2017 NBA Free Agent Rankings
The NBA’s silly season is upon us, where ridiculous rumors and speculation are running wild. With the league’s free agent frenzy set to kick off this weekend, here’s a look at the top free agents available this offseason.
1. Kevin Durant, Forward, Golden State Warriors
Kevin Durant has said he’s going to opt-out of his contract and re-sign with the Golden State Warriors, but he’ll still be a free agent, so he still goes here. The 2017 NBA Finals MVP averaged 25.1 points, 8.3 rebounds and 4.8 assists in 62 games during his first season in the Bay Area. Oh and he won an NBA title as well.
Durant is still just 28 and finished second in the league in PER (27.68) and first in win shares per 48 minutes. So, yeah, he’ll deserve whatever contract the Dubs give him.
2. Stephen Curry, Guard, Golden State Warriors
Stephen Curry just turned 29 and has led the Warriors to the NBA Finals in three consecutive seasons. While his 2016-17 season wasn’t on the level of his last two (during which he won the MVP each year), he’s still one of the best players in the world.
Curry averaged 25.3 points, 6.6 assists and 4.5 rebounds per game this season, and finished 15th in PER (24.74). He’s headed back to Golden State as well, but as a free agent he makes the list.
3. Gordon Hayward, Forward, Utah Jazz
Gordon Hayward jumps a few others here because he’s still just 27 year old and is continuing to improve. While he could return to the Utah Jazz, it looks like Hayward is going to look around. He averaged 21.9 points, 5.4 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game, while posting a career-high PER of 22.23 (27th in the NBA). Hayward also ranked 15th in win shares at 10.4 and 17th in win shares per 48 minutes.
Hayward will meet with the Miami Heat and Boston Celtics early in free agency.
4. Kyle Lowry, Guard, Toronto Raptors
Kyle Lowry had another really good season for the Toronto Raptors, posting 22.4 points, 7.0 assists and 4.8 rebounds per game. He also finished with a career-high PER of 22.92, while also finishing 17th in win shares (10.1) and 13th in win shares per 48 minutes. The 31-year-old isn’t a guy you automatically think of as one of the more valuable players in the league, but he certainly is.
Lowry has reportedly said he’d like to return to Toronto, but other teams will certainly try to lure him South.
5. Blake Griffin, Forward, Los Angeles Clippers
Blake Griffin is a polarizing player who was difficult to spot on this list because of his frequent injury issues. He’s shockingly still only 28 and despite surgery on his foot in May, is expected to be ready to start the 2017-18 season. Griffin finished the year averaging 21.6 points, 8.1 rebounds and 4.9 assists, while finishing 25th in the NBA in PER (22.71). On the downside, he posted a career-worst shooting percentage of 49.3 and has averaged just 54 games the last three seasons.
The Los Angeles Clippers just watched Chris Paul walk away, so they’ll do everything in their power to keep Griffin around. Expect the Phoenix Suns, Boston Celtics and Oklahoma City Thunder to also contact him.
6. Otto Porter, Forward, Washington Wizards
Otto Porter is just 23 and coming off by far the best season in his four-year career. He averaged career-highs in points (13.4), rebounds (6.4), shooting percentage (51.6) and 3-point percentage (43.4) while also posting a career-best PER of 17.35. He’s a rapidly improving player who will be coveted around the league.
As a restricted free agent, the Wizards can match any offer he gets. Expect them to do just that.
7. Paul Millsap, Forward, Atlanta Hawks
You know what you’re getting with Paul Millsap: he’s going to defend and rebound. But the Atlanta Hawks were probably shocked when the 32-year-old posted a career-high in points per game (18.1) during his 11th NBA season. But we shouldn’t expect that again. Millsap was 13th in the NBA in defensive win shares (3.8) and added 7.7 rebounds to his stat line. On the downside, he finished 68th in PER (17.91).
Millsap has had a great career, and several teams should go after him hard as soon as free agency opens.
8. Jeff Teague, Guard, Indiana Pacers
Jeff Teague went home to play for the Indiana Pacers and likely made himself some money in the process. He finished the year averaging 15.3 points, 4.0 rebounds and 7.8 assists per game, while also clocking a PER of 19.24, which ranked 52nd in the NBA. The 28-year-old also set a career-high in true shooting percentage at 57.4.
Indiana will likely try to re-sign Teague, but the New York Knicks are likely to pursue him as well.
9. Nikola Mirotic, Forward, Chicago Bulls
Nikola Mirotic is a restricted free agent, so the Chicago Bulls could match any offer for him, but there’s still a decent chance he’s elsewhere next season. The 26-year-old’s value largely hinges on his outside shooting, which fell from 39 percent in 2015-16 to 34.2 percent in 2016-17. Mirotic finished the season averaging 10.6 points and 5.5 rebounds per game, while hitting just 41.3 percent from the field.
Mirotic posted a career-worst 14.54 PER this season, but there’s enough pure talent in his 6’10” frame to entice a few teams. He may just need a change of scenery and a new head coach.
10. Jrue Holiday, Guard, New Orleans Pelicans
Jrue Holiday seems like he’s been around forever, but the New Orleans Pelicans guard is still just 27 and hitting unrestricted free agency. Holiday averaged 15.4 points, 3.9 rebounds and 7.3 assists in 67 games this season. The eight-year vet posted a career-high field goal percentage of 45.4, but ranked 81st in the league in PER (17.19).
The Denver Nuggets will be interested in Holiday, but the UCLA product will likely give the Pelicans a good shot to retain him.
11. Danilo Gallinari, Forward, Denver Nuggets
Danilo Gallinari’s numbers sneak up on you. He averaged 19.5 points per game in 2015-16 and 18.2 last season. He also added 5.2 rebounds and 2.1 assists, while posting career-best PERs of 19.04 and 17.41. The 6’10” Italian shot a career-high 38.9 percent from 3-point range in 2016-17 and ranked 22nd leaguewide in true shooting percentage (.622). He’s a skilled forward who can shoot and isn’t a total loss defensively.
At 28, Gallinari is still in his prime and after eight NBA seasons he’ll have plenty of options available to him.
12. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Guard, Detroit Pistons
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope has emerged as one of the top young 3-and-D guys in the NBA. The 24-year-old hit a career-high 35 percent of his shots from beyond the arc this season, while averaging 13.8 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.5 assists. He also piled up 2.5 defensive win shares (58th in the NBA) and posted a career-best PER of 12.90. He’s improving a ton across the board each year.
The Detroit Pistons would be foolish to let the restricted free agent walk this summer, but they’ll have serious competition for his services.
13. Pau Gasol, Forward, San Antonio Spurs
Shocked Pau Gasol is this high? So am I, but the numbers back it up. The 36-year-old Spaniard finished his first year in San Antonio as one of the NBA’s most efficient bench players. He averaged 12.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.1 blocks in a career-low 25.4 minutes per game. His shooting percentage of 57.8 was his best since 2010-11, and his PER of 20.23 ranked 43rd in the NBA, one spot behind Paul George.
Gasol has opted out of his contract to give the San Antonio Spurs more salary cap flexibility, but he intends to re-sign with the team.
14. George Hill, Guard, Utah Jazz
George Hill is a big, strong point guard who can shoot and won’t turn the ball over. At 31 he’s likely on the downside of his career, but he can definitely still be a solid point man after nine NBA seasons. Hill averaged a career-high 16.9 points per game this season, while adding 3.4 rebounds, 4.2 assists and shooting 40.3 percent from 3-point range.
The Utah Jazz want to re-sign Hill, but the Spurs (one of his former teams) plan to talk to him as well, now that Chris Paul is off the market.
15. Andre Igoudala, Forward, Golden State Warriors
The numbers don’t like Andre Iguodala, but I do. The 33-year-old has been a key part of two NBA championship teams over the past three years with the Warriors and I think he still has value. Though he’s coming off one of his worst seasons (7.6 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 1.0 steals per game), Iguodala actually posted his best PER (14.37) and most win shares (6.9) since arriving in the Bay Area this season. And his win shares per 48 (.167) was fantastic. In more minutes he might be able to still post some good numbers.
Iguodala is a savvy veteran who could be beneficial to a young roster as a mentor. The Warriors may not be able to afford him anymore, which means someone could court him as a leader.
BEST OF THE REST:
16. Rudy Gay, Forward, Sacramento Kings
Recovering from a ruptured Achilles, 30-year-old opted out of $14.3 million deal for next year to hit free agency.
17. Nerlens Noel, Center, Dallas Mavericks
The Mavericks desperately want to re-sign the 23-year-old restricted free agent who averaged 8.9 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.5 steals after arriving from Philadelphia.
18. Dion Waiters, Guard, Miami Heat
Waiters is still just 25 and averaged 15.8 points, 3.3 rebounds and a career-high 4.3 assists while shooting a career-best 39.5% from 3-point range this season.
19. Serge Ibaka, Forward, Toronto Raptors
Ibaka won’t turn 28 until September and can shoot the 3 (39.8 percent in 2016-17) and protect the rim (1.4 blocks per game).
20. Milos Teodosic, Guard, CSKA Moscow
After flirting with the NBA for years, the 30-year-old Serbian point guard finally looks like he might be headed stateside.
21. Andre Roberson, Forward, Oklahoma City Thunder
The 25-year-old restricted free agent is one of the NBA’s best defenders, but has serious issues on the offensive end.
22. Tim Hardaway Jr., Guard, Atlanta Hawks
Hardaway has blossomed in Atlanta, posting career-highs in points (14.5), rebounds (2.8), assists (2.3) and minutes (27.3) per game this year.
23. Alan Williams, Forward, Phoenix Suns
Williams came out of nowhere to post a PER of 19.59 in regular minutes this year, while averaging 11.0 points, 8.9 rebounds per game after the All-Star break. The 24-year-old restricted free agent is one of the league’s most efficient post players.
24. Mason Plumlee, Center, Denver Nuggets
One of the 40 Plumlees in the league, Mason was having a career-best year (11.1 points, 8.0 rebounds) before he was traded from Portland before the deadline. Denver will likely match offers for the 27-year-old restricted free agent.
25. J.J. Redick, Guard, Los Angeles Clippers
Redick can still shoot, but he doesn’t do much else. The 33-year-old hit 42.9 percent of his 3-point shots this season, but his PER dwindled to 14.87.
26. Shaun Livingston, Guard, Golden State Warriors
Livingston is great at getting to the paint and finishing (54.7 percent on field goals this season), but he’s not a great shooter and doesn’t offer much defensively. The 31-year-old was a -2.0 in box plus/minus last year.
27. Patty Mills, Guard, San Antonio Spurs
Mills is a 28-year-old 3-point shooter at point guard who looked good in Tony Parker’s absence during the postseason.
28. Derrick Rose, Guard, New York Knicks
A perpetually injured malcontent, Rose was actually good on the court this season. The 28-year-old averaged 18.0 points, 3.8 rebounds and 4.4 assists.
29. Taj Gibson, Forward, Oklahoma City Thunder
Gibson can still battle in the post. The 32-year-old averaged 10.8 points and 6.2 rebounds between Chicago and Oklahoma City this year.
30. Zach Randolph, Forward, Memphis Grizzlies
Randolph is rapidly falling off a cliff skill-wise, but the 35-year-old still averaged 14.1 points and 8.2 rebounds off the bench this year. He’ll almost certainly be back in Memphis.