Where Some of the NBA’s Top Free Agents Should Go

You know what they say; it’s always a good time to talk about NBA free agency. This year’s NBA free agency class may be one of the best in recent history, that is if some players decide to opt-out of their player options and pursue free agency. For the sake of entertainment, we’ll assume they will, and we will look at where some of the top NBA free agents should go, according to yours truly.

Some of the players we will be looking at in this article include James Harden, Kyrie Irving, Bradley Beal, and DeAndre Ayton. These are all players who can greatly impact any team they go to, so let’s see which team would receive the most positive impact from having these players on their team.

James Harden – Charlotte Hornets

James Harden had a lackluster season this past year, and many critics have been quick to say “Harden isn’t the same player he used to be”. This baffles me, as it is clear that Harden’s struggles can be attributed to fitting into a new team’s offensive schemes and plays, instead of him falling off skills-wise. When you have Joel Embiid as the first option, it’s obvious Harden will have the ball in his hands less, and he will not be the same player he was in Houston.

I think James Harden would fit in tremendously with an exciting young core like Charlotte. He’d be surrounded by an outstanding playmaker in LaMelo Ball, and several nice depth pieces that could help him close out games. Also, Harden would instantly become Charlotte’s number one scoring option, which would instantly bring his numbers up, and quiet all the critics.

Kyrie Irving – Los Angeles Lakers

How about a reunion with LeBron? Ever since Kyrie left Cleveland, he’s been lackadaisical when it comes to his commitment to basketball and winning. The fact of the matter is he won his only NBA ring alongside King James and hasn’t even come close to doing that since. Could a reunion in L. A be a possibility? From a team standpoint, it would make the most sense, but is it possible? Not likely. Why? Because of the compensation package, the Lakers would have to come up with.

The Lakers are depleted of assets right now, and if Irving was to decide to pursue a move to the Lakeshow, then Lakers management would have to mortgage even more of their future in order to acquire him. With his lackluster commitment, I don’t see the Lakers pursuing this deal further, even though it makes the most sense from a basketball standpoint.

Irving would be exactly what the Lakers need, as he is a guard who can penetrate the perimeter and easily dish the ball to Lebron and Anthony Davis. Oh, what could have been!

DeAndre Ayton – Detroit Pistons

It seems like Detroit hasn’t been a good basketball team ever since the mid-2000s. Ayton to the Pistons would immediately turn them into a playoff-hopeful team instead of a guaranteed bottom-dweller. The young core of the Pistons now roster would create a powerful offensive force that could definitely take the NBA by storm. Here’s to hoping this signing happens.

Bradley Beal – Los Angeles Clippers

The Los Angeles Clippers have accomplished nothing in the years that Kawhi Leonard and Paul George decided to team up and bring a championship to LA’s second most popular team. They have underperformed more than they have won games, and it must be hard to be a Clippers fan right now. What exactly are they missing? Maybe a guard who can efficiently score and properly spread out the offense.

Bradley Beal would immediately turn this team into a Boston Celtics 2.0, and we’ve seen how well they are doing in the playoffs. Beal would be a welcome addition to this ball club, which hasn’t won much of anything in the NBA.

How do you feel about these signings? Let me know in the comments below!