OP's Free Agency Power Rankings

As of: July 16, 2014

It's an exciting time to be both a free agent and a free agent player this Offseason with the new Player Agents system being introduced. With about five teams with max-ish cap room, who are the top targets to chase this Offseason?

1. Andre Iguodala

Iggy had a great year, posting averages of 19/7/5 and being a great defensive complement to James Harden. He's one of the best defenders in the entire league that can guard both wing positions, and has a nice all-around game that'll complement any team. He's only 30, so a four-year deal should be very reasonable for a team like the Los Angeles Lakers, who look like the best fit with their new-found cap space. Don't expect the Houston Rockets to let Iggy just walk however, especially considering how integral he was for their run last season. I'd be very surprised to see him leave.


2. Kenneth Faried

Faried is a very popular and coveted big man with his great rebounding and all-around abilities. He's still just a fourth year player this season, and at just 25, he's the type of guy that could really fit on any max cap space team, so expect the Phoenix Suns, Charlotte Bobcats, and Los Angeles Lakers make a play for him. His youth and potential really make him valuable, and it's pretty clear he'll get the max from any of the top cap space teams. Will the Milwaukee Bucks have to bring in that fifth year?


3. Avery Bradley

Though he kind of went under the radar the entire year, Bradley had a great season putting up 12/3 in just 24mpg, shooting almost 50% from the field. He has ideal size to very effective guard both guard positions, and he still has room to grow to eventually become one of the highest-rated defenders in the entire league. He's a great scorer and ball-handler to boot, and he's also only 24 with room to grow. With the lack of good SGs out there, he should get a very nice deal, but thankfully for the Portland Trailblazers, the top cap space teams outside of the Washington Wizards all seem to have a long-term SG that they're comfortable with. Either way, he's an RFA.


4. Andrew Bogut

Bogut is the best free agent center available, and he's a guy that fits on any team because he has no real weakness, and is actually a pretty well-rated scorer as well. He's one of the best all-around defensive bigs in the league, and he won't hurt you anywhere with his efficient offense and good rebounding. The Minnesota Timberwolves, Charlotte Bobcats, Los Angeles Lakers, and Washington Wizards are obvious fits here, and at just 29 years of age, he should be just right for a four-year deal. What will it take to pry him away from the Toronto Raptors?


5. Isaiah Thomas

There has been a lot of talk regarding Thomas, who's coming off the best season of his career, where he outplayed his ratings as the lead guard for the championship-winning Miami Heat. Of the top guys, he seems to be the most likely to leave, with the Phoenix Suns the main competitor for his services. Don't be surprised to see a sign-and-trade happen though, as the Heat may have already agreed to an outside deal involving the New Orleans Pelicans.


6. Anderson Varejao

How Varejao became a free agent is beyond me. He put up 17/11 for the Los Angeles Clippers last season, who at least still hold his bird rights. He's 31, but he has such great rebounding and defensive ratings, that he should be a very effective player even if he gets something like a four-year deal. If he were just a little younger, he'd shoot right up these rankings for sure.


7. Ed Davis

Davis is the type of no-BS big man that every team wants. He's only 26 and still has room to grow, and his top all-around skills and size to play center make him an attractive alternative to Faried. The same teams should be interested, but as an RFA, it's still very likely that he'll return to the Sacramento Kings.


8. Gordon Hayward

Although Hayward is also an RFA, he's the best young wing in the free agent class, and should draw some attention from teams like the Los Angeles Lakers or Washington Wizards.


9. Kobe Bryant

He may be 35, but he still led his team to the Conference Finals last season. The Charlotte Bobcats may have moved on, but he's still a top volume scorer in the league, and the Playoffs these past two seasons have shown how important that really is to a team. Bryant has tremendous IQ and work ethic, so it wouldn't surprise me to see him play at a high level for at least two more seasons, at the very least. If a team can sign him to a decent 2-3 year deal, he could end up a steal. How great would it be to see him go back to the Los Angeles Lakers though?


10. Marcin Gortat

Gortat is just one of the best all-around centers in the league below that elite tier. He's a very capable and efficient scorer who can also defend at a high level. He's 30, but should get a lot of offers, especially as a consolation prize after all the top big men are taken.


HM: Pau Gasol, Kyle Lowry, Trevor Booker, Kevin Seraphin, Danny Granger
These are all guys that can really help a team, and just fall short of cracking the top 10. Gasol is 33 and has declined a lot in the past two years, but should be a capable player this year. Lowry is only 28 and has similar ratings to Thomas, who could really make a steal. Booker is basically a poor man's Faried at this point, and could be a very underrated pickup with how little he played last season. The same goes for Seraphin, who's one of the top shot blockers in the league, and finally, Granger should be a decent pick-up as an all-around SF.

Very nice list and overall good read.

Gortat's Agency could in fact argue that he had a better season than the #1 C listed, Andrew Bogut.
14/10/1 vs 10/10/2

Can't go wrong with either guy.

Edit: I know they don't have capspace to offer a shorter deal but after looking at rosters, could the Nets be a sleeper suitor for Kobe Bryant on a MLE deal? That might be a great situation for him although would he still be productive after yr 3 of a 4yr MLE deal?

Just a thought.

Love this stuff. I think there are woke good free agents but I don't see any guys that would be studs that have a chance to change teams. I'm assuming the top-3 are staying put.

Gordon and Kobe want to play for Q. That's all I would say...

But we still do not know how the Agents work.  

great writeup

No freaking way we are letting Bradley go - he is the man and is going to get a good long term deal and retire as a Blazer eventually

Nice to see an article like this.

Imo, Varejao is the best center available, with Bogut in 2nd. And to keep Iggy around, I wouldn't be suprised to see a close to max offer from Houston.

Really great article. Definitely keep this up, it's a nice easy way to keep up with the best players available.

We're not letting Davis go. Not a chance.

Great writeup, I've always liked Bogut in sim and real life. He'll get a nice payday from someone.

I think Isaiah Thomas is the most valuable from the FA. Both for talent and youth. Then Faried, Hayward and Bradley...

1. Isaiah Thomas


Everyone will be looking at him, he's a good chance to get a doble PG for starting line-up which usually sucesses in sim leagues.

2. Kenneth Faried


Everybody knows his potential and that he will develope well if the tight team choses him and gives him the prominence according to his talent.

3. Gordon Hayward


The best SF available from far... if anyone needs to fill that spot should shoot at him. Great scorer.

4. Avery Bradley


Then, the rest...

Querejeta (WAS) wrote:I think Isaiah Thomas is the most valuable from the FA. Both for talent and youth. Then Faried, Hayward and Bradley...

1. Isaiah Thomas


Everyone will be looking at him, he's a good chance to get a doble PG for starting line-up which usually sucesses in sim leagues.

2. Kenneth Faried


Everybody knows his potential and that he will develope well if the tight team choses him and gives him the prominence according to his talent.

3. Gordon Hayward


The best SF available from far... if anyone needs to fill that spot should shoot at him. Great scorer.

4. Avery Bradley


Then, the rest...

Ahh, now I get it, now I understand the man behind the curtains thought process.

andrei (POR) wrote:great writeup

No freaking way we are letting Bradley go - he is the man and is going to get a good long term deal and retire as a Blazer eventually

The question is how much you're willing to pay if he gets a tasty offer from one of the teams flush with cap.

No one in their right minds would take IT over the top four IMO, maybe except Bogut for a young-ish team.

I would double-S&T him for anyone anyone above him in a heartbeat. Hit me up lol.

Great article to help the teams with cap space. Very nice indeed.

Good writeup. I think Varejo is still a beast and should get signed to a good contract even at 31

Fantastic article . Explain the situation the best players.
Normally the players lost ratings with 32 years. Varejao is good but only two years no more.

32 is the number I have pegged as well. A few of these guys are question marks in that regard.

There's no set number. It varies according to factors like work ethic, IQ, and durability.

and even if certain ratings start moving down, with 100 OR, 81 DR and 83 DEF, he'll carry good value past those ages no worries. Still be a better rebounder than a lot of others.