Matt Slocum / Associated Press
While the upcoming NBA offseason may not be as exciting or present as many important moves as the last one, it is still a moment that may end up being worth the long wait.
With the 2019-20 season kicking off on July 30, while 22 teams complete the regular season and playoffs in Orlando, Florida, the offseason won’t begin until October, assuming that everything goes as planned with the resumption of the season. This means that players who are destined to become free agents will not have the opportunity to plan their future until then.
Although the next free-agent class may not be full of big names, there are some talented players who definitely have an impact if they sign up with new teams.
Here are some predictions of where many of them could land in this offseason.
Christian Wood, PF
Before being excluded from the Detroit Pistons last summer, Christian Wood had only played 51 NBA games since his debut in October 2015. And those games came as members of four different teams: the 76er from Philadelphia, Charlotte Hornets, Milwaukee Bucks and Pelicans from New Orleans.
This season, the 24-year-old had his first opportunity to collaborate regularly and fared well. He averaged 13.1 points and 6.3 rebounds in 62 games while shooting 56.7 percent off the field.
The power forward moved into initial lineup after Andre Drummond traded on February 6th, and scored at least 20 points in seven of the Pistons’ last eight games before the season was suspended.
Now, Wood is set to become an unrestricted free agent in this offseason and is expected to attract more interest than in previous times.
In May, The Athletic’s James L. Edwards III noted that the Boston Celtics made inquiries about trading the UNLV product at the commercial deadline more than once, so it is possible that they will still be interested. He also listed hornets, pelicans and the New York Knicks as potential threats to drive Wood away from the Pistons.
However, Detroit should be able to engage with Wood in a long-term deal and make him one of his protagonists as he continues to rebuild.
With Wood and Blake Griffin with the low starters, the Pistons could use their pick on the first turn on a guard and make a solid forward rotation. So Detroit will find a way to keep it going in the long run.
Prediction: Wood re-signs with Detroit
Derrick Jones Jr., SF
Brynn Anderson / Associated Press
Derrick Jones Jr. has made great strides in his first four NBA seasons, but has probably not yet reached his full potential.
This season, the 23-year-old forward has averaged 8.9 points and 4.2 rebounds in 51 games for the Miami Heat, but has gained the most attention by winning a controversial dunking contest over the All-Star weekend .
It’s possible that Heat will be reluctant to sign Jones on a sizable deal in this offseason, as John Hollinger of The Athletic pointed out in May that the team could try to save space on the cap to land one of the great players who expect to be free agent. in 2021 (as Giannis Antetokounmpo).
The best offers from the former UNLV star may come from teams other than Miami and there should be interest in a young wing player who continues to improve and develop.
A potential adaptation for Jones could be with the Atlanta Hawks. With Trae Young, John Collins and Clint Capela among their main players, the Hawks could take advantage of the signing of some depth players to help them improve.
Jones is a solid defender who could adapt well to Atlanta, who could quickly make great strides in 2020-21 with the right moves. He should have an interest in joining a young team that may soon begin to contend at the Eastern Conference.
Prediction: Jones signs with Atlanta
Josh Jackson, SF
Nick Wass / Associated Press
Like Jones, Josh Jackson is a young forward who still has room for improvement and will likely do so.
After averaging 12.3 points per game in his first two NBA seasons with the Phoenix Suns, he traded with the Grizzlies last summer. However, his time with Memphis started in the NBA G League.
Jackson played with the Memphis Hustle until the end of January, when the Grizzlies finally added it to their list. He then averaged 10.4 points in 18 games before the season was over.
It’s possible that the show was impressive enough for Memphis to want to bring the 23-year-old back after the season. Or he could leave for a new start with another new team, as there will probably be some organizations interested in him. And one of those could be Cleveland Cavaliers.
The Cavs may not be able to afford some of the best free agents in this year’s class, assuming Andre Drummond accepts his $ 28.75 million player option. But Jackson is the type of player who could get affordable and provide depth in an area of need for them.
So, suppose Jackson is headed to Cleveland for 2020-21.
Prediction: Jackson signs with Cleveland
.
