Many teams around the league are counting on rebuilding their roster quickly by signing a marquee free agent or two, but there aren't many franchise-changers that will available. However, these five stars are likely to leave their current teams in hopes of finding greener pastures:
C Marc Gasol
Gasol is much more than just a force in the low post. The 7-foot-1, 265-pounder also has the shooting touch and passing skills necessary to functions as a versatile franchise big man for the Lakers for years to come. He’s averaging a career-best 17.7 points per game with Memphis this season and it’s going to take an epic recruiting pitch to get him to leave the Grizzlies.
However, every team is going to offer him max money, and once he sees life in a bigger market, he'll be on his way out.
PG Rajon Rondo
Rondo's short stint in Dallas hasn't gone as planned, and it seems very likely that he'll be headed elsewhere this offseason. Several teams really wanted to find a way to trade for Rondo early in the season, but the Celtics dealt him to the Mavericks. Even though he comes with some character concerns, he will have several suitors on the open market, but the Los Angeles Lakers are the favorites to sign him.
PF/C Greg Monroe
Monroe hasn’t wanted to commit to Detroit long-term, and he’ll be looking elsewhere in free agency. His evolving offensive arsenal and bruising work in the low post would be a perfect building block for teams going forward. He's not a top tier free agent, but a team with a lot of cap space (like the Knicks or Lakers) will gladly throw a lot of money his way.
PF Draymond Green
Green has emerged as a star in just his second season in the league, but his short and cheap contract from being a second-round pick will come off the books this offseason. Golden State is paying him just $915K this year, and Green is likely to receive a max contract on the open market. As much as the Warriors would like to keep him, they won't be able to afford it with Klay Thompson's max extension kicking in next season.
PF/C Tristan Thompson
Thompson is another guy that his team really wants to keep, but they just don't have the financial capability to do so. He reportedly turned down an extension earlier in the season that would've paid him $13 million a year, and while he won't get that on the open market, that won't stop him from trying. Cleveland already signed Anderson Varejao to an extension, and they need to have a LOT cap space available next offseason to re-sign LeBron James and Kevin Love, making Thompson the odd man out.
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