The 2023 free-agency period gets underway in less than a month.

Heavy Sports recently caught up with a number of NBA executives to get their thoughts on the 2023 free-agent class.

Below, we’ve ranked the top players who are poised to hit the open market. Here’s a look at the notable free agents who could be on the move come July 1:

JAMES HARDEN, PHILADELPHIA 76ERS (PLAYER OPTION)

James Harden is a 10-time All-Star and former NBA MVP, but he will be 34 years old next season. He proved that he can still play at a high level this season with the Sixers, averaging 21.0 points, 10.7 assists, 6.1 rebounds, 2.8 threes and 1.2 steals on 44.1/38.5/86.7 shooting splits. Harden has a player option worth $35,640,000 for next season, and he’s expected to opt out and become an unrestricted free agent. 

Reports have linked Harden to the Houston Rockets, where he played for eight-and-a-half seasons and enjoyed the most productive years of his career. Sources told The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Keith Pompey that “the franchise expects to reunite with” Harden. However, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst said on his May 23 “Hoop Collective” podcast that he believes Harden is using Houston as “one giant leverage play … to elicit the biggest offer out of the Sixers.” Houston has the most projected cap space of any NBA team ($61 million).

KYRIE IRVING, DALLAS MAVERICKS (UNRESTRICTED)

Kyrie Irving’s stint with the Brooklyn Nets was full of drama, but he landed with the Mavericks prior to this year’s NBA trade deadline and got a fresh start. After arriving in Dallas, Irving appeared in 20 games, averaging 27.0 points, 6.0 assists, 5.0 rebounds, 2.9 threes and 1.3 steals, while shooting 51.0% from the field, 39.2% from three and 94.7% from the free-throw line. 

While Irving put up solid stats, Dallas plummeted down the rankings over the second half of the season and ultimately missed the Play-In Tournament. Mavs owner Mark Cuban said during an April 5 press conference that he “would love to have [Irving] stay.” Irving is incredibly talented, but his antics and reputation will likely scare away some potential suitors. It remains to be seen what kind of interest he receives on the open market. 

FRED VANVLEET, TORONTO RAPTORS (PLAYER OPTION)

Over the last year, Fred VanVleet’s name was constantly surfacing in trade rumors, but the Raptors ultimately decided to keep him beyond the deadline. He finished the season averaging 19.3 points, 7.2 assists, 4.1 rebounds, 3.0 threes and 1.8 steals, but his efficiency dipped a bit (as he shot just 39.3% from the field and 34.2% from three-point range). 

Now, VanVleet has a $22,824,074 player option for next season, and according to TSN Raptors reporter Josh Lewenberg, he plans to opt out and seek a deal similar to the four-year, $130 million contract that Tyler Herro inked with the Miami Heat last October. There were plenty of teams pursuing VanVleet prior to the deadline, so don’t be surprised if he garners a lot of interest this summer.

GettyKhris Middleton of the Milwaukee Bucks and Marcus Smart of the Boston Celtics.

KHRIS MIDDLETON, MILWAUKEE BUCKS (PLAYER OPTION)

After the Heat stunned the Bucks in the first round, it quickly became clear that big changes were coming in Milwaukee. Mike Budenholzer was fired and the team was moving to hire former Raptors assistant Adrian Griffin as their new head coach, The Associated Press reported on May 27. Will the Bucks look to shake up their roster too? Khris Middleton has been a key two-way contributor for Milwaukee and he’s close with Giannis Antetokounmpo, so it would be shocking if the Bucks decided to move on from him. 

It doesn’t sound like Middleton wants a change of scenery either. In September, when he was asked about his player option and the possibility of leaving, he responded: “I think everybody knows deep down that I want to stay. But also, you know it’s a business. Things change, things happen. You just never know. For sure I would love to stay, if everything works out.”

This season, Middleton was limited to just 33 regular-season games due to a wrist surgery and knee soreness, and he averaged 15.1 points, 4.9 assists, 4.2 rebounds and 1.5 threes on 43.6/31.5/90.2 shooting splits. During the playoffs, he looked more like himself, contributing 23.8 points, 6.4 rebounds, 6.2 assists and 2.6 threes on efficient 46.5/40.6/86.7 shooting splits. Middleton has a player option worth $40,396,552 for next season, and it seems likely that he’ll opt out and try to lock in a new multi-year deal prior to his age-32 season.

KRISTAPS PORZINGIS, WASHINGTON WIZARDS (PLAYER OPTION)

Kristaps Porzingis played the best basketball of his NBA career this season with the Wizards, averaging a career-high 23.2 points to go along with 8.4 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.5 blocks, 2.1 threes and 0.9 steals on 49.8/38.5/85.1 shooting splits. His ability to protect the rim and knock down threes makes him an intriguing option for teams.

Porzingis has a player option worth $36,016,200 for next season, and he’s expected to opt out. The Wizards and Porzingis’ camp have been discussing a contract extension over the last month, according to The Athletic, and it’s possible that the two sides come to an agreement before free agency begins on July 1. If not, the 27-year-old shouldn’t have any trouble finding interested teams following his career-year.

DRAYMOND GREEN, GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS (PLAYER OPTION)

Draymond Green has helped Golden State win four championships, and his unique skill set fits really well with the Warriors. This season, the 33-year-old averaged 8.5 points, 7.2 rebounds, 6.8 assists and a steal, while shooting 52.7% from the field. Earlier this season, Green made headlines when he acknowledged that his days with the Warriors were likely numbered, telling Bleacher Report that “the writing is on the wall” because he understands how the luxury tax works. Green was referring to the fact that the Warriors owe Stephen Curry ($51,915,615), Klay Thompson ($43,219,440), Jordan Poole ($28,705,357) and Andrew Wiggins ($24,330,357) a combined $148,170,769 next season. That means the Warriors will be over the cap ($134 million) just from paying those four players alone. And because the Warriors went over the luxury tax in three of the last four years, they’ll have to pay the repeater tax, just like they did this year. 

Green has a player option worth $27,586,224 next season, and it seems very likely that he’ll opt out to sign a new multi-year deal. Warriors head coach Steve Kerr said during a May 16 press conference that Golden State won’t be a championship contender without Green and added: “I absolutely want him back.” Green has said that he would love to return too. It remains to be seen whether the two sides can figure out a deal or if the Warriors’ ownership will sign off on paying another enormous luxury-tax bill (after paying the most expensive tax bill in NBA history this season). 

BROOK LOPEZ, MILWAUKEE BUCKS (UNRESTRICTED)

Brook Lopez is 35 years old, but he’s still one of the best two-way big men in the NBA. He’s a terrific rim protector, averaging 2.5 blocks per game and finishing as the runner-up in the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year race. However, he’s also one of the best shooting centers in the league, knocking down 37.4% of his threes and draining 1.7 triples per game. Lopez’s skill set makes him a perfect fit for today’s NBA and a very attractive free agent for numerous teams.

GettyCameron Johnson of the Brooklyn Nets.

CAMERON JOHNSON, BROOKLYN NETS (RESTRICTED)

Cameron Johnson has established himself as one of the best shooters in the NBA, knocking down 2.5 threes per game on 41.6% shooting from deep over the last two seasons. This season, he became an every-night starter and responded by posting career-highs in points (15.5), rebounds (4.4), threes (2.5), assists (1.9), steals (1.2) and field goal percentage (47%). 

The Phoenix Suns traded Johnson to the Nets prior to the deadline as part of the Kevin Durant blockbuster, and he played well in the second half of the season. Johnson elevated his game even further in the Nets’ first-round series against the 76ers, averaging 18.5 points, 5.8 rebounds, 3.0 threes and 2.8 assists, while shooting a terrific 50.9% from the field, 42.9% from three and 85.7% from the free-throw line. Even though the Nets had only 25 games to evaluate him, one would think that retaining Johnson is a top priority given that they just acquired him.

JAKOB POELTL, TORONTO RAPTORS (UNRESTRICTED)

Leading up to the trade deadline, all eyes were on the Toronto Raptors. They were weighing whether to be a buyer or seller, pursuing numerous players and shopping several of their own pieces (including O.G. Anunoby and VanVleet). Masai Ujiri ultimately decided to re-acquire Jakob Poeltl from the San Antonio Spurs, bringing the big man back to Toronto (where he spent the first two years of his NBA career). The Raptors gave up Khem Birch, a 2024 first-round pick and second-round picks in 2023 and 2025, which suggests that Poeltl is part of their long-term plan rather than just a half-season rental. This year, Poeltl averaged 12.5 points, 9.1 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.2 blocks, while shooting 62.9% from the field.

NIKOLA VUCEVIC, CHICAGO BULLS (UNRESTRICTED)

The two-time All-Star has produced whether he’s a team’s No. 1 option (as he was in Orlando) or a complementary piece (as he was in Chicago). This season, Nikola Vucevic played all 82 games and averaged 17.6 points, 11.0 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.5 threes, .7 blocks and .7 steals, while shooting 52% from the field, 34.9% from three and 83.5% from the free-throw line. The 32-year-old has expressed interest in re-signing with Chicago, according to NBC Sports, saying the Bulls are his “priority” and that he “would like to stay.” Bulls GM Artūras Karnišovas told NBC Sports that Vooch is “an iron man,” “a double-double machine” and “a huge part of this team,” adding: “We hope to retain him.”

JERAMI GRANT, PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS (UNRESTRICTED)

Like Vucevic, Jerami Grant has shown that he can thrive in a variety of roles. Early in his career, he was a defensive stopper and jack-of-all-trades role player. During his stint with the Detroit Pistons, he emerged as the team’s No. 1 option and a 20-plus point-per-game scorer. This year with the Blazers, he had arguably his best season, averaging 20.5 points but drastically improving his efficiency – shooting 47.5% from the field, 40.1% from three-point range and 81.3% from the free-throw line. Portland has offered Grant a four-year, $112 million extension, according to The Athletic, but it remains to be seen if he’ll sign it. The 29-year-old may want to hit the open market and see what other options are out there before committing to the Blazers long-term.

HARRISON BARNES, SACRAMENTO KINGS (UNRESTRICTED)

While De’Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis got most of the credit for the Kings’ excellent season (and deservedly so), Harrison Barnes was also a key contributor for Sacramento. Barnes took advantage of his improved supporting cast by making teams pay with his catch-and shoot and catch-and-drive opportunities. This season, the 31-year-old averaged 15.0 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.6 threes on 47.3/37.4/84.7 shooting splits. In addition to being a remarkably consistent player, Barnes also provides leadership and championship experience, so he should receive interest from win-now contenders and young teams looking for a veteran presence. 

KYLE KUZMA, WASHINGTON WIZARDS (PLAYER OPTION)

Kyle Kuzma has a player option for next season worth $13 million, but he intends to opt out and become an unrestricted free agent. With that said, Shams Charania of The Athletic reported that “there is mutual interest in a new deal.” 

This season, Kuzma averaged career-highs in points (21.2), assists (3.7), threes (2.5) and steals (0.6), while also averaging 7.2 rebounds and 0.5 blocks on 44.8/33.3/73.0 shooting splits. The Wizards acquired Kuzma as part of the Russell Westbrook trade with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2021, and he continues to develop each year.

GettyAustin Reaves of the Los Angeles Lakers.

AUSTIN REAVES, LOS ANGELES LAKERS (RESTRICTED)

Austin Reaves arguably helped himself more than any other impending free agent in the second half of the season and playoffs. After the All-Star break, he averaged 17.6 points, 5.5 assists, 3.1 rebounds and 1.5 threes, while shooting a ridiculous 57.8% from the field, 44.3% from three and 85.6% from the free-throw line. In the postseason, the 24-year-old continued to produce at a high level, contributing 16.9 points, 4.6 assists, 4.4 rebounds and 2.4 threes on uber-efficient shooting splits of 46.4/44.3/89.5. 

After going undrafted in 2021, Reaves has taken advantage of every opportunity he’s been given and elevated his game in big moments. The Los Angeles Lakers obviously want to keep Reaves, but it’s possible that a team could extend him a significant offer sheet that makes this a tougher decision for Los Angeles.

JOSH HART, NEW YORK KNICKS (PLAYER OPTION)

Josh Hart is another player who earned himself a ton of money with his excellent production in the second half of the season. After the New York Knicks acquired him from the Portland Trail Blazers, Hart caught fire. In 25 regular-season games with New York, Hart shot 58.6% from the field and 51.9% from three-point range, while averaging 10.2 points,7.0 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.1 threes and 1.4 steals. Every team could use a player like Hart. The 28-year-old has a player option for next season worth $12,960,000, but he’s a virtual lock to opt out and cash in on his outstanding play. 

HONORABLE MENTION

D’Angelo Russell (UFA), Jordan Clarkson (PO), Gabe Vincent (UFA), Christian Wood (UFA), Russell Westbrook (UFA), Gary Trent Jr. (PO), Bogdan Bogdanovic (PO), Bruce Brown (PO), P.J. Washington (RFA), Rui Hachimura (RFA), Tre Jones (UFA), Caris LeVert (UFA), Grant Williams (RFA), Jalen McDaniels (UFA), Max Strus (UFA), Naz Reid (UFA), Donte DiVincenzo (PO), Alec Burks (TO), Dillon Brooks (UFA), Kelly Oubre (UFA), K.J. Martin (UFA), Mason Plumlee (UFA), Lonnie Walker (UFA), Dennis Schroder (UFA), Coby White (RFA), Ayo Dosunmu (RFA), Seth Curry (UFA), Pat Beverley (UFA), Dennis Smith (UFA)

Alex Kennedy is the Chief Content Officer at BasketballNews.com.

In the highlight-centric NBA, where today’s technology splashes offense all over one’s tablet or phone screen, fans have been clicking onto Playoff Jimmy Butler’s clutch brilliance, Devin Booker’s 47-point closeout game and Trae Young’s 30-footer.

But for the people who make a living in the league, the focus is more on Milwaukee’s collapse, Phoenix’s brush with trouble and the fact the Celtics‘ inability to handle prosperity forced them into a Game 6 trip to Atlanta. And they weren’t pulling any punches in conversations with Heavy Sports.

“It’s amazing to watch grown-men professionals play like flustered little kids,” said one GM.

“The mindset changes with the lead and the score,” said a former head coach still involved with the league. “Everybody’s going to slow the game down. It just becomes a much, much slower game, trying to use clock. We saw the Clippers almost beat Phoenix because of that. We saw Milwaukee lose two games because of that. We saw Boston do it against Atlanta, even in the games they won. Ten- and 15-point leads aren’t what they used to be, that’s for sure.”

The Bucks had the best record in the NBA and leads of 15 points in Game 4 and 16 to start the fourth quarter in Game 5 before losing both to 8-seed Miami and getting banished from the playoffs. The Suns survived against the star-less Clippers to advance, and the Celts seemed intent on making things hard on themselves.

When it was mentioned that Butler appeared to foul Pat Connaughton to get open for his bucket that forced overtime, the ex-coach said, “Yeah, they definitely could have called a push-off on that, but the thing is that the meltdown of Milwaukee was so much more substantial. I mean, those guys were taking terrible shots. You could just tell the tension that was there. They were getting tight, and the pressure was getting to them. Just melting down under the gun.

“It happens. Look at Phoenix; they were up 15 with five minutes to go (in Tuesday’s Game 5), and three minutes later the Clippers have a chance to tie, but (Russell) Westbrook misses that layup. If he makes that, who knows what happens? So the Celtics aren’t the only ones is the point. It’s a common thing in basketball. When you’re behind, the basket’s bigger because you’re just shooting with no fear. And when you’re ahead, you’re trying to protect the lead. But I thought the shot selection by Milwaukee was atrocious.

“With Boston, hell, they were throwing the ball all over the place. But it still took some crazy, crazy shots to beat them. Yeah, Trae Young has made those kind of shots before, but sometimes you have to tip your hat. The offensive turnovers were what got Boston into trouble. Just really dumb stuff. Jayson (Tatum)’s sloppy pass against the double-team. Those mistakes cannot be made in the crucial time of the game.”

Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo Exposed in Round 1

He went on to criticize the Celtics for slowing the pace, thus going away from the quicker game that has made the Hawks look like the No. 7 seed they are. But even for the teams that play slower as a rule, it invites comebacks.

“You’ve got to keep playing,” he said. “You can’t put it in slow motion as early as teams are doing it right now. It’s hard to watch. Chris Paul does it, and Chris Paul’s really good at it. New York does it, too. Jalen Brunson’s good at it like Chris Paul is. They just dribble the air out of the ball, and then with eight seconds (on the shot clock) they’re trying to make a play. New York did the same thing.

“The only thing that saved them from a meltdown was their offensive rebounding,” he said of the Game 5 close-out win over the Cavaliers. “Mitchell Robinson just got an offensive rebound almost every time they missed (11 of his 18 rebounds were on the offensive glass), and that killed Cleveland.”

Another league source from the bench lit into the Bucks and their plan.

“The playoffs expose your weaknesses as a team,” he said. “Like last night with Milwaukee, their shooting is not great. Giannis’ shooting was exposed. He kept trying to shoot. They had numerous possessions in a row where they did not get a good shot. The thing is, they know how to fix that, but they didn’t do it.

“When they beat Phoenix in the (2021) Finals, they started putting Giannis as the screener early in that series. He would set the screen, and then he would get the ball in the middle of the paint, where he just had to make the pass or the little shots. It was easier for him to get to the rim. I would have had Giannis in the paint setting screens for my other good players and then rolling. That forces the defense to make a tough choice, and Giannis doesn’t have to drive through three guys or take an outside shot. It’s hard to stop him once he’s inside, and he can also beat you with the pass if you crowd him.”

‘Panicking Is Probably Not the Right Thing to Do’

The source went on to warn against overreacting this offseason … but then he took aim at their defensive scheme.

“Obviously they’re still a very good team. I think panicking is probably not the right thing to do,” he said. “I think their team is really good. (Khris) Middleton’s health is a big question mark, and (Brook) Lopez is getting older but is still decent. I just don’t like how they play. Staying in drop coverage just killed them. They gave up so many wide-open shots. I think that’s what singlehandedly got Jimmy Butler going. Anybody that set a screen with the guy Lopez was guarding got an open jump shot. I think he can help you, but putting him exclusively in drop coverage so he can protect the rim is crazy. I don’t think it works against a lot of teams.

“I don’t know if they HAVE to do anything, maybe tweaks here and there. But they let Miami come alive in that series. Miami hadn’t been playing good basketball for a long time, but Milwaukee gave them life with their defensive plan and just taking bad shots. Milwaukee got them going. Kyle Lowry woke up, and he’s been dismal all year. But, again, (the Bucks) are in that drop coverage, and he just comes off a screen and shoots. I think it’s terrible defensive game planning. Horrible. Especially once you see them get going.

“Like it’s one thing to try to play your normal defense that’s helped you, and people look at the analytics, but then you’ve just got to go, ‘OK, we cannot let Kyle Lowry and Duncan Robinson and Max Strus and Jimmy Butler beat us like that — even though a lot of times you can get away with it against Jimmy, but he’s different right now, playing at a high level with a lot of confidence. You’ve got to change your coverage, even if you’ve got to take Brook Lopez out of the game.”

While he clearly put a lot of Milwaukee’s exit on Mike Budenholzer, he backed off when asked if it put the coach’s job in jeopardy.

“I certainly don’t blame Mike for that loss last night, because I could see the players melting down,” he said. “They were choking. It’s just that simple. I don’t know what you can draw up if your best players can’t make shots. And they had open shots.”

Brooklyn Nets star forward Ben Simmons will miss his third consecutive game when they face the Milwaukee Bucks on February 28, the team announced via Alex Schiffer of The Athletic. Simmons has not suited up since the team returned from the All-Star break on February 24 because he has been dealing with knee soreness. It is an injury the All-Star forward has been dealing with sporadically all season which he admits has been “frustrating” for him.

“There’s some targets I need to hit and get to,” Simmons told Brian Lewis of the New York Post.

“I had it drained right before All-Star. I also had a PRP. It’s frustrating, but it’s something that’s an injury I’ve never dealt with before. So, it’s something I’m learning about, that we’re learning about.”

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Ben Simmons Makes Revelation About His Health

This year knee injuries seem to be the recurring theme for the three-time All-Star. Simmons tweaked his knee earlier this season against the Washington Wizards on January 26, which sidelined him for five games.

But Simmons has been dealing with injuries since his arrival in Brooklyn last February. He expected to make his Nets debut last season, but a herniated disc in his back held him out for the entire year.

After having back surgery in May, Simmons expected to come into this season with a clean bill of health, ready to contribute to a Nets team in dire need of more help. But he told reporters that despite having the procedure over the summer, he has not been completely healthy at any point this season.

“I’ve been battling it all year. I haven’t been 100 percent all year. I just want to be on the court, regardless of what it is and whatever position I have. I’m just trying to give the team what I can, so, it’s frustrating. But it’s the league we’re in also. I’m trying to give myself to my teammates as much as possible,” Simmons added.

“Structurally, it’s good. It’s just a strength thing and getting it under control. It’s a frustrating process with the back and dealing with it all. It’s just something I have to deal with and it’s taking time. I just have to stay on top of it. We’re trying to work towards me coming back to being in a place where I can play at a level I can contribute and move.”

Nets Putting Ben Simmons Through ‘Strenthening Phase’

With all due respect, Simmons has looked like a player who has not been 100% all season. It’s not just because of his lackluster stats or unwillingness to shoot the ball. Simmons has also looked like a shell of himself from an effort standpoint.

At one point, Simmons was regarded as one of the most elite defenders in the NBA. And though he has not been a slouch on defense this season, he also has been nowhere near the level of the NBA’s elite.

Nets head coach Jacque Vaughn says that the Nets are working with Simmons to put him through a “strengthening phase” not only so he can safely return to the court, but to ensure that he will continue to be available.

“At the end of the day, we collectively as an organization, as a group, with Ben, with the performance team, said it was an opportunity to kind of put him in a strengthening phase so that going forward once he gets the knee strengthened this isn’t a reoccurrence for us,” Vaughn said via the New York Post.

“When you’re strengthening things — just like the offseason, where you can do some loading, you can do some lifting — but it’s probably not ideal for you to play also while you’re doing heavy loading, heavy lifting. So that’s the space we’re in right now is he’s in this strengthening phase. Then, hopefully, the knee responds the way we want it to, and he jumps right back on the train with us.”

The Boston Celtics are breezing through these early stages of the 2022-23 campaign, as they boast the league’s best record of 18-4 and look as though they haven’t skipped a beat since their NBA Finals run from just the season prior.

Now, while things appear to be going rather well for the club as a whole, for point guard Payton Pritchard year three of his NBA tenure has been filled with underwhelming minute distributions and a bevy of DNPs.

Through no fault of his own, as head coach Joe Mazzulla just simply has three other highly skilled guard options in Marcus Smart, Malcolm Brogdon, and Derrick White ahead on the depth chart, Pritchard has seen his role within the rotation diminish to a career-low (just 11.8 minutes per game) and it is because of this that some believe it may be time for a change of scenery.

While the 24-year-old may not be a star by any stretch of the word, should he be shopped by Brad Stevens and company one can only assume that he’ll attract the attention of many franchises and, according to Bleacher Report’s Zach Buckley, one of them could be the Milwaukee Bucks.

“Now, the Celtics may not want to outfit a direct competitor with a valuable contributor, but if the Bucks put the best offer on the table, that can win over any resistance,” Buckley wrote.

“Pritchard isn’t worth breaking the bank or anything, but Milwaukee could give up a decent asset to get him. The Bucks need more shooting and more backcourt scoring in general, and those areas just happen to be Pritchard’s specialties.”

As things currently stand, the Bucks find themselves ranking a lowly 17th in the association in 3-point shooting with a conversion rate of 34.9% though, ironically, they rank seventh in such attempts per game at 37.3.

With this, it makes sense why Buckley would believe that Pritchard could be an interesting trade option for Milwaukee, considering that he sports a 41.1% conversion rate from long-range and puts up an impressive 20.7 points per 100 possessions for his career.

However, being they are a direct threat to contend for the Eastern Conference crown along with the Celtics this season, it’s hard to believe that Boston would entertain striking any sort of deal with Milwaukee at any point in the near future.

Celtics Could Swap Pritchard for a Big

Though the Bucks may not be a realistic suitor for Pritchard, it’s reasonable to believe that, considering his lack of usage, the Boston Celtics could be open to the idea of trading the guard for more talent at an in-demand position.

In a November 22 article by The Athletic’s John Hollinger, the concept of using the 24-year-old as a trade chip was discussed in depth, with Hollinger suggesting that he could wind up being used to lure in more depth to the team’s frontcourt rotation.

“Boston is going gangbusters but is so deep in the backcourt that Payton Pritchard has been squeezed into a bit role despite performing well in his limited minutes,” Hollinger wrote. “He’s valuable! He’s just less valuable to Boston right now than almost any other team.

“In his case, one out would seem to be as a trade chip to get Boston another big man. The Celtics have thus far survived the absence of Robert Williams III, with the help of some solid contributions from scrap-heap pickup Luke Kornet, but the injuries to Williams and Gallinari exposed what is perhaps the one weakness on a loaded Boston team.”

One popular target many have suggested the Celtics should inquire about is Jakob Poeltl, who currently suits up for a tanking San Antonio Spurs team that could use for some bolstering of their own, though to their backcourt which, on the surface, would seem like a perfect match for the Celtics.

Another possible option that has been floated around has been OKC Thunder frontcourt floor spacer Mike Muscala, who Buckley’s own cohort, Greg Swartz, has linked to Boston in the past.

Analyst Sounds Off on Celtics Sharpshooter

Though Pritchard’s role within Boston’s rotation may be dwindling by the day in 2022-23, second-year forward Sam Hauser finds his stock soaring through 22 games played.

During a November 29 episode of Heavy on Sports’ Postin’ Up with Keith Smith and Adam Taylor podcast, Smith discussed his thoughts on why the 25-year-old is making such a noteworthy impact for the Celtics, and whether his shooting excellence is for real. 

“Hashtag Hausermatic? Oh, he’s not doing anything he’s not asked to do. And, they’re not asking him to do anything he can’t do,” Smith said about Hauser.

“Get open and shoot…You had a couple of plays off the dribble last night against the Wizards. He made one where he took a dribble off a screen and hit a three, which is really new… So yeah, I think Sam Hauser is good, you know, (his shooting is) definitely for real.”

Seeing 17.6 minutes per game, the former Virginia Cavalier standout and 2021 undrafted free agent finds himself ranking seventh in the league in 3-point percentage (47.9%) while putting up 7.5 points and 2.4 rebounds during his sophomore season with the Celtics.

A trending Instagram post has shed light on an interesting phenomenon pertaining to the Milwaukee Bucks and their MVP candidate Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Instagram user, @llewelly_jean (Owen Phillips), compiled data from basketball-reference.com which shows The Milwaukee Bucks’ postseason offensive rating increase when Antetokounmpo is not on the floor.

With Milwaukee’s offensive rating increasing from just above 115 to just below 120 when Giannis is off the floor it begs the following question: Is Milwaukee’s offense better when their star-player is off the floor?

How Is a Team’s Offensive Rating Calculated?

According to Basketball Reference’s glossary section, a team’s offensive rating is calculated by the points scored per 100 possessions. Although Antetokounmpo’s field goal percentage is a stellar 49.5% throughout the post-season, his abysmal 28.1% from beyond the arc might have something to do with his team’s overall offensive rating.

Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks celebrates after a dunk against the Houston Rockets.

For example, take a look at Khris Middleton in this same graphic. The Bucks have about a 122.5 offensive rating when Middleton is on the floor versus an offensive rating that is just over 105 when he is off the floor. This uptick in efficiency could have something to do with his sharpshooting ability from beyond the three-point line.

Middleton, who is sporting an outstanding 53.6 percent clip from downtown this postseason, is essentially more efficient than big man Antetokounmpo because of his ability to knock down consistent threes.

Shane Larkin of the Boston Celtics guards Khris Middleton of the Milwauke Bucks during the 2018 NBA Playoffs.

Throughout the playoffs, Middleton has an offensive rating of 122.9 compared to Giannis, whose rating is 114.

What’s Next for Giannis?

Although Giannis’ offensive rating is not the best on his team, his 27.7 points per game and 12.5 rebounds per game speaks for themselves. The potential MVP is just a consistent three-point shot from being the stand-alone best player in the NBA, and everybody knows it.

His shot from beyond the arc is improving, but it just isn’t quite there, especially during the postseason when teams really crank up their defenses.

Antetokounmpo and company continue their postseason run tonight versus the Boston Celtics. Game four of the best-of-seven series begins tonight in Boston at 7PM EST on TNT. The Celtics hope to keep Antetokounmpo’s offensive rating at bay and tie the series up at two games apiece.

The Bucks on the other hand, well, they hope they can take command of this series and head back to Milwaukee with a 3-1 lead, as well as improve their offensive efficiency with or without their star big man Giannis Antetokounmpo.

This season’s city edition jerseys have been systematically being revealed over the past few weeks–including the Milwaukee Bucks, who today revealed their new threads.

The kits employ a bold combination of colors that are inspired by Milwaukee’s famous MECCA floor.

What Was the MECCA?

You may have seen pictures of the MECCA floor. And if you have, you probably remember it. It was the brightly painted floor that the Bucks played on during some of their most successful years in the 70s and 80s–such as when they had a young player named Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

The floor was an eyesore to some–it certainly demanded attention–and was designed in the pop art style by Robert Indiana. Indiana was sometimes compared to Andy Warhol in the pop art scene, and his designing of the floor helped epitomize Milwaukee as an art-conscious and proud city.

In 1977, when it was painted, the floor became the world’s largest pop art painting. The Bucks resurrected it last fall for a game against the Celtics, for old time’s sake.

You can watch the ESPN “30 for 30” video about the MECCA floor below. It’s really informative about the history behind the floor’s attention-grabbing colors.

The team will sport the new jerseys 12 times throughout the season, on the dates listed below:

– Monday, Nov. 19 vs. Denver
– Monday, Dec. 10 vs. Cleveland
– Monday, Dec. 17 at Detroit
– Saturday, Dec. 22 at Miami
– Monday, Jan. 7 vs. Utah
– Monday, Jan. 21 vs. Dallas
– Tuesday, Jan. 29 at Detroit
– Saturday, Feb. 2 at Washington
– Sunday, March 24 vs. Cleveland
– Monday, April 1 at Brooklyn
– Thursday, April 4 at Philadelphia
– Sunday, April 7 vs. Atlanta

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