With free agency starting tonight at 6, I decided to dive into the top 25 free agents in this class and though it is a weaker class there are some good players that are still going to hit the market.
25. T.J. Warren
Warren is a good player when healthy and would be higher on the list if he was. However, health has been an issue over the past few years, he has not played in a game since 2020 due to a foot injury. Though a contender should take a flier using the $6.4 million tax-payer mid-level exception.
24. Nic Claxton
Claxton is a restricted free agent so a return to Brooklyn is expected. He brings a good switchy defensive big, who has his limitations on offense but there is still time for him to develop on that end of the court.
23.. Isaiah Hartenstein
Hartenstein had a big year for the Clippers and is going to cash in as a free agent. After bouncing around the league for a while Hartenstein had a big year for the Clippers averaging 8 points and 5 rebounds last season.
22. Malik Monk
Monk is a bucket, he had a big season for the Lakers last season averaging a career high 13.8 points per game on shooting splits of .47/.39/.79. He is a good basketball player and someone who can help a team who needs a scoring punch off of the bench.
21. Bruce Brown
Brown played well late last season after the trade deadline and he got more minutes. A good defensive player, Brown shot the ball better later in the season but he is still mostly a non-shooting threat but can help any team next season.
20. Gary Payton II
GP2 had a big season for the Warriors last season after being waived before opening day, and going unclaimed by the other 29 NBA teams. He stepped up giving the Warriors more athleticism and another elite defensive player during their title run.
19. Gary Harris
Harris is a tad bit undersized for his position but is a good 3 and D player. After having a rough couple of years, Harris picked the right year to have a bounce back season averaging 11.1 points on shooting splits of .43/.38/.87 and should get a good contract with what he provides a team.
18. Mo Bamba
Bamba had a very good season for Orlando averaging 10.6 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks per game this past season but after struggling his first 3 years, teams are worried this was an outlier. Bamba, just 24 years old, will be an unrestricted free agent after the Magic decided not to tender him a qualifying offer so he can sign with any team.
17. Mitchell Robinson
Robinson is an athletic big who is a good rim protector and a good lob threat for a team. He will likely remain with the Knicks where he had a very good season last year but will be a player a lot of teams want on the open market.
16. Kevon Looney
Looney is a must keep for the Warriors, he is a really good player who helped the Warriors en route to an NBA championship, with his defense, rebounding, and the way he is able to play with the Golden State stars. It would be a big surprise if Looney left Golden State.
15. Nic Batum
Batum is an excellent fit with the Clippers and it would be a shocking turn of events if Batum left. The Clippers have his early bird rights so they can sign him for about $10 million. Batum has been a great pick up since being waived by the Hornets.
14. P.J. Tucker
Tucker is still a really effective player, is a really good defensive player and can hit corner 3’s. After winning a championship with the Bucks in 2021, Tucker signed with the Heat and had a nice year for Miami. The expectation is that Tucker will land with the 76ers.
13. Kyle Anderson
Anderson, or slow-mo as people call him, is a very good player. A long wing, who is a good defensive player and can put the ball on the floor and drive to the rim, and is a talented passer who impacts the game in a lot of ways. You would like him to hit more 3’s but he is a good player.
12. Tyus Jones
Jones brings a stabilizing presence to a team. He is a quality backup point guard who is a good basketball player and is really effective when running an offense and is good enough to be a starter on a bunch of different teams.
11. Collin Sexton
Sexton is a good player, do not get me wrong, but I am not sure I would give him a bunch of money. He is coming off of a torn meniscus in his left knee, he is an okay passer at best, an undersized defensive player, and is a bad fit with Darius Garland in Cleveland. If I were the Cavs, I would let him walk.
10. Jusuf Nurkic
Nurk is a player Portland has to keep, they do not have many other options at center and Nurkic is really good. Coming off of a season in which he averaged 15 and 11, Nurkic is hitting the market at the right time with a weak class coming off of a good season.
9. Bobby Portis
Portis is expected to sign a 4yr/$49 million deal to remain a Buck this summer. After playing a big role in the Bucks championship run in 2021, Portis followed that up with a season in which he averaged 14.6 points, 9.1 rebounds and shot 39% from 3 on just under 5 attempts per game.
8. Lu Dort
Dort had his team option declined but is going to enter restricted free agency and is expected to resign with Oklahoma City getting a nice payday in the process. Dort has made massive strides as a 3 and D player since signing with the Thunder as an undrafted rookie and will continue to be a big part of OKC’s future plans.
7. Anfernee Simons
Simons had a breakout year with the Blazers and will be paid as a restricted free agent. After averaging 17.3 points per game with .44/.40/.88 shooting splits, Simons is a big part of Portland’s future plans.
6. Jalen Brunson
Brunson is really really good and it would be a great move by the Knicks to sign him. He killed the Jazz in the playoffs while Luka was out averaging 32 points over the 3 games, including a 41 point game in game 2 and a 4yr/$110 million contract is not a mistake.
5. Miles Bridges
I thought Miles Bridges would have gotten a max over the past couple of days but with the way the market dried up and now with these domestic violence charges that just came out, Bridges could be waiting for a while.
4. Bradley Beal
Beal is a free agent for the first time in his career and the expectation is that he will sign a 5yr/$248 million deal to remain a Wizard due to there not being a lot of cap space this summer.
3. James Harden
James Harden opted out of his $47 million player option allowing him to sign a contract that will pay him less this upcoming season but allow him to sign a long term deal in Philly and allow the Sixers to maintain flexibility allowing them to add to a roster that has a lot of holes on it.
2. Deandre Ayton
Ayton is young, athletic, and has a lot of talent. I expect a sign and trade of some sorts to happen over the next 24 to 48 hours and Ayton to sign a 4yr/$130 million contract and make a big impact on a team, because Deandre Ayton will be 24 on July 23rd and he is really really good.
1. Zach LaVine
Zach LaVine is going to sign a 5yr/$212 million contract to remain a Bull when free agency opens and the Bulls are keeping a real good player. An elite scorer LaVine has started to make strides in other aspects of his game and to me is the most desirable free agent this summer.
Free agency is just about to kick off later tonight and it should be exciting to see where all the dominoes fall.
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