5 NBA veterans still looking for a team in free agency ahead of the 2021-22 season

A host of NBA veterans are still looking for a team ahead of the 2021-22 NBA campaign
A host of NBA veterans are still looking for a team ahead of the 2021-22 NBA campaign

Despite the 2021 NBA offseason having a weak free agency class, it is safe to say that franchises were fairly active in the market. Most of the major free-agency moves have already been made, as the teams have consolidated their rosters ahead of the 2021-22 NBA season.

However, there are still a few experienced players who are yet to sign with a team that could provide them with valuable minutes.

In this article, we take a look at five NBA players who are still looking for a team ahead of the 2021-22 NBA season.


5 NBA players who are still on the lookout for a team right now

The 2021-22 NBA season is expected to be highly competitive, with various teams moving towards the 'superteam' model. Both conferences are stacked with contenders, and teams will need all the help they can garner.

On that note, here are the five NBA players they can still target:

#5 - James Ennis, Small Forward/Shooting Guard

James Ennis could end up on the LA Lakers roster soon
James Ennis could end up on the LA Lakers roster soon

James Ennis drew significant attention to himself on social media recently, as he publicly lobbied himself for a spot on the LA Lakers.

The swingman last played NBA basketball for the Orlando Magic, averaging 8 points, 4 rebounds, and 1 assist per game. He shot 43% from downtown, and several contenders in the NBA can use him in a 3&D role in the 2021-22 NBA season.

The LA Lakers have been a popular choice for NBA veterans this offseason, and it won't be a surprise if Ennis ends up there before the start of the new campaign.


#4 - Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Small Forward/Power Forward

Rondae Hollis-Jefferson was playing for the Portland Trail Blazers last season
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson was playing for the Portland Trail Blazers last season

A specialist on the defensive side of the ball, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson is a throwback to the gritty forwards of the 90s.

The 26-year-old is usually tasked with guarding either the opposition's best player or bench player. He is one of the most underrated role players in the league.

Hollis-Jefferson was with the Portland Trail Blazers last season but failed to do anything of note. However, it would be foolish to write the athletic forward off at this point, as he has a lot of game still left in him.

#3 - Wes Matthews, Shooting Guard/Small Forward

Wesley Matthews a lucrative catch for teams in the NBA
Wesley Matthews a lucrative catch for teams in the NBA

It is surprising to see NBA journeyman Wesley Matthews without a team at this point, considering how well he plays the off-the-ball role both on offense and defense. A 38% shooter from the deep for his career, the 34-year-old is also a brilliant on-the-ball defender.

Matthews' NBA history also suggests that he would be more than happy to sign a one-year contract with a contender, and it is unlikely that he would demand a starting role.

All the aforementioned factors make him a lucrative catch for teams in the NBA, and he certainly possesses the tools to improve most of them.


#2 - Aron Baynes, Center

Aron Baynes is looking for a new team ahead of the 2021-22 NBA season
Aron Baynes is looking for a new team ahead of the 2021-22 NBA season

Aron Baynes was a key part of the Boston Celtics' starting five at one point but is now on the lookout for an NBA team ahead of the new season. He last played for the Toronto Raptors during the 2020-21 NBA season, putting up 6 points and 5 rebounds in 18 minutes of action per game.

These numbers are a far cry from his career year with the Phoenix Suns, where he averaged 11 points and 5 rebounds and established himself as a perimeter shooting threat.

Baynes can still return to those levels and can do a decent job as a replacement-level center.


#1 - Jeff Teague, Point Guard

Jeff Teague is a decent option as a backup point guard
Jeff Teague is a decent option as a backup point guard

Jeff Teague has been in the NBA for more than a decade now. After playing the role of a floor general for the Atlanta Hawks for several years, he transformed himself into a journeyman (since 2017).

Teague's tendency to change teams regularly has coincided with a dip in form. However, he is still a decent option as a backup point guard who can lead the second unit and be the orchestrator on offense.

Jeff Teague averaged 6 points and 2 assists per game for the Milwaukee Bucks last season and was virtually unplayable in the postseason. That fact has probably deterred teams from making a move for him, but less ambitious teams can still have a go at him.

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