NBA

Victor Oladipo and DeMar DeRozan among best players in 2021 free agent class

and others

• 6 min read

The 2021 free-agent class has lost a lot of star power heading into the 2020-21 season.

Giannis Antetokounmpo agreed to a five-year extension with the Milwaukee Bucks, keeping him out of free agency until 2025 at the earliest, and Paul George has also agreed to a four-year extension with the LA Clippers. Rudy Gobert is the latest to join those two in reaching an extension before the season, signing a five-year max deal with the Utah Jazz.

Additionally, LeBron James came to terms on a two-year extension with the Los Angeles Lakers before his All-NBA teammate Anthony Davis signed a five-year contract with the franchise.

So ... who does that leave?

Here are the best guards, forwards, centres and restricted free agents set to be free agents next offseason.

Guards

LowryRaptors

Kyle Lowry, Toronto Raptors (unrestricted)

Entering his 15th season in the NBA, Lowry is still one of the league's best point guards. He's made six straight All-Star appearances with averages of 18.5 points, 7.2 assists, 4.9 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game. It'll be interesting to see if he returns to the Raptors or signs elsewhere, whether it's in pursuit of another big payday or a better opportunity to win a title.

Jrue Holiday, Milwaukee Bucks (player option)

Holiday has a $27.0 million player option in his contract for the 2021-22 season. How he plays this upcoming season with the Bucks could determine whether or not he picks that option up. Even if he doesn't make as much money annually on his next contract, a strong season could still set him up for another lucrative long-term deal.

Chris Paul, Phoenix Suns (player option)

Paul has a $44.2 million player option in his contract for the 2021-22 season. At his age, it's hard to see him turning down that amount of money, making it unlikely that he'll be a free agent in 2021.

Goran Dragic, Miami Heat (team option)

Dragic is in his mid-30s, but he proved he still has plenty of gas left in the tank in Miami's run to the Finals in 2019-20. Prior to tearing his plantar fascia, he led the Heat in scoring with 20.9 points per game through three rounds of the playoffs.

Dragic has a $19.4 million team option in his contract for 2021-22, so it'll be the Heat's decision if he becomes a free agent or not.

Victor Oladipo, Indiana Pacers (unrestricted)

Oladipo took the NBA by storm in 2017-18, earning the first All-Star selection of his career with averages of 23.1 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4.3 assists and a league-leading 2.4 steals per game. Any team interested in signing him will be hoping Oladipo can return to that form.

Mike Conley, Utah Jazz (unrestricted)

Conley didn't live up to expectations in his first season with the Jazz, but he'll have an opportunity to prove himself again entering a contract year. Conley is only a season removed from averaging a career-best 21.1 points per game on 43.8 percent shooting from the field and 36.4 percent from 3-point range.

Others: Tim Hardaway Jr. (UFA), Will Barton (PO), Derrick Rose (UFA), Lou Williams (UFA), Dennis Schröder (UFA), JJ Redick (UFA), Evan Fournier (UFA), Danny Green (UFA), Norman Powell (PO), Spencer Dinwiddie (PO)

Forwards

#Kawhi

Kawhi Leonard, LA Clippers (player option)

Leonard has a player option worth $36.0 million for the 2021-22 season. He enters the 2020-21 season with four All-Star selections, four All-NBA selections, two Defensive Player of the Year awards, two championships and two Finals MVPs to his name. If he decides to test free agency, every team in the league will be interested in signing him.

DeMar DeRozan, San Antonio Spurs (unrestricted)

DeRozan is coming off of one of the best seasons of his career, averaging 22.1 points and 5.6 assists per game on a career-best 53.1 percent shooting from the field. DeRozan has stopped shooting 3s to double down on what he does best, but he remains one of the NBA's best scorers and continues to improve as a passer.

Blake Griffin, Detroit Pistons (player option)

Griffin was limited to 18 games in the 2019-20 season because of a knee injury. Injuries will always be a concern with Griffin, but he's only a season removed from making the All-NBA Third Team with averages of 24.5 points, 7.5 rebounds and 5.4 assists per game.

Griffin's player option is worth $39.0 million for the 2021-22 season.

LaMarcus Aldridge, San Antonio Spurs (unrestricted)

Aldridge has long been one of the league's best post-up scorers. Last season was no different, with him scoring the third-most points in the league in the post. He's begun to extend his range out to the 3-point line, taking a career-high 3.0 3-pointers per game last season and knocking them down at a 38.9 percent clip.

Others: Otto Porter Jr. (UFA), Paul Millsap (UFA), Kelly Oubre Jr. (UFA), P.J. Tucker (UFA)

Centres

Andre Drummond

Andre Drummond, Cleveland Cavaliers (unrestricted)

Drummond's greatest asset is his rebounding. He's led the league in rebounding four times in his career, peaking in 2017-18 with an average of 16.0 rebounds per game. He's not a big-time scorer, but he's improved as a passer and free throw shooter in his career.

Others: Montrezl Harrell (PO), Serge Ibaka (PO), Dwight Howard (UFA), Hassan Whiteside (UFA), Aron Baynes (TO)