Hardwood Knocks, Episode 77 – Bye LeBron(?): The Too-Early 2018 NBA Free-Agency Primer You Didn’t Ask For
Pretty much every 2017 NBA free agent you care about has signed a contract—except, for some reason, JaMychal Green and Nerlens Noel. But those are topics for a different day, in a different place.
Because right here, right now, in the world of Hardwood Knocks, we’re turning our attention to 2018 free agency.
Correct: We’re getting an 11-month jump on the process, in part because we can, but also beause this stuff already matters. The league is still reeling from the spending craze in 2016. Multiple sources claimed to ESPN.com’s Tim MacMahon that the NBA is headed for a nuclear winter-style summer in 2018, with plenty of free agents expected to get “squeezed.”
Who are those free agents? Which players suddenly aren’t so likely to opt out of their contracts? Which teams will be the biggest offseason players? Where will LeBron James go? Is there any hope at all he’ll stay with the Cleveland Cavaliers? Might he (pretty please) consider the San Antonio Spurs or Philadelphia 76ers? And what about the NBA’s other top-20 free agents? Where will they all end up? (Yes, we go through all of them. You’re welcome.)
All this, and more, awaits you in the latest episode of Hardwood Knocks. If nothing else, come for the free-agency speculation, stay for the chance to listen as Andy and Dan fly off the rails in real-time!
Follow Hardwood Knocks on Twitter: @HardwoodKnocks, @AndrewDBailey and @danfavale.