During this time of the year, several NBA players have their current contracts running out and they’ll have to make a decision on what to do next in their respective pro careers – either by staying put or look for greener pastures.
Compared to the last offseason, this year’s free agent class is much more stacked and they can alter the league’s landscape one way or another.
So join us today as SBOTOP takes a look at the five best players who will be available in the open market this summer.
Bradley Beal
The Wizards have been mediocre in these past few seasons despite Bradley Beal’s efforts, which could lead to him testing the waters assuming he declines his player option. He remains as Washington’s top option on offence with averages of 23.2 points, 6.6 assists, and 4.7 rebounds this term.
Since the Wizards aren’t winning much, Beal’s name has been thrown around in various trade rumors. However, he continues to stay put, citing his loyalty to the team that drafted him in 2012.
If getting the most money is Bradley Beal’s main objective, then it’s likely that he’ll stay in Washington since he’s eligible for a five-year $250-M supermax extension – which is around $70-M more than any other team can offer.
Zach LaVine
Zach LaVine is another name to look out for in the free agency market since he’s morphed into one of the league’s most versatile scorers with norms of 24.4 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game this season. He’s also one of the main reasons why the Bulls made it back to the playoffs for the first time since 2017.
His free agency has been a hot topic across the league over these past few weeks as he’s been linked to numerous teams such as the Spurs, Lakers, Hawks, and Blazers, but reports claim that the swingman is likely to remain in Windy City.
The 27-year-old is eligible for a max deal with Chicago that is worth a projected $212-M. And unlike Beal, LaVine’s current team is a playoff contender with better NBA 2022 odds since he’s surrounded with the core of DeMar DeRozan, Nikola Vucevic, Alex Caruso and Lonzo Ball.
Kyrie Irving
The Nets are in a dilemma with Kyrie Irving and they have a big decision to make this summer.
The 30-year-old guard was absent for the most part due to his unwillingness to take the COVID-19 vaccine. But once he returned, he played extremely well, up to the point where they were swept by the Celtics in the first round of the playoffs.
Kyrie Irving has a $36.5-M player option for the 2022/23 season so he can stay in Brooklyn for at least one more year. He can also get a five-year max extension with his current team worth $245-M.
According to the latest NBA 2022 news, he seems to be leaning towards staying for longer, but whether the Nets give him a new long-term deal remains to be seen.
Deandre Ayton
Deandre Ayton was supposed to be next in line for a max-level rookie extension ahead of the October 18 deadline, but that didn’t happen at all so instead he will be a restricted free agent this summer.
Despite his up-and-down campaign with the Suns following their Finals stint in the year prior, Ayton put up robust averages of 17.2 points and 10.2 rebounds per game on 63-per cent shooting, making him the most sought-after big man on this list.
It’s highly likely that other teams will pay a ton for his services, but the Suns have his Bird Rights and they can match whatever offers he’s going to get.
Miles Bridges
Compared to the others here in this list, Bridges may not have a ton of name recognition, but he has emerged as a two-way star that can help various teams right away.
In his breakout campaign with the Hornets, Miles Bridges averaged 20.2 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game on 49-per cent shooting, and he’s only going to get better since he’s just 24 years old.
The Michigan State alum was once offered a four-year, $60-M extension by the Hornets before the October 18 deadline but he turned it down. He is a restricted free agent this summer which means that the Hornets own his Bird Rights, similar to Deandre Ayton.
The good news is that Miles Bridges loves playing in Charlotte and the Hornets management sees him as a huge part of their ongoing rebuild moving forward.
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