These five NBA stars will likely leave the team this summer, and the Lakers are expected to get a bargain in high-quality inside players

Although the NBA Finals are still in progress, many NBA teams have already started operations during the offseason, and many players may leave the team they once played for. In addition to Durant, who has been in a hot spot, there are four other stars who are in their prime and are likely to leave the team.

Warriors-Kuminga

As a high-ranking rookie selected by the Golden State Warriors, Kuminga's development in the Warriors has always been lukewarm. Especially after coming to Jimmy Butler for trading this season, Kumingga, who overlaps with Butler and also lacks 3-point shooting, has been squeezed to the bench, and he has been abandoned repeatedly due to limited ball dealers and poor defense. Until Stephen Curry was injured in the second round of the playoffs, Steve Cole, who was unavailable, had to reuse Kumingga, and his offensive performance was indeed eye-catching. But Kumingga's rookie contract is about to expire in the offseason. If the Warriors give him a qualification offer, he will become a restricted free agent; if the Warriors don't give him a qualification offer, he will be a complete free agent. Currently, the salary of the three Kuzhaiba people has accounted for 85% of the Warriors' total salary, so the Warriors are likely to choose to sign first and then send him away.

Suns-Durant's departure has become increasingly rumored. From the Houston Rockets to the Los Angeles Clippers, to the Minnesota Timberwolves, Durant has begun to switch to the entire league, and has also confirmed his reputation as the strongest mercenary in the league. With the three giants Durant, Booker and Bill this year, the Suns missed the playoffs, so they decided to start rebuilding around Booker as the core. Because Bill held the veto power of the deal, Durant became the "soft persimmon". The senior executives of the Suns have determined to trade Durant and are speeding up negotiations with multiple teams. The deal is expected to be completed before the draft. At the same time, the Suns are prioritizing strengthening the center in the negotiations.

Celtics - Porzingis

Boston Celtics suffered a heavy blow this year's playoffs. In addition to missing the title, the team's core Tatum's serious injury also made the team's future dark. And if we want to find out the team's worst performance in the playoffs, there is no doubt that it is the inside core Porzingis. His playoff performance was disastrous, and both offense and defense were completely unable to help the team. Porzingis is contract year next season, and his $30.7 million expiration contract will make him the most likely player to be sent away.

Bucks - Big Lopez

According to reporter Matt Moore, Bucks center Brooke Lopez is expected to leave the team this offseason. Lopez is 37 years old this year. He joined the Bucks from the Lakers in 2018 and helped the Bucks win the 2021 NBA championship as the main center. In 2023, he signed a two-year, $48 million contract with the Bucks to become a free agent this summer. In the first round of the playoffs, Lopez averaged only 5 points and 1.6 rebounds per game, and was completely beaten by Turner and Siakam on both ends of offense and defense. The Bucks' total salary next season will reach $148.8 million, of which Antetokounmpo and Lillard account for $108.2 million, so Lopez's departure is a foregone conclusion.

Hawks Capela

According to NBA reporter Evan Sidery, Hawks center Clint Capela's contract expires this season and he will leave the team as a free agent. Capela, 31, averages 8.9 points, 8.5 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game, and is still quite capable in the inside and is not too old. What is even more commendable is that his demand for his next role is just a substitute center, which is precisely the Lakers' advantage. The Lakers, who are seriously short of people in the interior, can not only give Capela a huge amount of exposure, but can even give him a starting center position. Therefore, if the Lakers throw an olive branch to Capela, then there will be a great hope of obtaining this starting center.