NBA free agency has largely come and gone, with all the big names already officially signing their new deals. The DeAndre Jordan fiasco is still right in the back of our minds, but with each passing day we get further away from the stars that control the free agency tides, and closer to the role players that could end up being the finishing pieces of a championship squad.
There are still a few players hanging out on the open market that could help the right team in a big way for the 2015-16 NBA season. Let’s take a look at who they are and where they could possibly sign before the summer is up:
J.R. Smith, G/F, Cleveland Cavaliers
Smith has always been a bit of a headcase, but he seemed to do a solid job of staying out of trouble in Cleveland and played a helping hand in the Cavs almost winning their first ever title. Smith is still a free agent because he’s reportedly looking for a three-year deal and more money, but thus far hasn’t been made a huge priority by the Cavs. That doesn’t mean Cleveland doesn’t want to retain the deep threat (they reportedly do), but if they wait too long he could be scooped up by another contender looking for some outside shooting.
Ray Allen, SG, Miami Heat
Allen chose to sit out of the 2014-15 NBA season ultimately, but even at 40 years old, has never retired. He’s supposedly kept himself in great shape and could still be gearing up to join a title contender for one more run at a championship. Latching on with the Cavaliers probably makes the most sense, but he’s also had loose ties to the Clippers, where he could reunite with Doc Rivers and Paul Pierce. He probably stays retired, but if he returns he’d provide terrific value as deadly three-point shooter off the bench.
Josh Smith, F, Houston Rockets
Smoove is without a doubt one of the most versatile forwards in the game, as he has the skill-set and athleticism to play outside at the three, or bang down low as a four. He showed he can be a team player as a role player on the Rockets last year, but he may be seeking a larger role in free agency. Money probably isn’t a big factor, though, since he’s getting paid a ton from his former deal with the Detroit Pistons. He could wait it out to hunt down a big role with a non-contender, or he could latch on with the Rockets, Clippers or Kings, all of which have shown serious interest.
Kevin Seraphin, F/C, Washington Wizards
Seraphin isn’t a huge name, but he’s one of the more interesting guys still available due to his size, strength and scoring ability. He has some serious untapped potential after pretty much wasting away on the bench in Washington to start his career. He displayed a strong inside presence briefly in the playoffs last year, and we can clearly see he brings major upside to the table as a potential double-double machine. The big reason why he’s still available is due to his desire to get paid for a starting role, but so far that hasn’t worked out. Dallas seems to be on his list if the fit is right, but with the Mavs traded for Zaza Pachulia, it might not be the ideal situation. We probably can expect him to leave the Wiz, but where he ends up is anyone’s guess. The Clippers have also expressed interest, but that was before DeAndre Jordan returned to the team.
JaVale McGee, C, Philadelphia 76ers
McGee has some of the worst awareness you’ll find from an NBA player, but he’s a towering menace that can block shots and get rebounds, so he has serious value. He’s also just 27 years old and is one of the more athletic centers in the league, so some coaching staff out there has to be thinking the right system could still potentially turn him into a beast. That’s probably a pipe dream, but he can be a shot-blocking specialist in a limited role and bring value to the right team in spurts. He’s been tied to the Clippers, Kings, Celtics and Mavericks, and he really could go anywhere. With Dallas needing center help the most, don’t be shocked if he’s a Mav by the end of the summer.
Think there’s a better NBA free agent out there that deserves to be on our list? Tell us in the comments below!
