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NBA Free Agency: Top 10 2016 Free Agents

By Ryan Blackburn

Apr 25, 2016; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant (35) waits to be introduced prior to action against the Dallas Mavericks in game five of the first round of the NBA Playoffs at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 25, 2016; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant (35) waits to be introduced prior to action against the Dallas Mavericks in game five of the first round of the NBA Playoffs at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 9, 2015; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Wizards guard Bradley Beal (3) dribbles the ball as Houston Rockets center Dwight Howard (12) defends in the fourth quarter at Verizon Center. The Rockets won 109-103. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 9, 2015; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Wizards guard Bradley Beal (3) dribbles the ball as Houston Rockets center Dwight Howard (12) defends in the fourth quarter at Verizon Center. The Rockets won 109-103. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports /

Honorable mentions: Bradley Beal and Dwight Howard

Bradley Beal has had an interesting 2015-16 season. Initially touted as the next restricted free agent for a max contract extension, Beal, 22, has struggled with injuries. He missed 16 games in a row at one point and only playing 55 out of a possible 82. With news arriving that Beal may be on a minutes restriction for the rest of his career, according to J. Wright, Beal has lost value.

Given his restricted status, Beal is very likely to stay with the Washington Wizards. He’s still growing next to John Wall, and the two of them form one of the best backcourts in the league. His young age allows for potential to grow, and the Wizards would expect him to continue to assert himself as one of the top shooting guards as well.

A second destination that would make sense if Washington lets him walk for whatever reason would be the New York Knicks. The Arron Afflalo experiment finished poorly and Afflalo is likely to explore free agency this summer. That would leave the Knicks without a viable starting shooting guard and a need for a No. 2 scorer next to Carmelo Anthony.

Not only does Beal fill that role, but he fits the timeline of Kristaps Porzingis.

Dwight Howard is another case altogether. He is less of an injury risk, though at age 30 and after sustaining back injuries, he might become one. He’s lost the elite mobility that made him so special for a number of years and players are catching up to his strength very quickly.

That said, he’s still one of the most athletic players in the league offensively and defensively. He collapses the paint on one end and protects the paint on the other. Free throw shooting is still poor, but it’s a price to pay for having a player who affects the game at the rim as much as he does.

The meltdown in Houston may be mostly due to James Harden, but he hasn’t made things work in his last two destinations with the Rockets and the Los Angeles Lakers, so he may not be able to work with demanding personalities like Kobe Bryant and Harden.

A couple of destinations to keep in mind are the Atlanta Hawks and the Boston Celtics. Atlanta is Howard’s home town and if Al Horford leaves, replacing him with another star caliber center wouldn’t be the worst Plan B. Boston could use a defensive anchor and a better option at center to take attention away from Isaiah Thomas and Avery Bradley outside.

Watch out for Orlando, though. A return to Howard’s former team would be beneficial for both parties.

Next: Number 10