One Dark Horse Team Each Top NBA Free Agent Could Sign With

Cover Photo: Getty Images

With the start of NBA free agency right around the corner, the speculation meter is at an all-time high. Rumors are swirling left and right and everyone seems to have an opinion on where the top-tier free agents are going to end up.

While most of the most sought-after free agents have been connected to one, or even a handful of teams, sometimes a surprise team emerges and signs a player, seemingly out of no where.

With that in mind, here's an under-the-radar team that each top free agent could end up signing with.

1. Kevin Durant: Los Angeles Clippers

Even if Kevin Durant decides to leave the Golden State Warriors, he might not leave the state of California. While some reports say that he's not attracted to playing alongside LeBron James and Anthony Davis with the Los Angeles Lakers, Durant could still be interested in playing in Tinseltown, just for the team across the hall – the Los Angeles Clippers.

2. Kawhi Leonard: New York Knicks

For much of the season, the debate as to where Kawhi Leonard would end up signing was between the Toronto Raptors and the LA Clippers. However, the New York Knicks shouldn't be counted out. The Knicks are currently the only team with enough cap space for two max players (that could change in the coming days, but it's true right now), and Kawhi spent almost all of his time rehabbing while still with the Spurs in New York City. Additionally, "Uncle Dennis," who is Kawhi's most trusted confidant, is very close friends with Knicks' President Steve Mills. If "Uncle Dennis" has as much influence on Kawhi as some believe, the Knicks could end up with the 2019 NBA Finals MVP.

3. Kyrie Irving: Los Angeles Lakers

Sure, the Lakers currently don't have a max cap spot open, but if they catch a few unlikely breaks over the next week, they could get really close. The Brooklyn Nets and Knicks seem to be the front-runners for Kyrie Irving, but if the Lakers can open up that cap space, a reunion with LeBron could be on the table.

4. Kemba Walker: Dallas Mavericks

The Dallas Mavericks are a team almost no one is talking about in free agency, but they'll have the room to sign one max free agent. They're reportedly looking to pair Luka Doncic with an elite point guard, and if Kemba Walker decides to walk away from Charlotte, Dallas could be a surprise team that would welcome Cardiac Kemba with open arms and an open checkbook.

5. Klay Thompson: Los Angeles Clippers

While it's viewed as a virtual lock that Klay Thompson re-signs with the Warriors, the Clippers, a team armed with lots of cap space, could be a fall-back option, if Golden State decides not to offer him the max for some reason. It has been long rumored that if Klay did ever decide to leave Golden State, it would be for one of the Los Angeles teams.

6. Jimmy Butler: Brooklyn Nets

The Philadelphia 76ers are the presumed favorites to re-sign Jimmy Butler, but it's far from a guarantee. Let's not forget when Butler requested a trade from the Minnesota Timberwolves last season, the three teams on his list were the Nets, Knicks and Clippers. If the Nets miss out on the likes of Kyrie and Durant, Butler could be their next move.

7. D'Angelo Russell: New York Knicks

If the Nets do end up signing Irving and letting D'Angelo Russell walk, he might not go too far. The Knicks are still in search of a franchise point guard and Russell will come at a cheaper price than Irving. You'd also have to imagine that not having to move would be a big bonus for Russell in this scenario. D'Angelo would be a nice consolation prize for the Knicks, making this is nice under-the-radar match.

8. Khris Middleton: Indiana Pacers

The Indiana Pacers are another team with a bunch of cap space that isn't being talked about in the media. Even after trading for T.J. Warren, the Pacers still have enough space to sign a player to a max deal. They are in need of a wing scorer to pair with Victor Oladipo, and Khris Middleton could be that guy. If the Milwaukee Bucks don't offer Middleton the max, Indiana could swoop in to sign the All-Star.

9. Tobias Harris: Dallas Mavericks

If Kemba decides to stay in Charlotte and Dallas misses out on a point guard altogether, the Mavs could go after Harris. They need a wing scorer to aid Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis and Harris fits well with the age group of the young core the Mavericks are building around. Tobias to Dallas could happen if the 76ers don't offer a max contract to the forward.

10. Nikola Vucevic: Boston Celtics

Things have changed very quickly for the Boston Celtics, who look like they're going to lose two All-Stars – Irving and Al Horford – in free agency this summer. Nikola Vucevic could be the guy they go after to try and fill that void. He's an elite rebounder and a capable shooter that could ease the pain of those two stars leaving Boston.

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David Kaestle is not a FanDuel employee. In addition to providing DFS gameplay advice, David also participates in DFS contests on FanDuel using his personal account, username davekaestle. While the strategies and player selections recommended in his articles are his personal views, he may deploy different strategies and player selections when entering contests with his personal account. The views expressed in their articles are the author's alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of FanDuel.