Carmelo Anthony has shot 35% or better from 3-point range in 5 of the last 6 seasons.
The fast-paced start to NBA free agency has quickly faltered to a near standstill as the basketball world prepares for a decision on the heels of the Brooklyn Nets’ reported trade request for Kevin Durant.
Teams and players could officially begin signings on July 6, and we’ve tracked all reported and official free agency moves, as well as the offseason trades that have taken place since the June 23 NBA Draft. It looks like we at least have some breathing room now as the league turns some of its attention to the 2022 NBA Summer League.
Still, several talented free agents in the NBA are looking for new contracts.
Here’s a quick look at seven of the NBA’s top remaining free agents for 2022, listed in alphabetical order (the list does not include Charlotte’s Miles Bridges, who was reportedly arrested for domestic violence on the eve of free agency):
LaMarcus Aldridge, Brooklyn Nets, unrestricted
2021-22 Stats: 12.9 ppg, 5.5 ppg, 0.9 ppg
You probably forgot about Aldridge because the 36-year-old didn’t play a single second of Brooklyn’s brief postseason run in 2022. But the guy can still walk (just not as fast as we’ve seen in the past), and he remains almost automatic in the post and in the middle range. Aldridge shot 55% from the field last season and is still hungry to win his first title in 17 seasons.
Carmelo Anthony, Los Angeles Lakers, unrestricted
2021-22 Stats: 13.3 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 1.0 rpg
We hear a lot about the need for teams to keep veterans around to teach young players the ropes, similar to how Miami used Udonis Haslem. It’s an added bonus when this veteran can help teams win games, which is exactly what we’ve seen from Anthony in his last two stops. Over the past three seasons, the 38-year-old has shot 37.5 percent or better from 3-point range.
Deandre Ayton, Phoenix Suns, restricted
2021-22 Stats: 17.2 ppg, 10.2 ppg, 1.4 ppg
Ayton’s immediate future appears somewhat complicated and delayed due to Durant’s reported preference to join the Suns in a trade. The 23-year-old is expected to likely remain unsigned until a solution is found on the Durant front, and several options involving multiple teams appear to be on the table for the former No. 1 overall pick entering the 2021-22 season. looking to secure the maximum deal.
James Harden, Philadelphia 76ers, unrestricted
2021-22 Stats: 22.0 ppg, 7.7 ppg, 10.3 ppg
Harden is expected to sign a new contract in Philadelphia for less money than the $47.3 million option for next season that he opted out of. Harden made the move to take less on an expected shorter deal to give himself more flexibility as well as a team working to improve a roster that already includes 2022 Kia runner-up Joel Embiid.
Montrezal Harrell, Charlotte Hornets, unrestricted
2021-22 Stats: 13.1 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 2.0 rpg
It’s strange to think that Harrell has played for three teams since 2020, when he won Kia Sixth Player of the Year with the LA Clippers, because his game certainly hasn’t dropped off, not to mention the big man is only 28 years old . Harrell’s future may be somewhat in doubt as he faces a drug charge stemming from a traffic stop last month.
Dennis Schroder, Houston Rockets, unrestricted
2021-22 Stats: 13.5 ppg, 3.3 ppg, 4.6 ppg
Played 49 games with the Boston Celtics last season before being traded to the Rockets. Schroder seems to be another player who will likely sit in limbo until something happens with Durant. The speedy 28-year-old could be a fit for several teams looking to add backcourt depth. Given the youth movement currently underway in Houston, it’s unlikely that Schroder will re-sign there.
Colin Sexton, Cleveland Cavaliers, limited
2021-22 Stats: 16.0 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 2.1 rpg
It’s possible Sexton is headed back to Cleveland, as there seems to be a desire on both sides to get a deal done. The 23-year-old played just 11 games last season before suffering a torn meniscus that forced him to miss the remainder of the 2021-22 season. Sexton averaged over 20 points in the two seasons prior to 2021-22. So while Darius Garland emerges as an All-Star, there is still room for a scorer like Sexton.
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Michael C. Wright is a senior writer for NBA.com. You can email him here, find his archive here and follow him on Twitter.
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