1. Andre Drummond C (83 Overall)-FA

Contract: 1/2.4m

Resigned in NBA: No (LAL-PHI)
NSL Team (Salary/GM's/Other FA):

-San Antonio Spurs.

-150m approx guaranteed money on the books (Dame, Butler, Holiday, Covington, Noel, Reggie, Green.
-120 GMs
-5-8 roster spots to fill.
- Upcoming key FA; Noel/Green/Jackson/Teague/RHJ

-Who they SHOULD sign with: CHI/CHA/LAC/MEM

-Who'll they'll probably end up at... SA

 

First and foremost, It was an honour to watch your squad risk it all and give it a real crack JJ; Only to be in the end the mastermind, behind arguably the most impactful and balls to the wall move/s that now looks like a pure stroke of genius.... Congrats to the 20-21 Champs the San Antonio Spurs.

First time NSL/2k Champion. Arch Nemesis and defending Champ, J-mac now on the ropes. Having dispatched with ease the best the East could muster... Why quit now? The window to truly contend is universally believed to be within a 2-4 year time-line. These slim chances don't just come along any ole' day... Look. The Spurs are one of the few elder statesmen of Lux-TaxVille. Not afraid to flip a dollar here or there, gamble it all if it meant possibly striking gold and having it all pan out in the end.

But, Numbers don't lie. Drummonds 42m cap hold alone will undoubtedly crush whatever glimmer of hope the Spurs had to be a player, in some way at all come FA day. I wouldn't be surprised if they clear the books to basically, the bare minimum without shipping out core pieces. With Drummonds precarious NBA/Contract situation always looming, as he bounces around like many waaaaay 'over the hill' big men have done for generations before him... I'd bet a solid stack on a decent NelsBet +/- that the Spurs see Reggie, Noel and possibly J. Green as safer long term options... Much easier to retain and will prove who's good enough to know when to fold em', know when to walk away....

 

 

 

2. Derrick Rose PG/SG (82 Overall)-FA

Contract: 3/43m (13.2m in 21-22)

Resigned in NBA: Yes (NYK)
NSL Team (Salary/GM's/Other FA):

-Indiana Pacers

-144m approx guaranteed money on the books (Embiid,Pascal,Holmes,Gordon,Boja,Bledsoe,Warren,Edwards.

-38 GMs

-5-7 roster spots to fill.

-Upcoming key FA; Holmes/Duncan Robinson/Nunn/Craig

 

-Who they SHOULD sign with: PHI/WAS/HOU/GS

-Who'll they'll probably end up at... IND

 

The Pacers got lucky in a lot of ways with one of the biggest being the fact guys like Holmes and Rose re signed in the NBA. That along with a favourable record and GM's to boot would be as close to a best case scenario for any team wanting to roll it back. Problem is Spud has SFA points to spend and it would look like time is against them as they seem only able to make sure of one of their boys coming back.

 

This compounded with their salary issues could very well mean a guy like Rose is right there for the taking. I have it on good authority and it would make sense that Holmes would be the key target and everything else comes second. Despite his chequered injury history having an 82 Overall guard in a reasonable long term deal is a dream in this league. Spuds only saving grace might be the lack of real competition when it comes down to it as Rose will fall just outside of that MLE "Danger Zone".

 

3. Reggie Jackson SG (79 Overall)-FA

Contract: 2/21.5m (10.3m in 21-22)

Resigned in NBA: Yes (LAC)
NSL Team (Salary/GM's/Other FA): San Antonio Spurs.

 

-Who they SHOULD sign with: NY/TOR/MIN/SAC

-Who'll they'll probably end up at... SA

 

We've fawned over the Spurs enough and have briefly touched on the rotational talent they boast who's future at the Club hang in the balance. When you're paying 100+m for the Jrue, Dame-Butler trio it's hard to justify another cheeky 10+m on the books to round out the rest of the single digit mins available in their back court rotation. If the Spurs choose to yell YOLO with a middle finger in the air as they welcome back Reggie I'd be expecting the rounds only weeks later gauging any interest.

 

4. Devonte  Graham SG/PG (79 Overall)-RFA

Contract: 4/47.3m (11m in 21-22)

Resigned in NBA: No (CHA-NO)
NSL Team (Salary/GM's/Other FA):

-Oklahoma City Thunder

-82.1m (Randle,Wood,Kemba,Edwards,Curry,Huerter,Okoro,Milton,Pritchard,Okongwu.

-117GMs

-5-6 Roster spots to fill.

-Upcoming key FA; LMA/Kemba/Bismack/McLemore

 

-Who they SHOULD sign with: MIA/CLE/LAC/PHO

-Who'll they'll probably end up at... MEM

 

Put up a boat load of empty numbers a couple seasons ago with a crippled NBA Charlotte franchise who have since recognised his skillset, wanted zero to do with it and swiftly shipped his ass to the league dumping grounds in the NO Pels. This kid can play both ends some what, can shoot and isn't afraid to ask the question "Just how 'Green' a light do I got Coach?".

 

2k of course froth over this temperamental BS and gave Graham 30 something badges for his troubles and many efforts to tank the NBA's Hornets season hard. So until they gradually come back down to earth alongside Devonte's legit hopes of being a top tier Guard in this league, he will go out and get buckets like very few can do in this league.

 

With Kemba gifting his contributions to the frisky Knicks at bargain bin level prices, Wiz has made it publicly clear that his office door is always open when it comes to pitching any Graham Ultimatums.

 

 

 

 

5. Dwight Howard C  (80 Overall)-FA

Contract: 1/2.6m

Resigned in NBA: No (PHI-LAL)
NSL Team (Salary/GM's/Other FA):

-Portland Trailblazers

-130m approx guaranteed money on the books (Harden/Kawhi/Westbrook/Gasol/WCS)

-135GMs

-6-9 roster spots to fill.

-Upcoming key FA; Kanter/Hart (RFA)/Howard/Gibson/Bazemore/Ellington

 

-Who they SHOULD sign with: MIA/ORL/DEN/HOU

-Who'll they'll probably end up at... POR

 

By all accounts Portland would see to it that D-12 will continue slipping on the Trail Blazing colours come game day as they go into next season. I mean... What other choice do they have? Of course in typical Howard fashion he jumps ship again as he so pleases and robs J-Mac of an easy re sign of an 80+ big man who still to this day produces top 5 big man numbers.

 

If you can handle the obnoxious and self absorbed shenanigans... A very probable sexual assault case or two and having the same dead end conversations every week about the extra plays we're now running for more Dwight post ups... Then you'll gladly forgive the nonsense of it all paying a couple measly mill for a guy who still eats 95% of the big's in this league for breakfast.

 

6. Patrick Mills PG/SG (75 Overall)-FA

Contract: 2/12m (5.8m in 21-22)

Resigned in NBA: No (SA-BKN)

NSL Team (Salary/GM's/Other FA):

-Chicago Bulls

-121.5m approx guaranteed money on the books (Beal/AD/Wall/Claxton/Hutchison/Joe/

-148GMs

-6-8 Roster spots to fill

-Upcoming key FA; Zeller/Whiteside/Mcgee/Williams/Galloway

 

-Who they SHOULD sign with: NY/MIA/DEN/SAC

-Who'll they'll probably end up at... CHI

 

I'll put it this way. So help me god, if any of you Fucks get in the way of me getting the chance of playing with the GOAT Aussie international legend that is Patty "Thrills" Mills then I will destroy all that you hold dear without hesitation.
 

Formalities aside, Mills is an absolute savage, a lights out shooter and has zero problems running your bench or even starting in a pinch. He's an elite professional and team mate and with him announcing his BKN signing recently, with the numbers falling within the buzz saw that is "MLE madness"... I'd expect Patty to be on the podium for sure when it comes to being considered one of the most generally prized FA acquisitions to be had this off-season.
 

The Bulls have a lot of their salary tied up in AD/Beal/Wall and the chances of any of those fellas being moved any time soon dwarfs the chances they have at being able to bring everyone back. Essentially all their targets have changed squad giving no significant advantage to them as the retaining team...

 

 

 

 

 

 

7. Carmelo Anthony SF/PF (79 Overall)-FA

Contract: 1/2.6m

Resigned in NBA: No (POR-LAL)
NSL Team (Salary/GM's/Other FA):

-Detroit Pistons

-155m approx guaranteed money on the books (Irving/Bam/Gobert/Lowry/Jerome/Thompson/Satoransky/Simons/James)

-150GMs

-Upcoming key FA; Lowry (SnT)/J Green/Carmelo/Illyasova

 

-Who they SHOULD sign with: WAS/TOR/LAC/SAC

-Who'll they'll probably end up at... NO

The league just won't be the same until Hoodie Melo find's his way back to where he belongs... On the Kings with his best Pal Klemmelo catering to his every need... Until that time arrives it's nice to see Melo still getting a run out there in meaningful minutes for teams wanting to win.

Melo is in that echelon of player/s, who until the day he retires will always have that "2k DNA" coursing through his veins. Absolute basement he's getting straight buckets for you off the bench and with his improved 3pt% accuracy and now with bum chum buddy Lebron I can't see 2k getting over their Melo-Wood anytime soon to see him careen off a cliff.

 

Vet minimum, new NBA team/Contract and with the Pistons having to focus primarily on not mucking up the Lowry SnT without needlessly shelling out value... I'd tip Melo falls off the Motor Cities roster straight in into the Hearts of the loyal Sacramento fanbase once more.

 

8. Dennis Schroder SG/PG (78 Overall)-FA

Contract: 1/5.8m

Resigned in NBA: No (LAL-BOS)
NSL Team (Salary/GM's/Other FA):

-Dallas Mavericks

-110m approx guaranteed money on the books (KD/Zinger/VanVleet/Birch/Cam Johnson/Okeke/Iwindu/Cancar)

-28GMs

-6-8 roster spots to fill

-Upcoming key FA;Oubre/Patterson/Oladipo/Birch/Spellman

 

-Who they SHOULD sign with: MIA/PHI/MEM/LAC

-Who'll they'll probably end up at... NO

 

In a cruel twist of fate, that no one could have possibly predicted... Schroder headlines a handful of legit players looking to FA as they put the traveling Circus that is the Mavericks, behind them in their rear view mirror.

The Mavs are pushing the soft cap as it is with their Big 3 and a spatter of borderline passable rotation depth players. They will have anywhere from 6-9 projected roster spots to fill, are involved in all kinds of Shady dealings and associated debt with the NSL's seedy underbelly and may very well rock up to FA day with less points then he left with... Dipo and Birch will most likely stay, Vet min/MLE deal, resigned and with no one out there who would probably be to keen with taking on that risk.

 

That walking potato went full Nerleans on us and made sure to proper f*^k himself, before zee Germans come... And then go on to bend himself over hard, short changing himself something to the tune of 80+m in possible extension talks. Only then to embarrassingly net not even a full MLE deal for the Celtics fighting for scraps. Well done mate. It seems that despite the Mavs GM at least TALKING about putting in a whole bunch of effort trying to move on from him earlier to recoup any sort of value... That Schroder will more or less be finally making his way out of the Dallas training facilities and onto bigger and better things... Except this time, it's for reaaaalzzz.

 

 

 

9. Victor Oladipo SG/SF (80 Overall)-FA

Contract: 1/2.3m

Resigned in NBA: Yes (MIA)
NSL Team (Salary/GM's/Other FA):

Dallas Mavericks (See Above)

 

-Who they SHOULD sign with: MIA/BKN/GS/PHO

-Who'll they'll probably end up at... DAL

 

This one stings the Kings loyal. It wasn't to long ago that Big Vic was flying high being brought in as a possible core piece for the Post-Lebron Kings only to yet again be struck down by injury and ruthlessly discarded (No hard feelings ey 'Dippa?).

There was basically zero rumblings or talks around Dipo and his future not just at the Heat but within the NBA in general... The Heat risk nothing throwing him a bone this year on a minimum with the hopes of him rehabbing again into a role that the Heat will find great use for... As Dipo hopefully gets back out there on the hardcourt for a team he is truly invested in, with the hope of doing great things again. Could be an easy re-sign for Dallas if he comes early or competing teams at the time don't see the worth of taking a stab as a stash player in Dipo when Dallas have a +50 head start... Half of which will go towards even allowing him to have at least a coin flips chance at it.

 

In game you  can't deny this guys impact and touch wood, he's value and ratings; Which currently are at rock bottom. Can pretty much only go up from here....?

 

10. JaVale McGee C (78 Overall)-FA

Contract: 1/5m

Resigned in NBA: No (DEN-PHO)
NSL Team (Salary/GM's/Other FA):

Chicago Bulls (See Above)

 

-Who they SHOULD sign with: ORL/CHA/LAC/DEN

-Who'll they'll probably end up at... DET

 

The Bulls will feature multiple times throughout this adventure we've set out on... Live by the sword, die by the sword I guess. Can't sit here and praise one guy in JJ for taking risks or living 2K fantasy life on the edge to have it pay off in the end... And not give credit when it's due for those that still take those same swings but for whatever reason, today just wasn't their day...

2/3 of the premier big man talent possibly available this FA will be there by virtue of the Bulls consistent endeavours to always strive to win. Let's be real, A 38 yr old McGee could drop on the league at any given time for a random 10-day'er and still garter multiple hefty bids from the leagues Elites. Main reason is he's a freakshow of nature and 2K have never given up their infatuation for Uber Athletic big men... If you're game enough to duel with the Devil and try out bid that mad man Merencio to get your hands on JaVale then I tip my hat to you good sir.

 

11. Hassan Whiteside C (80 Overall)-FA

Contract: 1/2.4m

Resigned in NBA: No (SAC-UTA)
NSL Team (Salary/GM's/Other FA):

Chicago Bulls (See Above)

 

-Who they SHOULD sign with: WAS/MIA/DEN/MEM

-Who'll they'll probably end up at... MEM

 

*Copy paste JaVale Mcgee write up*

Hassan is super slow in game, does bone head shit and demands it so deep in the post not even light escapes it.... So you can understand in terms of big men targets for most he is just a step or two below the likes of Zeller/McGee etc.

 

He's got all the badges you need and half of them he doesn't come close to deserving so how much time does he actually has before 2K smarten up and jack him of all his shit. Jokes aside he's like 8 feet tall and has an elite rig that wont quit. If it makes you feel any better I think ive already been seduced by Hassans siren song at least twice before in my time. Can confirm will gladly be marching to my third taste of the White side this Free Agency.

 

 

12. Enes Kanter C/PF (81 Overall)-FA

Contract: 1/2.6m

Resigned in NBA: No (POR-BOS)
NSL Team (Salary/GM's/Other FA):

-Portland Trailblazers (See Above)

 

-Who they SHOULD sign with: PHI/NY/DEN/SAC

-Who'll they'll probably end up at... PHI

 

It's been a while since Kanter played a whole post season for anyone without being played tf off the court in almost every single scenario imaginable. Well... No one must of told 2Kanter cuz' that dude just devours anything within a 0-6 feet radius of the ring. Not just that, he also moves and plays in game in a way that somehow hides his glaring flaws in real life and until that day ends will be on a shortlist of guys most sort after in pretty much every FA season until he hangs it up...

Portland will have to make a choice and every bloke and his dog is dying on Howard Hill any day of the week over Enes "Foreign treaty chicanery" Kanter.

 

 

13. Blake Griffin PF/C (77 Overall)-FA

Contract: 1/2.6m

Resigned in NBA: Yes (BKN)
NSL Team (Salary/GM's/Other FA):

-Utah Jazz

-51m approx guaranteed money on the books  (Rui/Nance/Kennard/Vanderbilt/Poole/Davis/Vassell/Okogie/Carter/Ramsey/Zeke)

-4-5 Roster spots to fill

-71 GMs

-Upcoming key FA; Davis/Valentine/Vanderbilt (QO/RFA)

 

-Who they SHOULD sign with: CHI/MIA/DEN/GS

-Who'll they'll probably end up at... POR

 

Utah happened across Griffin late season in a deal that more or less was a glorified salary dump being the means to an end in terms of facilitating a deal. With his time missed on the court for numerous reasons, lack of faith shown in the NBA and the straight production you get from him doesn't come close to being justified with a 30+m price tag.... Just, give me a minute OK. I'm bringing it back...

 

Yeeeeaap, Blake definitely is a Washed AF, stupid, freckle faced has been but hell, on the Vet Min id gladly take Temples corpse for 3 years without blinking if it's staring me in the face come FA day. So BG on pennies is about as low risk a move you could pull off. Sure, This seasons Engine didn't favour well for the versatile 4/5's who needs the ball....

 

But his way to late, end of season push for that "feel good" but very much half assed attempt at turning the narrative on his career warmed my cold heart for a second... But no matter what, Griffin will be punching way above his weight in game when it comes to giving any team a slight edge when it matters.

 

 

 

14. Malik Monk SG/SF (78 Overall)-FA

Contract: 1/1.7m

Resigned in NBA: No (CHA-LAL)
NSL Team (Salary/GM's/Other FA):

-Los Angeles Lakers.

-58m approx guaranteed money on the books (Murray/Dinwiddie/NAW/Brown jnr/Jones/Smith/Elleby/Lewis Jnr/Lee)

-98GMs

-5-8 Roster spots to fill

-Upcoming key FA; THJ/Dinwiddie (SnT)/Brown jnr/Bullock/Monk/Winslow/Damian Jones/Scott

 

-Who they SHOULD sign with: IND/RAP/PHO/MIN

-Who'll they'll probably end up at... LAL

 

I've had a soft spot for this kid ever since my Knicks in typical fashion, passed on him to draft the most Beta guy imaginable primed to disappoint me again and again for years to come... The kid can flat out score, has great size and length at the guard spot, can handle the ball and has shown stretches of being able to carry himself and the offence for decent runs at a time. He's already proven to be in that elite spot up 3pt shooter category but I don't feel to absurd saying he has legit 6th man promise. He's 23 for fooks sake mane....

All the off court stuff aside he hasn't exactly hit the ground running in the NBA and although it's a little concerning for Charlotte to give up on him so easily... I'm not THAT worried that it would sway me not take a swing at the young fella. He is an elite buy low guy who's found himself in a dream scenario. The NSL Lakers will have their hands full with Dinwiddie/Winslow/THJ and pissing away points against half the league with a hand tied behind your back wouldn't be too appealing to a franchise balls deep into a rebuild. 

 

15. Otto Porter Jnr SF/PF (79 Overall)-FA

Contract: 1/2.3m

Resigned in NBA: No (ORL-GS)
NSL Team (Salary/GM's/Other FA):

-Minnesota Timberwolves

-70m approx guaranteed money on the books (Ball/Levert/Bryant/Quickley/DFS/Kuz/Bey/Stewart/Luca/Deck/Hughes/Mann)

93GMs

-Up to 3-4 Roster spots

-Upcoming key FA;JJ/Hood

 

-Who they SHOULD sign with: CHA/BKN/NO/GS

-Who'll they'll probably end up at... MEM

 

The Timberwolves are well and truly in a power play position of sorts in terms of versatility, options and directions they could possibly go in on their next step to being relevant... They along with another small handful of teams are going to reap the benefits of having a league so full of greedy bastards splashing cash like it no ones business... But their own.

We've seen how much leverage it can provide a team having such a weapon like cap flexibility and/or space. Whether it's to facilitate a deal, snipe solid FA Names with little competition or take on other peoples problems for a handsome reward... Cap space is back with a vengeance and it will be interesting to see how some teams navigate it. This all of course being a pre curser into my reasoning as to why the Wolves would have no business of keeping Otto on the books for the intention of resigning let along for the headache of working around a 40+m something cap hold... 

Porter Jnr is just one of those eternal glitch wings and if he can stay on the court of course, can provide 80+ Overall level numbers in his sleep. Will really depend on the timing of Otto and others and when they drop on the day which could shape some of the influential teams in the league...