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          NBA superstars, trades and teams to watch in 2021 free agency

          Now that most of the major moves in 2020 NBA free agency are in the books, what should we expect in 2021?

          The 2021 NBA draft and free-agency window are roughly scheduled for July or August of next year. This upcoming free-agent class will feature way more teams with cap space than in 2020 -- and potentially a lot more star power.

          Let's take a look at the superstars to watch, X factor teams, potential surprises and big questions in a preview of what could be a league-altering transaction period.

          MORE: Lists of 2021 and 2022 NBA free agents

          How does the 2021 free-agent class compare to that of 2020?

          The group of players who could hit the market in 2021 is astounding. Up to 38 players who would qualify as franchise players, All-Stars or quality starters could be available. In 2020, that number was 22, with only two All-Stars (Anthony Davis and Brandon Ingram).

          Here's the list of key 2021 free agents.

          However, we should caution that not every name on this list will actually become a free agent or realistically change teams.

          • LeBron James, Paul George and Kawhi Leonard are all playing on title contenders in their preferred destination of Los Angeles. Unless there is massive internal turmoil, expect those three stars to return.

          • Chris Paul ($44.1 million) and Blake Griffin ($38.9 million) are unlikely to opt out of their contracts.

          • Jrue Holiday becomes eligible for a four-year, $135 million extension with the Bucks in February, which could take him off the board.

          • Giannis Antetokounmpo and Rudy Gobert have until Dec. 21 to reach agreements on extensions.

          • One name that could join the list: Anthony Davis. While Davis' official re-signing with Los Angeles is imminent, he could structure his contract to become a free agent in 2021.

          Who is going to be next year's Davis Bertans or Joe Harris?

          The former second-round picks were the big winners of the current free-agency period, commanding a collective $152 million after earning a combined $37 million so far in their careers.

          The Brooklyn Nets' Spencer Dinwiddie and Miami Heat's Duncan Robinson are two similar names to watch in 2021.

          Dinwiddie has a $12.4 million player option. His price range should be somewhere around $16 million to $17 million per year if he has another strong season.

          Robinson is on a $1.7 million contract and will become a restricted free agent. Because of his low, $2.2 million cap hold, the Heat will be able to use cap space first and then circle back to sign the forward to a lucrative contract. It is unlikely he will see a payday quite as big as Bertans, but a starting salary in the $12 million to $14 million range is realistic.

          How many teams are projected to have cap space?

          ESPN is projecting that 10 teams will have at least $20 million in cap space in 2021, with the New York Knicks, San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder potentially opening up more than $50 million. That list of 10 also includes the Hornets, Bulls, Cavaliers, Mavericks, Pistons, Heat and Raptors.

          Some more notes on cap space:

          • The Pacers will not have cap space even if free agent Victor Oladipo leaves.

          • The Lakers are not projected to have cap space because of the $26 million in committed salary to Montrezl Harrell, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Marc Gasol.

          • The Clippers would only have cap space in a disastrous scenario in which Kawhi Leonard, Paul George and Serge Ibaka leave.

          • Memphis could have $25 million in room but would have to decline the team option on Justise Winslow.

          • The Heat are projected to have $27 million in room but could see that decrease if Bam Adebayo earns an All-NBA bonus. Miami can get up to $34 million by clearing the roster of all players besides Adebayo and Jimmy Butler.

          • The Bucks will have $30 million if Jrue Holiday and Giannis Antetokounmpo leave.

          • The Raptors will have a max slot available if Norman Powell does not opt into his contract. The same goes for Dallas with Josh Richardson.

          • The Jazz could have $25 million, although that would require losing Rudy Gobert and Mike Conley.

          As the Warriors and Bucks just showed, you don't need cap space to sign upcoming free agents. Golden State trading for Kelly Oubre Jr. means the team can use Bird rights to exceed the cap to re-sign him. The same goes for Milwaukee and Jrue Holiday (if there's no extension agreement). Similar trades could happen between now and the 2021 trade deadline, reshaping this class.

          What are the key teams to watch?

          With a revamped front office and new head coach Tom Thibodeau, the Knicks have taken a patient approach by signing players to one-year contracts with an eye toward 2021. If the Knicks can show that there is a foundation in place centered around their young prospects (RJ Barrett, Obi Toppin, Kevin Knox II and Mitchell Robinson), New York could finally become a draw for free agents. The team is projected to have $70 million in room, good enough for two max players.

          Keep an eye on the Atlanta Hawks, as well. After spending their 2020 cap space on Danilo Gallinari, Bogdan Bogdanovic and Rajon Rondo, the Hawks do not have flexibility to once again add in free agency. However, general manager Travis Schlenk made it clear when addressing the media after the Gallinari signing that more moves are possible.

          "One of the things I really like about where we are is with the veteran guys, with the young guys we have, we have a lot of guys on our roster that other teams value," Schlenk said. "So we always try to keep ourselves in a position, if there is a star player that becomes available, we're in a position to try to go acquire those. And we're in a nice situation there because we do have a lot of talent that people value, and now we have good veterans that we could use to match salaries."

          What about the rookie-extension candidates?

          Because Luka Doncic earned All-NBA in 2019-20, he can make himself eligible for a max extension at 30% of the cap by being named All-NBA again in 2020-21. Instead of a five-year, $168 million extension, Doncic would be guaranteed a $201.5 million deal.

          OKC's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Atlanta's Trae Young are candidates for the five-year, $168 million max extension. Other extension candidates (likely below the max) include Deandre Ayton, Jaren Jackson Jr., Miles Bridges, Michael Porter Jr., Mikal Bridges and Collin Sexton.

          Are there any players who are supermax eligible?

          Giannis Antetokounmpo and Rudy Gobert have already met the criteria and will be supermax eligible in 2021 if they do not sign extensions before the season starts.

          The 76ers' Joel Embiid will be eligible to sign a four-year extension worth at least $200 million, although the exact number is unclear because of uncertainty surrounding the 2023-24 salary cap.

          If the Nuggets' Nikola Jokic earns All-NBA again, he'll be one year short of the seven-season service criteria required for supermax eligibility, so he'd be eligible to sign a five-year extension worth at least $250 million in 2022.

          Should we expect more restricted offer sheets?

          A weak draft class combined with limited spending power led to Bogdan Bogdanovic becoming the only restricted free agent who received an offer sheet in 2020.

          Without more extensions agreements between now and the Dec. 21 deadline, the 2021 market could be flooded with restricted free agents, including John Collins, Duncan Robinson, Kendrick Nunn, Devonte' Graham and Gary Trent Jr. Rival front offices likely will be more aggressive in forcing incumbent teams to match offer sheets on those players.

          Which player will garner the most trade buzz?

          Washington Wizards' GM Tommy Sheppard told the media before the NBA draft that Bradley Beal is not going anywhere, and that makes sense heading into the 2020-21 season. Why should the Wizards entertain trade offers for Beal before evaluating how this roster looks with a healthy John Wall? After all, Beal is under contract through 2022-23.

          However, what happens next offseason if the Wizards end up back in the lottery?

          Beal has a player option that could make him a free agent in 2022. History has proved that All-Stars with expiring contracts on losing teams do eventually get traded.