Citak: Nikola Vucevic, Al Horford Head Class Of Free Agent Centers

Al Horford
Photo credit Jeff Hanisch/USA TODAY Images

The time has finally come. The much-anticipated 2019 offseason is officially here. This summer will feature the most talented group of free agents the NBA has seen in recent years, and where they end up signing could cause a ripple effect that would change the entire landscape of the NBA for years to come.

Teams can officially begin talking with free agents June 30 at 6 pm. In the days leading up to the start of free agency, I will be breaking down the top guards, wings and big men who are set to hit the market, and the chances that they end up with the Knicks or Nets. First, I took a look at the guards. Then were the forwards. Now are the centers.

The Knicks have just one big man currently on the roster, and it is promising second-year player Mitchell Robinson. Robinson was the 36th overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft, but greatly outplayed his draft slot, finishing the season averaging 7.3 points, 6.4 rebounds and 2.4 blocks in only 20.6 minutes per game. The young big man needs to gain more discipline on defense, as he showed a tendency to pick up unnecessary fouls often, but the Knicks are very happy with the 21-year-old’s play during his rookie season. Look for New York to pursue a veteran big man to mentor Robinson during his sophomore season.

The Nets have two big men under the age of 22 on their roster in Jarrett Allen and Nicolas Claxton. Allen showed some improvements from his rookie to sophomore campaigns, finishing the 2018-19 with averages of 10.9 points, 8.4 rebounds and 1.5 blocks in 26.2 minutes per game. Brooklyn has high hopes for the 6-foot-11 center, who they believe could develop into a Clint Capela-like force on the inside. Claxton was the first pick of the second round of this year’s NBA Draft, and is likely to spend a lot of the upcoming season in the G League. In 32 games at Georgia this past year, the 20-year-old registered 13.0 points, 8.6 rebounds and 2.5 blocks per game while showing signs of developing a three-point shot. The Nets like these two young centers, but have already shown interest in adding a big, veteran presence to the frontcourt this offseason.

C Nikola Vucevic- 20.8 pts, 12.0 rbs, 3.8 ast, 1.1 blk, 51.8 FG%, 36.4 3P%, 54.9 eFG%

It seems as if due to his playing in Orlando for the last seven seasons, Vucevic has been vastly underrated his entire career. The 7-foot-0 big man is coming off a career-year in which he set new highs in points, rebounds and assists per game, while becoming a reliable threat from the three-point line. Vucevic is averaging a double-double for his career (15.7 points, 10.1 rebounds), which should come as no surprise considering the fact that he has finished with a double-double average in five of his eight NBA seasons. Not only can the 28-year-old score in the interior, but he also has shown the ability to help stretch the floor with his new three-point shot, something that any team in the league would gladly take. After making his first All-Star team this past season while finishing with a Player Efficiency Rating of 25.53 (7th in the NBA), Vucevic is likely to garner a max deal as the top center on the open market.

Possible Knicks Interest- The Knicks are at the stage of their rebuild where they should be attempting to add talent anywhere they can get it. However, New York remains high on Mitchell Robinson after his rookie campaign that showed potential for the young big man to develop into a dominating force on the inside. Signing Vucevic would block Robinson from picking up more minutes next season and moving forward, which makes this pairing unlikely to come to fruition. 
Possible Nets Interest- Similar to the Knicks, the Nets love Jarrett Allen as the team’s center. Brooklyn has high hopes for the 21-year-old, and while Sean Marks has admitted to the team having interest in adding some big bodies this offseason, it will come in the form of a backup center, not one that will take playing time away from Allen.

Related

C Al Horford- 13.6 pts, 6.7 rbs, 4.2 ast, 1.3 blk, 53.5 FG%, 36.0 3P%, 58.6 eFG%

It’s a bit of a surprise that Horford is hitting the market as an unrestricted free agent. Many across the league believed the veteran would either pick up his option with the Celtics or work out a long-term deal to stay in Boston. However that no longer appears to be the case, and now Horford will enter free agency looking for a new home. Despite his age, the 33-year-old has proven to still have a ton to offer. His 53.5 field goal percentage this past season was his highest in four years, while his 58.6 effective field goal percentage was the strongest mark of his 12-year career. Horford is expected to have numerous suitors in free agency, which is certain to drive up his asking price. The 6-foot-10 big man has a good chance of emerging this summer with a four-year deal worth north of $100 million.

Possible Knicks Interest- New York is nowhere near contender status, so signing Horford would make zero sense. However, we have seen the Knicks make more questionable decisions in the past, so you never know.
Possible Nets Interest-  Brooklyn was a popular pick as a potential landing spot for the veteran soon after it became clear that he wasn’t returning to Boston. However, those rumors have since simmered. The Nets are focusing on the top free agents, and are unlikely to get into a bidding war over Horford.

C DeMarcus Cousins- 16.3 pts, 8.2 rbs, 3.6 ast, 1.5 blk, 48.0 FG%, 27.4 3P%, 51.5 eFG%

If this were the Cousins of old, then teams would be lining down the block to get a chance to meet with the big man. Unfortunately, the 6-foot-11 center tore his Achilles not too long ago, and while he put up a couple of strong performances in Golden State’s run to the Finals this season, it was clear once he returned that Boogie had lost some of his explosiveness. But that isn’t going to stop a team from taking a chance on the 28-year-old. In 30 games this past season, Cousins put up impressive numbers, enough to garner more than a team-friendly deal in free agency. But in order for him to receive the large contract offers that he clearly wants, Cousins may have to accept another one-year, prove-it deal to show that he can still be that dominating, All-Star center.

Possible Knicks Interest- With the top free agents seemingly headed elsewhere, the Knicks are beginning to make contingency plans for this summer. According to reports, those plans could include a large, one-year offer to Cousins. This move would be a bit puzzling, as signing Cousins would seemingly take minutes away from Robinson, whose development should be one of New York’s top priorities next season. But as we’ve learned in recent years, you can’t put anything past James Dolan and the Knicks.
Possible Nets Interest- Even with his decreased mobility, Cousins won’t settle for a role as a team’s backup center, which takes the Nets out of the running.

C Brook Lopez- 12.5 pts, 4.9 rbs, 1.2 ast, 2.2 blk, 45.2 FG%, 36.5 3P%, 57.1 eFG%

Lopez is coming off a very strong season in Milwaukee. The 7-footer set career-highs in three-point shooting percentage, free throw percentage and effective field goal percentage this past season, in addition to setting a new high-mark in blocks per game. Lopez proved to be an important factor in Milwaukee’s success this season. On offense, he became a legitimate three-point threat, which helped space the floor for his MVP teammate. On defense, he and Giannis Antetokounmpo developed into a formidable pair of rim protectors. Milwaukee and Lopez have strong mutual interest in a reunion. But since he has only been there for one season, the Bucks have only his Non-Bird Rights, which could make it difficult for them to re-sign the 31-year-old. 

Possible Knicks Interest- Signing the 11-year veteran wouldn’t fit into the Knicks’ plan of going young, nor would it help Robinson’s development. Lopez won’t be signing in New York.
Possible Nets Interest- As great as it would be to see him in a Nets uniform again, Lopez seems focused on remaining in Milwaukee. Even if he leaves, he is certain to get more lucrative offers around the league than what Brooklyn would be willing to offer him to play behind Allen.

C DeAndre Jordan- 11.0 pts, 13.1 rbs, 2.3 ast, 1.1 blk, 64.1 FG%, - 3P%, 64.1 eFG%

Despite a drop in playing time due to his mid-season trade to New York, Jordan put together another solid season this past year. For the sixth consecutive season, the 6-foot-11 center averaged a double-double. Even more impressive than that is the fact that throughout his 11-year career, Jordan has never shot worse than 60% from the field (career FG% of 67.0%). While he offers nothing from the outside (he is 1-for-11 from long range in his career), the 30-year-old is still one of the league’s most talented rebounders, especially on the offensive glass where he has averaged over three offensive rebounds per game in each of the last six seasons. While his game speaks for itself, signing Jordan also comes with an added bonus. The veteran big man is close friends with Kevin Durant, and there is at least one team out there that would like to sign Jordan as a way to entice his good friend to join him in his new home.

Possible Knicks Interest- Many expected the Knicks to buy-out Jordan following the mid-season trade, but New York decided to hold on to the veteran for the remainder of the season. Unless Durant decides to sign with the Knicks, then Jordan is likely on his way out of MSG.
Possible Nets Interest- With the rumors swirling about the Nets having a good chance at landing Kyrie Irving and Durant, Brooklyn has recently been connected to Jordan. Adding the big man could be the tipping point in securing Durant’s services, but the Nets’ interest likely goes beyond that. Jordan would not only be a tremendous mentor for Allen, but he also fits the description of exactly what Sean Marks said the Nets need- a big body on the inside. Jordan would provide Brooklyn with a grit and toughness they desperately need with Ed Davis likely on his way out the door. The biggest obstacle to this happening is the Nets’ cap space- Brooklyn would likely need Jordan to accept the mid-level exception, which comes in a hair shy of $5 million.

C Jonas Valanciunas- 15.6 pts, 8.6 rbs, 1.4 ast, 1.1 blk, 55.9 FG%, 29.2 3P%, 57.2 eFG%

Valanciunas was shipped out of Toronto at the deadline in the deal that brought Marc Gasol to the Raptors, which played a big role in their run to a championship. While he likely wasn’t thrilled about leaving the soon-to-be champions, Valanciunas had the best stretch of his career once he got to Memphis. In 19 games, the 7-foot-0 center averaged 19.9 points, 10.7 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game, all of which would have topped his career-highs had he put up those numbers for an entire season. The 27-year-old is opting out of the final year of his contract, leaving $17.6 million on the table in order to become a free agent. However, Valanciunas has expressed an interest in remaining in Memphis long-term, and it sounds like the Grizzlies want him back as well. Whichever team Valanciunas ends up with will be getting a talented and tough rebounder in the prime years of his career.

Possible Knicks Interest- I don’t see how Valanciunas could possibly fit into New York’s plans this offseason, especially considering the big pay day he’s about to get.
Possible Nets Interest- Ditto with Brooklyn. The Nets are going to look for a backup big man that is willing to settle for the MLE exception, which Valanciunas is certainly not going to do.
Matt Citak is a web producer for WFAN. Check him out on Twitter at @MatthewCitak.