Top 30 NBA free agents

Even entering his 16th season, LeBron James will still be the crown jewel of free agency. As seen by this past season, having LeBron on your team automatically makes you a title contender. Knowing what we know about LeBron, we (the public) probably won't hear anything from him until he announces his decision (possibly through a documentary), but you best believe he's scheming behind the scenes and putting together another superteam to challenge the Warriors. If Kawhi Leonard gets traded to the Lakers or 76ers, expect LeBron to sign with that team. However, if the Cavs can somehow turn Kevin Love and the No. 8 pick of the draft into two pieces like Kemba Walker and Paul George, expect LeBron to run it back in Cleveland.

Prediction: Lakers

Fresh off his second straight NBA Finals MVP with the Warriors, Kevin Durant's free agency is a mere technicality as he has already said he'll re-sign with the Dubs. Come July 1, he'll opt out of his contract and secure a longer-term deal with a player option after a season or two. This time he won't be taking a discount either. Durant's next free agency decision should be a lot more interesting than this one.

Prediction: Warriors

Paul George is this summer's linchpin. If he leaves OKC, whichever team he ends up with will almost certainly be the next superteam — whether that's the 76ers, Lakers, Cavaliers or Celtics remains to be seen. Interestingly enough, the Thunder seem to still be very much in play as he built a close friendship with Russell Westbrook last season. George is a perfect second banana who can match up with the likes of LeBron and Durant on defense and get you an efficient 20-25 points per game on offense.

Prediction: Lakers if LeBron goes there; Thunder if he doesn't

Much like Durant, this seems like more of a technicality. In fact, it is widely assumed that Paul and the Rockets made a handshake deal promising Paul a max deal this summer when Paul exercised his player option last summer so that he could be traded (via sign and trade) to the Rockets. Regardless of what happened, CP3 should run it back for another couple years with James Harden and the Rockets, who were some injury luck away from winning the title last season.

Prediction: Rockets

That's right, Clint N'Dumba-Capela Capela, not DeMarcus Cousins, not DeAndre Jordan, is the next best free agent this summer. Capela is more athletic than Cousins and more skilled than Jordan, and much younger than both of them. He's the perfect rim-running, rim-protecting compliment to Harden and Paul. Unless LeBron, who allegedly doesn't care for Houston, decides to join the Rockets, any offer sheet Capela signs will almost certainly be matched by the Rockets. 

Prediction: Rockets

If it weren't for his ruptured Achilles injury, Boogie Cousins would be No. 3 on this list. Instead, the market for Cousins will be the most interesting one to assess this summer. On one hand, out of the 18 other NBA players to suffer the same injury, only Dominique Wilkins was able to return to form. On the other hand, Cousins' game is more predicated on skill than athleticism. Therefore, as long as he enjoys a full recovery, he should be able to regain some, if not most of his All-Star form.

Prediction: Pelicans

Whichever team ends up with the last remaining member of Lob City knows exactly what they're getting — 12 points and 14-15 rebounds per game, excellent rim protection and frighteningly inconsistent free throw shooting. Jordan could fit in well with a contender or help mentor a youthful frontline. With a $24M player option, there's a good chance Jordan opts into his contract and makes this a moot point.

Prediction: Clippers

Is Aaron Gordon on the path to stardom? Or is his ceiling a Trevor Ariza-type, high-level role player? That's the decision the Magic will have to make because another team will almost certainly sign Gordon to a max offer sheet. Gordon's athletic abilities and improved 3-point accuracy would indicate the former, but his injury history adds another complicating wrinkle. All that being said, the Magic cannot afford to risk losing a young asset like Gordon, so expect them to match any offer sheet he signs.

Prediction: Magic

The Julius Randle we saw after the All-Star break looked like a future star — averaging 19.5 points, 9.4 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game. Is he worth the early max? Probably. The better question is whether he will be on the Lakers for the foreseeable future? His game is a little redundant if the Lakers sign LeBron James. Thus, look for the Lakers to match any offer Randle receives in order to retain him as an asset. Then, look for the Lakers to trade him during the season if they get LeBron.

Prediction: Lakers

Of the top restricted free agents, Jabari Parker is the most likely to not have his contract matched by the team that drafted him. Why? A combination of bad injury luck (he's torn his ACL twice in the NBA) and not being an ideal complement to Giannis Antetokounmpo. While his defense leaves a lot to be desired, if healthy, Parker can be a 20-22 point per game scorer, and that's worth the gamble for a young team.

Prediction: Parker returns home to the Bulls

Like Gordon, Randle and Parker, Zach LaVine is a tough to peg after four NBA seasons. On one hand, he's an all-world jumper and dunker with the makings of a sweet 3-point stroke. On the other hand, he's a tweener, a defensive liability and already has a major knee injury under his belt. He probably won't command an early max, so Chicago will likely match any offer he receives.

Prediction: Bulls

Coming into the 2017-18 season, Tyreke Evans' career was following the same sad trajectory (from a statistical standpoint) as O.J. Mayo's career. Fortunately, Evans got into great shape and turned his career around by averaging 19.4 points, 5.1 rebounds and 5.2 assists per game while hitting 40 percent of his 3-point attempts. Now, he's one of the more desirable free agents on the market. Any team with cap space and the need for a jolt of scoring and playmaking from the guard position should kick the tires with Evans. 

Prediction: Grizzlies if they can unload Chandler Parsons; Hawks if not

Will Barton is another unrestricted playmaking guard coming off a career year in 2017-18. An exciting speedster in the open court and solid shooter in the half court, Barton is an ideal sixth man in today's NBA. Barton's free agent choice will be an interesting one — will he go to another playoff team with an established backcourt pecking order like the Pacers or will he try to avoid another guard logjam like he experienced in his six seasons at Portland and Denver and try to be "the man" on a team like the Magic? 

Prediction: Pacers

Don't sleep on J.J. Redick! Like LeBron James, Redick also had arguably the best season of his career at the age of 33 last year - averaging 17.1 points per game on 42 percent shooting from distance. He's a known commodity and pretty much guaranteed to sign with a team looking to contend next season. There's mutual interest in a return to the 76ers, but don't be shocked if LeBron, Chris Paul, or another superstar convinces him to join them.

Prediction: 76ers

Ignore the nightmarish 0-12 shooting performance in Game 7 versus the Warriors — Trevor Ariza is a pro's pro and still a desirable 3-and-D wing moving forward. Interestingly, while most veteran players tend to ring hunt at this point in their career, Ariza reportedly is prioritizing a big payday this offseason ($50-$60M in total salary). That would appear to eliminate teams like the Warriors, Cavs and possibly even the Rockets from signing him. Fortunately for him, there are still enough playoff teams in need of wing contributors that he might get his wish.

Prediction: Pelicans

Believe it or not, it was only two years ago that many people thought Jusuf Nurkic was the better of the Nuggets' then-big man duo of Nurkic and Nikola Jokic. The potential is certainly there; the effort, however, is not. A motivated Nurkic is worth the $12-$15M offer sheet he's likely to command on the open market. An unmotivated Nurkic is essentially Marcin Gortat. Buyer beware.

Prediction: Blazers, but only because they can't afford to lose the asset for nothing

Underrated by casual fans and overrated by basketball nerds, Derrick Favors' free agency signing will likely come with little-to-no fanfare. Whichever team ends up with Favors will get a big man who can finish around the basket and defend and rebound at an above-average level. On a contender, he's an ideal third big man; on any other team, he's more than capable of playing starter's minutes. 

Prediction: Bucks

By now you've heard every positive superlative about Marcus Smart's aggressive, high-energy play - he plays every game like it's his last, he'd run through a brick wall to get a loose ball, he's the ultimate teammate, etc. You've also probably heard some negative superlative about his propensity to take egregious 3-pointers. What's all this mean for Smart's free agency? He's worth more to Boston than he is to anyone else.

Prediction: Celtics

Avery Bradley is one of the few unrestricted free agents whose previous team (Clippers) does not own his Bird Rights, and is therefore unlikely to even try to re-sign him. Part of that has to do with the Clippers' depth at guard and multiple lottery picks in the draft. Part of that is because Bradley's 2017-18 season was largely disappointing. Bradley would fit nicely on a playoff team with a bigger, offensive-minded lead guard.

Prediction: Thunder

Enes Kanter is a very good offensive player and rebounder and a very bad defender. At this point in his career, it is unlikely that his defense improves much either. In other words, Kanter has a defined role and a defined ceiling as a player. Other teams know that, and he knows that as well. With a player option at almost $19M for next season, it is a virtual certainty that he opts-in with the Knicks.

Prediction: Knicks

It's tough to get a real read on Kentavious Caldwell-Pope at this point in his career. If he finds himself on a playoff team with a good coach, he clearly has the abilities to be a high-level 3-and-D wing in the NBA. He could just as easily continue down the path of bad habits that playing for the Pistons and Lakers has steered him on. Regardless of the path he chooses, he sure as hell won't be making almost $18M a season like he did last year.

Prediction: Spurs - Coach Pop upgrades from the fading Danny Green

What a roller coaster the 2017-18 season was for Rodney Hood. First, he went from being a possible go-to guy on the Jazz to losing his spot to rookie sensation Donovan Mitchell. Then he went from being the centerpiece of the Cavaliers' midseason roster revamp to falling out of the rotation in the playoffs to nearly having Game 3 of the Finals renamed "The Rodney Hood Game." He cost himself millions of dollars with his inconsistent play and poor attitude, but still is viewed as a possible long-term fit for the Cavaliers. Unless a team is willing to sign Hood to an offer sheet above the mid-level exception, expect the Cavaliers to match any offer sheet.

Prediction: Cavaliers

As seen by his performance in the first round against the 76ers, Dwyane Wade still has something left in the tank. The question for Wade isn't where he'll sign this offseason, but whether he'll retire or not. He hasn't made any announcement either way. Unless some superstar takes his talents to South Beach this summer, retirement (and a TV gig) might be the best option for D-Wade.

Prediction: Heat, if he plays

What a difference one year makes. This time last summer, Carmelo Anthony pulled off one of the greatest on-the-fly rebrands ever by wearing a hoodie during workouts and pick-up games. Hoodie Melo had the basketball world convinced that he was in line for the bounce-back season of a lifetime. Instead he had, by far, the worst season of his career, averaging 16 points and 6 rebounds per game on an abysmal 40 percent shooting. With a $27M player option on the table, he'd be insane to not opt-in for the 2018-19 season.

Prediction: Thunder

Sadly, Isaiah Thomas has become a walking "Life Comes at You Fast" meme. Two short years ago, he was the "King in the Fourth" for the Celtics, garnering MVP consideration and telling the media that the Celtics better "back up the Brinks truck" when he became a free agent. Today, he'll likely have to settle for a one year "prove it" deal with no long-term security. Look for Thomas to prioritize money over winning for the rest of his career — you can't really blame him either.

Prediction: Lakers, but only if they strike out in free agency; Knicks if they don't

While the stats weren't always pretty, anyone who watched the Rockets-Warriors Western Conference Finals knows just how valuable P.J. Tucker is on a contender — he averaged nine points and nine rebounds per game and shot 48 percent from tpoint range. In addition, his defense and hustle were superb. He's a player that any contender would yearn for. Considering his life-long friendship with Chris Paul, the best bet is for him to stay with the Rockets.

Prediction: Rockets

The good news? Elfrid Payton finally cut his ridiculous, Sideshow Bob hair — hair that had thrown off his jump shot on multiple occasions. The bad news? Payton still can't shoot worth a lick. Until he gets a consistent 3-point shot, he'll never reach his true potential as a two-way, stat-stuffing point guard. Expect the Suns to match any reasonable offer sheet.

Prediction: Suns 

A common barometer of a person's NBA knowledge last season was being able to name the key contributors off the Raptors' youthful bench. Fred VanVleet was a particularly beloved guard who shot the ball well from three (41 percent) and had a 3:1 assist to turnover ratio. With Kyle Lowry's name being floated in trade rumors this offseason, expect the Raptors to retain VanVleet so long as the asking price is within reason.

Prediction: Raptors

Kyle Anderson, who possesses the most apt nickname in the NBA ("Slo Mo"), has quietly become one of the better Popovich projects of the past few years. At 6-9, Anderson's guard-like vision and lack of explosiveness invokes memories of Boris Diaw. While his ceiling isn't as high as Diaw's was, his unique skill set can still be utilized by virtually any team. Like most restricted free agents, he'll most likely stay put this offseason.

Prediction: Spurs

Most free agent rankings won't include the oft-injured Dante Exum this high. However, when he's healthy, like he has been in the playoffs the past two seasons, Exum makes stuff happen all over the court. He's 6-6, rangy and can do everything (except shoot) at a decent level — he's just never had an extended opportunity to do so due to his injuries. As a restricted free agent, he'll most likely end up back in Utah, but don't be shocked if a young team with lots of cap room like the Hawks, takes a flier on him and signs him to an unmatchable offer sheet.

Prediction: Jazz

He's not a free agent, but he's arguably the most important player this summer. Assuming the Spurs give in to Leonard's trade desire, the player movement that could ensue over the next few weeks could be similar to the summer of 2010. If Leonard is traded to the Lakers, expect LeBron James (and possibly Paul George) to follow him. If he's sent to the Celtics or 76ers, expect LeBron to pack his bags and head west. If he's traded to the Cavs... well, get ready for Cavs-Dubs, Part V.

Prediction: Celtics - Danny Ainge coldly ships Gordon Hayward, Terry Rozier and two future draft picks to San Antonio for Leonard