With the NBA Finals around the corner the majority of teams from around the association have already shifted their focus to the future and what it will take to get in the best possible position to contend next season. Free agency will be a major tool for the teams that are willing to spend big to upgrade but one of the most pressing questions they will deal with is which players are worth spending big money on and which simply aren’t. Here is a look at whether or not each of the following top NBA unrestricted free agents are worth max contracts this summer.
SG: DeMar DeRozan
Toronto Raptors
Any doubts about whether or not DeRozan would command a max contract following a slow start in the playoffs have disappeared. DeRozan has been on a tear against the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals including an average of 32.0 points, 4.0 rebounds and 3.5 assists in back-to-back wins to even the series at 2-2. That is solid production from a shooting guard that averaged 23.5 points, 4.5 rebounds and 4.0 assists as an All-Star for the Raptors this year. At just 26 years old and playing a position that is extremely thin on the free agent market, there is no doubt that DeRozan will get a max contract this summer. The only question remains as to whether it will be the Toronto Raptors that decide to hold on to him and max him out or whether the Los Angeles Lakers can somehow swoop in and convince him to come back home and play for the purple and gold.
PF: Harrison Barnes
Golden State Warriors
Barnes is in an intriguing position heading in to this summer as an unrestricted free agent that will command a ton of attention on the open market. The interesting thing about Barnes is he is the fourth-best option in the Warriors’ loaded starting lineup so it’s extremely difficult to gauge what he is worth. Barnes is still just 23-years-old and he is coming off a regular season in which he averaged 11.7 points, 4.9 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game. Barnes has the potential to grow in to a very good power forward but there is no doubt he has benefited from the talent around him at Golden State and at this point he might not be worth a max contract.
C: Hassan Whiteside
Miami Heat
Whiteside will almost undoubtedly command max money after a monster season in which he averaged 14.2 points, 11.8 rebounds and led the NBA with 3.7 blocks per game. The question in this instance is whether or not teams will be able to trust him to stay healthy and perform at a high level throughout an entire year. Whiteside broke through in Miami two years ago and he missed time due to injury in each of his two seasons with the Heat. The fact that he can be a franchise center at just 26-years-old makes him a very intriguing free agent and while there is some concern about his overall durability he is definitely worth a max contract at this point.
C: Al Horford
Atlanta Hawks
The Hawks are coming off their second consecutive playoff exit at the hands of the Cleveland Cavaliers and they will need to spend a substantial amount of money to keep their current core intact including Horford as an unrestricted free agent. Horford averaged 15.2 points, 7.3 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.1 three-point shots and he is going to command a substantial amount of money on the open market this summer. Is he worth a max contract? For a team in position to add a veteran big man with the ability to stretch the floor it makes sense. There are a number of teams looking to accelerate their rebuilding process while other teams are looking to add a missing piece to what they feel can be a contending team so while he might not be the top free agent available his talent and the market dictate that he is worth max money. Don’t be surprised if he leaves and tries to play for a team that is closer to contending.
