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NBA: The Best 2016 Free Agent For Every Team

By Ryan Blackburn

May 1, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; A general view of the Air Canada Centre prior to Indiana Pacers playing Toronto Raptors in game seven of the first round of the 2016 NBA Playoffs at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports
May 1, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; A general view of the Air Canada Centre prior to Indiana Pacers playing Toronto Raptors in game seven of the first round of the 2016 NBA Playoffs at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports /
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For many franchises, the 2015-16 NBA season is already over. Who are the quality free agents that these teams need to add in order to improve?

May 1, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; A general view of the Air Canada Centre prior to Indiana Pacers playing Toronto Raptors in game seven of the first round of the 2016 NBA Playoffs at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports
May 1, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; A general view of the Air Canada Centre prior to Indiana Pacers playing Toronto Raptors in game seven of the first round of the 2016 NBA Playoffs at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports /

As the NBA playoffs progress, the number of onlookers grows larger. More and more teams are being eliminated, and the field of teams still competing is already down to eight. That means 22 others have moved on to the offseason and are looking for ways to better their respective rosters.

For many organizations, the draft is the most important time to get better, but free agency is also the time where the most roster turnover occurs. Some championship teams have been crafted based off of their exploits in free agency, like the Miami Heat. Others build through the draft, but there is always an eye on free agents who can inject a boost into the organization.

For teams like the Heat, the New York Knicks, Oklahoma City Thunder, Washington Wizards, Brooklyn Nets and Portland Trail Blazers, there are no draft picks waiting for them on Jun. 28. That means that either they will trade to acquire picks, or they will focus entirely on free agency. These teams really need to hit on their acquisitions, especially struggling franchises like the Knicks, Wizards and Nets.

The rest of the NBA needs to make their money count as well, and there will be a lot of it. With an influx of television revenue, the salary cap is rising sharply from $70 million to $89 million in 2016-17 according to USA Today, teams with clear books will be able to spend at will. Even teams that have been pushed up against the cap should be able to maneuver in order to sign players they desire.

With that in mind, here are the free agents every team should consider targeting this summer.

Next: Atlanta Hawks