NBA free agency is still alive, though a few older guards may be on basketball life support.
Per Jake Fischer of The Stein Line, unrestricted free agents Russell Westbrook, Chris Paul and Malcolm Brogdon are drawing interest from the same teams — and each may have to wait until the league sees what becomes of Bradley Beal before their next deal.
That is, assuming they all get “next deals.” While Paul and Westbrook are likely to get signed at some point, one NBA scout told Hoops Wire “it’s hardly a guarantee for either of them.”
The scout went on to predict that Paul, Westbrook and perhaps even Brogdon could all go unsigned to start the season.
“There’s not a huge market out there for them,” the scout said. “And (the report) is right. All three are only drawing interest from a handful of teams, and it’s the same four or five teams. No one is signing two of them, that’s for sure.”
Meanwhile, Beal is expected to agree to a contract buyout with the Phoenix Suns, sending him into free agency upon clearing waivers. Many of the same teams that are reportedly interested in Westbrook, Paul and Brogdon are also interested in Beal — who would be the priority of the group.
It is believed that Beal would be most interested in signing with the Milwaukee Bucks, Los Angeles Lakers, Golden State Warriors and Los Angeles Clippers.
Along with the Sacramento Kings, some of the teams mentioned above also reportedly have at least a passing interest in Westbrook, Paul and Beal.
Five or six years ago, teams would have jumped at the chance to sign any of them. Nowadays, though, it’s more of a last-minute-help situation.
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