With the NBA season officially set to begin on Dec 22, 2020, and the Free agency and The NBA Draft happening this upcoming week it’s important to remember exactly what players are available in this unique offseason and how the NBA could look drastically different come the 2020-21 season. This year’s free-agent market is not quite as top-heavy but it does have some names that will surprise ppl if they land in the right spot. Let’s look at the Top 30 Free agents that could potentially change the NBA landscape as we know it.
- Anthony Davis (player)
- Brandon Ingram (restricted)
- DeMar DeRozan (player)
- Andre Drummond (player)
- Gordon Hayward (player)
- Danilo Gallinari
- Mike Conley (early termination option)
- Fred VanVleet
- Montrezl Harrell
- Davis Bertans
- Christian Wood
- Malik Beasley (restricted)
- Serge Ibaka
- Bogdan Bogdanovic (restricted)
- Jordan Clarkson
- Goran Dragic
- Carmelo Anthony (player)
- Tristan Thompson
- Evan Fournier (player)
- Aron Baynes
- Derrick Favors
- Marc Gasol
- Jerami Grant (player)
- Tim Hardaway Jr. (player)
- Wesley Matthews
- Marcus Morris
- Paul Millsap
- Kelly Olynyk (player)
- Dario Saric (restricted)
- Dwight Howard
Last Year Kawhi Leonard took up much of the free agency headlines and threw the NBA into a frenzy as he made his way off a 2019 NBA Championship in Toronto to LA when he teamed up with Paul George for the Clippers. A blindsided deal that seemingly happened overnight for the NBA created the title odd favorite. This year, don’t expect to see find that same excitement in free agency, in fact just get ready for teams to either add key piece/s to gear toward a championship or teams to show you they are just trying to rebuild. The excitement will be there, you’re just going to have to look for it.
Free agency is set to start on November 20 at 6 pm ET and teams will be permitted to contact free agents or their representatives at that time. Players will be allowed to officially sign contracts with teams starting Nov. 22 at 12:01 p.m. ET. As we have already seen this week, trade negotiations are already starting. Players and teams are positioning themself for free agency. It’s important to remember through all of this what teams are really gearing up to get certain free agents and what teams are just gearing up for something completely different than what we saw a season ago.
To understand where each player realistically might end up it just has to do with the amount that player is valued to make in this year’s market and the terms of their contract either being restricted or not. Instead of getting too deep into trying to explain that all that, what is more, important to know going into free agency week are the Top 10 FA most likely to stay where they are and the top 10 most likely to be on the move. So let’s break it down.
Top 10 Most Likely to Stay:
Anthony Davis, Los Angeles Lakers – Davis did decline his option for the upcoming season however it’s most likely just to get a few more dollars from the lakers in a new contract. It would be hard to see AD leaving the Lakers and Lebron as they are coming off the duo’s first season and championship together.
Fred Vanvleet, Toronto Raptors – Vanvleet has already made it clear stating he wants to get paid this offseason. Rightfully so, the man played a huge role in the Toronto Raptors 2019 and the franchise first-ever NBA title. Without ever really having to pay Kawhi the raptors do have some money to play around with and it is going to come down to paying either Vanvleet or Ibaka and in most cases where I would say you pay for the size, I think Fred and the Raptors are more on the same page with this one. Expect the Raptors to pay their guy.
Brandon Ingram, New Orleans Pelicans – The former #2 overall pick has seemed to find a home in New Orleans. Appearing as an All-Star for the first time in his career this season there is no reason that New Orleans wouldn’t match any contract offer any team comes to him with. Look for the Pelicans to offer B.I a contract close to a max before any team can even try to get him.
Demar Derozan, San Antonio Spurs – Demar initially declined his option from the Spurs and it had everyone thinking he was going to get traded, and like we do so often when thinking about DeMar DeRozan lead us to think where he could help. Now although the Lakers did seem like a viable option for the 4-time all-star the money doesn’t make sense. With declining his 27 million dollar option I think the only place he ends up is back in San Antonio. He may even take less to give him the option to be tradeable this year to a potential better contender.
Montrez Herrell, Los Angeles Clippers – We all know things didn’t go as planned for the Clippers this year but Trez was one of this team’s most pleasant surprises. Averaging 18 pts and 7 rebs off the bench this year was enough for Herrell to win 6th man of the year. With that type of value, it would be crazy to see the clippers just let him go.
Andre Drummond, Clevland Cavaliers – The All-Star center told ESPN, “Yeah, it’s going to be hard to give up, so you can count on me being in Cleveland still. I definitely will be in Cleveland.”
Bogdan Bogdanovic, Sacramento Kings – it’s the kings they need the most talented players they can get and he plays well with Buddy Hield and D’Aron Fox.
Danillo Gallinari, Oklahoma City Thunder – Thunder looking to rebuild, one of the most reliable shooters and screeners in the league to help space floor and create with whatever young guys they throw out there with him.
Carmelo Anthony, Portland Trailblazers – Started a playoff game for the team last year and fills a void they need.
Tim Hardaway Jr., Dallas Mavericks – Need reliable wings to play with Luka and Kristaps. Proved his offensive efficiency and two-way player ability last year.
Top 10 Most Likely to Go:
Gordon Hayward, Boston Celtics – Hayward has been thrown around in trade rumors since the departure of Kyrie Irving. But his 34 million guaranteed makes him untradeable. He has just not played up to what the Celtics needed him to be when they signed him to the deal they did. Whether it is the injury or the changing teams around him Hayward just seemed to never find a real groove for the Celtics.
Serge Ibaka, Toronto Raptors – This could be an interesting offseason for Ibaka. We have already seen The Brooklyn Nets and Los Angeles Lakers come out in expressing interest in the big man. It will be interesting to see what type of money Ibaka wants or if he wants to compete for another ring. I could see him taking a pay cut to potentially go to the Lakers or Nets and compete while he is at this good of a point in his career still.
Jordan Clarkson, Utah Jazz – Clarkson proved he is still an elite scorer and 3 point shooter last season for his time with the Jazz. He still has instant offense, and when put around the right offense he can create his shot taking pressure off some of the guys around him. Oddly enough, Jordan Clarkson just seems like one of the players the Knicks are going to drastically overpay this free agency and I don’t see Clarkson turning it down. Especially if the Knicks don’t hit with one of the top guys they want and do as poorly in the draft as always they will sign Clarkson late for a lot.
Goran Dragic – Dragic showed his value this postseason and while it’s hard for me not to see Miami re-signing Dragic, I just believe that they will make a push for other free agents and try to make trades that may involve Dragic being an assent for them in either the draft or as they try to acquire a different piece.
Tristan Thompson, Clevland Cavaliers – If the Cavs pay Drummond I don’t see Thompson and Drummond becoming the Cavs duo of the future, and with teams like Warriors, Bucks, Suns, Lakers, Celtics, and Heat all looking for bigs it makes sense for Thompson deciding parting ways with the Cavs.
Marc Gasol, Toronto Raptors – With showing that he is a championship-caliber center still with the ability to stretch the floor It almost makes perfect sense to me why Marc Gasol should end up in Golden State. He has the potential to stay and make the money he wants in Toronto but he’s at this point in his career Gasol knows what he brings to the table and wants to be on the best team he can play for. We will see if that ends up being the Raptors.
Paul Milsap, Denver Nuggets – With the emergence of Michael Porter Jr. the Nuggets won’t need the same production from Milsap and if they do resign Jerami Grant (which they should) Milsap becomes even less key of a piece.
Wesley Mathews, Milwaukee Bucks – Wesley proved he’s a valuable stretch the floor guy and he is capable of guarding well at this point in his career. Because his game fits so well with Giannis is makes a lot of sense that he would stay but I think because of the playoff collapse the Bucks are going to try and shake things up a bit and it won’t include Wes. Wes Could sneak in with a contender like the Lakers, Nets, or Golden State for the right price.
Aaron Baynes, Pheonix Suns – Baynes is another versatile big that a team could grab at a good value he’s a great pic and roll center that I could see ending up in a Golden State or Milwaukee depending on what each team does during the draft and before.
Dwight Howard, Los Angeles Lakers – Dwight is another center that will capitalize off off teams needing bigs this offseason.
Whether the Lakers resign him or not I expect Dwight to be a competitor next year after showing his defensive capability in this past postseason. His ability to guard Jockic might just make a Golden state realize he is the center that would best help them return to form.
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