At this point in the offseason, most of the big-name free agents are already off the board. However, this does not mean that there is a lack of available talent. Conversely, there are plenty of productive players who could be very effective still waiting to be signed. Here’s a look at the top 10 remaining unlimited free agents that are currently available on the market.
It was just two years ago that Harrell was named Sixth Man of the Year for his production off the bench as a member of the Los Angeles Clippers. This season he averaged 18.6 points, 7.1 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 27.8 minutes per game. His production has dipped in the two seasons since, but at just 28 years old he can still be a productive player off the bench for a contender, as he was with the Clippers.
One of the most elite shot makers of his era, you know exactly what you’re getting from Carmelo Anthony at this point in his career. You’re not signing him for his defense, or his playmaking. You’re signing him for his ability to put the ball in the basket, and he’s still able to do that at a relatively high level. He averaged over 13 points per game off the bench for the Lakers last season while shooting 44 percent from the floor and 37 percent from long range. For a team looking for some extra firepower off the bench, Anthony is still serviceable.
Bledsoe is still available on the market, and could be a worthwhile addition for a veteran team looking to bolster its point guard depth. Bledsoe has always been a solid defender for his size, as he is just two years removed from an All-Defensive Second Team selection, and three years removed from a First Team nod. He may have lost a step on that end, but he can still apply pressure, especially in a lesser role. He’s also more than capable on the offensive end, where he has career averages of 13.7 points and 4.7 assists per game.
Obviously, Cousins isn’t the player he once was when he was making All-Star teams with the Kings and Pelicans, but he’s shown over the past two seasons that he can still work well as a backup big. can He still rebounds at a high rate. In fact, he grabbed the most rebounds per 36 minutes of his entire career with the Nuggets last season (14.4), and he still has a feathery touch that can stretch to the three-point line. As such, he could be a boon for a team looking to bolster its frontcourt depth.
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Bradley was a prototypical 3-and-D player in his prime, and he still shows that skill quickly. He won’t shut down opponents’ best perimeter players for long periods of time, but he can still make things difficult down the stretch. Plus, he can still space the floor at the other end. Just last season he shot 39 percent from long range with the Lakers. As a rotation piece, Bradley can still be a valuable contributor to a contender, or any team for that matter.
Aldridge is a big man with the ability to space the floor with his shot, a key commodity in today’s league. He averaged 13 points and 5.5 rebounds in 22 minutes per game with the Nets last season, while shooting 55 percent from the floor. So, clearly, he still has some gas left in the tank. He’s probably not a starter at this point in his career, but he’s still capable of providing a contending team with some productive minutes.
At just 28 years old, Schroder still has some good balls left in him, and has proven throughout his career that he’s comfortable as a starter or a reserve. In other words, it shouldn’t be difficult for an interested team to find a role for him. With career averages of 14.2 points and 4.7 assists per game, Schroder has established himself as a legitimate offensive option, and he has the potential to provide a boost to whichever team ultimately signs him.
It’s not hard to think of “what ifs” when it comes to Isaiah Thomas’ career, but the fact remains that he is one of the best players in the NBA right now, as evidenced by the fact that he Has bounced around with a handful of different teams over the years. . Even so, he showed he’s still capable of producing some points off the bench during his brief stint in Charlotte last season. In fact, the Hornets are reportedly considering bringing him back next season, so that obviously impressed Charlotte’s front office to some extent. If not the Hornets, perhaps a different squad will give him another chance.
Williams is clearly in the twilight of his career, and there’s a chance he’s already played his last game in the NBA. But even at this stage, he’s a guy who can come in and get a team going off the bench on a good night. He’s not going to score 20 on a nightly basis like he did at the height of his powers, but he can likely recreate that kind of performance on occasion, and thus is still a threat to watch. The opposing defense needs to be respected.
The days of a Howard-driven offense are long gone, as are Howard’s days as a starter in the NBA. But, the big man is still a productive rebounder, a decent blocker at the rim on the defensive end, and can still finish around the rim on the other end. A team looking for some extra frontcourt fortification could do worse than Howard.
