5 best free-agent small forwards

In case you haven't heard, a pair of superstar threes have decided to opt out and test the market. Their names are LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony. You might have heard of them.

'Melo and LeBron (along with Kevin Durant) form the upper echelon of small forwards. James is an all-time great, while Carmelo is no slouch himself. It's a rare moment when two players of that caliber are available, and teams are understandably falling over themselves to ink one, or even both.

But there are other quality wings available as well. Listed below are the top-five free-agent small forwards.

1. LeBron James (unrestricted)

James has the ability to single-handedly change the NBA landscape. The ripple effects of his decision to opt-out on Tuesday caused reverberations all around the league. The Heat, Rockets, Hawks, Cavaliers, Clippers and Lakers have all expressed interest in the four-time MVP.

James' resume speaks for itself. He's a four-time MVP coming off four straight NBA Finals appearances and is already considered one of the greatest players in league history just 10 years into his career.

It's widely thought that James will remain with the Heat at a reduced salary to accommodate the team's need for financial flexibility. If he chooses to leave, he will only go where the cameras, and championship contention awaits. He'll have his pick of any team in the league, and no price, save for Durant, is too high for the King.

2. Carmelo Anthony (unrestricted)

Anthony's decision to opt-out last Sunday also caused some ripples. In addition to the Knicks, the Bulls, Rockets, Mavericks and Lakers have also emerged as suitors.

Anthony is, onto himself, one of the league's best offenses. Although he's mostly thought of as a ball-dominant player, he can certainly be effective playing off-ball. He boasts a career scoring average of 25.3 points per game, and when he plays as the small-ball power forward, he's unguardable.

Critics of Anthony's game will point to his defensive deficiencies, but given his immense talents, it's a flaw worth building around. He's a capable defender when he's well-supported.

3. Luol Deng (unrestricted)

Deng suffered through an injury-riddled season between the Cavaliers and Bulls last season, and concerns about his health will surely lower his stock heading into free agency.

Despite this, he remains one of the league's premier wings. He ranks in a lower tier than Anthony and James, but he's a tremendously tenacious defender with a decent scoring touch. Players of Deng's quality are rare.

Concerns with Deng will always center around his durability. He spent nearly the entirety of his prime under Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau, racking up a whole whack of court time along the way. He twice led the league in minutes per game between 2011 and 2013, and those miles may have played a role in his injury-plagued 2013-14 campaign.

When healthy, Deng fills the gaps, and is an excellent third option on a team in need of defense. He's also a great character to have in the locker room.

4. Trevor Ariza (unrestricted)

Pay Ariza after a contract year at your own peril. There's a reason why the multi-skilled forward has landed in six different destinations over the span of 10 seasons. He has penchant for tailing off after inking a new deal. 

Some of that has to do with injury as well. He has only managed to play a full season once in his career, and logged multiple stunted seasons due to various ailments.

When he's healthy, like last season, Ariza is the ideal three-and-D player that coaches so desperately crave. He's a dogged defender with great size and awareness, who can also score and pass. In many ways, he's similar to Deng. 

That all said, it remains to be seen whether Ariza has turned the corner, or whether another future employer is going to wind up disappointed.

5. Gordon Hayward (restricted)

Given his status as a restricted free agent, teams might have to pay a premium to pry the talented guard from Utah's grasps. And they should. At just 24, his best years are likely still ahead of him.

Hayward is a highly cerebral player, and he uses his skills on both ends of the floor. At 6-foot-8, he has great size which allows him to defend three positions on the perimeter. He's also capable playing with or without the ball. He can pass and he's a good shooter.

What Hayward can't do is also pertinent. Upon taking a larger load of responsibilities in the Jazz's wayward season, his efficiency stats tumbled off a cliff. It's clear that he's a player who excels playing a supporting role, rather than being the lead man.

But with youth and smarts on his side, Hayward can adapt to whichever team he ends up on. The Jazz will likely hold onto him, but if a team pays the right price, they can land a multi-talented wing.

Note: For a full list of free-agent small forwards, check out our primer.