Here are four catigories of players who may be available this summer.
- BALL-HANDLERS
- Mike Conley, Minnesota
Conley will be 37 years old when the new season begins, but he maintains a steady hand. In his 17th season, he has the highest assist/turnover ratio (6.06) and the second-highest effective field goal percentage (58.0%) of his career.
- James Harden, Los Angeles Clippers
Harden, who turns 35 this summer, has transitioned from the league’s top heliocentric superstar to its best facilitator of other stars. He’s had his most effective scoring season (true shooting percentage of 64.0%) while playing in Oklahoma City, shooting a career-high 43% from three.
iii. Jrue Holiday, Boston (Player Option)
Holiday’s usage rate has dropped somewhat since his arrival to Boston, but he is still averaging 33.4 minutes and providing good two-way play for the league’s best team. He’s more of an off-the-ball player than Harden, shooting 44.7% on catch-and-shoot 3-pointers over the last three years.
- Tyrese Maxey, Philadelphia (restricted
To save financial space, the Sixers did not extend Maxey’s contract last summer, and he has since developed into an All-Star. He’s a guard with lightning agility who has shot 41% from 3-point range over the last three seasons. Plus, he is only 23 years old.
- Immanuel Quickley, Toronto (Restricted)
The Raptors received little in the way of Draft assets when they dealt OG Anunoby, so they’ll want to keep the 24-year-old guard they acquired along with RJ Barrett. Quickley’s minutes with Scottie Barnes haven’t been fantastic so far, but this was a long-term play.
- D’Angelo Russell, Los Angeles Lakers (Player Option)
Russell is a good passer who will have his moments, and he’s been on a run lately, averaging 24 points and a 58% effective field goal percentage in the Lakers’ previous 13 games. Defense and consistency will always be a concern.
vii. Russell Westbrook, LA Clippers (Player Option)
Westbrook has accepted and thrived in a limited role with the Clippers, continuing to do what he does. Perimeter shooting remains an issue, but he adds speed and collapses defenses. He is also one of five players who average at least 15 points, seven rebounds, and seven assists per 36 minutes.
Also of value: Kris Dunn (UTA), Markelle Fultz (ORL), Tyus Jones (WAS), Monte Morris (MIN), and Delon Wright (WAS).
- WING SCORERS OR SHOOTERS
Scorers to keep an eye on in free agency are DeMar DeRozan and Malik Monk.
- Greyson Allen, Phoenix
Allen is in a perfect situation in Phoenix, playing alongside three stars and leading the league in 3-point percentage (49.2%). This season, Grayson Allen’s 3-point attempt has been more valued (1.48 points per attempt) than Anthony Davis’ restricted area attempt (1.45).
- Malik Beasley, Milwaukee
Beasley has replaced Allen in Milwaukee, and while he is not suited to the role of defensive stopper, he has done his bit offensively, hitting a career-high 45% from 3-point range and leading the league (by a large margin) with 65 corner threes.
iii. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope of Denver
Caldwell-Pope (30) has been a key player on two championship teams and is a good fit in Denver. He’s a good shooter (40% from 3-point range and 45% from midrange over the last three seasons), moves well without the ball, and will contribute more defensively than other players in this area.
- DeMar DeRozan of Chicago
The 34-year-old DeRozan’s mid-range field goal percentage (41.2%) has dropped significantly from the previous three seasons (47.1%), but he still goes to the line and is a man you can rely on to get you a good shot on a crucial offensive possession.
- Eric Gordon, Phoenix (Player Option)
Gordon, another free agent aged 35 or older, is a floor spacer (as in, he moves five feet beyond the three-point line) who has hit 39% from deep over the last three seasons. He plays an appropriate role in Phoenix but has a low ($3.4 million) player option for next season.
- Buddy Hield, Philadelphia
Nobody has made more 3-pointers over the last five seasons than Hield (1,240 at 39.3%), and he should compliment Maxey and Joel Embiid on offense. They’ll produce open shots for him (and compensate for his lack of free throws), while he’ll keep the paint open for them.
vii. Malik Monk, Sacramento
The Sixth Man of the Year candidate (who recently turned 26) is more than just a scorer, with a significant increase in his assist rate over the last two seasons. And he’s been dependable, appearing in 209 of a possible 221 games (including playoffs) over the last three seasons.
Also valuable are Alec Burks (NYK), Sam Hauser (BOS – Team Option), Luke Kennard (MEM – TO), Caleb Martin (MIA – PO), De’Anthony Melton (PHI), Kelly Oubre Jr. (PHI), Klay Thompson (GSW), and Gary Trent Jr. (TOR).
- MULTIDIMENSIONAL FORWARDS
LeBron James has a player option and might become a free agent this summer.
- OG Anunoby, New York (Player Option)
Anunoby has been an excellent fit in New York as an impactful wing defender who can also play off the ball, shoot corner threes, and attack close-outs. The Knicks have been at their best with him on the court, and they would not have traded for him unless they intended to re-sign him.
- Saddiq Bey, Atlanta (Restricted)
Bey hasn’t improved much since his First-Team All-Rookie season in Detroit, and his 3-point shooting this season (31.4%) is the lowest of his career. However, his 2-point percentage (53.7%) is the greatest by a significant margin, and he has been effective on the offensive glass.
Miles Bridges of Charlotte is shooting well from the field and has a career-high defensive rebounding percentage of 18.3%. However, his free throw rate and overall efficiency have decreased compared to two seasons ago.
iii. Bruce Brown, Toronto (Team Option)
Brown is an excellent but tiny defensive player who also serves as an attacking connection. He isn’t as good a fit for the Raptors as he would be for a contender, so they may reject his $23 million option or activate it and trade him in the offseason.
- Paul George, Los Angeles Clippers (Player Option)
George, like Harden, has increased in value due to the Clippers’ success and his participation in 46/47 of their 50 games. At the age of 33 (and with Harden’s assistance), he is having one of his most effective scoring seasons.
- Tobias Harris, Philadelphia
Harris is one of the Sixers’ 12 (non-two-way) free agents, and he is (unsurprisingly) more likely than Maxey to go elsewhere. However, he is having the most efficient scoring season of his career (true shooting percentage of 60.5%) and would be difficult to replace as Philadelphia’s third option.
- LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers (Player Option)
The league’s all-time leading scorer has slowed down over the last few years, but not significantly. He remains an excellent passer and efficient scorer, with a 39% 3-point shooting percentage, his best in 11 years. His future could depend on whether his son plays in the league next season.
vii. Pascal Siakam of Indiana
The Pacers, like the Knicks with Anunoby, would not have dealt for Siakam unless they intended to re-sign him. He’s been with Indiana for 11 games but has only played 115 minutes with Tyrese Haliburton, so we have yet to see what the two can do together.
Also of value are Kyle Anderson (MIN), Nicolas Batum (PHI), Gordon Hayward (OKC), Derrick Jones Jr. (DAL), Isaac Okoro (CLE – Restricted), Royce O’Neale (PHX), and Taurean Prince (LAL).
- BIGS
- Nic Claxton, Brooklyn
Claxton, 24, remains one of the league’s greatest rim protectors, but he hasn’t scored as well as he did the previous two seasons, thanks in part to the Nets’ lone good passer appearing in only nine of their 50 games.
- Isaiah Hartenstein of New York
Hartenstein, barely 25, is one of the league’s greatest role players, a nimble big man who can distribute, rebound, and defend. He’s not Anunoby, but he’s definitely too valuable for the Knicks to let go (he’s averaged 32 minutes since Mitchell Robinson’s injury).
New Orleans’ Jonas Valanciunas (31) may not be the most mobile big man, but his size is a factor to consider. He is one of the league’s finest rebounders and a relatively efficient post scorer.
Also of value are Precious Achiuwa (NYK – Rest.), Kelly Olynyk (TOR), Mason Plumlee (LAC), Dario Saric (GSW), and Obi Toppin (IND – Rest.).
