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.

Lopez, Bucks Rally Past Raptors in Game 1

The Milwaukee Bucks pulled out a 108-100 win over the Toronto Raptors in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals at the Fiserv Forum. Brook Lopez scored a team-high 29 points for Milwaukee, which trailed 83-76 entering the fourth quarter but opened the period on a 20-8 run and never looked back.

Lopez grabbed 11 rebounds, blocked four shots and added two assists in the victory. He scored 13 in the fourth quarter to spearhead the Bucks' comeback.  

Brook Lopez is making $3 million this season. Tonight, he was incredible for the Bucks in their Game 1 win over the Raptors.

29 points
12-21 FG
4 3PT
11 rebounds

His resurgence this season has been unbelievable. #NBAPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/JfSsgdhwLB

— Tony Dombrowski (@tonydombrowski) May 16, 2019

He hit three 3's in the final period, the biggest coming with under two minutes to play to give the Bucks a four-point advantage.

Brook Lopez scored a playoff career-high 29 points in Game 1. (Nathaniel S. Butler/Getty Images)

Despite going 6-for-35 from three-point range in the first three quarters, the Bucks managed to sustain homecourt advantage in the series. They connected on five of nine treys in the final frame. They also withstood a 30-point effort from Kyle Lowry, who drained 7-of-9 shots from three-point territory. Kawhi Leonard posted a game-high 31 points, while Pascal Siakam added 15 points with six rebounds.

MVP favorite Giannis Antetokounmpo finished with 24 points and a game-best 14 rebounds. Khris Middleton corralled 11 rebounds and registered 11 points.

The Bucks got a spark off their bench from guard Malcolm Brogdon, the 2017 Rookie of the Year. Brogdon, 26, suffered a foot injury last month and did not return until the final game of the Bucks’ conference semifinal series against the Boston Celtics.

Brogdon accumulated 15 points on 5-of-9 shooting, while grabbing three rebounds and dishing three assists in 27 minutes. 

The Bucks are clicking 🤯🔨#FearTheDeer | #NBAPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/Ta5wiScE69

— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) May 16, 2019

The Bucks closed the contest on a 10-0 run. Game 2 is Friday night in Milwaukee.

Clippers are 'Frontrunner' to Sign Kawhi Leonard?

The Los Angeles Clippers are reportedly the frontrunner to sign Toronto Raptors forward Kawhi Leonard in free agency next summer, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Leonard, who was traded from the San Antonio Spurs to the Raptors over the summer, is under contract for one year with Toronto, but is expected to opt out of his current deal in July 2019 to enter the free agent market.

The report from Wojnarowski states that Minnesota Timberwolves All-Star guard/forward Jimmy Butler—who also has a player option in 2019 and intends to become a free agent next summer—would like to be traded to the Clippers in order to pair up with Leonard. The Clippers will have enough cap space for two max contracts, which Leonard and Butler will both demand.

Butler wants out of Minnesota, despite the efforts of Timberwolves president of basketball operations and coach Tom Thibodeau to convince him to stay with the franchise.

While Butler has made it known he wants to play with Leonard, it’s unclear as to whether Leonard would want to leave Toronto to team up with Butler.

The Raptors remain confident they can convince Leonard, a two-time Defensive Player of the Year, to stay in Toronto long-term. The Raptors finished in first in the Eastern Conference standings last season. They are one of the favorites to represent the East in the NBA Finals, along with the Boston Celtics.

Kawhi Leonard reportedly wants to play for the Clippers in 2019. (Getty Images)

After acquiring Leonard, Raptors president Masai Ujiri explained that he believes the team’s on-court product—coupled with the city’s passionate fans—will induce the former Finals MVP to stay in Toronto.

"I think there’s a lot to sell here," Ujiri said at a press conference in July. "Our team, our culture, our city, our ownership, we have everything here except a championship, in my humble opinion. I don’t think we lack anything in this city. We have great fans, we have a great organization,we have a great following, I think we have a great country. There is something about this place that reaches out to the whole world and we’re proud of that and we’re going to continue to sell that. Hopefully it’s an appeal, not only to him but to more NBA players."

While Ujiri is determined to make Leonard the face of the franchise for years to come, numerous reports have suggested the two-time All-Star is enamored with the city of Los Angeles and only wants to play for either the Clippers or the Lakers. Signing with the Lakers would mean Leonard would have to play second fiddle to LeBron James, who signed with the franchise in July.

NBA Player Rank 2014: Nos. 40-31

40.       Klay Thompson (SG) - Golden State Warriors

2013-14 SEASON

PPG 18.4

REB 3.1

ASST 2.2

FG% 44.4

The off-guard in Golden State's "Splash Brothers" duo, Thompson helps form the NBA's premier backcourt with teammate Stephen Curry. Thompson knocked down 223 three-pointers in 2014, a career-high from behind the arc. The third-year guard registered career-bests in points per game and field goal (44.4) and three-point percentage (41.7). One of the league's top shooters, Thompson is also a steadily improving wing defender, a major reason the Warriors refuse to deal the guard in a package deal for Minnesota forward Kevin Love.

39.       Kemba Walker (PG) - Charlotte Bobcats

2013-14 SEASON

PPG 17.7

REB 4.2

ASST 6.1

FG% 39.3

Proclaimed a "bust" in his rookie season (2012) by basketball pundits, Walker has improved his game tremendously in each of his past two seasons. Walker's scoring ballooned from 2012 (12.1) to 2013 (17.7), though the Charlotte Bobcats (now Hornets) remained a bottom dweller in the Eastern Conference in both seasons. Emerging as the leader of the club in 2014, Walker led the franchise to its first postseason appearance since 2010.

38.       Kawhi Leonard (SF) - San Antonio Spurs

2013-14 SEASON

PPG 12.8

REB 6.2

ASST 2.0

FG% 52.2

Leonard's prowess as a defender lands him a spot in the top-40. Though, it should be noted that the third-year forward trailed only LeBron James in shooting percentage among NBA small forwards.

37.       Lance Stephenson (SG) - Indiana Pacers

2013-14 SEASON

PPG 13.8

REB 7.2

ASST 4.6

FG% 49.1

Stephenson finished second in the voting for Most Improved Player in 2014, with the league taking notice of his strides on both sides of the ball. A surefire hot commodity in the upcoming free agency, Stephenson has shown flashes of being an elite player. The fourth-year guard will likely command upwards of $10 million on the open market this offseason. 

36.       Zach Randolph (PF) - Memphis Grizzlies

2013-14 SEASON

PPG 17.4

REB 10.1

ASST 2.5

FG% 46.7

Randolph averaged a double-double for the fourth time in five seasons as a member of the Memphis Grizzlies. His 47 double-doubles were tied for fourth-most among all NBA players in 2014. With center Marc Gasol injured for 23 games this season, Randolph shouldered the load on the inside, helping the Grizzlies capture a playoff birth for the fourth consecutive year.

35.       Ty Lawson (PG) - Denver Nuggets

2013-14 SEASON

PPG 17.6

REB 3.5

ASST 8.8

FG% 43.1

One of the NBA's most under-appreciated players, Lawson finished in a second-place tie for assists per contest in 2014. Along with forward Kenneth Faried, Lawson is part of the nucleus for the rebuilding Nuggets. 

34.       Pau Gasol (PF/C) - Los Angeles Lakers

2013-14 SEASON

PPG 17.4

REB 9.7

ASST 3.4

FG% 48.0

Amid the Lakers' turmoil, Gasol quietly had another strong season in Los Angeles. The free-agent-to-be ranked 11th in NBA defensive efficiency and his nightly offensive output will make him one of the most attractive big man options on the market this offseason. 

33.       Mike Conley (PG) - Memphis Grizzlies

2013-14 SEASON

PPG 17.2

REB 2.9

ASST 6.0

FG% 45.0

The unheralded point guard lifted his scoring totals by nearly three points per contest in 2014. A key defensive cog in the Grizzlies' stifling defense, Conley spearheaded a near-upset over the heavily favored Thunder in the first-round of the Western Conference playoffs. 

32.       Monta Ellis (SG) - Dallas Mavericks

2013-14 SEASON

PPG 19.0

REB 3.6

ASST 5.7

FG% 45.1

Ellis proved his doubters wrong with a career year in his inaugural season in Dallas. The 28-year-old guard provided Dirk Nowitzki with his most prolific sidekick since the glory days of Jason Terry. Ellis led the NBA in drives to the basket (and points on drives). He also led the Mavs in scoring (20.4) in their seven-game series against the Spurs.


31.       Marc Gasol (C) - Memphis Grizzlies

2013-14 SEASON

PPG 14.6

REB 7.2

ASST 3.6

FG% 47.3

The Grizzlies went just 9-14 in the absence of Gasol,the 2013 defensive player of the year. With Gasol in the lineup, however, the Grizzlies posted a terrific 41-18 record. The driving force behind the Grizzlies' resurgence, Gasol solidified the team's daunting frontcourt, ranking 19th in defensive player efficiency. 


*To be eligible for NBA Player Rank, players must appear in at least 40 games in 2013-2014 season.