NBA's Top 2013 Free Agents: 20-11

Author:
SI Staff
Publish date:
Sep 17, 2012

NBA's Top 2013 Free Agents: 20-11

20. David West

The 2012 free-agent market has been picked pretty clean. How does next summer's class shape up? SI.com continues its countdown of the top potential 2013 free agents with Nos. 20-11. West saw his numbers dip during his first season with Indiana, but the 32-year-old's steady mid-range game and defensive awareness should serve him well into his mid-30s. That said, he might be due for a pay cut, coming off a season where he earned $10 million.

19. Taj Gibson

With his thunderous dunks and emphatic blocks, Gibson is a highlight waiting to happen for the Bulls. The 6-foot-9 forward's length is also an integral piece of a Chicago defense that held opponents to a league-low 88.17 points per game last season. Having lost fellow big man Omer Asik this offseason, the Bulls have expressed interest in locking Gibson up before he can even hit the market.

18. Tiago Splitter

Drafted with the 28th pick in the 2007 draft, Splitter, a Brazilian native, didn't make his debut with the Spurs until 2010. He's had little trouble transitioning to the NBA, however, averaging 6.9 points and 4.3 rebounds off the bench for the Spurs the last two seasons. Splitter's ranking may seem a bit high amid a crowded big-man market, but his per-36-minute averages (16 points, 9.8 rebounds, 1.2 blocks) hint at the 27-year-old's potential.

17. Monta Ellis

A gifted offensive threat, Ellis helped make the Milwaukee Bucks a top-five scoring team last season after a midseason trade from the Golden State Warriors. But his proclivity for low-percentage shots (he shot 43.2 from the field last season) and turnovers (2.6 per game last season) make him a difficult piece to build a team around. Still, he's a lock for a multiyear deal if he chooses to decline to his $11 million player option next summer.

16. Tony Allen

Allen helped make the Grizzlies a top-five scoring defense last season, using his boundless energy and strength to regularly torment the opposing team's best wing player. On the other end of the floor he has several limitations, including a non-existent three-point game, but his game-changing perimeter defense is an asset to any contender.

15. Nikola Pekovic

The NBA sample size is small, but the Wolves appear to have a gem in Pekovic, who averaged 13.9 points and 7.4 rebounds last season, only his second in the NBA. If Minnesota can re-sign the 26-year-old, they will have one of the promising frontlines in the league in Pekovic and power forward Kevin Love.

14 Brandon Jennings

Jennings posted career highs in points (19.1), field-goal percentage (41.8 percent), steals (1.6) and minutes (35.3) last season, but his Bucks missed the playoffs for a second straight year. He's expressed interest in signing an extension in Milwaukee, but the Bucks have given no indication that anything will get done with their star point guard before next summer.

13. Jrue Holiday

The 22-year-old Sixers guard is reportedly seeking a max contract extension from Philadelphia. On potential alone, Holiday, who possesses unmatched quickness, probably deserves the max. But given his regression last season -- his assists, points and field-goal percentage dropped -- Philly is likely to take a wait-and-see approach.

12. Paul Millsap

The Jazz have some tough decisions to make next summer. Both Millsap and Al Jefferson will be unrestricted free agents, and the team might not be able to afford both. Millsap was one of the NBA's biggest bargains last season, averaging 16.6 points and 8.8 rebounds while making $8.1 million. Don't expect the 6-foot-8 forward to take a similar discount next summer.

11. Tyreke Evans

Evans, the 2009-10 NBA Rookie of the Year, tantalizes with his potential, but the fact remains: his skills have declined every season since that campaign. The 22-year-old excels with the ball in his hands, making him a bad fit on a Kings team that seems to add a new ball handler every offseason. Once considered a franchise cornerstone, Evans could find himself in a new home next summer.