As we dive deeper into the 2023 NBA playoffs, this also means the offseason is growing closer for all 30 teams. Between Kyrie Irving’s future in Dallas, additional free-agent and trade targets for the Mavericks, a potential home for Dillon Brooks
one current playoff team monitoring the status of a two-time MVP, there’s been a lot of rumors spinning around lately. It’s time to fire up the BS meter to determine what’s to be believed and what looks like a lie heading into the summer.
Jakob Poeltl a ‘Lock’ to Re-Sign with Raptors
While not much went right for the Toronto Raptors this season, Jakob Poeltl proved to be a nice addition following a trade over from the San Antonio Spurs.
The 27-year-old center averaged 13.1 points, 9.1 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 1.2 steals, 1.3 blocks and shot 65.2 percent overall, improving the Raptors by a whopping 14.1 points per 100 possessions when he was on the floor (98th percentile, per Cleaning the Glass).
Even with Poeltl about to hit unrestricted free agency and the Raptors facing a lot of offseason questions, don’t expect him to leave Toronto anytime soon.
Pistons ‘Team to Watch’ for Dillon Brooks
Dillon Brooks has made a lot of headlines this postseason, although few of them actually contributed to winning for the Memphis Grizzlies.
As he hits unrestricted free agency this summer, Brooks could very well find himself shopping for a new home. One potential destination? The Detroit Pistons.
As Marc Stein of The Stein Line substack writes, the Pistons are “a team to watch” for Brooks this summer. The Pistons have a nice chunk of cap space heading into free agency, with a projected $25.5 million, according to Spotrac’s Keith Smith. Given the amount of quality starters and role players projected to become free agents this offseason, however, Brooks shouldn’t be high on Detroit’s list
Khris Middleton, Deandre Ayton on Mavs Radar
The one-ring circus known as the Dallas Mavericks will be among the more intriguing shows this summer. From Kyrie Irving and Christian Wood’s free agency, to Luka Dončić dodging trade rumors and the overall disappointment of failing to make the playoffs after an appearance in the West Finals a year ago, there’s never a boring day in Dallas.
For now, this is an organization that needs to continue to add as much talent as possible around Dončić, a player who could very well become the best in the world over the next few seasons.
According to The Athletic’s Tim Cato, Milwaukee Bucks forward Khris Middleton and Phoenix Suns center Deandre Ayton “have been floated as possibilities” as potential targets via free agency and trade.
Knicks Monitoring Giannis Antetokounmpo’s Status with Bucks
Although it seems like yesterday that Giannis Antetokounmpo put to rest any speculation about his leaving the Milwaukee Bucks by signing a five-year, $228 million contract, we could be just two seasons removed from his next free-agency circus.
Given that the 28-year-old, two-time MVP will almost certainly turn down his player option in 2025-26 in order to sign a new long-term deal, this leaves just two guaranteed years left on his current contract.
Following a historically bad first-round exit to the No. 8-seeded Miami Heat in five games and now the firing of head coach Mike Budenholzer, the Bucks are in a bit of disarray just two years after winning a championship.
Add in the upcoming free agency of Khris Middleton and Brook Lopez along with a lack of draft picks and young talent and things could suddenly take a dark turn in Milwaukee.
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