The table has been set with a long list of questions on the precipice of the NBA draft and free agency. What's missing are the answers. Some have already come: Pascal Siakam will re-sign with the Indiana Pacers (H/T Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN), Malik Monk will re-sign with the Sacramento Kings (also via Wojnarowski ), and the Chicago Bulls/Oklahoma City Thunder swapped Alex Caruso and Josh Giddey.
Recent rule changes allow teams to negotiate contracts with their own (potential) free agents after the end of the NBA Finals, but where's LeBron James' deal with the Los Angeles Lakers or Paul George's with the LA Clippers? Who will Cleveland Cavaliers and Detroit Pistons hire to coach their respective squads? Which players will opt in or out of their contracts? What stars will push for trades? And how will the stringent aprons impact how teams move forward in the new NBA economy? Some of the decisions will be clear by the two-day draft (Thursday and Friday), and most will be resolved within the first few days of July. But we're not that patient—now, please! James and George can opt out of their deals to explore free agency. James will earn slightly more this season by opting in ($51.
4 million vs. a projected $50 million). George should opt out to re-sign at $49.
4 million instead of $48.8 million, provided the Clippers are willing to pay him that amount. Both can extend if they opt in.
The leverage lies in James' hands with the Lakers, who are likely to pay him whatever he asks f.
