1 out of 5 The majority of these players will try to stick with contenders, especially those who recently lost free agents at key positions. Since you’ve already guessed where players like Deandre Ayton, Collin Sexton, Dennis Schroder and more will end up, here’s where more of the top free agents should sign. 2 out of 5 As the backup behind Rudy Gobert with the Utah Jazz last season, Whiteside still averaged 8.2 points, 7.6 rebounds, 1.6 blocks and shot 65.2 percent overall in just 17.9 minutes per game . Among all players who made four or more shots per game at the rim, Whiteside ranked eighth overall by holding opponents to 53.1% shooting. That was stingier than what guys like Myles Turner, Kristaps Porzingis, Joel Embiid and Anthony Davis recorded. The Clippers will have to look for a backup center in Ivica Zubac after Isaiah Hartenstein left to sign a two-year deal with the New York Knicks. Whiteside would only have to fill minutes as a rebounder and rim protector and wouldn’t need to play a big offensive role with a stacked roster that includes Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, Norman Powell, John Wall, Reggie Jackson and Marcus Morris Sr. After signing minimal deals over the past two years, getting Whiteside another veteran contract is important for the Clippers, who already project to have the highest payroll in NBA history at $191.8 million so far. 3 out of 5 Both Patrick Beverley and Malik Beasley were sent to the Utah Jazz in trades, while free agent Josh Okogie left to sign with the Phoenix Suns. Wolves have since signed sniper Bryn Forbes but could use another ball-handler and defender to make up for the losses of Beverley and Okogie. Rivers is still only 29, even though he is now entering his 11th NBA season. He played in 60 total playoff games in seven postseason appearances and would help bolster what has become somewhat of a decimated bench since the trade for Gobert. Rivers’ value lies in his versatility. He can line up at either guard position, act as a playmaker or scorer depending on the situation and plays solid defense. As a member of the Denver Nuggets last season, he also made 37.0 percent of his three-pointers. If D’Angelo Russell has to miss time, Rivers can play as a starter, which he did for the Nuggets 18 times last year. He’s used to sharing the floor with stars who follow his era alongside Nikola Jokic, James Harden, Bradley Beal, Russell Westbrook, Chris Paul and Anthony Davis. He would be a great addition to the dressing room in a Wolves squad looking to chase titles for the foreseeable future. The Gobert trade was huge for Minnesota, but it also means they’ll likely need another guard like Rivers in the rotation now. 4 out of 5 He averaged 13.3 points, 4.2 rebounds, 1.0 assists and 0.8 blocks for the Lakers last season while also hitting 37.5 percent of his threes. Los Angeles needed his outside shooting, and Anthony continued to make an overall positive impact in his 19th season posting a plus-2.0 swing rating (64th percentile) per Cleaning the Glass. With each year now his last, staying with the Lakers or entertaining a reunion with the New York Knicks should be Anthony’s only two thoughts. “If Carmelo wanted to come back and … do his last year in the NBA here [with the Knicks]that was on the table and I haven’t heard anything about it being off the table,” SNY’s Ian Begley reported. As tempting as it may be to return to New York for nostalgic reasons, the Lakers are better suited to basketball. They can give Anthony a bigger role since the Knicks already have Julius Randle and Obie Taupin covering the power forward position. There’s also the all-time scoring list to consider, as Anthony is just 307 points behind Shaquille O’Neal for eighth and 1,711 points shy of 30,000 career points. If he wants any chance of going higher (Wilt Chamberlain is still 3,130 points ahead of seventh), he’ll need a few more years in a role like he played last season. Anthony will spend at least one more year with LeBron James staying in Los Angeles, and the Lakers could be contenders again if they can somehow land Kyrie Irving and Joe Harris or Seth Curry from the Brooklyn Nets. 5 out of 5 The 31-year-old proved he could still play while with the Milwaukee Bucks and Denver Nuggets last season, continuing to be a force on the glass and as an offensive hub. Cousins averaged 21.6 points, 13.5 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.8 steals and 1.1 blocks per 36 minutes in 48 games last season. He also made 55.4 percent of his shots from beyond the arc, while showing a decent three-point range (30.3 percent). The Suns already signed center Bismack Biyombo to be their defensive force at center, and Cousins could give them an offensive option as well. Injuries over the past four years may keep him from playing much more than 20 minutes a night, but the Suns have enough talent on the roster that Cousins wouldn’t need to play a huge role. The four-time All-Star would give Phoenix the depth it may need soon at the center position. A team that can be patient with his return to the court and could use a rotation wing? The Grizzlies. Memphis has enough talent up and down the lineup to let Warren bide his time returning to the NBA game, and the departure of Kyle Anderson in free agency means the 28-year-old could be a valuable backup in both two places ahead. In his last healthy season, Warren averaged 19.8 points, 4.2 rebounds, 1.2 steals and shot 53.6 percent overall and 40.3 percent from three. With starting power forward Jaren Jackson Jr. recently undergoing surgery for a stress fracture in his foot, Warren would give the Grizzlies a potential starter to fill in if Jackson were to miss the start of the 2022-23 season. The Grizzlies also have the entire $10.5 million mid-level exception to use and could offer Warren a large chunk or all of it to get him to sign. With cap space disappearing around the league, Memphis would represent the best combination of winning, role and money for Warren.
