The Miami Heat are predicted to use their taxpayer mid-level exception to target veteran free agent Dennis Schröder as back up to starting point guard Kyle Lowry, according to Greg Swartz of Bleacher Report.
This link to the 2022 Eastern Conference finalists comes off the back of an earlier report by The Athletic’s Kelly Iko that Schroder would part ways with the rebuilding Houston Rockets during the current free agency window.
“With regards to their own free agents, Dennis Schroder is liked in Houston, but he’s expected to have a new home for the 2022-23 season,” sources told The Athletic.
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“Schröder arrived at the February trade deadline and brought professionalism, experience and speed to a team in need, but with Daishen Nix on tap, as well as Porter, Christopher and Green, there’s a real need to clear minutes for the roster’s developing young talent.
“Schröder is 28, in the prime of his career, expecting to play big minutes and compete deep in the playoffs.”
In other free agency news, guard Collin Sexton is firming to remain with the Cleveland Cavaliers next season, according to Greg Swartz of the Bleacher Report.
“The number of teams left who can pay Sexton above a mid-level exception is down to two, providing more evidence that the 23-year-old guard will be back in Cleveland,” Swartz said.
“Only the San Antonio Spurs ($38.5 million) and Indiana Pacers ($27.9 million) have more than the $10.5 million mid-level exception, per Spotrac’s Keith Smith.
“The Cavs only have part of their mid-level remaining after signing Ricky Rubio, but have Sexton’s bird rights and can go over the salary cap to keep him.”
The Dallas Mavericks are the team most interested in acquiring Sexton as a replacement secondary ball-handler to support Luka Doncic, following Jaylen Brunson’s departure to the New York Knicks, according to a Sports Illustrated report by Grant Ahseth.
However, barring a compromise in talks between the Cavs and Mavs over a potential sign-and-trade deal, then expect to see the Georgia native wearing wine and gold again to start the 2022/23 season.
“The Dallas Mavericks have been rumoured as a team that may have interest because they lost Jalen Brunson,” Chris Fedor said on the Wine & Gold Talk podcast.
“They don’t have cap space. So it would have to be a sign-and-trade worked out with the Cavs. And I’m told that the Cavs are not very attracted to any of the pieces that Dallas would be willing to send back to them in a potential sign-and-trade.”
In the Western Conference, the Los Angeles Lakers are reportedly scouring the free agent market with the aim of injecting youth on the cheap following a disappointing season in which they were labelled “old” and “injury-prone” by many NBA analysts and missed the playoffs completely after finishing with a dismal 33-49 record.
According to LA Times journalist Brad Turner, the Lakers could target a familiar face in free-agent center, Thomas Bryant, to fill the five position in their starting line-up alongside star power forward Anthony Davis.
“Lakers have a strong interest in reuniting with free-agent center Thomas Bryant, but with LA just having the veteran minimum to offer he’s in no rush to make a decision,” Turner’s sources said.
“Plus, the Lakers have competition for the services of Bryant, as Toronto is also interested.”
The Lakers are also thought to be a possible landing spot for recently released 24-year-old forward Isaiah Roby as a potential backup for injury-prone superstar Anthony Davis, according to freelance journalist Jason Reed.