BOSTON – The NBA draft is still more than a month away, but is there really a bad time to start thinking about free agency?
This draft has good players, but none would be considered franchise-altering players in the LeBron James, Tim Duncan category.
Whether you’re at the top, middle or back end of the NBA draft, there’s a very good chance that free agent signings will make a greater impact initially than whatever teenager gets plucked in the first round next month.
Veteran NBA basketball writer Chris Sheridan has put together what he calls a “Mid-May edition” of the top 50 free agents this summer.
And guess what?
A couple of Boston Celtics made the cut.
Brandon Bass, a member of the Celtics since a sign-and-trade from Orlando in 2011, is an unrestricted free agent who came in at No. 45 on the list.
On Bass, Sheridan says he’s “A highly professional player who has missed just eight of 312 games since arriving in Boston four years ago and hasn’t said one discouraging word through a rebuilding process that isn’t quite done.”
Even when Bass’ role went from starting to coming off the bench back to starting with limited minutes at times, not a grumble or gripe out of him.
“He’s always been a professional,” one NBA scout told CSNNE.com about Bass. “That’s why he won’t have a problem finding a good situation to be in, whether that’s back in Boston or elsewhere. He’s one of those guys that can fit into whatever system you have and not complain about his role.”
Sheridan added that “It would be nice if GM Danny Ainge brought him (Bass) back, but you have to figure that this is the summer that the Celtics go big-game hunting for a star, and they may need Bass’ cap slot to do it. He made $6.9 million this season, just turned 30 and would make an ideal backup big on a contender, a role he has held in both Orlando and Boston. Someone may give him the mid-level, which will be a bargain a year from now.”
Boston’s other member on Sheridan’s top 50 is Jae Crowder who will be a restricted free agent.
He is ranked No. 47 on the list.
Crowder, acquired from Dallas as part of the Rajon Rondo trade in December, made the most of his opportunity to have an increased role compared to his two-plus seasons in Dallas.
In 57 games with the Celtics, Crowder averaged 9.5 points and 4.6 rebounds which was a significant boost compared to his career numbers with the Mavericks (4.6 points, 2.3 rebounds).
And the job he did defensively on LeBron James in the playoffs only increased his value in the eyes of the Celtics.
But by how much?
A former second-round pick out of Marquette, Crowder made just $915,000 this past season.
With teams aware that the salary cap will get a major bump in the summer of 2016, more teams than ever might be willing to overpay some this summer knowing it won’t be as big a financial hit going forward.
“He is in line for a big raise,” Sheridan writes. “And no one should be surprised if someone offers him the mid-level exception.”
Other former Celtics from this past season on the list include Rajon Rondo (Dallas) who comes in at No. 23; Jeff Green (Memphis) who comes in at No. 29 although he has a player option and there’s no guarantee he’ll make himself available as a free agent this summer; and Brandan Wright (Phoenix) who comes in at No. 49.
Both Rondo and Wright are unrestricted free agents.