Shaun Livingston
Fresh from the best season of his career, Shaun Livingston has a very intriguing stock amongst many general managers and owners across the NBA. Unlike other free agents around the NBA, the Brooklyn Nets have the ability of paying any amount over the luxury cap due to their billionaire owner, Russian native Mikhail Prokhorov. In recent years, he’s revealed being willing to spend any amount of money.
Don’t be fooled by Livingston’s stat-line of 8 points, 3 boards and 3 assist a game, however. He had an immediate impact on the floor for the Nets obtaining the league’s best record in the NBA after the all-star break spacing out the floor and his defensive intelligence. Livingston is a player every team in the NBA wants and needs. We’re still thinking the Nets will price-match any offer he sees in free agency, but it’ll be worth investment with Brook Lopez returning to action this fall after missing the entire 2014 season.
Outside of the Brooklyn Nets, we could realistically only see him going to Chicago Bulls if Kirk Hinrich decides to leave the team in free agency. Tom Thibodeau is the ideal coach who would maximize Livingston’s talents in a championship ready team, with the imminent return for good of Derrick Rose. He would immediately fill in the Luol Deng-void their missing with a lengthy wing defender.
Likely Destinations: Brooklyn Nets, Chicago Bulls