{"id":6185,"date":"2025-07-18T19:06:04","date_gmt":"2025-07-18T19:06:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/6185\/"},"modified":"2025-07-18T19:06:04","modified_gmt":"2025-07-18T19:06:04","slug":"lakers-add-guard-chris-paul-suns-reunion-best-fits-for-nba-free-agents","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/6185\/","title":{"rendered":"Lakers Add Guard? Chris Paul-Suns Reunion? Best Fits for NBA Free Agents"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

It has been an underwhelming NBA<\/a> offseason for free-agent moves. Granted, Myles Turner<\/a> leaving Indiana<\/a> for Milwaukee<\/a> and Dorian Finney-Smith<\/a> signing with Houston<\/a>, among a few other moves, are worth a mention.<\/p>\n

Still, there are plenty of starting-caliber players available who are plug-and-play pieces for any NBA team.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Here are the best fits for the top-five remaining NBA free agents, in alphabetical order.<\/p>\n

Note: Restricted free agents aren’t included given the likelihood that their teams re-sign them or match any offer sheet they sign with another team. Malik Beasley<\/a> remains a free agent but likely won’t be signed until there’s a resolution to his ongoing gambling investigation<\/a>.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Chris Boucher has spent the past seven seasons with the Raptors. (Photo by Jason Miller\/Getty Images) <\/p>\n

Emerging as a high-minute rotation player for the Toronto Raptors<\/a> after their 2018-19 NBA triumph, Boucher has been one of the best reserve frontcourt players in the sport and would give the 76ers needed depth in that area.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Boucher, who stands at 6-foot-9, can put the ball on the floor, score at a plausible clip and hit the boards. Last season, he averaged 10.0 points in 17.2 minutes per game, while shooting 49.2\/36.3\/78.2. The 76ers lost forward Guerschon Yabusele<\/a> in free agency, and Joel Embiid<\/a> likely won’t be ready for the 2025-26 season due to his recovery from a knee injury. Boucher gives Philadelphia somebody who can play big minutes at both power forward and center and start, if need be. He’d be a sly pickup for a 76ers franchise that’s trying to keep the light on.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Malcolm Brogdon has played for four teams in the past four seasons. (Photo by Jacob Kupferman\/Getty Images) <\/p>\n

Brogdon would fit into any NBA team. He can handle the rock, facilitate, shoot with efficiency and attack the rack; Brogdon would be an impactful pickup for the Lakers.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Yes, the Lakers have a ball-dominant superstar in Luka Don\u010di\u0107<\/a>, a more-than-capable lead ball-handler in LeBron James<\/a> and Austin Reaves<\/a> does damage with the ball in his hands. That said, Los Angeles doesn’t have a prototypical point guard who facilitates and runs the offense in the halfcourt. Brogdon would provide that presence off the bench for the Lakers, while serving as a reliable perimeter shooter when he’s on the floor with Don\u010di\u0107 and James.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Brogdon can complement the driving forces of the Lakers offense and lead the second unit. He improves them on both ends of the floor and adds depth to a team that still claimed the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference last season before a first-round playoff exit.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Al Horford is coming off his second career stint with the Celtics. (Photo by Sam Hodde\/Getty Images) <\/p>\n

The Warriors won’t let the flame go out, the latest evidence being trading for Jimmy Butler<\/a> at last season’s NBA trade deadline. In all fairness, when you win four championships in eight years and have a Hall of Famer who’s still playing at an All-NBA level (Stephen Curry<\/a>), you can do that \u2014 and Horford perfectly fits Golden State’s timeline.<\/p>\n

While Golden State’s operation has never been reliant on its starting center, big man Kevon Looney<\/a> was a consistent member of Steve Kerr’s rotation for a decade, but he left for the New Orleans Pelicans<\/a> in free agency. Horford would replace Looney in Golden State’s rotation, potentially starting from the jump. The veteran big man is still a reliable outside shooter and a quality defender who’s adept at playing in postseason affairs, doing so with the Boston Celtics<\/a> the past four seasons. The Warriors are all in on Curry, Butler and Draymond Green<\/a>, with the average age between the three of them being 36.3 years old. Adding a 39-year-old big man who’s still doing his thing in Horford can’t hurt.<\/p>\n

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In his age-39 season, Chris Paul appeared in all 82 regular-season games for the Spurs. (Photo by G Fiume\/Getty Images) <\/p>\n

It’s difficult to get a sense of what the Suns are doing following a series of bold moves: firing head coach Mike Budenholzer in favor of former Cleveland Cavaliers<\/a> assistant coach Jordan Ott, trading Kevin Durant<\/a> to the Rockets for a package centered around Jalen Green<\/a>, Dillon Brooks<\/a> and the No. 10 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft<\/a> (Khaman Maluach<\/a>), acquiring big man Mark Williams<\/a> from the Charlotte Hornets<\/a>, extending Devin Booker<\/a> to a two-year, $145 million deal and waiving Bradley Beal<\/a>.<\/p>\n

One thing Phoenix is clearly doing, though, is trying to be a top-eight seed in the Western Conference, and bringing back Paul gives them a skill set they don’t possess. Paul, who played three seasons with the Suns (2020-21 season to 2022-23 season), would provide them with a ball-handler who could start at point guard or, more likely, come off the bench and facilitate for the second unit, replacing the outgoing Tyus Jones<\/a>. Plus, Paul posted a relatively efficient 42.7\/37.7\/92.4 shooting line while averaging 7.4 assists for the San Antonio Spurs<\/a> last season.<\/p>\n

Booker and Green can each handle the rock, but Paul would be the most proven facilitator present and get them the ball in their hot spots; Paul’s familiarity with Booker (they were teammates for three seasons) certainly helps.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Russell Westbrook is seeking his seventh NBA team. (Photo by Harry How\/Getty Images) <\/p>\n

The Pacers will be without Tyrese Haliburton<\/a> for next season due to a torn Achilles tendon that he suffered in Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals, and Turner departed Indianapolis for Milwaukee after 10 seasons with the franchise. Indiana needs scoring and another guard. And, look over there, it’s Russell Westbrook<\/a>!<\/p>\n

The Pacers could have T.J. McConnell<\/a> start next to Andrew Nembhard<\/a>, sticking with familiarity in the starting five, with Westbrook coming off the bench as the leading scorer of the second unit. If Indiana is off to a monotonous start, head coach Rick Carlisle can swap Westbrook into the starting five. In fact, Westbrook started 36 of the 75 regular-season games he appeared in for the Denver Nuggets<\/a> last season, averaging 13.3 points and 6.1 assists per contest.<\/p>\n

Westbrook gives the Pacers a proven scorer who can play point guard. It’s a two-for-one. Westbrook will always throw himself at the rim. The Pacers need somebody, if not multiple players, willing and capable of attacking the rack and taking on a burdensome scoring role next season.<\/p>\n

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