Ranking the Top 20 Free Agents Up For Grabs

Stunningly, Bridges was arrested for felony domestic violence on Wednesday night in Los Angeles.

With the start of free agency just hours away, here's the final installment of our Top-50 Overall players series:

1. James Harden — Philadelphia 76ers — Player Option

Per Shams Charania of The Athletic, Harden will decline his $47.4 million option for the 2022-23 season. The maximum salary Harden could demand from the Sixers would pay him up north of $270 million over the next five years, which ESPN analyst Bobby Marks declared would be the "worst contract in the history of the NBA." However, it sounds like Harden may re-sign with Philly on a new three-year deal in the neighborhood of $100 million. This would be a great value contract for the Sixers and would give them room to potentially sign Miami Heat power forward P.J. Tucker. 

2. Bradley Beal — Washington Wizards — Player Option

Beal has officially declined his $36.4 million option and will become an unrestricted free agent. And, despite the fact he is coming off a disappointing 2021-22 season, which ended prematurely after he underwent surgery to repair a torn ligament in his left wrist, Beal is expected to re-sign with the Wizards for the maximum amount of $246 million over five years. Beal can sign with another club, but the max any other team can offer is south of $200 million over four years.

3. Zach LaVine — Chicago Bulls — Unrestricted

LaVine bet on himself instead of signing a four-year, $105 million extension last offseason, and the gamble most certainly paid off. He averaged 24.4 points, 4.6 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 2.8 made three-pointers while shooting 39% from downtown and a career-high 85.3% from the free-throw line. Chicago is fully expected to offer him a max deal of five years at approximately $200 million. The most any other team can offer LaVine is around $160 million over four years.

4. Deandre Ayton — Phoenix Suns — Restricted

Ayton is, by far, the best center in this free-agent crop. Although the Suns surprisingly chose not to offer him a max extension last offseason (worth approximately $173 million over five years), Phoenix is still in the driver's seat, as the franchise can match any offer the former No. 1 overall pick receives this summer. However, numerous reports have leaked out over the last few months that the Suns don't view Ayton as a player worthy of a max contract. If that's their thinking, we'd have to assume they'd agree to a sign-and-trade in order to avoid losing the former No. 1 overall pick and having nothing to show for it.

5. Miles Bridges — Charlotte Hornets — Restricted

Stunningly, Bridges was arrested for felony domestic violence on Wednesday night in Los Angeles. Bridges allegedly "turned himself into a local jail regarding an alleged physical altercation that happened on Tuesday," according to TMZ. We are currently awaiting more news, and It's unknown how this incident will impact his free-agent prospects.  

6. Kyrie Irving — Brooklyn Nets — Player Option

After a drama-filled week, Irving announced he would pick up the player option on his contract for the 2022-23 season worth $37 million. We still haven't received confirmation that the paperwork has officially been filed, and with Kyrie, nothing would shock me, but it sounds like he'll spend at least one more season in Brooklyn. It is worth noting that ESPN's Brian Windhorst, speaking about Irving ending up with the Lakers, reported on Tuesday, "there are people in the league, and we're not talking about ancillary people, we're talking about high-ranking people, who believe that this is not done." 

7. Anfernee Simons — Portland Trail Blazers — Restricted

Simons boosted his earning power as much, or more, than any player in the NBA last season. After averaging a modest 7.8 points per game in 2020-21, Simons poured in 17.3 points per game in 2021-22, representing the largest year-over-year increase in the NBA. In the 30 games he started for Portland, Simons averaged 22.0 points, 5.5 assists, 2.8 rebounds and 4.1 made three-pointers, while shooting a scorching 41.5% from downtown and 87% from the free-throw line. The Blazers are fully expected to match any offer he receives this summer.

8. Jalen Brunson — Dallas Mavericks — Unrestricted

We've covered Mr. Brunson in depth over the past two months. He has gone from a guy Dallas was unwilling to offer $55 million last summer, to reportedly seeking $80 million late in the regular season, to a player that could ink a deal worth north of $110 million after a phenomenal postseason run. Chris Hayes of Yahoo Sports reported late Wednesday that Brunson would meet with the Mavericks, Knicks and "dark horse" Miami Heat on the first day of free agency. I understand Knicks fans that desperately want Brunson are nervous that Pat Riley may swoop in at the last moment. However, I'm guessing these meetings are partly just Brunson soaking up the whole experience of being a desired free agent (remember, this is a kid who slipped into the second round four years ago) while also ensuring the Knicks avoids any issues related to tampering before the official start of free agency.