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Monday, December 21st was officially the last day of the 2020-21 offseason and acted as the deadline for team moves in some aspects. All rosters had to be finalized by 5 PM Central. More importantly, rookie scale extensions also had to be agreed upon. All the players who didn't sign any such deal will now be entering NBA free agency next year, albeit as restricted ones.
NBA Free Agency 2021: Potential stars that missed out on new deals
A lot of cash was splashed around on Monday. The likes of OG Anunoby, Markelle Fultz, Luke Kennard, and Derrick White all signed multi-year contracts. But beyond this frenzy, several notable names including lottery picks from the 2017 draft failed to land extensions. All those guys will now be hoping to prove their worth this season to earn their payday in NBA free agency next year.
Let's look at five such names now.
#5 Zach Collins
Revered by the Portland Trail Blazers' fans after what was a solid 2018-19 season, Zach Collins was expected to take a huge leap last year. But a slew of shoulder and foot injuries allowed him to feature in only 11 games.
There still isn't a fixed timeline on when Collins will return and the Blazers have acquired several forwards in the process as a safety measure. It's rather evident that the former Gonzaga player will have to deliver over the course of the upcoming campaign if he wants to be recruited in NBA free agency next year.
#4 Jarrett Allen
Jarrett Allen was expected to be the Brooklyn Nets' long-term solution for the center spot until they signed DeAndre Jordan in NBA free agency in 2019. Jordan is likely to be the preferred starter over Allen, but the reason behind the Nets not opting to extend the 2017 draftee's contract could purely be a financial one.
The Brooklyn Nets are already over the luxury tax threshold and any contractual commitments will only reduce their financial flexibility. They can always decide to bring Allen back via restricted NBA free agency in 2021. And there's no reason not to, considering he averaged 11.1 points and 9.6 rebounds per game in 2019-20.
Also read: NBA Free Agency 2020 - 5 Players who may be forced to retire
#3 Lauri Markkanen
The 2019-20 campaign, by Lauri Markkanen's own admission, was a disappointing one for him. The 7'0 forward was heralded as the second coming of Dirk Nowitzki when he was drafted in 2017 and played the part during his rookie year.
Injuries have been a major concern for the Fin though and the main reason why his numbers declined last year after he averaged 18.7 points and nine rebounds per game in 2018-19. The Chicago Bulls have played safe here. They want Markkanen to prove his worth if he wants a good deal in NBA free agency 2021.
#2 Lonzo Ball
Already an elite perimeter defender in the NBA, Lonzo Ball developed a penchant for the catch-and-shoot game throughout the 2019-20 season. He shot the ball at 37.5% from downtown and his playmaking ability was there for everyone to see.
However, it was his mediocre run in the NBA bubble that really made the New Orleans Pelicans second-guess his development. Ball averaged a mere 7.1 points on 30.5% shooting in seven games in Orlando.
The Pelicans have been rather happy to delay extensions as was the case with Brandon Ingram. They want to get the right pieces as they build around Zion Williamson. They'll want to see a better version on Lonzo before offering him a new contract in NBA free agency.
#1 John Collins
The uber explosive John Collins is set to enter NBA free agency largely due to financial reasons. He averaged 21.6 points on 58.3% shooting in addition to 10.1 rebounds per game. Although the volume wasn't high, the power forward made 40.1% of his 3.6 attempts per game from downtown.
Collins was fairly vocal about the fact that he wanted a max extension and the Hawks aren't sure if he's that kind of player yet. If Collins returns with improved numbers this season and manages to lead Atlanta to the playoffs, the front office will have no option but to offer him his desired deal in NBA free agency.
Also read: NBA Free Agency 2020 - 5 Most prominent players still available on the market
Guess the Lakers players!
