Imagine an NBA where the salary cap didn’t exist. Where would the five best free agents of the 2015 crop sign? It’s fun to imagine these things before the crushing realization that your team is saddled with bad contracts can’t join in the fun of chasing a guy like LaMarcus Aldridge. So without further ado, these are the top five free agents, and the most fun places they could wind up.
Marc Gasol, San Antonio Spurs
Gasol has truly blossomed in Memphis, but don’t the Spurs just seem like his destiny? San Antonio’s incredible core has a ton of international flavor, and as they age, one of the NBA’s best centers, a European star with lots of Tim Duncan in his game, is available.
This scenario is actually realistic. Most experts believe Gasol will return to Memphis, but that the Spurs are a legitimate threat to nab him. He’d instantly become their best player (sorry Duncan) and keep the Spurs machine rolling. If Duncan returns instead of retiring, good luck attacking the hoop on those two.
Dwyane Wade, Cleveland Cavaliers
Remember, this is fantasy! Wade and LeBron James made for some of the most beautiful basketball the NBA has ever seen when they were clicking, which was pretty much all the time after a sometimes-rocky first year together that ended in an NBA Finals trip. Wade and LeBron with Kyrie Irving in the mix would be essentially unstoppable, and would almost certainly culminate in a title.
Plus, injuries wouldn’t be such a major concern for Wade, since Cleveland would have enough firepower to let him rest when he’s aching.
LaMarcus Aldridge, Oklahoma City Thunder
Yes, speaking of unstoppable, imagine two lengthy big men protecting the rum and shooting from the outside, paired with a freak of nature in Kevin Durant, and the NBA’s most indomitable scorer (Russell Westbrook) all sharing a court. I take it back, this team could give a LeBron-Wade-Kyrie Cavs team a serious run.
Kevin Love, Boston Celtics
Love is a tremendous talent who was somewhat wasted in Cleveland this year. He’s a very good shooter, but he is not the elite sniper that Cleveland used him as. He’s far more versatile than the version we saw in 2014-15, just standing in the corners awaiting a pass that many times never came. Love is a monster rebounder, and a dominant force in the post. He can shoot too—and in Boston, he’d be allowed to do everything.
In Cleveland the offense revolves around James. He posts up, or isolations are called, and then the offense becomes a reaction to him and how he’s defended. In Boston, Love would be the focal point, and they have actual young talent around him the Minnesota was never able to provide.
DeAndre Jordan, Milwaukee Bucks
DeAndre Jordan is one of the most entertaining players in the league because of his shot-blocking and mind-bending hops. The Bucks are secretly building one of the most watchable teams in the league. Giannis “The Greek Freak” Antetokuonmpo can gallop from halfcourt to the rim in about three seconds. Michael Carter-Williams is a demon on defense jumping into passing lanes, and Jabari Parker could become Carmelo Anthony.
Defensively, this team is built to switch on defense interchangeably, and Jordan could be their safety net at the rim. His pick-and-rolls with Carter-Williams would be on Sportscenter nightly, and Milwaukee could become appointment television.
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