Hoops Rumors Originals

NBA 2018 Free Agency: July 1 Recap

July 2nd, 2018 at 12:22am CST by Luke Adams

With cap space around the NBA expected to be scarce this offseason, a number of free agents decided not to wait around for better offers and reached agreements quickly when the 2018/19 league year officially got underway on July 1. The result was an action-packed day that saw many of our top 50 free agents of 2018 come off the board.

For the most part, these deals aren’t yet official, so the reported terms could change — or agreements could fall through altogether. Generally speaking though, teams and players are on track to finalize these contract agreements sometime after the July moratorium ends on Friday.

Here’s our breakdown of July 1’s notable NBA contract agreements:

Chris Paul, Rockets agree to four-year, maximum salary contract ($159.73MM).
LeBron James, Lakers agree to four-year, maximum salary contract ($153.31MM).
Nikola Jokic, Nuggets agree to five-year, maximum salary contract ($147.71MM).
Paul George, Thunder agree to four-year, maximum salary contract ($136.91MM).
Aaron Gordon, Magic agree to four-year, $84MM contract.
Kevin Durant, Warriors agree to two-year, $61.5MM contract.
Will Barton, Nuggets agree to four-year, $54MM contract.
Jerami Grant, Thunder agree to three-year, $27MM contract.
DeAndre Jordan, Mavericks agree to one-year contract said to be worth slightly less than his $24.1MM option.
Doug McDermott, Pacers agree to three-year, $22MM contract.
Ersan Ilyasova, Bucks agree to three-year, $21MM contract.
Fred VanVleet, Raptors agree to two-year, $18MM contract.
Joe Harris, Nets agree to two-year, $16MM contract.
Trevor Ariza, Suns agree to one-year, $15MM contract.
Marco Belinelli, Spurs agree to two-year, $12MM contract.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Lakers agree to one-year, $12MM contract.
Aron Baynes, Celtics agree to two-year, $10.65MM contract.
Rudy Gay, Spurs agree to one-year, $10MM contract.
Glenn Robinson III, Pistons agree to two-year, $8.3MM contract.
Mario Hezonja, Knicks agree to one-year, $6.5MM contract.
Lance Stephenson, Lakers agree to one-year, $4.45MM contract.
Ed Davis, Nets agree to one-year, $4.4MM contract.
Elfrid Payton, Pelicans agree to one-year, $2.7MM contract.
Luke Kornet, Knicks agree to one-year, $1.62MM contract.
Derrick Jones, Heat sign a two-year, minimum salary contract.
Omri Casspi, Grizzlies agree to one-year, minimum salary contract.
Gerald Green, Rockets agree to one-year, minimum salary contract.
JaVale McGee, Lakers agree to one-year, minimum salary contract.
Salah Mejri, Mavericks agree to one-year, minimum salary contract.
Derrick Rose, Timberwolves agree to one-year, minimum salary contract.
Nik Stauskas, Trail Blazers agree to one-year, minimum salary contract.

Be sure to use our 2018 NBA Free Agent Tracker to keep tabs on all of this summer’s contract agreements. Our lists of free agents by position/type and by team show which players are still available.

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Hoops Rumors Originals

Community Shootaround: Best Deal Of The Day

July 1st, 2018 at 5:05pm CST by ChrisCrouse

The first day of free agency is almost complete and several big names are already off the market.

Paul George will stay in Oklahoma City for the next four years, bringing approximately $137MM. DeAndre Jordan will make roughly the same ($24MM) in Dallas this season as he would have had he opted in with the Clippers. Chris Paul remains in Houston on a four-year, $160MM deal and Kevin Durant will stay in Golden State for at least one more year, as he signed a two-year, $61.5MM deal that will allow him to hit the open market again next summer.

Outside of the top players, many rotational players got paid on mid-sized deals. Ed Davis landed a one-year, $4.4MM deal with the Nets. The Spurs retain Rudy Gay on a one-year, $10MM pact and bring back old friend Marco Belinelli on a two-year, $12MM deal. Trevor Ariza cashes in with the Suns on a one-year, $15MM deal and Joe Harris will stay with the Nets, earning $16MM over the next two seasons.

Tonight’s community shootaround is all about which team made the best deal. The Warriors re-signing Durant is arguably the most important deal of the group and the Thunder retaining George has to be seen as one of the greatest accomplishments during GM Sam Presti’s reign. Aside from those two deals, which contract has the most value?

The Raptors re-signing Fred VanVleet stands out as another coup in a long list of positives during GM Masai Ujiri’s tenure. At $9MM per season, he’ll provide excellent value off the bench and he’s more than capable of starting for Toronto should the club deal Kyle Lowry (no one on the roster is untouchable in trades, per reports).

Which team do you think negotiated the best deal? Do you agree that VanVleet’s contract holds the most value outside of Durant’s and George’s or do you believe another deal is more team-friendly? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below. We look forward to what you have to say!

Hoops Rumors’ 2018 NBA Free Agent Tracker

July 1st, 2018 at 3:00am CST by Luke Adams

With free agency officially underway and news of contract agreements already breaking, Hoops Rumors is here to help you keep track of which players are heading to which teams this July. To this end, we present our Free Agent Tracker, a feature we’ve had each year since our inception in 2012. Using our tracker, you can quickly look up deals, sorting by team, position, free agent type, and a handful of other variables.

A few notes on the tracker:

During the July moratorium (July 1-6), most of the information you’ll find in the tracker will reflect tentative agreements, rather than finalized deals. As signings become official, we’ll continue to update and modify the data as needed.
Similarly, contract years and dollars will be based on what’s been reported to date, so in many cases those amounts will be approximations rather than official figures. Salaries aren’t necessarily fully guaranteed either.
A restricted free agent who signs an offer sheet won’t be included in the tracker right away. We’ll wait to hear whether the player’s original team will match or pass on that offer sheet before we update our tracker, in order to avoid confusion.
If you’re viewing the tracker on our mobile site, be sure to turn your phone sideways to see more details.

Our 2018 Free Agent Tracker can be found anytime on the right sidebar of our desktop site under “Hoops Rumors Features,” and it’s also under the “Tools” menu atop the site. On our mobile site, it can be found in our menu under “Free Agent Lists.”

The tracker will be updated throughout the offseason, so be sure to check back for the latest info. If you have any corrections, please let us know right here.

Our lists of free agents by position/type and by team break down the players who have yet to reach contract agreements.

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Hoops Rumors Originals

Community Shootaround: Superteam in L.A.?

June 30th, 2018 at 10:38pm CST by Arthur Hill

Speculation continues to grow that the Lakers will land the biggest prize of the summer in LeBron James, but the other pieces they were hoping for appear less certain.

Lakers fans watched in anticipation today as LeBron took a flight from his vacation spot of Anguilla to Van Nuys Airport in Los Angeles. It could be a clue or it could just mean that James and his family were returning to their summer home.

Halfway across the country, Thunder fans are finding hope in a “summer hype house party” hosted tonight by OKC star Russell Westbrook. Teammate Paul George is on the guest list for the bash, which would serve as an ideal location if he wants to announce that he’s staying in Oklahoma City. Guests are required to sign a non-disclosure agreement, which adds to the anticipation that major news is on the way.

George is one Los Angeles native the Lakers were hoping to add to their mix. The other is Kawhi Leonard, who has requested a trade out of San Antonio. However, the Spurs are seeking a “clean out the cupboard” type deal, according to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, and the Lakers have been unwilling to meet their price. He adds that L.A. views Leonard as a “distressed asset” who is almost certain to leave San Antonio next summer, so the Lakers’ front office is unwilling to give the Spurs what they want. The Celtics and Sixers are also in on the bidding for Leonard and both might be willing to make better offers.

With the start of free agency less than 30 minutes away, we want to get your predictions. James, George and Leonard — how many of them will be Lakers when the season starts in October? Please leave your responses in the space below.

NBA Minimum Salaries For 2018/19

June 30th, 2018 at 8:27pm CST by Luke Adams

While some NBA teams will head into free agency with more than enough cap room to add a maximum salary player, other clubs will be totally capped out. However, each of the NBA’s 30 clubs will be on common ground in one respect: No team will be ineligible to sign a player to a minimum salary contract.

Teams with cap room available will have a little more flexibility to sign players to longer-term minimum salary contracts, but over-the-cap clubs will still be able to use the minimum salary exception to add as many players as they want. Unlike other exceptions, such as the mid-level or the bi-annual, the minimum salary exception can be used multiple times, for contracts of up to two years.

Undrafted free agents and late second-round picks are often recipients of minimum salary contracts, but there are plenty of veterans who end up settling for the minimum too. Of course, because a player’s minimum salary is determined by how much NBA experience he has, many veterans will earn more than twice as much money as a rookie will in 2018/19 on a minimum salary contract.

Listed below are 2018/19’s minimum salary figures, sorted by years of NBA experience. If a player spent any time on an NBA club’s active regular season roster in a given season, he earned one year of experience. So any player with zero years of experience has not yet made his NBA debut.

Here’s the full breakdown:

Years of Experience	Salary
0	$838,464
1	$1,349,383
2	$1,512,601
3	$1,567,007
4	$1,621,415
5	$1,757,429
6	$1,893,447
7	$2,029,463
8	$2,165,481
9	$2,176,260
10+	$2,393,887

Because the NBA doesn’t want teams to avoid signing veteran players in favor of cheaper, younger players, the league reimburses clubs who sign veterans with three or more years of experience to one-year, minimum salary contracts. Those deals will only count against the cap – and against a team’s bank balance – for $1,512,601, the minimum salary for a player with two years of experience.

For instance, if David West – who has 15 years of NBA experience – signs a one-year, minimum salary contract with a new team, that team would only be charged $1,512,601 for West’s contract. He’d earn $2,393,887, but the NBA would make up the difference. This only applies to one-year contracts, rather than multiyear deals.

If a player signs a minimum salary contract after the regular season begins, he’ll earn a pro-rated portion of the amount listed above.

Players who are still on minimum-salary contracts that they signed in a previous season will have slightly higher minimum salaries than a player who signs a new contract this offseason. Those minimum salary figures are as follows:

Years of Experience	Salary
1	$1,378,242
2	$1,544,951
3	$1,600,520
4	$1,656,092
5	$1,795,015
6	$1,933,941
7	$2,072,867
8	$2,211,794
9	$2,222,803
10+	$2,445,085

These numbers would apply to a player like Heat shooting guard Rodney McGruder, who signed a three-year, minimum-salary contract in 2016. He now has two years of NBA experience, so his minimum salary for 2018/19 will be $1,544,951. If he had been waived and signed a new minimum deal for ’18/19, his salary would only be $1,512,601.

NBA Maximum Salaries For 2018/19

June 30th, 2018 at 8:12pm CST by Luke Adams

Now that the NBA has set its salary cap for the 2018/19 league year at $101,869,000, we have a clearer idea of what maximum-salary contracts will look like for the coming season.

While these numbers could soon be applied to contracts for free agents like LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Paul George, and Nikola Jokic, they’re also relevant for players who signed maximum-salary extensions last year, such as Russell Westbrook, Joel Embiid, and Andrew Wiggins.

Listed below are the maximum-salary contracts for players signing contracts that start in 2018/19. The first chart shows the maximum salaries for a player re-signing with his own team — a player’s previous team can offer five years instead of four, and 8% annual raises instead of 5% raises. The second chart shows the maximum salaries for a player signing with a new team.

A player’s maximum salary is generally determined by his years of NBA experience, so there’s a wide gap between potential earnings for younger and older players. In the charts below, the “6 years or less” column details the maximum contracts for players like Jokic and Wiggins; the “7-9 years” column applies to free agents like George and DeMarcus Cousins; and the “10+ years” column applies to vets like James and Chris Paul.

Here are the maximum salary figures for 2018/19:

A player re-signing with his own team (8% annual raises, up to five years):

Year	6 years or less	7-9 years	10+ years
2018/19	$25,467,250	$30,560,700	$35,654,150
2019/20	$27,504,630	$33,005,556	$38,506,482
2020/21	$29,542,010	$35,450,412	$41,358,814
2021/22	$31,579,390	$37,895,268	$44,211,146
2022/23	$33,616,770	$40,340,124	$47,063,478
Total	$147,710,050	$177,252,060	$206,794,070

A player signing with a new team (5% annual raises, up to four years):

Year	6 years or less	7-9 years	10+ years
2018/19	$25,467,250	$30,560,700	$35,654,150
2019/20	$26,740,613	$32,088,735	$37,436,858
2020/21	$28,013,975	$33,616,770	$39,219,565
2021/22	$29,287,338	$35,144,805	$41,002,273
Total	$109,509,176	$131,411,010	$153,312,846

Values Of 2018/19 Mid-Level, Bi-Annual Exceptions

June 30th, 2018 at 7:49pm CST by Luke Adams

The salary cap for the 2018/19 NBA league year has officially been set, with the league announcing that the cap will be $101,869,000.

Under the league’s current Collective Bargaining Agreement, the values of the mid-level, room, and bi-annual exceptions are tied to the percentage that the salary cap increases in a given year. The cap figure for 2018/19 represents approximately a 2.8% increase over last season’s $99,093,000, so other exceptions will increase by the same amount.

Listed below are the maximum annual and total values of each of these exceptions, along with a brief explanation of how they work and which teams will have access to them.

Mid-Level Exception (Non-Taxpayer):

Year	Salary
2018/19	$8,641,000
2019/20	$9,073,050
2020/21	$9,505,100
2021/22	$9,937,150
Total	$37,156,300

The non-taxpayer mid-level exception is the primary tool available for over-the-cap teams to add free agents. As long as a team hasn’t dipped below the cap to use cap space and doesn’t go over the tax apron ($129.817MM) at all, it can use this MLE, which runs for up to four years with 5% annual raises.

Mid-Level Exception (Taxpayer):

Year	Salary
2018/19	$5,337,000
2019/20	$5,603,850
2020/21	$5,870,700
Total	$16,811,550

If an over-the-cap team currently projects to be a taxpayer, or expects to move into tax territory later in the 2018/19 season, it will have access to this smaller mid-level exception for taxpaying teams. If a team uses more than $5.337MM of its mid-level exception, it is forbidden from surpassing the tax apron at any time during the league year. So even if a team isn’t above the apron when it uses its MLE, it might make sense to play it safe by avoiding using the full MLE and imposing a hard cap.

The taxpayer MLE can be used to sign a player for up to three years, with 5% annual raises.

Room Exception:

Year	Salary
2018/19	$4,449,000
2019/20	$4,671,450
Total	$9,120,450

Although this is also a mid-level exception of sorts, it’s colloquially known as the “room” exception, since it’s only available to teams that have used cap room. If a club goes under the cap, it loses its full mid-level exception, but gets this smaller room exception, which allows the team to go over the cap to sign a player, once the team has used up all its cap space. It can be used to sign players for up to two years, with a 5% raise for the second season.

Bi-Annual Exception:

Year	Salary
2018/19	$3,382,000
2019/20	$3,551,100
Total	$6,933,100

The bi-annual exception, as its name suggests, is only available to teams once every two years. Of the NBA’s 30 clubs, only three – the Pistons, Rockets, and Clippers – used it in 2017/18, so they won’t have access to it in 2018/19. The league’s other 27 teams could theoretically use it this season.

Still, even if a team didn’t use its BAE in ’17/18, that club doesn’t necessarily have access to it for the coming year. As is the case with the non-taxpayer MLE, this exception disappears once a team goes under the cap. It’s also not available to teams over the tax apron — using the BAE creates a hard cap at the apron.

The BAE can be used to sign players for up to two years, with a 5% raise after year one.

Note: Be sure to check out our Hoops Rumors Glossary installments for more information on the mid-level exception and the bi-annual exception.

Hoops Rumors Originals: 6/23/18 – 6/30/18

June 30th, 2018 at 2:12pm CST by clarkcrum

Every week, the Hoops Rumors writing team creates original content to complement our news feed. Here are our segments and features from the past seven days:

The Hoops Rumors writing team took a stab at ranking our Top 50 free agents of 2018.
In this week’s Community Shootaround post, we asked who you believe is the early favorite to win the 2019 NBA Rookie of the Year Award.
Arthur Hill answered several questions in his weekly mailbag, including whether the Lakers’ draft strategy assumed the arrival of LeBron James and the chances of the Jazz making a splash in free agency.
Before the deadline came and went, Luke Adams took a look at some notable players who had yet to make a decision on their player option.
Luke Adams analyzed how the annual salary cap increase affects other important CBA-related figures.
We introduced our 2018 NBA Offseason Trade tracker.
Luke Adams recapped all the players who were eligible to receive qualifying offers this offseason, with details on which players did and didn’t get them.

2018 NBA Qualifying Offer Recap

June 30th, 2018 at 10:30am CST by Luke Adams

Players eligible for restricted free agency don’t become restricted free agents by default. In order for a team to make a player a restricted free agent, it must extend a qualifying offer to him by June 29. The qualifying offer, which is essentially just a one-year contract offer, varies in amount depending on a player’s previous contract status.

A qualifying offer is designed to give a player’s current team the right of first refusal. Because the qualifying offer acts as the first formal contract offer a free agent receives, his team then has the option to match any offer sheet the player signs with another club. If a player doesn’t receive a qualifying offer, he becomes an unrestricted free agent and is free to sign with any team — his previous club is given no formal opportunity to match.

You can read more about qualifying offers here.

Listed below are all the players who were eligible to receive qualifying offers this season, with details on which players did and didn’t get them. Our list is based on information from RealGM’s official NBA transactions log, along with various reports leading up to Friday’s deadline.

It’s possible that one or two qualifying offers slipped through the cracks and will be reported later today before free agency officially gets underway — if so, we’ll update this list. For now though, this is what the qualifying offer landscape looks like. The players who received QOs will be restricted free agents on July 1, while the players who didn’t will be unrestricted.

Received qualifying offers:

Players on NBA contracts:

Aaron Gordon, Magic ($7,260,330)
Marcus Smart, Celtics ($6,053,719)
Julius Randle, Lakers ($5,564,134)
Nemanja Bjelica, Timberwolves ($4,937,499)
Clint Capela, Rockets ($4,749,591)
Kyle Anderson, Spurs ($4,749,591)
Jusuf Nurkic, Trail Blazers ($4,749,591)
Jabari Parker, Bucks ($4,333,932)
Zach LaVine, Bulls ($4,333,932)
Dante Exum, Jazz ($4,333,932)
Rodney Hood, Cavaliers ($3,472,887)
Yogi Ferrell, Mavericks ($2,919,204)
Nikola Jokic, Nuggets ($2,919,204)
Montrezl Harrell, Clippers ($1,839,228)
Raul Neto, Jazz ($1,839,228)
Nando De Colo, Raptors ($1,828,750)
David Nwaba, Bulls ($1,699,698)
Fred VanVleet, Raptors ($1,699,698)
Davis Bertans, Spurs ($1,699,698)
Bryn Forbes, Spurs ($1,699,698)
Patrick McCaw, Warriors ($1,699,698)

Players on two-way contracts:

Note: Qualifying offers for two-way players are one-year, two-way contracts with a $50K guarantee.

Xavier Munford, Bucks
Marshall Plumlee, Bucks
Ryan Arcidiacono, Bulls
Jabari Bird, Celtics
Tyrone Wallace, Clippers
Derrick Jones, Heat
Derrick Walton, Heat
Georges Niang, Jazz
JaKarr Sampson, Kings
Isaiah Hicks, Knicks
Luke Kornet, Knicks
Milton Doyle, Nets
Torrey Craig, Nuggets
Malcolm Miller, Raptors
Markel Brown, Rockets
Darrun Hilliard, Spurs

Did not receive qualifying offers:

Players on NBA contracts:

Noah Vonleh, Bulls
Jonathan Gibson, Celtics
Malcolm Delaney, Hawks
Damion Lee, Hawks
Jordan Mickey, Heat
Treveon Graham, Hornets
Bruno Caboclo, Kings
Andre Ingram, Lakers
Travis Wear, Lakers
Aaron Harrison, Mavericks
Doug McDermott, Mavericks (withdrawn)
Salah Mejri, Mavericks (withdrawn)
Nik Stauskas, Nets
Lucas Nogueira, Raptors
Elfrid Payton, Suns
Amile Jefferson, Timberwolves
Pat Connaughton, Trail Blazers
Shabazz Napier, Trail Blazers

Players on two-way contracts:

Note: Several players on two-way contracts reportedly signed two-year deals, making them ineligible for free agency this summer. They remain under contract.

Josh Magette, Hawks
Andrew White, Hawks
Marcus Paige, Hornets
Erik McCree, Jazz
Jack Cooley, Kings
Gary Payton II, Lakers
Jamel Artis, Magic
James Webb, Nets
Ben Moore, Pacers
Charles Cooke, Pelicans
Kay Felder, Pistons
Demetrius Jackson, Sixers
Matt Costello, Spurs
Danuel House, Suns
Alec Peters, Suns
P.J. Dozier, Thunder
Daniel Hamilton, Thunder
Anthony Brown, Timberwolves
C.J. Wilcox, Trail Blazers

Salary information from Basketball Insiders was used in the creation of this post. Photos courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

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Hoops Rumors Originals

Top 50 NBA Free Agents Of 2018

June 29th, 2018 at 7:03am CST by Luke Adams

The NBA’s new league year will officially begin on Sunday at 12:01 am eastern time, and this year’s free agent period should be fascinating, given the lack of cap room available around the league. There may not be enough money to go around for all the quality players who will be seeking raises and multiyear deals.

Listed below are our top 50 free agents for the 2018/19 NBA season. The players on this list are on track to reach free agency on July 1, though a small handful could still pick up options for next season.

Our rankings take into account both a player’s short-term and long-term value. If we were to consider solely a player’s worth for the 2018/19 season, a veteran like Dwyane Wade would likely place higher, while younger free agents with upside, such as Jabari Parker and Zach LaVine, might be ranked a little lower.

Our top-50 list is a group effort, with Austin Kent, Clark Crum, Arthur Hill, and I all contributing to our composite rankings.

In addition to the players listed below, there are plenty of other notable free agents available this summer. You can check out our breakdowns of free agents by position/type and by team for the full picture.

Here are our top 50 free agents of 2018:

1. LeBron James, F, Cavaliers
Even at 33 years old, James will easily command a four- or five-year, maximum-salary contract if that’s what he wants. One of the NBA’s all-time greats, LeBron was operating at the height of his powers in 2017/18 and while we don’t think he can do this forever, he has shown no signs of slowing down. The team that ends up with him on its roster becomes an instant contender.

2. Kevin Durant, F, Warriors
You could make a case that Durant deserves to top this list after earning his second consecutive NBA Finals MVP, but whether he comes in at No. 1 or No. 2, his free agency will be a mere formality. He has already indicated that he’ll opt out of his current contract to sign a new deal with the Warriors.

3. Nikola Jokic, C, Nuggets (RFA)
Like Durant, Jokic is unlikely to generate much drama with his free agent decision. The Nuggets could have had him back on a paltry $1.6MM team option, but chose to decline that option in order to lock him up to a long-term deal. The two sides are expected to finalize a five-year, maximum-salary agreement soon after the new league year begins.

4. Paul George, F, Thunder
Viewed as a virtual lock a year ago to eventually end up with the Lakers, George is still seriously considering heading to Los Angeles, but the Thunder remain very much in the mix too. The All-Star forward will have to decide whether a second year with Russell Westbrook and company can produce better results than the first one did, or whether it makes more sense to start fresh in L.A.

5. Chris Paul, G, Rockets
Paul had the chance to reach free agency a year ago, but exercised his player option to facilitate a trade to the Rockets instead. At the time, there was a belief that it was only a matter of time before CP3 and the Rockets finalized a longer-term arrangement. As such, it would be a major surprise if Paul leaves Houston this summer.

6. Clint Capela, C, Rockets (RFA)
While Paul may be the Rockets’ most important free agent, Capela isn’t far behind. The young big man hasn’t developed a reliable jump shot, but he can do virtually everything else you’d want from your center, setting screens, finishing at the rim, and protecting the basket on defense. Even if it means matching a substantial offer sheet and/or going into the tax, the Rockets are expected to make a strong effort to keep Capela.

7. DeMarcus Cousins, C, Pelicans
Cousins, who averaged 25.2 PPG, 12.9 RPG, 5.4 APG, 1.6 BPG, and 1.6 SPG in 48 contests for the Pelicans, was headed for a monster year before an Achilles tear sidelined him. The standout center is still in the midst of his recovery from that injury, complicating his value. It will be interesting to see if he has to settle for a shorter-term deal, or one that includes injury protections.

8. Julius Randle, F/C, Lakers (RFA)
A solid rebounder throughout his young NBA career, Randle expanded his offensive game in 2017/18, recording 18.6 PPG, 3.1 APG, and a .560 FG% in his 49 starts. He could be a cap casualty in Los Angeles, depending on what sort of moves the Lakers can make in free agency and on the trade market, but the club will do all it can to avoid letting him get away for nothing.

9. Aaron Gordon, F, Magic (RFA)
After being frequently forced into a small forward role in a crowded Orlando frontcourt in 2016/17, Gordon returned to his natural power forward spot last year and enjoyed his best season as a pro. At 22 years old, the former fourth overall pick still has plenty of room to develop into an even more dynamic player. Improving his three-point efficiency (.336 3PT%, 2.0 3PG in 2017/18) could help put him on a track to stardom.

10. DeAndre Jordan, C, Clippers (player option)
Jordan’s offensive game remains limited and his shot-blocking numbers fell off significantly in 2017/18 (1.1 blocks per 36 minutes). He’ll turn 30 next month, so suitors will be wary of investing too heavily in him, but Jordan is still an elite rebounder and a strong defensive presence in the middle.

11. Jabari Parker, F, Bucks (RFA)
A pair of ACL tears since Parker entered the NBA have hurt his stock. The former No. 2 overall pick has flashed tantalizing potential when healthy though, including when he averaged 20.1 PPG on .490/.365/.743 shooting in 2016/17. Parker is still just 23, so he’s the sort of player who could be worth a roll of the dice if his medicals look okay.

12. Zach LaVine, G, Bulls (RFA)
Like Parker, LaVine was in the midst of a career year in 2016/17 before going down with an ACL tear. And like Parker, LaVine failed to make much of an impact last season after returning from that injury. His brief, unspectacular audition for the Bulls clouds his value, but LaVine looked like a player on the rise before going down with that knee injury. If a team is confident he can pick up where he left off, he’ll be in line for a nice payday.

13. Tyreke Evans, G, Grizzlies
Evans is coming off his best season since his 2009/10 Rookie of the Year campaign, having posted 19.4 PPG, 5.2 APG, and 5.1 RPG in 52 games for the Grizzlies. Memphis only has the mid-level exception available to offer Evans, and it’s very possible that won’t be enough.

14. Marcus Smart, G, Celtics (RFA)
While he’s capable of knocking down the occasional big three, Smart’s overall shooting numbers (.367/.301/.729 in 2017/18) leave plenty to be desired. His defense and his locker-room presence make up for his offensive shortcomings, however — Smart has been a leader on a Celtics team that has appeared in consecutive Eastern Conference Finals, and is one of the league’s best perimeter defenders.

15. Trevor Ariza, F, Rockets
Ariza’s nightmarish 0-for-12 showing in Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals may be fresh in many fans’ minds, but it shouldn’t have a real impact on his stock in free agency. Reliable three-and-D wings like Ariza are a crucial part of Houston’s offense, so rival teams may go to extra lengths to pry Ariza away from the Rockets, which could pay off financially for the veteran forward.

16. Jusuf Nurkic, C, Trail Blazers (RFA)
Nurkic will likely never be a primary scoring option on offense, and he needs to be a little more consistent on defense, but promising young centers with his skill set typically do well in free agency. Although he likely won’t command anything close to the max, an eight-figure annual salary seems well within reach for Nurkic.

17. J.J. Redick, G, Sixers
After signing a one-year, $23MM deal with the Sixers a year ago, Redick may be in line for another big offer from Philadelphia if the team is unable to land its top free agent targets. If the 34-year-old wants to find one last long-term contract, he should have no shortage of suitors, as his three-point shooting (.439 3PT% over the last four seasons) makes him a fit on any NBA roster.

18. Will Barton, G, Nuggets
An underrated part of the Nuggets’ rotation, Barton is capable of playing off the ball and hitting three-pointers (.370 3PT%). He can also handle the point and run the offense when called upon (4.1 APG). Barton is still very much in his prime at age 27, and his versatility will make him an appealing target for teams looking for a player who can fill out a starting lineup or lead a second unit.

19. Rajon Rondo, G, Pelicans
Rondo is unlikely to receive the sort of big-money offers that his friend and teammate Cousins will, but his importance to the Pelicans shouldn’t be understated. The veteran point guard helped set the culture in New Orleans and gave the team options in the backcourt, allowing Jrue Holiday to thrive at the two. Coming off a postseason in which he averaged a double-double (10.3 PPG, 12.2 APG), Rondo will be in line for a raise on last year’s $3.3MM salary.

20. Derrick Favors, F/C, Jazz
Favors isn’t an ideal fit as a power forward alongside a shot-blocking center like Rudy Gobert, since the pairing can create some floor-spacing issues, but the Jazz have made it work. Teams eyeing Favors in free agency this summer could envision him in a similar role, or they could be targeting him as a center, which is probably his natural position.

21. Isaiah Thomas, G, Lakers
A year ago, Thomas looked like a potential maximum-salary candidate for 2018. He won’t get anything close to that now, but if his hip is in better shape than it was last season, he’s an intriguing buy-low option. While Thomas will almost certainly never match his 2016/17 numbers, he had two other 20+ PPG years on his résumé prior to that season.

22. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, G, Lakers
After failing to secure the kind of lucrative, long-term contract he sought in 2017, Caldwell-Pope improved his shooting numbers and increased his standing as a three-and-D swingman. However, his odds of a mega-deal likely won’t be any better this time around, given the lack of teams with cap space.

23. Rodney Hood, G, Cavaliers (RFA)
Teams will be wary of committing big-time money to Hood after the Jazz essentially gave up on him and the Cavaliers saw him refuse to enter a playoff game. Still, 25-year-old swingmen who can shoot and score like Hood aren’t easy to find. He may not receive a massive offer sheet, but his market shouldn’t bottom out either.

24. Avery Bradley, G, Clippers
Traded from the Celtics to the Pistons to the Clippers during the 2017/18 league year, Bradley seemingly saw his value diminish at each stop, partly due to health problems. His three-point shot (.369 3PT%) remained reliable though, and he still has a solid defensive reputation. A contender that can add Bradley using its mid-level exception may get a bargain.

25. Fred VanVleet, G, Raptors (RFA)
VanVleet entered the 2017/18 season with fewer than 300 NBA minutes under his belt, but he morphed into Kyle Lowry Lite over the course of the year, running the Raptors’ five-man bench unit, knocking down big shots, and playing tenacious defense on opposing guards. While Toronto will look to re-sign him, a back-loaded offer using the Arenas provision could create problems for the cap-strapped Raps.

26. Brook Lopez, C, Lakers
Lopez’s days as a 20+ PPG scorer are probably over, but the veteran has a useful skill set at the five. He averaged two blocked shots per 36 minutes in 2017/18, and continued to hit just enough three-pointers (.345 3PT%) to make teams pay attention to him beyond the arc. Lopez is only 30, so he should have a few more productive seasons left in him.

27. Kyle Anderson, F, Spurs (RFA)
The Spurs have been willing to let several restricted free agents walk in recent years, including Jonathon Simmons last summer and Boban Marjanovic the year before. I expect the team to make a stronger effort to retain Anderson, particularly with Kawhi Leonard‘s future in San Antonio up in the air. Anderson’s numbers don’t jump off the page, but he played his role well, scoring efficiently (.527 FG%) and playing good defense.

28. Rudy Gay, F, Spurs
Anderson’s teammate Gay is an offense-first player who didn’t get the chance to contribute a ton on offense during his lone season in San Antonio, averaging a career-low 9.4 shot attempts per game. Another year removed from his Achilles tear, Gay will be looking for a healthier season in 2018/19, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he also seeks a larger role than the one he had with the Spurs.

29. Wayne Ellington, G, Heat
With NBA teams launching more three-pointers than ever, sharpshooters like Ellington should do well for themselves on the open market this offseason. Only six players in the NBA attempted more threes per game last season than Ellington’s 7.5, and the Heat veteran put them in at a 39.2% rate. Those numbers should earn him a raise on last year’s $6.27MM salary, and Miami may have trouble keeping him, given the team’s proximity to the tax line.

30. Marco Belinelli, G, Sixers
Another three-point specialist, Belinelli launched 5.3 threes per game after joining the Sixers, making 38.5% of them. Like Ellington, he should attract plenty of interest from teams in need of floor-spacers, and most of the league’s clubs fit that bill.

31. Joe Harris, F, Nets
Harris improved his numbers across the board for the Nets in 2017/18, posting an impressive shooting line of .491/.419/.827. While Harris’ percentages could slip if his shot volume increases, he can afford a little regression.

32. Nerlens Noel, C, Mavericks
After posting 10.5 PPG, 8.1 RPG, 1.8 SPG, and 1.7 BPG in his first two NBA seasons, Noel struggled to carve out a regular role in Philadelphia and Dallas. At age 24, he still has plenty of upside as an athletic and versatile difference-maker on defense.

33. Montrezl Harrell, C, Clippers (RFA)
An apparent throw-in piece in last summer’s Chris Paul blockbuster, Harrell emerged as DeAndre Jordan‘s primary backup and nearly matched Jordan’s scoring output despite playing just 17.0 minutes per game. It’s not clear if Harrell is ready for a larger role, but his impressive per-minute production off the bench makes him worth a flier.

34. Kyle O’Quinn, C, Knicks
Unlike the two bigs just ahead of him on this list, O’Quinn probably doesn’t have much untapped potential left. Nonetheless, there’s value in his reliability as a rim protector and rebounder. He’d be an excellent backup center for any team, and may even find a situation where he can start.

35. Dwyane Wade, G, Heat
Wade showed in the Heat’s lone playoff win – when he poured in 28 points on 11-of-16 shooting – that he still has something left in the tank. He’s unlikely to leave Miami again, so if he opts to continue his career, he’ll fit in nicely as the leader of the Heat’s second unit.

36. Mario Hezonja, F, Magic
Considered a probable bust after his first two NBA seasons, Hezonja bounced back in a big way in 2017/18, making a career-best 44.2% of his field goal attempts and getting his 3PT% back up to .337. Since they turned down their fourth-year option on Hezonja’s rookie contract, the Magic will be limited in what they can offer the 23-year-old, which could allow him to find a payday elsewhere.

37. Dante Exum, G, Jazz (RFA)
Another former fifth overall pick like Hezonja, Exum also hasn’t turned into the kind of NBA player that many experts and fans expected. However, in Exum’s case, injuries deserve much of the blame. The talented young point guard has been limited to 80 regular-season games over the last three seasons. When he got healthy down the stretch in 2017/18, he flashed his play-making potential.

38. Elfrid Payton, G, Suns
In Payton’s first nine games as a Sun, he averaged 16.4 PPG, 8.2 APG, and 8.0 RPG with a pair of triple-doubles. However, he saw his production and his playing time dwindle the rest of the way, and his shortcomings as a shooter and a defender ultimately helped spell the end of his stint in Phoenix. With the Suns not planning to re-sign him, we’ll see if another team can get more out of the former top-10 pick.

39. Luc Mbah a Moute, F, Rockets
Although Mbah a Moute didn’t receive the same sort of attention as teammates Trevor Ariza and P.J. Tucker, he played a similar role for the Rockets, spacing the floor (.364 3PT%) and playing good defense on opposing wings. A shoulder injury sidelined him for part of the postseason and limited his ability to make an impact when he returned, but he proved his worth with his regular-season play.

40. Ersan Ilyasova, F, Sixers
Ilyasova can’t seem to find a permanent home, having played for five teams in the last three seasons, including two separate stints with the Sixers. He keeps fitting into lineups as a reliable stretch four though. Since 2011/12, Ilyasova has never averaged fewer than 10 PPG and has knocked down 37.5% of his three-pointers.

41. Aron Baynes, C, Celtics
A nice fit in Boston alongside Al Horford, Baynes appears likely to sign a new multiyear deal with the Celtics. Baynes’ value comes from his rebounding and defense, but if he continues to have the sort of success from three-point range that he did during the playoffs (11 for 23), he’ll provide an even better return on investment.

42. David Nwaba, G, Bulls (RFA)
Nwaba’s calling card is his defense, and he’s unlikely to evolve into a go-to scoring option. But if he can maintain his shooting rates (.478 FG%, .346 3PT%) with a slightly higher volume, you won’t be able to ignore him on offense.

43. Anthony Tolliver, F, Pistons
Tolliver’s three-point shot was more effective than ever in 2017/18, as he made 2.0 per game at a 43.6% clip. While you’d like to see a few more rebounds out of a 6’8″ forward who plays nearly exclusively at the four, he’s a solid rotation player.

44. Tony Parker, G, Spurs
Parker, who turned 36 last month, has seen his scoring numbers decline over each of the last five seasons, and was phased out of his starting role in 2017/18. The six-time All-Star should probably be viewed as a veteran leader who plays backup minutes from here on out.

45. Nemanja Bjelica, F, Timberwolves (RFA)
Like most Timberwolves players, Bjelica was overused when he was part of the starting lineup (34.0 MPG in 21 starts) and underused off the bench (14.3 MPG in 46 games). He’s not the sort of player who should get 30 minutes a night, but a 6’10” forward who makes 41.5% of his three-pointers, as Bjelica did last season, can be a key part of any team’s second unit.

46. Ed Davis, C, Trail Blazers
A stabilizing force in the middle for the Blazers when Jusuf Nurkic struggled, Davis remained a force on the glass in 2017/18, ripping down 7.4 rebounds in just 18.9 minutes per contest. The big man is still just 29 years old, so could receive multiyear offers from teams seeking a veteran center.

47. Amir Johnson, F/C, Sixers
Many of Johnson’s best traits don’t translate to the box score, but he’s willing to do whatever a team needs, whether that means setting screens and making the right pass on offense, or boxing out on defense. He’d be a solid third or fourth big man for most NBA teams.

48. Michael Beasley, F, Knicks
As long as you know what you’re getting – and what you’re not – from Beasley, the former No. 2 overall pick is worth a shot. In 150 games for the Rockets, Bucks, and Knicks over the last three seasons, he has racked up 21.5 points and 8.6 rebounds per 36 minutes.

49. Jeff Green, F, Cavaliers
At times during his stint in Cleveland, Green looked like the third-best player on Cleveland’s roster. At other times, he looked like he should be out of the rotation entirely. The good version of Green shows up often enough that he’ll continue to receive plenty of NBA interest from clubs in need of a forward with some defensive versatility.

50. Jerami Grant, F, Thunder
After flashing an improved three-point shot in 2016/17, Grant struggled with that shot last season, but he provided value to the Thunder with his defense and his improved mid-range game. Grant, who is still just 24 years old, could be a sneaky buy for a rival team this summer with the Thunder at risk of going deep into the tax.

Ten more free agents we considered:

Jamal Crawford, G, Timberwolves
Shabazz Napier, G, Trail Blazers
Derrick Rose, G, Timberwolves
Lance Stephenson, G, Pacers
Trevor Booker, F, Pacers
Dante Cunningham, F, Nets
James Ennis, F, Pistons
Doug McDermott, F, Mavericks
Kevon Looney, C, Warriors
Greg Monroe, C, Celtics

Note: Enes Kanter and Dirk Nowitzki aren’t included on this list since Kanter is expected to pick up his player option and Nowitzki is a lock to return to the Mavericks, either on his team option or a new deal.

Photos courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

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