NBA Free Agents 2013: Best Landing Spots for Top Players Left on Market

The big names are off the board.

Dwight Howard is off to Houston. Andre Iguodala is now a member of the Golden State Warriors. Josh Smith will be a Detroit Piston. 

So who's left? And more importantly, where should they go next?

Let's find out.

Monta Ellis

Before I begin, I believe I'm contractually obligated to mention that Monta Ellis is a one-dimensional scorer who doesn't have great size and doesn't really play much defense at all. Every article that mentions Ellis has to include that disclaimer. 

Now that we've gotten that out of the way, Ellis is sure to intrigue teams looking to add a scorer. One such team appears to be the Denver Nuggets, as Tim MacMahon of ESPN reports:

"

Another potential Mavericks target could be off the market soon. 

The Denver Nuggets are coming “strong” after guard Monta Ellis, a league source said, adding that the Mavs and three others teams are also showing interest in him. 

"

Minus some sort of salary dump, the Nuggets won't be able to offer Ellis as much money as other teams on the market. But Denver's style of play would certainly suit the exciting shooting guard, and he would fill a need for the Nuggets. 

If they can make the money work, it's a natural fit. 

Andrew Bynum

If you asked most Philadelphia Sixers fans, they would tell you the best landing spot for Andrew Bynum was on the moon, or perhaps somewhere isolated in Siberia where they would never hear from him again. 

After Bynum failed to play a single game for the team, you could hardly blame them. 

But it seems as though the Dallas Mavericks do have some interest in the player, and if the Mavs are willing to pay Bynum any decent chunk of coin, he should jump all over the opportunity. 

From SportsCenter on Twitter:

The Mavericks may soon find themselves in a rebuilding mode, but they are a solid team to play for and a healthy Bynum alongside Dirk Nowitzki would give the team a solid front line and shot at the playoffs. 

Bynum is damaged goods now due to his injury history and questionable commitment to his career. He isn't going to get paid like he would have before this past season and certainly not from a contender uninterested in potentially unsettling its current chemistry. 

In other words, he should run to Dallas. Well, limp there, anyway.

Brandon Jennings

Honestly, I think a return to the Milwaukee Bucks makes a lot of sense (especially considering they'll likely match any offer he gets on the market, as he's a restricted free agent). Jennings has hinted at a return to the team, and it would be a good thing for both sides. 

Jennings averaged 17.5 points and 6.5 assists last season, and has grown into a solid player for this team. With Monta Ellis all but gone, this will be Jennings' team once and for all. 

Besides, even if he takes a one-year qualifying offer, he can still hit the market next summer as an unrestricted free agent. For now, remaining with the Bucks is the smart move for Jennings.