Who Are the NBA’s Top Free Agents in 2021?
As the NBA season comes to a close, we’re looking ahead to 2021’s free agent class. Who are the top players that will be available?
Kyrie Irving
One of the most electrifying players in the NBA, Kyrie Irving has the chance to change any team’s fortunes. The 6’3″ point guard is a gifted scorer and has the ability to take over a game at any moment. He’s also a great playmaker and has the potential to be one of the best point guards in the league.
Skills and accomplishments
Kyrie Andrew Irving is an American professional basketball player for the Brooklyn Nets of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He was named Rookie of the Year after being selected by the Cleveland Cavaliers with the first overall pick in the 2011 NBA draft. A six-time NBA All-Star and two-time All-NBA selection, he won an NBA Championship with the Cavaliers in 2016.
Born in Melbourne, Australia, Irving grew up in West Orange, New Jersey and played college basketball for Duke University before being selected by Cleveland with the first overall pick in 2011. He was named Rookie of the Year and won his first All-Star Game MVP award in 2014. That season, he led the Cavaliers to their first NBA Finals appearance since 2007. In 2015–16, Irving made his second straight All-Star Game appearance and finished third in voting for that season’s MVP award. He played a key role during Cleveland’s comeback from a 3–1 deficit to defeat the Golden State Warriors and win their first championship since 1973.
Why he’s a top free agent
Kyrie Irving is one of the top free agents in the 2021 NBA offseason. He is a 6-time NBA All-Star, 5-time All-NBA selection, and the 2017 NBA Rookie of the Year. Irving has averaged 22.5 points, 5.5 assists, and 3.7 rebounds per game in his career.
Irving is eligible for a five-year, $190 million contract with the Brooklyn Nets, or he can sign a four-year, $141 million contract with another team. He has not yet said what his plans are for next season, but it is clear that he will be one of the most sought-after free agents in the NBA.
Kemba Walker
Kemba Walker is an unrestricted free agent in the 2021 NBA offseason. He is a nine-year NBA veteran and was an All-Star in 2019. Walker is coming off a knee injury that limited him to just eight games in 2020.
Skills and accomplishments
Kemba Walker is an American professional basketball player for the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the University of Connecticut and was selected ninth overall in the 2011 NBA draft by the Charlotte Bobcats. Walker was named an NBA All-Star in 2017 and 2018. He has also represented the United States national team.
Why he’s a top free agent
Kemba Walker is one of the NBA’s top free agents in 2021 because of his shooting ability and playmaking skills. He’s also a good defender, which makes him a valuable player on both ends of the court.
Kawhi Leonard
Leonard is a two-time NBA champion and was named Finals MVP in both of his championship runs. He is a two-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year, and he has been named to five All-NBA teams and five NBA All-Defensive teams. Leonard is also a two-time Olympic gold medalist.
Skills and accomplishments
Kawhi Leonard is a professional basketball player who plays for the Los Angeles Clippers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He is a two-time NBA champion, winning his first championship with the San Antonio Spurs in 2014 and his second with the Toronto Raptors in 2019. He is also a two-time NBA Finals MVP, winning the award in 2014 and 2019. In addition to his two NBA championships, Leonard has also won an NCAA championship, which he won as a member of the University of San Diego’s men’s basketball team in 2010.
Why he’s a top free agent
Kawhi Leonard is one of the NBA’s top free agents in 2021. He’s a two-time NBA champion, a two-time Finals MVP, and a two-time Defensive Player of the Year. He’s also just 28 years old.
There are plenty of reasons why Leonard is one of the most sought-after players in the league. For starters, he’s an elite scorer and an excellent defender. He’s also shown that he can take over games in the playoffs, which is something that every team wants in their star player.
In addition to his on-court abilities, Leonard is also a good teammate and a positive influence in the locker room. He’s well-liked by his peers and he’s always been a professional throughout his career. All of these factors make him an appealing target for any team with cap space in 2021.
Jimmy Butler
Jimmy Butler is one of the top free agents in the NBA this year. He’s a great player and can really help a team. He’s a good scorer and can play defense. He’s also a good rebounder.
Skills and accomplishments
Jimmy Butler is an American professional basketball player for the Miami Heat of the National Basketball Association (NBA). After playing one year of college basketball for Tyler Junior College, he transferred to Marquette University. He was drafted with the 30th overall pick in the 2011 NBA draft by the Chicago Bulls.
Butler rapidly improved his game and was named an NBA All-Star for the first time in 2015. He was named the NBA Most Improved Player in 2015 and won a gold medal as a member of Team USA at the 2016 Summer Olympics. In 2017, he was traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves. The following year, he helped Minnesota reach the playoffs for the first time since 2004. He was traded to the Philadelphia 76ers midway through the 2018–19 season. Butler became a free agent after just one season with Philadelphia, signing with Miami in July 2019.
In his first season with Miami, Butler led them to an appearance in the NBA Finals, where they lost to his former team, the Los Angeles Lakers, in six games.
Why he’s a top free agent
Jimmy Butler is one of the top free agents in the NBA for the 2021 season. He is a 10-time All-Star and has been named to the All-NBA First Team four times. Butler is a four-time NBA steal leader and was named the NBA Defensive Player of the Year in 2015. He has also been selected to the NBA All-Defensive First Team five times.
At 31 years old, Butler is entering his prime and should be able to command a max contract from any team that he signs with. He is a two-way player that can impact the game on both ends of the floor. Butler is a talented scorer and can create his own shot, as well as being an excellent defender.
Butler would be a valuable addition to any team, and will likely have multiple teams vying for his services.
Klay Thompson
Klay Thompson is one of the NBA’s best players and he will be a free agent in 2021. He is a shooting guard who plays for the Golden State Warriors. He is a three-time NBA champion and a five-time All-Star. Thompson is also a two-time Olympic gold medalist.
Skills and accomplishments
Klay Alexander Thompson (born February 8, 1990) is an American professional basketball player for the Golden State Warriors of the National Basketball Association (NBA). The son of former NBA player Mychal Thompson, he played college basketball for three seasons with the Washington State Cougars, where he was a two-time first-team all-conference selection in the Pac-10. He was selected in the first round of the 2011 NBA draft by Golden State with the 11th overall pick, and helped the Warriors win their first NBA championship in 40 years in his rookie season.
In 2014–15, Thompson was named to his first All-Star team as well as being voted as a starter. He helped lead Golden State to their first ever Finals appearance since 1976, and eventually won his first NBA championship while being named to the All-NBA Third Team. The Warriors broke the record for most wins in an NBA season that year, and winning 73 games remains one of Thompson’s most accomplishments. In 2016, Thompson and the Warriors once again returned to the Finals but lost to LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers in seven games. That summer, he helped lead Team USA to a gold medal at the 2016 Summer Olympics, becoming a two-time Olympic champion in process.
Thompson continued his excellent form into 2016–17 season, where he averaged 22 points per game while shooting 41.4 percent from three-point range. However, he suffered a season-ending injury midway through that campaign. Since coming back from his injury in 2017–18, Thompson has been named an All-Star three times (2018, 2019 & 2020), and has helped Golden State win two more NBA titles (2018 & 2019), being named to both All-NBA Teams those seasons as well
Why he’s a top free agent
Klay Thompson is one of the NBA’s best shooting guards and a perennial All-Star. He’s a key part of the Golden State Warriors’ dynasty, and an unrestricted free agent in 2021.
Thompson is a five-time All-Star and two-time NBA champion. He’s averaged 19.5 points per game throughout his eight-year career, including a career-high 22.1 points per game in 2018-19. He’s also an excellent three-point shooter, percentage-wise, making 41.9% of his threes for his career.
On top of all that, Thompson is just 28 years old and still in the prime of his career. For these reasons, he’s likely to command a max contract when he hits free agency in 2021.
