NBA Free Agents 2014 Update: Top 10 NBA Free Agents That Could Make Teams NBA Champions in 2014 [Video]
It’s been four years since such a highly-anticipated class of free agents was awaited at the end of the NBA season, yet the summer of 2014’s list of free agents is featuring a big crop of stars and superstars that have teams scrambling to free up space.
Next summer’s class of free agents has a plethora of stars that include NBA champions, scoring champs, All-Stars, Olympians and all-around talents that can change a franchise’s fortunes around and be the missing pieces that can turn a good team into a championship contender. The role call on that list reads like an All-Star team. James. Melo. Bosh. Wade. Nowitzki. Not since the summer of 2010—when James was the prize free agent that lead that legendary class that turned Miami from a struggling team into a dynasty in the making—has such a talented crop of free agents been available.
This summer’s crop of free agent stars coincides with a much-anticipated NBA Draft class that features a highly-touted crop of college stars that includes Andrew Wiggins. However, the free agent class is a more surefire way of rebuilding a franchise or getting a good basketball squad into that category that makes them a legitimate NBA title contender. Just ask the Los Angeles Lakers—their inking of Shaquille O’Neal in 1996 to pair him with rookie Kobe Bryant laid the foundation for a Lakers dynasty from 2000 to 2002. The legendary “Dr. J” Julius Erving signed with the Philadelphia 76ers in 1976 and helped power the franchise to the 1983 NBA title. The Phoenix Suns signed free agent Steve Nash in 2004, and the future Hall of Famer turned in two MVP seasons for Phoenix and made them legitimate title contenders. The New York Knicks signing Amar’e Stoudemire in 2010 helped take the Knicks back to the playoffs after a six-year absence and laid the groundwork to landing superstar Carmelo Anthony, helping the Knicks become legitimate again.
With the elite class of talent available on the free agency market this coming summer, it’s no wonder hoops fans are excited and front office teams are looking to free up space on their salary caps to get that one or two great stars that may elevate them to the promised land of the NBA Finals. LatinoPost.com breaks down the best available superstars on the free agent market that could help whatever team they land with win the NBA championship:
10. Eric Bledsoe
Bledsoe is good. Scary good. Averaging 19.5 points with 6.4 assists for the Phoenix Suns this season, the lightning-quick Bledsoe and Goran Dragic have helped the Suns turn around their franchise, visions of playoffs berths dancing in their heads. Only in his fourth season, the 24-year-old Birmingham, Ala.-born point guard can make a lot of teams better with his aggressive scoring mentality.
9. Evan Turner
The fourth-year small forward has evolved into quite a scoring weapon in Philadelphia, averaging 19.3 points for the 76ers this season. An athletic forward who loves to slash to the rim, Turner can make an impact for any solid defensive teams that need offense, like Chicago, Memphis or New York. He’s not a superstar—well, not yet, anyway—but his addition adds depth, quickness and offense to any team looking to make an impact in the NBA’s playoff picture.
8. Pau Gasol
Check the resume—the 2002 Rookie of the Year, two NBA titles, four NBA All-Star appearances, Olympics appearances for his home country of Spain. Gasol has lived a golden NBA career. Right now, he’s struggling playing in Lakers coach Mike D’Antoni’s system, leading many to believe that he’ll eventually be on his way out, either via trade or free agency. Gasol might be struggling due to his being unhappy with his situation in sunny L.A., but a change of scenery could revitalize this still-dangerous star into being a key player for any team on the bubble of being a championship squad.
7. Luol Deng
At 28 years old and in or reaching his prime, Deng is one of the best small forwards in the NBA, having garnered two consecutive NBA All-Star appearances for the Chicago Bulls. With Derrick Rose’s health and viability now in question after a second season-ending injury in three seasons, Deng becomes more important to Chicago’s overall plans than ever. But if they are thinking about rebuilding without Deng, then the Sudanese hoops star will have a long list of suitors waiting to get a hold of him.
6. Rudy Gay
While having been traded to Sacramento this season, it doesn’t necessarily mean the athletic, explosive Gay will stay there. Gay shone brilliantly during his first seven seasons in Memphis, where he revealed himself to be a dangerous scorer and, later paired with Zach Randolph, made up one of the NBA’s most dangerous frontcourts. Gay can add depth and scoring pop as a viable No. 1 or No. 2 scoring option to any team that he decides to be a part of this summer, but he won’t come cheap, nor should he.
5. Dwyane Wade
It’s hard to see Wade in anything other than a Miami Heat uniform. In many ways, he’s more the face of that franchise than even LeBron James, having guided Miami to all three of their NBA titles. But never say never, especially with big bucks involved. The 31-year-old Wade is starting to show some wear and tear, particularly during the last two seasons when his troublesome knee issues have resurfaced. However, teams would be foolish to pass up on a chance to lock down the legendary D-Wade, who still strikes fear in the hearts of defenses thanks to his sweet shooting—his current 53.4 field goal percentage is the highest of his career—and his knack for late-game heroics.
4. Chris Bosh
He hasn’t been quite as heralded as a member of the famous “Big Three” in Miami, but just ask the Toronto Raptors, whom Bosh led to the 2006-07 Atlantic Division title and several playoff appearances after that season, about how much Bosh brings to a team. Bosh might have a good thing going in Miami, but if the Heat are looking to perhaps free up some cap space to go after promising centers like the uber-talented Roy Hibbert in 2015, the dynamic scorer Bosh could make some team out there very happy.
3. Dirk Nowitzki
When it’s all said and done, Nowitzki, 35, will be enshrined in the Basketball Hall of Fame after his stellar career. But that’s not to say that the lifelong Dallas Maverick will stay in Dallas. The 2006-07 NBA MVP is averaging 21.1 points on 49.2 percent shooting this season, showing that he’s still got it even after 15 seasons. Dallas owner Mark Cuban will be pulling out all the stops to make sure Nowitzki stays and retires a Maverick, but expect the 11-time NBA All-Star to see some handsome offers. If a title contender makes Nowitzki an offer he can’t refuse, expect him to possibly shift the balance of power somewhere.
2. Carmelo Anthony
Will he stay or will he go? Such has been the question surrounding ‘Melo, last season’s NBA scoring champion. A nigh-unstoppable one-on-one player with a dangerous shooting touch, Anthony is one of the most feared scorers in the league, which means he’ll have a list of teams a mile wide courting him, including the Lakers, where his old friend Kobe Bryant resides. Whether he stays in New York or heads elsewhere, Anthony will be looking to be on a team that has a shot at the NBA title. So expect whatever team he signs with to be a force to be reckoned with next season.
1. LeBron James
As it was in 2010, James is the crème de la crème of the NBA free agent class this coming summer. Arguably the best basketball player on the planet right now, the two-time world champion, 2008 NBA scoring champion and four-time league MVP has done it all in basketball and he’s only 28 years old with years to go in his prime. But unlike 2010 when he decided to bolt Cleveland and his home state of Ohio for South Beach, the difference in his situation is night and day. The Cavaliers were too small and lacked the cash to give him a solid corps capable of giving him an NBA championship. Miami gave him that, and now he’s on top of the world. But while LeBron has a good thing going with the Heat right now, Wade is getting older and if he can’t stay healthy, then James might look to be a part of another team with a younger roster and high potential. Or, who knows? Maybe he might decide to take his act back to Cleveland and win a title with the NBA franchise that gave him his start. Either way, wherever James decides to take his talents to this summer, expect championship talk to follow.