2017 NBA Free-Agency Big Board: Top 25 Remaining Players

While the top of the NBA's 2017 free-agent class is just about taken care of, the run on role players has only begun.

Gordon Hayward's impending move to Boston set off a dizzying array of chain reactions, from Kelly Olynyk's release, as ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported, to a slew of other Celtics potentially landing on the trade block, to the best available wings fielding eager calls from the Utah Jazz and Miami Heat, among others.

The pursuit of restricted free agents appears to be picking up, as well. Otto Porter Jr. was but the first to receive a massive offer sheet, a development reported by The Vertical's Shams Charania, though he won't likely be the last so long as the Brooklyn Nets are still lurking.

Before the market thins out again, take a gander at the 25 best free agents left, taken and ranked according to Bleacher Report's pre-July big board.

25. Zaza Pachulia, Center, Unrestricted

Marcio Jose Sanchez/Associated Press

It may be just a matter of time before Zaza Pachulia re-signs with the Golden State Warriors. According to USA Today's Sam Amick, the defending champions were "still expected" to bring back their top center from last season.

The "fifth Beatle" in the team's star-studded starting five, Pachulia, 33, shot a career-best 53.4 percent from the field during his debut campaign in Golden State.

24. Bojan Bogdanovic, Shooting Guard/Small Forward, Restricted

Nick Wass/Associated Press

Bojan Bogdanovic may be in for a rude awakening. According to CSN Mid-Atlantic's Chris Miller, the 28-year-old Bosnian is seeking a long-term deal worth around $16 million per year.

The Washington Wizards, it seems, aren't keen to meet his demands. They've already supplemented their store of three-point-shooting forwards by agreeing with Mike Scott on a veteran's minimum contract.

According to CSN Mid-Atlantic's J. Michael Falgoust, the Wizards don't plan to pull their qualifying offer to Bogdanovic, a restricted free agent. "Instead," Falgoust reported, "they'll seek sign-and-trade options with the hopes of acquiring a traded player exception that could be used later."

Bogdanovic drained 39.1 percent of his threes during the regular season after a deadline-day trade with the Brooklyn Nets, but cooled off considerably after his hot start amid back problems.

23. Luc Mbah a Moute, Small Forward, Unrestricted

Jae C. Hong/Associated Press

Danilo Gallinari's impending arrival to L.A., a move reported by ESPN, likely spells the end of Luc Mbah a Moute's tenure with the Clippers. According to the Los Angeles Times' Broderick Turner, Mbah a Moute turned down his player option for 2017-18 prior to the opening of free agency.

In two seasons with the Clippers, the 30-year-old UCLA product became a lockdown defender and progressively competent three-point shooter (39.1 percent from deep in 2016-17) while filling in at both forward spots.

22. Marreese Speights, Power Forward/Center, Unrestricted

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Beyond opting out of his contract with the Los Angeles Clippers for 2017-18, Marreese Speights has had a quiet offseason. Chances are, there won't be much movement on his front until some of the other available centers—including fellow shooter Kelly Olynyk—land their next deals first.

Speights is coming off a solid season in L.A. He averaged 8.7 points, shot 37.2 percent on a career-high 3.4 three-point attempts per game and finished second in the league in total charges drawn (34).

21. Milos Teodosic, Point Guard, Unrestricted

Lefteris Pitarakis/Associated Press

The Minnesota Timberwolves might soon fill Ricky Rubio's shoes, in part, with another passing wizard from Europe. According to EuroHoops.net's Nikos Varlas, the 30-year-old Serbian has his sights set on the United States, and the Minnesota Timberwolves have already made contact.

Per 1500 ESPN's Darren Wolfson, Teodosic's contact with the Wolves has been described as "Some talks, nothing more at this time." A contact of Wolfson's who's followed Teodosic characterized him as a "Great, great passer, and a leader w/ a p---k mentality. No defense"—not exactly an ideal all-around fit for the defensive-minded coaching of Tom Thibodeau.

20. Tim Hardaway Jr., Shooting Guard, Restricted

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As more wings are plucked off the board, Tim Hardaway Jr. will come to the fore. In the meantime, the market for the 25-year-old restricted free agent appears tepid, at best.

According to DallasBasketball.com's Mike Fisher, the Mavericks have Hardaway Jr. down as a "maybe." The Atlanta Hawks, his incumbent club, don't appear to be in any rush to re-sign him.

"I don't see (a quick offer sheet signing) coming," Hawks general manager Travis Schlenk told the Atlanta Journal Constitution's Chris Vivlamore. "It could happen. I think they'll give us a heads up."

Hardaway Jr. is fresh off an eye-opening season during which he registered career highs in points (14.5), field-goal percentage (45.5 percent), minutes (27.3 per game) and appearances (79). At 25, he might just be coming into his own on the wing.

19. Nikola Mirotic, Power Forward, Restricted

Chris Szagola/Associated Press

According to the Chicago Tribune's K.C. Johnson, the Chicago Bulls want to bring back Nikola Mirotic. All that's left to be sorted out is for how long and how much—just the thornier points of any NBA offseason negotiation.

As Johnson noted, the Bulls are taking a wait-and-see approach to Mirotic's restricted free agency: "Since the Bulls can match any offer Mirotic receives, they appear to be taking a hard line on salary and length of deal. Basically, the Bulls are negotiating with the philosophy that if Mirotic wants a higher salary, he needs to sign an offer sheet from another team."

At least two other franchises are said to be in the mix for the 6'10" Montenegrin, though that may not matter much in the end if Chicago is so intent on retaining him. His results as a shooter have thus far been mixed (35.0 percent from three in three NBA seasons), but the 26-year-old has apparently flashed enough grit and promise to merit a part in the Bulls' upcoming rebuild.

18. Manu Ginobili, Shooting Guard, Unrestricted

Eric Gay/Associated Press

There's still no official decision from Manu Ginobili as to whether he will retire or return to the San Antonio Spurs.

This, despite the insistence of Argentine soccer legend Diego Maradona, who recently told a crowd of reporters in Russia that the 39-year-old swingman would spend two more seasons in the Alamo City, per Clarin.com (h/t the San Antonio Express-News' Nick Moyle).

The Spurs, for their part, could use Ginobili's particular talents if he has anything left to give. With Tony Parker potentially out until January with a quad injury and Dejounte Murray heading into just his second season, San Antonio will lean heavily on Patty Mills to hold the fort among the team's experienced ball-handlers.

17. Jonathon Simmons, Small Forward, Restricted

Eric Gay/Associated Press

Jonathon Simmons' days as a target of the Los Angeles Clippers may be over now that Danilo Gallinari is en route to Southern California. But that doesn't mean the former D-Leaguer is out of NBA options.

According to ESPN's Ian Begley, the New York Knicks have reached out to Simmons, who "is in active talks" with two clubs.

Could the San Antonio Spurs be one of those? According to ESPN's Michael C. Wright, the Spurs are concocting an offer for Simmons, their own restricted free agent, that would pay him around $9 million per year.

In this market, that's a nice price for a 27-year-old wing with athleticism and fearlessness to burn.

16. Tyreke Evans, Shooting Guard/Small Forward, Unrestricted

David Zalubowski/Associated Press

There's still no word about what, if anything, is going on with Tyreke Evans' free agency. The Pennsylvania native last suited up for the Sacramento Kings, with whom he won the NBA's Rookie of the Year award in 2009-10.

At 27, Evans still has plenty to offer a squad in need of ball-handling and playmaking. Injuries have sapped Evans of some of his previous shake, and he's never been a particularly efficient shooter (29.5 percent from three for his career). But with his 6'6" size and strength, Evans can be a problem with the ball in his hands.

15. David Lee, Power Forward, Unrestricted

Marcio Jose Sanchez/Associated Press

The market has remained largely mum on David Lee since the 34-year-old former All-Star declined his player option with the San Antonio Spurs. According to ESPN's Michael C. Wright, Lee has yet to meet with any teams, though he and his representatives have been in touch with several clubs.

It's possible Lee will have to wait out the free-agent frenzy before inking a deal for the new, higher veteran's minimum, perhaps with a title contender. The Florida product won a ring with the Golden State Warriors in 2015 and, after shooting 59.0 percent from the field with the Spurs last season, may have more to give toward that end in 2017-18.

14. Rudy Gay, Small Forward, Unrestricted

Rich Pedroncelli/Associated Press

Now that Gordon Hayward has agreed to join Boston, Gay should see his market expand considerably.

According to ESPN's Royce Young, the 30-year-old UConn product would've preferred to sign with the Oklahoma City Thunder, but there is a "sizable gap" between what Gay wants and what OKC can give him.

That money will now start trickling into Patrick Patterson's bank account, as he agreed to a deal with the Thunder on Tuesday, per ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski. Young posited that the Miami Heat could jump into the Gay sweepstakes.

The same appears true for the Utah Jazz. As HoopsHype's Alex Kennedy reported, the Jazz are expected to go after Gay in the wake of Hayward's departure and Otto Porter Jr.'s anticipated return to Washington after signing an offer sheet with Brooklyn.

Whichever team winds up with Gay, who declined a $14.3 million player option with the Sacramento Kings, will have to proceed with caution. The journeyman scoring wing is coming off an Achilles injury that ended his season in Sacramento after 30 games.

13. Kelly Olynyk, Center, Unrestricted

Tony Dejak/Associated Press

The market was quick to react to Kelly Olynyk's shift from potentially restricted to unrestricted in free agency. According to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, multiple teams have checked on his "price point" since the Boston Celtics rescinded their qualifying offer to him in the aftermath of Gordon Hayward's Beantown announcement.

In a league obsessed with shooting, Olynyk has separated himself from the pack of bigs left on the board. Unlike most available pivots, the 26-year-old is a bona fide threat from three-point range (36.8 percent for his career).

12. Dion Waiters, Shooting Guard, Unrestricted

Doug McSchooler/Associated Press

With Gordon Hayward off to Boston, the Miami Heat can turn their attention to Dion Waiters. According to the Miami Herald's Barry Jackson, the Heat are "expected to expedite the process" of bringing back Waiters, among other free agents yet to come on this list.

The Syracuse product's return to South Beach is no sure thing, though. Per the New York Post's Marc Berman, the New York Knicks have "reached out" to Waiters. He's also met with Rob Pelinka, his former agent-turned-Lakers general manager, about landing in Southern California.

He might have competition for the role of fearless gunner in L.A. According to the Los Angeles Times' Brad Turner, the Lakers are "a real option" for Jamal Crawford if he gets bought out by the Atlanta Hawks.

There may not be enough room on L.A.'s roster for two such players. In New York, he could chuck shots alongside fellow former Orange Carmelo Anthony. In Miami, he'd get to continue his maturation under the thumbs of team president Pat Riley and head coach Erik Spoelstra.

11. C.J. Miles, Shooting Guard/Small Forward, Unrestricted

John Raoux/Associated Press

Early in free agency, ESPN's Tim MacMahon reported that C.J. Miles would be a "plan B" for teams pursuing JJ Redick. Now that Redick is due to leave the open market for Philadelphia, Miles' process seems to be picking up.

According to 1500 ESPN's Darren Wolfson, the Minnesota Timberwolves, Miami Heat, Atlanta Hawks and Sacramento Kings have all shown interest in the 30-year-old sharpshooter, with visits soon to follow. Wolfson later reported that the Indiana Pacers would be "open" to a sign-and-trade sending Miles to Minnesota in exchange for Cole Aldrich and a draft pick.

Whichever teams lands Miles' signature will be getting a solid two-way wing coming off the best shooting season (41.3 percent from three in 2016-17) of his 12-year NBA career.

10. James Johnson, Power Forward, Unrestricted

Pablo Martinez Monsivais/Associated Press

James Johnson stands to benefit handsomely now that Gordon Hayward agreed to go to Boston and Chris Bosh is off the books. As of the evening of July 4, the Miami Heat and Mark Bartelstein, Johnson's agent, were "working on something," per the Miami Herald's Barry Jackson.

Meanwhile, the Utah Jazz, who lost Hayward, are said to share "mutual interest" with Johnson, per the Salt Lake Tribune's Tony Jones.

Johnson is coming off a breakout year in Miami, where he posted career highs in points (12.8), rebounds (4.9), assists (3.6), field-goal percentage (47.9 percent), three-point percentage (34.0 percent) and minutes (27.4 per game). 

9. Mason Plumlee, Center, Restricted

Sue Ogrocki/Associated Press

Basketball-wise, there might not be much room left in the Denver Nuggets' frontcourt for Mason Plumlee. With Paul Millsap agreeing to join Nikola Jokic, Kenneth Faried, Darrell Arthur, Trey Lyles and Juancho Hernangomez in the rotation, head coach Michael Malone will be hard-pressed to find minutes for Plumlee, assuming he returns.

Fortunately for the Duke product, Denver should have the wiggle room to entertain a new deal for him. According to cap guru Albert Nahmad, Millsap's deal leaves just enough room to make the math work with Plumlee's qualifying offer.

In truth, the Nuggets could use more of Plumlee going forward. Among their group of bigs, he's the only one who can not only naturally step in as Jokic's backup at center, but also do so with something approximating the Serbian's passing flare (3.5 assists per game last season).

8. Dirk Nowitzki, Power Forward, Unrestricted

Tony Gutierrez/Associated Press

Dirk Nowitzki is well aware of the insanity that's seized the Western Conference in recent weeks.

"It's incredible how the top teams build their talented squads and trade one player after another," Nowitzki told DAZN in Germany (h/t Believe The Hype). "It's madness, but everyone wants to compete with Cleveland and the Warriors."

Nowitzki's Dallas Mavericks aren't yet in a position to contend with the NBA's last two champions, though that doesn't figure to impact his path. The 39-year-old future Hall of Famer has already had his option declined in Dallas, though according to Marc Stein, then with ESPN, all signs point to Nowitzki's returning, with the Mavs doing "what Dirk wants."

7. Pau Gasol, Power Forward/Center, Unrestricted

Marcio Jose Sanchez/Associated Press

Pau Gasol did the San Antonio Spurs a huge favor by declining his $16.2 million option for next season. Without that big number on their books, the Spurs dove into July with a bit more financial flexibility to bring back Patty Mills, Manu Ginobili and Jonathon Simmons.

According to Adrian Wojnarowski, then with The Vertical, Gasol "intends to work with the franchise on a new, longer-term deal to remain with the team." Now that Mills is off the market and Simmons' free agency seems to be heating up, Gasol's future figures to be among the most pressing items left on Gregg Popovich and R.C. Buford's to-do list.

The near-37-year-old may not be quite the force he once was, but after last season's output (12.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, 1.1 blocks per game) split between starting and reserve roles in San Antonio, it's clear Gasol still has plenty to give.

6. Andre Roberson, Shooting Guard/Small Forward, Restricted

Sue Ogrocki/Associated Press

Russell Westbrook isn't the only Thunder player whose future could be impacted by Paul George's arrival in Oklahoma City. According to the Norman Transcript's Fred Katz, that trade figures to make OKC all the more likely to re-sign Andre Roberson this summer.

As Katz noted, the expulsion of Victor Oladipo's onerous contract to Indiana (along with the rookie deal of Domantas Sabonis) lightens the Thunder's current payroll and future outlook—perhaps enough to make keeping a shot-poor, defensive-minded perimeter player more palatable.

From a basketball perspective, Roberson is a better fit next to a big scoring wing such as George than he is at small forward, as was the case when Kevin Durant was in town.

It may be just a matter of time, then, until Roberson re-ups with the team that acquired his rights on draft day in 2013. However, with Patrick Patterson now heading to OKC, a deal for Roberson would vault the Thunder into the luxury tax for the first time since the team moved from Seattle in 2008.

5. JaMychal Green, Power Forward, Restricted

Brandon Dill/Associated Press

One things seem certain for JaMychal Green: His future will not be in Memphis.

Michael Hodges, Green's agent, told the Commercial Appeal's Ronald Tillery that the Grizzlies haven't so much as broached the possibility of a new contract with their restricted free agent since July 1.

"I'm looking at two offer sheets and sign-and-trades," Hodges said, per Tillery. "Seems to us Memphis is going in a different direction.”

ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski has since reported that Memphis made a qualifying offer to Green on July 1 and is "awaiting an offer sheet" from another team for the 27-year-old.

The Alabama product will bring newfound stretchiness (37.9 percent on 1.9 three-point attempts last season) and longstanding toughness as a rebounder and defender to whichever team lands him.

4. Dewayne Dedmon, Center, Unrestricted

Monica M. Davey/Associated Press

Early rumblings in free agency pegged Dewayne Dedmon as a potential pickup at center for the Golden State Warriors. That possibility may be fading with the hint dropped by USA Today's Sam Amick that the defending champions are "still expected" to bring back Zaza Pachulia. With David West agreeing to return for his final go-around and sophomore-to-be Damian Jones and incoming rookie Jordan Bell waiting in the wings, there might not be room up front for Dedmon in the East Bay.

That could change in the days and weeks to come, as the business of basketball continues to churn out new contracts. Perhaps the San Antonio Spurs, with whom Dedmon took a significant leap last season as a finisher (62.2 percent shooting) and frontcourt defender, will want to see what the 27-year-old center can accomplish with more seasoning under head coach Gregg Popovich and his crack development staff. 

3. Nerlens Noel, Power Forward/Center, Restricted

Tony Gutierrez/Associated Press

There seems to be a standoff developing in Dallas. And while negotiations between the Mavericks and Nerlens Noel probably aren't nearly as dramatic as a Spaghetti Western showdown, they may be no less critical to the team's future.

According to the Dallas Morning News' Eddie Sefko, Noel's representatives and the Mavs are stuck in "a waiting game." That's hardly unusual for a restricted free agent like Noel. Between the lack of other teams with cap space and the other parts still moving on the market, it may be some time before Noel fields an offer sheet from elsewhere—assuming he gets one at all.

As much as the Mavericks like Noel, there's ample reason for them and the rest of the NBA to proceed with caution. He's a spindly big who works well in the pick-and-roll and can protect the rim defensively, but lacks much in the way of reliable shooting range or availability from night to night; he missed what would've been his rookie campaign with a torn ACL, sat out 15 times in 2015-16 and racked up 31 DNPs this past season.

Still, Dallas has been hot after a center of Noel's sort since parting ways with Tyson Chandler in 2011. If the 23-year-old former lottery pick can stay healthy and develop into a two-way force for the Mavericks, they'll be well on their way to forming a functional foundation for a future without Dirk Nowitzki.

2. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Shooting Guard, Restricted

John Raoux/Associated Press

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope remains a man without an offer sheet in restricted free agency. That may have something to do with the notion, reported by the New York Post's Brian Lewis, that the Detroit Pistons will match any offer that comes his way.

Perhaps some teams aren't keen to add a player, in Caldwell-Pope, whose off-court reputation has been tarnished somewhat by his pleading guilty to allowing a person to drive under the influence—for which he'll spend a year on probation and miss the first two games of the 2017-18 season. Others might be less inspired by a former top-10 pick at shooting guard who's never hit more than 42.0 percent of his field goals or 35.0 percent of his threes.

The Pistons have no need to pounce on Caldwell-Pope right now, either. They've already drafted one guard (Duke's Luke Kennard) and agreed to sign another (Langston Galloway) to a three-year deal, all with a third promising perimeter player (Stanley Johnson) waiting in the wings.

Unless one of the few teams with real cap space throws a significant offer sheet at KCP's feet, don't expect his situation to resolve itself anytime soon.

1. Otto Porter Jr., Small Forward, Restricted

Charles Krupa/Associated Press

The Fourth of July sparked fireworks in Sacramento—just none for Otto Porter Jr. With Zach Randolph and George Hill agreeing to join the Kings' latest rebuilding effort, the team ran out of room for Porter's $100 million offer sheet, per ESPN's Chris Haynes.

It didn't take long for his market to pick up thereafter. Once Gordon Hayward agreed to sign with the Celtics, Porter became the hottest commodity on the market: a 24-year-old long-armed sharpshooter on the wing.

According to The Vertical's Shams Charania, Porter promptly agreed to a four-year, $106.5 million offer sheet with the Brooklyn Nets. The Washington Wizards will have until July 8 to match. Per NBA.com's David Aldridge, the Wizards plan to match once the league's moratorium is lifted July 6.

Washington will be pleased to retain Porter and his scintillating stroke (43.4 percent from three last season). He was a key cog in one of the league's best starting fives and has developed into a perfect fit next to John Wall and Bradley Beal since coming to the nation's capital as the No. 3 pick in 2013.

All stats via NBA.com and Basketball Reference unless otherwise noted.

Josh Martin covers the NBA for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook and listen to his Hollywood Hoops podcast with B/R Lakers lead writer Eric Pincus.