The Best Remaining Veteran NBA Free Agents
By: Andrew Martin
Tags: Basketball, Sports, Pop Culture, Culture, NBA

Prolific scorer Isaiah Thomas is still available (Image via Wikipedia)

The Best Remaining Veteran NBA Free Agents

The 2021 NBA season tips off this week. While team rosters are mostly set, like always there will continue to be tweaks and changes throughout the season. The best players are obviously signed but there are still quality players on the free-agent market who could become major contributors if given a chance. Here are the best of those available.

Isaiah Thomas, Guard: As recently as 2016–2017, he averaged 28.9 points per game with the Boston Celtics. He is about to turn 32, has suffered through ongoing injuries and is a non-factor on defense. That being said, he could be a lethal gunner off the bench for any team looking for offensive punch for their second unit.

Emmanuel Mudiay, Guard: He was pegged for stardom when he was the seventh overall draft pick in 2014. Since then, he has played for three teams in six years and never averaged more than 14.8 points in any one season. He is not a great shooter or defender but has extensive experience playing point guard and can break down defenses with his ability to penetrate.

Ersan Ilyasova, Forward: A classic stretch four, Ilyasova has been a solid rotation player in the NBA for a dozen seasons, averaging 10.3 points, 5.7 rebounds and shooting 36.5% from three. He is also playoff tested, as he has appeared in 51 postseason games over the years. Still only 33, it’s likely that he still has enough left in the tank to provide some good value for a contender looking to improve their depth.

Noah Vonleh, Forward: Stardom never materialized for Vonleh after being drafted ninth overall in 2014. The 25-year-old has been a journeyman, averaging 5.0 points and 5.2 rebounds for six teams over his first six seasons. However, not only has he proven to be a solid rebounder, he can also shoot a little from outside (31.0% from three) and his age means there may still be a touch of upside for a team willing to give him a chance.

Jordan McRae, Guard: A less voluminous scorer than Thomas, McRae has the talent and track record to add some value to a team’s bench. He has averaged 6.9 points and shot 35.5% from deep in four NBA season. Most recently, he averaged 11.5 points for three different teams in 2019–2020. A team can never have too many shooters, so grabbing him to help with the scoring load when starters are sitting could be a wise decision.

Shabazz Napier, Guard: Ironically, Napier is still free agent despite coming off the best season of his six-year career, averaging 10.3 points and 4.7 assists for the Minnesota Timberwolves and Washington Wizards. The 29-year-old point guard has deficiencies like shooting and defense. However, his experience playing point guard make him among the best available options for teams with a hole at the position.

Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Forward: The ship has sailed for the former second-overall draft to find stardom but at 27 he is still able to establish himself as a useful player. He has averaged 8.4 points and 5.4 rebounds over eight seasons. He is not a shooter in any sense of the word but can play a little defense and the 356 regular season games he has started during his career has given him valuable experience he would be bringing to a new team.