Top NBA free agents (40-31): Who will gamble on Rodney Hood?
Welcome to theScore's list of the top 50 NBA free agents for the summer of 2018.
Rankings
50-41 | 40-31 | 30-21 | 20-11 | 10-1
40. SF Doug McDermott, 26 - RFA
| PPG | RPG | APG | MPG |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7.8 | 2.5 | 1.0 | 21.8 |
It's hard to draw much from McDermott's two months in Dallas since the Mavericks were tanking, but he posted a blistering 61.1 true shooting percentage that should earn him another deal. McDermott has always been a lights-out shooter, and now he's learned how to attack defenders when they're overplaying him. He's a strong bench option.
39. PF Ersan Ilyasova, 31 - UFA
| PPG | RPG | APG | MPG |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10.9 | 5.9 | 1.3 | 25.1 |
Expecting too much from Ilyasova will always end in disappointment, as he's never quite lived up to his billing as a 3-and-D stretch forward. However, he's not gun-shy from deep, is a sneaky good offensive rebounder, will shamelessly take a few dozen charges each season, and could be an asset for most playoff teams as a bench piece.
38. C Aron Baynes, 31 - UFA
| PPG | RPG | APG | MPG |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6.0 | 5.4 | 1.1 | 18.3 |
Baynes found himself in the perfect situation when Celtics head coach Brad Stevens highlighted his strengths. Baynes is the rare brick-wall banger with quick feet, which makes him an ideal and nearly flawless defender. He's too limited offensively to play extended minutes, but Baynes is a good presence in the locker room and accepts his role without being fussy.
37. SG Danny Green, 30 - Player option ($10 million)
| PPG | RPG | APG | MPG |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8.6 | 3.6 | 1.6 | 25.6 |
Green remains one of the league's most maddeningly inconsistent shooters, but at least his defense never wavers. He can still be a shutdown wing at the age of 31 and is more than happy to serve as a catch-and-shoot option. Green is also steeped in Spurs culture, which should make him a valuable player in any locker room. Nevertheless, he was removed from San Antonio's starting lineup toward the end of the 2017-18 season, and his future probably lies on the bench.
36. SF Kyle Anderson, 24 - RFA
| PPG | RPG | APG | MPG |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7.9 | 5.4 | 2.7 | 26.7 |
Anderson is as unorthodox as they come, so he should be paired with a head coach who values versatility. In the absence of Kawhi Leonard, "Slow-Mo" broke out as a reliable starting forward for the Spurs this past season. He plays at an exceedingly slow pace, but Anderson is a creative distributor and surprisingly good driver.
35. PG Cory Joseph, 26 - PO ($8 million)
| PPG | RPG | APG | MPG |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7.9 | 3.2 | 1.0 | 27.0 |
Joseph is a steady backup guard who will compete on defense, attack off the dribble, and knock down the occasional triple. He's far from flashy, but as with many former Spurs, Joseph brings a great locker-room presence. However, reports in early May indicated he'd exercise his player option, so he may not end up hitting the market.
34. SF/PF Wilson Chandler, 31 - PO ($12 million)
| PPG | RPG | APG | MPG |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10.0 | 5.4 | 2.2 | 31.7 |
Chandler has been consistent for the Nuggets since he was acquired by the franchise in 2011. Although his numbers dipped from last season, he remained a valuable 3-and-D option for an up-and-coming team. If he decides to decline his player option, Chandler could become an attractive short-term solution for a team in search of wing depth.
33. SF/PF Jerami Grant, 24 - RFA
| PPG | RPG | APG | MPG |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8.4 | 3.9 | 0.7 | 20.3 |
One of the few reliable players on the Thunder in 2017-18, Grant provided help on the defensive end while playing an efficient, above-the-rim style offensively. For teams wanting a young, high-motor option that could come cheap, this would be a solid place to look, although the Thunder may not want to let go of Grant so easily.
32. PG Elfrid Payton, 24 - RFA
| PPG | RPG | APG | MPG |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12.7 | 4.3 | 6.2 | 28.7 |
Payton finally cut his hair, which should do wonders for his shot-making ability. If the Suns don't find their next point guard in the draft, they could choose to retain the restricted free agent with an inexpensive deal, giving him a full season next to Devin Booker. Payton is a strong rebounder and excellent passer with plenty of defensive potential. It would be wise to take a flier on the 24-year-old.
31. SG/SF Rodney Hood, 25 - RFA
| PPG | RPG | APG | MPG |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14.7 | 2.9 | 1.6 | 26.9 |
It's hard not to feel sorry for Hood, who was playing himself into a decent contract before being dealt to the Cavaliers. Since then, he's been horrific on both ends of the floor and fell out of the rotation during Cleveland's Finals run. Hood is still a solid two-way perimeter option, but he has to figure out how to shake off his postseason jitters.
(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)