A number of veteran NBA players have hit the free agent market within the last week, with players like Tony Allen, Derrick Rose, and Josh McRoberts being cut by their respective teams. More players currently on NBA rosters could be released before March 1, resulting in a number of options for playoff teams looking for late-season and playoff reinforcements.
In addition to those recently-waived players, there’s also another group of veterans worth keeping an eye on as NBA teams consider their free agent options. These players haven’t played for an NBA team yet this season due to injuries or overseas commitments, but could become factors down the stretch.
While many players fall into this group, we’ll focus today on five of them:
- Ty Lawson, PG: Lawson had a four-year run for the Nuggets from 2011 to 2015 during which he averaged 16.4 PPG and 8.0 APG, looking like one of the league’s most underrated point guards. However, injuries and off-court issues derailed his career in 2015/16, when he split time between the Rockets and Pacers. After looking a little better last season in Sacramento, Lawson headed to China for the 2017/18 season, where he has averaged 25.8 PPG and 6.6 APG for the Shandong Golden Stars. Now, the 30-year-old is reportedly receiving serious consideration from the Wizards with John Wall and Tim Frazier sidelined. Lawson will require FIBA clearance before he can sign a new NBA contract.
- Brandon Jennings, PG: Like Lawson, Jennings played in China this year after putting up subpar numbers for his last couple NBA seasons. In Jennings’ case, the lingering effects of an Achilles injury contributed significantly to his struggles, though he says that injury is now behind him. The 28-year-old, who averaged 27.8 PPG, 6.8 APG, and 5.1 RPG this season for the Shanxi Brave Dragons, also says he’s open to a 10-day contract, and has signed a G League contract as he seeks out an NBA opportunity.
- Gerald Henderson, SG: The last real update we heard on Henderson came back in August, when a report indicated that he may miss the entire 2017/18 season due to hip surgery. Henderson is now six months removed from that procedure, and ESPN’s Bobby Marks writes that the veteran shooting guard has been cleared to play. While receiving medical clearance is obviously a huge step, it remains to be seen whether Henderson is back to 100%. If teams aren’t fully confident in his health, he may have to wait until the summer to sign his next contract. But if he’s good to go now, his .353 3PT% over the last two seasons should make him appealing to NBA teams.
- Boris Diaw, PF: An hour after last Thursday’s trade deadline passed, ESPN’s Tim MacMahon tweeted that Diaw’s camp had “touched base” with multiple playoff teams expressing interest. Diaw has been playing with French team Paris-Levallois this season, but his deal includes an NBA out that would allow him to return stateside for the right opportunity. Diaw has never put up huge numbers, particularly in recent years, but he’s the kind of savvy, playoff-tested veteran that would draw interest from postseason-bound NBA teams. For now though, the latest reports out of France suggest the 35-year-old will likely play out the 2017/18 season overseas.
- Derrick Williams, PF: A former second overall pick, Williams never lived up to his pre-draft hype, but it’s not as if he had zero value as an NBA player — he was a member of the Cavaliers team that went to the NBA Finals just over eight months ago, seeing his most recent NBA action in Game 4 of those Finals. Williams, who is still just 26 years old, played for China’s Tianjin Gold Lions this season, averaging 20.0 PPG and 6.6 RPG in 15 games. According to Marks, he’s expected to return to the U.S. in March once his CBA season ends.
Williams is only 26.. seems like hes been round forever.
You’re thinking Oliver miller’s gut. That’s been round forever.
So corny, and yet I literally laughed out loud. Nice job sir.
Derrick Williams is another of the cursed #2 picks. In the 21st century, only Kevin Durant, LaMarcus Aldridge and Tyson Chandler (although he was mediocre for a long time) escaped. The rest being a disappointment at best (Okafor, M. Williams, Turner, MKG) and a flat out bust (Thabeet, J. Williams, Darko) at worst. Oladipo and Parker might join the crowd of good players too and it is too soon to tell with the past 3 Lakers picks, but it is still a large group of disappointment for such high picks.
Oladipo “might” be a good player? Have you seen Indiana play this year? He has been excellent
Oladipo has probably been the most underrated player in the league this year
Although it does look like Oladipo is going to be a good, possibly great, player, I’m sticking with might. 5 years is still too soon to tell. There have been a lot of players that had a career year or two when they were the main option on a middle of the road team. Danny Granger comes to mind. But you are right that he has been excellent this year.
Interesting.
And I’m not sure either whether Olidipo has reached the level of Durant, Aldridge and Chandler. Have to draw the line somewhere.
Actually you could go back 20 years before the Lakers picks, to Camby or McDyess.
In that range, the 6th best second pick is Marvin Williams Char. Who? Actually he has good personal stats, but… yes something’s up with the second pick.