The superstars have declined their player options in order to secure new contracts and mindless internet speculation is starting to run wild, which means NBA free agency is about to get underway. Here are my picks for the top 10 prizes of this year's not particularly deep, but still intriguing class.
(Note: Since there's virtually no chance they leave their current teams, Kevin Durant and Chris Paul were excluded from this list)
10.Trevor Ariza, shooting guard/small forward (2017-18 team: Houston
Rockets): The grizzled veteran wing may have just turned 33, but Ariza's still a tenacious 3-and-D
player who can give you quality minutes as a starter or priority
bench player.
Possible Destinations: Houston Rockets, San Antonio Spurs, Oklahoma City Thunder, Miami Heat, Sacramento Kings
9.J.J. Redick, shooting guard (2017-18 team: Philadelphia 76ers): The
nearly 35-year old journeyman is coming off a career year with the
76ers and despite his limited skill set, his scoring prowess make him
an excellent short-term addition for any contending or young bubble
team looking to add a sharp-shooting veteran leader to their roster.
Possible Destinations: Philadelphia 76ers, Oklahoma City Thunder, Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat, Utah Jazz, Milwaukee Bucks, Minnesota Timberwolves
8.Marcus Smart, point/shooting guard (2017-18 team: Boston Celtics):
If you're willing to overlook his shooting woes, Smart is easily one of the
best all-around players available in this free agent class. His
relentlessness on both ends of the floor, underrated ability as an
offensive facilitator and irritating on-court demeanor make him an
ideal 2nd unit anchor.
Possible Destinations: Boston Celtics, Indiana Pacers, Dallas Mavericks, Chicago Bulls, Phoenix Suns, Sacramento Kings
7.Will Barton, shooting guard (2017-18 team: Denver Nuggets): You
can never have enough scoring in the NBA and any organization that's looking to add
a lethal spark scorer who can start if need be will likely
take a long look at Barton. Will The Thrill has been arguably the
most unheralded 6th man in the NBA over the past few
seasons (since the start of 2015-16, he's averaged 14.6 points per game and shot 36.2% from beyond the arc) and at only 27 years old, he could end up becoming a long-term staple in a productive rotation.
Possible Destinations: Denver Nuggets, Indiana Pacers, Dallas Mavericks, Philadelphia 76ers, Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Clippers, Memphis Grizzlies
6.Aaron Gordon, power forward (2017-18 team: Orlando Magic): I don't
typically like to rate players purely on untapped potential, but I
have to make an exception for a kid that has this much upside. Gordon
has made considerable strides as an all-around player over the past
couple of seasons- including adding a decent outside shot to his game
in 2017-18- and at only 22 going on 23, he still has plenty of time to
build off of the flashes of brilliance he's displayed during his
first four seasons in the league.
Possible Destinations: Orlando Magic, Indiana Pacers, Brooklyn Nets, Sacramento Kings, Los Angeles Clippers, Atlanta Hawks, Dallas Mavericks
5.Clint Capela, center (2017-18 team: Houston Rockets): After posting career highs in points (13.9), blocks (1.9) and rebounds (10.8) per game for a third consecutive season, there's a pretty
strong chance that GM Daryl Morey will want to lock the Swiss big man down long-term. However, Capela's emergence as an elite shot-blocker and
continuous improvement as a low-post scorer could lead to a hefty
contract offer that the Rockets can't afford to match getting floated his way.
Possible Destinations: Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Clippers, Dallas Mavericks, Brooklyn Nets, Los Angeles Lakers, Charlotte Hornets
4.DeMarcus Cousins, center (2017-18 team: New Orleans Pelicans):
Boogie would clearly be higher on this list if he wasn't coming off
of a torn Achilles. While this potentially career-altering injury
should take him out of max money consideration, the nearly 28-year old center's floor-stretching versatility and status as one of the league's only nightly double-double threats make him far too intriguing of a talent to not take a
gamble on.
Possible Destinations: New Orleans Pelicans, Dallas Mavericks, Los Angeles Lakers, Chicago Bulls, Los Angeles Clippers, Washington Wizards
3.DeAndre Jordan, center (2017-18 team: Los Angeles Clippers): Even
though his god awful free throw shooting gets him frequently pulled
from the lineup at the end of close games, DeAndre Jordan is still a
god damn wrecking ball at the center spot. His physicality in the low
post, ability to score around the rim and yearly place among the league leaders in rebounds and blocks make him a very attractive option for
any team that isn't married to the idea of positionless basketball.
Possible Destinations: Dallas Mavericks, Los Angeles Clippers, Sacramento Kings, New Orleans Pelicans, Houston Rockets
2.Paul George, small forward (2017-18 team: Oklahoma City Thunder):
A year of being overshadowed by Russell Westbrook's heroball antics
seems to made some people forget how special George is. Whether he
decides to team up with LeBron or return to face of the franchise
role he held during his 7-year tenure with the Pacers, some lucky
organization will be picking up a perennial All-Star that has a proven track record of putting forth strong efforts on both ends of the court and stepping up his play in crunch time situations.
Possible Destinations: Los Angeles Lakers, Oklahoma City Thunder, Philadelphia 76ers, Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Clippers
1.LeBron James, small forward (2017-18 team: Cleveland Cavaliers): Huge surprise right? LeBron is coming off of one of the most
productive years of his career at age 33 and his landing spot could end up considerably shifting the league's hierarchy for the
foreseeable future.
Possible Destinations: Los Angeles Lakers, Cleveland Cavaliers, Houston Rockets, Philadelphia 76ers
Other Notable Free Agents:
Alex Len, center (2017-18 team: Phoenix Suns)
Amir Johnson, power forward (2017-18 team: Philadelphia 76ers)
Anthony Tolliver, power forward (2017-18 team: Detroit Pistons)
Aron Baynes, center (2017-18 team: Boston Celtics)
Avery Bradley, shooting guard (2017-18 teams: Detroit Pistons/Los
Angeles Clippers)
Brook Lopez, center (2017-18 team: Los Angeles Lakers)
Corey Brewer, shooting guard/small forward (2017-18 teams: Los
Angeles Lakers/Oklahoma City Thunder)
Dante Cunningham, small/power forward (2017-18 teams: New Orleans
Pelicans/Brooklyn Nets)
Dante Exum, point guard (2017-18 team: Utah Jazz)
Derrick Favors, power forward (2017-18 team: Utah Jazz)
Derrick Rose, point guard (2017-18 teams: Cleveland
Cavaliers/Minnesota Timberwolves)
Devin Harris, point/shooting guard (2017-18 teams: Dallas
Mavericks/Denver Nuggets)
Doug McDermott, small forward (2017-18 teams: New York
Knicks/Dallas Mavericks)
Dwight Howard, center (2017-18 team: Charlotte Hornets)
Dwyane Wade, shooting guard (2017-18 teams: Cleveland
Cavailers/Miami Heat)
Ed Davis, power forward/center (2017-18 team: Portland Trail
Blazers)
Elfrid Payton, point guard (2017-18 teams: Orlando Magic/Phoenix
Suns)
Ersan Illysova, power forward (2017-18 teams: Atlanta
Hawks/Philadelphia 76ers)
Fred VanVleet, point guard (2017-18 team: Toronto Raptors)
Garrett Temple, shooting guard (2017-18 team: Sacramento Kings)
Greg Monroe, power forward/center (2017-18 teams: Milwaukee
Bucks/Phoenix Suns/Boston Celtics)
Ian Clark, shooting guard (2017-18 team: New Orleans Pelicans)
Isaiah Thomas, point guard (2017-18 teams: Cleveland Cavaliers/Los
Angeles Lakers)
Jabari Parker, small/power forward (2017-18 team: Milwaukee Bucks)
Jahlil Okafor, power forward/center (2017-18 teams: Philadelphia
76ers/Brooklyn Nets)
Jamal Crawford, shooting guard (2017-18 teams: Minnesota
Timberwolves)
James Ennis, small forward (2017-18 teams: Memphis
Grizzlies/Detroit Pistons)
Jarret Jack, point guard (2017-18 team: New York Knicks)
JaVale McGee, center (2017-18 team: Golden State Warriors)
Jeff Green, small/power forward (2017-18 team: Cleveland
Cavaliers)
Jerami Grant, power forward (2017-18 team: Oklahoma City Thunder)
Joe Harris, small forward (2017-18 team: Brooklyn Nets)
Joe Johnson, small forward (2017-18 teams: Utah Jazz/Houston
Rockets)
Julius Randle, power forward (2017-18 team: Los Angeles Lakers)
Jusuf Nurkic, center (2017-18 team: Portland Trail Blazers)
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, shooting guard (2017-18 team: Los
Angeles Lakers)
Kevon Looney, power forward/center (2017-18 team: Golden State
Warriors)
Kyle Anderson, small forward (2017-18 team: San Antonio Spurs)
Kyle O'Quinn, power forward/center (2017-18 team: New York Knicks)
Lance Stephenson, shooting guard (2017-18 team: Indiana Pacers)
Luc Mbah a Moute, power forward/center (2017-18 team:
Houston Rockets)
Marco Belinelli, shooting guard (2017-18 teams: Atlanta
Hawks/Philadelphia 76ers)
Mario Hezonja, small forward (2017-18 team: Orlando Magic)
Michael Beasley, small forward/power forward (2017-18 team: New
York Knicks)
Michael Carter-Williams, point guard (2017-18 team: Charlotte
Hornets)
Mike Scott, power forward (2017-18 team: Washington Wizards)
Montrezl Harrell, power forward (2017-18 team: Los Angeles
Clippers)
Nemanja Bjelica, small/power forward (2017-18 team: Minnesota
Timberwolves)
Nerlens Noel, power forward/center (2017-18 team: Dallas
Mavericks)
Nick Young, shooting guard (2017-18 team: Golden State Warriors)
Omri Casspi, small forward (2017-18 team: Golden State Warriors)
Patrick McCaw, point/shooting guard (2017-18 team: Golden State
Warriors)
Rajon Rondo, point guard (2017-18 team: New Orleans Pelicans)
Raymond Felton, point guard (2017-18 team: Oklahoma City Thunder)
Rodney Hood, shooting guard/small forward (2017-18 teams: Utah
Jazz/Cleveland Cavaliers)
Rudy Gay, small forward (2017-18 team: San Antonio Spurs)
Seth Curry, shooting guard (2017-18 team: Dallas Mavericks)
Shabazz Napier, point guard (2017-18 team: Portland Trail Blazers)
Shane Larkin, point guard (2017-18 team: Boston Celtics)
Tim Frazier, point guard (2017-18 team: Washington Wizards)
Tony Parker, point guard (2017-18 team: San Antonio Spurs)
Trevor Booker, power forward (2017-18 teams: Brooklyn
Nets/Philadelphia 76ers/Indiana Pacers)
Tyreke Evans, shooting guard (2017-18 team: Memphis Grizzlies)
Wayne Ellington, shooting guard (2017-18 team: Miami Heat)
Yogi Farrell, point guard (2017-18 team: Dallas Mavericks)
Zach LaVine, shooting guard (2017-18 team: Chicago Bulls)
Zaza Pachuila, center (2017-18 team: Golden State Warriors)
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