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2017 NBA Free Agent Power Rankings

December 25th, 2016 at 12:13pm CST by Arthur Hill

Amid today’s Christmas festivities, it’s easy to overlook that there are about six months until the NBA’s next free agent frenzy begins. With a new labor deal in place and record revenues flowing in, teams are expected to once again do some serious shopping. We’re coming off a record-setting summer for free agent contracts, and there are reasons to believe it will be eclipsed in 2017.

We published our first list in September, but the events of the past three months have made an update necessary. Injuries to Blake Griffin and Nerlens Noel have affected their standing, while extensions for Giannis Antetokounmpo and Rudy Gobert have removed them from the list.

Remember that players who are ranked high aren’t necessarily expected to change teams when they hit the open market. Kevin Durant is No. 1, but he just signed with Golden State last summer and there’s no reason to think that he would break up one of the league’s power teams. However, Durant has a player option for 2017, so he could leave the Warriors and become the top free agents for a second consecutive summer, which is why he is on the list.

The rankings reflect each player’s expected value on the 2017 free agent market, rather than how we think they’ll perform on the court for the remainder of the 2016/17 season. Age and long-term value are important in their positions.

Here’s the second installment of our 2017 free agent power rankings:

  1. Kevin Durant, F, Warriors (player option): The former MVP is proving to be a perfect fit with Golden State. Even with less scoring responsibility than he had in Oklahoma City, Durant is putting up 25.9 points per game and shooting a career-best .541 from the field. The Warriors had to give up some defense to fit Durant under the cap, but at 27-4 they have remained atop the West and appear headed to a third straight NBA Finals.
  2. Stephen Curry, G, Warriors: Curry’s production is down across the board this season, which is one of the side effects of bringing Durant to the Bay Area. He’s averaging fewer minutes and fewer shots, while his scoring average has dipped from 30.1 to 24.4 points per night. After winning back-to-back MVP Awards, including a unanimous one last season, he’s barely in the discussion this time around. Still, there’s little doubt that he could take over again if needed, and every team with cap room would be interested if he thought seriously about leaving Golden State. Expect the Warriors to reward Curry with a max deal after years of playing at below market value.
  3. Chris Paul, G, Clippers (early termination option): One of the ongoing stories for the rest of the season is whether the Clippers can justify long-term max deals for both Paul and Blake Griffin. L.A. has strung together four straight 50-win seasons, followed by four straight playoff disappointments. At age 31, Paul remains among the NBA’s best point guards and it’s hard to imagine the Clippers being one of the West’s elite teams without him.
  4. Gordon Hayward, F, Jazz (player option): The Jazz were reminded how important Hayward is to their success when he missed seven games with a broken finger to start the season. He has been better than ever since returning, averaging career highs in scoring with 22.0 points per game and rebounding with 6.1 per night. He will be Utah’s top priority this summer as the Jazz try to keep a promising young team together.
  5. Blake Griffin, F, Clippers (early termination option): Griffin’s combination of All-Star talent and relative youth at age 27 still make him a very likely candidate for a max deal. However, there is a growing concern that injuries will haunt him throughout his career. Griffin was limited to just 35 games last season because of a quad injury and a broken hand. He is currently out four to six weeks after arthroscopic surgery on his right knee. He is also coming off his worst season in terms of field goal percentage and PER. If he does become a free agent, teams will have to weigh the risk involved in giving him a max deal.
  6. Kyle Lowry, G, Raptors (player option): Age is the only factor working against a maximum contract for Lowry, who will turn 31 in March. He has teamed with DeMar DeRozan to give the Raptors one of the league’s best backcourts and bring a legitimate title contender to Toronto. Lowry has stepped up his game even further this season, averaging a career-best 21.8 points per night to go with 7.3 assists.
  7. Paul Millsap, F/C, Hawks (player option): The 31-year-old has established himself as one of the NBA’s most reliable power forwards since signing with Atlanta in 2013. He has averaged 17.3 points and 8.4 rebounds as a Hawk and has shown great durability, missing just one game last season. Like Lowry, age is the only thing working against a max deal for Millsap, who will turn 32 in February.
  8. Serge Ibaka, F/C, Magic: The Magic’s offseason moves haven’t produced the contender they were hoping for, but Ibaka has been a nice addition. The 27-year-old power forward is scoring a career-best 15.3 points per night and is blocking nearly two shots per game. He figures to be part of the long-term future in Orlando.
  9. Danilo Gallinari, F, Nuggets (player option): Gallinari reportedly blocked a trade at last year’s deadline, so there’s no doubt that the versatile forward is in demand. He’s having another fine season at 16.6 points per game, but repeated injury problems remain a concern. Gallinari hasn’t played more than 59 games since the 2012/13 season.
  10. George Hill, G, Jazz: Injury problems have limited Hill to just 11 games so far, but when he has been in the lineup, the Jazz have been pleased with the results. Hill is averaging a career-high 20 points per game and is looking like the right guy to run Utah’s offense. Expect the Jazz to try hard to keep Hill after giving up a first-rounder to get him over the summer.

The following 2017 free agents didn’t quite crack our list, earning honorable mention:

11. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, G, Pistons
12. Derrick Rose, G, Knicks
13. Otto Porter, F, Wizards
14. Jeff Teague, G, Pacers
15. Jrue Holiday, G, Pelicans
16. Rudy Gay, F, Kings (player option)
17. Nerlens Noel, C/F, Sixers
18. Dwyane Wade, G, Bulls (player option)
19. Greg Monroe, C/F, Bucks (player option)
20. Mason Plumlee, C/F, Trail Blazers
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Community Shootaround: Christmas Wishes

December 24th, 2016 at 6:43pm CST by Arthur Hill

NBA fans already got the gift they wanted most this Christmas when the owners and players hammered out a new collective bargaining agreement. That document, which was ratified by both sides this week, takes effect in 2017/18 and will run for seven years with an opt-out after six seasons.

Labor peace is a great gift for the league, but what’s Christmas with just one present? Around the NBA, there are players and teams who know what they want for the holiday season.

Almost all NBA fans have wishes, too. Whether you’ve been naughty or nice, we would like to hear yours. If Santa could bring your favorite team just one thing tomorrow morning, what would it be?

Please share your thoughts in the comments section below. We look forward to what you have to say.

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Hoops Rumors Originals: 12/18/16 – 12/24/16

December 24th, 2016 at 9:58am CST by Austin Kent

Celebrate the holidays with a look back at this week’s original content published by the Hoops Rumors staff:

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Community Shootaround: Cleveland Cavaliers

December 23rd, 2016 at 3:24pm CST by Luke Adams

Several NBA teams have been hit hard by injuries or personal absences so far this season, but for the most part, teams have been plagued by short-term injuries, with players sidelined for days or weeks at a time. In Cleveland, the Cavaliers are now faced with multiple long-term absences, creating questions about whether the team needs to make a roster move or two to add depth.

The Cavs started the season essentially short one roster spot, since retired – and injured – guard Mo Williams was taking up one of those 15 openings. The team has been unable to negotiate a buyout agreement with Williams, and has kept him on the roster in the hopes of either recouping some of his salary or including him in a trade to balance contracts.

While Cleveland could easily get by with 14 healthy players, the team has lost a couple more recently, with Chris Andersen suffering a torn ACL that will sideline him for the rest of the season, and J.R. Smith undergoing thumb surgery that will keep him out of action for about three months.

The Cavaliers don’t currently qualify for a disabled player exception or hardship exception, and if they want to add a player to their roster, they’ll have to trade or waive someone. Andersen and Williams are obviously the two most likely candidates to be cut, but Cleveland will be reluctant to simply waive any guaranteed contracts. The team is already well into luxury tax territory, with a projected tax bill exceeding $30MM. Adding more team salary to the books, either via free agency or trade, will cause that tax bill to continue to grow.

The Cavs have a handful of trade exceptions at their disposal, including one worth more than $9.6MM, but the team doesn’t have a ton of trade assets available. Iman Shumpert is perhaps the most logical trade chip on the team’s roster, but his value isn’t believed to be overly high. And the best draft pick Cleveland could offer is its 2020 first-rounder. Even if the Cavs could find a trade partner that just wants to dump salary, such a deal would come at a high tax cost for Cleveland.

There’s no pressure on the Cavs to make a move immediately. GM David Griffin has said he’ll take his time to assess and adjust the roster as needed. Still, the Cavs’ roster depth is looking increasingly vulnerable, and it may mean leaning more heavily on LeBron James, Kyrie Irving, and Kevin Love than the club wants to. So far, LeBron is averaging 37.1 minutes per game, his highest mark since he rejoined the franchise in 2014.

What do you think? Do the Cavaliers need to make a move to bolster their roster and improve their depth? Or can they afford to be patient and wait for better opportunities to materialize later in the season? If the Cavs do make a move, what sort of player should they target? Jump into the comments section below to weigh in with your thoughts!

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Community Shootaround: Hall of Fame Players

December 22nd, 2016 at 8:03pm CST by Dana Gauruder

The NBA players inducted to the Basketball Hall of Fame this year were household names — Shaquille O’Neal, Allen Iverson and Yao Ming.

Shaq and AI were “no-brainer” inductees, superstars whose accomplishments made them first-ballot inductees. Ming’s impact from an international perspective overshadowed his early retirement due to foot issues.

There’s a lot more mystery concerning the next class that receives basketball’s ultimate honor. The nominees for the 2017 Hall of Fame among NBA players includes plenty of big names, many of whom have been passed over numerous times by the voting committee.

Topping the list of newcomers are Tracy McGrady, Ben Wallace and Muggsy Bogues. McGrady was a seven-time All-Star, seven-time All-NBA selection and two-time scoring champion. Wallace won the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year award four times, while the 5’3” Bogues proved that even a guy his size could carve out a lengthy career.

Other nominees in the player category include Chris Webber, Paul Westphal, Jack Sikma, Maurice Cheeks, Mark Price, Swen Nater, Sidney Moncrief, Tim Hardaway, Bobby Jones, Kevin Johnson, Marques Johnson, Mark Aguirre, Junior Bridgeman, Terry Cummings and Geese Ausbie.

Out of the latter group, Webber might be the most surprising holdover. The five-time All-Star has failed to make the cut the last two years.

This brings us to our question of the day: Which 2017 nominees do you think are most deserving of induction into the Basketball Hall of Fame?

Jump into the comments section below and share your selections for next year’s Hall of Fame class.

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Community Shootaround: NBA All-Star Voting

December 21st, 2016 at 4:56pm CST by Luke Adams

The NBA announced this week that it will make changes to the way starters for the All-Star Game are determined, reducing the influence of the fan vote. Instead of being determined entirely by fans, as they have been since the 1974/75 season, All-Star starters will be voted in by fans (50%), players (25%), and coaches (25%).

The timing of the change is interesting — it comes a year after veteran center Zaza Pachulia was nearly voted into the game as a Western Conference starter due to a fan push, and it comes at a time when the NBA is in the process of finalizing a new Collective Bargaining Agreement.

Under the old CBA, players on rookie contracts could qualify for more lucrative contract extensions if they had been voted an All-Star starter, but the new CBA is doing away with that criteria for its designated player extensions. In other words, at a time when the NBA seems to be getting more serious about its All-Star Game voting, it’s now a little less critical for players to crack the starting lineup.

While fans certainly haven’t always picked the top five players in a given conference to start the game, All-Star weekend is essentially a series of exhibitions designed for the fans. It’s easy to make the case that fans should get to watch the players they want to see in the All-Star Game. There’s also no guarantee that the choices made by players and the media will be any better than those made by the fans. A handful of players have already talked about casting their ballots for their teammates, and Kyrie Irving is among the players who believes there may be some bias on the part of the media as well.

What do you think? Will the new All-Star voting rules help create stronger starting lineups for the game? Was it necessary to change the way All-Star starters are selected? If so, was there a more effective way to do it? Jump into the comments section below to share your thoughts!

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Notable December NBA Trades In Recent Years

December 21st, 2016 at 2:13pm CST by Luke Adams

Since the 2016/17 NBA season got underway, only one trade has been consummated, and that deal happened way back on November 1, when the Thunder and Sixers got together for a swap that featured Ersan Ilyasova and Jerami Grant. Still, while things have been mostly quiet since then, recent history suggests there’s reason to believe we could see at least one more trade completed before we turn the calendar to 2017.

With more than 120 players around the NBA having become trade-eligible last Thursday, and a new Collective Bargaining Agreement tentatively agreed upon – albeit not officially finalized – teams now have the flexibility to move most of their players, and the information to know what effect the new CBA will have on potential deals. That doesn’t mean we can guarantee a trade will happen within the next 10 days, but December has been a moderately active month in recent years.

Here are a few examples:

Hornets trade Chris Paul to Clippers: December 14, 2011

It has now been five years since the Clippers completed one of the most controversial trades in recent NBA history, acquiring Paul from the team known at the time as the New Orleans Hornets. The Hornets appeared to have an agreement in place a few days earlier to send Paul to the Lakers, but commissioner David Stern – as the de facto controlling owner of the franchise at that time – decided not to make that deal.

Of course, superstars like Paul typically don’t change teams in December. The only reason it happened in 2011 was because the NBA’s lockout had just ended, resulting in a flurry of “offseason” moves in early December. We haven’t had such an exciting December since then, and the fact that the NBA and NBPA struck a deal on a new Collective Bargaining Agreement without a lockout this time around means we probably won’t get another December like 2011’s anytime soon.

Raptors trade Rudy Gay to Kings: December 9, 2013

While Gay certainly wasn’t a star on the level of Paul when he was dealt three years ago, he was in the midst of his sixth straight year averaging at least 18 PPG, and at the time, this deal was viewed as a signal that the Raptors were entering tank mode. A funny thing happened in Toronto after the team made this move though — the Raptors started winning.

Buoyed by players acquired from Sacramento in exchange for Gay, like Patrick Patterson and Greivis Vasquez, and led by Kyle Lowry, who was nearly moved to the Knicks around the same time, the Raptors began their transformation into one of the Eastern Conference’s top teams following this deal. While this would be a difficult feat to replicate for any club, it’s worth remembering that a team making a deal for the future may ultimately benefit in the present as well.

Celtics trade Rajon Rondo to Mavericks: December 18, 2014

In some ways, the Celtics’ decision to move Rondo in 2014 was similar to the call the Raptors made a year earlier. Still viewed as a high-caliber player, Rondo was no longer a fit in Boston, and the pieces the C’s acquired for him – including Jae Crowder – helped accelerate the team’s rebuilding process.

Unfortunately for the Mavs, their decision to roll the dice on Rondo backfired horribly. The veteran point guard clashed with head coach Rick Carlisle, resulting in a brief, underwhelming stint in Dallas. Rondo has led a nomadic existence since this deal, having spent time with the Mavs, Kings, and Bulls over the last two years.

Pelicans trade Ish Smith to Sixers: December 24, 2015

Of the players on this list, Smith is the least notable name, but he’s worth including here for a couple reasons. First, the change of scenery gave him an opportunity to thrive in a contract year, resulting in him landing a lucrative three-year deal this past July. During this year’s trade season, it will be worth watching to see if any under-the-radar contract-year players get moved to a team that will allow them to play more and increase their value before next summer.

The Smith trade is also noteworthy because it represented the second consecutive year that a deal was made on Christmas Eve. In 2014, the Pistons acquired Anthony Tolliver from the Suns on December 24. That streak may not continue this year, but if a couple teams want to conduct some business before the holidays, perhaps we’ll get a deal later this week.

December 2016: ???

What do those previous December deals tell us about what to expect this year? Well, in the case of the Gay and Rondo trades – and even the Paul deal, though it’s an outlier – teams were ready to move big-name players who simply weren’t the right fit in order to accelerate their rebuilding processes. Who fits that bill this season? Perhaps someone like Nerlens Noel or Greg Monroe, though Gay and Rondo were more productive and more valuable when they were moved.

What do you think? Are any teams ready to make a deal now, or will we have to wait until 2017 for some trade action?

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Trade Rumors App For iOS/Android

December 21st, 2016 at 11:14am CST by Luke Adams

If you enjoy Hoops Rumors on your smartphone or tablet, be sure to check out our free Trade Rumors app!

Trade Rumors, available for iOS and Android, is the best way to consume our content on a mobile device. Here’s what it delivers, all for free:

  • All the articles from Hoops Rumors, MLB Trade Rumors, Pro Football Rumors, and Pro Hockey Rumors in an easy-to-navigate, eye-catching format. Swipe through stories to quickly consume all the news and rumors from our four sites. Not into all four sports? No problem – any sport can be easily removed.
  • Customize what you see. You can create feeds for any team or player across any of our sites.
  • Notifications! For any team or player, you can set up push notifications to ensure you always get breaking news instantly. Notifications can also be set up at the sport level.
  • Commenting! You can now read and contribute comments on the app seamlessly.
  • Customer service! If you find a bug, we’ll fix it. If you have a feature request, we’ll consider it. The app is continually evolving and improving.
  • Did we mention Trade Rumors is a free app? What do you have to lose? Download it now!
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Fantasy Hoops: Rockets, Harris, Dedmon

December 20th, 2016 at 10:45pm CST by ChrisCrouse

The 2016/17 campaign is entering its ninth week and Hoops Rumors is examining the fantasy basketball landscape in order to help you dominate the competition. Check back weekly for more fantasy basketball analysis.

Opportunity Awaits In Houston

The Rockets will be without Clint Capela for at least the next four weeks as he recovers from a fracture in his left fibula. The third-year center was having a nice fantasy season prior to being ruled out. He was grabbing 8.0 rebounds (the 13th most among centers) and blocking 1.57 shots (10th most) per game while knocking down 64.0% of his shots (third best).

His excellent production is partly due to his elevated role and his progression as a player, but he’s also a product of Mike D’Antoni‘s pick-and-roll system. The Rockets play fast, ranking in the top 10 in pace this season, and they shoot 38.9 3-pointers per game, by far the most in the league. With so many long-range shooters surrounding Capela, opposing defenses couldn’t crowd the paint, making it easier for the big man to roll to the basket. Whoever takes over the big man’s role during his absence will be in good position to become a fantasy producer.

Houston is reportedly sniffing the market for a big man and should the team acquire another center, it would be an intriguing addition from a fantasy perspective. Nerlens Noel, whom Luke Adams of Hoops Rumors profiled as a trade candidate, would be a fascinating fit in this system. His defensive ability, coupled with his potential role in the Rockets’ high-paced offense, would produce a monster fantasy asset.

If the team doesn’t make a deal, look for Montrezl Harrell, Nene, and Ryan Anderson all to see increased roles. Nene, who’s the best pick-and-roll big man among the team’s healthy options, started at center for the Rockets in tonight’s loss against the Spurs, but Harrell relieved him after just five minutes of action. Harrell, who has a much higher fantasy ceiling than Nene, saw four more minutes than the Brazilian center did over the course of the game. Anderson spent time at the center position as well, squaring up against LaMarcus Aldridge when the Spurs put the 31-year-old on the floor as their five. Anderson was on the court for 37 minutes tonight, which is about 6.5 more minutes than his season average. The forward had a ho-hum game, scoring only seven points on eight shot attempts and he brought in just six boards. The lack of production was likely due to the bad match-up, as San Antonio has allowed the fifth fewest points, third fewest rebounds and sixth worst field percentage to opposing forwards this season, so expect better numbers going forward.

If the Rockets continue to utilize Anderson this way, he becomes more valuable over the next several weeks, while Harrell and Nene become useful in the right match-ups.

Here’s more fantasy analysis and notes from around the league:

  • Gary Harris is a player worth adding. He’s back in the starting lineup, averaging 19.3 points and 1.7 steals per contest over his last three games. The Nuggets rank sixth in the league in pace and Harris is taking advantage of the extra possessions.
  • The Blazers, a team rumored to have interest in trading for Noel, have really struggled defensively this season, particularly against the center position lately. Portland has allowed the third most points and the fourth best field goal percentage to opposing centers over the last 10 games.
  • Dewayne Dedmon could be a nice streaming option over the next two weeks. On Thursday, the Spurs will take on the Clippers, which is not a plus match-up, but after that tilt, their schedule gets softer. Over their ensuing five games, San Antonio will take on the Blazers twice, in addition to the Suns (allowing the second most points and third best field goal percentage to opposing centers over their last 10 games), Hawks (allowing the fifth best field goal percentage), and Bulls (allowing seventh most rebounds).
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Community Shootaround: Nuggets’ Frontcourt Logjam

December 20th, 2016 at 1:09pm CST by Luke Adams

The Sixers’ logjam at center has been the most publicized frontcourt depth chart issue in the NBA in recent days, and it’s not hard to see why. In Joel Embiid, Jahlil Okafor, and Nerlens Noel, the team has three top-six draft picks vying for playing time, one of those three players (Noel) is publicly griping about his role, and it’s all happening in a major market.

Still, Philadelphia isn’t the only city in which a crowded frontcourt is creating problems for an NBA team. As Jonathan Tjarks of The Ringer details, there are handful of other teams around the league experiencing similar issues.

Perhaps the most interesting case is in Denver, with Tjarks referring to the Nuggets’ big man logjam as “a less high-profile version of what’s happening with the 76ers.” After starting 25 games for the team to open the 2016/17 season, former first-rounder Jusuf Nurkic has fallen out of Denver’s rotation within the last week.

After playing just five minutes last Thursday and eight minutes on Saturday, Nurkic picked up a DNP-CD on Monday night. Like the Sixers, the Nuggets have shortened their big man rotation, with Nikola Jokic and Kenneth Faried seeing the majority of the minutes up front – and thriving – while Nurkic is the odd man out.

It’s a difficult situation for Nurkic, who had been playing pretty well early on this season, averaging career highs in PPG (9.3), RPG (6.9), FG% (.524), and a few other categories. Although the 22-year-old would have plenty of value on the trade market, the Nuggets probably won’t want to sell low on him.

Faried has long been viewed as the most likely trade candidate in the Denver frontcourt, but the Jokic/Nurkic pairing struggled in the early going this year, as the two bigs got on each other’s way and had problems with spacing, Tjarks notes. The current rotation, with Jokic starting alongside Danilo Gallinari and Wilson Chandler, and Faried serving as the primary frontcourt backup, has been very effective lately, so the Nuggets may have to reconsider which of their players they can afford to give up.

What do you think? Is there a trade out there that makes sense for the Nuggets? Which of their bigs should be considered a long-term piece, and which ones might be more expendable? Jump into the comments section below to weigh in with your thoughts!

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