Top storylines for the 2016-17 NBA free-agency
— -- The NBA season is over?
Not a chance. The fun has just begun. That clamor you hear is the league's 30 teams setting up shop at the greatest swap meet in sports -- NBA free agency.
This summer offers more intrigue than ever. With the salary cap ballooning to in excess of $90 million, more teams than ever have the spending power to go big-game hunting. There's no shortage of targets, starting at the top with Kevin Durant, then moving on to a procession of interesting talent, from young restricted free agents to veteran journeymen.
With the July 1 start of free agency on the horizon, here are some of the more compelling storylines:
Where you going, Kev?
Superstars drive free agency, and this summer Durant will be the guy with pole position. Theoretically, there isn't a team in the league that won't have Durant as its No. 1 target, but practically only a select few are likely to get a meeting with the 2014 MVP. And it's quite possible the cavalry will be an audience of one -- his current team, the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Several league sources suggest that Durant might opt to sign a "1-and-1" contract similar to that of LeBron James the past two summers. That would allow Durant to return to the Thunder for the 2016-17 season, and then re-evaluate the landscape next summer when Russell Westbrook's deal expires. Of course, Durant could certainly look elsewhere, from perennial powerhouses like the Lakers and Miami, to the eternal contender in San Antonio, to the greenest of pastures in Golden State.
Will LeBron scratch an itch?
All has been quiet on the LeBron Front, but he is under no obligation to stay in Cleveland should he deem the task of delivering the city's first championship since 1964 complete. James can flirt, wine, dine and schmooze with the best of them, and there will certainly be suitors with tailor-made pitches if he feel like exploring his options.
The more probable scenario, though, has James returning to Cleveland. Because the Cavs have little financial flexibility under the cap, the process of upgrading the roster could include a transaction involving the oft-maligned Kevin Love, whose tenure in Cleveland has been rocky.
The next tier
For the 28 teams that aren't fortunate enough to ink Durant or James, there's plenty of help in the unrestricted free-agent pool. Looking for a modern big man? Meet Al Horford. A heady point guard? Mike Conley at your service. Dwight Howard and Hassan Whiteside provide rim protection, and Nic Batum, Kent Bazemore and Chandler Parsons can give you versatility. Ryan Anderson comes with stretch, DeMar DeRozan volume scoring, and Al Jefferson old-school post play. And don't forget Dwyane Wade, who can go where he pleases. The restricted free-agent market includes Andre Drummond, Harrison Barnes and Bradley Beal for rival teams interested in throwing an offer over the transom. But expect teams to match offers, even if that number is inflated, as a means of "controlling the asset," as execs like to say.
Rebuilding the Lakers
As the Lakers prepare to hang Kobe Bryant's jersey in the Staples Center rafters, they must now go about the business of building a post-Kobe roster. Help is on the way with the No. 2 pick in next week's draft, while D'Angelo Russell, Julius Randle and Jordan Clarkson give the Lakers additional building blocks. But the Lakers aren't interested in a slow, incremental rebuild. Talent is king, and they've got north of $60 million to spend on it. So who's it going to be? Can they put the purple-and-gold spell and lure one of the big two or hometown kid DeMar DeRozan? Or do they nibble this season and keep their powder dry for the loaded free-agent class of 2017?
Teams on the spot
The Boston Celtics are at a tantalizing crossroads. They have a trove of picks and a nice if unexceptional core of players, many of whom have outperformed expectations. They could continue to make the steady climb into the Eastern Conference's upper echelon -- or they could move some chips into the center of the table and go for broke. The Miami Heat have cash but lots of questions, ranging from the uncertainty surrounding the health of Chris Bosh to frenemy point guard Goran Dragic to Dwyane Wade's future as a star in twilight. Finally, the Houston Rockets are on the brink of another reboot around James Harden.
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