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We are halfway through the 2018-19 regular season of the NBA, but the 2018 free agency still gives us aftershocks.
With LeBron James moving to the Los Angeles Lakers and breathing new life into showtime, Sam Presti and Russell Westbrook pulling one of the biggest coups and getting Paul George to re-sign with the Oklahoma City Thunder along with an unbelievable announcement from DeMarcus Cousins joining the Golden State Warriors.
While these took the headlines among the plethora of deals that went down, it has now been enough time that we are looking forward to the 2019 free agents that have promised to make this an even better viewing than the 2018 free agents.
Everyone with a path to free agency in 2019 is eligible to be a part of this list and rankings are based on the parameters such as age, injury history, 2018-19 performance, among others.
#10. Tobias Harris (Los Angeles Clippers): Age - 26 years, Unrestricted Free Agent
Tobias Harris has had a superb 2018-19 NBA season, showing his potential suitors what they have to gain if they sign him this offseason.
Harris turned down a decent extension offer from the Clippers, a reported 5 years and $80 million, throwing his hat into the free agency and that he will be going after a big contract. He’s on his fourth team in seven years, but if he ends up signing a big deal, it might not matter much.
Harris has become a good scorer who has also turned into an excellent shooter for both the Detroit Pistons and the Los Angeles Clippers and doesn't really need the ball in his hands a lot.
He has been a revelation this season, averaging 21 points per game, along 8 rebounds and 2.4 assists a game, proving that a mega-deal might be what he warrants this season.
The Clippers are chasing 1 or more superstars this offseason so Harris might have to look elsewhere for his money. He is definitely a great 2nd or 3rd option on any team and might even deserve the max deal.
Teams to watch out for: Utah Jazz, Los Angeles Clippers, Sacramento Kings
#9 Khris Middleton (Milwaukee Bucks): Age-28, Unrestricted Free Agent
Khris Middleton is one of the best players at the Milwaukee Bucks, apart from Giannis Antetokounmpo.
He is one of the best 3 and D players in the NBA and has proven that this season, with the Bucks fighting for the Eastern conference title only improving his chances at landing a massive deal. He isn't max-contract material, but a lack of superstar movement should help him secure something close to the maximum deal.
His struggles in December has brought down his usual efficient numbers, but he is still able to average 17.3 points per game, along with 5.8 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game as well.
His uncharacteristic downturn in shooting efficiency from the 3 point line has brought his averages down but this will probably change in the near future, blowing up his value.
Teams to watch out for: Milwaukee Bucks, New Orleans Pelicans, Dallas Mavericks
#8 Kristaps Porzingis (New York Knicks): Age-24, Restricted Free Agent
Kristaps Porzingis is one of the few restricted free agents that are reportedly sceptical of signing the sheet put in front of them by their team and Porzingis is probably the most high profile of them all.
He is one of the best young talents in the NBA, a player who is 7'3", shooting threes, faces up off the dribble, protects the rim and hangs in space. Joel Embiid and Porzingis are the only two players in NBA history, to average at least 20 points, 2 blocks and 1 three-pointer per 36 minutes through their first 3 seasons.
But he is not a hands down maximum deal player. The first portion of his career is littered with injuries and coming off a torn ACL is no joke. He needs to get his conditioning and recovery going.
Porzingis has resumed non-contact on-court activity, but the New York Knicks are not looking to bring him back anytime this season. He might turn out to be a shell of himself in the coming season, giving the Knicks a reason to pause.
Another team will definitely offer Porzingis a four-year max, which will give the Knicks a huge decision to make in the offseason, they can either match the contract or let him walk for free.
Teams to watch out for: New York Knicks, Atlanta Hawks, Los Angeles Clippers
#7 Kemba Walker (Charlotte Hornets): Age-29, Unrestricted Free Agent
Kemba Walker has been playing some of the best basketball of his career. He probably ranks in the top 10 point guards in the league at this point but with most point guard spots filled in the NBA; he will probably be a championship team's backup rather than their first choice point guard.
Kemba has been performing like an All-Star calibre point guard this season, destroying the opposition and carrying the Hornets into the playoff spots.
Despite his diminutive stature, he has also been an amazing example of fitness, having missed a total of only six games over the previous three seasons combined. He has been on a tear this season as well, apart from a mini-slump in December.
He is still averaging 25 points per game along with 5.6 assists and 4.8 rebounds per game. His efficiency is probably lower, but with nobody really stepping up as the secondary scorer for that team, Kemba has to do all he can.
Charlotte might be dreading the offseason as they might lose Kemba for free, but the lack of options within championship teams might give them hope of keeping him on.
Teams to watch out for: Charlotte Hornets, Phoenix Suns, Indiana Pacers, Utah Jazz
#6 DeMarcus Cousins (Golden State Warriors): Age - 28, Unrestricted Free Agent
DeMarcus Cousins finally made his return to the court on Jan 18th, after a horrible Achilles injury had sidelined him for almost a year. His shocking decision to sign with the Golden State Warriors on a mid-level exception was new for everyone, probably Cousins as well.
But considering the fact that a torn ACL is not a minute injury, especially for someone who is as big as Cousins, the contract made sense both for him and the Warriors.
Cousins has just managed to return on the court and has shown glimpses of what he can be. Before his injury, Cousins was posting unprecedented numbers last season. He became the first player in league history to average more than 25 points, 12 rebounds, five assists and two 3-pointers per game.
Even if he wants to re-sign with the Warriors, they cannot pay him more than $6.4m a season, which he will not go for considering he can get back to a fraction of how he was before the injury.
He can become one of the most coveted free agents if he can prove his fitness and form.
Teams to watch out for: Golden State Warriors, New Orleans Pelicans, Los Angeles Lakers, Dallas Mavericks
#5 Klay Thompson (Golden State Warriors): Age - 29, Unrestricted Free Agent
Klay Thompson has not been his usual this season. His three-point percentage has been in decline this season and he has suddenly been shooting so much more of the deep 2, which is a baffling change in his usual form.
Even if Kevin Durant is the main focus for the Warriors this off-season, Thompson is probably the one they should look to keep within the team rather than losing both their stars.
Klay, almost always, looks lost in shuffle playing alongside three other future Hall-of-Famers. But if the Warriors are not showing enough attention to him, be sure that other NBA executives have their eye on him.
Not only is he one of the league’s preeminent perimeter defenders, but he’s also one of the game’s greatest shooter. He is also very durable when compared to the other guards in the league.
This season, which is considered to be one of his bad ones, he is averaging 22 points, 4.1 rebounds and 2 assists a game, which is elite for most shooting guards. If for some reason, the Splash Brothers are torn apart, Thompson could very well emerge as an elite player if given the reigns of a team.
Teams to watch out for: Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Lakers, Philadelphia 76ers
#4 Jimmy Butler (Philadelphia 76ers): Age - 30, Unrestricted Free Agent
Jimmy Butler has earned a bad boy reputation in the NBA. He was traded by the Chicago Bulls to the Minnesota Timberwolves, where he led a one player mutiny and managed to get himself traded to the Philadelphia 76ers.
He might not be as great of a scorer as Klay, but his defensive traits along with the never give up attitude with the clutch scoring has made him one of the top free agents in 2019.
His season has been derailed with niggling injuries since he missed the preseason and the training camp. His start in Philadelphia has been great, joining forces with Simmons and Embiid has made them a title contender.
When he joined the 76ers, it was widely reported that he will re-sign with the 76ers. But with reports surfacing of his clashes with coach Brett Brown, they might reconsider signing him in the off-season, opening up a huge number of opportunities for Butler.
He is averaging 19.6 points, along with 4.9 rebounds and 3.7 assists as well. If 76ers can manage a finals run, they might bite the bullet and sign him but this seems to be an intriguing case.
Teams to watch out for: Philadelphia 76ers, Brooklyn Nets, New York Knicks, Los Angeles Clippers
#3 Kyrie Irving (Boston Celtics): Age - 27, Unrestricted Free Agent
There is no doubt about the talent of Kyrie Irving. He has shown glimpses of becoming a leader with the Boston Celtics and there have never been any doubts about his game.
When healthy, Irving is an unstoppable offensive force. His only negative has been his fitness and the bothersome knee issues that have plagued him throughout his playing career. But at only 27, he has his prime ahead of him and his stellar career at the Cavaliers and now with the Celtics can only cement his status as one of the best free agents available next season.
This season, Irving has been averaging a solid 23.5 points, along with 6.9 assists and 4.8 rebounds as well. Even though Kyrie had verbally committed to the organisation at the start of the season, one can't seem to question his loyalty.
He has always talked about how he would like to play at a super team with his good friend Jimmy Butler, who is coincidentally also a free agent in the offseason. Apart from this, the problems with the Celtics have also been apparent, with the young stars, Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum wanting a leadership role alongside Kyrie, which has led to a public bust-up of late.
It might not be something big and it seems to have sorted itself out, but you never know.
Teams to watch out for: New York Knicks, Boston Celtics, Brooklyn Nets, Toronto Raptors
#2 Kawhi Leonard (Toronto Raptors): Age-28, Unrestricted Free Agent
Kawhi Leonard has been one of the more mysterious players in the NBA. Reputation has taken a severe blow due to essentially missing the entire year with a quad injury and requesting a trade from the NBA’s model franchise, but his return to the court was not only great, but it also exceeded expectations.
The Raptors star is averaging 27.6 points per game, along with 3.1 assists and 7.9 rebounds a game. His return has been nothing short of amazing and he has taken the Raptors to the top of the Eastern Conference.
The Raptors had taken the risk that Kawhi might leave next season irrespective of the amount of money they might offer as Toronto can never be Los Angeles. But things seem to be changing.
They've essentially made it so he cannot leave and say that his departure was a basketball or financial decision. It has been reported that Leonard does not want to play with LeBron James.
That would remove the Lakers and leave only the Clippers, a team with interesting pieces in place, but one that's more than 1 superstar away from title contention. The Raptors can offer him more money than any other team, which could also sway his decision.
But in the end, only Kawhi knows what Kawhi wants and he is still one of the top free agents in 2019 offseason.
Teams to watch out for: Toronto Raptors, Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Clippers, Philadelphia 76ers
#1 Kevin Durant (Golden State Warriors): Age-31, Unrestricted Free Agent
Kevin Durant is the most coveted free agent this season. Even with the Golden State Warriors winning back to back titles and Durant winning back to back NBA Finals MVP, joining some elite company, he still might not want to re-sign with them. As weird as it sounds, he might just finally want that maximum deal that he so deserves.
Any team that he will end up joining will become an instant contender. He will probably stay a top 5 player and in the MVP contention for the next 4-5 years.
The Warriors organisation is confident of keeping him with the team, figuring out a wage structure seems to be the biggest issue. Among the teams in contention for his signature, Golden State can offer him his biggest deal, a five-year, $221.3 million contract, which should get him thinking to stay.
But would he really want to stay? As long as Steph Curry is at the Warriors, he will remain the essence of this team, no matter how many MVPs Durant manages to win. He might just be a secondary note in a dynasty created and started by Stephen Curry, not Durant.
On the other hand, the fight with Draymond Green, although now in the rearview mirror, is still something that could be bothering him. He might be able to create his own legacy at a different franchise and take them to the top, as the face of that franchise with another star.
He is the top prize this offseason and maybe his decision will not be an easy one this time around.
Teams to watch out for: Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Lakers, New York Knicks, Los Angeles Clippers
