NBA free agency has been one of the wildest experiences in recent memory. While this free-agent class was nowhere near as stacked as it has been in the past, there have been a lot of big names that have either secured big deals or moved teams. Players like Chris Paul, Carmelo Anthony, Lonzo Ball, and so many more have made moves that have changed the complexion of the NBA world.
Even smaller name players like Alex Caruso, Malik Monk, and Kendrick Nunn have made big moves during this time. But a lot of players are still left in the market and haven’t signed a new deal as of yet. Most of these players are probably still ironing out the details of their deals or weighing up offers from different teams. But some players are noticing that there isn’t too much of a market for them, and are struggling to get a good deal for themselves.
Two of these players are Lauri Markkanen and Kelly Oubre Jr. Lauri Markkanen last played for the Chicago Bulls, whereas Oubre Jr. last played for the Golden State Warriors. Both players had an underwhelming season with their respective franchises and didn’t do enough to garner interest from the rest of the league.
But there is more to it than that. Apparently, both Markkanen and Oubre Jr. were asking for more money than their respective form and accomplishments demanded. The reports further added that the market has cooled significantly on them and there are only two teams that have a significant amount of cap space left right now – the Mavericks and Hornets.
Lauri Markkanen and Kelly Oubre Jr asked for too much money in free agency without the resume to back it up, a league source just told me. The market has cooled significantly on both with most teams out of money.
Mavs ($15M) & Hornets ($14.5M) among teams w cap space.
— Kristian Winfield (@Krisplashed) August 4, 2021
“Lauri Markkanen and Kelly Oubre Jr asked for too much money in free agency without the resume to back it up, a league source just told me. The market has cooled significantly on both with most teams out of money. Mavs ($15M) & Hornets ($14.5M) among teams w cap space.”
“Some conflicting cap numbers I’ve seen for the Mavericks here but the Hornets definitely have $13.5M”
As of now, Markkanen and Oubre Jr. haven’t signed with any new team. But it is entirely possible that they can do what Victor Oladipo did, signing a minimum contract for one year, try to regain their form before testing free agency next season. Whether Markkanen and Oubre Jr. can get a deal, that remains to be seen.
