NBA Free Agency 2019: 5 potential destinations for D'Angelo Russell

NBA Free Agency 2019: 5 potential destinations for D’Angelo Russell

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 18: D'Angelo Russell #1 of the Brooklyn Nets reacts after a call in the second quarter against the Philadelphia 76ers during game three of Round One of the 2019 NBA Playoffs at Barclays Center on April 18, 2019 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. 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 Elsa/Getty Images) /

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BROOKLYN, NY – OCTOBER 31: D’Angelo Russell #1 of the Brooklyn Nets handles the ball during the game against the Phoenix Suns on October 31, 2017 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) /

3. Phoenix Suns

Russell and Phoenix Suns 2-guard Devin Booker have been close friends since high school, which may give the Suns a leg up if they chase Russell in free agency this summer.

“You develop that relationship with somebody and it’s real and genuine,” Russell told Greg Logan of Newsday in reference to Booker. “You see that it can go a long way. We’ve gone on vacation together. We do a lot of things together … I just think he comes from a good place and I come from a good place. He helps me be better as well.”

If the Suns renounce the rights to all of their free agents, they can carve out nearly $19.6 million in salary-cap space this summer. Booker ($27.25 million) and 2018 No. 1 overall pick Deandre Ayton ($9.6 million) are likely untouchable, but the Suns could salary-dump some combination of TJ Warren ($10.8 million), Josh Jackson ($7.1 million) or this year’s No. 6 pick ($5.8 million) to create the room they’d need for Russell.

Rather than dumping anyone, Phoenix could also make enough room for Russell by stretching the final year of Tyler Johnson’s contract ($19.2 million). In doing so, the Suns could keep Richaun Holmes’ cheap $1.6 million cap hold on their books and still have more than $5 million in cap space even if they max Russell out.

Going after Russell would likely force the Suns to renounce their rights to restricted free agent Kelly Oubre Jr., as they’d have only $10.9 million in space if they keep his $9.6 million cap hold on their books. Thus, they likely won’t enter the fray for Russell unless the Nets renounce him, as they’d otherwise risk losing Oubre only to have the Nets match their offer sheet.

Looking to break a nine-year playoff drought, the Suns may be desperate to add another high-volume offensive threat this summer. Russell and Booker would give them one of the league’s most explosive backcourts, even though their defense would leave much to be desired.

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