All of the free agency has been surrounding the top names in the league and deservingly so. The focus is on the futures of Kevin Durant, Kawhi Leonard, and Kyrie Irving. With that being said, there are some free agents on the market that could hugely impact a team, not in that top tier discussion.
Seth Curry
Seth Curry increased his stock with his play during this past season, especially in Portland’s playoff run. He has shown that he can be a solid addition in a playmaking and/or spot-up shooter role. The young guard knocked down shots at an efficient clip last season. Averaging 45% from behind the arc, Curry was third in three-point field goal percentage amongst the entire league. He also shot 45.6% from the field overall which is something not to overlook. In a shooter’s league, who doesn’t need another shooter to add to their roster.
Kevon Looney
There are going to be a lot of suitors knocking at the door of Looney. While his numbers don’t pop out of the screen, the five-year big man did a lot of things well for the Golden State Warriors. Anything he was asked to do, Looney got the job done. Whether it was rebounding, scoring, or defending the rim, Looney was always in the right position. His stand out moment was showing his ability to switch out on guards on the perimeter. For a big man, he uses his feet well and he uses his length to his advantage to contest and discourage shots. He displayed toughness and courage fighting through a tough injury and going out on the floor to compete with his team. This is going to be a big summer for Looney and it’s well deserved.
Trevor Ariza
“Three and D” guys have been a hot commodity in the NBA for years now. Ariza has done this and done it well during his time in the league. A proven champion, Ariza is a low-maintenance guy who’s willing to come in and work hard on a nightly basis. He was having the third best scoring year of his career last season averaging 14.1 points per game before being shipped out to Phoenix. Despite entering his 16th season, Ariza has shown that he still has a lot left in the tank and could help a contending team out as a role player.
Kenneth Faried
Faried is an energy guy that loves to put everything that he has out on the floor. When he plays you don’t have to worry about hard work or effort. When it seemed that Faried was slowly fading from the league, the Houston Rockets picked him up in free agency and he immediately made an impact. Hustle plays, attacking the glass, and catching lobs are his specialty and if a team has someone who can throw it up there, he’ll go get it. Faried’s lack of shooting is one big downside to his game. Teams are always looking for guys to stretch the floor, especially from the big man position. However, I still think he can impact a team similar to the way he did with Houston last season coming off the bench, being that spark plug with the second unit.
Terrence Ross
Ross is coming off the best scoring season of his career. Averaging 15.1 points per game, Ross was tied for third in scoring for the Orlando Magic and led the second unit as their sixth man. He’s known for his ability to get hot from outside which probably has a lot to do with why he’s also called the “Human Torch” in Orlando. But Ross is just not a shooter. He can score at all levels and also has crazy athletic ability that makes for some great posters. For teams looking for a guy to come off of the bench and create scoring opportunities then Ross is their guy.
Honorable Mentions
Nerlens Noel, Wilson Chandler, Quinn Cook
