Tag: free agency

Who are some potential Boston Celtics big man free agency targets?

Who are some options Boston should be looking at?

If the Boston Celtics decide to go the free agency route to add a little big man depth to the roster after hearing that star Boston bog man Kristaps Porzingis will be out until the start of the new year, give or take a month, who are some options Boston should be looking at?

Should the Celtics pursue a ring-chasing veteran big man to fill the role? Or would it make more sense to try to find a young, under-appreciated talent to help eat up some regular season minutes until the Latvian center returns to the court some time this winter?

The hosts of the CLNS Media “How Bout Them Celtics!” podcast, Jack Simone and Sam LaFrance, took a closer look on a recent episode. Take a look at the clip embedded below to hear what they had to say.

If you enjoy this pod, check out the “How Bout Them Celtics,” “First to the Floor,” “Celtics Lab,” and the many other New England sports podcasts available on the CLNS Media network.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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When will Michael Thomas sign with a new team for 2024?

When will Michael Thomas sign with a new team for 2024? The ex-New Orleans Saint is still waiting for his next opportunity:

Take a look at the list of former New Orleans Saints players still searching for a new team in 2024 and one name stand apart from the rest: Michael Thomas. The former NFL Offensive Player of the Year and two-time All-Pro fell off hard after a series of complicated injuries and frustrating surgeries interrupted what looked like a Hall of Fame-worthy career.

And now, months after a high-profile split with the only NFL team he’s played for, Thomas is still waiting for his next opportunity. There isn’t another free agent with his credentials, but that injury history and public criticism of his coach, quarterback, and team training staff may have cooled interest he’d otherwise find on the open market.

Thomas is 31. He’s coming off another season-ending injury which he chalks up to a bad ball from Derek Carr. He’s only been available for 13 of the Saints’ 51 games since the 2020 season, when his ankle was painfully rolled up on while blocking in a blowout win, which started this whole mess. Thomas played through the injury to support Drew Brees in his last year before retirement, but he missed the entire 2021 season recovering from surgery. He went down with another injury three games into 2022, and was sidelined for the last seven games of 2023.

There aren’t many cases like his, but one situation to consider is Odell Beckham Jr. Like Thomas, he’s 31 years old and a three-time Pro Bowler, with a pair of All-Pro nods and an Offensive Rookie of the Year award to his name. He’s also caught 566 passes in his career compared to 565 for Thomas, though in 27 more games for four different teams. And Beckham has twice suffered serious knee injuries by tearing his ACL.

The second time happened in Super Bowl LVI, causing him to miss the subsequent 2022 season in recovery. Beckham didn’t sign with a team until well after the start of free agency in 2023, meeting with the Baltimore Ravens at NFL owners meetings in the spring, and he turned in a modest performance last season with 35 catches for 565 yards and three touchdowns. Compare that to what Thomas posted with the Saints — 39 receptions, 448 yards, and a single touchdown. Beckham went on to sign with the Miami Dolphins this offseason.

So does this mean Thomas may have to sit out the 2024 season before finding a new team, like Beckham did? Probably not. We don’t know how far along he is in recovery from last year’s injury but it was never expected to put him on ice for multiple seasons. But we may not see any movement until training camp. If there aren’t many suitors, or if Thomas is being selective about his next opportunity, it could take a while for him to find the right fit.

Either way, it’s so disappointing to see his career end up here. Thomas was on track to break every receiving record in Saints history while leaving his mark on NFL history. That injuries and personal conflicts have derailed what should have been something special. Time will tell where Thomas catches his next football. It’s just too bad it won’t happen while he’s wearing black and gold.

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Report: Former Warrior Chris Paul intends to sign with San Antonio Spurs

After being waived by the Warriors, the veteran point guard will reportedly join Victor Wembanyama in San Antonio.

After getting waived by the Golden State Warriors on the day of his $30 million guarantee date, Chris Paul reportedly already has a new team.

According to Chris Haynes of NBA on TNT and Bleacher Report, the veteran point guard intends to sign with the San Antonio Spurs. After playing one season with Steph Curry and the Warriors, Paul will team up with rising star Victor Wembanyama.

Via @ChrisBHaynes on Twitter:

Paul was acquired by the Warriors last July in a blockbuster trade with the Washington Wizards that included Jordan Poole.

In his only season in the Bay Area, the 39-year-old played 58 games, averaging 9.2 points on 44.1% shooting from the floor, with 6.8 assists and 3.9 assists in 26.4 minutes per contest.

This post originally appeared on Warriors Wire! Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!

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Social media reacts to James Harden staying with Clippers: ‘He’s in a committed relationship, everybody clap’

James Harden will return to the LA Clippers on a two-year, $70 million deal. The 10-time NBA All-Star could now likely finish his career in Los Angeles. Here’s how NBA Social Media reacted to the news:

James Harden will return to the LA Clippers on a two-year, $70 million deal. The 10-time NBA All-Star could now likely finish his career in Los Angeles.

Here’s how NBA Social Media reacted to the news:

Report: Warriors waiving Chris Paul, set to become free agent

The Warriors are set to waive veteran point guard Chris Paul.

After just one season in the Bay Area, the Chris Paul era with the Golden State Warriors is reportedly set to come to an end.

According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, the Warriors are waiving the veteran point guard. With the Warriors waiving Paul, he is now set to become a free agent. Paul had a $30 million guarantee date set for Sunday that was initially moved back.

Via @ShamsCharania on Twitter:

Last summer, the Warriors acquired Paul in a blockbuster trade with the Washington Wizards that included Jordan Poole.

In one season with the Warriors, Paul played 58 games, averaging 9.2 points on 44.1% shooting from the field to go along with 6.8 assists and 3.9 assists in 26.4 minutes per contest.

This post originally appeared on Warriors Wire! Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!

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Social media reacts to Paul George testing free agency: ‘Clippers traded everything for Paul George just to not win anything’

After constant chatter about teams engaging in trade scenarios for Paul George, the nine-time All-Star has officially opted out and will test free agency. This is only the second time PG will go through free agency. Check out what people on social …

After constant chatter about teams engaging in trade scenarios for Paul George, the nine-time All-Star has officially opted out and will test free agency. This is only the second time PG will go through free agency.

Check out what people on social media had to say about his decision.

Social media reacts to LeBron James becoming a free agent: ‘He really wants to be remembered as a Laker’

After the Lakers drafted Bronny James with the No. 55 pick, his father LeBron opted out of his contract and became a free agent. King James is expected to sign a new deal and stay in LA, but his decision caused a stir among fans and NBA analysts who …

After the Lakers drafted Bronny James with the No. 55 pick, his father LeBron opted out of his contract and became a free agent. King James is expected to sign a new deal and stay in LA, but his decision caused a stir among fans and NBA analysts who took to social media to share their thoughts.

Four potential destinations for Paul George

Paul George could leave the LA Clippers. We take a look at four potential destinations for PG13’s talents: Orlando, Golden State, Oklahoma City and Philadelphia.

The sweepstakes for Paul George are ongoing and the storylines are a mix of empty rumors, less empty rumors, negotiation tactics, and posturing – with an occasional drizzle of real information dropped in.

The potential parting of the Clippers and George likely stems from a disagreement over his contract extension. According to reports, the Clippers have been unwilling to offer George the maximum contract available to him under the cap rules of $221 million. Instead, they are pushing for a three-year deal (with a potential discount involved).

The good part for George (and the tricky one for the Clippers) is that he has leverage in this negotiation. Even at age 34, George is playing on an All-Star level and generally makes the team whenever he’s healthy enough to play at least 54 games. George is still a solid defender – even if he’s five years removed from his last All-Defense nod – and his overall game as a shooter and secondary ball-handler is likely to age well.

This makes Paul an attractive target for multiple teams even if paying him around $60 million when he’s 38 isn’t a great resource allocation. If George decides to opt out of his player option for next season, he can in theory sign anywhere there’s cap space. While this is a limited group of teams, it also means George can use this bit of leverage to force his way to a team of his choosing – “trade me to where I want or I just walk for nothing.”

Ultimately, the Clippers may have no choice but to pay up here even if they aren’t excited about it. The alternative will be going after free agents (e.g. DeMar DeRozan) and that’s a clear step down in production for them. Barring a miracle, the Clippers don’t have any replacement that would be as good as George for the upcoming season when they are still hoping to compete for a championship.

The teams that are the best fit for George generally fit into two categories. One, older teams with a championship (or overall competitiveness) window with older stars where the team doesn’t care about potential overpays three or four years down the line, or two, young teams who can eat the salary up for the next couple of years before their teams become naturally more expensive as their top young players are extended beyond their rookie contracts.

How might the Boston Celtics approach Xavier Tillman Sr.’s looming free agency?

Does the team’s front office believe he will grow into a larger role with more playing time?

How might the Boston Celtics approach Xavier Tillman Sr.’s looming free agency? Picked up via trade late in the Celtics’ 2023-24 campaign from the Memphis Grizzlies to help bolster a slightly shaky big man rotation, Tillman’s fit has been good when his number has been called, if occasionally a bit raw as one might expect.

Does the team’s front office believe he will grow into a larger role with more playing time? And how likely is it that he will get an offer that could price him out of Boston’s range?

“After such a strong start to his career in Memphis, Tillman will be hoping for a bigger role than mere regular season depth even on the world’s best team, as well as greater paydays,” writes HoopsHype’s Mark Deeks.

“That said, given that he did exactly what was asked and expected of him, perhaps both such things remain possible in Boston,” he adds. “And the price paid to Memphis of two future second-round picks suggests the team’s brain trust envisions Tillman as a piece of the future.”

We concur that there should be a role and playing time for Tillman, especially given the Celtics’ tendency to sit their star big men and looming free agency for other depth options in the frontcourt. But at least for now, a return is on the table.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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