By George Orfanakis / info@eurohoops.net
The season has ended and the Golden State Warriors are the NBA champions for the second season in a row, in this way continuing the dynasty they started to build with the arrival of Kevin Durant.
Of course, much will depend on how the rest of the teams will manage to reinforce themselves in order to put an end to the Warriors’ domination.
LeBron James’ decision looks like the most important compared to all the other players, though the King is not the only free agent this summer.
Eurohoops singled out and presents here the top free agents in the NBA! Names that will definitely attract a lot of interest and whose decisions will tip the balance in the East and the West.
10. Aaron Gordon
Stats: 17.6 points, 7.9 rebounds, 2.3 assists
Aaron Gordon was selected by the Magic with the No.4 pick in the 2014 NBA draft and since then he has been constantly improving, something that is fully reflected in his stats as well as his presence on the court.
It’s telling that Orlando’s forward increases his productivity every season and it has now reached 17.6 points, while his numbers in points, rebounds, steals, and blocks are improving all the time as well. The 22-year-old is no longer an athlete who can just jump high, dunk and shine in the All-Star Game. He can put the ball on the floor, set up plays for himself, shoot with relative consistency (33.6% in three-point shooting) and is slowly but steadily transforming into a player who contributes in many different areas.
Gordon’s last contract provided him with 5.5 million dollars in earnings and it’s a given that the new deal will make him far richer. Now, what remains to be seen is which team will manage to convince him…
(Photo credit: Official Orlando Magic facebook page)
9. Isaiah Thomas
Stats: 15.2 points, 4.8 assists
The last 12 months have not been easy at all for Isaiah Thomas, as his serious hip injury and the unsuccessful stint in the Cavaliers have set him back. He completed the season with the Lakers and within the next few weeks, he will have to make a very important decision regarding the future of his career.
I haven’t been able to really workout & get better in over a year! Finally pain free. This is going to be fun!!! #ThatSLOWgrind
— Isaiah Thomas (@isaiahthomas) May 16, 2018
The small guard commented on his personal twitter account that he is now able to train without any pain, which means that sooner or later he will return to the performance levels that we enjoyed when he was in the Celtics.
Thomas completed the season with mediocre averages for his level (15.2 points, 4.8 assists) and it remains to be seen whether this will affect the interest that NBA teams will show. What is certain, however, is that he will find a contract that will be considerably higher compared to the 6.2 million dollars he received in the 2017-2018 season.
8. Jabari Parker
Stats: 12.6 points, 4.9 rebounds, 1.9 assists
The most unfortunate player on this list answers to the name Jabari Parker. The question that has to be made regarding the Bucks’ forward doesn’t concern his worth as a player but how ready he is to play after two cruciate ligament ruptures and, in fact, on the same knee.
In the season that just ended, Parker only played in 31 games, averaging 12.6 points and 4.9 rebounds in roughly 24 minutes of playing time. Safe conclusions cannot be made and it remains to be seen whether the Bucks and the new coach, Mike Budenholzer, will want to take the risk and offer the player a new contract.
A healthy Jabari definitely has a lot to offer but for an athlete who relies on strong footings to such a degree and less on shooting, the two injuries are an obstacle.
7. Julius Randle
Stats: 16.1 points, 8 rebounds, 2.6 assists
The time for a big fat contract has come for Julius Randle. At the age of 23, the young center is coming off an amazing season in the colors of the Lakers, averaging 16.1 points, 8 rebounds, and 2.6 assists.
Randle has elements that make him stand out and allow him to threaten the rival basket, both facing the basket as well as in the post. Strong, fast, agile, with excellent technique for his position and a figure in two-point shooting that was close to 60% this season.
Of course, all of the above haven’t gone unnoticed by the teams’ GMs – the Dallas Mavericks among those teams – who have Randle very high on their transfer lists. The 4.1 million dollars the Lakers center received until recently seems like a small sum compared to what he will be getting paid starting next season.