The first round of the 2020 NBA playoffs is officially over and the second round in the Eastern Conference has already begun.
With eight teams eliminated from the postseason, let’s take a look at the most important free agent for each of them. Players with team or player options were not included.
(The list of free agents was found on Spotrac. All the players listed here are unrestricted free agents.)
Brooklyn Nets - Joe Harris
The NBA’s most-accurate three-point shooter in 2018-19, Harris posted career-best averages in scoring (14.5) and rebounds (4.3) in 2019-20.
Assuming everyone comes back to full health...
— Paul Sanchez 🇵🇷 (@PhotogSanchez) August 24, 2020
A @BrooklynNets line up of Irving, LeVert, Joe Harris, DeAndre and KD as the starting five is deadly.
Dallas Mavericks - Trey Burke
Although he didn’t join Dallas until right before the restart, Burke played 26 minutes a contest in the six-game series against the Clippers averaging 12.3 points on 50.8 percent shooting from the field.
Bubble step up/breakout players:@BeMore27 @JeramiGrant @TreyBurke @carmeloanthony @MarkelleF
— Stu Jackson (@StuJackson32) August 31, 2020
Jeff Green@DennisMike93
Malcom Brogdan @CarisLeVert@sergeibaka @FredVanVleet @Goran_Dragic #NBAPlayoffs #NBARestart
Indiana Pacers - Justin Holiday
One of the key reserves for the Pacers all season, Holiday connected on more than 40 percent of his threes for the first time (40.5) and made eight of his 16 tries from deep in the postseason.
Does Justin Holiday have a future in Indiana after his first season with the Pacers? @LukeParrish_NFL takes a look at his upcoming free agency. https://t.co/DNOy9XBSS2
— 8 Points, 9 Seconds (@8pts9secs) September 1, 2020
Oklahoma City Thunder - Danilo Gallinari
Now 32 years old, Gallinari has always excelled at getting to the charity stripe (where he shoots superbly) and has averaged more than 18 points in four of the last five seasons.
Not that it matters, but Danilo Gallinari had made his last 54 free throws in the bubble before he missed that one late in Game 7.
— StatMuse (@statmuse) September 3, 2020
Explains why OKC let him take it and not Chris Paul. pic.twitter.com/jSAHlCFogH
Orlando Magic - D.J. Augustin
While he was usurped from the starting lineup by Markelle Fultz, Augustin finished with a double-digit scoring average for the third straight season for Orlando and went 8-17 from three-point territory in their five-game series with the Bucks.
Congrats to D.J. Augustin, P.J. Tucker & Tom Penders on their inductions into the Texas Athletics Hall of Honor!#HookEm🤘 pic.twitter.com/jlSJHgnnBa
— Texas Men's Basketball (@TexasMBB) August 26, 2020
Philadelphia 76ers - Alec Burks
Acquired from the Warriors in February, the 29-year-old Burks averaged 12.2 points and 3.1 rebounds in 18 regular season games mostly as a reserve for the 76ers.
You won’t catch me arguing that the 76ers were a good team in the bubble. But they looked like a team with Alec Burks and Shake Milton as the primary ball-handlers.
— Jeff Nowak (@Jeff_Nowak) August 24, 2020
Portland Trail Blazers - Hassan Whiteside
Carmelo Anthony is another choice here, but Whiteside is five years younger at 31, and he led the league in blocks while finishing third in rebounding in 2019-20. Zach Lowe of ESPN had a harsh assessment of Whiteside’s play during their series loss to the Lakers, and his subpar performance could surely cost him money come free agency.
Bam Adebayo joins Shaquille O'Neal, Udonis Haslem, LeBron James, Alonzo Mourning and Hassan Whiteside as the only players in Heat playoff history with multiple 16-rebound games.
— Tim Reynolds (@ByTimReynolds) September 1, 2020
Utah Jazz - Jordan Clarkson
Long one of the better scorers off the bench, the 28-year-old Clarkson upped his scoring average to 16.7 in the epic seven-game series with the Nuggets after averaging 15.6 in 42 regular-season games for Utah.
DeMar DeRozan & Jordan Clarkson were toying with the defense @DrewLeague 2 summers ago!! @DeMar_DeRozan @JordanClarksons pic.twitter.com/zkEJHGd4KD
— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) September 2, 2020