Free Agency and Trades

A list of Free Agency and Trades going on during the 2015/16 season.

Cleveland Cavaliers

Cavaliers J.R. Smith has opted out of his contract for 2015/16 for Free Agency. He was to get $6 Million for the upcoming season, but is hopeful that he will be rewarded with a longer and more lucrative deal by the Cavaliers. He and Iman Shumpert arrived on 5 January, 2015 and along with Mozgov they provided the necessary depth and firepower for a Cavaliers team that made the NBA finals. However, he had a dreadful performance in the NBA finals where he was not able to provide more offense for the Cavaliers when Irving was ruled out.

Reports suggest he will sign for less than $6 Million, with a longer deal that is set to earn him more in the long run, especially with the large salary cap coming in force from the 2016/17 season.

The Cavaliers have taken the option to sign Mozgov for $5 Million for the upcoming season. The Russian Centre had a stellar season when traded to the Cavaliers from Denver, posting personal bests in Points, Assists, Steals and Blocks per game.

Kevin Love has also opted out of his contract. He hasn’t been happy at the Cavs.  He was set to earn $16.7 million. Los Angeles Lakers and New York Knicks are said to be chasing him.

LeBron James might opt out of his contract, a move expected by the Cavaliers. The Cavalier’s General Manager, David Griffin is however very confident that they will want to return. James has a few more days to inform the Cavaliers his decision.

He signed a two-year, $42.2 million at the start of 2014/15. With reports suggesting that James wishes to see out the remainder of his career with the Cavaliers, might consider waiting to head into Free Agency at the start of 2016/17 when the new, massive salary cap come’s into effect. In the Long run? That would make the most financial sense for James.

Dallas Mavericks

Dallas Maverick guard, Monta Ellis has opted out of his final season with Dallas despite 2 solid seasons. Even if he had opted in, the Mavericks planned to trade him. The Mavericks have now opened $8.7 Million on their cap. There are many interested parties for the Guard who has 10 years’ experience could be interesting Lakers, Knicks, Denver, Indiana and Sacramento.

The Dallas are set to use the freed up salary cap space in hopes of luring either of LaMarcus Aldridge or DeAndre Jordan who are set to enter free agency. They are set to resign Chander Parsons to a max contract and hopefully partner him with Aldridge who is mostly going to leave Portland. Another scenario is to sign a forward ot partner Parsons and bring in DeAndre Jordan. With Dirk Nowitzki willing to take a pay cut as well, this would free up even more cap space for the Mavs.

Los Angeles Lakers       

As they look to recover from their worst season as a Franchise, Los Angeles Lakers are in talks with the Sacramento Kings and Orlando Magic in a three way trade that might land the talented 24 year old Centre, DeMarcus Cousins at Lakers.

Orlando could fill the Kings Centre void, with Nikola Vučević. However, in return they would want to be compensated well. Vice president of basketball and franchise operations of the Kings, Vlade Divac, has insisted Cousins will not leave. Even if King’s were to relent, Lakers may not be able to offer more than Jordan Clarkson or young star Julius Randle. Their number 2 pick cannot be traded as they cannot trade consecutive first round draft pick as per regulations(they owe 76ers their 2016 first round pick).

Reports are suggesting that Boston and Denver are interested in trading with Sacramento for Cousins.

Miami Heat

Miami’s star shooting guard may be heading to the Lakers. Wade, who has been a Heat since he turned professional has to decide by the coming Monday if he is opting in for the upcoming season (earning $16.1 Million in the process) or enter Free Agency.

He has stated he wishes to finish his career with the heat, but in 2010 and 2014, he took pay cuts to accommodate other players in the team. However, this time he is looking at a pay raise and not a cut. Miami are trying to discuss a 3 year extension on his current deal which could net him in the excess of $10 Million in each of those 3.

With the parties so far apart, Lakers have expressed Interest in signing Wade as they rebuild. They have 3 picks in the 2015 Draft and want to explore the Free Agency market for Wade in the event he opts out. For a team looking to rebuild? Signing a 33 year old may not be the best way.

With Chris Anderson and Mario Chambers set to leave and free up around a combined $9.3 Million, some of this could be diverted to keep Wade.

Indiana Pacers

Indiana may be having a lot of room to rebuild an injury ravaged squad. David West is set to opt out of his final year with the team, a year in which he was set to earn $12.6 Million. Roy Hibbert according to other sources might be opting out as well. This could free up a combined salary cap of $27 million for the Pacers.

This can give them the building block needed to rebuild, especially with Paul George recovering and nearly at this best, following a horrific injury suffered last year just before the Basketball World cup.

Charlotte Hornets

Having finished with a 33-49 record, the Hornets have started to rebuild their squad early. They already traded Lance Stephenson to the Clippers and received Matts Barnes and Spencer Hawes from them.

They have acquired Portland’s Nicolas Batum and they have sent Gerald Henderson Noah Vonleh to Portland in return. Now they are adding Thunder’s cast away, Jermey Lamb. The thunder want to use the freed space to resign restricted free agents, Kyle Singler and Enes Kanter who joined midway through a troublesome 2014/15 season.

With Al Jefferson and Kemba Walker now the core of the team, they hope the squad will now shoot and move the ball much better as they seek to return to the playoffs.