By Dimitris Minaretzis/ info@eurohoops.net
There are a lot of names in the NBA who have become free agents and will not start the season, waiting for an opportunity in the short term or not.
That’s not news. What’s really surprising is how many big names have not yet found a team and are for the moment out of the league.
Carmelo Anthony
2021-22 numbers (Los Angeles Lakers): 13.3 points, 4.2 rebounds
Carmelo Anthony is definitely the biggest name still available at the moment. The truth is that there was no particular buzz for him in the market and interest in the 38-year-old forward has faded. Is this a sign that his career ended without much noise? Not at all, since last year he showed that his legs still hold.
Dwight Howard
2021-22 numbers (Los Angeles Lakers): 6.2 points, 5.9 rebounds
Dwight Howard reached the age of 36 and in the last 2-3 seasons he found jobs as a backup center, twice with the Lakers and once with the Sixers. He’s certainly not the center he used to be for a long time, but you can’t say for sure that he’s done with basketball. However, no team has given him a contract this year and he will wait for injuries or other cuts to get an opportunity.
Rajon Rondo
2021-22 numbers (Los Angeles Lakers and Cleveland Cavaliers): 6.2 points, 4.9 assists
Rajon Rondo also reached 36 years of age, but a class playmaker like him is always considered useful. He is a top creator with the ball, an aspect of his game where he has excelled for so many years in the NBA. However, no team has trusted him for their roster so far, and he is another player from last year’s Lakers (as well as Bradley, Wellington, and Bazemore) who did not find a job this year.
Hassan Whiteside
2021-22 numbers (Utah Jazz): 8.2 points, 7.6 rebounds
Hassan Whiteside, at 33, distinguished himself last year in blocks and rebounds despite the relatively short time he played for the Jazz (17.9′ minutes per game). In the last two years, he has been coming off the bench, but we are talking about a really solid center. It’s weird he hasn’t found a contract yet, but he will be one of the first free agents to be signed during the season.
Paul Millsap
2021-22 numbers (Brooklyn Nets and Philadelphia 76ers): 3.5 points, 2 rebounds
Paul Millsap has a strong name in the league, but at 37 he could not find a contract even with the minimum. Last year he was with the Nets, but they included him in the trade for Ben Simmons from the Sixers and he ended the season in Philadelphia without a follow-up.
DeMarcus Cousins
2021-22 numbers (Denver Nuggets): 8.9 points, 5.5 rebounds
Perhaps the freshest of all on this list, maybe even the best at the moment. However, he has always been labeled as “trouble”, and had more than his share of injuries. Cousins played behind Jokic for the Nuggets last year and still showed signs of his talent. No team trusted him in the summer, still due to his talents he may soon find a team.
LaMarcus Aldridge
2021-22 numbers (Brooklyn Nets): 12.9 points, 5.5 rebounds
All you have to do is look at Aldridge’s numbers from last year to see that he still has the guts at 37 years old. Some time ago he had decided to quit due to heart issues, but he came back and made his presence felt in the ailing front line of the Nets. It has been rumored that he may leave for good this year, but for now, he is still available.
Kemba Walker
2021-22 numbers (New York Knicks and Detroit Pistons): 11.6 points, 3.5 assists
Kemba Walker was released by the Pistons just before opening night. On the final day of waivers, Detroit finalized the release of Kemba, who had a poor season with the Knicks last year after a disappointing tenure with the Celtics. Generally, since he left the Hornets, things have been getting worse and worse for him. But we are talking about a player who is only 32 years old, who still has a lot to give. His current situation does not match his name and age.
Eric Bledsoe
2021-22 numbers (Los Angeles Clippers): 9.9 points, 4.2 assists
He is pretty much in the same situation as Kemba Walker. He is still 32 years old, but his last season was the worst after his first three in the NBA. Eric Bledsoe was traded to the Clippers from the Pelicans but played just 54 games, averaging about 25 minutes on the floor. No team decided to sign him in the summer.
Lou Williams
2021-22 numbers (Atlanta Hawks): 6.3 points, 1.9 assists
“Sweet Lou” is one of the most decorated players in NBA history, with three Sixth Man of the Year awards and outstanding seasons despite never being a champion. Last year with the Hawks he recorded single-digit points per game for the first time since his first two NBA seasons in 2005 and 2006. In general, in the last two years in Atlanta, he did not play much (80 matches in all) and it seems that his career is fading.