The Top 2022 Free Agents
The official opening of free agency is like the premiere night of a blockbuster movie. People are anticipating big things to happen. And like every big budget Hollywood film, people expect big names to hit the red carpet.
Come Thursday’s opening of NBA free agency some of the biggest names in the game will finally decide where they will play next. And while some players have taken their names off the list by inking big money deals, there’s still plenty of talented players who have yet to decide their next move.
James Harden: Worth the Money?
After an unsuccessful run with the Brooklyn Nets and the Philadelphia 76ers during the 2021-2022 season, the 2018 MVP could pick up his $47.4 million dollar player option. That would make him eligible to sign a contract extension in Philadelphia that would earn him up to 223 million dollars in the next four years. Even if he becomes a free agent, he could still re-sign with the Sixers and earn up to 270 million dollars in the next five years.
The question with Harden is whether or not he can return to his pre-injury form. Which is why some pundits believe the Philadelphia front office is hesitant to offer Harden a max deal.
Another problem with Harden is the fact he’s coming off a quiet run during the 2021-2022 campaign. Sure, he averaged 22 points, 10.3 assists (second-best in the league), and 7.7 rebounds in 65 regular-season games. However, he disappeared in the 2022 playoffs for the Sixers. His three-point shooting dropped to 33.2% in the Eastern Conference semifinals against the Miami Heat.
Even Joel Emiid said James Harden is now more of a playmaker rather than the elite scorer he was once when he was still with the Houston Rockets. Whether teams view his “playmaking” skills as worthy of a max contract or not remains to be seen.
Deandre Ayton: Max or Not
In 58 regular-season games last season with the Phoenix Suns, Deandre Ayton averaged 17.2 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 0.7 blocks per game.
He upped those averages to 20.5 points and 9.8 rebounds in his team’s first-round matchup against the New Orleans Pelicans. However, those numbers dipped considerably against the Dallas Mavericks in the second round of the playoffs.
The former number 1 overall pick is currently seeking a supermax contract extension, but has found the Suns a less than willing negotiating partner thus far.
Phoenix could offer him a five-year deal that would earn Ayton $177 million dollars. Otherwise, the Suns could try to figure out a sign-and-trade package to address some of their other roster needs. And while Ayton has come a long way since his rookie season, he has yet to become a center who can take over a game on either offense or defense at this point of his career.
While Phoenix mulls over their options, the Detroit Pistons have suddenly emerged as a dark horse candidate to acquire the restricted free agent should the Suns decide to move on from Ayton.
Victor Oladipo: A Surprising Free Agent
One potential free agent that could generate a fair amount of interest around the league should his team decide not to re-sign him is Victor Oladipo of the Miami Heat.
Oladipo enjoyed success in his second season with the Heat alongside Bam Adebayo and Jimmy Butler by bringing physical defense on the perimeter coupled with his three-point shooting. Although fans criticized him for taking questionable shots in clutch situations, you have to take the bad with the good when it comes to the versatile forward.
The obvious elephant in the room is his injury history, however for the right price, a team with championship aspirations could decide he’s worth the risk.
Patty Mills: A Veteran With a Shot
Simply put, without Patty Mills, the Brooklyn Nets wouldn’t have made the play-in tournament last season. He held the fort down while taking the lead point guard spot from Kyrie Irving. He shot 40% from the three-point line while playing the most minutes of his career.
The problem: the Nets wanted a loaded backcourt to support the dynamic duo of Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant. And with Irving opting to return next season, Brooklyn’s options in the 2022 offseason are limited. Mills still has a $6.2 million player option he could pick up.
Mills feels like the odd man out at the moment as the Brooklyn front office attempts to put out the numerous Irving/Durant/Simmons fires that seem to be popping up on a daily basis. However if he decides to walk, he’ll certainly be a hot commodity on the open market.
-Iggy Gonzales
Photo: TonyTheTiger. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license.