Trade, free-agent questions for 22 teams: Warriors, 76ers, OKC, more

ByNBA INSIDERS
June 21, 2016, 12:57 PM

— -- We're talking about the big trades, the big free agents, the big decisions to come.

Our NBA Insiders go 5-on-5 on what to expect in the next few weeks.

Golden State Warriors  

Fact or fiction: The Warriors should pay Harrison Barnes the max, if necessary.

Amin Elhassan: Fact, but only if the other options on the market have been exhausted. Although Barnes is only 24, Golden State's window for championships is now. The Warriors must do whatever they can do to exploit this window, even if that means letting a talented young player walk to gain several more pieces.

More questions:

  • Fact or fiction: The Warriors should pay Festus Ezeli $15 million per season, if necessary.
  • What other moves do you expect from the Warriors?
  • Rank these players in terms of how important they are to the Warriors going forward: Harrison Barnes, Andrew Bogut, Festus Ezeli, Andre Iguodala and Shaun Livingston.
  • If the Warriors were a stock, and you were looking five years ahead, would you buy, sell or hold?

For all the answers, check out the 5-on-5 on the future of the Warriors

Atlanta Hawks  

Fact or Fiction: Atlanta should offer Al Horford a max contract.

Kevin Pelton: It certainly shouldn't be their first offer, given the likelihood that the last year of that contract ($33.6 million in 2020-21, when Horford will be 34) will get ugly. But if it's the only way to re-sign Horford, I would reluctantly say yes because I think another team would still be willing to acquire Horford early in the deal, when it's more favorable, should the Hawks go another direction.

More questions:

  • What should the Hawks do this offseason?
  • Fact or Fiction: Atlanta should offer Kent Bazemore a big contract.
  • Point guard of the future: Jeff Teague, Dennis Schroder or neither?
  • If the Hawks were a stock and you were looking ahead three years, would you buy, sell or hold?

For all the answers, check out the 5-on-5 on the future of the Hawks

Boston Celtics  

Should the Celtics stay the course or make moves to contend for the title next season?

Bradford Doolittle: Boston's biggest star is its coach, Brad Stevens. On the roster, they have a number of solid young professionals. Now is the time to make a splash and bring some definition to a squad laden with redundancy. Go get a top big man (like Al Horford, Dwight Howard or Brook Lopez) and a scoring wing (Kevin Durant, Carmelo Anthony, DeMar DeRozan), and this all comes into focus.

More questions:

  • Which potential free agents should Boston keep?
  • What other moves do you expect from the Celtics this offseason?
  • You're a GM looking to trade a superstar to Boston. Which players and/or draft picks do you want in return?
  • Some say the Celtics are not a free-agent destination. What do you say?

For all the answers, check out the 5-on-5 on the future of the Celtics

Charlotte Hornets  

What is the ideal Hornets frontcourt of the future?

Justin Verrier: Their base look -- Williams at 4, Zeller at the 5 -- works. Zeller, with his aw-shucks demeanor, may not be the sexiest option, but his screen-setting, improving midrange game and physical defense allowed the Hornets to bomb away at the league's fourth-highest rate.

Clifford can adjust, as evidenced by the retro look when Al Jefferson plays, but the Hornets should add more options with range, speed and passing, not limit themselves with a high-priced, older and often injured star like Dwight Howard.

More questions:

  • How should Charlotte prioritize its free agents?
  • What other moves do you expect from the Hornets this offseason?
  • From 0 to 10, how desirable a destination will Charlotte be for players in the near future?
  • Have the Hornets peaked or are they rising?

For all the answers, check out the 5-on-5 on the future of the Hornets

Chicago Bulls  

Should the Bulls trade or build around Jimmy Butler?

Chad Ford: Trade. This is about selling high and moving a player who is likely to be unhappy going through a rebuild in the prime of his career. Several teams, including the Celtics and Timberwolves, are in hot pursuit. The Bulls should be able to get a combination of a lottery pick and another good young player in return.

More questions:

  • How should the Bulls prioritize bringing back Derrick Rose, Pau Gasol, Joakim Noah and Taj Gibson?
  • What other moves do you expect from the Bulls?
  • What trades would make the most sense for the Bulls?
  • If the Bulls were a stock, and you were looking five years ahead, would you buy, sell or hold?

For all the answers, check out the 5-on-5 on the future of the Bulls

Cleveland Cavaliers  

What are the chances LeBron James opts out and leaves the Cavs?

Tom Haberstroh: Ten percent. Rest easy, Cavs fans. I don't think James is going anywhere. James made his bed when he wrote the touching letter for Sports Illustrated and declared, "I feel my calling here [in Cleveland] goes above basketball." Of course, I didn't think he'd leave Miami after four straight Finals runs. That explains the 10 percent hedge. I actually think this title raises the odds that he eventually leaves, but I don't think it's this summer.

More questions:

  • Will and should the Cavs trade Kevin Love?
  • What Kevin Love trade would make sense?
  • What other kinds of trades or moves do you advise and expect for Cleveland?
  • How many NBA titles will the Cavs win in the next five seasons?

For all the answers, check out the 5-on-5 on the future of the Cavs

Dallas Mavericks  

What should the Dirk plan be?

Jeremias Engelmann: I think it makes sense for him to play another season, but he might want to call it a career before 2017-18 if the Mavs can't significantly improve the roster. That gives him about a year to share the secrets of his patented one-legged fadeaway with Dallas' bigs.

More questions:

  • Where do Justin Anderson and Salah Mejri fit into the picture?
  • What other moves do you expect from the Mavs this offseason?
  • Is Mark Cuban an example of success for other owners?
  • If the Mavs were a stock and you were looking five years ahead, would you buy, sell or hold?

For all the answers, check out the 5-on-5 on the future of the Mavericks

Detroit Pistons  

Fact or Fiction: Reggie Jackson and Andre Drummond are a championship-level foundation.

Kevin Pelton: Fiction. Look at the best players on championship teams in modern NBA history. They've generally been top-10 players, and I'm not sure Drummond will get to that point. Jackson has the potential to become an above-average No. 2 option, but is unlikely to end up better than Drummond.

More questions:

  • In a "pre-offseason" trade, the Pistons used their cap space to acquire Tobias Harris in February. Good move or not?
  • What other moves do you expect from the Pistons this offseason?
  • Agree or disagree: Detroit's progress supports the idea of a coach-president.
  • How many playoff series will Detroit win in the next three years?

For all the answers, check out the 5-on-5 on the future of the Pistons

Houston Rockets  

Will and should Dwight Howard return?

Tom Haberstroh: I don't see that happening, which seemed like an impossibility when he joined in 2013. I suspect Howard will end up in Dallas where he can team up with Dirk Nowitzki, be pampered by Mark Cuban and take part in the fountain of youth there. After ranking ninth on the roster in usage rate, my guess is Howard feels as if the Houston thing has run its course.

More questions:

  • Is James Harden a reliable foundation for the Rockets' future?
  • What other moves do you expect from the Rockets this offseason?
  • How do you assess Houston GM Daryl Morey?
  • If the Rockets were a stock and you were looking five years ahead, would you buy, sell or hold?

For all the answers, check out the 5-on-5 on the future of the Rockets

Indiana Pacers  

What's your take on the hiring of Nate McMillan as head coach?

Kevin Pelton: While he doesn't exactly fit Bird's stated desire to play faster, McMillan can transition the Pacers to the four-out style Bird wants the Pacers to play. Remember, McMillan's 2004-05 Sonics team that played eventual champion San Antonio as tough as anyone in the playoffs relied heavily on Vladimir Radmanovic as a stretch-4, and some of McMillan's best Blazers lineups had LaMarcus Aldridge in the middle with Gerald Wallace sliding down to power forward.

If retaining assistant Dan Burke can help Indiana maintain its defensive integrity, McMillan's ability to build offenses that combine lots of 3s with strong offensive rebounding could juice the offense.

More questions:

  • Should the Pacers get a stretch 4 and play smaller and faster?
  • What other moves do you expect from the Pacers this offseason?
  • What do you expect from Myles Turner next season and beyond?
  • What's the Pacers' most likely path to getting another star?

For all the answers, check out the 5-on-5 on the future of the Pacers

Los Angeles Clippers  

For several years, there has been talk of breaking up the Clippers. What is your take on this idea?

Kevin Arnovitz: If you break it up, what exactly are you getting in return? As currently constituted, let's say the Clippers have a 10-15 percent chance of getting where they want to go. Not great, but a puncher's chance. If detonating yields a series of deals that moves that number to 20 percent, go for it. But if there's little value in return, they're probably better off playing the 7-1 or 8-1 odds.

More questions:

  • If the Clippers move one of the big three, who should it be?
  • What other moves do you expect from the Clippers this offseason?
  • Austin Rivers has a player option. If he becomes a free agent, what will and should the Clippers do?
  • If the Clippers were a stock and you were looking ahead five years, would you buy, sell or hold?

For all the answers, check out the 5-on-5 on the future of the Clippers

Miami Heat  

What should the Heat do about mercurial center Hassan Whiteside?

Amin Elhassan: That's the four-year, approximately $92-million question. The Heat darn near had to beg and plead to get Whiteside to buy in when he was making the non-guaranteed minimum, so I don't see how paying him $20-plus million a year will get his attention. That said, he was really productive down the stretch in the regular season, and if you let him go, you have the instant issue of figuring out how to replace him.

More questions:

  • What should the Heat do about aging superstar Dwyane Wade?
  • What should the Heat do about veteran forward Luol Deng?
  • What role should big man Chris Bosh play in the Heat's plans for next season and beyond?
  • Fact or Fiction: The Heat will compete for the East title within the next two seasons.

For all the answers, check out the 5-on-5 on the future of the Heat

Memphis Grizzlies  

What's your take on the hiring of David Fizdale?

David Thorpe: Memphis was wise to promote assistant coach Dave Joerger in 2013 -- top assistants like Joerger then and Fizdale now should get strong consideration more often.

There are not a lot of similarities between the Miami and Memphis franchises, with the Grizzlies enduring a lot of turmoil the past two years. Perhaps the new coach can help settle down a franchise that has some quality talent on its roster and a great fan base.

More questions:

  • Memphis general manager Chris Wallace was quoted predicting, "We are going to re-sign Mike Conley." How confident should Wallace be?
  • What other moves do you expect from the Grlizzies this offseason?
  • Wallace also predicted a "full recovery" for Marc Gasol after foot surgery. From 0 to 100 percent, how confident should Wallace be?
  • Should and will the Grizzlies bring back Lance Stephenson?

For all the answers, check out the 5-on-5 on the future of the Grizzlies

Minnesota Timberwolves  

Fact or Fiction: The Timberwolves should spend their cap space this offseason

Kevin Pelton: Fiction. Minnesota will be better positioned to strike in free agency in 2017, when the team will likely be a better draw for top free agents and will have more money available to spend.

More questions:

  • Three pros and cons of the Thibodeau hire?
  • Fact or Fiction: We have seen the Wolves' next playoff starting lineup.
  • What intrigues you most about the Wolves going forward?
  • How many games will Minnesota win next season?

For all the answers, check out the 5-on-5 on the future of the Wolves

New York Knicks  

Is it time for the Knicks and Carmelo Anthony to part ways?

Amin Elhassan: Elhassan: Melo's no-trade clause notwithstanding, it's time to aggressively shop him. If they can get a first-round pick for him, great. But waiting until after the first week of free agency might yield some desperate suitors who have struck out in the market and want something to show for their cap space.

More questions:

  • Was Jeff Hornacek the best hire for New York?
  • What other moves do you expect from the Knicks this offseason?
  • Is Phil Jackson part of the problem or part of the solution?
  • If the Knicks were a stock and you were looking five years ahead, would you buy, sell or hold?

For all the answers, check out the 5-on-5 on the future of the Knicks

Oklahoma City Thunder  

What kind of trades should OKC consider?

Kevin Pelton: Despite the development of Waiters and Andre Roberson, I'd love to add another two-way wing player to make it easier for coach Billy Donovan to go small and put Roberson at power forward without having to cut the rotation as dramatically as Donovan did in the Western Conference finals. However, I wouldn't overpay for such a player before considering Josh Huestis in that role.

More questions:

  • What is Kevin Durant likely to do?
  • What other moves do you expect from the Thunder?
  • Fact or Fiction: The Thunder should bring back Dion Waiters.
  • If the Thunder were a stock, and you were looking five years ahead, would you buy, sell or hold?

For all the answers, check out the 5-on-5 on the future of the Thunder

Philadelphia 76ers  

Should the Sixers trade Nerlens Noel and/or Jahlil Okafor?

Kevin Pelton: If Embiid is healthy, it's hard to see how the Sixers find enough playing time for him, Noel and Okafor when Simmons should ideally be playing power forward and Noel and Okafor were wildly ineffective together last season. So yeah, I'd be looking to trade one of them -- probably Okafor because my perception of his trade value exceeds how I'd value him.

More questions:

  • What do you expect from Joel Embiid going forward?
  • What other moves do you expect from the Sixers this offseason?
  • What should the Sixers' goals be for 2016-17?
  • How many 50-win seasons will Philadelphia have in the next five years?

For all the answers, check out the 5-on-5 on the future of the 76ers

Portland Trail Blazers  

What's missing in Portland?

Bradford Doolittle: As well as the Lillard-McCollum-Crabbe backcourt played, in the long run the Blazers are going to need a dynamic defensive presence in the middle to make it work on both ends. Also, you'd like to see a little more of an offensive standout at small forward, though I really like the way Al-Farouq Aminu has come along.

More questions:

  • Who should be the primary center for Portland going forward?
  • What other moves do you expect from the Blazers this offseason?
  • Where will the 2016-17 Blazers finish in the standings?
  • Fact or Fiction: Damian Lillard will win the West as a Blazer.

For all the answers, check out the 5-on-5 on the future of the Blazers

Sacramento Kings  

Fact or Fiction: The Kings should keep and build around DeMarcus Cousins.

Tom Haberstroh: Fiction. Ranadive or Cousins -- one's going to have to go before this organization can take a serious step toward relevance. Ranadive has shown almost no ability to maximize a top-10 talent like Cousins. And I don't see Ranadive being the one to step away.

More questions:

  • Fact or Fiction: Dave Joerger (coach) and Ken Catanella (assistant GM) signal a new day in Sacramento.
  • What other moves do you expect from the Kings this offseason?
  • Cousins aside, how many keepers do the Kings have on the roster?
  • Fact or Fiction: The Kings will make the playoffs by 2019.

For all the answers, check out the 5-on-5 on the future of the Kings

San Antonio Spurs  

Fact or fiction: In terms of basketball decisions, Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili should retire.

Kevin Arnovitz: In basketball terms, probably. But it's unseemly for anyone to tell a grown professional when and why they should stop working.

More questions:

  • Fact or fiction: Kevin Durant is in play for the Spurs.
  • What other moves do you expect from the Spurs this offseason?
  • Who should be the starting PG next season?
  • Fact or fiction: Before he retires, Gregg Popovich will win one for the other ring finger.

For all the answers, check out the 5-on-5 on the future of the Spurs

Toronto Raptors  

Should the Raptors max out DeMar DeRozan?

Amin Elhassan: Yes, for two reasons. 1. Because he wants to be there, and that's crucial to building any sort of sustainable culture of success. 2. Because regardless of how you feel about his current market value, in a year the inevitable cap inflation will correct for it and he'll increase in value by default.

More questions:

  • What do you foresee and advise for the Raptors this offseason?
  • From 0 to 10, to what degree should the Raptors make Jonas Valanciunas their new offensive cornerstone?
  • What kind of trade would make the most sense for the Raptors?
  • Are the Raptors about to rise or fall in the East?

For all the answers, check out the 5-on-5 on the future of the Raptors

Washington Wizards  

How likely are the Wizards to sign Kevin Durant with Brooks now in Washington?

Tom Haberstroh: 5 percent. The Wizards had a disastrous season, and there are a lot of questions surrounding Bradley Beal's health going forward. I'm not sure Durant sees enough reliable star power in the nation's capital to tempt him away from Westbrook.

More questions:

  • Was Brooks the best coaching hire for Washington?
  • What other moves do you expect from the Wizards this offseason?
  • Fact or Fiction: The Wizards have more than one future All-Star on their roster.
  • How many games do you expect the Wizards win next season?

For all the answers, check out the 5-on-5 on the future of the Wizards