NBA Free Agents 2016: Rumors and Predictions for Top Remaining Players on Market

You might think the NBA free-agency period is over, but there are noteworthy players still on the market.

Aside from LeBron James, who is still a free agent after opting out of his contract with the Cleveland Cavaliers, the pool of available players might not be loaded with All-Stars and game-changing talent. However, there are players who had major roles for contending squads last year and can do the same next season.

Although there aren’t many teams with cap space still available at this point, plenty of deals are certain to happen in the coming weeks. Here is a look at the latest buzz surrounding the top names still on the market along with predicted landing spots.

J.R. Smith

While J.R. Smith had made a career out of being a quick scorer off the bench, the Cavaliers were the first team to give him a chance to start full time. The charismatic shooting guard started all 77 games he played last season, plus all 21 games in the playoffs.

The reward was a solid year as a shooter on an individual level and, more importantly, an NBA championship.

Now comes the time for the Cavaliers to see how much he is worth, which apparently has been a major disagreement between the two sides. As ESPN.com’s Brian Windhorst recently reported, “Smith and the Cavs have been in negotiations but remain apart on terms.”

Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders then explained just what Smith wants from his side:

Yikes… hearing JR Smith seeking huge deal to return to Cavs, in the $15m per year range. Can Cavs really pass on bringing him back?

— Steve Kyler (@stevekylerNBA) July 17, 2016

Smith made just $5 million this past season and has never even made $7 million in a single season, according to Basketball-Reference.com. This makes tripling his salary for what will be his age-31 season a bit of a bold move, even with the current salary-cap figures.

On the other hand, the guard explained that he made a sacrifice by taking less money in the past to win, something he should be rewarded for now.

“If I didn’t sacrifice then, I wouldn’t be a champ now,” Smith told ESPN’s His & Hers (via Sam Amico of Amico Hoops). “There has to be sacrifices on both sides, and both sides have to come to an understanding where neither of us are taking advantage of the other.”

The Cavs are obviously focused heavily on retaining James at whatever cost necessary. Regardless of the timing, keeping the NBA Finals MVP remains priority No. 1 in order to continue being a contender.

With that said, Smith’s impact on the squad was undeniable. He made big shots on the court and wasn’t quite the locker room distraction many have perceived him to be throughout his career. With Smith a fan favorite who helps …

continue reading in source www.bleacherreport.com