A LOOK AT FREE AGENCY.
When the opening bell on the free-agent market rang late Saturday night, the battles began for players ranging from sure Hall of Famers to young talents on the rise, with ample examples of players on every level in between.
GUARDS ROCKETS Chris Paul
Paul said in the final week of the regular season that he made this season's freeagent decision a year ago when he facilThere itated his trade to the Rockets. will likely be conversations about the length and structure of his contract, but with little concern that he will be back in the Rockets backcourt next season.
Gerald Green
A find in late December when the Rockets needed fill-in help because of injuries, Green merits a longer deal to stay with his home team. But with the Rockets far over the salary cap, he might receive richer offers to consider.
Aaron Jackson
Signed on the final day of the season, Jackson could get a training camp invite.
Markel Brown
After spending the season in the G League, including his time with a Rockets/Vipers two-way contract, Brown will get a chance to show his progress in summer league.
HEADLINERS J.J. Redick, 76ers
One of the league's most reliable shooters, Redick is most likely to return to Philadelphia to remain part of the Sixers' rise in the East.
Fred Van Vleet, Raptors
A Sixth Man of the Year finalist, Van Vleet is expected to receive plenty of interest. He remains a Raptors priority.
Dwyane Wade, Heat
Wade showed he has enough game left to sign a new deal, but after brief stops in Chicago and Cleveland, will not be leaving Miami again.
Isaiah Thomas, Lakers
One of the most intriguing and unpredictable free agents, Thomas might take a shorter deal to rebuild his stock after a season battling back from his 2016-17 hip injury.
Tony Parker, Spurs
Now a backup in decline, Parker is a headliner for his Hall-of-Fame career, rather than as a coveted free agent. For all the change likely coming in San Antonio, Parker should be a constant.
ON THE RISE Dante Exum, Jazz
Finally healthy, Exum displayed his potential, including several outstanding stretches in the Rockets series. He could be due a larger role, but is a restricted free agent very much in Utah’s plans.
Will Barton, Nuggets
With signing Nikola Jokic the Nuggets' top priority, keeping Barton could become very pricy. Coming off a career year, Barton is ready to be a starter and likely to be paid like one.
Zach LaVine, Bulls
The Bulls made the trade for LaVine with plans to make him part of their long-term core. As a restricted free agent, he would not seem likely to be moving on.
Avery Bradley, Clippers
The Clippers drafted players they hope will be their backcourt of the future and will have to make decisions with a crowded backcourt even after the trade of Austin Rivers, especially if the Clippers pick up their option with Pat Beverley.
Marcus Smart, Celtics
While the Celtics value Smart's defense and toughness and other teams likely will, too, his poor perimeter shooting could limit offers a bit.
NAMES TO WATCH Tyreke Evans, Grizzlies
Evans signed a small, short-term deal and then played his way into a significant raise. The Grizzlies don't have Bird rights to him, but have the full mid-level exception.
Rajon Rondo, Pelicans
Still a masterful playmaker, Rondo was sensational in the playoffs. His style is not for everyone, but the Pelicans made it work with their mix.
Marco Belinelli, 76ers
There seems to always be a place for a shooter and Belinelli's play with the Sixers could merit a longer contract, But he has shown that fit will be important.
Jamal Crawford, Timberwolves
Still capable of bringing instant offense and a great locker room presence, Crawford could be a good value pick up.
Derrick Rose, Timberwolves
Rose might have shown enough flashes late in the season and in the Rockets' series to get some interest, but his struggles since his injuries would make teams cautious about expecting too much.
Shabazz Napier, Trail Blazers
After struggling early in his career, Napier seemed to have made significant strides with the Trail Blazers and remains a strong defensive point guard. He tailed off in the second half of the season and had a limited role in the playoff loss to the Pelicans.
Rodney Hood, Cavaliers
Hood fell out of the rotation and did not seem happy about it, but also showed skills that could be attractive, even in Cleveland if the Cavs have to rebuild without LeBron James.
Wayne Ellington, Heat
Well-traveled, Ellington can knock down 3s wherever he lands. He could be a bargain 3-point shooter.
Joe Harris, Nets
An outstanding shooter, Harris could be a good addition as a role player in the right mix.
Elfrid Payton, Suns
Payton was productive with the Suns, but is still not the sort of shooter likely to attract larger offers that the Suns would not match.
FORWARDS ROCKETS Trevor Ariza
A veteran of 14 NBA seasons, Ariza could be heading to his last large contract. He will be a coveted free agent, but the Rockets have Bird rights and with the Rockets over the cap, Ariza would be very difficult to replace if the Rockets had to.
Luc Mbah a Moute
The Rockets landed Mbah a Moute with a veteran minimum contract last summer and would love to keep him, though it might cost them a chunk of mid-level exception money.
Joe Johnson
Signed as a free agent for the stretch run, the Rockets gave Johnson every opportunity to carve out a niche but he was unable to secure a place in the rotation.
HEADLINERS LeBron James, Cavaliers
James will make his third trip into free agency with the Lakers and Cavaliers the early favorites to sign the King.
Kevin Durant, Warriors
Durant will technically be a free agent, but he is not going anywhere. The twotime Finals MVP will give the Warriors another off-season win.
Paul George, Thunder
Though many teams would seem likely to try to get in on George, he could be tempted to move home to Los Angeles, especially if it would form a partnership with James, and has seemed settled and happy in Oklahoma City.
ON THE RISE Aaron Gordon, Magic
Gordon seemed to blossom as a power forward, with the Magic likely to match an offer sheet he gets to keep him.
Julius Randle, Lakers
The Lakers gave Randle his qualifying offer to make him a restricted free agent, but could rescind it if they need the cap space for a more coveted free agent. He might be best as a center, but either way, will generate interest.
Jerami Grant, Thunder
Overshadowed by Paul George's free agency and Carmelo Anthony's return, Grant brought important athleticism off the bench. But if the Thunder keep George, signing Grant too will come with a luxury tax bill.
NAMES TO WATCH Derrick Favors, Jazz
While much of the league has gone to range shooters, the Jazz effectively played Favors with Rudy Gobert. Favors can also work as a center, expanding the pool of teams that could try to get him to leave Salt Lake City, where he has grown to be very at home.
Jabari Parker, Bucks
The skills are still there after two major knee injuries, but Parker now comes off the Bucks' bench with his role unclear. He might not land the sort of offer he would have before the injuries or that the Bucks would not match.
Rudy Gay, Spurs
Gay played well as a sixth man, but his recent injury history, including last season's heel issues, will limit his role and the offers he is likely to get as a veteran free agent.
Lance Stephenson, Pacers
The Pacers declined a team option so Stephenson will likely be moving on in his latest attempt to show he can play well with anyone else.
Kyle Anderson, Spurs
Anderson did little to make anyone forget the player he was replacing last season, but he was more productive filling in for Kawhi Leonard. He seems to fit better in San Antonio than anywhere else and should not break the bank for the Spurs to match an offer sheet he signs.
Mario Hezonja, Magic
The Magic did not pick up the extension season on his rookie contract, making him an unrestricted free agent this season. Hezonja has a long way to go, but he did show some of the potential that made him the fifth pick of the draft.
Doug McDermott, Mavericks
Dallas pulled back their qualifying offer to help create more cap room, but could still bring him back, though likely not for as much as the qualifying offer would have been.
Nemanja Bjelica, Timberwolves
Bjelica is a restricted free agent, but the Wolves have plenty of financial decisions to make this summer and next, likely making them cautious about matching offers.
Jeff Green, Cavaliers
Green's versatility and occasional scoring bursts frequently draws interest, but his inconsistent production could limit the offers he gets.
Ersan Ilyasova, 76ers
Stretch fours are coveted these days and Ilyasova's range shooting and competent rebounding could make him a solid addition off the bench for a contender, as he was for the 76ers down the stretch and in the post-season.
Michael Beasley, Knicks
Beasley's play in New York and troublefree run since the Rockets brought him back from China should land him another contract, though likely in a limited role for a team that needs his one-onone scoring.
Garrett Temple, Kings
A wing capable of playing in the backcourt or at small forward, Temple is a strong defender with enough shooting range to be a good role player for better teams.
CENTERS ROCKETS Clint Capela
The prototype center for the current style of NBA offenses, Capela is central to the Rockets as a rim runner and protector, making it a priority to re-sign him or match any offer sheet he signs. Second in the Most Improved balloting, Capela’s growth could not have been timed better.
Tarik Black
Black had flashes when filling in for Nene, but was hurt by the Rockets’ move toward the use of small lineups, limiting his role as a third center on a team that often played just one.
HEADLINERS DeMarcus Cousins, Pelicans
The Pelicans seem committed to bringing Cousins back, but as he comes backs from an Achilles injury, they might show some caution, potentially opening the way for other suitors.
DeAndre Jordan, Clippers
The Mavericks seem to have gotten over getting jilted the last time Jordan was a free agent. He could be ready to move on from Los Angeles after he turned down the Mavericks last time, as the Clippers brought in Marcin Gortat in case Jordan does move on.
ON THE RISE Nikola Jokic, Nuggets
The Nuggets will not allow their young star, a restricted free agent, to go anywhere. The only question would be whether he would be the first free agent to come to terms.
Montrezl Harrell, Clippers
Harrell will not get a star contract, but he helped himself in his season with the Clippers after he was part of the package the Rockets sent to Los Angeles in the Chris Paul deal.
Jusuf Nurkic, Trail Blazers
Nurkic is an important part of the Blazers’ long-term plan, and there might be more top free agent centers than teams with room to make an offer that the Blazers would even hesitate to match.
NAMES TO WATCH Aron Baynes, Celtics
Baynes might have become more than an interior banger if his post-season 3-point shooting can be trusted as a sign his gave has grown.
Nerlens Noel, Mavericks
After turning down a four-year, $70 million extension far beyond any offer he will receive, Noel might need to find the right role to rebuild his reputation and value with a short-term contract.
JaVale McGee, Warriors
McGee was in and out of the Warriors’ rotation, but delivered often enough to consider his career redefined by time with the Warriors.
Brook Lopez, Lakers
Lopez had developed enough shooting range to bring more than a strong post repertoire in a league moving away from that part of his game.
Amir Johnson, 76ers
Johnson still brings consistent energy and strong defensive play in a limited bench role. He had a solid season, but the Sixers seemed to be moving away from him in the rotation in the postseason.
Alex Len, Suns
With DeAndre Ayton in Phoenix, Len almost certainly will not be. He remains a project.
Ed Davis, Trail Blazers
Davis has become a reliably productive rebounder off the bench who will not look to shoot beyond his point-blank range.
Kyle O’Quinn, Knicks
A strong interior defender, O’Quinn can knock down mid-range shots. He might fit as a rotation player off the bench at a reasonable price.