Breaking down the TOP 10 NBA free agents this upcoming off-season!
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No. 10: Nic Claxton, Brooklyn Nets
This season wasn’t as good as last year for Nic Claxton, but he’s still one of the best centers in basketball and is an excellent player on the defensive side of the ball with good scoring skills in the paint. He’s your stereotypical double-double machine who plays excellent defensive at the rim, struggles to shoot, and serves as more of a third or fourth best player in a championship-contending starting lineup. He’s only 25 years old, so he can be a long-term option as well.
No. 9: Isaiah Hartenstein, New York Knicks
Sure, sure, Isaiah Hartenstein doesn’t have the counting stats that attract most fans, but he could get nearly $100 million this summer for good reason. Defensively, he’s one of the best players in the league thanks to his excellent positioning, size, and mobility for a center. The Knicks had him start when Mitchell Robinson got hurt and he impressed so much that there’s a legitimate argument to be had that they should re-sign Hartenstein and trade Robinson to ensure they can keep him. He was third in the NBA in EPM (+4.7) among centers as well.
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No. 8: DeMar DeRozan, Chicago Bulls
Is DeMar DeRozan a championship-caliber one? No, but he’s still a pretty good player who can provide value to a contender. He’s not smooth fit in any offense because he’s not a perimeter threat (although it’s not as bad as it was with Toronto or Sacramento), and this could be a scorer who can jolt any team. Defensively he’s a limited player, but if you’re expecting a nice player instead of a star-level one, it’s a good investment.
No. 7: Immanuel Quickley, Toronto Raptors
Immanuel Quickley shares a lot of similarities to what Jalen Brunson, his former teammate, was prior to hitting the free agent market. He possesses a high-volume three-point shot that is also very efficient, and having higher usage in Toronto allowed him to put up much better counting stats with pretty good efficiency. Defensively, Quickley is an excellent player as well, and any team looking for a star point guard could get a steal by signing Immanuel Quickley.
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No. 6: OG Anunoby, New York Knicks
This seems like an aggressive ranking, but OG Anunoby is one of the best two-way players in all of basketball. He ranked in the 93rd Percentile in EPM (+3.1) and in the 99th Percentile in Defensive EPM (+3.1), with his offense progressing while with New York. He has the three-point shot and dunking package to be an efficient scorer who can capitalize on looks created by star players, and he’ll be on the other side of the ball just locking down your best scorer.
No. 5: Pascal Siakam, Indiana Pacers
It’s hard to argue there are many trades this past year as impactful as the Pascal Siakam deal, as it propelled the Indiana Pacers to the Eastern Conference Finals. He finished in the 93rd Percentile in Efficiency Wins (9.2) and averaged 21.3 points per game on great efficiency as well. This is an All-NBA forward with the offensive skillset to jolt an offense, but he isn’t the defensive player that most Power Forwards are.
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No. 4: James Harden, Los Angeles Clippers
While he’s not MVP James Harden, he is still one of the better point guards in the NBA thanks to his excellent facilitating and shooting. He’s not going to be the best player on a championship-winning team at this point, but if you’re looking for a point guard to help your offense this is not at all a bad option. The price, age, and character concerns are legitimate, but it doesn’t feel like Harden is as opposed to playing second (or even third) fiddle for the right team.
No. 3: Tyrese Maxey, Philadelphia 76ers
While it’s highly unlikely that Tyrese Maxey will leave the 76ers, he has blossomed into one of the best players in the NBA. The 23-year-old guard is an All-Star caliber player and has the scoring prowess and postseason experience to be a superstar if he continues his ascent. Philadelphia got a steal with Maxey in the draft, and he’s about as perfect of a pairing as it gets alongside former MVP Joel Embiid.
No. 2: Paul George, Los Angeles Clippers
Age is a concern for Paul George, but he was healthy all season and has remained dominant on both sides of the ball, finishing in the 98th Percentile in EPM (+5.7). Teams might be more inclined to have him pick up his player option and workout a trade + extension, but that remains to be seen. If George does opt out though, and it seems like he could, then we could see teams throw tons of money at him. The postseason resume is underwhelming, but all it takes is one run for him to wipe away those narratives, and he’s still talented enough to be a great co-star.
No. 1: LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers
The greatest player in NBA history, LeBron James is still one of the 10 best players in the league today and comes with some new skills at his advanced age. While he’s not as stout defensively as he was in his prime, his size and build make him a solid defender, and the three-point shot has evolved to the point where he’s a lethal perimeter scorer. Averaging 25.7 points a night with 71 games played, the most since LeBron joined the Lakers, this is still a player who elevates you to championship contention.