Ranking the 5 Best NBA Free Agents Who Can Still Help Contenders

Over the first couple of days of free agency, teams were handing out contracts like Oprah Winfrey distributing cars, but things slowed to a virtual halt after that.

But that doesn't mean that every difference-making free agent is gone, or that all the league's spending power is exhausted.

While we await the Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving dominoes (assuming they fall at all), let's look at the five best remaining free agents.

Projection systems and past production can help us determine who those players are, but predicting the future is always largely subjective. Weighing those things, age, position and size, here are those free agents.

Editor's Note: Restricted free agent Miles Bridges was removed from this ranking because he was arrested on a felony domestic violence charge in June, according to TMZ Sports. Bridges turned himself in to Los Angeles police after allegedly being involved in a physical altercation with a woman. He has a court date set for July 20, according to The Athletic.

The last two seasons (in which he averaged 14.5 points with a well-below-average effective field-goal percentage) have done little to build Dennis Schroder's value around the league, but he's still on the right side of 30 and isn't far removed from the best season of his career.

In 2019-20, when he was a sixth man playing behind Chris Paul and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Schroder averaged 18.9 points and shot 38.5 percent from three and 63.9 percent within three feet of the rim.

Against reserves, he was able to get past most perimeter defenses. And when he shared the floor with a traditional point guard like CP3, he was a willing and able floor-spacer.

He probably shouldn't be signed to start at the 1 (as he was by the Los Angeles Lakers in 2020-21), but there are teams around the league that could use him to fill that heat-check-scorer-off-the-bench role.

As is the case with Dennis Schroder, DeMarcus Cousins' days as a starter are probably behind him, but he showed a willingness to come off the bench in 2021-22.

Prior to his first appearance with the Denver Nuggets, they were minus-12.5 points per 100 possessions without Nikola Jokic on the floor. After that, they were minus-2.2 without Jokic.

There's no question Cousins was the difference.

In just 13.9 minutes, Boogie averaged 8.9 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.7 assists (23.6 points, 14.7 rebounds and 4.5 assists per 75 possessions).

Against backups, he was able to wreak havoc with a punishing, physical post game and an underrated playmaking element.

Any team still looking for a second or third center should give him a call.

We continue the trend of former starters who've accepted life as a backup with Hassan Whiteside.

Last season, the Utah Jazz were plus-9.6 points per 100 possessions with Whiteside on the floor and plus-5.8 without him.

And, like DeMarcus Cousins, he put up big numbers in limited minutes.

Whiteside averaged 17.9 minutes, 8.2 points, 7.6 rebounds and 1.6 blocks (17.0 points, 15.8 rebounds and 3.3 blocks per 75 possessions).

As a rim-roller and -protector off the bench, Whiteside can still move the needle for a second unit. And he can probably be trusted to start in a pinch.

Advanced numbers and shooting percentages aren't high on Collin Sexton's first four years in the league. A torn meniscus that cost him all but 11 games in 2021-22 could also be of minor concern.

But he's just 23 years old and has a career scoring average of 20.0 points and a 37.8 three-point percentage.

At the very least, he looks like the kind of guard who can swing a game with a hot streak off the bench. If he develops his defense, creation and passing a bit, he can be more.

And again, there's plenty of time for that. Sexton just wrapped up his rookie contract. If inefficiency and an injury impact the value of his next deal, his team might wind up getting a steal.

The San Antonio Spurs and Indiana Pacers certainly aren't contenders (whether they sign Deandre Ayton or not), but they're the only teams with traditional cap space.

If Ayton wants a big contract and a shot at a title, going back to the Phoenix Suns is probably his only option (barring a sign-and-trade).

Facing that unusual situation, would Ayton actually consider a short-term deal for the mid-level exception?

Wherever he ends up, Ayton's next team (or the Suns) is going to get a 24-year-old who has averaged a double-double for his career and shown plenty of development as a defender.

He's not Rudy Gobert around the rim or Giannis Antetokounmpo on the perimeter, but Ayton is passable in both areas. That's more than can be said for plenty of centers.

He has good touch from the short and mid-range too. If he develops a bit more of a post game and willingness to draw contact, he can be one of the game's better centers.