1. Chris Paul, Houston Rockets (unrestricted)
2017-18 Stats: 18.6 points, 7.9 assists, 5.4 rebounds
There’s no real surprise here as Chris Paul is one of the biggest free agents, overall, on the open market. Though he’s widely expected to re-sign with the Houston Rockets, don’t be surprised if he takes a meeting or two with other teams. There is reportedly a growing schism between the Rockets and Paul over potential money, and if it continues to expand we could see Paul officially hit the open market.
Chris Paul wants the full max money, and that could be hard for Houston to commit to. That could force Paul to seek his money elsewhere – potentially from a team like the Los Angeles Lakers.
Must Read: NBA Trade Rumors: 10 players that could be dealt during the offseason
Although, Paul is aging quickly and has a history of injuries. Any team should be wary of giving him a huge contract. While he will almost certainly be worth it for the first two years of that contract, I’m not sure how I’d feel about paying a 38-year-old Chris Paul close to $50 million.