The dynamic NBA free agency 2021 opens this Monday at 6pm ET with the presence of notable top free agents who have big decisions to make
Now that the finals are over, and the picks and trades have been made, the annual spending spree of NBA is set to kick off Monday night at 6pm ET. This is when teams and players are officially permitted to begin negotiations, with respect to free agents. Kawhi Leonard and Chris Paul are two of the biggest names in this year’s class, though they may not truly be available. Read on to know about the top 10 NBA free agents of 2021.
Top 10 NBA Free Agents In 2021 And Predictions
1. Kawhi Leonard, Clippers (Player option)
Prior to suffering a partially torn ACL during the 2021 NBA playoffs, Kawhi Leonard averaged 30.4 points, 7.7 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 2.1 steals in 11 postseason games. One of the top all-around players in the league and still in his prime, he is expected to command max money.
2. Chris Paul, Suns (Player option)
In his first season with the Suns, Chris Paul lead them to the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference, coming up just two wins short of the NBA championship. According to Bleacher Report, he is all but destined to stay in Phoenix.
3. Kyle Lowry, Raptors (Unrestricted)
The veteran point guard of Raptors Kyle Lowry averaged 17.2 points, 7.3 assists and 5.4 rebounds in the last season he played. Plenty of teams including The Heat, Mavericks, Pelicans and others will be jumping into his sweepstakes.
4. John Collins, Atlanta Hawks (Restricted)
The Hawks weren’t wrong in hesitating to let John Collins go as he has emerged to be a key member in their run to the 2021 Eastern Conference finals. He averaged 13.9 points and 8.7 rebounds per game in the playoffs. Outside teams are operating with this premise in mind.
5. Mike Conley, Utah Jazz (Unrestricted)
Coming off the first All-Star campaign of his career, we can expect Jazz to re-sign Mike Conley. However, if he did decide to do otherwise Utah will have a hard time finding a replacement given their financial limitations. As per Marc Stein, they plan to offer him a three-year deal in the $75 million range.
6. DeMar DeRozan, Spurs (Unrestricted)
DeRozan can make quite a major impact when in the right situation. He was rumored to be target for LA Lakers but that was scrapped when the latter traded in Russell Westbrook. With Spurs shifting their focus to young contenders, he may just as well accept a relative discount on a team that gives him a better shot at winning an NBA title.
7. Lonzo Ball, Pelicans (Restricted)
Lonzo Ball averaged 14.6 points, 5.7 assists and 4.8 rebounds per game while hitting 37.8 percent of his 3-points on high volume. Ball and the Bulls have mutual interest on a four-year, $80 million deal, though it’s worth noting the Pelicans will have the opportunity to match any offer sheet thrown Ball’s way.
8. Jarrett Allen, Cavaliers (Restricted)
The Cavs have had their eyes on Jarrett Allen ever since they scouted him during the 2017 playoffs. Though rumors say that he may sign a new deal with Cleveland, the Raptors could pursue him just as much.
9. Dennis Schroder, Los Angeles Lakers (Unrestricted)
Dennis Schroder may attract lucrative offers, but that remains dicey given his poor playoff showing and the compressed market. Regardless, LA Lakers will hope to re-sign him even at a high offer since they have his Bird Rights and no viable alternative to fill his roster spot.
10. Duncan Robinson, Heat (Restricted)
In the past two seasons, Duncan Robinson was a regular in rotation, averaging 13.3 points and shooting 42.7 percent of his 3-point attempts. He has the ability to create clean looks in many ways, making him more valuable than a typical spot-up guy. Miami Heat could invest in him yet again.
NBA Free Agency List Of All 45 Players
Norman Powell (Player option), Reggie Jackson (Unrestricted) Spencer Dinwiddie (Unrestricted), Richaun Holmes (Unrestricted), Tim Hardway Jr. (Unrestricted), Evan Fournier (Unrestricted), Gary Trent Jr. (Unrestricted), Kelly Oubre Jr. (Unrestricted), Will Barton (Player option) and Lauri Markkanen (Restricted).
ALSO READ: NBA Draft 2021 Results, Picks 1-60, Grades And Trades