NBA Free Agency 2019: Top-20 Players on Market

NBA free agency begins on June 30. To set the stage, rankings are provided below of the best players available (including restricted free agents and players with a team or player option) ahead of this summer's hectic free agency period.

*Photos courtesy of HoopsHype.com

1. Kawhi Leonard

The 2019 Finals MVP is the best player in basketball.

2. Kevin Durant 

The two-time Finals MVP is expected to miss the entire 2019-20 season due to a ruptured Achilles tendon.

3. Kemba Walker

Walker earned All-NBA Third Team honors after registering 25.6 points per contest.

4. Kyrie Irving

Irving had the best regular season of his career, but flatlined in the playoffs. He missed 14 or more shots in each of the Celtics' final four postseason contests—all losses.

5. Jimmy Butler

Butler, acquired midseason by the 76ers, elevated his play in the postseason, executing best with the ball in his hands as the point forward.

6. Khris Middleton 

A first-time All-Star in 2019, Middleton helped the Bucks win a league-high 60 games.

7. Klay Thompson

A torn ACL could sideline Thompson for the season, but the five-time All-Star will still likely receive a max contract offer from the Warriors.

8. D'Angelo Russell (Restricted)

   

Russell attained All-Star honors in 2019 and finished second in the voting for the Most Improved Player award, trailing only Toronto's Pascal Siakam.

9. Tobias Harris

Harris averaged career-highs in points (20.0), rebounds (7.9), assists (2.8) and field goal percentage (48.7%). He played in all 82 games between the Clippers and 76ers.

10. Al Horford

The 33-year-old was a critical cog in the Celtics' consecutive runs to the Conference Finals in 2017 and 2018, but like his teammates, underperformed in 2019. He made one All-Star appearance in three seasons in Boston, which is expected to lose the big man in free agency.

11. Nikola Vucevic

Vucevic had a phenomenal regular season—registering career-bests with 20.8 points and 12 rebounds per contest—but was a total no-show in Orlando's first-round playoff defeat (11.2 points per game, 36.2 percent shooting).
12. Malcolm Brogdon (Restricted)

The former Rookie of the Year and restricted free agent guard, Brogdon became the eighth player in league history to join the 50-40-90 club—shooting 50.5% from the field, 92.8% on free throws and 42.6% from 3-point land.
13. Kristaps Porzingis (Restricted)

The 7-foot-3 big man hasn't played since February 6, 2018, then as a member of the Knicks. Expect the former All-Star to remain with the Dallas Mavericks.
14. DeMarcus Cousins

A four-time All-Star, Cousins endured an injury-riddled 2018-19 campaign.
15. Bojan Bogdanovic

Bogdanovic averaged 18 points and 4.1 rebounds while shooting 42.5% on 3-pointers in a career season.
16. Marc Gasol (Player Option)

Gasol played an instrumental role in the Raptors' elusive championship. He can accept his player option for this season to earn roughly $25.6 million with Toronto.
*Update: Gasol exercised his player option to remain with the Raptors.
17. Paul Millsap (Team Option)

Millsap is the Nuggets' defensive anchor. When Millsap was on the floor, Denver had a 107.3 defensive rating, which would have ranked eighth in the league over the course of an entire season. When he sat, the defensive rating plummeted to 111.9, which would have ranked 22nd in the NBA. 
*Update: Denver exercised its team option on Millsap.
18. JJ Redick

Redick accumulated a career-best 18.1 points per game last season, despite being a part of a loaded 76ers starting-5 in which he was almost always the fifth option on offense.
19. Harrison Barnes

Barnes surprisingly declined a $25.1 million player option with the Kings for next season. Barnes, 27, is a strong-boded defender who can score when called upon.
20. Julius Randle

In his first season in New Orleans, Randle registered a career-high in scoring with 21.4 points per contest with a 55.5 effective field goal percentage. He did, however, account for the third-worst Defensive Real Plus-Minus among centers in the NBA.

Al Horford Opts Out of Contract

Al Horford is officially a free agent.

The Boston Celtics center will not exercise his $30.1 million option for the 2019-20 season and will become an unrestricted free agent, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

Boston Celtics center Al Horford will not exercise the $30.1M option on his 2019-20 contract and become an unrestricted free agent, league sources tell ESPN. Horford and the Celtics both have interest in working toward a new deal in July, sources tell ESPN.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 18, 2019

Horford has spent the last three seasons with the Celtics after signing with the franchise in 2016. He earned an All-Star nod in his second season with the Celtics and played a critical role in their consecutive runs to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2017 and 2018.

Horford declined his $30.1 million player option. (AP Photo)

Before joining Boston, Horford played the first nine years of his career with the Atlanta Hawks, attaining four All-Star selections.

Reports initially claimed that the 33-year-old five-time All-Star was interested in returning to Boston on a new contract. Horford could help Boston's salary-cap flexibility by inking a new, less expensive deal. However, according to Wojnarowski, the two sides could not come to an agreement and Horford is now expected to leave the Celtics and find a new home in free agency. 

Horford averaged 13.6 points, 6.7 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 1.3 blocks in 29 minutes per contest last season.

Nuggets Win in Thomas' Return to Boston

The Denver Nuggets are heading to the NBA playoffs for the first time since 2013, clinching a postseason berth in Monday's 114-105 win over the Boston Celtics.

Nikola Jokic scored 21 points, corralled 13 rebounds, dished seven assists and added two steals and three blocks. Will Barton had 20 points in the victory.

Isaiah Thomas played in his first game back in Boston since being traded in the summer of 2017 for Kyrie Irving. 

The TD Garden crowd roared as the Celtics played a two-minute tribute video on the jumbotron dedicated to Thomas during the first timeout of the game. Thomas, a two-time All-Star with Boston, held back tears as the Boston fans saluted him.

"I was emotional," Thomas said. "I almost cried. That was everything. I appreciate them for doing that."

Thomas was all smiles as the Celtics played a tribute video for him. (Getty Images)

Thomas played just seven minutes, failing to score. He had two assists and one turnover.

Denver outrebounded Boston 51-37. Paul Millsap registered a 12-point, 11-rebound double-double as Denver dominated the Celtics on the boards.

The Nuggets took control of the game in the fourth quarter. Entering the final period tied, the Nuggets grabbed a 12-point lead with under four minutes remaining after Gary Harris (16 points) stole the ball from Boston's Al Horford and drove the length of the court for a layup that put the game out of reach.

Horford finished with 20 points, six rebounds and six assists in the defeat. Irving logged a game-high 30 points with five rebounds, four assists and four steals.

The Celtics play at Philadelphia on Wednesday, while the Nuggets will play the second contest of their four-game road trip in Washington on Tuesday.

Brown, Hayward Lead Celtics Past Mavs

Gordon Hayward followed up his top scoring game as a member of the Boston Celtics with an all-around terrific outing, accumulating 16 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists in a 114-93 victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Friday night. Hayward put together another strong performance off the bench after he scored 35 points on Wednesday night.

Jaylen Brown, starting for the injured Marcus Morris (neck), posted a game-high 21 points to continue his hot streak. In his last five games, Brown has averaged 17 points and four rebounds. He is shooting 63.5 percent from the field, 46.7 percent on 3's and 70.6 percent from the free throw line in this stretch.

Jaylen Brown has scored 20 or more points three times in the past seven games. (AP Photo)

Al Horford logged 10 points, eight rebounds and eight assists—tying Hayward for a team-high. Point guard Terry Rozier, filling in for Kyrie Irving (scratched cornea), dished seven assists. Boston totaled 35 assists on 42 made field goals.

Rookie Luka Doncic had 19 points and nine assists for the Mavs. Harrison Barnes registered a team-best 20 points, while DeAndre Jordan had 12 points and corralled 15 rebounds.

The Mavs are 3-16 on the road this season.

The Celtics play the third contest of their four-game homestand Monday night versus the Brooklyn Nets.

Irving, Celtics Rally to Beat Grizzlies

Kyrie Irving saved his best for last on Saturday night. After scoring only four points on 1-of-4 shooting with a minus-10 in the first half, Irving totaled 22 points after intermission on 7-of-12 shooting as the Boston Celtics rallied for a 112-103 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies at FedEx Forum.

Kyrie Irving drives past Garrett Temple. Irving's 26 points led Boston to a road win. (Brandon Dill/AP)

Boston erased a 19-point second-half deficit, using an 11-2 run in the closing minutes of the third quarter to cut into the lead. Entering the fourth quarter down by eight, the Celtics outscored the Grizzlies 33-16 in the final period. 

Picking up the defensive intensity after halftime, the Celtics forced the Grizzlies into shooting contested deep range jumpers. The Grizzlies went ice cold from the floor, missing 15 of their first 16 fourth-quarter shots. Boston's Al Horford knocked down two critical threes in the game's final two minutes, putting the contest out of reach. He finished with 18 points—hitting five three-pointers—with six rebounds, three assists and a block in 23 minutes of action. Horford’s five 3-pointers matched a career high.

The Celtics got a strong effort from the bench, led by Gordon Hayward's 14 points. Guerschon Yabusele turned 16 minutes into a plus-11—the second best number on the team behind only Irving—with one made three-pointer, four rebounds and two blocks.

Marcus Morris scored 22 points in the win. 

Mike Conley led the way for Memphis, accumulating 26 points. Dillon Brooks came off the bench to score 19. Rookie Jaren Jackson Jr. and former Defensive Player of the Year Marc Gasol added 15 points apiece. Gasol logged 10 assists in the loss.

The Celtics relied on their defense and three-point shooting in their come-from-behind win. After surrendering 64 first-half points, the Celtics limited the Grizzlies to 39 points in the second half. Boston got hot from downtown after intermission, going 9 of 18 from three-point territory.

Celtics Hit Team-Record 24 3-Pointers, Beat Bucks

The Boston Celtics made it rain from downtown on Thursday night, sinking a franchise-record 24 three-pointers in a 117-113 victory to hand the Milwaukee Bucks their first loss of the season.

Kyrie Irving scored a team-high 28 points for the Celtics, making six treys. Al Horford had four triples in an 18-point outing with eight assists and five rebounds, Gordon Hayward added a season-high 18 points, including four 3-pointers, and Marcus Morris posted 17 points off the bench with five treys.

Marcus Morris celebrates after hitting a three-pointer. (Christopher Evans/Boston Herald)

The Celtics topped their previous club record of three-pointers (19) before the end of the third quarter and came one shy of tying the NBA record.

The World Series champion Boston Red Sox were honored at the TD Garden during a timeout in the first quarter.

YOUR 2018 WORLD CHAMPION BOSTON @REDSOX #DamageDone 🏆 pic.twitter.com/Te8bKXUhnV

— Boston Celtics (@celtics) November 2, 2018

Morris admired the way the Red Sox utilized most of their active roster to capture a title.

“That was special,” Morris said. “I’m a big Red Sox guy. I’d been watching them throughout the playoffs, even throughout the season. The way they came together and won that championship is special. The biggest thing is they had a lot of different guys step up. Even when guys played well, like when Brock Holt made the cycle, he sat out. (Andrew) Benintendi had a couple amazing catches and he sat out a game and they still won. That was special to watch that. They play together.” 

The Celtics have the best bench in the league and will look to take a page out of the Red Sox’s book by relying on their unmatched depth to win a championship. The Celtics' deep roster was on display against the Bucks as six players scored in double-figures, including 10 points from fill-in starter Semi Ojeleye, who replaced the injured Jaylen Brown (sore foot) in the first-unit. Backup guard Terry Rozier filled up the stat sheet with seven points, seven rebounds, three assists and two steals in 27 minutes.

Bucks superstar forward Giannis Antetokounmpo returned to the lineup after missing one game recovering from a concussion and registered game-highs in points (33) and rebounds (11). But Milwaukee (7-1) played terrible defense all night, allowing Boston to take far too many uncontested three-pointers.

“We got a lot of open looks. We were taking what they were giving us,” Hayward said after playing a season-high 27 minutes.

The Celtics begin a five-game road trip on Saturday night against the Indiana Pacers, while the Bucks return home to host the Sacramento Kings on Sunday afternoon.

Las Vegas Win Projections: Take the Over for Celtics

The Westgate Las Vegas Superbook released its over/under win totals for the 2018-19 NBA season, and the Boston Celtics are placed at 57.5 wins. The over/under of 57.5 victories is the highest in the Eastern Conference and ranks second in the entire league, trailing only the two-time defending champion Golden State Warriors (62.5).

The Celtics won 55 games last season, their most victories since Brad Stevens took over the coaching duties in 2013. Because they accomplished this feat with Gordon Hayward sidelined for all but five minutes of the season—in addition to Kyrie Irving missing the final quarter of the year with a knee injury—taking the over total of 57.5 victories seems like free money.

Not only are All-Stars Hayward and Irving returning for the Celtics, their lineup also features Al Horford and two rising stars in 21-year-old Jaylen Brown and 20-year-old Jayson Tatum.

Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum could help Boston reach 60 wins in 2018-19. — by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images

Brown is entering his third season in the league, while Tatum will embark on his sophomore campaign after finishing third in the voting for Rookie of the Year.

Both Brown and Tatum could further develop their overall games and may even reach stardom after shining in the 2018 postseason.

Retaining their two biggest free agents, Marcus Smart and Aron Baynes, the Celtics are returning the squad that reached the seventh game of the Conference Finals.

The Celtics should dominate the East, even with the Toronto Raptors’ acquisition of Kawhi Leonard, who brings a nearly-unmatched NBA résumé—but also a lot of question marks and baggage—north of the border.

With its highest projected win total since 2008-09, expect Boston to win over 60 games and earn the top seed in the East for the second time in three seasons.

Horford's Continued Presence in Lineup Should Fix Defensive Woes, but Rebounding Remains Long-Term Concern for Celtics

                The sexy pick of this year’s preseason, the Boston Celtics have not lived up to expectations. Sitting at 13-12 and tied for sixth in the Eastern Conference, the Celtics are a mediocre team at best. They are winless (0-7) against teams with an above .600 record and still lack a signature victory. Hovering around .500 (8-7) in “clutch” games, which the NBA defines as contests with the score within five points in the last five minutes of the fourth quarter, Boston does not look the part for a team many pundits predicted would contend for the No. 2 seed in the East and potentially challenge the defending champion Cleveland Cavaliers come playoff time.

                Boston’s issues lie on the defensive end and in the rebounding department. Wedged in the middle of the pack at 13^th in team defense—surrendering 103.2 points per game—the Celtics are not challenging opponents at a level true contenders must do. Boston’s defense, a strength of the team in the 2015-16 campaign in which it held opponents to 44.1 % shooting with an opponent adjusted field goal mark of 48.7%, has struggled mightily this season.

                The absence of four-time All-Star and elite post defender Al Horford for 10 games this season has had a shattering impact on the defense. Horford missed nine contests with a concussion injury sustained in practice and another game to accompany his wife in the hospital as the couple welcomed their second child to the world.

                Horford was signed to a four-year, max contract deal in the summer in part for his outstanding defense in the post. According to ESPN Stats & Information, Horford defended a league-high 262 direct posts—a post-up attempt in which a player shoots, is fouled, turns the ball over or passes to a shooter—last season and allowed just 0.84 points per direct post. Of the top-12 players with the most direct posts defended, only Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green allowed fewer points (0.72) per direct post in 2015-16.

Al Horford is Boston's catalyst on defense. (Bob DeChiari/USA Today Sports)

                A closer look at the Celtics’ season results reveal major discrepancies in defensive effectiveness with Horford in the lineup compared to games without him. The Celtics allow 101.8 points per contest in games in which Horford has suited up—much less than the whopping 106.2 points surrendered without him in the lineup.

                Horford provides the Celtics with a much-needed rim protector. A year after blocking a career-best 121 blocks in 2015-16, Horford ranks sixth in the NBA with 2.2 blocks per game.

                While injuries are not an excuse—particularly for a team with a head coach as touted as Brad Stevens—the Celtics clearly have been a much team defensively with Horford manning the center duties. In addition to Horford, starters Isaiah Thomas (groin) and Jae Crowder (ankle) missed games due to injuries. Boston has played with its regular starting five of Horford, Thomas, Crowder, Avery Bradley and Amir Johnson for just 10 games this season, winning seven of them.

                An area in which the Celtics will likely not improve anytime soon is rebounding. The Celtics rank 28^th in rebounding and Bradley, the team’s starting shooting guard, is the only player on the roster who has elevated his game in this facet for the season. He has registered a team-best 7.6 boards per contest with an 11.8% rebounding rate. 
                But the 6’ 4’’ Bradley can only do so much and it’s alarmingly evident the team must add another big man to the roster. The Celtics were expected to be a worse rebounding team this year in the wake of the offseason departures of Evan Turner and Jared Sullinger, but certainly not to this degree. And now that the defense has taken a hit as a result of their anemic ability to grab boards, the onus lies on President of Basketball Operations Danny Ainge to acquire an impact player down low for Boston to have any shot of making noise in the Eastern Conference.

*Statistics/Information accurate as of 12/15/16