This year's NBA Free Agency has the chance to be one of the most historic transaction periods in league history given the stars hitting the open market.
Let's put where we think, or where it has been reported, these players may go to the side. What teams are the best fit for them?
Jimmy Butler – Brooklyn Nets
The Nets are coming off a surprising and eye-opening 42-win season that was headlined by a playoff appearance. D'Angelo Russell came into his own as a star point guard and the rest of the young core such as Jarrett Allen, Caris LeVert, and to some extent, Joe Harris, gave a glimpse of what the future could have in store for Brooklyn. But their rotation still needs another bonafide go-to scorer, and Jimmy Butler fits the bill.
Butler thrives on both ends of the floor. He's a lockdown defender, can play in isolation, and is one of the best scoring wings the league has to offer. He has also shown an ability to thrive as a team's primary, or secondary scorer. Butler's fluent two-way play is everything the Nets need based on most of their players being one-dimensional. A star pairing of Butler and Russell (expecting that he re-signs with them), as well as a rising young core would catapult the Nets up the Eastern Conference standings.
Kevin Durant – Los Angeles Clippers
There isn't a team Durant couldn't improve, or put in the playoffs, but the Clippers present him with the opportunity he needs: to be the clear-cut best player on a team that can win the NBA Finals.
The Clippers (48-34) took the Golden State Warriors to six games in the first round of the playoffs this season after trading away their number one scorer, Tobias Harris, at the NBA trade deadline. Meanwhile, they have a gritty young core, headlined by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Montrezl Harrell.
If they can trade Danilo Gallinari, who is due $23 million in the 2019-20 season, the Clippers should have enough cap space to sign two max-level free agents. An improving young tandem, the second best player in the NBA, another star, Lou Williams, and one of the best head coaches in the sport in Doc Rivers would form a formidable threat in the West and leave their city-rival Los Angeles Lakers in the dust.
Kyrie Irving – Indiana Pacers
The Pacers are an elite defensive team. Heck, they were first in the NBA in opponent points per game in the regular season (104.7). At the same time, their roster need a facelift. Yes, Myles Turner, Domantas Sabonis, and Bojan Bogdanovic, among others, have great cohesion and are one of the best pure teams in the NBA, but you can't win in the NBA without a great scorer; Irving is precisely that.
He's an elite scorer and does so efficiency from beyond and inside the arc. Outside of Victor Oladipo, who suffered a season-ending knee injury in January, the Pacers don't have that echelon of a player. Plus, with Tyreke Evans being removed from the NBA due to a violation of the league's anti-drug program, the Pacers have never been more desperate for reliable scoring. And when Oladipo gets healthy, the Pacers would have one of the best one-two scoring punches in the East with him and Irving.
Kawhi Leonard – Toronto Raptors
Leonard has put together a captivating season, whether it be by averaging career highs in points (26.6) and rebounds (7.3) per game in the regular season, or his outright dominance in the postseason. His skill set would mesh well with 29 other teams, but, from a basketball standpoint, his best option is staying with the Raptors. The likelihood of Leonard tenting in Toronto is fuzzy, but he's playing on a team where he and the players around him excel.
Pascal Siakam has flourished on both ends and will likely be a finalist for the Most Improved Player Award; Danny Green and Fred VanVleet spread the floor with their outside shooting ability; Marc Gasol's selfless and floor spreading offensive game complements Leonard's athleticism; Serge Ibaka is a force in the paint defensively and a savvy scorer; the playoffs have brought out the best version of Kyle Lowry, lately. The Raptors won the East this season and could do so again with Leonard in the fold.
Klay Thompson – Golden State Warriors
Thompson and the Warriors are perfect for each other. Before Durant arrived in the Bay Area, even in the time he has missed in this postseason due to a calf injury, the Warriors identity has been Thompson and Stephen Curry. They're elite shooters, one of the best backcourts in NBA history, play with passion on both ends, and have led the Warriors to never-ending success.
Thompson's shooting is captivating in itself, but every postseason — which seems to be the only time the NBA world cares, or pinpoints defensive efforts — he reminds the nation of his defensive prowess with his on-ball and perimeter play.
Of course, Thompson is also one of the best players in the NBA when it comes to creating separation and finding nifty ways to score. Him staying in Golden State with Curry, Draymond Green, and head coach Steve Kerr would keep the Warriors as the team to beat in the West.
Kemba Walker – Utah Jazz
The Jazz are one of the best defensive teams in the NBA and a resilient bunch that has made the postseason in each of the last three seasons (the last two seasons were after Gordon Hayward left the Jazz in free agency for the Boston Celtics). But they desperately need a scoring jolt.
Walker, a 2019 NBA All-Star starter, is everything head coach Quin Snyder needs in his rotation. This season he averaged a career-high 25.6 points per game and has been an alpha-dog scorer his entire career.
Walker plays well in isolation, can run the fastbreak, and is regarded as a leader. Donovan Mitchell is an elite all-around player; Rudy Gobert is a force to be reckoned with inside; Joe Ingles, Jae Crowder, and Kyle Korver provide outside shooting and, in some cases, stellar defense.
The Jazz don't have a second star, or bonafide scorer. It may involve trading away some fan favorites to open up cap space, but the Jazz need to make a splash this offseason. Walker would give them the boost they need to contend in the West.
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