1. Kevin Durant, UFA
2018-19 Stats: 27.5 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 5.7 apg
Kevin Durant caused a stir among the media awhile back when he was visibly upset when a reporter asked him about his silence in regards to his upcoming free agency. Durant has taken the LeBron approach by signing one-year deals with a player option for the second season with Warriors since his arrival in Golden State in 2016. Recent rumors have connected Durant to the New York Knicks as he may once again want to be the main guy on a team. The Knicks have opened up room for possibly two-max guys this offseason with the recent KP trade, opening way for Durant to team up with another star. KD is arguably one of the top-3 players in the league, continuing to put up great numbers for a team loaded with stars. Still regarded as one of the best scorers in the league, Durant will have plenty of suitors with offseason.
2. Kawhi Leonard, UFA
2018-19 stats: 27.1 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 3.3 apg
Kawhi Leonard may be one of the biggest wild cards of this upcoming offseason. After this past summer where Leonard requested a trade out of San Antonio, with many believing his sights were on the Lakers. Fast Foward months later, and now Leonard is finding great success on a Toronto team that is currently one game out of first place in the East. The Raptors fans have welcomed Leonard with open arms and have pulled out all the stops in hopes of persuading the forward to stay. Leonard is one of the best two-way players in the league with the defense ability to shut down any teams best player, and an offense that continues to progress each season. Leonard could stay in a relatively weak Eastern conference, or he could continue his pursuit to go back home to LA with either the Lakers or the Clippers. Leonard could make any contender an immediate championship threat with his ability on both sides.
3. Kyrie Irving, UFA
2018-19 stats: 23.5 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 6.9 apg
Irving’s time in Boston can be described in many different ways. A leader in the beginning, at times an isolating player, and now some see him as the center of Boston’s troubles. Before the season the idea of Irving leaving the Celtics was unbelievable with the guard expressing his commitment to Boston. Now after injuries and season struggles, the 8-year veteran isn’t singing the same tune.
Although there has been growing criticism of Irving for his leadership ability and the belief that he is never satisfied with a team. But at the end of the day, Irving is still a top-3 point guard and one of the biggest game changers in the league. When locked in he can be one of the best facilitators in the league with the ability to score anywhere on the court. Don’t be surprised if Irving is rocking a new jersey next season.
4. Klay Thompson, UFA
2018-19 stats: 22.4 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 2.4 apg
Klay Thompson’s looming free agency could be one of the biggest mysteries of the offseason. The Shooting guard could easily sign back with the Warriors and continue to be a front-runner for the championship for seasons to come. But he could also seek what life post-Golden State might be, with the ability to lead a team as a true top option. Thompson also has ties to the Lakers with his father working for the team as a color commentator. When the Lakers were in the Anthony Davis sweepstakes it was rumored that Thompson would be interested in an AD-Lebron super team. While the trade never ended up happening it still made some wonder if Klay is looking elsewhere to play this next season. He has already cemented himself as one of the best shooters in NBA history alongside his splash brother, but could he look to expand that legacy?
5. Kemba Walker, UFA
2018-19 stats: 25.0 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 5.7 apg
Despite a number of seasons of mediocrity in Charlotte with bad contracts and draft picks, Kemba Walker has been the one shining spot for the franchise. Walker got off to one of the most impressive starts of the season including a 60-point game against Philadelphia followed by a 43-point outing against Boston two nights later. The eighth-year guard out of UConn is due for a big payday after securing a spot as an all-star starter and has the potential to finish on an All-NBA team. This season Walker has registered a career-high in points and assists and is continuing to knock down shots at a respectable clip. Paired alongside another superstar, Walker could thrive for a playoff team but the point guard may opt to stay loyal to the franchise that has invested in him and can pay the most money at the end of the day.
6. Jimmy Butler, UFA
2018-19 stats: 19.2 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 4.1 apg
Butler’s career has been a tale of two halves. Selected at the end of the first round in the 2011 draft by the Bulls, Butler struggled to find minutes, only averaging nine minutes a night. Slowly Butler began to find opportunities and became an unlikely star in Chicago with his stout defense and an improving offensive game. The Bulls eventually moved on from the Derrick Rose era and invested in Butler and they were repaid as Butler became a top-10 player in the league. Butler soon requested to play for a contender and joined his former coach, Tom Thibodeau, in Minnesota where he disrupted chemistry with the younger players before eventually being traded away to Philadelphia 76ers this season. Butler has played a solid role in a lineup that features four stars. The team did trade for Tobias Harris at the deadline which may be an insurance move with Butler approaching free agency and cap space room limited. Butler turns 30 next fall and can still guard multiple positions while carrying the scoring load some nights.
7. D’Angelo Russell, RFA
2018-19 stats: 20.7 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 6.9 apg
There have been a number of fun stories in the NBA this season but none as entertaining as what is going on in Brooklyn right now. At the helm of this playoff push is D’Angelo Russell who has transformed into an all-star in just two seasons with the Nets. It wasn’t long ago that fans were writing off Russell as a bust after being drafted second overall in 2015. But a trade away from LA and the chance to lead the Nets through a rebuild has helped the point guard flourish. Along with putting up career numbers across the board, Russell has had some iconic moments including this shot that helped the Nets overcome a 28-point deficient over the Kings
Teams will make some big offers to Russell this offseason after his career year. The Nets are likely to do everything in their power to retain their franchise star, but they will likely have to match some nig offers.
8. Khris Middleton, RFA
2018-19 stats: 17.7 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 4.4 apg
One of the most underrated wings in the NBA, Middleton plays a great supporting role to the Greek Freak in Milwaukee. Middleton is able to take some of the focus off of Giannis, knocking down nearly 38% of his threes this season and usually guarding the opposing team’s top defender. His efforts were rewarded this season as the seven-year vet was selected to the all-star game. The Bucks have had one of the best seasons in NBA this year, and Giannis will get the majority of the attention, but Middleton’s role hasn’t gone unnoticed and teams will attempt to steal away one of the better wings in the league.
9. DeMarcus Cousins, UFA
2018-19 stats: 15.6 ppg, 7.9 rpg, 3.6 apg
DeMarcus Cousins’ time in Golden State hasn’t gone exactly as planned, but returning from a major injury like an Achilles tear is no easy feat. The league was shocked when Cousins signed a 1 year/$5.3 million deal with the Warriors, a team already loaded with four superstars. While Cousins didn’t suit up until January, teams knew a return to his former self paired alongside the Warrior lineup could be unbeatable. However, Cousins’ defense has been lackluster and he looks to be slowing down the team’s overall pace when he catches the ball. The team is -10 in overall plus/minus when he is on the court, but it could be attributed to a new team and returning from injury. While he may not get the money he was looking for this offseason this is still a player one year removed from a 25-13 season and can turn any playoff team into a real contender.
10. Nikola Vucevic, UFA
2018-19 stats: 20.7 ppg, 12.1 rpg, 3.9 apg
I struggled with deciding where I was going to put Nikola Vucevic on this last as his value this season has risen in a contract year. The Orlando Magic sitting just one-game outside of the 8th spot in the east. A large part of that is due to Vucevic who is registering career highs in points, rebounds, assists and knocking down 37% of his shots from downtown this season. A lot of the offense runs through the center who has great vision with the ball and be able to open up the paint with his stretchability. In today’s NBA where teams are looking to pay bigs who can shoot from long range, Vucevic will be a valuable commodity, and he is only 28 years old. Vucevic will likely look to play for a contender after being selected to his first all-star game this season.
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