The NBA announced that the free agency period is set to begin on August 2nd of this summer.
NBA 2021 Free Agency will start on Aug. 2 at 6 p.m. ET, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. Moratorium period will begin at 12:01 a.m. ET on Aug. 3 and will continue through Aug. 6.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) April 19, 2021
Now that we know when it begins, it is time for teams and fan bases to look ahead.
Front offices have lists of players they want, but the negotiations can be tricky.
Some players might believe they are worth much more than what a team has in mind.
Injuries or a bad season can determine what the value is for a player, but that is not what they or their agents think.
There have been many mistakes in the past that teams had made.
The 2016 free agency is still hurting teams today and should be in the back of every GM’s head when negotiating.
There are three free agents that teams need to be wary of.
1. Andre Drummond
Type of FA: Unrestricted FA
The newest member of the Los Angeles Lakers is going to be a free agent this summer and nobody truly knows what his value is.
At 27 years of age, Andre Drummond is one of the best rebounders in the last 20 years, but was ultimately bought out by his last team.
His value around the league seems dim, but his numbers demand some big money.
The numbers have always looked great, but the impact on the team has been marginal at best.
He is a poor post defender and is shooting only 48% from the field, despite playing in the paint.
The narrative for Drummond might change, however.
Now that he is on the defending champs playing alongside AD and Lebron; we might try to look at him in a different scope if the team wins a title.
If that scenario plays out, then teams need to watch out for his asking price.
He is only 27 and vying for another big payday.
2. Victor Oladipo
Type of FA: Unrestricted FA
Victor Oladipo has had an unfortunate last couple of seasons.
As soon as he was traded to Indiana, he turned into an all-star.
Then during his second straight all-star season with the Pacers, he ruptured his quad tendon, and has not been the same player since.
He has shown flashes since that return, but has been hampered with other ailments.
He was poised to be the face of the Pacers before the injury, but things just did not seem salvageable once Domantas Sabonis took over as the face of the franchise.
Oladipo was traded eventually to Houston, but only played eight games for the team, before being moved to his dream destination, the Miami Heat.
Now he is with the team that rumors have said he has wanted to play for, for years.
Things have still not gone smoothly for the former two time all-star as he recently injured his knee.
Report: Miami Heat expect Victor Oladipo to return from knee injury this season https://t.co/rBc5c8nqoj
— NBA Central (@TheNBACentral) April 19, 2021
His efficiency has dipped tremendously since his first all-star season back in 2018 when he shot 48%.
Now his number is down at 40% and just doesn’t have the same athleticism he once had.
His asking price might be high, but his injury history and incapability to regain form should scare teams away.
3. Lauri Markkanen
Type of FA: Restricted FA
Lauri Markkanen of the Chicago Bulls is going to be coming off his rookie contract this off-season.
That usually entails a big contract extension or offer.
The next contract for Lauri could end up being a tricky one.
Some believe Chicago has hindered his growth and he still has a ton of potential.
Others see him as just a big spot-up shooter that can’t really do anything else.
His minutes have begun to dwindle as the Bulls are trying to make a push for the playoffs.
If Lauri Markkanen is done for night, this will be back-to-back games with just 4 FGAs. Very limited role for him as rotation currently sits.
— K.C. Johnson (@KCJHoop) April 12, 2021
Coach Billy Donovan has to have a good reason to be playing newcomer, Daniel Theis, more minutes than their young piece.
Shooting has always been his strong part of his game, but there has not been any improvement on the rest of his game in the past four years.
NEXT: Re-Drafting The Top 5 Players In The 2015 NBA Draft
