LeBron James—otherwise known as the best player in the basketball universe—sits on the precipice of NBA free agency.
It only makes sense, then, that we entertain the five NBA free-agent signings that make too much sense.
James, and his Big Three compatriots of Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, can all opt out of their current nine-figure deals. They, along with the remaining potential contract-less players, must either accept or decline their options prior to July 1 (the official start of free agency).
Such a concrete and fast-approaching deadline will thus fill these next 10-plus days with otherworldly anticipation for the next significant hardwood development.
Fans crave landscape-altering moves, while team executives work at both preventing and facilitating such transactions.
The Miami Heat and current champion San Antonio Spurs will look to secure their marquee incumbents and add key reserve assets. The close-but-not-quite championship contenders like the Chicago Bulls and Golden State Warriors will target a solidifying piece that will put them over the top.
And a former dynasty-turned-cellar-occupant—i.e. the Los Angeles Lakers—will try its utmost to maximize Kobe Bryant’s final two years in the league by making the grandest of offseason splashes.
With names like Carmelo Anthony, Kyle Lowry and Zach Randolph, among many others, in the fray, prepare yourselves for one hell of an offseason ride.
Here now are the five NBA free-agent signings that make all too much sense.
PG Isaiah Thomas to Portland Trailblazers
The Blazers’ starting-five was arguably the best in basketball last season.
Each starter posted double-digit scoring averages, with two compiling over 20 points per game. Three averaged over seven rebounds and another two posted at least five assists per contest.
All five registered player efficiency ratings above the 15.0 league average, not to mention win shares totaling more that 7.5. No other unit in the Association matched Portland’s collective mark of 82.9 PPG.
Yes—Damian Lillard, Wesley Matthews, Nicolas Batum, LaMarcus Aldridge and Robin Lopez were rock solid from top to bottom.
But what about the bench?
In the spirit of the proverbial opposite day, the Blazers’ reserves ranked dead last with a meager 23.6 PPG. They also fell into the bottom five with a 42.0 field goal percentage.
Now, Mo Williams was more than a serviceable asset. The top member of the secondary unit registered 9.7 PPG and 4.3 AST and could fill in at both backcourt positions.
But the 31-year-old savvy vet still qualified well below average in PER (11.8). His 41.7 shooting percentage left some to be desired as well.
Isaiah Thomas, for his part, would remedy those deficiencies.
The Sacramento Kings’ restricted free agent racked up 21.1 PPG and 6.5 AST in 2013-2014. He shot a superior 45.3 percent from the floor, served as both starter and substitute and, of course, is just 25 years of age.
He would spell Lillard off the bench and vastly upgrade the Blazers primary weakness. Doing so would elevate this rising power just that much farther in the heavily stacked Western Conference.
And if financial concerns enter the picture, remember that Paul Allen owns the team.
The man who forked over an unheard-of $5.69 million signing bonus to the formerly undrafted Matthews will have no qualms about outspending Sacramento for a player of Thomas’ abilities.
C Spencer Hawes to Golden State Warriors
You know that whole thing about stretch-fours being the new rage in the NBA?
Well, what about a stretch-five?
Spencer Hawes is just that man—and more.
The soon-to-be unrestricted free agent of the Cleveland Cavaliers averaged 13.6 PPG, posted 8.3 RPG and shot a phenomenal 41.6 percent from downtown. The inside-outside force also displayed his prowess for facilitating with an impressive 3.0 APG.
A seven-footer who collects those types of statistics embodies the mold of the modern NBA big man. Rebound, pass and hit at a high percentage from beyond the arc—what’s not to like?
Outside of San Antonio, the Golden State Warriors are the perfect fit for Mr. Hawes.
Newly signed head coach Steve Kerr is a product of the Spurs system that promotes constant ball movement. He covets guys that buy into that philosophy and who bring passing and shooting utility from all areas of the floor.
Hawes would not only fit seamlessly in Golden State in terms of skill set, he would do so personnel-wise by affording the necessary rest to Andrew Bogut during the regular season.
The Warriors’ invaluable center tried all year to overcome his injury-laden reputation and prove his on-court worth.
Unfortunately, in battling through 67 games—his highest total since 2009-2010—he wore himself down and succumbed to an injury just before the playoffs began. It was simply the worst possible timing.
Ageless vet Jermaine O’Neal and natural power forward David Lee performed admirably in Bogut’s stead. But against the Los Angeles Clippers’ tremendous frontline of Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan, it just wasn’t enough.
Hawes would help neutralize those lethal threats with his outside shot during the postseason, while keeping Bogut fresh against everyone else during the regular year. Kerr could even put both on the court together with the former providing on offense and the latter controlling things on defense.
Golden State’s front office must stay aggressive and land this versatile big man. An appearance in the conference championship, if not NBA Finals, could very well be on the line.
C Marcin Gortat to Oklahoma City Thunder
There’s no shame acknowledging that Oklahoma City simply fell to a better team in this year’s playoffs.
The Spurs proved as much with their five-game domination of Miami in the NBA Finals.
Yet the Thunder should also feel comfortable admitting they lacked an offensive threat on the low block.
Power forward Nick Collison and centers Kendrick Perkins and Steven Adams are all defense. Each one averaged less than 6.0 PPG, while combining for a grand total of 0.7 win shares on offense.
Serge Ibaka, meanwhile, is undoubtedly an elite interior defender. But he remains more effective on offense as an outside jump-shooter. His squad as a whole falls within a similar category.
Notwithstanding the ceaseless, unanswerable hardwood question that emanates from the duo of Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, landing a scoring big man would solve a bevy of needs for OKC.
And the man for the job is none other than unrestricted free agent Marcin Gortat.
The 6’11”, 240-bound Polish Hammer can shoot, rebound and beat guys from both the outside and inside the paint. He is a beast of a man who uses strength, toughness and touch to back down defenders and score near the rim.
Teams around the league—including Gortat’s Washington Wizards—will covet the eight-year veteran. He’ll certainly command a substantial monetary reward on the open market.
But seeing how close the Thunder remain to championship realization, we think they should have little trouble attracting the Polish national to their winning organization.
SF Luol Deng to Miami Heat
The sheer amount of contingencies inherent to any discussion over potential additions to the Miami Heat is, well, staggering.
Both luxury-tax complexities and psychological inner workings involving the Big Three give rise to a million-and-one different scenarios.
Opt in…opt out…stand pat…take a pay cut—what the Heat can and will do in free agency is simply unknowable at this time. A trio of superstars who boast nine-figure contracts and who play on the same team tend to complicate matters.
But monetary obstacles and big-man necessities aside, adding Luol Deng to this championship mix makes complete logical sense on the hardwood.
Over his 11-year career, James has played in 842 games. He’s logged an additional 158 postseason contests for a combined total of 39,993 basketball minutes.
Averaging 37.7 in the regular season and 38.2 in this year’s playoffs took a considerable toll on his body. Wade’s continual injuries put the Heat’s chances of a three-peat squarely on the shoulders of LeBron.
And with the NBA’s best posing as the final obstacle, James just couldn’t win playing one on five.
That’s where Deng enters the fold.
Like the Hawes and Bogut situation in Golden State, Deng would keep James fresh through April and complement his game in June. Capable scoring and defending multiple positions would aid the former, while holding down the wings with James running point would achieve a similarly positive result come playoff time.
If the longtime Chicago Bull with $81.6 million in career earnings can accept less pay for more—i.e. his first—championship, the Heat are in title-winning business for the third time around.
F Carmelo Anthony to Chicago Bulls
Speaking of Chicago’s legendary basketball franchise, there has been one major hindrance to the Bulls’ return to title-capturing glory in recent years.
For a playoff-experienced team that occupies the highest ranking on defense, possesses unlimited heart and has Tom Thibodeau as its head coach, one area remains wholly deficient.
Scoring.
The Bulls allowed the fewest points in the NBA last season at 91.8 per game. But they also scored the fewest with a paltry 93.7.
Center Joakim Noah won Defensive Player of the Year honors, while power forward Taj Gibson amassed 4.4 defensive win shares and shooting guard Jimmy Butler thieved his way to two steals per game.
But none of the aforementioned three crossed the 20.0 PPG threshold, not to mention Butler shooting a horrific 28.3 percent from distance.
Thibodeau’s seemingly imperturbable bunch finally succumbed to the rigors associated with effort taking a necessary precedence over talent. This undermanned team’s 82 games worth of maximum output finally caught up with it during the postseason.
The Wizards needed just five games for its first-round series triumph.
Fortunately, just two things are required for a Bulls’ ascension atop the Eastern Conference.
A healthy Derrick Rose and free-agent addition of Carmelo Anthony.
Rose’s incredible athleticism and rising floor-general leadership, combined with Anthony’s 27.4 PPG, 40.1 three-point percentage and 8.1 offensive win shares from last year, would turn a defensive juggernaut into a viable all-around contender.
Chicago is flush with cap space and the Eastern Conference is ripe for the taking.
With a backcourt duo featuring Rose and Butler, a frontline anchored by Anthony and Noah and Thibodeau as the ultimate leader from the sidelines, watch out NBA world—the Bulls are coming.
Hypothetically speaking, of course.
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