Luc Mbah a Moute may have just had the best season of his NBA career. He was a lockdown defender and even picked up a slight offensive game with an ability to shoot three-pointers. For the first time in several years, the Los Angeles Clippers had a competent small forward. Now, he's in free agency and not finding any suitors -- what gives? If they were smart, these four teams would be chasing Mbah a Moute right now.
4. Cleveland Cavaliers
When the playoffs came around last season, the Cavs didn't have anyone who could defend the Golden State Warriors.
Mbah a Moute could solve that problem, placing a strong lockdown defender on Kevin Durant at the very least. He could also defend new Boston Celtics acquisition Gordon Hayward. He would fit with the Cavaliers as a three-point shooter and ensure that at least a semblance of defensive resistance would be put up in the NBA Finals should Cleveland make it that far.
3. Minnesota Timberwolves
He isn't a former Chicago Bull like the rest of this summer's acquisitions, but Tom Thibodeau will deal. Besides, he should fit in just fine with the current Timberwolves. Mbah a Moute did spend about a year in Minnesota in 2013-14, one of the worst seasons of his career. But now he's a defensive-minded guru, the kind of player Thibodeau loves.
Andrew Wiggins is a poor defender, so Mbah a Moute could be substituted in alongside Jimmy Butler whenever the playoff-hopeful Timberwolves need a stop.
2. Denver Nuggets
He will be a cheaper option in free agency than Wilson Chandler will be a year from now and can defend multiple positions. With Nikola Jokic and Paul Millsap also capable defenders, the team could provide several different looks on that end with Mbah a Moute in town.
The team doesn't have much depth at small forward, so Mbah a Moute could assist in that way as well.
1. Toronto Raptors
A Thursday report from Sportsnet paired the Raptors and Mbah a Moute together, a move that makes perfect sense. The Raptors are over the cap, so they would be limited in what they could offer in free agency.
The team lost several good defending wings this summer, including DeMarre Carroll and P.J. Tucker. His three-point shooting may have been at an apex last year, but there's no reason to think it would go down immediately next season. His personality and demeanor would fit in perfectly with Canada's team and he could team up with friend Pascal Siakam, another Cameroon native.
