Top 5 NBA free agents still available as of September 2021

The world is ready for the latest edition of the NBA season. All teams look ready for a new campaign. Players are undergoing training to build team chemistry with quite a gusto. The fixtures are already out and matches are set to be played.

Five NBA free agents still available as of September 2021

However, there are still a few players that have remained unrestricted free agents even up until September 2021. Free agents are essentially players that do not belong to any team and are free to sign a contract with a new team.

Here's a list of our top five NBA free agents still available as of september 2021:

#5 Denzel Valentine

Denzel Valentine v the Brooklyn Nets

Denzel Valentine remains an unrestricted agent as of September 2021. After being drafted by the Chicago Bulls as their 14th overall draft pick. After an underwhelming rookie performance where he averaged 5.1 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.1 assists, Valentine considerably improved his performance over his sophomore year.

I miss being on the court so much 😩. It’s a different type of feeling when your playing in front of fans cheering for or against you! pic.twitter.com/rLXEJ2a8Q4

— Denzel Valentine (@denzelvalentine) May 27, 2020

He averaged 10.2 points, 5.1 rebounds and 3.2 assists in 2017-18 NBA season. Post that, Denzel has not performed satisfactorily post his second year. He played for the Bulls for four seasons, averaging 7.4 points and 3.5 rebounds. Valentine, with more minutes per game, could perhaps be an asset but it is a gamble most teams have been wary of this off-season.

#4 Avery Bradley

Avery Bradley appreciation post!pic.twitter.com/RTjlaEbyV3

— Guy Boston Sports (@GuyBostonSports) September 5, 2021

Avery Bradley began his career with the Boston Celtics. The Celts picked Bradley as the 19th overall pick in the 2010 draft. In his rookie year, he appeared in 31 games and played only 5.2 minutes per game. Bradley's performance in his second year in the NBA saw him play more games and average more minutes per game but was still disappointing.

However, the Celts player continuously improved his performance over the next few seasons. By the 2016-17 NBA season, Bradley was scoring 16.3 points and 6.1 rebounds per game. Despite his praiseworthy performance, he was used as a trading chip by the Celtics. He has since won a championship with the LA Lakers in 2019-20. His performance has dipped in the last few years but he can still be a decent addition to any team that picks him.

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#3 Wesley Matthews

Wesley Matthews in the Los Angeles Lakers colors

Wesley Matthews is not the best or the brightest NBA player out there but he is definitely a decent defensive and offensive substitute. Matthews began his career by representing the Utah Jazz in the 2009 Orlando Summer League and the Sacramento Kings in the Las Vegas Summer League.

In the same season, Wesley appeared in 82 games for the Jazz and averaged 9.4 points. He joined the Portland Trail Blazers on a five-year contract in his second year in the NBA. Matthews would go on to play 359 games for the Blazers while starting 333 of those games as the team's shooting guard. He averaged 15.4 points per game while playing alongside six-time All-Star Damian Lillard.

The former Dallas Mavericks player has only averaged 8.13 points in the last three seasons. He remains a free agent as of september 2021.

#2 JJ Redick

Former #Pelicans guard JJ Redick donates $100,000 to feed Louisianans in wake of Ida https://t.co/T7seZSShFQ via @nolanews

— Rod Walker (@RodWalkerNola) September 2, 2021

JJ Redick had a slow start to his career but he developed as a lethal scorer post the 2012-13 season. Redick was drafted by the Orlando Magic as the 11th pick in the 2006 NBA draft. Of his 15-years in the league, he has played for six teams in total, namely the Orlando Magic, Milwaukee Bucks, LA Clippers, Philadelphia 76ers, New Orleans Pelicans and most recently the Dallas Mavericks.

JJ Redick's best regular-season performance happened in 2018-19 while playing for the 76ers. He averaged 18.1 points and 2.7 assists per game while appearing in 76 games.

#1 DeMarcus Cousins

DeMarcus Cousins during the 2019 NBA Finals

On this list of NBA free agents as of september 2021, DeMarcus Cousins is without a doubt the best player. His career double-double average of 20.4 points and 10.6 rebounds are not common stats. A dominating paint player, Cousins has represented teams like the Golden State Warriors, Sacramento Kings, and LA Clippers.

3 teams who should take a chance on DeMarcus Cousins late in #NBA free agency. 👀https://t.co/lYNlqDZTXQ

— NBA Analysis Network (@HoopAnalysisNet) September 2, 2021

Four-time All-Star DeMarcus suffered a devastating ACL injury during a practice match in august 2019. He sat out the 2019-20 season but made a return for the 2020-21 season. His performance was a fragment of his former offensive and defensive dominance.

At the peak of his career, the former Sacramento Kings player was a lethal scorer and rebounder. He averaged 27 points and 11 rebounds in the 2016-17 NBA regular season, establishing himself as an excellent asset. He has remained a free agent as of now and the credit for this goes to his injury and rehab.