NBA Free Agency: Top free agents still on the market
With over a month before the 2019-20 NBA season opener, it's time to take a look at some of the top remaining free agents available. After one of the craziest free agency periods, there are still some names out there for teams to consider.
With players possibly getting injured at any point during the season, teams know there are options available. Will they be available once the season starts? That is unclear, considering several free agents this summer signed outside of the NBA, from Chinese Basketball League to the EuroLeague. A few players are closing in on their 40s, so it'll be interesting to see if they will retire or get a chance at one more gig in the league.
Nonetheless, here are four free agents that in my opinion should be targeted by franchises. They are in no order.
#1 Jonathon Simmons
Simmons has been in the NBA for 4 years, going undrafted in the 2012 NBA Draft and being selected in the American Basketball League draft in 2013. He later joined the Austin Spurs of the NBA Development League, spending 2 years there before joining the San Antonio Spurs in 2015. Simmons played 133 games for the Spurs (NOT including playoffs), where he averaged 16.6 minutes per game, with 45.1% field goal accuracy, 1.4 assists, and 6.1 points.
In 2017, Simmons became a restricted free agent and after the Spurs withdrew their qualifying offer on him, he signed a 3-year, $20 million contract with the Orlando Magic. That year, Simmons started 50 games of 69, averaging 29.4 minutes per game and 13.9 points per game. 2018 was a quiet year and in 2019 he was traded to the Philadelphia 76ers for Markelle Fultz. He only played 15 games for the Sixers, before being traded in June of 2019 to the Washington Wizards and later being waived.
In other words, Simmons has had a rather up and down journey, but don't be surprised if a team signs him in the middle of the season. He has scored double-digits plenty of times and would be a great off the bench addition.