This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Nearly everyone's wallets are flush with cash, the store is about to open and, well, the shelves are looking pretty bare.
Welcome to NBA free agency 2016.
When the market opens Thursday at 10 p.m. MDT, it will be the start of an unprecedented shopping spree for the league's 30 teams. But in the wealthiest summer in NBA history, wouldn't you know it? There doesn't appear to be much game-changing talent to buy.
Supplies are limited.
Demand is high.
Here's a look at some of the top story lines of free agency:
If the Slipper Fits …
LeBron James is the King and, again, the champ, but after bringing Cleveland its first major sports title in half a century it seems unlikely he'll be going anywhere else.
That means the Summer of 2016 is the Summer of Durant.
The former MVP is reportedly set to meet with six teams — the Thunder, the Clippers, the Spurs, the Celtics, the Warriors and the Heat.
Oklahoma appears to be a front-runner in the sweepstakes in no small part because Durant can maximize his earnings by signing a two-year deal with a player option and opt out next summer when the salary cap is set to be even higher. In OKC, he would have one of the league's top talents, Russell Westbrook, and a rebuilt Thunder cast to make another push at that elusive title.
But after nine years and no rings, could Durant be looking for a change of scenery?
Sticker shock
After Durant, things get decidedly less sexy. But that doesn't mean things get much cheaper.
Thanks to an influx of money from the league's highly lucrative new broadcasting deal, the salary cap is set to jump to $94 million, up from $70 million last season. Nearly every team will be able to clear enough cap space to sign at least one player to a max deal. The Los Angeles Lakers could have around $60 million in space.
With all that money to go around, teams will be able to make sizable bids for star free agents such as Atlanta's Al Horford, Toronto's DeMar DeRozan and Charlotte's Nic Batum. It also means teams are more likely than ever to match high-end offer sheets for restricted free agents such as Detroit's Andre Drummond, Washington's Bradley Beal, Golden State's Harrison Barnes and Orlando's Evan Fournier.
And after those players are off the market, teams will still have money to spend and a historically high salary cap floor to reach, which could mean eight-figure deals for bench contributors.
You might find yourself saying, "How much for Jon Leuer!?"
The Western landscape
With the acquisition of point guard George Hill in a trade with the Pacers, the Utah Jazz have added veteran help at their weakest position. General manager Dennis Lindsey and company will still have plenty of money to spend. Will they use it to extend forward Derrick Favors? Or will they add more veteran depth to their young roster? And how will the rest of the West look around them when the dust settles?
After spending the past few seasons in the NBA cellar, the Lakers will be looking for a shortcut back to the postseason. Is this the summer Los Angeles finally nets another high-profile signing?
The Spurs are in the middle of the Durant sweepstakes. Even if they miss out on the former MVP, the Spurs promise to be contenders for years to come with Kawhi Leonard and LaMarcus Aldridge anchoring them. But will Tim Duncan come back for another year? Or will we see the end of an era and the retirement of one of the game's greats?
Quality free agent point guards will be in short supply this summer (Jeremy Lin!? Jordan Clarkson!? Deron Williams!?) so there will be plenty of suitors for the cream of the crop, Memphis' Mike Conley. If Conley leaves, the Grizzlies could be looking at another major step back.
The Dallas Mavericks could be in a similar boat. Mavericks owner Mark Cuban will no doubt be looking for ways to augment the cast around aging star Dirk Nowitzki. But with Nowitzki another year older and Chandler Parsons a free agent, Dallas could have a different look next year.
Finally, what about the Warriors? Despite swirling rumors about a the tax-strapped Cavs trading forward Kevin Love, Cleveland general manager David Griffin has said he hopes to bring back the team's core in hopes of defending the team's title. On the other side of the country, the Warriors are plotting their revenge. Will the Warriors, smarting after their collapse versus Cleveland, be able to woo Durant? Or will they simply re-sign restricted free agent Barnes and regroup for next season?
Twitter: @tribjazz —
Top free agents by position
Guards
1. Mike Conley • The Memphis floor general is hands down the summer's best free agent point guard.
2. DeMar DeRozan • The Lakers would love to land the all-star guard, but he has reportedly set his only meeting with the Raptors.
3. Dwyane Wade • At 34 years old, Wade is on the downside of his career arc. But the three-time champion still has plenty of quality left.
4. Bradley Beal (restricted) • Despite his injuries and the Wizards' struggles last season, it's hard to imagine Washington letting a young talent like Beal get away.
5. Jordan Clarkson (restricted) • Clarkson can score in bunches and it seems likely the Lakers will be bringing him back.
Forwards
1. LeBron James (player option) • It seems highly unlikely the King will be leaving Cleveland after bringing home the city's first NBA title.
2. Kevin Durant • The former MVP is reportedly set to meet with the Thunder, Warriors, Clippers, Spurs, Celtics and Heat as free agency begins.
3. Nic Batum • The versatile wing looked rejuvenated in Charlotte and is coming off his best year as a pro.
4. Chandler Parsons • Parsons has been hampered by injury, but at his best he is a skilled and capable offensive threat.
5. Marvin Williams • The former Jazzman sputtered in the postseason, but Williams proved his worth as a stretch forward for the Hornets during two years in Charlotte.
Centers
1. Al Horford • An all-star player with an underrated impact, Horford will have his pick of suitors this summer.
2. Andre Drummond (restricted) • Detroit has given every indication it intends to give the double-double machine Drummond a max deal.
3. Hassan Whiteside • The shot-blocking monster remade his NBA career in Miami, but he might be making his money elsewhere next season.
4. Dwight Howard • After he opted out of his contract this summer, teams will likely be leery of handing the big man the rich, long-term deal he seeks.
5. Bismack Biyombo • Biyombo became an integral part of the Raptors rotation last year thanks to his tireless work and physical presence on the defensive end.