Nicolas Batum and Hassan Whiteside (Photo : Getty Images)
Nicolas Batum and Hassan Whiteside, two of the most-coveted free agents in the summer market could be in play for max contracts from other teams.
With the free agency fast approaching, several NBA teams are already doing their assignments on who to pursue once the market opens in July. Batum and Whiteside, who enters the offseason as unrestricted free agents, could be among those who are able to command max deals from other NBA teams, according to the latest buzz around the league.
According to Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders, the New York Knicks are one of the teams interested and willing to offer a max contract to Batum in free agency.
Was told his camp knows Knicks and Raptors would offer max deal. Knows whats out there wants to stay in Charlotte. https://t.co/57NoG8ZHih
— Steve Kyler (@stevekylerNBA) May 14, 2016
Batum, who is widely regarded as a versatile player, would be a perfect piece for the Knicks if the team truly embraces Phil Jackson's triangle offense. The 27-year-old Frenchman, at times, can be a facilitator and create his own shot, making him as an essential acquisition for the Knicks to make the Zen Master's offensive schemes effectively work.
However, Daily Knicks writer Maxwell Ogden believes the Charlotte Hornets small forward could be too expensive for the Knicks, considering the New York's limited cap space of $30.3 million for this summer, according to Real GM.
If the Knicks are willing to shell out a max contract for Batum, it may suggests that the team is no longer interested in adding a star point guard. It may also imply that the Knicks could be really serious about running the triangle offense as the system does not necessarily need a traditional PG when implemented.
Another free agent who could receive a max deal this summer is Whiteside, who has been named in numerous rumors.
Whiteside, who is also set to become an unrestricted free agents, has increased his market value following a breakthrough season that saw the shot-blocking big man averaged career-highs in almost all aspect of his game. The 7-footer, who posted 14.2 points, 11.8 rebounds and a league-leading 3.7 blocks per game this season, should be able to command max deals from other teams, with the Miami Heat reportedly uninterested to hand the young center a max contract this summer, according to Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald.
"There will be considerable debate inside the Heat over the next six weeks about how much to offer Hassan Whiteside when free agency begins July 1," Jackson wrote.
"The Heat values him but someone who has spoken to the team's front office said he believes the Heat will try to convince him to take something less than the max deal he almost assuredly could get elsewhere."
With the Heat seemingly declining to offer Whiteside a max deal, there is a reason to believe other NBA clubs are ready to pounce at the opportunity to sign the 26-year-old big man even if it cost them a huge chunk of their cap space.
There will be plenty of big-time money spending in this year's free agency, with the NBA's new TV deal set to kick in the offseason, and for players like Batum and Whiteside, who have outplayed their contracts with their respective teams, it is the right time to become a free agent if money becomes a factor in their decisions.
