Among the marquee talents available on the free-agent market this summer are some of the league's best playmakers, including a couple of (possibly former) Celtics and two veterans who can still make an impact as starters.
Here are the top five free-agent distributors, along with some of their realistic potential destinations:
D'Angelo Russell, Nets
Russell was arguably the most surprising NBA player last season, as he went from being perceived as an immature locker room presence to a leader for the young Nets. The culture in Brooklyn was positive, while Russell was handed the keys to the offense en route to his first All-Star appearance.
Though traditionally a score-first point guard, Russell showed an ability to get his teammates involved by averaging a career-best seven dimes per game with a 41.3 assist percentage. That helped him push Brooklyn to the playoffs for the first time since 2015.
Russell is set to become a restricted free agent, and it's possible that he'll return to Brooklyn. However, with the team reportedly in play for fellow point guard Kyrie Irving, several other suitors will aggressively pursue the 23-year-old. There's a good chance Russell will leave the Nets for a return to the Lakers or a big pay raise with the Timberwolves.
Kyrie Irving, Celtics
Despite posting a career year on the scoresheet, Irving still managed to disappoint Celtics fans with his constant mood changes and inability to get the team over the hump. Regardless, the six-time All-Star impacted the game in ways he's never done before - including averaging a career-high 6.9 assists per game.
Irving spent three seasons under the shadow of LeBron James in Cleveland before forcing his way out to become the leader of his own team. While those leadership qualities are under scrutiny, the 27-year-old proved he's more than just a score-first guard, as he can also make plays for teammates.
Boston gave up some key assets in trading for Irving, but the star guard is reportedly uninterested in returning to Beantown. The Nets are rumored to be the next destination for Uncle Drew.
Ricky Rubio, Jazz
It's unfair to write off Rubio following his strange season with the Jazz, during which he was often forced to play without the ball. Earlier in his career with the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Spaniard consistently ranked among the league's best distributors, averaging 8.5 dimes per game from 2011-17.
However, the emergence of Donovan Mitchell in Utah took some playmaking duties away from Rubio, and the organization then made a drastic change this offseason by acquiring fellow point guard Mike Conley.
Though it's difficult to determine Rubio's overall value because of his inconsistent shooting, the high-IQ veteran can still impact the game with his passing if he lands with the right team. Perhaps the 28-year-old would make sense for a young roster searching for a short-term lead guard, such as the Chicago Bulls while they groom rookie Coby White.
Rajon Rondo, Lakers
Although he's not as effective anymore, Rondo remains one of the NBA's premier passers. The hard-nosed point guard even managed to average eight assists in 29.8 minutes per game last season despite a decreased role alongside LeBron James.
While the 33-year-old Rondo is past his prime, his passing should remain a valuable asset. A return to Los Angeles seems viable as the team searches for cheap options to fit with James and Anthony Davis.
Al Horford, Celtics
Horford is the only big man to make this list, as his ability to be the lead playmaker from the high post and to push the pace while hunting for openings in the defense is rare in a center.
The numbers don't necessarily show Horford's impact as a passer (he averaged 5.2 assists per 36 minutes last season), but his skill set opens up the entire offense. Expect the Mavericks to aggressively pursue the 33-year-old in hopes of him becoming a secondary initiator beside Luka Doncic.
