On Wednesday morning, Chuck Myron of Hoops Rumors ran down a list of players who spent time as starters in 2013/14 but don’t have NBA contracts in place for the upcoming season. Of the 12 players identified on the list, two had signed overseas (James Anderson and Toney Douglas), one had retired (Shane Battier), one has since agreed to a deal with a new team (Greg Stiemsma, Raptors), and one has signed a qualifying offer to remain with his team for another year (Greg Monroe, Pistons). That leaves seven players with legitimate starting experience sitting without contracts.
One remaining name on the list, Eric Bledsoe, is without a deal mostly because of his status as a restricted free agent. Bledsoe wants more than Phoenix is willing to offer, so seeing the stud point guard moved in some sort of sign-and-trade wouldn’t be shocking. However, given the lack of financial flexibility most teams around the league have at this point in the offseason, it’s highly unlikely he signs outright with a new team before the start of the season.
Taking a look at the six players still on the list, which one do you see as the most likely to sign a new contract first? Some, like Ramon Sessions and Earl Clark, have been linked to teams this summer in one way or another. Others, like Kenyon Martin, haven’t been part of many rumors since the conclusion of the previous season. Let us know which remaining player on Chuck’s list you think will be the first player to ink a new deal by voting in the poll below.