[AderitoParticipant]

Forget about regular-season NBA action for a second. Think about the 2015 free-agency class instead.

Yes, I know: The season just started. You’re only just coming to terms with all that’s happened since the end of last year. LeBron James is back in Cleveland. Kobe Bryant is teammates with Carlos Boozer. Chris Douglas-Roberts’ shorts aren’t as short as you thought they would be.

It’s madness.

But that doesn’t make this any less necessary.

Halloween has come and gone, and so too has the deadline for fourth-year players to sign contract extensions. Some studs successfully brokered one; Ricky Rubio now has 56 million reasons to continue working that boyish smile of his, per ESPN.com’s Marc Stein. Other extension-eligible talents weren’t so lucky, and the free-agency landscape has changed as a result, even if only slightly.

Restricted free agents rarely find new digs. Incumbent teams have the ability to match any offer the players receive, making it hard to leave. Sometimes, though, it happens, and there are now more than a few cases to monitor.

Which of these restricted free agents stand among next summer’s best available mercenaries? Who else makes the cut?

So where is my List:

1. Kevin Love, Cleveland Cavaliers
2. Marc Gasol, Memphis Grizzlies
3. LaMarcus Aldridge, Portland Trail Blazers
4. Rajon Rondo, Boston Celtics
5. Goran Dragic, Phoenix Suns
6. Kawhi Leonard, San Antonio Spurs
7. Al Jefferson, Charlotte Hornets
8. Monta Ellis, Dallas Mavericks
9. Greg Monroe, Detroit Pistons
10. DeAndre Jordan, Los Angeles Clippers
11. Paul Millsap, Atlanta Hawks
12. Reggie Jackson, Oklahoma City Thunder
13. Wesley Matthews, Portland Trail Blazers
14. Luol Deng, Miami Heat
15. Jimmy Butler, Chicago Bulls

[Chilbert arenasParticipant]

 Didn’t Love sign an extension? 

[Chilbert arenasParticipant]

 Didn’t Love sign an extension? 

[machu46Participant]

I think he’s waiting to see if the salary cap increases so that he can get more money.

[machu46Participant]

I think he’s waiting to see if the salary cap increases so that he can get more money.

[MattP31Participant]

This has the potential to be a crazy offseason with the pending cap growth. Teams trying to buy players at cheap rates(compared to the post cap bump), teams trying to unload previously bad contracts that no longer look as bad(Josh Smith?) have me excited for the summer since I’m a Sixer fan.

[MattP31Participant]

This has the potential to be a crazy offseason with the pending cap growth. Teams trying to buy players at cheap rates(compared to the post cap bump), teams trying to unload previously bad contracts that no longer look as bad(Josh Smith?) have me excited for the summer since I’m a Sixer fan.

[TimberTrollParticipant]

You said Restricted Free Agents right? I’m not sure why you are including Kevin Love, Rondo, Marc Gasol, ect. Being a restricted free agent basically just means the team can match an offer. A more accurate list with the help of ESPN.  espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/11377133/nba-free-agents-2015-2016

1. Kawhi Leonard 2. Jimmy Butler 3. Enes Kanter 4. Reggie Jackson 5. Tristan Thompson 6. Brandon Knight 7. Draymond Green 8. Mirza Teletovic 9. Iman Shumpert 10. Patrick Beverely

Others

Bismack Biyombo, Norris Cole, Glenn Robinson III, Tobias Harris, KJ McDaniels, Derrick Williams, Glen Rice Jr, Matt Dellavedova, Kyle Singler, Kendall Marshall, Jeff Withey, Aron Baynes, Cory Joseph, Nick Calathes, Kyle O’Quinn, Pero Antic, Alexey Shved, Jae Crowder, Jeff Taylor, Luigi Datome, Justin Holiday, Ognjen Kuzmic, Chris Copeland, Jared Cunningham, Andre Dawkins, Justin Hamilton, Khris Middleton, Robbie Hummel, Quincy Acy, Travis Wear, Henry Sims, Will Barton, Victor Claver, Joel Freeland, Ian Clark, and Joe Ingles

 

 

 

[TimberTrollParticipant]

You said Restricted Free Agents right? I’m not sure why you are including Kevin Love, Rondo, Marc Gasol, ect. Being a restricted free agent basically just means the team can match an offer. A more accurate list with the help of ESPN.  espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/11377133/nba-free-agents-2015-2016

1. Kawhi Leonard 2. Jimmy Butler 3. Enes Kanter 4. Reggie Jackson 5. Tristan Thompson 6. Brandon Knight 7. Draymond Green 8. Mirza Teletovic 9. Iman Shumpert 10. Patrick Beverely

Others

Bismack Biyombo, Norris Cole, Glenn Robinson III, Tobias Harris, KJ McDaniels, Derrick Williams, Glen Rice Jr, Matt Dellavedova, Kyle Singler, Kendall Marshall, Jeff Withey, Aron Baynes, Cory Joseph, Nick Calathes, Kyle O’Quinn, Pero Antic, Alexey Shved, Jae Crowder, Jeff Taylor, Luigi Datome, Justin Holiday, Ognjen Kuzmic, Chris Copeland, Jared Cunningham, Andre Dawkins, Justin Hamilton, Khris Middleton, Robbie Hummel, Quincy Acy, Travis Wear, Henry Sims, Will Barton, Victor Claver, Joel Freeland, Ian Clark, and Joe Ingles

 

 

 

[Numbers_CruncherParticipant]

The OP kind of got me intrigued by talking about restricted free agents and then he goes and gives us a list of unrestricted free agents. But nobody seems to know the difference, so whatever.

[Numbers_CruncherParticipant]

The OP kind of got me intrigued by talking about restricted free agents and then he goes and gives us a list of unrestricted free agents. But nobody seems to know the difference, so whatever.

[TimberTrollParticipant]

I’m going to try to make a list of players who I feel have the highest propability of departing and also a list for both players who I feel have little to no chance of leaving and players whom I am torn on. 

Players I feel will almost certainly stay

Kevin Love – why would he leave?     

LaMarcus Aldridge – Portland can give the most money and he sounds like he wants to stay

Wade – doubt he ever leaves Miami

Deandre Jordan – Clippers will give him whatever it takes to stay

Tim Duncan, Ginobli, and Danny Green – the Spurs won’t be loosing any of these guys

Brook Lopez – has a generous player option and will look forward to 2016 and much higher max contracts

Al Jefferson – same as Lopez

Tyson Chandler – why would he want to leave Dallas?

 

Players I think who are most likely to leave

1. Rajon Rondo

2. Greg Monroe

3. Enes Kanter

4. Gerald Green

5. Jeff Green

 

Players who will certainly be considering all options

1. Marc Gasol

2. Goran Dragic

3. Rudy Gay

4. Zach Randolph

5. Monta Ellis- even though he has said he likes Dallas I think he probably wants more money now

6. David West – has nice sized player option, but he could look for his last long-term deal

7. Paul Milsap 

8. Omer Asik – If somebody offers enough I could see him leaving the Pelicans

9. Amir Johnson – Toronto likes this guy and they should, but I don’t know if they can afford him

10. Draymond Green – not sure the Warriors can afford him

11. Brandon Knight – not sure Milwaukee wants him

Ok I did these lists very quickly so don’t be harsh. I was just try to better answer the OP’s intended question.  

[TimberTrollParticipant]

I’m going to try to make a list of players who I feel have the highest propability of departing and also a list for both players who I feel have little to no chance of leaving and players whom I am torn on. 

Players I feel will almost certainly stay

Kevin Love – why would he leave?     

LaMarcus Aldridge – Portland can give the most money and he sounds like he wants to stay

Wade – doubt he ever leaves Miami

Deandre Jordan – Clippers will give him whatever it takes to stay

Tim Duncan, Ginobli, and Danny Green – the Spurs won’t be loosing any of these guys

Brook Lopez – has a generous player option and will look forward to 2016 and much higher max contracts

Al Jefferson – same as Lopez

Tyson Chandler – why would he want to leave Dallas?

 

Players I think who are most likely to leave

1. Rajon Rondo

2. Greg Monroe

3. Enes Kanter

4. Gerald Green

5. Jeff Green

 

Players who will certainly be considering all options

1. Marc Gasol

2. Goran Dragic

3. Rudy Gay

4. Zach Randolph

5. Monta Ellis- even though he has said he likes Dallas I think he probably wants more money now

6. David West – has nice sized player option, but he could look for his last long-term deal

7. Paul Milsap 

8. Omer Asik – If somebody offers enough I could see him leaving the Pelicans

9. Amir Johnson – Toronto likes this guy and they should, but I don’t know if they can afford him

10. Draymond Green – not sure the Warriors can afford him

11. Brandon Knight – not sure Milwaukee wants him

Ok I did these lists very quickly so don’t be harsh. I was just try to better answer the OP’s intended question.  

[TimberTrollParticipant]

I should’ve checked over my last post before I saved it. I missed a few.

Paul Pierce – I have no idea if he’ll opt in to his player option

Reggie Jackson – I think OKC can afford him since Perkins will finally be gone

Jimmy Butler – I could easily see him getting near max money and I don’t know if Chicago can match

Tristan Thompson – I doubt somebody tries to out bid Cleveland

Robin Lopez – UFA who Portland could have a tough time paying if they keep W. Matthews and Aldridge

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

[TimberTrollParticipant]

I should’ve checked over my last post before I saved it. I missed a few.

Paul Pierce – I have no idea if he’ll opt in to his player option

Reggie Jackson – I think OKC can afford him since Perkins will finally be gone

Jimmy Butler – I could easily see him getting near max money and I don’t know if Chicago can match

Tristan Thompson – I doubt somebody tries to out bid Cleveland

Robin Lopez – UFA who Portland could have a tough time paying if they keep W. Matthews and Aldridge

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

[TimberTrollParticipant]

now I realize I missed Aaron Afflalo. Why the hell do we only get a split second to edit are post? Anyways, Afflalo will be interesting to watch because he also has a player option – but of only 7.5 mil – Denver would probably have to decline options on Mozgov and/or Wilson Chandler in order to retain.

 

[TimberTrollParticipant]

now I realize I missed Aaron Afflalo. Why the hell do we only get a split second to edit are post? Anyways, Afflalo will be interesting to watch because he also has a player option – but of only 7.5 mil – Denver would probably have to decline options on Mozgov and/or Wilson Chandler in order to retain.

 

[HitsterParticipant]

 LeBron has a player option next summer don’t forget but we all assume he’ll stay in Cleveland.

Tyson Chandler could be an interesting one as quality defensive big men are always paid well.

Al Jefferson and Paul Millsap will also attract a few suitors.

I thought Zach Randolph opted in for this season and signed a two year extension for $10 million a season for 2015/16 and 2016/17 in late June. The contract isn’t on Hoopshype but Wikipedia mentions it.

 

 

 

[HitsterParticipant]

 LeBron has a player option next summer don’t forget but we all assume he’ll stay in Cleveland.

Tyson Chandler could be an interesting one as quality defensive big men are always paid well.

Al Jefferson and Paul Millsap will also attract a few suitors.

I thought Zach Randolph opted in for this season and signed a two year extension for $10 million a season for 2015/16 and 2016/17 in late June. The contract isn’t on Hoopshype but Wikipedia mentions it.

 

 

 

[Author]

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