for whom they played last season.
Indicative of just how pivotal free agency is, these kinds of guys have a massive impact on a team’s championship potential, and the betting odds are reflective of this, changing drastically once they sign. Strange though it may sound, the prevalence of punting on the NBA means these odds are a great barometer for a team’s hopes of winning a championship, and the best bookies are generally pretty close to on the money. Mybettingaustralia.com recommends Bet365 as one of the best betting sites for the NBA, who, as an example, have the Suns and the 76ers alongside the reigning champs in the Warriors as two of the favorites to win the 2022-23 championship, and their odds firmed after re-signing Ayton and Harden respectively.
Nearly two months into the free agency period, however, there are still plenty of names yet to settle on a contract, and while they might not be the superstars of the league, they are still players who can make a significant impact for quality teams come playoff time. It’s these kinds of names that can give teams a little extra leg up in their quest for a Championship, and who can Let’s take a look at some of the rumors surrounding the biggest names to remain unsigned.
LaMarcus Aldridge
LaMarcus Aldridge was, in his prime, a star of the league and has in the past earned in excess of $20 million a year for the Spurs and close to that amount for the Trail Blazers. Nowadays, aged 37, he’s not worth nearly that much, but last year he proved to be a valuable asset at times for the Nets, who paid him a little over $2.6 million. The seven-time All-Star wasn’t able to get on the court as much as he would have liked last season – unsurprising given his age – but coming off the bench, he had numerous games in which his feathery touch from the mid-range was on full show.
That ability isn’t lost overnight and means that he could certainly play a role for the right team next season. However, there hasn’t been a huge deal of interest in the future Hall of Famer throughout the free agency period. If that remains, there’s every chance that he hangs up the jersey after an accomplished career, but if he does re-sign with anyone, it’s likely to be a team looking to compete for a championship in 2022-23 and hoping to get a boost off the bench in the form of a one-time star of the league.
Dennis Schröder
In his first four seasons in the league, Dennis Schröder earned just – just being a relative term – a maximum of $2.7 million in a year, but then the Hawks signed him to a four-year deal worth around $70 million. Having established himself as a solid league point guard by the end of that, he was reportedly offered a four-year deal worth $84 million by the Lakers. He declined it, and that turned out to be an incredibly costly decision. Months after that, the best contract he could find was worth just $5.9 million for one year with the Celtics.
Now, two months into the 2022 free agency period, he still finds himself unsigned. It’s not as though his play has fallen off a cliff, though; at just 28 years of age, he still has an explosive first step and ability to get to the rim, which, at worst, could make him one of the best back-up point guards in the league, and at best a serviceable starter. The German last appeared for the Rockets, who spoke highly about him, but given their focus on youth, it seems unlikely that will be where he ends up. Surely, however, there is somebody who wants him. At this point, for Schröder, it’s most likely about finding the best deal, and it’s hard to imagine that he doesn’t have any suitors at all.
Collin Sexton
Collin Sexton comes in a little down this list, despite being probably the most sought-after player of those mentioned, largely because he will most likely find his way back to Cleveland for the 2022-23 season – thereafter, however, where he plays is anybody’s guess. The 23-year-old eighth pick from the 2018 Draft has shown an excellent ability to score in bunches in his career to date, though question marks surrounding his defensive ability and capacity to run an offense have seen his stocks drop somewhat in recent times.
After initially hoping for a deal that would pay him in the range of $20 million a year, he was reportedly offered a three-year deal worth $40 million to stay at the Cavs – a number that would see him earn less than $14 million a year. This lower offer is in part to do with the fact that the team views Darius Garland as a far more likely headline act in their backcourt, with Sexton more likely to be an off-the-bench scorer than somebody who can legitimately lead the franchise to a Championship. Sexton probably doesn’t agree, hence why that $40 million offer remains unsigned on the table.
There has been some tepid interest from other teams; recently, the Mavericks reportedly had discussions with the Cavs about potentially getting involved in a sign and trade situation, while the Jazz’s name has also popped up – though that would likely only be relevant if Donovan Mitchell was traded. Essentially, it seems like Sexton’s future may be dependent on other stars, and there might be a bit of a wait for the young guard until he knows where he’ll end up going forward.
Final Thoughts on NBA Free Agency
The NBA free agency period is, every year, filled to the brim with rumors. Some turn out to be completely unsubstantiated, but plenty of others turn out to be right on the money. The early stages of this period are typically where the rumors fly around most rapidly; with the biggest names on the table, tongues wag at a rapid pace about where they might head, given the impact their movement can have on the league. Two months into the 2022 free agency period, the rumor mill has dried up to an extent. There are, however, still plenty of names floating around which could have the capacity to play a valuable role for whichever team they end up playing for. The above names are three of the biggest which remain on the table, and where they end up next year is still anybody’s guess.
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