Top Upcoming Free Agents - Part 2 (UFAs)
Posted: Thu Aug 18, 2016 8:00 pm
If you missed Part 1, which focuses on RFAs, you can find it here.
Now for the part that makes free agency real interesting: the unrestricted free agents. This is where you can really steal stars away from teams and they can't match offers.
*Note: The ages I list are their ages at the start of next season, since that is when they'd first be used.
UFAs
1. PF Blake Griffin (IND) - age 29 - Top 5 player in the game will get maxed out immediately by Indiana, but one can dream, right?
2. PG Eric Bledsoe (PHX) - age 28 - Gold standard of 2-way guards. Can pretty much do it all at a high level.
3. PF Derrick Favors (IND) - age 27 - Another high rated Pacer player (in addition to Blaker and Ennis). If they're forced to max all 3, they could have serious cap issues.
4. PF Greg Monroe (MIL) - age 29 - A dominant low-post player that controls the boards and draws lots of contact. They're a rare commodity.
5. C DeMarcus Cousins (ORL) - age 28 - A very polarizing player that has as much talent as anyone on this list. Consistency issues have plagued him through the years, but he has put up monster numbers for the Magic.
6. SF Lance Stephenson (BOS) - age 28 - A player that isn't necessarily great at anything, but is good across the board. Great player to have on any team.
7. PG Chris Paul (MIN) - age 33 - Would be higher on this list if he weren't turning 33 next season. Still, he will be very good the next couple seasons, and it will be interesting to see if he gets a big short-term contract or if someone offers a long-term contract just to secure his services the next few seasons.
8. PF Amir Johnson (LAC) - age 31 - Perpetually underrated, he's at the heart of the Clippers' turn-around this season. The guy just produces.
9. C Larry Sanders (UTA) - age 30 - An excellent defensive center that can rebound. He'll generate lots of interest for sure.
10. SF Al-Farouq Aminu (HOU) - age 28 - A glue guy that is a plus rebounder and defender, and can score when needed. Still 4 years left on his prime too.
11. SF Evan Turner (LAC) - age 30 - Another guy (along with Johnson) that is a big reason the Clippers are winning games again. Very versatile player that can do anything asked of him.
12. SF Jimmy Butler (CHI) - age 29 - Defensive stopper that can rebound as well. Every team could use him to stop opposing wing scorers.
13. SF Gordon Hayward (MIA) - age 29 - A guy that isn't super flashy, but he is a good 3rd option that can help carry the offensive load.
14.SG Avery Bradley (PHI) - age 28 - Once hailed as the premier 3&D guy in the league. He's become invisible on Philly, but the talent is still there, and he's only about to turn 28.
15. PG Kyle Lowry (MIL) - age 32 - There aren't many point guards on this list, so any contender that needs a point guard will make him an offer for sure. Again, the question becomes who is willing to offer the most years.
Honorable Mention:
- SG Trevor Lacey (GSW) - age 24 - The former 8th overall pick is up for grabs as it appears the Warriors did not extend his rookie contract by the deadline (unless I'm mistaken). What a blunder. Let's see if they're still able to secure his services for next season.
- PG Deron Williams (MIN) - age 33 - A guy that didn't get much love last offseason, despite leading the Sixers to the playoffs (which they weren't able to even sniff this season without him). He's still worth a big 1 or 2 year contract.
- C Greg Oden (POR) - age 30 - A solid center that is a good 5th option on a contending team that has good pieces around him. He can rebound and defend.
- SF Trevor Ariza (UTA) - age 32 - A defensive specialist that is will still be a good role player for a few seasons to slow down opposing wing scorers.
Now for the part that makes free agency real interesting: the unrestricted free agents. This is where you can really steal stars away from teams and they can't match offers.
*Note: The ages I list are their ages at the start of next season, since that is when they'd first be used.
UFAs
1. PF Blake Griffin (IND) - age 29 - Top 5 player in the game will get maxed out immediately by Indiana, but one can dream, right?
2. PG Eric Bledsoe (PHX) - age 28 - Gold standard of 2-way guards. Can pretty much do it all at a high level.
3. PF Derrick Favors (IND) - age 27 - Another high rated Pacer player (in addition to Blaker and Ennis). If they're forced to max all 3, they could have serious cap issues.
4. PF Greg Monroe (MIL) - age 29 - A dominant low-post player that controls the boards and draws lots of contact. They're a rare commodity.
5. C DeMarcus Cousins (ORL) - age 28 - A very polarizing player that has as much talent as anyone on this list. Consistency issues have plagued him through the years, but he has put up monster numbers for the Magic.
6. SF Lance Stephenson (BOS) - age 28 - A player that isn't necessarily great at anything, but is good across the board. Great player to have on any team.
7. PG Chris Paul (MIN) - age 33 - Would be higher on this list if he weren't turning 33 next season. Still, he will be very good the next couple seasons, and it will be interesting to see if he gets a big short-term contract or if someone offers a long-term contract just to secure his services the next few seasons.
8. PF Amir Johnson (LAC) - age 31 - Perpetually underrated, he's at the heart of the Clippers' turn-around this season. The guy just produces.
9. C Larry Sanders (UTA) - age 30 - An excellent defensive center that can rebound. He'll generate lots of interest for sure.
10. SF Al-Farouq Aminu (HOU) - age 28 - A glue guy that is a plus rebounder and defender, and can score when needed. Still 4 years left on his prime too.
11. SF Evan Turner (LAC) - age 30 - Another guy (along with Johnson) that is a big reason the Clippers are winning games again. Very versatile player that can do anything asked of him.
12. SF Jimmy Butler (CHI) - age 29 - Defensive stopper that can rebound as well. Every team could use him to stop opposing wing scorers.
13. SF Gordon Hayward (MIA) - age 29 - A guy that isn't super flashy, but he is a good 3rd option that can help carry the offensive load.
14.SG Avery Bradley (PHI) - age 28 - Once hailed as the premier 3&D guy in the league. He's become invisible on Philly, but the talent is still there, and he's only about to turn 28.
15. PG Kyle Lowry (MIL) - age 32 - There aren't many point guards on this list, so any contender that needs a point guard will make him an offer for sure. Again, the question becomes who is willing to offer the most years.
Honorable Mention:
- SG Trevor Lacey (GSW) - age 24 - The former 8th overall pick is up for grabs as it appears the Warriors did not extend his rookie contract by the deadline (unless I'm mistaken). What a blunder. Let's see if they're still able to secure his services for next season.
- PG Deron Williams (MIN) - age 33 - A guy that didn't get much love last offseason, despite leading the Sixers to the playoffs (which they weren't able to even sniff this season without him). He's still worth a big 1 or 2 year contract.
- C Greg Oden (POR) - age 30 - A solid center that is a good 5th option on a contending team that has good pieces around him. He can rebound and defend.
- SF Trevor Ariza (UTA) - age 32 - A defensive specialist that is will still be a good role player for a few seasons to slow down opposing wing scorers.
