Next summer, which will again see another spike in the rising salary cap due to the latest collective bargaining agreement between the NBA owners and the Players' Association, will no only see another rise in available salary for free agents, but it will mark one of the best free agent crops in possibly ...forever!
The list includes:
- Steph Curry
- Russell Westbrook
- Blake Griffin
- Gordon Hayward
- Kyle Lowry
- Chris Paul
- Giannis Antetokuonmpo
- Rudy Gobert
- Steven Adams
- Paul Millsap
- Rudy Gay
- ....
Blake Griffin throws down a dunk in the NBA All Star Game as Lebron James watches helplessly. |
With these players and more set to hit the free agent market for a huge payday, none are likely to re-sign long-term before testing the market.
Russell Westbrook has already been the subject of trade rumors because he could not commit to being with the Oklahoma City Thunder in the wake of Kevin Durant's move to Golden State. Among the potential deals out there is a three-team deal that could land him on the Chicago Bulls.
AND NOW, in keeping with their recent, aggressive approach, the Chicago Bulls have reportedly made inquiries into acquiring Blake Griffin from the Los Angeles Clippers.
The deal reportedly would send Taj Gibson and Nikola Mirotic to the Clippers in exchange for Blake Griffin.
With his free agency pending in the off-season, Blake Griffin would be able to push for the deal now, since the Clippers would have to consider any deal considering Griffin would be able to leave next summer and the Clippers would receive nothing in return.
Can the Chicago Bulls convince Blake Griffin that Chicago is a better situation than the Los Angeles Clippers?
Could the prospect of joining Jimmy Butler, Rajon Rondo, and Dwyane Wade in the Eastern Conference be enough to convince Blake Griffin to nudge his way out of Los Angeles?
And would they be prepared to offer him the money he wants in order to keep him in Chicago after this season?
And while the deal would give the Chicago Bulls an explosive finisher on the break, the Chicago Bulls would be sacrificing a nice young player, and one of their best 3-point shooters in Nikola Mirotic.
With quality slashers and creators on the team the likes of Butler, Rondo and Wade, three-point shooting will be at a premium to help space the floor and create driving lanes.
What do you think of the deal to send Taj Gibson and Nikola Mirotic to the Los Angeles Clippers for Blake Griffin? Do you think it will happen? Let us know in the comments below!