After Derrick Rose signed with the Cleveland Cavaliers, in hopes of winning a championship, the free agent market lost its biggest remaining name and now is drying up – of course, nearly a month into free agency that is expected. With all that being said, there are still some talented players available. Here are the five best remaining NBA free agents.
Monta Ellis – Shooting Guard
Ellis will never again be a 25-point per night scorer, but in the right situation coming off the bench, Ellis could be a productive player. Although he lacks the deep ball, Ellis is quick and athletic, very capable of slicing through defenses and attacking the basket. This ability can help space the floor, opening things up for perimeter scorers.
His ideal landing spot at this point in his career would be as a sixth or seventh man off the bench for a contending team that simply needs some pop. He’s not going to provide much more than 20-25 minutes of offense these days.
Ian Clark – Shooting Guard
A serviceable back-up shooting guard, Clark played well in limited minutes in Golden State, shooting 48.7% from the field and 37.4% from beyond the arch. At only 25 years old, Clark will likely get better over the next few seasons and could realistically provide near double-digit scoring off the bench. The biggest thing holding Clark back is whether his success was a product of Golden State’s system and talent.
There are some that thought that he’d quickly be signed with a big deal in free agency but he’s found a very cool market. It’ll be interesting to see where he ends up but obviously the Warriors are hoping that he somehow comes home. They probably don’t need him anymore, though, with the signing of Nick Young but had they know the market would be so tepid, they might have waited to see if he came back.
Tony Allen – Shooting Guard and Point Guard
At 35 years old, Allen is nearing the end of his career. However, Allen is still an elite defender with some of the fastest hands in the league. Allen has been a first or second NBA All-Defensive Team selection in six of the last seven seasons, consistently helping Memphis rank in the top-five for fewest points allowed. Although considered an offensive liability, Allen averaged the third highest points per game in his career in 2016-17 with 9.1 and set a career high in rebounds per game with 5.5. Allen fits the role of off-the-bench lockdown defender and should soon find a home with a contender looking for some toughness.
Nerlens Noel – Center and Power Forward
As the number six pick in the 2013 NBA draft, expectations for the 6’ 11” forward/center hybrid were relatively high – expectations he has yet to reach. Noel has improved in each of his three NBA seasons, increasing his field goal percentage and free throw percentage each year, while becoming a more efficient scorer and rebounder. Injuries have always been a concern, as he has only played a possible 192 of a possible 328 games in his career. Still, at just 23 years of age, Noel should only improve and still has a chance to become an All-Star calibre player.
The challenge for him is that he’s a restricted free agent, so the Mavericks can match any deal he signs. Originally, he had hoped to sign a monster contract and force the Mavericks to make a decision. However, the market for him has been very cool. That has landed far more leverage on the Mavericks side of things. For them, the best decision – if they truly believe in him – is to sign him long-term now. However, Noel may just take the qualifying offer, play out the year and try to improve his stock for next year’s free agency period.
Deron Williams – Point Guard
NBA Finals performance notwithstanding, Deron Williams was a productive player last season for both the Dallas Mavericks and Cleveland Cavaliers. Before the trade to Cleveland, Williams was the starting point guard for Dallas – where he averaged 13.1 PPG and 6.9 AST. As a member of the Cavs, Williams shot 41.5% from three, the second best mark of his 12-year career. While Williams’ days as a starter are likely over, he would be an excellent fit for a franchise with a young point guard, needing some veteran leadership.
The 2017 NBA futures are out. It’s been a wild offseason already, but keep an eye on the betting lines as they move around at Diamond Sportsbook! Get the latest NBA betting lines right here.
