Zach LaVine, James Harden, Bradley Beal lead list

NBA free agency doesn’t begin until Thursday but one player’s decision has made an impact on the league’s offseason.

Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving plans to exercise the option on the final season of his contract, meaning he won’t be a free agent. But that doesn’t mean Irving won’t be the subject of potential trades once free agency begins.

Chicago guard Zach LaVine is the most prominent unrestricted free available, and it would be a serious blow to the Bulls’ effort to compete in the Eastern Conference if he leaves.

One thing to consider as free agency begins is that there are not a lot of teams, especially contenders, with salary cap space to offer max contracts. So, it will be interesting to see what teams, especially the Los Angeles Lakers, can improve through trades in the offseason.

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Here is a look at the top (potential) free agents:

1. Zach LaVine, Chicago Bulls (unrestricted)

At 27 years old, LaVine is one of the top unrestricted free agents available this summer. Last season, he averaged 24.4 points, 4.6 rebounds and 4.5 assists and shot 47.6% from the field, 38.9% on 3-pointers and 85.3% on free throws. He regularly flirts with the coveted 50-54-90 shooting line. LaVine, a two-time All-Star, has been a big part of the Bulls’ resurgence alongside DeMar DeRozan, Lonzo Ball and Nik Vucevic. Being able to offer LaVine a five-year deal (other teams can only offer four years), the Bulls have an advantage in their quest to re-sign him.

2. James Harden, Philadelphia 76ers (player option)

The Harden experiment didn’t go well in the short time it existed in 2022 following the Ben Simmons trade. But president of basketball operations Daryl Morey is a big believer in Harden from their days…