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Ben Margot/Associated Press

End of the NBA's regular season got you down? Obviously not. Because that means playoffs! And draft stuff! Plus more playoffs!

It also means extra time should be devoted to free agency. About half the league is already in summertime mode anyway, and now there's (nearly) an entire regular season's worth of samples we can use to pass judgment.

You see where this is going.

Free-agent rankings will focus largely on this season's performances. But a significant aspect of every player's placement will take into account the immediate future—how well we expect them to perform next season and slightly beyond.

Injuries, age, play styles and extended slumps all matter. If someone is being dragged down or propped up due to any of those factors, it'll be made clear. Team options (Dirk Nowitzki) and non-guaranteed salaries (Boris Diaw) are not eligible for consideration. We're interested only in those with expiring contracts or who have the ability to reach free agency by their own hand.

Claiming any spot on this list is an achievement. Fifty is a big number, but there are a lot more free agents. Believe that. Embrace it. Most of all, use it to neutralize any resentment harbored for those you view as criminally underrated or overrated.