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NBA Free Agency 2018: 5 bold predictions

By Rucker Haringey

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - APRIL 25: Paul George #13 of the Oklahoma City Thunder brings the ball up court as Joe Ingles #2 of the Utah Jazz applies pressure during game 5 of the Western Conference playoffs at the Chesapeake Energy Arena on April 25, 2018 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by J Pat Carter/Getty Images)
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - APRIL 25: Paul George #13 of the Oklahoma City Thunder brings the ball up court as Joe Ingles #2 of the Utah Jazz applies pressure during game 5 of the Western Conference playoffs at the Chesapeake Energy Arena on April 25, 2018 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by J Pat Carter/Getty Images) /
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Quite a few big NBA stars may change teams during free agency this summer. Here are five bold predictions on how things will shake out.

Every NBA team likes to think they can fill all their needs via the draft, but that clearly isn’t true. If it was, NBA free agency would be boring. This summer’s transactions will be anything but calm and predictable.

Instead, you can safely assume some movement from big name players. LeBron James is clearly the biggest name on the market, but he’s not the only All-NBA player who might make a big move. Paul George, DeMarcus Cousins, Kawhi Leonard and even Kevin Durant could be in play.

In this piece we’ll take a look at five moves that could happen that would surprise NBA executives and fans alike. We start with a restricted free agent who is going to be disappointed with his salary for next season.

5. Zach LaVine will take the qualifying offer

Negotiations between the Bulls and their talented guard aren’t going to go well this summer. LaVine and his representatives legitimately believe he deserves a maximum contract. Chicago’s front office should be fired if they give it to him.

It’s highly unlikely the team and LaVine will agree on a contract that will satisfy him early in the process. This is a saga that is going to drag on deep into the summer.

Look for LaVine to head out on the market in hopes of getting a massive offer sheet from another team. That’s a reasonable strategy, but it has one tragic flaw. There aren’t enough teams who a) want to win and b) have cap space to scoop up all of the players on the market.

That’s going to force LaVine into a really tough decision. He’ll either accept a multiyear offer from the Bulls that he believes is well below his market value or he’ll sign the qualifying offer and hit unrestricted free agency next summer. If you’ve ever watched LaVine play you know he’s supremely confident in his own abilities. That will lead him to roll the dice and take the one-year deal in Chicago.

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