With the completion of the NBA Draft, the 2015-16 NBA season is over. As we look forward to the upcoming season, a date of utmost importance is rapidly approaching. July 1st is the start of free agency. Players and teams are already having initial discussions, but deals can’t be finalized before the 1st. Once that happens, some of the biggest names in the game will be on the open market. Most of those players however will not be changing clubs. Kevin Durant, LeBron James, Andre Drummond, and DeMar DeRozan, among others will steal sports page headlines all summer. While teams chase those pipe dreams though, here are five under the radar free agents that could change clubs, and make a difference, in 2016-17.
LUOL DENG, SF (MIAMI HEAT)
One man has been waiting for this summer for a long time. It isn’t Kevin Durant or LeBron James. It’s Luol Deng. He signed a two year deal with Miami ahead of the 2014-15 season, way below his market value. He opted in to the second year of that deal even though the free agent pool was quite thin. Deng has been anxiously awaiting to cash in this summer and the unrestricted free agent should do just that. Even though he is coming off his worst scoring campaign since his rookie year, Deng should easily get a four year, $70+ million deal with the raised cap. There are few mid tier free agents available that can guard three spots as soundly as Deng. If he can find a home where he’s higher in the offensive pecking order than he was in Miami, those offensive numbers will bounce back.
SUITORS: Miami Heat, Charlotte Hornets, Utah Jazz
PAU GASOL, PF (CHICAGO BULLS)
Al Horford is going to be the belle of the big men ball this summer. But if you want a comparable player at a substantially better value, get Pau Gasol’s agent on the line. The Spanish international just finished his second consecutive season averaging a double-double (16.5 PPG, 11.0 RPG) for the Bulls. He is probably one of the few free agents this summer for which being on a winner significantly outweighs contract length and dollar amount. At 35, he isn’t going to get many more chances at a big payday, but Gasol has seemed steadfast in his priorities. Look for him to latch on to a team in the title hunt after four straight years of falling way short. He will probably want to make his decision before representing Spain at the Rio Olympics.
SUITORS: San Antonio Spurs, Miami Heat, Houston Rockets
LEANDRO BARBOSA, SG (GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS)
Shooting guard is always one of the more shallow positions in free agency. After DeMar DeRozan inks a new deal, the pickings get slim. Many will re-sign and many more will be overpaid due to scarcity. One man that could slip through the cracks is Leandro Barbosa. Just from watching the Brazilian’s never ending motor, you wouldn’t think he’s going into his 14th NBA season. But the Warriors utilized him perfectly in their second unit this season, making him an intriguing target for the rising number of running teams in the NBA. Many free agents would love to be in Barbosa’s shoes with the Warriors. He most likely will want to stay in the Bay, but with so much money being thrown around, he could be wooed with a multi-year deal elsewhere in what may be his last opportunity to get one.
SUITORS: Golden State Warriors, New York Knicks, Oklahoma City Thunder
BRANDON JENNINGS, PG (ORLANDO MAGIC)
The previous three free agents may be a bit long in the tooth, but here is one in his prime. And coming off a brutal injury and a rusty return, you may be able to get him at a bit of a discount. Brandon Jennings was fairly durable his first five seasons in the NBA. The 26 year old’s injury woes have been many the past two seasons though. Jennings never found his feet in Orlando and was a reserve for the vast majority of his time with the Magic. But he’s healthy now, or at least so he says. Jennings can still be a 15 point PG in this league, but may have to take a short term deal now to prove it. As a starter or a backup, you could do much worse than Jennings. At the very least you can just have him play against the Knicks.
AL JEFFERSON, C (CHARLOTTE HORNETS)
The league is trending towards small ball, but having a good big man is never out of style. For that reason the likes of Andre Drummond, Hassan Whiteside, and even the enigma that is Dwight Howard are going to be flush with cash by the fall. For those that fail in those pursuits, or just avoid the hassle altogether, may I present you Al Jefferson. Big Al has been overly compensated for the better part of this decade. While his pay scale has stayed high, his game played per year has dropped. Jefferson was primarily a bench player for the first time since his early days in Boston. His ability to score in bunches may tempt a desperate team to splurge, but if the 31 year old were to take a two or three year deal at an affordable rate, a contender may be making an inquiry instead.
SUITORS: Atlanta Hawks, San Antonio Spurs, Dallas Mavericks