The 1 Player Each NBA Franchise Should Ditch This Offseason
Sometimes it's personal.
A fanbase can grow sick and tired of watching one of its players put forth limited effort on a nightly basis. Sometimes it's about declining production, as a key contributor could be turning into more of a liability than an asset. Sometimes it's just about roster construction, since an NBA team can have too many bigs or guards at any given time.
Regardless of the reason, every franchise has that one player it hopes (or should hope) won't return.
This is not necessarily akin to insulting the player. Maybe he's just a better fit with a different team, and it's the perfect time for his current squad to move on.
It's also worth noting that we're trying to be realistic here. Some organizations have players they'd surely like to sever ties with, but the remaining money owed prevents them from saying goodbye in anything but an idealistic, imaginary world. For that reason, you won't be seeing Derrick Rose or Nikola Pekovic popping up.
Atlanta Hawks: Jeff Teague
1 of 30
Position: PG
Age: 27
2015-16 Per-Game Stats: 15.7 points, 2.7 rebounds, 5.9 assists, 1.2 steals, 0.3 blocks
It's not that the Atlanta Hawks have no interest in retaining Jeff Teague. He's still an above-average point guard who can occasionally play like an All-Star on offense.
But if they move him, it opens up more opportunities for Dennis Schroder. The incumbent backup possesses a significantly higher ceiling, making him one of the few rostered players who can push the Hawks out of their never-ending cycle of upper-tier mediocrity.
Consistency has eluded Schroder during the early portion of his NBA career, but we've seen the impact he can make on each end when granted significant run. He's a quick defender who can pester opposing guards, and his first step makes it nearly impossible for his marks to stay in front, allowing him to penetrate into the paint and add a new element to the Hawks offense.
Atlanta can't be content to run it back one more time after experiencing another sweep at the hands of the Cleveland Cavaliers. This is the easiest way to allow for the possibility of substantial improvement, making Teague the choice over Al Horford or Kyle Korver.
Boston Celtics: Tyler Zeller
2 of 30
Position: C
Age: 26
2015-16 Per-Game Stats: 6.1 points, 3.0 rebounds, 0.5 assists, 0.2 steals, 0.4 blocks
The Boston Celtics must find better ways to allocate their financial resources.
Heading into the offseason, they already have four big men under contract for 2016-17. Amir Johnson is earning more money than anyone else on the roster, while Jonas Jerebko and Kelly Olynyk have both shown their value in various situations. Jordan Mickey also has a deal, and he possesses enough upside to justify a larger role during his sophomore season.
There's no reason for Boston to re-sign Tyler Zeller to the frontcourt conglomerate, especially since it has a chance to bring Jared Sullinger back or use one of its draft picks to add a big man with an even higher ceiling.
Zeller is a usable piece at center, but this team needs more than a rotation big as it attempts to move into the Eastern Conference's upper echelon.
Brooklyn Nets: Thaddeus Young
3 of 30
Position: SF/PF
Age: 27
2015-16 Per-Game Stats: 15.1 points, 9.0 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 1.5 steals, 0.5 blocks
The Brooklyn Nets must add more young talent to their threadbare roster.
Though they have less than $60 million committed as we head into the offseason, cap space isn't a panacea in the Big Apple. Not only does almost every team have the luxury of some financial flexibility during the coming months, but the Nets don't have much appeal to free agents. When excess cash isn't winning them over, prestige and the quality of the organization has to matter.
Obviously, that's bad news.
If free agency isn't likely to alter the fortunes of this downtrodden franchise, maybe the 2016 draft will? The problem is the Nets owe their first-round pick to the Boston Celtics and have to swap second-round picks with the Los Angeles Clippers.
It's highly improbable the Nets land an impact player at No. 55, so that leaves trades.
Brook Lopez and his $21 million salary for 2016-17 won't be moved, and he can still serve as a Brooklyn centerpiece. But Thaddeus Young, who's owed $12.1 million for the coming season, could realistically fetch a sizable return and some younger core pieces.
Charlotte Hornets: Spencer Hawes
4 of 30
Position: C
Age: 28
2015-16 Per-Game Stats: 6.0 points, 4.3 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 0.4 steals, 0.5 blocks
Though Spencer Hawes still has two years remaining on his current deal, the Charlotte Hornets should be looking to sell him off at the first available opportunity.
It isn't that he's not worth the midlevel exception. Instead, Charlotte has too many other bigs.
"There's nowhere that I'd rather be," Al Jefferson said after his season came to an end, per Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer. "The things that this franchise did over the last three years have been amazing and I've been part of it. I know there's a whole other business side to this, but I really want to be here. I'd like to end my career here."
Jefferson also indicated he'd be willing to sign at a discount, which makes it even easier for the Hornets to retain his services while also re-signing Nicolas Batum, Marvin Williams and Courtney Lee. And if he's back, that leaves nothing for Hawes.
After all, Cody Zeller and Frank Kaminsky will need more minutes as they continue to develop.
Chicago Bulls: Pau Gasol
5 of 30
Position: PF/C
Age: 35
2015-16 Per-Game Stats: 16.5 points, 11.0 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 0.6 steals, 2.0 blocks
Pau Gasol enjoyed an impressive statistical season, racking up double-doubles while recording plenty of assists and defending his tiny area of the court quite well. However, that doesn't mean he made the Chicago Bulls that much better, especially because head coach Fred Hoiberg was forced to alter the defensive schemes to compensate for Gasol's lack of mobility.
Now, it's time for Chicago to move on from the veteran big man.
Accepting the status quo and re-signing this Spanish 7-footer wouldn't be the right move, because it would come at the expense of the Windy City's future. The Bulls still have both Taj Gibson and Bobby Portis in the fold, and they should also have the ability to add another convincing big in either free agency or the 2016 NBA draft.
If Gasol is retained, they may sneak into the playoffs next season. Maybe they'll even climb higher up the Eastern Conference ladder and prove their lottery finish in 2015-16 was nothing more than an aberration.
But unless they let Gasol walk and focus on improving the organization's long-term fortunes, they'll be accepting that their ceiling falls well short of a title.
Cleveland Cavaliers: Timofey Mozgov
6 of 30
Position: C
Age: 29
2015-16 Per-Game Stats: 6.3 points, 4.4 rebounds, 0.4 assists, 0.3 steals, 0.8 blocks
"With new coach Tyronn Lue pushing for a faster pace, does [Timofey] Mozgov fit? Are the Cavs better off with Tristan Thompson and Kevin Love playing center? Love has moved to center when Lue wants a smaller lineup, LeBron James becoming the power forward," Terry Pluto asked for Cleveland.com in February.
Even after Anderson Varejao was traded on Feb. 18, Mozgov didn't receive more run in bigger lineups. From that day through the end of the regular season, he was on the court for only 17.3 minutes per game—a slight decline from 17.5 per game prior to the trade. And through the team's first 12 postseasons contests, he's logged a total of 38 minutes while sitting out five entire games.
Mozgov was once billed as the future of the center position for the Cleveland Cavaliers. Before the season began, Jason Lloyd of the Akron Beacon Journal reported some NBA insiders believed he could receive a max contract after the 2015-16 campaign.
Not anymore. After a year filled with little confidence and drastically declining performance (and potential personal issues, as he hinted at in an interview with Lloyd), his Cleveland tenure needs to end as soon as possible.
Dallas Mavericks: David Lee
7 of 30
Position: PF
Age: 33
2015-16 Per-Game Stats: 7.8 points, 5.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 0.4 steals, 0.5 blocks
David Lee was a revelation as soon as he wound up in a Dallas Mavericks uniform.
Over the course of 25 games, the veteran power forward averaged 17.7 points and 14.5 rebounds per 36 minutes while shooting 63.6 percent from the field and, per defensive box plus/minus, playing the best defense of his career.
His player efficiency rating? A career-best 24.0. His win shares per 48 minutes? A career-best 0.237.
And that makes it even more troubling the Mavericks were so much worse when he played. With Lee on the bench, they outscored the opposition by 0.2 points per 100 possessions. When he played, that net rating plummeted to minus-3.0.
At least for the Mavericks, Lee is the very definition of fool's gold. This is a team that needs a relentless physical presence to pair with Dirk Nowitzki, and Lee can't provide that for sustained stretches. Even when he's humming along, he necessitates substantial schematic changes that hold everyone else back.
Denver Nuggets: Darrell Arthur
8 of 30
Position: PF
Age: 28
2015-16 Per-Game Stats: 7.5 points, 4.2 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 0.8 steals, 0.7 blocks
The Denver Nuggets roster is already brimming over with talent at just about every position.
Emmanuel Mudiay is the future at point guard. Gary Harris and Will Barton improved drastically at shooting guard. At the forward slots, Wilson Chandler and Danilo Gallinari should be healthy and ready to join the fray. The frontcourt is loaded, given the presences of Nikola Jokic, Kenneth Faried, Jusuf Nurkic and Joffrey Lauvergne.
Throw in multiple first-round picks for the 2016 draft, and the Nuggets aren't exactly starved for upside. Nor do they need to add any veterans to the frontcourt, which means the organization should be hoping Darrell Arthur turns down his $2.9 million player option and pursues a new contract in a different location.
"I definitely want to be here, especially if they extend me three or four years," Arthur told Christopher Dempsey of the Denver Post. "That would be great. Because I love the city, I love the team, I love the direction the coach is going in and the organization. So, I want to be here."
Now, the Nuggets have to remember this is a business. In a situation like this, personal feelings can only matter so much.
Detroit Pistons: Steve Blake
9 of 30
Position: PG
Age: 36
2015-16 Per-Game Stats: 4.4 points, 1.5 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 0.4 steals, 0.1 blocks
If the Detroit Pistons are going to continue trending upward, they need to shore up the second unit. That doesn't begin with the addition of more shooters or bigs who can replace Andre Drummond when he needs a breather; it starts when they add a capable backup point guard.
Steve Blake wasn't that, even when he was healthy.
The 36-year-old shot just 38.8 percent from the field and 34.4 percent from beyond the arc. He turned the ball over 1.4 times per contest despite playing only 17 minutes during his typical outing. He was a glaring liability on the defensive end, both by the eye test and any point-preventing metric you can dream up.
Most significantly, the Pistons couldn't get anything going with him on the court. The team's offensive rating dropped by 4.8 points per 100 possessions when he was playing.
Moving on from Blake means the Pistons aren't content with the status quo. Instead, they're actively trying to improve the second unit, even if it means taking a risk on a younger player.
Golden State Warriors: Harrison Barnes
10 of 30
Position: SF
Age: 23
2015-16 Per-Game Stats: 11.7 points, 4.9 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 0.6 steals, 0.2 blocks
To be clear, Harrison Barnes has been a terrific fit for the Golden State Warriors.
He's not counted on for much offensively, as he sits well behind Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green in the pecking order. Instead, he's treated as a spot-up shooter who can help space out a defense from either small forward or power forward, allowing him to play in undersized lineups that torment the opposition with their versatility.
But if Barnes returns to the Dubs, he'll be vastly overpaid. As a restricted free agent, he'll have the ability to sign an offer sheet outside the Bay Area, forcing Golden State to either match or let him walk. And given his upside, that price tag could rise all the way up into max territory.
The Warriors will match if they need to. But if they don't, it means a better player is coming to town, whether that's Nicolas Batum, Luol Deng or—wait for it—Kevin Durant.
This is a 73-win team we're talking about, and every member of the roster played well at some point during the season. The only reason fans should root for someone to leave is if he's being replaced by a superior option.
Houston Rockets: Dwight Howard
11 of 30
Position: C
Age: 30
2015-16 Per-Game Stats: 13.7 points, 11.8 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 1.0 steals, 1.6 blocks
Is it the sulking? The diminished production? The obvious signs he had no interest in playing alongside James Harden? The lack of enthusiasm when his teammates experienced some success while he was on the pine?
How about all of the above?
Rarely do you see a player as candid as Dwight Howard was in a recent interview with ESPN's Jackie MacMullan. The whole piece is worth a read, but this anecdote about his interaction with Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey should tell you all you need to know:
"I felt like my role was being reduced. I went to Daryl and said, 'I want to be more involved.' Daryl said, 'No, we don't want you to be.' My response was, 'Why not? Why am I here?' It was shocking to me that it came from him instead of our coach. So I said to him, 'No disrespect to what you do, but you've never played the game. I've been in this game a long time. I know what it takes to be effective.'
"
This is a no-brainer. Howard needs to opt out of his contract and enjoy a fresh start (sigh, again) in a new location for the 2016-17 season.
Indiana Pacers: Jordan Hill
12 of 30
Position: PF/C
Age: 28
2015-16 Per-Game Stats: 8.8 points, 6.2 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 0.5 steals, 0.5 blocks
Though his reputation would seem to preclude actual production, Jordan Hill was an asset for the Indiana Pacers. His offense improved to the point that he wasn't a glaring liability, and that enabled him to stay on the court for longer stretches, impacting the defense in a positive manner.
According to NBA Math's TPA database, Hill was 24.36 points below average during the 2015-16 season—by no means a terrible score for a backup big. In fact, that mark left him above four other members of the Indiana roster, two of whom played prominent parts in the rotation.
But Hill still doesn't need to return.
He was playing on a one-year deal while Myles Turner developed, and re-signing him would prevent the promising Texas product from expeditiously developing into an upper-tier center. Boasting a frontcourt rotation that features Turner and Ian Mahinmi would lead to much more success than continuing to throw minutes at a player who's a known commodity at this stage of his career.
Los Angeles Clippers: Jeff Green
13 of 30
Position: SF/PF
Age: 29
2015-16 Per-Game Stats: 11.7 points, 4.2 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 0.7 steals, 0.5 blocks
The Jeff Green experiment did not work.
Thanks to lackluster shooting and mediocre defense once he was traded to the Los Angeles Clippers, the forward made his new team worse whenever he was on the floor. Given the squad's dearth of options at small forward, it's even more mind-boggling that the net rating dipped from 5.3 to 0.1 when Green was playing.
At this point, it shouldn't matter that Doc Rivers inexplicably gave up Lance Stephenson and a first-round pick for the 29-year-old. This is the definition of a sunk cost, as the Clippers aren't getting their assets back even if they decide to re-sign him. Either way, they're out that future selection.
Committing to Green would be a massive misstep, especially for an organization that has continuously struggled in its pursuit of usable depth. The money that would be allocated toward bringing him back would be better served adding multiple rotation members who can ease some of the Atlas-level stress experienced by the starters.
Los Angeles Lakers: Roy Hibbert
14 of 30
Position: C
Age: 29
2015-16 Per-Game Stats: 5.9 points, 4.9 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 0.4 steals, 1.4 blocks
All you need to see is the monthly playing-time splits for Roy Hibbert during his first season with the Los Angeles Lakers:
- October: 24.5 minutes per game
- November: 26.9
- December: 25.8
- January: 22.6
- February: 18.6
- March: 21.1
- April: 20.4
By the end of the season, former head coach Byron Scott was done allocating heavy minutes to the veteran center. Hibbert was basically unusable on offense, and his defense wasn't making any sort of difference for a squad that hemorrhaged points on a regular basis.
Even for a coach who loved playing the established contributors, it was an easy decision to hand Julius Randle and the other youngsters extra minutes at Hibbert's expense. Now, he's a free agent, and the Lake Show shouldn't so much as think about offering him a new contract.
Memphis Grizzlies: Lance Stephenson
15 of 30
Position: SG
Age: 25
2015-16 Per-Game Stats: 8.3 points, 3.2 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 0.6 steals, 0.1 blocks
Lance Stephenson had some fun moments for the Memphis Grizzlies.
After the injury imp laid waste to what felt like the entire roster toward the end of the season, the mercurial shooting guard took over as a primary ball-handler and produced some quality numbers. From March 11 through the final game, he averaged 15.6 points, 4.5 rebounds and 3.1 assists while shooting 46.4 percent from the field and 40.9 percent from beyond the arc.
But that still doesn't mean he should be a key piece in 2016-17.
When Mike Conley—assuming the free-agent point guard returns—and Marc Gasol are healthy, the Grizzlies' style changes significantly. It becomes much more important that Tony Allen provides his high-quality defense than Stephenson receives heavy, unpredictable minutes.
The 25-year-old's contract contains a $9.4 million team option for the coming season, and that money could best be spent elsewhere. Memphis still has a desperate need for a floor-spacing presence on the wings, and it can't be fooled into thinking the short stretch of superior shooting from Stephenson will carry over into future campaigns.
Miami Heat: Gerald Green
16 of 30
Position: SG/SF
Age: 30
2015-16 Per-Game Stats: 8.9 points, 2.4 rebounds, 0.8 assists, 0.6 steals, 0.3 blocks
It's easy to buy into the idea of Gerald Green.
He's a fun wing who can dazzle crowds with gravity-defying dunks while raining three-pointers every few possessions. His athleticism helps him make a few highlight-reel plays on the defensive end, masking the overall lack of concentration.
But in reality, Green wasn't productive for the Miami Heat. He shot just 39.2 percent from the field and 32.3 percent from downtown during his first season in South Beach, and the occasional block didn't make up for the extreme porosity on the defensive end.
During Miami's short playoff run, head coach Erik Spoelstra couldn't even trust him with heavy minutes. Green's average playing time dropped from 22.6 minutes per game during the regular season to just 9.2 in 12 postseason appearances, and that should be more telling than anything else.
The swingman signed a one-year deal at the veteran's minimum last summer. Now, he should be seeking a similar pact with a different organization.
Milwaukee Bucks: Greivis Vasquez
17 of 30
Position: PG
Age: 29
2015-16 Per-Game Stats: 5.7 points, 2.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 0.4 steals, 0.0 blocks
As Milwaukee Bucks head coach Jason Kidd wrote on his website, the lackluster nature of the 2015-16 season allowed the team to experiment. One of the more successful developments centered around a certain Greek Freak:
"With that being said, as the season went on and the playoffs became something that was out of reach, we started trying some different things.
We put Giannis Antetokounmpo at the point guard position, and I had him handle the ball for the second half of the season. That worked out very well and we all thought he did a really good job. Giannis took a step forward in terms of understanding how to run a team. It’s not an easy thing to learn, and he’s going to continue getting better.
It was something we’d actually been thinking about for a while, since I became head coach of the Bucks. We tried it in training camp and preseason that first year, and it didn’t really work out. But we came back to it, and it helped him. He was engaged on both ends of the floor. It got him in the open court, which highlights his natural abilities. One of his strengths is being able to find guys, and he did a really good job with that.
"
This needs to continue.
The Bucks were far more successful when Giannis Antetokounmpo was running the show, and having a conglomerate of point guards won't help Kidd stick with the strategy during the inevitable dry spells. Since Michael Carter-Williams is in Milwaukee for a while longer, that means Greivis Vasquez needs to go elsewhere. There's no need for three oversized floor generals.
The 29-year-old point guard can be a valuable rotation guard, but he's a free agent now, and the Bucks are already overflowing with backcourt members. In addition to Antetokounmpo and Carter-Williams, Tyler Ennis is still under contract and needs to be given a chance at a larger role.
Minnesota Timberwolves: Tayshaun Prince
18 of 30
Position: SF
Age: 36
2015-16 Per-Game Stats: 2.9 points, 1.9 rebounds, 1.0 assists, 0.5 steals, 0.2 blocks
Only two members of the 2015-16 Minnesota Timberwolves roster come off the books this summer—Greg Smith and Tayshaun Prince.
There's no reason for the Minnesota fanbase to trouble itself over Smith's future, seeing as he signed a pair of 10-day contracts in March and only suited up 18 games. Losing him isn't remotely troublesome.
But Prince played a much more integral role, averaging 19 minutes per contest over the course of 77 games—even starting 44 of them. He was a veteran presence in the locker room, as well as a player who attempted to set the tone on defense for his younger teammates.
Now, that's no longer necessary. The Wolves can dedicate that roster spot to a player capable of making more useful contributions. With head coach Tom Thibodeau calling the shots, the young up-and-comers will learn better defensive principles and will be held accountable for their effort—or lack thereof—on a nightly basis.
Plus, Kevin Garnett is still around for that extra veteran discipline.
New Orleans Pelicans: Eric Gordon
19 of 30
Position: SG
Age: 27
2015-16 Per-Game Stats: 15.2 points, 2.2 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.0 steals, 0.3 blocks
Throughout the length of his overpaid tenure with the New Orleans Pelicans, Eric Gordon was a valuable contributor. Injuries and a lack of development prevented him from becoming the superstar he was supposed to blossom into when acquired from the Los Angeles Clippers in 2011, but his shooting ability still aided the overall cause.
Lest we forget, Gordon drilled at least 38 percent of his triples each of the last three seasons while taking no fewer than four during his average outing. The only other players to do that over the same time frame are Bradley Beal, Stephen Curry, Kyle Korver, J.R. Smith and Klay Thompson.
But NOLA still needs to move on.
Gordon is a representative of the past—the injury-plagued years that featured nothing more than the No. 8 seed and subsequent first-round sweep at the hands of the Golden State Warriors during the 2015 postseason.
This franchise has plenty of holes to fill around Anthony Davis, and spending a large chunk of the cap to retain an underwhelming, aging 2-guard isn't the way to push forward.
New York Knicks: Derrick Williams
20 of 30
Position: SF/PF
Age: 25
2015-16 Per-Game Stats: 9.3 points, 3.7 rebounds, 0.9 assists, 0.4 steals, 0.1 blocks
"I don't mind," Draymond Green told the Golden State Warriors about the tweener label before he was drafted, per Sports Illustrated's Lee Jenkins. "It means I can do multiple things."
Being a tweener is by no means a bad thing in today's NBA. For players such as Green, it allows them to use their versatility, lining up everywhere while always benefiting the team.
But that's not always the case.
Derrick Williams has become the bad kind of tweener. He's not big enough to bang around with power forwards, nor is he dynamic enough for jack-of-all-trades small forwards in the modern Association. He's a liability wherever he's gone, becoming a player who recklessly drives toward the basket at the expense of everything else.
The New York Knicks were correct to give him a chance, hoping some potential was lying dormant. But they must now admit the experiment was a failure rather than buying into the rare performances in which he thrived for short stretches. Games such as his 31-point outburst against the Brooklyn Nets on Jan. 13 are nothing more than aberrations.
Williams has a player option for the 2016-17 campaign, and the Knicks should be crossing their fingers he opts to hit the open market.
Oklahoma City Thunder: Kyle Singler
21 of 30
Position: SF
Age: 28
2015-16 Per-Game Stats: 3.4 points, 2.1 rebounds, 0.4 assists, 0.4 steals, 0.1 blocks
Especially during the playoffs, it seems like almost every single player on the Oklahoma City Thunder roster has produced.
Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant are the superstars, and the fanbase should be praying the latter doesn't leave in free agency. Steven Adams, Enes Kanter, Dion Waiters, Andre Roberson and Serge Ibaka have all proved themselves vital pieces.
Nick Collison is too long-tenured to be moved—think Udonis Haslem with the Miami Heat, if you need another example of such a franchise mainstay. Anthony Morrow and Randy Foye have value in the right situations. Cameron Payne, Mitch McGary and Josh Huestis all possess plenty of untapped potential.
But Kyle Singler hasn't done anything to prove he belongs. After signing a five-year, $25 million extension this past summer, he's fallen out of the rotation, to the point he can only get on the floor during postseason garbage time.
Cutting Singler isn't an option, but OKC should be floating him to teams in dire need of help on the wings, seeing if it can get a second-round pick for its efforts.
Orlando Magic: Brandon Jennings
22 of 30
Position: PG
Age: 26
2015-16 Per-Game Stats: 6.9 points, 2.0 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 0.6 steals, 0.1 blocks
As Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel explained, per the transcription of Orlando Pinstriped Post's Jake Hyman, the Orlando Magic can't be certain about Brandon Jennings yet:
"I'm not sure if the Magic know who or what they have with Brandon Jennings in that he is still knocking off a significant amount of rust from the achilles injury he suffered January of 2015. [He's] still getting used to a whole bunch of new teammates, which it would be one thing if he were a power forward like Ersan Ilyasova... Tough to adjust under any circumstances, but even more tough when you are a point guard and haven't had too many opportunities.
"
But they should be certain there are better options available now that the lefty floor general is hitting free agency. Regardless of the injuries and system-prompted excuses, Jennings hasn't produced quality offense in a long time.
In fact, he's shot better than 40.0 percent from the field just twice during his seven-year career—41.8 percent in 2011-12 and 40.1 percent in 2014-15. The Magic would be re-signing him as a backup to Elfrid Payton, and he doesn't offer the requisite shooting to serve as a beneficial change of pace.
Orlando would be better off avoiding Jennings name-recognition and opting for a less heralded guard who can produce better numbers right away. Even D.J. Augustin, Jerryd Bayless, Mario Chalmers, Gary Neal and others can provide comparable production without that shiny price tag.
Philadelphia 76ers: Carl Landry
23 of 30
Position: PF
Age: 32
2015-16 Per-Game Stats: 9.8 points, 4.1 rebounds, 0.9 assists, 0.3 steals, 0.3 blocks
One team can only roster so many big men.
Should the Philadelphia 76ers cut ties with Jahlil Okafor after he dazzled on offense but struggled to fit in with the rest of the troops? Absolutely not. The Duke product is a work in progress, and head coach Brett Brown should eventually be able to compensate for his defensive shortcomings while building an offense around his throwback scoring skills.
Should they part ways with Nerlens Noel? Not a chance. The young big man has quickly become one of the better defensive pieces in the NBA, and he'd draw more support for individual awards such as Defensive Player of the Year if the Sixers had won more games and generated more positive attention.
But the frontcourt talent doesn't end with those two up-and-comers. Dario Saric could be coming across the pond. Joel Embiid is finally getting healthy, and he could still assert himself as the best big man on the roster. Richaun Holmes has shown he should be a part of the future plans.
That doesn't leave room for Carl Landry, even if he's the team's highest-paid player. The Sixers need veteran presences, just not at positions where they're already swimming in talent.
Phoenix Suns: Tyson Chandler
24 of 30
Position: C
Age: 33
2015-16 Per-Game Stats: 7.2 points, 8.7 rebounds, 1.0 assists, 0.5 steals, 0.7 blocks
When the Phoenix Suns acquired Tyson Chandler, stealing him away from a bevy of contenders, he was supposed to be a key piece who would help the franchise's next step toward the playoffs. Instead, he's been a central part of the backsliding and disappointment.
Worst of all, his leadership and defense declined.
"Acclimation to a new team and an early hamstring injury slowed the immediate impact he had hoped to make," Matt Petersen wrote for NBA.com. "His numbers improved nearly across the board as the season progressed, however, and he'll have another offseason and training camp with which to get on the same page with the main playmakers."
Chandler could still make positive strides, and he's under contract until the end of the 2018-19 season. But that doesn't mean the Suns have to be thrilled.
Knowing full well that centers with injury histories—especially pertaining to the back—don't tend to age well, Phoenix should be shopping him while other organizations are still convinced the Defensive Player of the Year from previous go-rounds can be summoned out of his aging shell.
Alex Len remains a part of the roster, and he's only getting better. Plus, general manager Ryan McDonough is in perfect position to add more frontcourt talent with two lottery picks in the 2016 draft.
Portland Trail Blazers: Gerald Henderson
25 of 30
Position: SG
Age: 28
2015-16 Per-Game Stats: 8.7 points, 2.9 rebounds, 1.0 assists, 0.5 steals, 0.3 blocks
"[Gerald] Henderson expressed a desire to return to Portland, and he says that playing time—not a starting role—is important to him," Joe Freeman wrote for the Oregonian. "But Allen Crabbe and Moe Harkless also are free agents, and it's hard to imagine the Blazers bringing all three back."
Let's compare each member of the wing triumvirate, using NBA Math's TPA database:
| Gerald Henderson | Minus-54.38 | Minus-40.07 | Minus-94.45 |
| Allen Crabbe | 16.84 | Minus-46.31 | Minus-29.47 |
| Maurice Harkless | Minus-11.66 | 5.83 | Minus-5.83 |
None of the three was an above-average contributor in 2015-16, but Henderson should be last in the pecking order. Not only did he struggle across the board—even after his improvement in the second half—but he's the oldest of the bunch and the least likely to grow along with the team.
Upside and prior production should win out.
Sacramento Kings: Rajon Rondo
26 of 30
Position: PG
Age: 30
2015-16 Per-Game Stats: 11.9 points, 6.0 rebounds, 11.7 assists, 2.0 steals, 0.1 blocks
Rajon Rondo was working with a one-year "prove yourself" deal, and he didn't do enough to stick around with the Sacramento Kings. Even though he led the NBA in assists per game, he wasn't actually a valuable contributor, often seeking out dimes at the expense of making the right plays.
When Rondo was off the court, the Kings were outscored by two points per 100 possessions. But when he played, that net rating went down to a putrid minus-3.3.
It sounds like Sacramento is starting to get on board.
"The Sacramento Kings have plenty of needs going into the offseason, and that list may have gotten a little bit longer," James Ham wrote for CSNBayArea.com. "CSN California has confirmed an earlier report through a league source that the Kings have cooled slightly on the idea of bringing back point guard Rajon Rondo for a second tour of duty."
Unless Rondo can improve upon his defensive woes and start playing the right kind of offense, he's not worth the price he'll surely demand.
San Antonio Spurs: Matt Bonner
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Position: PF
Age: 36
2015-16 Per-Game Stats: 2.5 points, 0.9 rebounds, 0.3 assists, 0.2 steals, 0.0 blocks
You have to pick at some nits with the San Antonio Spurs—It's not like any reasonable person could be malcontent with this roster, even after the early loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder in the playoffs.
According to NBA Math's TPA database, 13 of the 14 players who spent the entire season suiting up for the Spurs were above-average contributors. The lone exception was Jonathan Simmons, whose offensive struggles kept him ever so slightly in the negatives.
But the Spurs shouldn't get rid of Simmons, so long as they can extend him at a reasonable price. His energy and athleticism serves as a change of pace for the San Antonio bench, and he's young enough (26) to keep improving with big league experience.
The same isn't true for Matt Bonner.
Not only was he one of the few Spurs barely above average in TPA, but he's a pending free agent. San Antonio could re-sign him and let him keep eating up meaningless minutes at the end of blowouts, or it could use that roster spot to add someone with more upside.
Toronto Raptors: Luis Scola
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Position: PF
Age: 36
2015-16 Per-Game Stats: 8.7 points, 4.7 rebounds, 0.9 assists, 0.6 steals, 0.4 blocks
The Toronto Raptors have been flirting with an upgrade at power forward for years, and Luis Scola isn't going to cut it if this team continues following its upward trajectory. Patrick Patterson can stretch the floor out to the three-point arc, and a number of small forwards can slide up to the 4 in small-ball lineups, but Scola doesn't add anything new.
He'll be a free agent when the team's postseason pursuits come to an end, and the Raptors can't get sucked into the idea of standing pat. By player efficiency rating and box plus/minus, Scola was a subpar contributor during his age-35 season. A bounce-back season isn't in the cards. Not at this age.
The production you can see in his per-game line isn't solely the result of diminished playing time. The Argentine averaged a career-worst 14.6 points per 36 minutes and shot worse from the field than ever before.
So for the Raptors, now is the time to move on and pursue actual improvement at power forward.
Utah Jazz: Trevor Booker
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Position: PF
Age: 28
2015-16 Per-Game Stats: 5.9 points, 5.7 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 0.7 steals, 0.5 blocks
The Utah Jazz, despite their enduring status as a lottery team, don't need to make any sweeping changes. They were already better than their 2015-16 record might indicate, and the future holds far brighter things for an organization forced to withstand ceaseless injuries this year.
When Dante Exum is back, the point guard rotation will only grow stronger. When Rudy Gobert and Derrick Favors remain healthy at the same time, they'll gain chemistry and cement themselves as the frontcourt of the future in Salt Lake City.
There aren't any holes here, and 14 members of the current roster are already under contract for the coming campaign. Trevor Booker is the lone exception, making him the easy choice to represent the Jazz in this article.
Booker's role can be absorbed by an improved version of Trey Lyles, who will be an NBA sophomore in 2016-17. And for that reason, the spot previously occupied by this 28-year-old should be given to an incoming rookie or a free agent who can add upside depth on the wings.
Washington Wizards: Nene
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Position: PF/C
Age: 33
2015-16 Per-Game Stats: 9.2 points, 4.5 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 0.9 steals, 0.5 blocks
As Keith P. Smith writes for RealGM.com, not much points toward the Washington Wizards retaining Nene now that he's entering the free-agency pool:
"As for Nene, he'll be 34 when next season starts, and he hasn't played in as many as 70 games since the 2011 season. This past season the Wizards tried to keep him healthy by managing his minutes as a backup PF/C. His numbers predictably dropped off with the second-fewest MPG of his career, but his efficiency was up. Regrettably, his health was not improved. At this point, with [Marcin] Gortat and [Markieff] Morris locked in at the big positions for the foreseeable future, unless Nene was willing to take a massive pay cut, it is probably time for the Wizards to move on.
"
Even if he is willing to take that pay cut, what's the point of re-signing him? The other contributors are younger and more productive, and giving him a new contract would take opportunities away from them while preventing the team from making more impactful moves (even if chasing Kevin Durant is all but D.O.A).
Washington has plenty of money to spend this offseason, but it also has plenty of holes to fill around John Wall. Keeping Nene on board as a tertiary big would be ill-advised.
Adam Fromal covers the NBA for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter @fromal09.
Unless otherwise indicated, all stats are from Basketball-Reference.com or NBAMath.com.
