The good news: we were very entertained by the flurry of deals that came in the last week in the lead-up to the 2020 NBA trade deadline.
The bad news: this summer is probably going to be super boring.
That’s because the 2021 offseason promises to be an all-timer at this point with all kinds of names potentially hitting the market, from the Greek Freak to Kawhi Leonard to Paul George … IF some of them opt out.
Did you notice the Miami Heat didn’t trade for free-agent-to-be Danilo Gallinari? The price in a deal might have been too high, but it also could have been because Pat Riley would have to commit long-term salary by signing him to an extension, something that might have interfered with what he could do in the summer of 2021.
Andre Drummond could be smartly decide not to opt out after being traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers, per this report, and instead becoming a free agent in 2021 when the demand will be higher and more teams will have more cap space:
Andre Drummond is expected to pick up option on contract at end of season, and while he will let things play out, views #Cavs as long-term opportunity, source tells @SInow.
— Sam Amico (@AmicoHoops) February 7, 2020
Overall, we didn’t see a massive blockbuster move because everyone’s biding their time until 2021.
For now, only a few teams — the Suns, Cavaliers, Knicks, Hawks, Hornets, Pistons and Heat — will have some room to work with this summer. And the pickings may be slim. If Anthony Davis is happy in Los Angeles, he’ll stay there. I’m not sure teams will be clamoring to sign DeMar DeRozan since he barely shoots threes in a three-point shooting world. I would hope the Pelicans will lock up Brandon Ingram after the season he’s having. Gallinari is intriguing, but he’s not a superstar.
So be prepared. This July isn’t going to be last July. But we can start to count down to next summer.
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