NBA 2K19 Player Ratings: Best Free Agents

Source: NBA 2K19

Luckily for 2K Sports, most teams have figured out their final roster heading in to the season. However, there are still some players left on the waiver wire that were not picked up by any NBA team during the free agency signing period this summer. As such, players of NBA 2K19 will have some options in free agents if they choose to jump in to Franchise mode and wish to customize the team right away. Below are the top free agents all rated 75 and up in overall rating.

Dwyane Wade (OVR 79)

Age: 36

Position: SG

Height: 6'4"

Traits: Two-Way Guard

Best stats: Playmaking, Ball Handling, Blocks, Lateral Quickness

Expected Salary: $11.56M

Wade has definitely taken a step back from his prime years, but he is capable of adding value to any team in need of an instant playmaker in spot minutes. While his averages fell to 11.4 points, 3.8 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game last season, he still showed his ability to make a difference in games. The downside to signing Wade is the $11.56M price tag that goes along with him.

Manu Ginobili (OVR 77)

Age: 41

Position: SG

Height: 6'6"

Traits: Two-Way Guard

Best stats: Ball Handling, Layups, Passing

Expected Salary: $4.63M

How Ginobili is still grinding away is beyond me. It's not often you see a player stick around the league past 40, let alone be successful in the slightest. While Manu is not nearly the player he used to be (averages of 8.9 points, 2.5 assists and 1 3-pointer made per game last season), he still has the brain for the game and uses his body more efficiently than athletically. You won't get much production out of him every night, but a solid backup at his price tag is reasonable.

Jamal Crawford (OVR 77)

Age: 38

Position: SG

Height: 6'5"

Traits: Premier Perimeter Threat

Best stats: Ball Handling, Layups, Mid-Range

Expected Salary: $4.41M

Shooting guard must be the way to go if you are looking to play a long career, as the top 3 free agents I mentioned are all older players at the position. Crawford has actually been more reliable over the past few seasons compared to Ginobili and Wade. At his price tag, he may actually be the prime option if you need a dynamic scorer off the bench. With averages of 10.3 points, 2.3 assists and 1.3 3-pointers made in just 20.7 minutes played per game, you're getting a heck of a deal.

Trevor Booker (OVR 76)

Age: 30

Position: PF

Height: 6'8"

Traits: Rebounding Specialist

Best stats: Strength, Rebounding, Layups

Expected Salary: $4.77M

Booker is not yet in his twilight years and should still have a few years of solid production left in the tank. The problem with Booker is that he's a bit undersized for his position and his game is fairly one-dimensional. That being said, his averages of 5.4 points, 4.5 rebounds and 0.3 blocks per game show that he will get the job done on the glass for a player coming off the bench.

Al Jefferson (OVR 76)

Age: 33

Position: C

Height: 6'10"

Traits: Low Post Star

Best stats: Strength, Post Offense, Blocks

Expected Salary: $2.22M

Jefferson is a prime example of a changing league. The former All-Star big man has been rendered mostly useless in today's NBA where bigs are expected to stretch the floor as much as the guards. Having battled injuries and a lack of athleticism, Jefferson's averages have dropped to 7.0 points, 4.0 rebounds and 0.6 blocks per game after being a former double-double machine. That being said, he's half the price of Trevor Booker and may be a better one year rental option.

Mirza Teletovic (OVR 76)

Age: 33

Position: PF

Height: 6'9"

Traits: Faceup Four

Best stats: 3PT, Layups, Mid-Range

Expected Salary: $2.75M

Teletovic is a great option if you are looking for a range specialist off the bench. While you are sacrificing a ton of defensive pressure at the position, a cheap signing that can spread the floor is never a bad weapon to have at your disposal. With averages of 7.1 points, 2.3 rebounds and 2.1 3-pointers made per game, Teletovic's specialization is well-noted around the league.

Joe Johnson (OVR 75)

Age: 37

Position: SF

Height: 6'7"

Traits: Scoring Wing

Best stats: Layups, Mid-Range, Stamina

Expected Salary: $5.18M

"ISO Joe" is far removed from his prime. It seems not long ago that Johnson was considered one of the premier scoring options in the league. However, that quickly changed to one of the most overpaid players as his production no longer matched his contract amount. His averages of 6.8 points, 3.1 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game last season show the drop off, but he remains a decent option that can play both forward positions.

David West (OVR 75)

Age: 38

Position: PF

Height: 6'9"

Traits: Low Post Star

Best stats: Strength, Post Offense, Blocks

Expected Salary: $2.20M

West is another player that has fallen from All-Star to a deep bench role. At his age, this has come to be expected. While he only averages 6.8 points and 3.3 rebounds in 13.7 minutes per game, his veteran presence and overall "tough guy" attitude is a nice addition to a team in the playoff hunt.

Rodney Hood (OVR 75)

Age: 25

Position: SG

Height: 6'8"

Traits: Sharpshooter

Best stats: Lateral Quickness, Layups, Mid-Range

Expected Salary: $12.74M

Hood is quite an enigma. He seemed to always be oozing with potential and was given plenty of opportunity, but never quite amounted to expectations. At just 25 years old, he is still hoping for a decent mid-level contract. The problem is that he only averaged 10.8 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 21 games played after being traded to Cleveland last season and then fell out of Cleveland's rotation during their playoff run. Prior to being traded, Hood averaged 16.8 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.7 assists with the Jazz. While he can score, his overall body of work does not justify the annual pay he is asking for. Therefore, unless he lowers his financial demands, his chances of signing with a team this season are low.

Other Notable Free Agents