Cleveland Cavaliers: Jarrett Allen
During the 2021 NBA Draft, the Cleveland Cavaliers took another player they view as a long-term centerpiece of the organization in Evan Mobley. Everyone assumed that the Cavaliers took Mobley with the idea of pairing him with Jarrett Allen in the frontcourt.
However, Cleveland will need to retain Allen in free agency as he is a restricted free agent. Allen is a remarkable rim protector, and seeing that he continues on the offensive end at 23 years old, he could be coveted by other teams that are searching for a center. The Cavaliers would be smart to ensure they keep their young cast of Darius Garland, Collin Sexton, Isaac Okoro, Mobley, and Allen intact.
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Dallas Mavericks: DeMar DeRozan
It has been an eventful offseason for the Dallas Mavericks as they have a new head coach in Jason Kidd and a new GM. The main focus for the Mavericks, amid their changes to notable positions, is to make sure they surround Luka Doncic with more talent.
Regardless of whether or not they trade Kristaps Porzingis, DeMar DeRozan seems like an ideal target for Dallas. DeRozan isn’t an efficient outside shooter, but he is a player that can handle the ball to ease the workload of Doncic.
This season, DeRozan excelled in a small-ball power forward role with the San Antonio Spurs and he could play a similar role with the Mavericks. Signing DeRozan and strengthening other spots on the roster would be a positive offseason for Dallas.
Denver Nuggets: Will Barton
Ahead of free agency, Will Barton declined his player option with the Denver Nuggets, making him an unrestricted free agent. There’s a chance that Barton decides to see what offers he can get from other teams on the open market.
At the same time, the Nuggets should consider making a run to bring back Barton. Jamal Murray isn’t going to be ready for the start of next season, creating a need for scorers for Denver until Murray returns. Even if Murray was healthy, Barton is a valuable player for the Nuggets that gives them versatility on the wing. Instead of bringing in a new face, Denver should re-sign Barton to run it back for another season.
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Detroit Pistons: Hamidou Diallo
One of the best under-the-radar moves ahead of the trade deadline this season was the Detroit Pistons trading for Hamidou Diallo. Diallo was traded by the Oklahoma City Thunder, giving him a chance to carve out a key role with the Pistons.
The wing out of Kentucky would record 11.2 points and 5.2 rebounds per game in 20 games with Detroit while shooting an impressive 39 percent from deep. Seeing that the Pistons aren’t in a rush to build a contending roster, even with Cade Cunningham now on the roster, bringing back a potential long-term contributor in Diallo appears to be a viable move for Detroit.
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Golden State Warriors: Patty Mills
Despite the Golden State Warriors wanting to maximize their window with Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green, they questionably held onto both of their lottery picks in the 2021 NBA Draft. That doesn’t mean that a trade still won’t happen involving the Warriors, but it certainly lessens the odds.
Besides the possibility of adding another All-Star caliber player, Golden State could use a backup point guard behind Curry. Mills would be a perfect fit for the Warriors as his outside shot-making and ability to limit mistakes would be fantastic fits
