Despite injury, several teams reportedly ready to pursue DeMarre Carroll in free agency

The Game 1 injury to Atlanta Hawks wing DeMarre Carroll was terrifying for a lot of reasons, most of all because of the short- and long-term ramifications that reverberated from the spot Carroll fell on the Philips Arena floor. Yes, Atlanta's championship dreams were doomed if Carroll's injury were serious, but this was bigger than that. 

With his stellar play this season and the way he'd carried the Hawks through the first two rounds, Carroll had played himself into a big raise this offseason in free agency. If Carroll were hurt badly, however, all of that was in jeopardy. So it was with a big sigh of relief that the entire NBA community received the news that an MRI revealed no structural damage in Carroll's knee.

And some of the biggest sighs may very well have come from Los Angeles, Detroit and Boston, as several marquee franchises are reportedly already considering pursuing Carroll this summer, according to Sean Deveney of Sporting News:

"There's a long list of teams already prepared to pursue Carroll this summer, including the Celtics, Lakers and Pistons. He boosted his scoring average from 12.6 points to 16.2 before the injury, and was shooting 51.3 percent from the field and 41.6 percent from the 3-point line. The Hawks want to keep Carroll, but his price has been driven up. With his defense and versatility, one league exec estimated his next deal at more than $15 million per year. The Lakers, a source said, have big-time interest in Carroll."

Boston and Detroit would boast top-notch coaches who might best replicate the system-based approach that helped Carroll shine this year in Atlanta, while Carroll's fit with the Lakers could largely depend on how the draft plays out for Los Angeles and how healthy Kobe Bryant is next season.

(h/t Sporting News)

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