July 1 is coming late this year. With the NBA season over for about a week, now our eyes turn to what is normally one of the more entertaining days of the year: the start of free agency. While we don't have an exact date yet, one thing is nearly certain in that it won't be nearly as entertaining as last year. There isn't a Kawhi Leonard, Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, Jimmy Butler or Kemba Walker moving. And the looming cloud of COVID-19 and all of the financial windfalls makes the market uncertain.
So who are the best players ready to hit the open market? Here are the top 10:
1) Anthony Davis: We'll get this out of the way now. The star is going to opt-out of his final season with the Lakers, when he could have made $28.7 million, but he's not going anywhere. All signs point to him re-signing with the champs, where he can make a max of $32.7 million next year, assuming the salary cap stays the same. Expect little drama here.
2) Fred VanVleet: One of the breakout stars of the season, the 25-year-old shattered all of his previous career-highs in points (17.6), assists (6.6), rebounds (3.8), steals (1.9) and did it all while his shooting percentages remained unchanged. Those numbers only went up in the playoffs as the Raptors lost in seven games to the Celtics in the second round. An unrestricted free agent, he's the best player who is truly available.
3) Brandon Ingram: He'd be second on the list, but off the heels of his first All-Star appearance, the restricted free agent likely won't be leaving New Orleans. If someone offers him a contract before the Pelicans do, the franchise will likely match it, even if it's a max deal. Again, don't expect any fireworks.
4) DeMar DeRozan: Again, the story of the player pool thus far: he's probably not moving. DeRozan has a $27.7 million player option for next season to remain with the Spurs. While still a good player (he's averaged over 20 points in seven straight seasons, and had his most efficient scoring season in '19-20), he's 31 years old. In the unknown financial climate, is someone going to dish out an equivalent to $28 million to someone who can score, but doesn't shoot threes or play particularly great defense?
5) Danilo Gallinari: The veteran has blossomed into an ideal stretch-four in today's game. He's averaged 14-to-19 points in nine of the last 10 years, and in the last two years has become a three-point weapon, shooting 45 percent from beyond the arc, after being just a 35 percent career shooter prior. An unrestricted free agent, he won't break the bank but he'll get a nice one- or two-year payday.
6) Joe Harris: Another player of the Gallinari mold, he won't come in and immediately lead your team in scoring. But what the 29-year-old will do is average double-figures and shoot over 40 percent from beyond the arc. With Kevin Durant coming back from injury to join Kyrie Irving, Spencer Dinwiddie and Caris LeVert, there's not really room for Harris to return to Brooklyn.
7) Gordon Hayward: Another player who, if he were leaving, would be higher, but he has a $34.2 million player option for next year. Though he looked like his old All-Star self this year (17.5 points, 6.7 rebounds, 4.1 assists) he only played 52 regular season games and five playoff games. Having turned 30, the question marks about his health will stick with him, and he's not getting a max deal elsewhere, so he might as well stay with a contender.
8) Montrezl Harris: The Sixth Man of the Year is coming off his best season yet, as he set career highs in points (18.6) and rebounds (7.1) while being one of the better rim protectors in the league. He's due for a payday as an unrestricted free agent, though he didn't have the best postseason with the Clippers.
9) Bogdan Bogdanovic: A restricted free agent, him not signing an extension with the Kings probably means he'll be priced out of Sacramento. The team already has Buddy Hield signed to big money, and De'Aron Fox needs to get paid soon, meaning the 31-year-old is likely to move on after posting a new career high in scoring (20.2) for the fifth straight season.
10) Goran Dragic: He's no longer an All-Star, but he looked rejuvenated as Miami made its run to the Finals. As the Heat's sixth man he averaged 16.2 points in the regular season. In the postseason he started and averaged 19.1 points on fairly efficient shooting, with 4.4 assists and 4.1 rebounds. That's the kind of play that will get the veteran signed somewhere as either a fringe starter or sixth man.
