The last big fish in the free market! U.S. media reveals suitable destinations: Kuminga to the Suns, Westbrook to the Kings?

On July 25, Beijing time, the well-known U.S. media CBS analyzed the destinations of the last few big fish in the free agency market and listed the most suitable teams for them. CBS favors Kuminga going to the Suns and Westbrook joining the Kings—

1. Russell Westbrook: The Kings

might want to rule out championship-level teams first. He had his best performance in years with the Nuggets last season, yet they chose not to re-sign him. If he can't even fit with Jokic, then as a role player, it might be challenging for him to play a significant role on a championship team. From the Rockets, Lakers, Clippers to the Nuggets, he couldn't find a long-term fit on four teams with championship potential, so we are essentially looking for a team for him that has modest ambitions and needs organizational skills.

The Kings might be the only team that barely fits the criteria. Throughout the offseason, he has been linked with Sacramento, and even with Dennis Schröder on the team, their passing ability remains insufficient. The Kings were ranked 11th in pace in the first half of last season (when De'Aaron Fox was playing), but fell to 28th in the second half (with Fox absent and Zach LaVine filling in). They need someone who can speed up the pace and create easy scoring opportunities, and while Westbrook's off-ball defense is inconsistent, his athleticism and strength make him quite tenacious when defending the ball handler.

So is Sacramento the ideal destination for Westbrook? Probably not. With LaVine, DeMar DeRozan, Malik Monk, and Schröder already on the team, there are four perimeter players whose primary focus is scoring. Moreover, the Kings have already filled their 15-man roster, but this issue might have various solutions. To be honest, Westbrook’s NBA career might really be nearing its end. If he can remain in the league, it is likely to be with a team that is neither strong enough to contend for the playoffs nor young enough to seriously tank and rebuild.

2. Ben Simmons: Knicks

The Celtics are an interesting choice. They are in a transition period, facing little pressure for now, and clearly, their shooting ability can allow Simmons to function as a ball handler. However, Joe Mazzulla wants every player to be able to shoot, and he might not favor a ball handler who neither shoots threes nor attacks the paint. Unless the Celtics are willing to adjust their style to accommodate him, we might find a more suitable destination.

What about the Knicks? To maximize Simmons' value, it is crucial to surround him with shooters. The Knicks have shooting big man Towns, and the recently signed backups Clarkson and Yabusele can also shoot. Perhaps New York can let Simmons take on organizational duties when Brunson is off the court. He can add another tall wing defender to the team, and if the team wants to frequently switch defenses like in the later stages of the playoffs, Simmons can handle that too. The pressure of Madison Square Garden might be an issue, but we are talking about a backup who averages 10-15 minutes per game, not a star. This is a low-risk, high-reward gamble.

3. Al Horford: Warriors

We won’t elaborate much on this. Reports suggest that the Warriors and Horford have reached a verbal agreement, and he is expected to be signed at some point. The Warriors are still dealing with Jonathan Kuminga's future; they might want to sort out Kuminga first to clarify how much maneuvering space they have before finalizing the contract with Horford. Regardless, the fit between the two is nearly perfect. The Warriors need a shooting big man who enjoys switching defenses, and Horford still excels at that. Playing with the Warriors requires smart players, and Horford is a highly respected veteran. Once officially signed, he will become an excellent player for the Warriors.

4. Gary Payton II: Warriors

Moody averaged only about 9 minutes per game in the series against the Timberwolves, which speaks volumes. Kerr seemed to lose trust in him towards the end of last season, and when Curry was off the court and unable to mask his offensive deficiencies, he hardly saw the floor. The Warriors need a second ball defender, and Payton has filled that role well during his two stints with the Warriors.

Of course, Payton has shortcomings on the offensive end, but the Warriors can better cover those deficiencies than other teams. His smart cuts and underrated screens are more valuable in the Warriors' free-flowing offensive system than in a traditional, pick-and-roll-dependent offense—where his relatively weak shooting (though to be fair, he shot over 41% from three in the corners last season, which is quite good) would be more of a liability. Other teams in need of defense also want him, but his experience with the Blazers has shown him that the grass isn't always greener elsewhere. The two sides are stronger together.

5. Malcolm Brogdon: Timberwolves

The Timberwolves lost Alexander-Walker, and reports suggest they were interested in him before Lillard returned to Portland, indicating they likely want to reserve one of the remaining two spots for a guard. Given Mike Conley's age, bringing in a traditional playmaking point guard as a backup might be reasonable. Anthony Edwards is not a point guard, and Dillingham, while listed as a point guard, is a player focused on scoring.

Signing Brogdon also has a potential purpose: tradeable salary. Tim Connelly tried to trade for Durant earlier in the offseason. He is one of the most creative executives in the league when it comes to trades, so if he can make Conley expendable by signing a free agent, then around $10.8 million in salary could easily be traded at the deadline. The Timberwolves hope that Dillingham and Shaedon Sharpe can grow into future guards alongside Edwards, so while Conley is beneficial for the locker room as a veteran, if they can trade him to upgrade the roster and help these young players develop, they might not hesitate.

6. Jonathan Kuminga: Suns

Restricted free agents are harder to find homes for than unrestricted ones. Their original team can match any offer, which discourages most potential suitors early in free agency, often leading to a situation where funds run low before the issue is resolved. Many times, this forces restricted free agents to accept favorable terms from their original teams. However, given Kuminga's desire to leave Golden State, he might accept a one-year qualifying offer to become an unrestricted free agent next summer.

Currently, we predict it will be a sign-and-trade. Reports suggest the Heat are interested, but for the Warriors, the most logical trade partner, Wiggins' salary is too high, making it unlikely.

Reports indicate that the Suns are also interested in Kuminga. They have a similar 3D forward that might fit the Warriors, and interestingly, the Warriors have had a somewhat unpleasant past relationship with him—Dillon Brooks. Brooks' salary is significantly lower than Wiggins, around $21 million. The Warriors could trade Kuminga for about $25 million in salary and then trade Moody, who has a similar role to Kuminga, to other teams, satisfying both salary matching rules and ensuring there are enough funds to fill the spots. However, this would push the Suns over the luxury tax line, but they could subsequently trade Nick Richards and his $5 million salary to a team with cap space or trade exceptions to get back under the line.

Whether the Suns are a good fit for Kuminga on the basketball side is still uncertain. He wants the ball, but half of the Suns' roster consists of shooting guards. More importantly, the Suns need potential. They need to select one or two young players to rebuild their fragmented core. Kuminga presents an opportunity. He needs to defend better than he did with the Warriors and find a way to fit into a team that is already crowded on the offensive end, but if he can do that, he has a chance to become an outstanding player.

7. Cam Thomas: Bucks

The Bucks cut Lillard to create salary cap space to sign Myles Turner, but Turner is more of a replacement for Brook Lopez. They also need a guard who can average over 20 points per game to support their offense. They re-signed Kevin Porter Jr. and Gary Trent Jr., and also signed Cole Anthony, but these are all backups. They need to take a gamble on a player with potential. The Bucks have been interested in Thomas in the past, and in Milwaukee, with Giannis as a top organizing forward, Thomas can focus on scoring.

To sign Thomas, the Bucks might have to trade Kuzma to match salaries, and the Nets are unlikely to want Kuzma. Perhaps the Bucks could use a protected first-round pick in 2032 to facilitate the trade? This way, they can use their 2031 first-round pick for other trades now and ensure that their 2033 first-round pick can be traded in the next offseason, and the Nets have two first-round picks in 2032, allowing them to arrange swap rights applicable to either.

This would be a significant cost for the Bucks, but if they believe Thomas can become a high-level scorer and persuade Giannis to stay long-term, they might be willing to pay that price.