Free agency this summer is going to be a exciting one. The free agent market is going to be deep and packed with talented, skilled players. Teams are going to go after big name superstars and if they won’t get them, they’ll most likely get a good consolation prize. However, this class is also unique in the way that most big name free agents are forwards and centers instead of guards. Many teams frontcourts will be substantially better by the beginning of the 2015-16 season than they did coming into this summer. Today we are going to count down the top ten players that will be hitting the market once free agency starts on July 1st.
1. LeBron James, SF (Player Option)
25.3 PTS/6.0 REB/7.4 AST
LeBron James is not only the best free agent in the world this summer, but he is the best player in the world, bar none. James exercised his player option and opted out but is expected to resign with the Cleveland Cavaliers, according to multiple sources. Don’t worry cavs fans, LeBron isn’t leaving home again.
2. Jimmy Butler, SG (Restricted)
20.0 PTS/5.8 REB/3.3 AST
Jimmy Butler is arguably the best two way player in the league and will have teams throwing him max dollars left and right. There are only two true contenders here however, his old club the Chicago Bulls and the Los Angeles Lakers. The question is whether Chicago will let him walk and at this point it doesn’t seem like they will.
3. Kawhi Leonard, SF (Restricted)
16.5 PTS/7.2 REB/2.5 AST
This is really just a San Antonio Spurs formality. Kawhi Leonard is not leaving San Antonio. He’s the franchise moving forward and they can’t let him slip out of their fingers with the end of the road looming for Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili.
4. LaMarcus Aldridge, PF (Unrestricted)
23.4 PTS/10.2 REB/1.7
LaMarcus Aldridge is probably the most likely to leave his current team at this point. According to multiple reports he has already informed Portland that he will not return. His most likely potential landing spots are the San Antonio Spurs and the Dallas Mavericks.
5. Marc Gasol, C (Unrestricted)
17.4 PTS/7.8 REB/3.8 AST
Marc Gasol sure has an interesting offseason ahead of him. He can test the free agent waters for himself but it seems only one suitor, other than Memphis, has came out the woodshed. That would be, of course, the Los Angeles Lakers. Gasol stated that he refuses to play for them and won’t sign there so it’s looking like a pretty safe bet that Gasol stays put in Memphis.
6. Kevin Love, PF (Player Option)
16.4 PTS/9.7 REB/2.2 AST
Kevin Love at this point is a huge question mark. There have been rumors that he just opted out to re-sign with Cleveland, but there are also reports out there saying he is interested in other clubs such as the Boston Celtics. He should be one of the more intriguing stories this offseason.
7. DeAndre Jordan, C (Unrestricted)
11.5 PTS/15.0 REB/0.7 AST
DeAndre Jordan seems to be in for a busy offseason. He has meetings scheduled with the Clippers, Knicks, Bucks, Mavericks, and Lakers. Jordan will most likely command max money for his two way paint presence, It was reported earlier today however that he is now deciding between the Mavericks and the Clippers.
8. Dwyane Wade, SG (Unrestricted)
21.5 PTS/3.5 REB/4.8 AST
Dwyane Wade and the Miami Heat are in a pickle, to say the least. Wade and Miami are millions away in contract talks and now the heat lifer seems to be exploring other options. The Los Angeles Lakers (surprise) are one of the darkhorse squads to land Wade. The Cavs have been in the mix, but this is one of the more exciting free agency cases to keep an eye on.
9. Draymond Green, PF (Restricted)
11.7 PTS/8.2 REB/3.7 AST
Draymond Green, fresh off a key role on the championship Golden State Warriors will be commanding near max money this summer. Golden State has made it clear they will match any offer so don’t worry Dubs fans, Green won’t be going anywhere.
10. Greg Monroe, PF/C (Unrestricted)
15.9 PTS/10.2 REB/2.1 AST
Greg Monroe will not be a Detroit Piston at the start of the 2015-16 season. Monroe just doesn’t fit in Stan Van Gundy’s system and the acquisition of Ersan Ilyasova just made it more evident. The Knicks look like the most interested in Moose but there are other underdog suitors part of the sweepstakes.
