6. NBA Free Agency: Cam Reddish will be a test of restricted free agent value.
It’s unusual for such a highly-touted prospect to be involved in such trade rumors this early into their young career, but Cam Reddish has been on the move and largely unable to find a consistent role. Unfortunately, it’s a byproduct of his own play, which has been lackluster despite a few shining moments along the way.
Reddish is shooting 38.7% from the field for his career with 17 more turnovers than assists. His career 3-point percentage is 32.5, which is rough for a player who was expected to have 3-and-D as the baseline of his role in the league. Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau hasn’t found a role for Reddish yet and it’ll be difficult for him to carve one out in the coming season.
All of these factors will make it difficult for Reddish to breakout before he reached restricted free agent status. However, some team with plenty of cap space might be willing to spend the money needed to pry him away from New York.
7. NBA Free Agency: Restricted free agent Coby White gambles on himself.
From one player entrenched in trade rumors to another, Chicago Bulls combo guard Coby White has yet to finalize a role with the team that drafted him. Injuries have propelled him back into the rotation in a heavy capacity, but the team clearly hasn’t been impressed enough to prioritize him by any means thus far. In turn, he’s set to become the highest-drafted player from his class to enter NBA free agency in 2023.
White has compelling shot-creation upside and a fearless nature that make him a fantastic option for most teams. In some regards, it’d make the most sense for him to be a sixth man for a winning team, but he’s also a high-upside swing for a rebuilding team in need of guard help like the San Antonio Spurs or Oklahoma City Thunder. Expect White to be brought up in more trade rumors as the year moves on and trade deadline rumblings develop.