Two top free agent point guards are off the board before Thursday, with Kyrie Irving sports his player option, according to The Athletic, and John Wall negotiate a buyout agreement to clear the way for him join the Clippersaccording to ESPN.
Wall’s expected signing may affect how the Clippers interact with some of their own free agents, such as: Nicolas Batum and Isaiah Hartenstein†
Below is the latest information gathered by HoopsHype on how Wall’s signing could change the Clippers’ flexibility this summer, Nerlens Noël trade negotiations and the projected values of free agencies for Anfernee Simons† Gary Payton II, and Kevon Looney†
Anfernee Simons
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Portland Trail Blazers Guarding After a Breakout Season Anfernee Simons is one of the best free agents on the market and is expected to force a huge new contract.
Four NBA executives who spoke to HoopsHype believe Simons could land a four-year deal of more than $80 million in a free agency with additional incentive clauses to increase his salary.
Starting in 30 games last season, Simons proved he can be a full-time starter after leaving CJ McCollum† Simons averaged 22.0 points on 45.2 percent shooting from the field and 41.5 percent off the arc with 5.5 assists per game.
Portland has the bird rights to Simons and can keep him along with an unrestricted free agent Jusuf NurkicWho is expect to return†
Simons is eighth overall in our HoopsHype free agent ranking†
The Trail Blazers already have guaranteed Josh Hart’s salary and acquired Jerami Grant to be a playoff team next year around the cornerstone of the franchise Damian Lillard†
Nerlens Noël
David Richard-US TODAY Sports
The New York Knicks have held exploratory talks over the trade center Nerlens Noël to the Los Angeles Clippers, league sources told HoopsHype. Noel could fit into the Clippers’ $9.7 million trading exception previously generated by the Serge Ibaka trade. The Knicks have a surplus of draft pick compensation (22 picks total over the next seven years) to dangle.
According to our HoopsHype salary cap expert, Yossi GozlanIf the Knicks can trade Noel without taking back any paychecks in a deal, New York could generate a total of $24.5 million in cap space. That figure would help the Knicks have an aggressive run on Jalen Brunson in free office. The $24.5 million would include waiving Taj Gibsonas previously reported on the last HoopsHype Intel Reportand keep Mitchell Robinson’s cap hold so they can re-sign him.
If the Clippers take over Noel, that could mean a Clippers backup center Isaiah Hartenstein may have priced itself out of Los Angeles approaching unlimited free agency. The Clippers can only redraw Hartenstein for the $6.4 million taxpayer average exception. However, that exception can be used to sign John Wall†
Noel owes $9.24 million next season and has $9.68 million team option for the 2023-24 season.
Kevon Looney
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warrior center Kevon Looney played in 104 combined games from the regular season through the NBA Finals for the Warriors. Now the ironman could nearly double his salary this off-season near the average non-tax-payer exception. According to six NBA executives who spoke to HoopsHype, Looney could receive $9 million in free agency annually.
Golden State has full bird rights to their 26-year-old center, and rival teams are becoming more pessimistic about the possibility of prying him away, such as Marc Stein reported†
Gary Payton II
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After a breakout season in which: Gary Payton II Having solidified himself as an NBA rotational player and solid ball defender, he is expected to earn a significant pay raise this off-season. Payton II could earn $6-7 million annually, according to six NBA executives who spoke to HoopsHype. That figure would put him within reach for the taxpayer’s average exception for several teams in the league.
Not bad for a player who bounced through the league and nearly left the game to look for a job in Golden State’s video department, per ESPN†
The 29-year-old guard showed toughness as he returned from a broken elbow in time for the NBA Finals, where he guarded Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown while on the floor.
Payton II is 25th overall in our HoopsHype free agent ranking†
Draft Night Intel
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As a contingency plan, the Detroit Pistons discussed offering a future first-round pick and an additional future second-round pick to the Cleveland Cavaliers for 14th pick if Detroit failed to select Jalen Duren with 13th overall pick in a separate trade with the Charlotte Hornets, competition sources told HoopsHype.
You can follow Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) on Twitter.
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