Top 25 NBA free agents
The NBA's 2020 free-agent class is rather sparse compared to years past. With the uncertainty surrounding the league's financial landscape and only a few teams possessing the cap space to land a big name, most players with options for the 2020-21 season decided to opt in.
Still, there's plenty of talent capable of shifting the power structure atop the league. Here is an updated look at the top 25 free agents available ahead of the start of free agency at 6 p.m. ET on Friday.
1. Anthony Davis, Lakers
Status: Unrestricted free agent
Fresh off his maiden title in his first year with the Los Angeles Lakers, Davis reportedly declined his player option for 2020-21. Have no fear, Tinseltown; it's pretty much a foregone conclusion that he will sign a long-term extension to remain with the Lakers.
2. Brandon Ingram, Pelicans
Status: Restricted free agent
The New Orleans Pelicans have the right to match any contract offered to Ingram, who is a restricted free agent. After breaking out as an All-Star and the league's Most Improved Player last season, the 23-year-old forward isn't going anywhere.
3. Gordon Hayward, Celtics
Status: Unrestricted free agent
By reportedly declining his $34.2-million player option for 2020-21, Hayward becomes one of the most intriguing veteran free agents available.
He more or less returned to his pre-injury form last season, posting 17.5 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 4.1 assists in 33.5 minutes per game. Now 30 years old and with his brutal 2017 ankle injury firmly in the rearview, Hayward stands to sign another fairly significant deal, either with the Celtics again or with a new club.
Flush with cap space, the New York Knicks are one team interested in Hayward, sources told The New York Times’ Marc Stein.
4. Fred VanVleet, Raptors
Status: Unrestricted free agent
VanVleet continued his ascent in 2019-20. As a full-time starter next to Toronto Raptors star Kyle Lowry, VanVleet put up 17.6 points, 6.6 assists, and 1.9 steals per game and shot 39% from deep.
The Knicks and Detroit Pistons were among the teams thought to be circling the unrestricted free agent, though SNY's Ian Begley reports that teams with an eye on the point guard market believe VanVleet will re-up in Toronto.
5. Montrezl Harrell, Clippers
Status: Unrestricted free agent
As the reigning Sixth Man of the Year, Harrell played a key role for the Los Angeles Clippers, keeping the bench unit humming thanks to his boundless energy. He doesn't offer the shooting range or rim protection of a modern big man, but his averages of 18.6 points and 7.1 rebounds in just under 28 minutes per game are enticing.
6. Bogdan Bogdanovic, Kings
Status: Restricted free agent
Bogdanovic has only logged three seasons in the NBA but is already 28. His next contract will likely encompass the remainder of his prime. He's a big part of the Sacramento Kings' core, but that group hasn't broken through as a playoff team.
The Milwaukee Bucks apparently believed they had orchestrated a deal to acquire Bogdanovic via sign-and-trade, but there was one key hang-up: The Kings reportedly never got the Serbian shooting guard to sign off on the deal, causing the swap to fall apart.
7. Danilo Gallinari, Thunder
Status: Unrestricted free agent
For a player frequently snakebitten by injury throughout his 12-year NBA career, Gallinari's past two seasons register as a massive success. In 130 regular-season appearances, the rangy forward averaged 19.3 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 2.3 assists with 41.8% 3-point shooting in just under 30 minutes per game.
Surprisingly, the lowly Atlanta Hawks are reportedly expected to be among the front-runners for the Italian.
8. Serge Ibaka, Raptors
Status: Unrestricted free agent
Once a high-flying dunker and rim-protector, 31-year-old Ibaka has reinvented himself as a modern stretch big. The 2019-20 season saw the Raptors big man score a career-high 15.4 points per game while hitting 38.5% of his threes.
A general manager told Heavy.com's Sean Deveney earlier in November that the Lakers could emerge as a suitor for Ibaka - though that was before the team acquired pricy guard Dennis Schroder from the Thunder.
9. Joe Harris, Nets
Status: Unrestricted free agent
It's time for Harris to cash in. The 6-foot-6 shooting ace has hit 43% of his threes since breaking out as a rotation player with the Brooklyn Nets four years ago. The Nets are fortunate they have Harris' Bird rights; competition for his services could be steep.
10. Goran Dragic, Heat
Status: Unrestricted free agent
Dragic emerged as an integral component of the Miami Heat's run to the 2020 Finals. It seems likely he'll return to a great situation, but at 34, maybe he's willing to chase his first ring elsewhere if the situation is right.
11. Davis Bertans, Wizards
Status: Unrestricted free agent
In the context of the Washington Wizards' rough year, Bertans' breakout registers as a win. Thanks to Bird rights, the Wizards have the upper hand in retaining the 6-foot-10 power forward. Others will surely kick the tires on the man who shot 42.4% on 8.7 long-range attempts per game.
12. Jerami Grant, Nuggets
Status: Unrestricted free agent
Grant garnered a lot of attention for his defensive versatility and increased scoring output during the Denver Nuggets' run to the Western Conference finals. He reportedly declined his below-market $9.3-million player option for next year, allowing him to hit free agency, so the Nuggets will need to give Grant a raise to keep him in the fold.
13. Marc Gasol, Raptors
Status: Unrestricted free agent
Gasol's season-and-a-half tenure in Toronto resulted in a career-redefining title win in 2019. Even at 35, the Spaniard's impact goes well beyond the box score. There are rumors he could play out his career in Spain. If he does stay in the NBA, expect Gasol to play in Toronto or join a high-level title contender on a cheap deal.
14. Dwight Howard, Lakers
Status: Unrestricted free agent
With Howard's career seemingly in jeopardy after a series of one-year stints with a number of franchises, the Lakers' gamble on him - along with him accepting a non-guaranteed contract - paid off royally. Howard still has value as a bit player on a great team, but the situation has to be close to perfect.
15. Malik Beasley, Timberwolves
Status: Restricted free agent
Beasley was a big component of the four-team trade in which the Minnesota Timberwolves dealt Robert Covington to the Houston Rockets in February. In his 14-game audition with his new team, Beasley averaged 20.7 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 1.9 dimes per game. Apart from a recent legal matter, the Timberwolves re-signing him should be a straightforward affair.
16. Tristan Thompson, Cavaliers
Status: Unrestricted free agent
Thompson has plenty of experience in big moments - he started or played a big role off the bench throughout LeBron James' second run with the Cleveland Cavaliers from 2014-18. Since James left again, casting the Cavs back into mediocrity, Thompson has averaged 11.5 points and 10.2 boards a night. There might not be a better offensive rebounder in the league.
17. Hassan Whiteside, Trail Blazers
Status: Unrestricted free agent
Whiteside was on the brink of NBA irrelevance after he fell out of favor in Miami. However, he quietly rebuilt his reputation with the Portland Trail Blazers in 2019-20, averaging 15.5 points, 13.5 rebounds, and a league-high 2.9 blocks in 30 minutes per game. Like Howard, Whiteside can still be an impact player if he's in the right situation.
18. Paul Millsap, Nuggets
Status: Unrestricted free agent
The Nuggets got a fine return on their three-year deal with Millsap. Though he didn't replicate the All-Star-caliber play he demonstrated while with the Atlanta Hawks, the versatile forward still put up 12.8 points, 6.6 rebounds, 2.1 assists, a steal, and 0.8 blocks per game with Denver from 2017-20.
The Portland Trail Blazers are among the teams expected to consider Millsap once free agency begins, The Ringer's Kevin O'Connor reports.
19. Christian Wood, Pistons
Status: Unrestricted free agent
Wood had stints with four teams over his first three seasons in the NBA before finally breaking out with the Detroit Pistons last year. The athletic 6-foot-10 power forward averaged 13.1 points and 6.3 rebounds per game while shooting 38.6% from the 3-point line. Wood might be the biggest "high-risk, high-reward" player in this year's free-agent class.
20. Jeff Teague, Hawks
Status: Unrestricted free agent
Teague is only a year removed from averaging 12.1 points, 8.2 assists, and a steal per game with the Timberwolves in 2018-19. He says he's willing to come off the bench if his next team is a winner, so it wouldn't be a complete shock to see him chase a ring.
21. Dario Saric, Suns
Status: Restricted free agent
It's been a bumpy ride for Saric since his NBA debut in 2016. However, he's still only 26 and averaged 10.7 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 1.9 assists per game with the Suns last year. A career 35.8% shooter on long balls, the 6-foot-10 floor-spacer should command a reasonable sum to either re-sign in Phoenix or play elsewhere.
22. Marcus Morris, Clippers
Status: Unrestricted free agent
Morris' value at last February's trade deadline was so high that the Clippers gave up their 2020 first-round pick (which ultimately became Utah Jazz selectee Udoka Azubuike), a top-four-protected 2021 first-round pick swap, a 2021 second-round pick, Jerome Robinson, and a decent veteran in Maurice Harkless to acquire him and Isaiah Thomas, who was immediately waived.
In hindsight, Morris isn't that valuable, but he still provides solid perimeter scoring and defense from the forward positions. He'll have suitors.
23. Rajon Rondo, Lakers
Status: Unrestricted free agent
His superb play in the bubble helped clinch the Lakers' title, so it makes sense that Rondo would decline to exercise his modest $2.6-million option for next year.
The Lakers' acquisition of Schroder might take them out of the Rondo market. On the other hand, the Clippers and Hawks have been linked to the 34-year-old floor general. It looks like he'll either get another solid title shot or a decent payday with his next team.
24. Derrick Favors, Pelicans
Status: Unrestricted free agent
In recent years, being a center without a dependable 3-point stroke hasn't been particularly lucrative. Still, Favors tallied nine points, 9.8 boards, and nearly a block in just 24.4 minutes per game last year with above-average defense in the paint. Cleaning the Glass ranks him in the 90th percentile among bigs at offensive rebounding. Think of Favors as the discount-brand Tristan Thompson.
25. DeMarcus Cousins, Lakers
Status: Unrestricted free agent
In his return from a torn Achilles, Cousins put up 16.3 points, 8.2 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 1.5 blocks per game down the stretch with the Warriors in 2018-19. Then, after signing with the Lakers, he missed the entire 2019-20 season with a torn ACL.
There's no telling what the 30-year-old's present condition is, but Cousins still warrants interest, even if his All-Star peak is likely behind him. Ditto for his former Sacramento Kings teammate Isaiah Thomas, 31, who has also struggled with health for the past three seasons.
Missed the cut:
- Aron Baynes, Suns (UFA)
- Jordan Clarkson, Jazz (UFA)
- Jae Crowder, Heat (UFA)
- Kris Dunn, Bulls (UFA)
- Robin Lopez, Bucks (UFA)
- Reggie Jackson, Clippers (UFA)
- Joakim Noah, Clippers (UFA)
- Markieff Morris, Lakers (UFA)
- Mason Plumlee, Nuggets (UFA)
- Bobby Portis, Knicks (UFA)