24 players to watch in free agency after NBA trade deadline passes

Did your team not make an upgrade at the trade deadline? Don’t worry, free agency is less than five months away.

Here are 24 players who might be available this summer.

All stats are through Wednesday, Feb. 7.

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1. Ball-handlers

Mike Conley, Minnesota
UPDATE: Conley reportedly agreed to 2-year extension with Wolves in February.

Conley will be 37 years old at the start of next season, but he remains a steady hand and in his 17th season, he has the highest assist/turnover ratio (6.06) and the second-highest effective field goal percentage (58.0%) of his career.

James Harden, LA Clippers

Harden, who turns 35 this summer, has evolved from the league’s best heliocentric superstar to the league’s best facilitator for other stars. Shooting a career-high 43% from 3-point range, he’s also had his most efficient scoring season (true shooting percentage of 64.0%) since he played in Oklahoma City.

Jrue Holiday, Boston (player option)

Holiday has seen a huge drop in usage rate upon his move to Boston, but is still averaging 33.4 minutes and providing solid two-way play for the best team in the league. He’s more of an off-the-ball guy than Harden and has shot 44.7% on catch-and-shoot 3-pointers over the last three seasons.

Tyrese Maxey, Philadelphia (restricted)

To preserve cap space, the Sixers didn’t sign Maxey to an extension last summer, and he’s since evolved into an All-Star. He’s a guard with lightning quickness and has shot an average of 41% from 3-point range over the last three seasons. Plus, he’s just 23 years old.

Immanuel Quickley, Toronto (restricted)

The Raptors didn’t get much in the way of Draft assets when they traded OG Anunoby, so they’ll want to keep the 24-year-old guard they got along with RJ Barrett. Quickley’s minutes alongside Scottie Barnes have not been great thus far, but this was a long-term play.

D’Angelo Russell, L.A. Lakers (player option)

Russell is a good passer who will have his moments, and he’s been on a tear lately, averaging 24 points on an effective field goal percentage of 58% over the Lakers’ last 13 games. Defense and consistency will always be issues.

Russell Westbrook, LA Clippers (player option)

Westbrook has accepted and flourished in a smaller role with the Clippers, still doing what he does. Perimeter shooting remains an issue, but he provides pace and collapses defense. He’s also one of five players averaging at least 15 points, seven rebounds and seven assists per 36 minutes.

Also of value: Kris Dunn (UTA), Markelle Fultz (ORL), Tyus Jones (WAS), Monte Morris (MIN), Delon Wright (WAS)

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2. Scorers/shooters on the wing

Grayson Allen, Phoenix

Allen is in an ideal role in Phoenix, playing alongside three stars and leading the league in 3-point percentage at 49.2%. A Grayson Allen 3-point attempt has been more valuable (1.48 points per attempt) than an Anthony Davis attempt in the restricted area this season (1.45).

Malik Beasley, Milwaukee

Beasley has replaced Allen in Milwaukee and while he’s not fit for the role of defensive stopper, he’s done his part offensively, shooting a career-high 45% from 3-point range and leading the league (by a wide margin) with 65 corner 3s.

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Denver

Caldwell-Pope (30) has been an essential ingredient on two championship teams and a great fit in Denver. He’s a competent shooter (40% from 3-point range and 45% from mid-range over the last three seasons), moves well without the ball and will help more defensively than other guys in this category.

DeMar DeRozan, Chicago

The 34-year-old DeRozan has seen a big drop in his mid-range field goal percentage (41.2%) from the previous three seasons (47.1%), but he still gets to the line and remains a guy you can call on to get you a decent shot on a critical offensive possession.

Eric Gordon, Phoenix (player option)

Another 35-or-older free agent, Gordon is a floor spacer (like he spaces five feet beyond the 3-point line) who’s shot an average of 39% from deep over the last three seasons. He’s in an appropriate role in Phoenix but has a cheap ($3.4 million) player option for next season.

Buddy Hield, Philadelphia

Nobody has made more 3-pointers over the last five seasons than Hield (1,240 at a 39.3% clip), who should complement Maxey and Joel Embiid well offensively. They’ll create open shots for him (and make up for his lack of free throws) and he’ll keep the paint open for them.

Malik Monk, Sacramento

The Sixth Man of the Year candidate (who just turned 26) is more than just a scorer, having seen a big jump in his assist rate over the last two seasons. And he’s been durable, playing in 209 of a possible 221 games (including playoffs) over the last three years.

Also of value: Alec Burks (NYK), Sam Hauser (BOS – Team Option), Luke Kennard (MEM – TO), Caleb Martin (MIA – PO), De’Anthony Melton (PHI), Kelly Oubre Jr. (PHI), Klay Thompson (GSW), Gary Trent Jr. (TOR)

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3. Multi-dimensional forwards

OG Anunoby, New York (player option)

Anunoby has been a perfect fit in New York as an impactful wing defender and someone who can comfortably play off the ball, shoot corner 3s and attack close-outs. The Knicks have been at their best with him on the floor and wouldn’t have traded for him without the intent to re-sign him.

Saddiq Bey, Atlanta (restricted)

Bey hasn’t developed a whole lot after a First-Team All-Rookie season in Detroit, and his 3-point percentage this season (31.4%) is the worst mark of his career. But his 2-point percentage (53.7%) is the highest by a wide margin and he’s been strong on the offensive glass.

Miles Bridges, Charlotte

Bridges’ free throw rate and overall efficiency are down from two seasons ago, but he’s shot well from the field and his defensive rebounding percentage of 18.3% is a career-high mark by a healthy margin.

Bruce Brown, Toronto (team option)

Brown is a terrific but undersized defender and a connector offensively. He isn’t as good a fit on the Raptors as he would be on a contender, so it’s possible that they decline his $23 million option or exercise it and look to trade him in the offseason.

Paul George, LA Clippers (player option)

Like Harden, George’s value has risen with the success of the Clippers … and also because he’s played in *46/47* of their 50 games. At the age of 33 (and with Harden’s help), he’s having one of the most efficient scoring seasons of his career.

Tobias Harris, Philadelphia

Harris is another one of the Sixers’ 12 (non-two-way) free agents, and (obviously) more likely than Maxey to be somewhere else. But he’s having the most efficient scoring season of his career (true shooting percentage of 60.5%) and would be tough to replace as Philly’s third guy.

LeBron James, L.A. Lakers (player option)

The league’s all-time leading scorer has slowed down over the last few years, but not by much. He remains an elite passer and an efficient scorer, with his 39% from 3-point range being his best mark in the last 11 years. His future could be tied to whether his son is in the league next season.

Pascal Siakam, Indiana

Like the Knicks with Anunoby, the Pacers wouldn’t have traded for Siakam without the intent to re-sign him. He’s been with Indiana for 11 games but has played just 115 minutes alongside Tyrese Haliburton, so we’ve yet to really see what the duo can do together.

Also of value: Kyle Anderson (MIN), Nicolas Batum (PHI), Gordon Hayward (OKC), Derrick Jones Jr. (DAL), Isaac Okoro (CLE – Restricted), Royce O’Neale (PHX), Taurean Prince (LAL)

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4. Bigs

Nic Claxton, Brooklyn

The 24-year-old Claxton remains one of the league’s best rim protectors, but he hasn’t scored as efficiently as he did the last two seasons, in part because the Nets’ only good passer has played in just nine of their 50 games.

Isaiah Hartenstein, New York

Hartenstein is only 25 and one of the league’s best role players, a mobile big who can pass, rebound and defend. He’s not Anunoby, but he’s also probably been too valuable for the Knicks (averaging 32 minutes since Mitchell Robinson’s injury) to let him go.

Jonas Valanciunas, New Orleans

Valanciunas (31) certainly isn’t the most mobile big and isn’t going to concern defenses if he’s spacing the floor, but size matters. He’s one of the league’s best rebounders and a relatively efficient scorer in the post.

Also of value: Precious Achiuwa (NYK – Rest.), Kelly Olynyk (TOR), Mason Plumlee (LAC), Dario Saric (GSW), Obi Toppin (IND – Rest)