Atlanta Hawks – Dewayne Dedmon – Center
Dedmon has never been much of an offensive threat, but his sudden success as a 3-point shooter has made him more valuable heading into free agency. Dedmon was already a valuable defender and he has made an impact in that area for the Hawks over the past couple of seasons. The Hawks certainly would like to re-sign Dedmon at a reasonable price, but Dedmon is a player that could be overpaid this offseason and that’s why he’ll likely be departing.
Boston Celtics – Kyrie Irving – Point Guard
The Celtics have plenty of depth at the guard position already, so Irving’s departure might not hurt too much. That being said, it is nearly impossible to completely replace a player of Irving’s caliber. The Celtics would certainly like to retain Irving, but the problem is that Irving doesn’t seem very willing to re-sign. Irving will generate plenty of interest elsewhere this offseason and the Nets, Lakers, and Knicks appear to be the frontrunners to land him in free agency. Boston could look to make a big addition in free agency this offseason, but losing Irving would hurt a lot.
Brooklyn Nets – D’Angelo Russell – Point Guard
D’Angelo Russell turned into an all-star caliber player this past season and it was in perfect time for him to become a free agent this offseason. Russell could very well return to Brooklyn if he is offered a max deal or even a deal that comes close to that. However, if the Nets go after a free agent like Kyrie Irving then they might just let Russell sign elsewhere. Russell is a key player for the Nets and the team should definitely be interested in re-signing him, but he could be expendable depending on if the Nets can sign a bigger name free agent.
Charlotte Hornets – Kemba Walker – Point Guard
Kemba Walker’s tenure in Charlotte hasn’t been smooth to say the least as the team hasn’t exactly been a playoff contending team during his time there. Walker could make it a priority to join another star player on a contending team, but he can also make more money by re-signing with Charlotte since they can offer him a supermax contract this offseason. Kemba Walker has publicly indicated that he wants to stay in Charlotte and he likely will, but he must be concerned that the Hornets might not be able to provide a good supporting cast around him.
Chicago Bulls – Robin Lopez – Center
The Bulls aren’t contenders at the moment and they don’t figure to be contenders next season. However, re-signing Robin Lopez should be a priority this offseason because of the veteran leadership that he provides. Lopez is a really good defensive player and he is certainly a good rotational player overall. Lopez can make the Bulls a more respectable team and he is really the only free agent that the Bulls should bring back.
Cleveland Cavaliers – Marquesse Chriss – Power Forward
Marquesse Chriss came into the NBA a few years ago with high expectations, but he’s failed to live up those expectations as the Cavaliers are already his 3rd team. However, it makes tons of sense for the Cavaliers to re-sign Chriss this offseason. The first reason that they should re-sign him is because it won’t cost much at all and there probably won’t be a lot of teams interested in him. Also, Chriss will only be 22 years old by the start of next season and there is still some hope that he can develop into a solid starter. The Cavaliers are clearly in rebuild mode right now and they have the ability to offer him more playing time than any other team. Chriss is still considered a bust at this point in his career, but it makes sense for the Cavaliers to see if they can help him become a good NBA player.
Dallas Mavericks – Trey Burke – Point Guard
Trey Burke has been in the league for several years now, but he is still a player that is surrounded by uncertainty. He has shown flashes of his potential as a terrific NBA starter, but he also has many games where he is completely unreliable. Either way, the Mavericks should at least look to keep him as a rotational player coming off the bench. Burke still has high upside and he shouldn’t cost too much to re-sign, so it makes sense for Dallas to bring him back this offseason.
Denver Nuggets – Paul Millsap – Power Forward
The Denver Nuggets are clearly a young team that is on the rise with star players like Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray. However, many people forget that they still have all-star caliber forward Paul Millsap on the roster. Millsap didn’t have an ideal 2018-2019 season as he spent much of the year injured, but he still proved that he is a very good player when he’s healthy. Millsap will likely re-sign with the Nuggets this offseason and it is important that he is brought back mostly because he provides terrific veteran leadership for a very young Nuggets team.
Detroit Pistons – Wayne Ellington – Shooting Guard
Detroit doesn’t have any high priority free agents to re-sign this offseason, but it might be worth it to re-sign Wayne Ellington to a short-term deal. Ellington was forced to play many minutes as a starter for the Pistons last season and he didn’t fare too well in that role. However, the problem is that Detroit has limited financial flexibility this offseason and they might not be able to afford a big upgrade at the guard position. Ellington should be at least kept as a rotational player at a rather cheap price, but he might be forced to be a starter again next season if the Pistons can’t find an upgrade.
Golden State Warriors – Klay Thompson – Shooting Guard
Kevin Durant is probably the best player that the Warriors have that could depart this offseason. However, Durant’s achilles injury changes things as he’ll miss most of next season and it was expected that he would probably leave in free agency anyways. That being said, it is much more important that the Warriors do all they can to re-sign star shooting guard Klay Thompson this offseason. Thompson has been a key part of the Warriors dynasty since it began several years ago and he has teamed up with Stephen Curry to form arguably the best backcourt duo in NBA history. If Thompson leaves in free agency then it is very possible that the Warriors dynasty could be coming to an end.
Houston Rockets – Austin Rivers – Point Guard
There is some major uncertainty heading into the offseason about starting point guard Chris Paul’s future with the Rockets. However, the problem is that backup point guard Austin Rivers is scheduled to become a free agent this offseason. Rivers is a very reliable backup point guard and he would provide really good depth at the position if Paul ends up being traded. However, Rivers would be a good Plan B option for the Rockets as a starting point guard if Paul isn’t on the team next season. Rivers might get offers for more money from teams in need of point guard help, but the Rockets need to keep him as a reliable option at the position.
Indiana Pacers – Bojan Bogdanovic – Shooting Guard
Bojan Bogdanovic might not be the most well-known name in this year’s free agent class, but he is a player with terrific offensive skills and he will surely generate plenty of interest. Bogdanovic is one of the most underrated players in the NBA and he is also one of the best shooters across the league and he is especially an elite 3-point shooter. Bogdanovic is what everybody looks for in a shooting guard and that is what could drive up his value in free agency. The Pacers will likely attempt to re-sign him this offseason, but if his price goes too high then they might just settle for another shooting guard. Either way, Bogdanovic brings some much needed offense to the Pacers and it would hurt the team if they aren’t able to bring him back.
Los Angeles Clippers – Patrick Beverley – Point Guard
Patrick Beverley will never be much of a scorer and that’s just something that teams need to accept, although he is a good 3-point shooter. However, Beverley does several things well and he is particularly valuable for his defensive skills. He rebounds the ball well and he is able to be pass the ball effectively as well. Beverley is just a good overall point guard and the Clippers should be able to retain him at a reasonable price.
Los Angeles Lakers – Rajon Rondo – Point Guard
Rajon Rondo has never been an elite scoring point guard, although he can provide some really good offensive performances sometimes. However, Rajon Rondo does basically everything else exceptionally well. Rondo is arguably the best passing point guard in the NBA and he rebounds especially well for someone at his position. Rondo can’t be relied upon for much offense consistently, but he is still a very good starting point guard because he is above average in just about every other area. Rondo fits perfectly to help out LeBron James and whatever star player that they might add in free agency. Rondo might get better offers from other teams, but the Lakers need his presence to lead the team and help make the other players more successful.
Memphis Grizzlies – Jonas Valanciunas – Center
Jonas Valanciunas was acquired by the Grizzlies in the Marc Gasol trade at the deadline this past season, so clearly the Grizzlies want to keep Valanciunas long-term. Valanciunas already declined his player option and he’ll surely generate interest from other teams in free agency. However, the Grizzlies will work extremely hard to reach a long-term deal with him especially since he is still in the prime of his career. Valanciunas is a good starting center and if the Grizzlies can re-sign him then they could have a few really good young core players to build around.
Miami Heat – Goran Dragic – Point Guard
Goran Dragic might not be the all-star caliber point guard that he once was, but he is still a very good starting point guard. Dragic can score well and he is a good distributor for the rest of the Heat players as well. The entire offense basically revolves around Dragic and losing him would be difficult to replace for Miami. Dragic would have to opt-out of his contract prior to free agency, but it appears that he’ll opt-in and remain with the Heat for at least one more season. However, if Dragic opts out then Miami will need to reach a new deal to make sure that he stays with them for at least another season.
Milwaukee Bucks – Khris Middleton – Small Forward
Giannis Antetokounmpo gets most of the recognition for the success that Milwaukee had this past season, but we shouldn’t forget the terrific supporting cast that the Bucks had around him. Unfortunately, several key players for the Bucks are scheduled to be free agents this offseason. However, no player is more important to re-sign than star small forward Khris Middleton. There will certainly be numerous teams interested in Middleton in free agency and there are reports that some teams would even give Middleton a max contract offer. We’ll see if the Bucks would be willing to give Middleton a max offer, but if the team wants to dominate in the east over the next few seasons then they need to bring Middleton back.
Minnesota Timberwolves – Derrick Rose – Shooting Guard
Derrick Rose might not be the MVP caliber player he once was, but he showed last season that he can still make a big impact. Rose is still a terrific scorer and the Timberwolves offense wouldn’t be nearly the same without him. Some teams might be interested in him because of his terrific scoring ability, but it would be smart for Minnesota to re-sign him since he is still a really good starting shooting guard and he would be difficult to replace.
New Orleans Pelicans – Julius Randle – Power Forward
Julius Randle enjoyed the best season of his career in 2018-2019 as the Pelicans gave an opportunity to play consistently. However, Randle has a player option for next season and it seems that he’ll probably decline the player option and become a free agent next season. New Orleans would probably like to have Randle back, but he could generate a lot of interest in free agency and he seems intent on signing elsewhere. In fact, Phoenix has been rumored as a place of interest for Randle in free agency. The Pelicans should at least try to bring back Randle since he had a big impact last season, but his departure might not hurt too much considering they’ll likely draft Zion Williamson 1st overall this offseason.
New York Knicks – Mario Hezonja – Small Forward
This is a big offseason for the Knicks and it would be kind of surprising if they don’t land at least one star player in free agency. However, they shouldn’t forget about the key role players that they have including Mario Hezonja. He could be considered a bust by now since he was a top 5 pick several years ago and he has yet to do anything notable in his career. Hezonja shouldn’t be a starter like he was for a lot of games last season, but he is worth re-signing for some depth and it shouldn’t cost much to keep him.
Oklahoma City Thunder – Nerlens Noel – Power Forward
Nerlens Noel came to the Thunder last season as a low-cost signing and things worked out well as he became a key part of the Thunder rotation off the bench. Noel provided a good post player for Oklahoma City and he provided some really good defensive play as well. Noel likely boosted his free agent value and because of the Thunder’s limited financial flexibility then it means they’ll likely have to find a lower cost option in free agency. Noel made an impact off the bench and the spark that he provided defensively will be missed if he doesn’t return for next season.
Orlando Magic – Nikola Vucevic – Center
The Orlando Magic had a successful 2018-2019 season as they made the playoffs for the first time in awhile. Center Nikola Vucevic played a huge part in their success as he had the best season of his career. The Magic have an interesting decision to make about whether they’ll offer a max contract to Vucevic this offseason. It is very likely that Vucevic returns to Orlando, but he could explore his options with other teams and there are some teams like Dallas that might be willing to offer him a max contract. Either way, Vucevic makes the Magic a respectable team and it would be a major loss if he leaves in free agency.
Philadelphia 76ers – Tobias Harris – Power Forward
The 76ers have several tough decisions to make this offseason, but they’ll likely have to decide to either keep Tobias Harris or Jimmy Butler this offseason. Harris and Butler will almost certainly both get max contracts wherever they sign, but the problem is that the 76ers likely don’t have the financial flexibility to give them both max contracts. However, Tobias Harris is probably the most important player to keep because he is a few years younger than Butler. The 76ers already have Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons, but if they can retain Harris then they could have a terrific trio of star players. Several teams could be interested in Harris and Brooklyn has been rumored as a possible landing spot. There is still a possibility that Harris returns to Philadelphia, but it’s unlikely unless the team offers him a max contract.
Phoenix Suns – Jamal Crawford – Shooting Guard
Jamal Crawford is 39 years old, so it is very possible that he could retire this offseason despite public comments that he’ll likely return next season. However, if he doesn’t retire then it would be a tremendous fit for him to return to Phoenix. Crawford isn’t the player that he once was, although his 51 points in the final game of this past season seems to indicate that he is still a tremendous scorer. Crawford is a key role player for the Suns, but most of all he is a terrific veteran leader for a Suns roster that is very young. Crawford could sign elsewhere, but he is valuable for the Suns on a short-term deal.
Portland Trail Blazers – Enes Kanter – Center
The Trail Blazers found a good value by acquiring Enes Kanter in February. Kanter played an important role for the Trail Blazers especially after Jusuf Nurkic went down late in the season with a nasty looking leg injury. Nurkic will likely need awhile to recover from the injury, so signing Kanter to at least a short-term deal becomes much more important. Kanter did increase his free agent value by having a successful end to the season with Portland and some teams could be willing to pay more for him. Kanter seems very willing to stay with the Trail Blazers, but the cost of re-signing him could be too much for the team.
Sacramento Kings – Harrison Barnes – Small Forward
Harrison Barnes was a key addition for Sacramento as the team nearly made the playoffs this past season. Barnes has a $25 million player option and he could very well decide to opt in for next season. However, if he does opt out then the Kings will have a very tough decision about whether they’ll sign him to a long-term deal. Barnes is a decent offensive player that is often inconsistent in that aspect. However, he’s a good 3-point shooter and he plays really good defense as well. Barnes fits in well with the young core that Sacramento has and it will be tough to replace him if he leaves in free agency.
San Antonio Spurs – Rudy Gay – Small Forward
Rudy Gay might not be the all-star caliber player that he once was as he turns 33 years old prior to the start of the season. However, he’s still an above average starter in the NBA and he is a key component of the Spurs ability to still be a playoff contender. Gay might not generate much interest in free agency, so his best option is likely to remain with San Antonio and help them remain competitive in the tough western conference.
Toronto Raptors – Kawhi Leonard – Small Forward
It was easy to see the immediate impact that Kawhi Leonard had after leading the Raptors to the NBA title this past season. Leonard has a terrific supporting cast in Toronto and the Raptors are probably a playoff team without him. However, if Leonard leaves then the Raptors won’t be a championship contender next season. It has long been speculated that Leonard will surely leave Toronto in free agency and sign with a team like the Clippers. However, Leonard can still sign a max contract with Toronto and he has the players around him to compete for another championship in the short-term. If Leonard re-signs this offseason then the Raptors could be a championship contender for years to come, but it remains to be seen if another team can entice him to sign elsewhere.
Utah Jazz – Ricky Rubio – Point Guard
Ricky Rubio will never be much of a scorer, but he is a really key player for Utah because of his ability to make the other players around him better. Rubio is a terrific passer and he has a unique skillset that really can’t be matched by many players in the NBA. Rubio could generate interest from several teams in free agency, but it seems increasingly unlikely that he’ll return to the Jazz. The Jazz might be able to fill Rubio’s void at point guard if he leaves this offseason, but it’ll be difficult to replace the unique skillset that he has.
Washington Wizards – Trevor Ariza – Small Forward
The Wizards are in a place where they are trying to be playoff contenders and losing Trevor Ariza would negatively impact that goal. Ariza is about to be 34 years old, but he is still a reliable starter because he does many things well. Ariza is well-known across the NBA as a very good defender and he rebounds the ball effectively as well. Ariza is a consistent scorer and he can be a decent 3-point shooter as well. Ariza is a key player for Washington, but he’ll be a coveted free agent this offseason and the Wizards might not be able to afford to bring him back.
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