This offseason, plenty of great players will become free agents and teams around the NBA will have their chance to woo them and bring them to their team. While some players seem like sure-fire bets to return to their teams, others are huge variables and could end up moving to another team to help their championship causes.
To clarify, this list includes teams that top free agents would leave their current team to join. Although most expect LeBron James to stay in Cleveland, he has a player option that he could waive, and he could still join another team.
Some sites, like HoopsHype, seem to have a very strange listing of the top free agents this offseason, including guys like Dwight Howard in the top five names (where I wouldn't even consider him in the top 10 at this point). These are personal opinions on rankings, but they are backed up by age and statistics.
1. Kevin Durant
Current Team: Oklahoma City Thunder
New Team: Washington Wizards
This homecoming has been speculated for quite some time now. Durant is from the Washington D.C. area, and the team has more than enough money to sign him. The Wizards would love the best scorer in the NBA to join John Wall, who has already proven to be a good playmaker, averaging 8.6 assists per game for his career. Wall and Durant, along with some good role players, could create a legitimate contender, particularly in the Eastern Conference and especially with the prospect of multiple Durant-LeBron showdowns every season, with them being in the same conference.
2. LeBron James
Current Team: Cleveland Cavaliers
New Team: Los Angeles Lakers
Scratch that -- it looks like we won't be getting multiple Durant-LeBron match-ups. James has long been considered the man to replace Kobe Bryant in Los Angeles. They're both legends that can shoulder a team and win games by themselves. James can bring back Showtime to an awful team, and bringing in LeBron would also bring plenty of good, veteran role-players. The Lakers should only have to pay out $26 million in player contracts next year, which means they can sign James and either another top-tier free agent, or plenty of role players to make them a very deep team. The Lakers could be scary next year, if they play their cards right.
3. Andre Drummond
Current Team: Detroit Pistons
New Team: Boston Celtics
The Celtics took on a big contract for next season when they signed Amir Johnson this off-season. He is currently on the books for $12 million next season. The team needs a center though, as Kelly Olynyk and Jared Sullinger don't seem to be starting centers on a contending team. They can be very good off the bench, and that would allow them to also play the PF spot they seem more comfortable with. Drummond would love to go to a historic team such as the Celtics, who can still afford him, even if they need to overpay to fend off the Pistons as he is restricted, and Drummond's home in New York is not too far from the parquet floor of the TD Garden.
4. Demar Derozan
Current Team: Toronto Raptors
New Team: Dallas Mavericks
This only works if Chandler Parsons declines his player option, and looking at his cap hit, I wouldn't think he would leave $16 million on the table and attempt to get more in free agency. If he were to, the team can replace him with a much better wing player in Derozan. Derozan will be entering his age 27 season, meaning he is hitting his prime as we speak. He has averaged at least 20 points per game each of the past three seasons, and averaged 17 the three seasons before. He is a good scorer, and considering the fact that the team might be losing Dirk Nowitzki very soon to retirement, the team could build upon him as an offensive weapon.
5. Bradley Beal
Current Team: Washington Wizards
New Team: Miami Heat
Bradley Beal is currently in the middle of his best season, averaging over 20 points per game through the first few months of the season. Beal can definitely light up a score sheet. He is a hot commodity due to his age and his scoring ability can speak for itself. The Miami Heat might be losing Dwyane Wade this offseason, and if so, they could get Beal to replace him. The Heat do have two large contracts next season, in Chris Bosh and Goran Dragic, but can still afford Beal. If they were to get Beal, the team wouldn't miss a beat and would still be competing in the Eastern Conference under the leadership of Erik Spoelstra.
6. Mike Conley
Current Team: Memphis Grizzlies
New Team: Milwaukee Bucks
Conley leaving the Grizzlies is basically a sure thing. Where he goes, not so much. I think Milwaukee should take a look at him because they are losing Jerryd Bayless and Michael Carter-Williams is awful. They need a point guard more than any other team in the NBA, and the Midwestern Conley would be close to his home. The Bucks have proven they want to win by adding Jason Kidd as coach and Greg Monroe as the team's first major free agent signing ever. They can add to that core by picking up Conley, who would help Jabari Parker and Giannis Antetokounmpo. The team has $26 million to give out this offseason, and using it on a good point guard like Conley would be smart.
7. Harrison Barnes
Current Team: Golden State Warriors
New Team: Brooklyn Nets
The Nets need to re-build as soon as possible. Luckily for them, by dropping Joe Johnson's atrocious contract. they can now sign a big name free agent. To re-build, they can sign Harrison Barnes, a former No. 1 recruit out of high school that is currently taking a backseat to a lot of players on the super-powered Warriors. He can take over a game and he's proven his worth. He would also bring a championship mentality to a team struggling in the nation's biggest market. The former Tar Heel has won everywhere he has gone, and could bring a different mentality, a nice scoring touch, to the Nets.
8. Hassan Whiteside
Current Team: Miami Heat
New Team: Los Angeles Lakers
If the Lakers were to get LeBron James, they would still have money to sign a starting center. James, combined with D'Angelo Russell, Julius Randle and Whiteside would make an unbelievably solid starting lineup. Whiteside has been so good on defense for the Heat, and he wouldn't need to contribute on offense. This role would fit him perfectly. Whiteside would thrive, the Lakers would win, and everyone would be happy in the City of Angels.
9. Al Horford
Current Team: Atlanta Hawks
New Team: New Orleans Pelicans
The Pelicans have the best big man in the NBA in Anthony Davis. But he can not play at center. He is a power forward through and through. Luckily for the Pelicans, they're losing the contracts of Eric Gordon and Ryan Anderson this offseason, giving them $33 million to work with. They can sign a much more offensively-inclined center to play next to the defensively-gifted Davis. Al Horford should be done in Atlanta, although he has said he would listen to offers after the season. Horford would fit a huge need for the Pelicans, and help them get back to the playoffs on a consistent basis.
10. Dwyane Wade
Current Team: Miami Heat
New Team: Chicago Bulls
Welcome home, Mr. Wade. The Bulls need a scorer on the outside, as Jimmy Butler is better on defense and Derrick Rose is about as consistent as cottage cheese. The Bulls only have $15 million free this offseason, but Wade shouldn't command much more than that, and at this point asking Rose for a pay cut isn't unwarranted. Wade was considered an option for the Bulls in 2010 before he returned to Miami. Wade can score for the Bulls, and a return home to make an All-Chicago back court with Rose, would make for an impressive story line.
Although these players could end up in so many different places, these teams seem like good fits for these free agents. This could be a very entertaining offseason for the NBA, and these changes would shake up the entire association.
