NBA Free Agency: 5(ish) best free agents still available

After overcoming major injuries and personal tragedy to lead the Celtics to the 2017 Eastern Conference Finals, Isaiah Thomas was the feel-good story of the year and looked to be well on his way to a major payday during the summer of 2018. Instead, a year later, Thomas is an unsigned, unrestricted free agent and a cautionary tale.

He averaged 28.9 points and 5.9 assists, played in a second consecutive All-Star game, and led his team deep into the playoffs. As good as he was in 2016-17, what he showed in 32 games with the Cavs and Lakers last season, and in the 50 games he didn’t play, has been enough to keep teams from taking a risk and signing him so far this summer.

There have been rumblings around the league about a few teams showing interest, most recently Orlando according to reports, but nothing has materialized to this point. It’s tough to look at Isaiah Thomas’s situation and how drastically his outlook has shifted in a year’s time. He’d been discussed as a borderline max-player last summer but now, and now, approaching mid-July, it’s become a distinct possibility that Thomas won’t be on an NBA roster to start the season.

It’s actually not as bad as it sounds though. Once the season starts, the longer he remains a free agent, the more leverage he’ll build as the season goes on. As injuries pile up, as teams find themselves needing to add backcourt depth, perimeter scoring, offense off the bench, etc. the more valuable Isaiah Thomas becomes. If he waits until December or January to come back, he gives himself an extra couple months to get fully healthy and he’s looking at a 50 game season to prove himself before 2019 free agency rather than risking injury or getting worn down over the course of 82 games.