NBA Daily: Ranking The Free Agents – Centers

Basketball Insiders recently started a new series detailing the top free agents by position as a primer for the free agency period beginning on July 1.

Let’s get caught up. Drew Maresca covered point guards, Jordan Hicks shooting guards. Then, Spencer Davies detailed small forwards and Ben Nadeau wrote about power forwards.

First, a look at what the salary cap numbers project to be. The NBA’s salary cap is expected to jump from $101 million to $109 million this offseason. Based on that, here are the projected numbers for max contracts:

$27,250,000 for players with 0-6 years of experience

$32,700,000 for players with 7-9 years of experience

$38,150,000 for players with 10+ years of experience

In addition, the mid-level exception for teams in the first year is expected to be $9,246,000, while the taxpayer MLE is expected to be $5,711,000 and the room MLE is expected to be $4,760,000.

If you want a full list of players in the pool, feel free to refer to this page for a list of all the notable free agents-to-be.

Max Guys

Al Horford – Boston Celtics – Last Year’s Salary: $28,982,710

The Boston Celtics have been executing a multi-year plan that is on the verge of veering off-course. Al Horford declining his player option for next season and signing with a new team is another unexpected development. Horford is already 33 and on the backside of his prime. He is also properly recognized as a player that meshes well with other players, is a solid defender, strong outside shooter and a positive veteran presence. The need for a player to help turn a potential contender into a juggernaut helps ensure Horford will likely get a max contract.

With free agency frenzy hitting its zenith, speculation has mounted as to which team will be employing Horford’s services. Shane Rhodes covered potential Al Horford landings spots. The Mavericks have been spoken of as a potential destination as well as the New Orleans Pelicans and Los Angeles Clippers. As of June 29, Horford added a few Pelicans players offering a hint he might be headed to the suddenly very interesting New Orleans roster, although there is pushback as to whether this is a realistic possibility.

Where Does He Fit: Multiple contenders and would be contenders should and potentially will pursue Horford. The latest talk is of a large offer from the Sacramento Kings, the Philadelphia 76ers and the Dallas Mavericks with the Los Angeles Clippers and Los Angeles Lakers as remote possibilities. Most recent reports from Keith Smith are that Horford and the Celtics are working toward a return to Boston.

New Deal: 4 years/ $164,000,000 to the Boston Celtics

Near Max Guys

Nikola Vucevic – Orlando Magic – Last Year’s Salary: $12,750,000

Nikola Vucevic is a talented free agent center who doesn’t get as much attention as other players in higher profile markets. In addition, his strengths can resemble successful centers of a bygone era. He likes to post up with his back to the basket and is an effective scorer down low. Those skills come along with an ability to shoot the ball from the perimeter, to make decisions with the ball in the high post plus who can move the ball and is a capable defender who is quick enough with his feet.

Adding Vucevic would be a big move for any team needing an injection of talent and lacking option down low. Unfortunately for the rest of the league, it is being reported that Vucevic and the Orlando Magic are closing in on a deal that would see Vucevic return to Orlando.

Where Does He Fit: Teams striking out on their first options would do well to sign the talented big man but that possibility appears to be out the window as he is expected to re-sign with Orlando, according to Shams Charania.

New Deal: 4 years/$100 million to return to the Magic.

Above Mid-Level Guys

Jonas Valanciunas – Memphis Grizzlies – Last Year’s Salary: $15,460,675

The tale of Jonas Valanciunas is a less mentioned part of the upheaval that the Toronto Raptors went through last season. Just about any move will look like a good one when the end result is a championship and the trade that saw the Raptors give up Valanciunas in exchange for Marc Gasol is one of them. Valanciunas has played well throughout the years and demonstrated upside but has also underperformed at times including key moments in past playoffs.

Valanciunas declined his play option earlier this month. He is in his prime (27 years old) and could make a lot of money with a new team on his next contract. However, that possibility appears remote as it appears he will be returning on a three-year contract worth $45 million, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.

Where Does He Fit: Valanciunas would have fit well with a team that can use a boost at center to complement a well put together roster. Since he is returning to the Grizzlies, he can provide a veteran presence down low for the young roster.

New Deal: 3 years/$45 million to return to the Grizzlies

Dewayne Dedmon – Atlanta Hawks – Last Year’s Salary: $7,200,000

Dewayne Dedmon has had a bumpy ride on his professional journey having played for multiple G-League and various NBA teams on his way to the Atlanta Hawks. With the Hawks, Dedmon has been best able to demonstrate his abilities as a capable two-way player. As a member of the Hawks, Dedmon also demonstrated a newfound three-point shot that improved in both volume and efficiency in his second year with the Hawks.

Where Does He Fit: Recent reports link him as a secondary option for the Kings should they strike out on the Horford sweepstakes. Since Horford’s destination is still very much unclear, a Kings-Dedmon marriage looks like an increasingly real possibility, according to Sam Amick.

New Deal: 3 years/$40 million to the Kings.

Brook Lopez – Milwaukee Bucks – Last Year’s Salary: $3,382,000

Two seasons ago, the Los Angeles Lakers were on the tail end of the post-Kobe Bryant, pre-LeBron James transition period. Brook Lopez held things down at the center position for a franchise in flux. For whatever reason, the Lakers did not prioritize a Lopez return and he instead signed with the Milwaukee Bucks.

With the Bucks, Lopez again proved outside shooting and veteran leadership. Although the Bucks were not able to advance to the NBA Finals, Lopez shined in key moments and, when the offense grinded to a halt, he was able to help carry the load on offense in the playoffs.

Where Does He Fit: There was briefly talk of Lopez being a secondary signing to match Leonard if he were to sign with the Clippers. A do-over with the Lakers is not impossible either. There had been talk of a mutual interest in returning to the Bucks and has just been reported by Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.

New Deal: 4 years/$52 million to return to the Bucks

Mid-Level or Below Guys

DeMarcus Cousins – Golden State Warriors – Last Year’s Salary: $5,337,000

Of all available players, DeMarcus Cousins is difficult to pin down. He is a talented, versatile player that can score and improve a team’s offense in a variety of ways. Cousins is also recovering his athleticism from a torn Achilles two seasons ago and likely contributed to the subsequent quad injury that left him limited in the NBA Finals. Throw in his history of being a volatile personality and a potential disrupter in the locker room, what do you get?

The answer is unclear and so is predicting the market for Cousins. Last year with the Golden State Warriors, Cousins took less money to rehabilitate his body and his image yet things remain murky. If an acceptable long-term offer is not available, perhaps Cousins signs another short term offer to try the same game plan again.

Where Does He Fit: Hard to envision where he fits best considering his play, fit and personality are not easy to pin down. Running it back with the Warriors in a down year for the franchise is a decent option. The team could use the talent boost and better play will help him re-emerge in next year’s free agent pool may be best.

New Deal: 1 year/$5 million to return to the Warriors

DeAndre Jordan – New York Knicks – Last Year’s Salary: $22,900,000

Things have not been the same the last two seasons for DeAndre Jordan. After nearly bolting for the Dallas Mavericks in the middle of the lob city era, Jordan finally joined the Mavericks for the 2018-19 season. While the pairing had long been on Jordan’s mind, the fit just didn’t come together. It is true that Jordan’s productivity in the past two seasons has only incrementally decreased in the past few years. However, his play was often uninspired and criticism emerged that he was more focused on personal statistics.

Jordan found himself as a key part of the trade package the Mavericks put together to snatch Kristaps Porzingis from the New York Knicks. With the Knicks, Jordan put up good numbers when he played but fell victim to a losing season where he was quietly benched to help ensure the best lottery odds. Jordan no longer is the defensive anchor or uber-athletic rim running center he used to be, he can still be a useful cog for a couple of teams.

Where Does He Fit: Reports link him to the Nets and Lakers. Where the marquee free agents go will dictate if Jordan ends up being part of one of these two franchises. Latest bombshell reports from Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN have him joining Irving and Durant with the Nets.

New Deal: 2 year/$5 million to play for the Nets

Willie Cauley-Stein* – Sacramento Kings – Last Year’s Salary: $4,696,875

The Willie Cauley-Stein experience has been a bumpy one for both him and the Kings. Cauley-Stein has shown flashes of potential and numbers that can lead a team to believe that he continues to possess great potential. His inconsistent play and mercurial personality may also cause hesitation. In the right situation, he could thrive.

As of yesterday, the Kings extended a qualifying offer, despite his request to allow him to move on. While the Kings may not do so, they have the ability to match any offer made to him. Teams may be wary to sign him due to the risk of being held in limbo while the Kings decide whether to match or not.

Where Does He Fit: Cauley-Stein has been linked to the Mavericks and Lakers. Both Dallas and Los Angeles offer a much-needed change of scenery. If the offer is too low, the Kings may be compelled to keep him, at least as an attractive trade asset.

New Deal: 2 year/$5 million to play for the Mavericks

Robin Lopez – Team – Last Year’s Salary: $14,357,750

Enes Kanter – Portland Trail Blazers – Last Year’s Salary: $18,622,514

Thomas Bryant – Team – Last Year’s Salary: $1,378,242

Other Notable Free Agents

JaVale McGee – Los Angeles Lakers – Last Year’s Salary: $2,393,887

Ivaca Zubac* – Los Angeles Clippers – Last Year’s Salary: $1,544,951

Frank Kaminsky – Charlotte Hornets – Last Year’s Salary: $3,627,842

*Qualifying Offer (If made and accepted, the player becomes a restricted free agent)

**Non-Guaranteed Contract (If the player is waived by his current team before the contract becomes fully guaranteed, he becomes an unrestricted free agent)

***Player Option (The player has the choice of whether to opt-in for another year with his current team or opt-out to become an unrestricted free agent)

****Team Option (The team has the choice of whether to pick up a player for another year or opt-out to have him become an unrestricted free agent)