With free agency less than a week away, we'll be ranking the top 15 players available at each position this summer in the coming days, with the best big men on deck today.
UFA = Unrestricted Free Agent, RFA = Restricted Free Agent, PO = Player Option, TO = Team Option
MORE: Best shooting guards available in free agency
1. Al Horford, UFA
2018-19 salary: $28.9M
Age (at start of next season): 33
The understated big man immediately brings defensive versatility, playmaking and veteran leadership, with the ability to space the floor, knocking down 36 percent of his 3-point attempts this season. He may not be the flashiest, but the results speak for themselves.
2. Nikola Vucevic, UFA
2018-19 salary: $12.8M
Age (at start of next season): 29
Coming off an All-Star season with the Magic, Vucevic averaged career-highs in points (20.8), rebounds (12) and assists (3.8), while shooting 36.4 percent from the 3-point line.
Vucevic has emerged as one of the league's best inside presences, ranking 8th in the league in rebounding and finishing the season with 60 double-doubles in 80 games, the third-most in the NBA.
3. DeMarcus Cousins, UFA
2018-19 salary: $5.3M
Age (at start of next season): 29
Cousins showed flashes of his old self this season with the Warriors after working his way back from an Achilles injury, only to suffer another setback in the playoffs with a quad injury.
With another offseason to rehab his injuries and improve his conditioning, Cousins is looking for a big bounce-back season in 2019-20.
4. Brook Lopez, UFA
2018-19 salary: $3.4M
Age (at start of next season): 31
No centre attempted (6.3) or made (2.3) more 3-pointers per game this season than Lopez, with the big man adding a new dimension to not only his game, but the entire Bucks offence with his floor spacing abilities.
Plenty of teams are likely to inquire about Lopez, with shooting at a high priority around the league.
5. Marc Gasol, PO
2018-19 salary: $24.1M
Age (at start of next season): 34
Gasol proved to be an important piece for the Raptors on their championship run, with his interior defence, playmaking and shooting helping diversify them on both ends.
At 34, he still has plenty in the tank, with his game ageing gracefully, particularly shooting the ball. Gasol knocked down 44.2 percent of his 2.0 3-point attempts per game this season.
Gasol exercised his player option for the upcoming season, so he will return to the Raptors.
6. Jonas Valanciunas, UFA
2018-19 salary: $16.5M
Age (at start of next season): 27
After landing in Memphis, Valanciunas put in a strong free agency audition, averaging 19.9 points, 10.7 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 19 games.
While he still has shortcomings on the defensive end, his ability to score in the paint and clean up around the basket will no doubt be high on several teams' radar.
7. DeAndre Jordan, UFA
2018-19 salary: $22.9M
Age (at start of next season): 31
Despite a down year, Jordan still put up numbers in Dallas and New York, averaging 13.1 rebounds per game (3rd in NBA), while shooting 64.1 percent from the field.
Teams in the market for a strong interior presence at the rim will be intrigued by Jordan, who could be available at a discount this summer.
8. Willie Cauley-Stein, RFA
2018-19 salary: $4.7M
Age (at start of next season): 26
Cauley-Stein has continued his development as one of the most intriguing young bigs in the league.
While he isn't the shot-blocker his size would suggest, he is a versatile defender who can switch out onto the perimeter, while getting up and down the court catching lobs and finishing plays.
In 81 starts for the Kings, the athletic big man averaged 11.9 points and 8.4 rebounds per game. According to NBA.com, he ranked 18th in the league in points scored as the roll man in the pick-and-roll.
9. Dewayne Dedmon, UFA
2018-19 salary: $6.3M
Age (at start of next season): 30
Dedmon is likely to command a significant raise this summer after an impressive season with the Hawks.
The 7-footer is a terrific defender and transformed himself into a legitimate threat from beyond the arc, knocking down 38.2 percent of his 3s this season. That combination of size, defence and shooting will be a hot commodity on the open market.
10. Enes Kanter, UFA
2018-19 salary: $19.3M
Age (at start of next season): 27
Kanter showed that he can consistently score in the pick-and-roll and is a tidy finisher around the rim.
He ranked fifth in the NBA in offensive rebounding, using his size and knack for boards to generate plenty of second-chance opportunities. While his pick-and-roll defence and lack of 3-point shooting remains a concern, Kanter will likely have plenty of interest around the league.
11. Ed Davis, UFA
2018-19 salary: $4.5M
Age (at start of next season): 27
Davis averaged 5.8 points and 8.6 rebounds per game in 17.7 minutes off the bench for the Nets last season and could come as a cheaper option for teams in search of a backup big.
12. JaVale McGee, UFA
2018-19 salary: $2.4M
Age (at start of next season): 31
McGee provides great rim protection and is a huge threat as a rim-running big who can finish well above the rim as well as in the pick-and-roll.
Last season for the Lakers, McGee averaged 12.0 points, 7.2 rebounds and 2.0 blocks per game.
13. Ivica Zubac, RFA
2018-19 salary: $1.5M
Age (at start of next season): 22
Last season for the Clippers, Zubac averaged 9.4 points and 5.3 rebounds in 20.2 minutes of action, continuing to develop on both sides of the floor.
He made an immediate impact on defence for the Clippers, with the team allowing 6.4 points per 100 possessions fewer with him on the floor, per NBA.com.
14. Robin Lopez, UFA
2018-19 salary: $14.4M
Age (at start of next season): 31
While he hasn't developed the same range as his brother, Robin thrives on the dirty work - setting screens, grabbing rebounds and protecting the paint.
With the Bulls leaning into their young core, Lopez could add some toughness to a contender as a backup big.
15. Boban Marjanovic, UFA
2018-19 salary: $9.5M
Age (at start of next season): 31
Marjanovic's 7-foot-4 frame is a nightmare matchup for teams without size in the second unit and the Serbian proved effective offensively for the 76ers, averaging 8.2 points in 13.9 minutes per game.
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