2017 NBA Free-Agency Big Board: Top 25 Remaining Players
The waves of 2017 NBA free agency had a quiet weekend.
The Indiana Pacers and Toronto Raptors created the biggest ripple with Sunday's sign-and-trade swap of C.J. Miles for Cory Joseph. Only three other players on our last top 25 big board have found new deals—Tyreke Evans (Memphis Grizzlies), Bojan Bogdanovic (Pacers) and Zaza Pachulia (Golden State Warriors).
With budgets shrinking and rosters filling, clubs are getting more selective with where and how they invest their remaining funds. That could mean more dormant days are ahead.
But the market remains flush with worthwhile additions. These are the top 25 still available—extracted from and ranked according to B/R's initial top 100 free-agency big board.
25-21: Jones, Lawson, Williams, Reed
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25. Anthony Tolliver, PF, Unrestricted
2016-17 Per-Game Stats: 7.1 points, 3.7 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 0.5 steals, 0.3 blocks
Top 100 Ranking: 71
Anthony Tolliver was a late entry to this free-agent class, getting waived by the Sacramento Kings in early June ahead of a contract guarantee date. So, the journeyman who has played for nine teams in nine seasons is once again looking for work.
After shooting 39.1 percent from three last season, he'll latch on somewhere. He had at least five suitors when free agency opened, per 1500 ESPN's Darren Wolfson.
24. Terrence Jones, PF, Unrestricted
2016-17 Per-Game Stats: 10.8 points, 5.7 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 0.7 steals, 1.0 blocks
Top 100 Ranking: 70
Terrence Jones finished last season outside the NBA, after being waived by both the New Orleans Pelicans and Milwaukee Bucks. The 18th pick back in 2012, his combination of size and skills should get him another look inside the Association.
But given how often he was passed over in 2016-17, he's probably a last-resort clearance option.
23. Ty Lawson, PG, Unrestricted
2016-17 Per-Game Stats: 9.9 points, 2.6 rebounds, 4.9 assists, 1.1 steals, 0.1 blocks
Top 100 Ranking: 69
Last summer, Ty Lawson had to settle on a non-guaranteed minimum pact with Sacramento. The market has been more receptive this time around, with four teams contacting him the first night of free agency, per Wolfson.
Despite Lawson's plummeting three ball (from 41.0 percent as a rookie to 28.8 last year), he's capable of steering the ship as a backup lead guard (2.59 assists per turnover, tied for 25th).
22. Deron Williams, PG, Unrestricted
2016-17 Per-Game Stats: 11.0 points, 2.3 rebounds, 5.6 assists, 0.5 steals, 0.1 blocks
Top 100 Ranking: 67
The Cleveland Cavaliers seemingly showed Deron Williams the door by snagging Jose Calderon. Williams should find interest elsewhere, but his last impression wasn't great.
The 33-year-old shot two-for-the-Finals, posting a gruesome 12.5 field-goal percentage on the game's biggest stage. He was fine before that—43.8 percent shooting (36.3 outside) in the regular season—but it's telling how quickly Cleveland pivoted to an even older point guard.
21. Willie Reed, C, Unrestricted
2016-17 Per-Game Stats: 5.3 points, 4.7 rebounds, 0.4 assists, 0.3 steals, 0.7 blocks
Top 100 Ranking: 66
Willie Reed has size, athleticism and loads of energy. Even if he's not the most skilled player, he offers enough to have attracted the Pacers, Los Angeles Clippers, Golden State Warriors, Atlanta Hawks and Philadelphia 76ers, according to Turner Sports' David Aldridge.
During Reed's first season as a rotation regular, he averaged a double-double per 36 minutes (13.1 points, 11.6 rebounds) and had a pair of outings with at least 22 points and 12 boards.
20. Ersan Ilyasova, PF, Unrestricted
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2016-17 Per-Game Stats: 13.1 points, 5.9 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 0.7 steals, 0.3 blocks
Top 100 Ranking: 65
It says a lot about how the league has changed when a 6'10" forward with an above-average perimeter shot qualifies as kind of boring, but here we are. Ersan Ilyasova defines the phrase solid but unspectacular, as he's a proven scorer, shooter and little else.
He turned 30 in May, but he also just completed the second-best scoring season of his career. His market will awaken as clubs fill out their second units.
19. JaVale McGee, C, Unrestricted
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2016-17 Per-Game Stats: 6.1 points, 3.2 rebounds, 0.2 assists, 0.2 steals, 0.9 blocks
Top 100 Ranking: 64
Even after re-signing Zaza Pachulia, the Warriors remain interested in bringing JaVale McGee back, per Anthony Slater of the Bay Area News Group. However, Golden State only can offer the minimum, and the 7-footer's bounce-back season may have priced him out of the Bay.
McGee played more games (77) than he had the previous three seasons combined (62), and he brought electricity nearly every time he stepped inside the lines. His per-36-minute marks were staggering: 23.0 points, 11.9 rebounds and 3.3 blocks.
Suitors can and should read those numbers through a skeptical lens given the wealth of talent he played alongside. But when combined with his physical gifts, the package is tempting. That's why he's had meetings with both the Clippers, per Broderick Turner of the Los Angeles Times, and the Kings, per ESPN's Chris Haynes.
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18. Tony Allen, SG, Unrestricted
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2016-17 Per-Game Stats: 9.1 points, 5.5 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 1.6 steals, 0.4 blocks
Top 100 Ranking: 63
The Grindfather and the Memphis Grizzlies haven't formally divorced, but the tea leaves are leading to that point. Tony Allen took the Grizzlies off his Twitter bio, and hours later Turner Sports' David Aldridge brought word of sign-and-trade talks involving the Clippers.
Allen spent the past seven seasons in Memphis and was an All-Defensive selection during six of them, including a second-team honor this past year.
17. Ian Clark, PG/SG, Unrestricted
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2016-17 Per-Game Stats: 6.8 points, 1.6 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 0.5 steals, 0.1 blocks
Top 100 Ranking: 61
It always seemed likely Ian Clark and the Warriors would separate after two successful seasons together. The arrival of Nick Young—a reserve gunner with more weapons—sealed Clark's fate.
So, it's off to the open market where the 26-year-old shouldn't have trouble finding a deal to his liking. After shooting career rates from the field (48.7 percent) and three (37.4), he might have positioned himself to receive more than the mid-level exception, executives told The Vertical's Shams Charania.
16. Andrew Bogut, C, Unrestricted
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2016-17 Per-Game Stats: 2.9 points, 8.1 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 0.5 steals, 0.9 blocks
Top 100 Ranking: 60
Andrew Bogut broke his left leg in March. He doesn't think that will prevent him from finding his next contract sooner rather than later.
"I anticipate something getting done in about a week or two's time," Bogut told Fox Sports News' Tom Chadwick. "We've sent all the scans to teams that are interested and they've got those, they're happy with them and they've started discussions now."
Bogut is the only player to average at least 11 rebounds, two assists and 1.5 blocks per 36 minutes in each of the last five seasons.
15. Alan Williams, PF/C, Restricted
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2016-17 Per-Game Stats: 7.4 points, 6.2 rebounds, 0.5 assists, 0.6 steals, 0.7 blocks
Top 100 Ranking: 59
Alan Williams' gift on the glass is glaringly apparent. His 6.2 boards came in just 15.1 minutes a night. That garnered him the seventh overall ranking in both rebounding percentage (22.4) and rebounds per 36 minutes (14.8).
What's not as obvious is the financial value of his contributions. He fetched a four-year offer with a $5-6 million salary from the Phoenix Suns early in free agency, according to Arizona Sports 98.7's John Gambadoro.
He could seek out something bigger elsewhere, although Yahoo Sports' Jordan Schultz heard Phoenix plans to match anything "reasonable."
Update: According to The Vertical's Shams Charania, Williams has agreed to a three-year, $17 million contract with the Suns.
14. Alex Len, C, Restricted
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2016-17 Per-Game Stats: 8.0 points, 6.6 rebounds, 0.6 assists, 0.5 steals, 1.3 blocks
Top 100 Ranking: 57
Alex Len's restricted free agency has been slow to progress. He was "discussing scenarios" already July 1, per The Vertical's Shams Charania, but reports haven't surfaced since showing him anywhere closer to a deal.
While the former No. 5 pick continues forming his identity, Len has been steady in the center spot's traditional categories. His per-36-minute line featured 14.1 points, 11.8 rebounds and 2.3 blocks last season.
13. Derrick Rose, PG, Unrestricted
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2016-17 Per-Game Stats: 18.0 points, 3.8 rebounds, 4.4 assists, 0.7 steals, 0.3 blocks
Top 100 Ranking: 56
A thinned-out point guard crop has certainly helped, but interest in Derrick Rose is building quickly.
He's met with the Bucks (per ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski) and the Clippers (per Broderick Turner of the Los Angeles Times). The Knicks seem to still be in the running, per ESPN.com's Ian Begley. And there may or may not be a chance he joins the Dallas Mavericks.
Rose might be the most red-flagged player on the market. He just had his meniscus surgically repaired in April, and that was his fourth knee-related injury and procedure in the past five years. But several areas of his 2016-17 production—including his points, 47.1 field-goal percentage and 17.0 player efficiency rating—were at or near their highest levels since his medical problems first surfaced.
12. Luc Mbah a Moute, SF, Unrestricted
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2016-17 Per-Game Stats: 6.0 points, 2.2 rebounds, 0.5 assists, 1.0 steals, 0.4 blocks
Top 100 Ranking: 51
Positional versatility on defense and a career shooting year should equal more than a $2.3 million salary, right? That's the gamble Luc Mbah a Moute is taking after determining his value exceeded the player option he held with the Clippers. Even without knowing the market's reception of him, it seems like a smart bet.
"There is an increasing need for wings and bigs who can compete in the chaos of switches and cross-matches," Sports Illustrated's Rob Mahoney wrote. "Mbah a Moute isn't ideal in that regard, though he's cagey enough to hang in those matchups and prevent defensive collapse."
Mbah a Moute ranked ninth among power forwards with a 2.32 defensive real plus-minus and shot a career-best 39.1 percent from distance last season.
11. Marreese Speights, PF/C, Unrestricted
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2016-17 Per-Game Stats: 8.7 points, 4.5 rebounds, 0.8 assists, 0.3 steals, 0.5 blocks
Top 100 Ranking: 50
The stretch center label has never fit Marreese Speights better. He made more than twice as many threes last season (103) as he had over the previous eight combined (43). And despite the radically ramped-up volume of shots, he buried them at a 37.2 percent clip.
Despite prior struggles with conditioning and consistency, his combination of size and sniping will make him attractive for teams seeking second-team help.
10. Nikola Mirotic, PF, Restricted
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2016-17 Per-Game Stats: 10.6 points, 5.5 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 0.8 steals, 0.8 blocks
Top 100 Ranking: 44
Slow-but-steady progress will probably put Nikola Mirotic and the Chicago Bulls back together at some point. While no contract agreement has come yet, sources told The Athletic's Sean Highkin that the sides continue to talk and both would like to get something done.
Chances are Chicago wants someone else to set Mirotic's rate. He's big and skilled in multiple contemporary ways, but his first three seasons were defined by frustrating inconsistency.
That said, his highs are special. He had eight 20-point outbursts last season—three accompanied by double-digit rebounds—and 21 contests with three or more triples.
9. Manu Ginobili, SG, Unrestricted
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2016-17 Per-Game Stats: 7.5 points, 2.3 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.2 steals, 0.2 blocks
Top 100 Ranking: 39
Manu Ginobili's last appearance felt like a finale. The crowd cheered him off the floor and into the locker room after Golden State completed its sweep of the San Antonio Spurs in the Western Conference Finals.
"It felt like they wanted me to retire," Ginobili said afterward, per mySA.com's Madalyn Mendoza. "Giving me a sort of celebration night."
Nearly two months later, it's still uncertain if that was Ginobili's walk into the sunset. There has yet to be a decision made by the soon-to-be-40-year-old, according to Jeff McDonald of the San Antonio Express-News.
Ginobili finally looked his age for most of last season, but he totaled 36 points and nine assists over his last two playoff outings. His comfort and craftiness on the ball could both be attractive to San Antonio given Tony Parker's injury and Dejounte Murray's inexperience.
8. Jonathon Simmons, SG, Restricted
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2016-17 Per-Game Stats: 6.2 points, 2.1 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 0.6 steals, 0.3 blocks
Top 100 Ranking: 38
Free agency hasn't forgotten about Jonathon Simmons. The explosive swingman had "significant interest" from the start, per Jeff McDonald of the San Antonio Express-News, so the fact he hasn't signed yet isn't reflective of his market.
That he's a restricted free agent appears to be complicating things, though. It's tough to tell what price gets him out of the Alamo City, but Sporting News' Sean Deveney has heard the Spurs would be willing to offer him a three-year, $30 million deal.
How much higher could other clubs go? That depends how much they like his athleticism and defense. The 27-year-old's offense isn't super reliable, as last season's .420/.294/.750 shooting slash showed.
7. David Lee, PF, Unrestricted
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2016-17 Per-Game Stats: 7.3 points, 5.6 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 0.4 steals, 0.5 blocks
Top 100 Ranking: 35
Patience has been a virtue for David Lee in free agency, and it's starting to pay off. His camp is "in discussions with a bunch of teams," according to ESPN.com's Michael C. Wright. And the Spurs are among those clubs hoping to land him, according to Jabari Young of the San Antonio Express-News.
It shouldn't be surprising San Antonio has interest. During Lee's first season in the Alamo City, he shot 59.0 percent from the field and finished 21st among all power forwards with a 1.50 defensive real plus-minus.
6. Mason Plumlee, C, Restricted
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2016-17 Per-Game Stats: 10.4 points, 7.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 0.9 steals, 1.1 blocks
Top 100 Ranking: 26
The best free-agency news Mason Plumlee has heard came months before the market's opening. Following his February trade to the Denver Nuggets, then-general manager (now president of basketball operations) Tim Connelly said Plumlee was "here for the long term," per BSN Denver's T.J. McBride.
That's probably still the case, although the inactivity around Plumlee doesn't speak well for his next salary. The Nuggets surely see him as no more than a reserve with Nikola Jokic and Paul Millsap on board, and it's hard to spot any potential suitors who would pay Plumlee as a starter.
The deal to Denver did not help. Plumlee was pushed out of a starting gig and saw his counting categories sag across the board.
5. Pau Gasol, PF/C, Unrestricted
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2016-17 Per-Game Stats: 12.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 0.4 steals, 1.1 blocks
Top 100 Ranking: 23
Plenty has changed since Pau Gasol declined his $16.2 million player option to help the Spurs chase bigger fish in free agency. But the expected ending remains the same.
"The team is still expected to negotiate a long-term deal with center Pau Gasol," the San Antonio Express-News' Jeff McDonald reports.
Father Time hasn't been kind to Gasol's defense, but the 37-year-old has modernized his offensive arsenal. He tallied 56 triples last season—only 18 fewer than his first 15 campaigns combined—while converting 53.8 percent of his long-range looks.
4. JaMychal Green, PF/C, Restricted
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2016-17 Per-Game Stats: 8.9 points, 7.1 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 0.6 steals, 0.4 blocks
Top 100 Ranking: 19
Restricted free agency has stalled what should be an active market for JaMychal Green. He's on the radar of the Bulls, Hawks and Suns, according to Sporting News' Sean Deveney, but there's been no report of any external offers given the anticipation of Memphis matching whatever comes.
While the 27-year-old Green is a late bloomer, he's loaded with trendy talents. The 6'9" forward splashed 37.9 percent of his threes while seamlessly shifting between paint and perimeter defensive assignments. As an added bonus, he has some throwback nastiness on the boards.
All of the above explains the interest in him—and his likelihood of staying in Memphis. The Grizzlies have a vacancy at power forward and no reasonable means of acquiring someone better to fill it.
3. Dewayne Dedmon, C, Unrestricted
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2016-17 Per-Game Stats: 5.1 points, 6.5 rebounds, 0.6 assists, 0.5 steals, 0.8 blocks
Top 100 Ranking: 18
Dewayne Dedmon is an in-prime, premier paint protector. And yet, his market has been tricky to read.
Golden State was mentioned early as a potential landing spot, per USA Today's Sam Amick, but it has since burned through its cap space. The Boston Celtics were said to be intrigued, per the San Antonio Express-News' Jabari Young, before they added Aron Baynes. Both Young and his colleague, Jeff McDonald, deem a return to San Antonio unlikely.
Dedmon is an elite interior defender (44.5 percent shooting allowed at the rim, fifth among volume bigs) and athletic rim-runner. That should hold major appeal to win-now clubs, but the trick is finding one that still has roster spots and money to spend.
2. Nerlens Noel, PF/C, Restricted
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2016-17 Per-Game Stats: 8.7 points, 5.8 rebounds, 1.0 assists, 1.3 steals, 1.0 blocks
Top 100 Ranking: 14
Nerlens Noel's restricted free agency has been the paint-drying portion of the offseason. The "action" is boring, the outcome is (almost certainly) predetermined...and still we watch.
The Mavs are believed to have offered an $18 million to $20 million salary, per Eddie Sefko of the Dallas Morning News. Noel, who could earn a starting salary up to $24.75 million, apparently wants more, so the stalemate continues.
As a 23-year-old with tantalizing defensive tools, Noel's salary search is justifiable. But Dallas has little, if any, incentive to budge. He could have trouble finding other suitors, and even if he does, the Mavs can match any offers.
With concerns regarding his offensive potential and durability (would-be rookie year lost to torn ACL, 15-plus games lost the last two seasons), Dallas has reasons to offer less than the max.
1. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, SG, Unrestricted
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2016-17 Per-Game Stats: 13.8 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.2 steals, 0.2 blocks
Top 100 Ranking: 13
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope has options, which wasn't always the case this summer. But he escaped the claws of restricted free agency when the Detroit Pistons renounced his rights after acquiring Avery Bradley. Caldwell-Pope can now sign where he chooses without the threat of a matched offer.
The Brooklyn Nets and Los Angeles Lakers have had interest, sources told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, although for different reasons.
The Nets need young, controllable talent, and it helps that Caldwell-Pope could cover D'Angelo Russell's defensive deficiencies. While the Lakers like Caldwell-Pope, they're reportedly more intrigued by the role he might play in LeBron James' recruitment. The two have the same agent—Rich Paul of Klutch Sports—and Caldwell-Pope's two-way talent might help attract the King in 2018 free agency.
Those aren't the only options—the Atlanta Hawks could give the Georgia native a long look—and Caldwell-Pope is free to explore all of them.
Unless otherwise indicated, all stats from Basketball Reference, NBA.com or ESPN.com.
Zach Buckley covers the NBA for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter: @ZachBuckleyNBA.
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