What once looked like a mouth-watering forward free agent class has been whittled down pretty quickly.
LeBron James opted into the final year of his deal. Julius Randle and Naz Reid will be signing extensions with the Minnesota Timberwolves. And Bobby Portis just declined his player option so he can sign a three-year deal to stay with the Milwaukee Bucks.
But don’t worry – there are still some solid unrestricted free agents out there who can make a real difference for good teams.
Let’s take a look at who’s still available.
1. Dorian Finney-Smith
Finney-Smith has become one of the best 3-and-D players in the league. He shot a impressive 39.8 percent from three with the Lakers last season.
He’s great at defending both small and power forwards, and can even handle certain shooting guards and centers when needed.
This is a crucial moment for the Lakers. LeBron has put the team on notice that he might leave, and that could affect Finney-Smith’s decision.
He walked away from a $15.4 million option for next season, so he’s clearly looking for either long-term security or a bigger paycheck. For context, the non-tax-payer mid-level exception is worth just over $14 million.
2. Guerschon Yabusele
After five years away from the NBA, Yabusele made a pretty successful comeback last season following his strong Olympic performance.
The Frenchman averaged 11.0 points, 5.6 rebounds and 2.1 assists while hitting 38 percent of his threes.
He filled in at center quite a bit when Joel Embiid was injured, but he’s probably better suited as a power forward.
The Sixers definitely want to keep him, but there are rumors that the San Antonio Spurs are interested too. Having his countryman Victor Wembanyama there might sway his decision.
3. Jake LaRavia
LaRavia could be one of the best bargains in this free agency period.
The Memphis Grizzlies should have locked him up long-term but instead traded him to the Sacramento Kings. He shot 39.5 percent from three last season, has some playmaking skills, and rebounds well for his position.
At just 24 years old, he should be able to command at least the tax-payer mid-level exception. A rebuilding team like the Detroit Pistons might see him as a perfect depth addition.
4. Chris Boucher
Boucher has been a standout for the Toronto Raptors as a lanky forward who scores, blocks shots, and runs like crazy to help his team any way he can.
His outside shooting is about as streaky as they come, but over the years, his overall impact has become more consistent.
It’s now or never for Boucher to contribute to a contender. The New York Knicks have shown interest in him before and could be a potential landing spot.
5. Trey Lyles
Lyles is a reliable shooter for his position. His playing time has shrunk over the last couple seasons in Sacramento, but he could be a solid option for an up-and-coming team looking for value.
While he only hit 34 percent of his threes last season, he shot at least 36 percent in each of the three previous seasons. Just don’t expect much from him defensively.
The Raptors might be interested in bringing the Canadian home if they’re not looking for a more traditional, physical big man.
