The San Antonio Spurs are into the NBA finals after sweeping out the Memphis Grizzlies and now the season calendar is a bit closer to free agency, which for anyone not fans of the Spurs, Heat and Pacers are waiting for with great anticipation, as names like Dwight Howard, Chris Paul and Josh Smith will be available.
The free agency period in the NBA can be a fast and dramatic one and this time around it expected to more of the same, especially with Howard and Paul on the market for the first time in a few years. Both LA team are hoping to keep their star, as the Lakers want Howard and the Clips want Paul, but there is a very good possibility that at least one or both will bolt their old team for a new one despite the fact that they can sign the biggest deals with their current teams. Josh Smith is likely to get a max contract, which may put the Hawks out of the running.
Howard has been speculated to want to leave the Lakers after a rough season and the biggest rumors are to the Dallas Mavericks, Atlanta Hawks, Houston Rockets and the Golden State Warriors, which is a very intriguing option since the team looked so strong in the playoffs with Stephen Curry and their biggest need is...? A Big Man. AKA Dwight Howard. Paul will be the other huge name out there if he decides to leave, but after the Clippers sent away Vinny Del Negro, it was likely to try and keep Paul in LA for the long term.
The free agent class is solid and fairly deep with names like Josh Smith and Al Jefferson, Andrew Bynum, Monta Ellis and O.J. Mayo after the top dogs and someone like JR Smith was looking like he would get a nice deal before faltering in the playoffs for the Knicks. Al Jefferson will get some attention and it is likely that he will be leaving the Jazz after putting up very solid stats as the best big man behind Howard. The 76ers took a risk in snagging Bynum and now he likely will leave the team without ever suiting up and he likely will try and find the biggest contract he can for the knees that have failed him over the past few years with the Lakers. He could end up being the equivalent of Amare Stoudemire when he signed with the Knicks.
Ellis and O.J. Mayo are both very solid scorers and they could get some attention from teams like the Lakers and Mavericks and there is a good chance both will leave their old teams. Howard and Paul will have all the focus in free agency early, but all these players could make a big impact.