What if every NBA team could use a franchise tag?
Pat Riley generally doesn't let emotion get in the way of business, but the Miami Heat president did concede it was difficult to watch franchise stalwart Dwyane Wade walk away from the team after 13 years.
His solution? A franchise player tag that teams could place on one key star, similar to what exists in the NFL. While in theory, that is what Bird Rights are meant to do in the NBA, it was clear with Wade that the Heat had an issue paying big money to a soon-to-be 35-year-old man.
In that sense, perhaps what Riley suggested is logical: a franchise tag for a true franchise player, and an ability to pay out an amount that won't count against the salary cap. With that in mind, theScore's NBA team put together a list of which player every team should tag.
Atlantic Division
Toronto Raptors - Kyle Lowry
Truly the heart and soul of the roster, the Raptors simply couldn't function without their fearless leader running the show.
Boston Celtics - Al Horford
Horford has yet to play a game for the Celtics, but he's the best player the franchise has had since The Big 3 era.
New York Knicks - Kristaps Porzingis
Phil Jackson took a lot of heat selecting the 7-foot-3 Latvian with the No. 4 pick in last year's draft, but his faith was rewarded with a stellar campaign from Porzingis, culminating in a second-place finish in NBA Rookie of the Year voting.
Brooklyn Nets - Rondae Hollis-Jefferson
The Nets are seriously lacking in talent, with a defensive-minded wing in Hollis-Jefferson perhaps acting as their most intriguing and valuable prospect for the future.
Philadelphia 76ers - Ben Simmons
He was the obvious choice with the No. 1 pick in a fairly top-heavy draft class, and his play for the Sixers in Summer League action was a welcome tease for what lies ahead.
Central Division
Cleveland Cavaliers - LeBron James
It doesn’t matter if he's 31, LeBron's the best player in the game.
Indiana Pacers - Paul George
George is one of the best wings in the NBA on both sides of the ball. Coming off a season lost to a gruesome leg injury, PG-13 was back to his stellar All-NBA and All-Defensive form.
Detroit Pistons - Andre Drummond
Drummond made his first All-Star squad and All-NBA team this past season, and at 22, he's only getting better. He’s a monster in the paint as well as on the glass, and just needs to work on his free-throw shooting.
Chicago Bulls - Jimmy Butler
The 26-year-old All-Star has emerged from the shadows of Derrick Rose, Pau Gasol, and Joakim Noah as the team's undisputed leader.
Milwaukee Bucks - Giannis Antetokounmpo
Antetokounmpo gets the franchise tag for his incredible length, versatility, and skill. The Greek Freak, who Milwaukee has slotted at a different position in each of his three campaigns, is a unique talent at 21.
Southeast Division
Miami Heat - Hassan Whiteside
The Heat just signed Whiteside to a max deal, prioritizing him over Wade. The 27-year-old was waived thrice by other clubs before latching on with Miami and becoming an interior force.
Atlanta Hawks - Paul Millsap
Millsap has been an All-Star in all three of his campaigns in Atlanta. He’s a stalwart on both ends of the court, and led the team in points, rebounds, steals, and win shares last season.
Charlotte Hornets - Kemba Walker
Walker is the heart and soul of the Hornets. The team relies on its floor general to run the offense, score in a variety of ways, and make big plays down the stretch.
Washington Wizards - John Wall
Drafted first overall by the Wizards in 2010 and the face of their franchise ever since, Wall has evolved into a superstar. The All-Star point guard consistently leads Washington in points, assists, and steals - and he's only 25.
Orlando Magic - Nikola Vucevic
Though there have been whispers the Magic have been trying to move Vucevic after acquiring Serge Ibaka and Bismack Biyombo, he's still on the roster and deserving of the franchise tag. The 25-year-old possesses a varied offensive skill set, high basketball IQ, and a knack for passing out of double teams.
Northwest Division
Oklahoma City Thunder - Russell Westbrook
With Kevin Durant aligning himself with the enemy, general manager Sam Presti needs every advantage at his disposal to prevent another top-five talent from heading elsewhere.
Portland Trail Blazers - Damian Lillard
Rip City undoubtedly belongs to Lillard, who led a gutted Trail Blazers roster which underwent major personnel changes last summer to 44 wins and a berth in the Western Conference semifinals.
Utah Jazz - Derrick Favors
An argument could be made that Rudy Gobert or Gordon Hayward would be more deserving, but with Favors, Utah gets the best of both worlds on offense and defense from one of the NBA's more underappreciated power forwards.
Denver Nuggets - Emmanuel Mudiay
Mudiay offers more upside for an organization aching for its next breakout star. Now if only he could get those shooting percentages up.
Minnesota Timberwolves - Karl-Anthony Towns
Minnesota may have a once-in-a-lifetime player on its hands.
Pacific Division
Golden State Warriors - Stephen Curry
The Dubs are so stacked now, this could be debated between Curry and Durant. Give it to Curry based on tenure - such a tag could further assist the Warriors in re-signing both players next summer.
Los Angeles Clippers - Blake Griffin
This one is actually tough, because both Griffin and Chris Paul can become free agents next summer. Despite trade rumors surrounding Griffin, he gets the tag based on age (27 versus Paul's 31).
Sacramento Kings - DeMarcus Cousins
Is this even a question?
Phoenix Suns - Eric Bledsoe
While the Suns' future is banked on the likes of Devin Booker and Alex Len, Bledsoe is easily the team's best player, and that's despite missing 51 games last season.
Los Angeles Lakers - Brandon Ingram
A tough call, because there is only young talent and no established stardom on this team. By franchising Ingram, it's more of a bet on his upside over others - namely D'Angelo Russell, who has had maturity issues.
Southwest Division
San Antonio Spurs - Kawhi Leonard
Leonard has taken the torch from the Spurs' veterans and is a no-brainer for the franchise tag. Even without it, it's plausible to see him playing his entire career in San Antonio.
Dallas Mavericks - Dirk Nowitzki
This wouldn't just be a case of franchising their best player, it's also a way for the Mavericks to pay him back for the hometown discounts he took in the past. Nowitzki probably left $72 million on the table in 2014 when he re-signed with the Mavs.
Memphis Grizzlies - Mike Conley
He just re-signed for the richest deal in NBA history, and he's a Grizzlies catalyst alongside Marc Gasol. Conley gets the edge because he's two years younger.
Houston Rockets - James Harden
They may never play defense again, but the Rockets' additions of Mike D'Antoni, Ryan Anderson, and Eric Gordon ensures that Harden remains the team's central building block.
New Orleans Pelicans - Anthony Davis
Is there really any doubt about this?