Fresh off last night's draft, NBA fans won't have to wait much longer for more roster-changing action as the legal free agent tampering period officially begins on Monday afternoon at 4 PM EST. Here are the 10 players that I believe are the best available in this year's class.
(Note: Since there's basically zero chance he leaves the Suns, Chris Paul has been excluded from inclusion here)
10.Victor Oladipo, shooting guard (2020-21 teams: Indiana Pacers/Houston Rockets/Miami Heat)
Having faith in Oladipo's ability to stay healthy at this point in his career is definitely a bit naïve, but he's too deadly of a scorer and strong of a leader to have his value completely written off. Taking a shot on him on a 1-2 year deal for short money would be a savvy dice roll for just about any team to make.
Possible Destinations: Miami Heat, Phoenix Suns, Los Angeles Lakers, Brooklyn Nets, Denver Nuggets, Milwaukee Bucks, Los Angeles Clippers, Utah Jazz, Memphis Grizzlies, Portland Trail Blazers, Chicago Bulls, Boston Celtics
9.Jarret Allen, center (2020-21 teams: Brooklyn Nets/Cleveland Cavaliers)
The 23-year old Allen is tracking to be a solid Myles Turner-type center who specializes in blocking shots, pulling down around 10 rebounds per game and scoring in and around the paint with some floaters and agile post moves, but also can let it rip from outside from time to time. While that skill set isn't exactly the most valuable thing in the world when you have guys like Joel Embiid, Nikola Jokic and Anthony Davis regularly taking over games at that position, it's certainly enough to get him a decent sized contract on a team that's looking for a respectable starting center that has yet to hit his ceiling.
Possible Destinations: Cleveland Cavaliers, Charlotte Hornets, San Antonio Spurs, Boston Celtics, Denver Nuggets, Orlando Magic, Oklahoma City Thunder
8.Denis Schroder, point guard (2020-21 team: Los Angeles Lakers)
Ugly playoff performances aside, Schroder's season with the Lakers was a very successful one that demonstrated the value he provides as a scoring-first point guard who can effortlessly slot in as a starter or sixth man.
Possible Destinations: Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Clippers, New York Knicks, Chicago Bulls, Orlando Magic, Boston Celtics, Dallas Mavericks
7.Norman Powell, shooting guard/small forward (2020-21 teams: Toronto Raptors/Portland Trail Blazers)
A defensive pest with a deceptively strong scoring touch (16.0+ PPG, 49+ FG%, 39+ 3P% over the past 2 seasons) and 73 playoff games (including a championship in 2018-19) under his belt in just 6 NBA seasons, Powell is the most valuable role player available in a class that's overflowing with them.
Possible Destinations: Portland Trail Blazers, San Antonio Spurs, Memphis Grizzlies, Los Angeles Lakers, Dallas Mavericks, Denver Nuggets, Los Angeles Clippers, Phoenix Suns
6.Demar DeRozan, shooting guard (2020-21 team: San Antonio Spurs)
A mid range scoring specialist with the passing skills of a point guard and a borderline refusal to shoot from beyond the arc makes DeRozan a relic in the modern NBA that wouldn't fit in with most teams. However, for those small number of teams that don't favor ripping 3's on nearly every possession, he should be a coveted piece that will greatly improve their offensive efficiency.
Possible Destinations: New York Knicks, Dallas Mavericks New Orleans Pelicans, Philadelphia 76ers, Minnesota Timberwolves, Chicago Bulls
5.Kyle Lowry, point guard (2020-21 team: Toronto Raptors)
The 35-year old Lowry seems destined to exit his longtime home in Toronto-who appear to be entering a soft rebuild after missing the playoffs last season and find an immediate contender to play out his final years in the league with. He might not have the scoring touch that he once he did, but his defensive tenacity, terrific passing and wealth of playoff experience make him very appealing to any contending team that's in need of a hard-nosed point guard.
Possible Destinations: Miami Heat, Dallas Mavericks, Los Angeles Clippers, New York Knicks, Philadelphia 76ers, Utah Jazz, New Orleans Pelicans
4.Mike Conley, point guard (2020-21 team: Utah Jazz)
Like Lowry, Conley is a smart, grizzled veteran floor general entering his twilight years in the league that would be a great piece for a contending team to add. The only differences between the two is that Conley is a year younger and boasts a more lethal shooting touch-particularly from outside where he posted a career high 41.2% mark this past season, which in turn makes him a slightly more intriguing option than Lowry.
Possible Destinations: Utah Jazz, Dallas Mavericks, Miami Heat, Los Angeles Clippers, Philadelphia 76ers
3.Lonzo Ball, point guard (2020-21 team: New Orleans Pelicans)
Any team in the hunt for Ben Simmons may want to consider going after Ball instead. While he's a bit shorter than the current 76ers point guard (6'6 opposed to 6'10), he's a similarly prolific passer and stout defender that has actually managed to improved his shooting from both the field and free throw line to the point (41.4 FG%, 37.8 3P%, 78.1 FT% in 2020-21) where he's no longer a crippling liability that needs to be pulled off the floor in crunchtime situations.
Possible Destinations: New Orleans Pelicans, Chicago Bulls, Toronto Raptors, Boston Celtics, Utah Jazz, New York Knicks, San Antonio Spurs
2.John Collins, power forward/center (2020-21 team: Atlanta Hawks)
Questions about his effort and tendency to disappear for long stretches of games will definitely scare some teams away from giving Collins the $100 mil+ deal he's seeking. However, 6'9 freak athletes who can swat shots at the rim, shoot a high percentage from outside (around 40% in back-to-back seasons) and go off for 20+ points any given night are an incredibly rare breed and at only 23, he's still very far away from being a finished product.
Possible Destinations: Atlanta Hawks, Dallas Mavericks, San Antonio Spurs, Miami Heat,
1.Kawhi Leonard, small forward (2020-21 team: Los Angeles Clippers)
While Kawhi isn't overly likely to leave the Clippers, other teams that have the cap space will have to at least flirt with making a push for the 30-year old superstar when free agency starts. Even with his durability concerns, he remains one of the league's most dominant two way players and should have at least another few years left of star-caliber play ahead of him.
Possible Destinations: Los Angeles Clippers, New York Knicks, Dallas Mavericks
Other Notable Free Agents:
Alec Burks, shooting guard/small forward (2020-21 team: New York Knicks)
Alex Caruso, shooting guard/small forward (2020-21 team: Los Angeles Lakers)
Andre Drummond, center (2020-21 teams: Cleveland Cavaliers/Los Angeles Lakers)
Austin Rivers, point/shooting guard (2020-21 teams: New York Knicks/Denver Nuggets)
Bismack Biyombo, center (2020-21 team: Charlotte Hornets)
Blake Griffin, power forward (2020-21 teams: Detroit Pistons/Brooklyn Nets)
Bobby Portis, power forward/center (2020-21 team: Milwaukee Bucks)
Bruce Brown, shooting guard/small forward (2020-21 team: Brooklyn Nets)
Bryn Forbes, shooting guard (2020-21 team: Milwaukee Bucks)
Cameron Payne, point guard (2020-21 team: Phoenix Suns)
Carmelo Anthony, small forward (2020-21 team: Portland Trail Blazers)
Cody Zeller, center (2020-21 team: Charlotte Hornets)
Daniel Theis, power forward/center (2020-21 teams: Boston Celtics/Chicago Bulls)
Danny Green, shooting guard (2020-21 team: Philadelphia 76ers)
Derrick Rose, point guard (2020-21 teams: Detroit Pistons/New York Knicks)
Devonte' Graham, point/shooting guard (2020-21 team: Charlotte Hornets)
Doug McDermott, shooting guard/small forward (2020-21 team: Indiana Pacers)
Duncan Robinson, shooting guard/small forward (2020-21 team: Miami Heat)
Dwight Howard, center (2020-21 team: Philadelphia 76ers)
Elfrid Payton, point guard (2020-21 team: New York Knicks)
Enes Kanter, center (2020-21 team: Portland Trail Blazers)
Et'uwan Moore, shooting guard (2020-21 team: Phoenix Suns)
Evan Fournier, shooting guard (2020-21 teams: Orlando Magic/Boston Celtics)
Frank Kaminsky, power forward (2020-21 teams: Sacramento Kings/Phoenix Suns)
Furkan Korkmaz, small forward (2020-21 team: Philadelphia 76ers)
Gary Trent Jr., shooting guard/small forward (2020-21 teams: Portland Trail Blazers/Toronto Raptors)
Hassan Whiteside, center (2020-21 team: Sacramento Kings)
Ish Smith, point guard (2020-21 team: Washington Wizards)
JaMychal Green, small/power forward (2020-21 team: Denver Nuggets)
JaVale McGee, center (2020-21 teams: Cleveland Cavaliers/Denver Nuggets)
Jeff Green, small/power forward (2020-21 team: Brooklyn Nets)
J.J. Redick, shooting guard (2020-21 teams: New Orleans Pelicans/Dallas Mavericks)
Jordan Bell, power forward/center (2020-21 teams: Golden State Warriors)
Josh Hart, shooting guard/small forward (2020-21 team: New Orleans Pelicans)
Josh Richardson, shooting guard/small forward (2020-21 team: Dallas Mavericks)
Lauri Markannen, power forward (2020-21 team: Chicago Bulls)
Lou Williams, shooting guard (2020-21 teams: Los Angeles Clippers/Atlanta Hawks)
Kelly Olynyk, power forward/center (2020-21 teams: Miami Heat/Houston Rockets)
Kelly Oubre Jr., shooting guard (2020-21 team: Golden State Warriors)
Kendrick Nunn, point guard (2020-21 team: Miami Heat)
Kent Bazemore, shooting guard/small forward (2020-21 team: Golden State Warriors)
Kris Dunn, point guard (2020-21 team: Atlanta Hawks)
Malik Monk, shooting guard (2020-21 team: Charlotte Hornets)
Markieff Morris, power forward (2020-21 team: Los Angeles Lakers)
Mike Scott, power forward (2020-21 team: Philadelphia 76ers)
Nemanja Bjelica, small/power forward (2020-21 teams: Sacramento Kings/Miami Heat)
Nerlens Noel, power forward/center (2020-21 team: New York Knicks)
Nicolas Batum, small/power forward (2020-21 team: Los Angeles Clippers)
Otto Porter Jr., small forward (2020-21 teams: Chicago Bulls/Orlando Magic)
Patty Mills, point/shooting guard (2020-21 team: San Antonio Spurs)
Paul Millsap, power forward (2020-21 team: Denver Nuggets)
P.J. Tucker, small/power forward (2020-21 teams: Houston Rockets/Milwaukee Bucks)
Reggie Bullock, shooting guard/small forward (2020-21 team: New York Knicks)
Reggie Jackson, point guard (2020-21 team: Los Angeles Clippers)
Richaun Holmes, center (2020-21 team: Sacramento Kings)
Robin Lopez, center (2020-21 team: Washington Wizards)
Rudy Gay, small/power forward (2020-21 team: San Antonio Spurs)
Solomon Hill, small forward (2020-21 team: Atlanta Hawks)
Spencer Dinwiddie, point guard (2020-21 team: Brooklyn Nets)
Talen Horton-Tucker, small forward (2020-21 team: Los Angeles Lakers)
Tim Hardaway Jr. shooting guard (2020-21 team: Dallas Mavericks)
T.J. McConnell, point guard (2020-21 team: Indiana Pacers)
Tony Snell, small forward (2020-21 team: Atlanta Hawks)
Torrey Craig, small forward (2020-21 teams: Milwaukee Bucks/Phoenix Suns)
Trevor Ariza, small forward (2020-21 teams: Miami Heat)
Tyler Johnson, shooting guard (2020-21 team: Brooklyn Nets)
Wesley Matthews, shooting guard/small forward (2020-21 team: Los Angles Lakers)
Will Barton, small forward (2020-21 team: Denver Nuggets)
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