NBA Free Agency: 5 best expiring contracts that could be traded this summer

NBA's free agency period has taken a turn for the dramatic, as the likes of Paul George and LeBron James have opted out of the final year of their contracts to become unrestricted free agents. Lost in this hullabaloo around the orchards of free agency, however, are some players who could act as makeweights in possible trade scenarios this summer.

Expiring contracts are the best means other than draft picks to dangle as makeweights on trade deals. Our list of most valuable players on expiring contracts is populated by the also-rans of the league - those players who could make a difference only in the best, tailor-made scenarios for them.

The following is a list of the 5 best expiring contracts on the league:

#5 Jerryd Bayless

Boston Celtics v Philadelphia 76ers - NBA London Game

Looking at how far behind he is on the Sixers' rotation today (he's their 4th-choice point guard after Simmons, McConnell and Fultz), it is hard to envision Bayless as the lottery pick that he was back in 2008. The 10-year veteran has mostly played as a backup point guard on all 7 teams that he's been a member of thus far, and at the age of 29, Bayless could still continue to play that role on a team with a short point guard rotation and in need of veteran experience.

Bayless doesn't figure as a great scorer, with a career average of 41.4% shooting for 8.3 points per game. But his 3-point percentage of 36.6% is above league average, and he could be utilized as a threat coming off screens when put in the right setup.

Philly have enough cap space to sign a max free agent this summer, but they could use Bayless as a salary dump if they have the opportunity to make a trade for a superstar as well.

#4 Wilson Chandler

If you were looking for a player who represents the average level of the league best, Wilson Chandler is your guy. He has a $12.8 million player option on the final year of his deal with the Denver Nuggets right now, and will be opting into it this season.

While Denver has never been a free agent destination, the Colorado franchise could affect a mid-season trade in order to land an unlikely superstar - again something that has never been done in franchise history.

Then again, no center in the league has averaged 17 points, 10 rebounds and 6 assists per game since Wilt Chamberlain pulled it off in the '60s, so you can certainly envision wing players who would love to play alongside the do-it-all Nikola Jokic, who will be signing a 5-year, $148 million extension with the franchise this summer.

In such an eventuality, the Nuggets will try to surround him with as much talent as possible, which could mean an exit from the franchise for the combo forward.

#3 Terrence Ross

Orlando's front office contrived, somehow, to end up with Terrence Ross as a replacement for Victor Oladipo, whom they traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2016 for Serge Ibaka. While Oladipo went on to become an All-Star after getting traded to the Indiana Pacers in the offseason, Ross played only 24 games last season for Orlando, dealing with a sprained MCL and a fractured knee.

He still figures as a somewhat useful scoring option, given his trigger-happy ways from downtown. In the right setup with a team that is able to set him up off the ball, Ross will probably reach his career ceiling. He is a great player in transition as well. Though he has the tendency to gamble on defense, a coach with the proper tactical nous could find him to be a great player off the bench on a contending team.

That team is definitely not Orlando, who would be well-served by trying to trade for some useful pieces to build around a frontcourt of Mo Bamba and Aaron Gordon using him as a piece.

#2 Kenneth Faried

The NBA's shift to a perimeter-oriented offense has rendered Faried's energetic play as more of an afterthought than anything else. The Manimal was heralded as one of the new-age forwards after a great rookie season in Mile High City, but has failed to live up to expectations after signing a long-term deal with the Nuggets.

Right now, their roster is overflowing with centers and power forwards with little to no range, and Mason Plumlee is getting many more minutes in twin tower lineups alongside Jokic than Faried has, especially over the past few seasons.

However, Faried could serve as a useful player on many NBA rosters - mostly in a Tristan Thompson-like role. If the Nuggets try to affect a trade for a superstar, Faried could be an important trade chip.

#1 Nikola Vucevic

Montenegrin center Nikola Vucevic's services will be rendered redundant if new coach Steve Clifford elects to start rookie Mohamed Bamba in the center role for the 2018-19 season. He could turn out as a useful piece in several scenarios - particularly if the Cavaliers are able to hold on to LeBron James, who's opted out to become an unrestricted free agent this summer.

Selected by the Philadelphia 76ers in 2011 with the 16th pick, Vucevic has grown into an above-average starting center in the league over the past couple of seasons - although there are concerns about his ability to be a rim protector or lack thereof.

Through 6 seasons in Orlando, Vucevic has averaged a double-double and has the offensive arsenal to create his own shot even out at the 3-point line. He could be a useful addition to a number of teams as an expiring contract.

Edited by Raunak J