NBA Free Agent Rankings
InsideHoops.com
Each summer the destiny of teams around the league changes as
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NBA free agency coverage, all off-season long. The InsideHoops.com NBA free agent rankings, featuring the best players currently available.
BEST STILL-UNSIGNED FREE AGENTS
As of July 13
IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER:
LeBron James - There's a 99% chance he'll re-sign with the Cavs
J.R. Smith - May return to Cavs but no guarantee
Dion Waiters - Provides scoring and questionable decision-making off a bench
Lance Stephenson - Erratic but physical, athletic and can help in the right situation
David Lee - Good offense off a bench, but defense often gets him put back on bench
Gerald Green - Can jump high and help off a bench
Amar'e Stoudemire - Unclear how much game he has left
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Updated morning of July 3, 2016
NBA free agent rankings key: (U) = Unrestricted free agent, (R) = Restricted free agent, (P) = Player option to end contract and become unrestricted free agent, (T) = Team option to end the player's contact and make him an unrestricted free agent. (ETO) = Early termination option to become unrestricted free agent.
2016 NBA free agent negotiations began July 1. Signings began July 7.
1) LeBron James: After winning the 2016 NBA championship and winning 2016 Finals MVP, and with his squad still in tact and still the Eastern conference favorite next season, it's expected that LeBron will re-sign with the Cavs.
2) Kevin Durant: Although his OKC Thunder team came within one win of reaching the 2016 NBA Finals, Durant has been taking meetings with other teams, seeing what else is out there. He'll still probably re-sign with the Thunder, but there's no guarantee of this.
3) Dwyane Wade: The Heat will lose Luol Deng in free agency to the Lakers, but they did re-sign center Hassan Whiteside. The health status of Chris Bosh remains uncertain, and it's unclear if his NBA career will resume. Is it time for D-Wade to leave the Heat? If D-Wade re-signs with the Heat, he's not winning another championship unless something crazy happens. But, the Heat have been his only NBA team. What will he do?
4) Pau Gasol: The Bulls traded Derrick Rose, and lost Joakim Noah. So now the core is Jimmy Butler, Mike Dunleavy, Nikola Mirotic, and Robin Lopez. It wouldn't be surprising if Gasol decided it's time to move on.
5) Dirk Nowitzki: Dirk can still score, but these are his golden years. It's assumed that he'll re-sign with the Mavs, likely for just one season. Maybe a second year with an option or something.
6) Rajon Rondo: Rondo only played 53 games in 2011-12, 38 games in 2012-13, 30 games in 2013-14, and then things didn't end well with the Mavs in 2014-15. In 2015-16 he played 72 games for the Kings and had a good season -- individually, at least. But it's unclear if he actually helps teams anymore at this point. Still, there's talent here, so he needs to be mentioned up here.
ALSO: J.R. Smith, Dion Waiters, Allen Crabbe, Jamal Crawford, Deron Williams, Lance Stephenson.
