Breaking Down the Early Free Agency Buzz

The start of the 2019 NBA free agency period is still 24 hours away, but there has been some very worthy news today so far.

The two biggest breaks are Adrian Wojnarowski's reports that Kemba Walker has committed to a 4 year, $141 million max contract with the Boston Celtics, and that Kyrie Irving will meet with the Brooklyn Nets with the intention of signing for that same 4 year, $141 million tag.

While both deals have seemingly been in the works for days - it was reported two days ago that Boston and Walker shared mutual interest, and it's been widely speculated for weeks that Irving would end up in Brooklyn - making the news official, or all but official, still sends shock waves.

The Celtics, for instance, were thought to be a serious player in the Eastern Conference once Irving was traded there at the 2017 trade deadline. And while they made the Eastern Conference Finals last season, this past season was, by and large, a big disappointment. What was a supremely talented team on paper never completely gelled, and it has now led to Danny Ainge pushing the reset button. Not rebuilding but retooling, Ainge is swapping one gifted point guard for another. The difference might just be that Walker, who is two years older, could be the better leader.

The Nets move to bring Irving on is an interesting one considering that they already had - Wojnarowski also reports that the team is seeking a trade partner for DeAngelo Russell before they renounce his rights - an all-star point guard in Russell. However, what they do get in Irving - despite his struggles in the Celtics' recent playoff series vs the Milwaukee Bucks, where he shot only 36% from the field and 22% from three - is a prime time performer who can get a bucket at any time. That may seem off considering our last memory of him playing is that Bucks series where he struggled big time, but every great player has a bad series here and there. Remember, this is the same player who scored 41 facing elimination vs the Golden State Warriors in Game 5 of the 2016 finals - with LeBron James also scoring 41, they became the first teammates to score 40 in an NBA Finals game. In Game 7 of that same series, it was Irving who hit the three over Steph Curry to give the Cavaliers a 92-89 lead with 53 seconds left and help clinch their first ever franchise title.

The bottom line is here is that, with a young nucleus and coming off of a 6 seed and playoff berth, Sean Marks didn't need to go out and get Irving. He is an upgrade over Russell, but when you already had a young all-star point guard leading your team, the need to replace him isn't that great. However, Marks is getting his team a proven clutch performer that can get his own shot and is tough to defend with his ball handling and shooting ability.

Wojnarowski also reports that the Lakers and Russell, who was traded by the Lakers prior to the 2017 draft, have mutual interest. Rather than go out and get a superstar player, Russell is the type of guy who would be an ideal fit beside James. He, like Irving, is a big shot taker and big shot making, and would provide the type of offensive punch and shooting ability at the point guard position that is ideal next to James. If the Lakers were also to bring back Rajon Rondo, they could even play Rondo and Russell in the back court together for stretches, with Russell's size, 6'5, allowing him to play some two guard.

Derrick Rose, per Wojnarowski, is motivated to sign a two year deal with the Detroit Pistons. Rose, a fringe all-star last year, averaging 18 points and 4.3 assists in just 27.3 minutes per game. He is still a very capable scorer - he scored 50 against the Utah Jazz on October 31, 2018 - and his play making ability will work well alongside Blake Griffin and Andre Drummond. Rose is a significant upgrade from Reggie Jackson, who has been the Pistons' starting point guard for the past four seasons.

Jimmy Butler is set to meet with the Miami Heat today, according to Wojnarowski. Butler, a four-time all defensive team member and four time all-star, is coming off of a 65 game season, spending 55 of those with the Philadelphia 76ers after a November 12, 2018 trade sent him to Philly from Minnesota.

Butler, who provided the Sixers with a bona fide second scoring option behind Joel Embiid and staunch perimeter defense, would be a big time coup for the Heat. He would give them a legitimate star player, and likely propel them into a middle seed in the Eastern Conference. The Heat finished two games out of the 8th seed this past season, winning 39 games, would have a nice trio with point guard Goran Dragic, Butler, and big man Hassan Whiteside, who recently opted in to his $27.1 player option for next season. The Houston Rockets also are continuing to pursue Butler via a sign and trade.

Klay Thompson and the Warriors are also committed to striking a 5 year, $190 million deal on Sunday at 6pm once free agency officially opens. Other deals that will go down - according to the New York Times' Marc Stein - are Kristaps Porzingis re-upping with the Dallas Mavericks at 5 years, $158 million, Nikola Vucevic going back to the Orlando Magic at 4 years, $100 million, and Harrison Barnes back to the Sacramento Kings for 4 years, $88 million.

Porzingis resigning is no surprise, as the Mavericks want to pair him and reigning Rookie of the Year Luka Doncic together to form a very formidable duo. The Mavericks should be a major player in the Western Conference for years to come. Vucevic heading back to Orlando gives the Magic continued stability down low. An all-star this past season, Vucevic anchors a Magic team that made the playoffs as a 7 seed this past year, and whose future remains bright. Barnes heading back to Sacramento will allow the Kings to continue to build on last season, where they almost made the playoffs - finishing 9th - and had two Most Improved Player candidates in Buddy Hield and De'Aaron Fox.

As previously mentioned, the league's free agency period official opens today at 6pm, and with many deals already agreed to and plenty more speculation abound about the league's stars, this promises to be one of the most active and landscaping changing free agency periods in recent memory.