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The 2021 NBA offseason has been hectic and while the free agency period has gone quiet recently, there are still several restricted free agents that could be available for teams to pursue in the coming weeks.
Restricted free agents can often be trickier to sign as teams can re-sign them by matching any offer sheet put on the table. However, with more money offered, players can often be swayed and their own franchise may be unable to match.
In this article, we will run down the five restricted free agents still on the market and who could receive considerable interest.
Five Restricted free agents still on the market in the NBA
#1 Lauri Markkanen
Lauri Markkanen made it clear at the beginning of the NBA free agency window that he no longer wanted to play with the Chicago Bulls, that he wanted a 'fresh start' to his career. However, fast forward ten days and the power forward still hasn't found a new home.
Both the New Orleans Pelicans and Dallas Mavericks have been linked with the versatile scorer but the Chicago Bulls have been reported to want a first-round pick in facilitating a trade and can also match any offer sheet the Finn receives. The Pels have a $17m trade exception so could offer Markkanen a serious contract.
He is a high-accuracy shooter, connecting with 40% of threes for the first time in his career this season and also made 48% of field-goal attempts. In his four years in the NBA, Markkanen has averaged 15.6 points per game and can also provide rebounding support, having grabbed 7.1 boards in every matchup.
#2 Jarred Vanderbilt
Despite averaging 5.4 points, 5.8 rebounds and a steal per game while starting 30 times in his 64 appearances for the Minnesota Timberwolves last season, Jarred Vanderbilt has yet to come to an agreement with the franchise and remains a restricted free agent.
Coming into the league as a raw talent, Vanderbilt looks to have turned a corner with the T-Wolves. His athleticism showed in pick-and-roll action with Karl-Anthony towns and has proven that he can be a small-ball five due to his 7'1" wingspan. Although his shooting range is limited, Vanderbilt is an aggressive player, not afraid to attack the basket or be the spark in Minnesota's transition offense.
With almost a full season of games under his belt injury-free, Vanderbilt was also able to showcase his defensive assets. He finished with a positive defensive box +/- and has versatility due to his size. Without him on the floor, the Timberwolves were 7.1 points worse off per 100 possessions.
#3 Hamidou Diallo
One of the most intriguing restricted free agents coming into the NBA offseason was Detroit Pistons forward Hamidou Diallo. Akin to Markkanen, Diallo is both a scorer and rebounder with great potential and could prove a steal for any developing side in the league.
In 20 games with the Pistons, Diallo showcased his athleticism and efficiency, averaging 11.2 points and 5.4 rebounds in 23 minutes per game. He also proved that he may have developed a more reliable shooting stroke, connecting with 39% of threes in Detroit and 47.7% of field-goal efforts throughout the season.
Given the Pistons' current status as a developing side with plenty of young talent, it is likely that they will want to keep him. However, should another team take a gamble by offering him a higher contract than the Pistons were expecting, they may choose not to match it.
#4 Armoni Brooks
Armoni Brooks did his reputation no harm after competing twice for the Houston Rockets on their NBA Summer League team over the past week. The shooting guard struggled on Sunday against the Orlando Magic but was on fire in the Rockets' win over the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday, finishing with 30 points and shooting at 52% from the field and from beyond the arc.
Brooks was called up to the Rockets team last season after starring in the G-League for the Rio Grande Valley Vipers. He played 20 games in the NBA, featuring for an average of 26 minutes in each and put up 11.2 points and 3.4 rebounds per matchup. He could prove to be a valuable rotation piece in teams looking for guard depth.
#5 Jordan McLaughlin
Another player that featured significantly for the Minnesota Timberwolves this season was Jordan McLaughlin. The point guard played in 51 games, almost all of which came from the bench, and averaged five points, 3.8 assists and one steal on 18 minutes.
Since the T-Wolves have only two point guards heading into the new season, it is likely they will do all they can to retain McLaughlin. Ricky Rubio was moved to the Cleveland Cavaliers so they are left with D'Angelo Russell and McKinley Wright IV.
The difficulty for McLaughlin in Minnesota is whether the franchise will re-sign both him and Vanderbilt. While the market for point guards is limited and teams are strapped for cap space, he could be able to earn more money elsewhere if it became apparent that the Timberwolves were reluctant to keep him.
