Restricted Free Agency Isn't Free

[lethalweapon3]

After two weeks of Free Agent Frenzy, we’re down to just five restricted free agents left in the NBA, by my count, and two of them received their qualifying offers from Our Fine-Feathered Friends.

 

Even with the sun beginning to set on the summer free agency cycle, there are still NBA teams with cap space and/or significant needs at either Shelvin Mack’s or Mike Scott’s playing spots.

 

Where do you think the agents for Mack and Scott are turning to for a decent offer sheet, and how much would be too rich for your blood if you were Danny Ferry? Each player’s QO is a shade above $1.1 million, should they go ahead and sign it. I wouldn't recommend doing that just yet, though.

 

Any offer exceeding $2.75 million average for either, and I’d be on the hunt for “bon voyage” fruit baskets. Between that ceiling and $2.25 million, I’d need a day or two to mull it over. Not sure I’d want to see a guaranteed third-year on any deal, either, unless we’re going under $2.25 million average. 

 

Here’s my shortlist of possible destinations for Mike Scott:

 

Dallas Mavericks – Their frontcourt reserve remains rather shallow behind Nowitzki and Parsons (Al-Farouq Aminu, Jae Crowder, Greg Smith, Brandan Wright), and free agent would-be acquisition Rashard Lewis is about to undergo knee surgery. After voiding Lewis’ contract, the Mavs may turn to Scott if Shawn Marion doesn’t return. Their $2.7 million room MLE is reportedly about to be used to acquire Jameer Nelson, so they won't use that to pursue Scott.

 

Utah Jazz – If Derrick Favors starts at center, ahead of the rehabbing Enes Kanter and Rudy Gobert, while free agent newcomer Trevor Booker takes the reins at starting power forward, Quin Snyder may seek a better option than Jeremy Evans or Steve Novak coming off the bench. Quin would miss the perpetual mid-game videobombing, at the very least.

 

Charlotte Hornets – Momentarily tied-up cap space at this stage of free agency means a lot less to the Bugs than, either, dictating the salary weight of a free agent’s contract on a division rival, or plucking a talented forward away from the rival that’s been developing him. Steve Clifford could platoon the backup 4-spot behind rookie Noah Vonleh with Marvin Williams and/or Scott, either of whom can also log minutes at small forward, and move second-rounder Dwight Powell fully into developmental mode.

 

Chicago Bulls – Kind of a dark horse, but the Bulls are reportedly doing their best Henny Youngman impression with their existing power forwards in the quest for Kevin Love. They may just need a productive bench guy to fill out that position once they gut whatever depth they have. How much patience would the defense-minded Thibodeau have with options of Love, Pau Gasol, and Scott at the 4-spot?

 

 

Here’s my brief pair of teams possibly targeting Shelvin Mack:

 

Los Angeles Lakers – Unless you can count on 2000-plus minutes of floor time from Steve Nash next season, you’ll probably want another point guard in his stead behind Jeremy Lin. Kendall Marshall is on the outs after a subpar Summer League run (EDIT: and supplanted by second-rounder Jordan Clarkson). Mack is no defensive specialist, but he (and you, perhaps) can’t do much worse than Nash in that capacity, and when needed he’s about as steady with the ball as any of the other options out there for the Lakers. Besides, how difficult will it be to bring the ball up and hand it to soon-to-be player-coach Kobe?

 

Utah Jazz – There’s the Quin Factor again, and also the Butler Bulldog connection now that Gordon Hayward’s back for the long haul in Salt Lake. Shelvin has shown a comfort level playing off the ball as a second small guard in the backcourt, something he’d have to remain accustomed to, so long as Trey Burke and Dante Exum are buzzing in the Beehive State.

 

~lw3

Edited July 24, 2014 by lethalweapon3

[lethalweapon3]

Also of minor note in the CBA department: the due date for the Hawks withdrawing the QO without either player's consent (thereby making them unrestricted, had that occurred) came and passed on Wednesday (July 23).

 

~lw3

[macdaddy]

Indy should have gone after Mike Scott after that rain of 3s he put on them.

[Gray Mule]

Mack is back with the Atlanta boys.

 

That leaves Scott, who is thinking, Russia!