Tier 1 – The stars
Anthony Davis, Los Angeles Lakers (Player Option)
Pascal Siakam, Toronto Raptors (Restricted)
DeMar DeRozan, San Antonio Spurs (Player Option)
This grouping was strictly for established stars in the NBA. I debated adding Andre Drummond into this group but ultimately decided against it due to the fact that the jury is still out on him because of the ever-changing NBA. And, who knows, perhaps in a few seasons we don’t look at Drummond the same way we look at him right now.
There is a growing sense of optimism that both Pascal Siakam and DeMar DeRozan could strike an extension with their respective teams, however at this point that’s not a foregone conclusion. Without those two names heading into the summer of 2020, though, this is going to seem like an even weaker class.
Nevertheless, from everything we’ve heard, Anthony Davis is going to enter free agency next summer. Whether you actually believe he’s going to seriously take meetings is an entirely different story, though.
Personally, I’d be shocked if AD wasn’t in a Lakers uniform at the start of the 2020-21 season, but we’ve seen stranger things. With that said, there’s no question that AD will be the best free agent to hit the open market next summer.