In looking at the Cavs free agency situation for the summer of 2014 I have compiled my list of the top free agents I think the Cavs should look at. As you can see, they just acquired one of those top free agents in a trade and now control his “Bird Rights” in Luol Deng. Here is a list of my Top 10 potential unrestricted free agents for the summer of 2014 that I would go after, along with three restricted free agents that I would target.
AP photo courtesy of George Frey
My rankings were based on ability, age (how old they’ll be for start of 2014 season), salary (what they’re making this year), fit and need for the Cavs. Danny Granger is the biggest reach on this list because of his recent injury history, but if he proves to be healthy again, he could be a bargain. It’s unlikely players like Duncan, Wade and Nowitzki would leave the only team they’ve ever played for, but you never know. Also to me the only true max players on this list would be LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Gordon Hayward and Chandler Parsons.
Potential Unrestricted Free Agents – Some have an early termination offer, others a player option.
LeBron James – SF/PF – 29 – $19.1million – 26ppg-6.5rpg-6apg -59%fg-40%3fg-75%ft
Carmelo Anthony – SF -30 -$21.5 million -26.6ppg-8.3rpg-2.9apg -45%fg-40%3fg-84%ft
Luol Deng – SF – 29 – $14.3 million – 18.7ppg-6.6rpg-3.5apg-45%fg-27%3fg-82%ft
Rudy Gay – SG/SF – 28 – $17.9 million – 20.0ppg-6.6rpg-2.5apg-44%fg-33%3fg-80%ft
Chris Bosh – F/C – 30 – $19.1 million – 15.4ppg-6.7rpg-1ap-52%fg-33%3fg-80%ft
Danny Granger –SF – 31 – $14.0 million – 9.1ppg-3.6rpg-1.3apg-36%fg-30%3fg-95%ft
Zack Randolph – PF – 33 – $17.8 million – 17.2popg-10.5rpg-2.7apg-45%fg-0%3fg-75%ft
Dwyane Wade – SG – 32 – $18.5 million – 19.6ppg-4.9rpg-4.8apg-54%fg-4253fg-70%ft
Dirk Nowitzki – PF – 36 – $22.7 million – 20.8ppg-5.9rpg-3.0apg-49%fg-40%3fg-89%ft
Tim Duncan – C – 38 – $10.4 million – 14.5ppg-9.8rpg-3.0apg-46%fg-0%3fg-77%ft
Restricted Free Agents
Gordon Hayward – SG – 24 – $3.5 million – 17.1ppg-5.4rpg-4.9apg-41%fg-32%3fg-83%ft
Chandler Parsons – SF – 25 – $926 thous. – 17.2ppg-5.4rpg-3.6apg-51%fg-37%3fg-72%ft
Evan Turner – SF – 25 – $6.7 million – 19.1ppg-6.3rpg-3.9apg-445fg-29%3fg-82%ft
(Parsons is a restricted free agent, but Houston has a team option on him)