Many of the NBA's biggest free agents for the 2024 offseason are already under contract, new contenders are emerging, and while old contenders are falling out of favor, there are still championship-caliber players waiting in the wings, waiting to be snapped up.
While the Olympics may be at the forefront of everyone's minds with LeBron James, Stephen Curry and others once again chasing gold, there could be some smart moves being made that would really add to the team's depth before next year begins.
Players like Tyus Jones, Spencer Dinwiddie and Gordon Hayward are all unsigned, and as fans watch Team USA on the podium, a notification may pop up on their phones informing them of the latest signings.
Here are the latest NBA free agent rumors.
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Best free agents available
- PG Tyus Jones
- SG Gary Trent Jr.
- SF Saddiq Bey
- PG Spencer Dinwiddie
- SF Gordon Hayward
- SF Isaac Okoro
- C Paul Reed
- C Precious Achiuwa
- SG Lonnie Walker
- PG Kyle Lowry
NBA free agent rumors
Are the Orlando Magic pursuing Tyus Jones?
ESPN's Chris Herring reports that the Magic may be interested in acquiring Tyus Jones in a sign-and-trade deal. The Magic are likely locking in Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Jalen Suggs in the backcourt, but Jones might be willing to sacrifice a bit of defense to add some playmaking.
Jones was widely regarded as the best backup point guard in the NBA with Memphis. The Magic don't need additional playmaking right now, but Herring points out that even one injury could create serious problems in that department. What if Paolo Banchero or Franz Wagner miss an extended period of time? Deepening the bench is never a bad idea, and Tyus Jones is arguably the best option in that department.
Rumors linking Jones to the Magic have been swirling for quite some time now, dating all the way back to June, but nothing has been done. One would think that if the Magic were truly interested, a deal would have been done by now.
The Lakers could acquire Spencer Dinwiddie and Gary Trent Jr.
Jovan Buha and Shams Charania of The Athletic claim that LeBron James took a $3 million pay cut to stay with the Lakers in order to bring in another star player to pair with James and Anthony Davis. The article expands on that point, claiming that the Lakers were in serious negotiations with sharpshooter Klay Thompson before he signed a three-year, $50 million contract with the Dallas Mavericks.
After failing to acquire Thompson, the Lakers turned to the two best remaining free agents in Spencer Dinwiddie and Gary Trent Jr. Dinwiddie played with LeBron James until last season and already knows what it takes to play alongside James, while Trent Jr. has averaged over 15 points per game in two of the past three seasons and has proven himself a contender for the championship.
The Lakers will return with almost the same lineup as last season after losing in the first round of the playoffs. With that in mind, the re-joining of Dinwiddie and the addition of Trent are not likely to be enough of a change to bring the Lakers to the championship. If the Lakers want to win another championship before LeBron retires, the team is probably still looking for a trade.
No progress between Cleveland Cavaliers and Isaac Okoro
There doesn't appear to be anything going on between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Isaac Okoro. According to ESPN's Brian Windhorst, “it doesn't seem like there's much going on.”
With Okoro's negotiations stalled, rumors are growing that the Cavs are signing other free agents, such as Cam Johnson and Dorian Finney-Smith, which doesn't bode well for a Cleveland-Okoro reunion. The Cavs may move him after signing Okoro. Ultimately, Windhorst later said, “There are definitely talks going on, but I haven't heard anything that's really happening. I know the Cavs have had talks with a couple of teams about sign-and-trade, but sign-and-trade is tough.”
The Detroit Pistons have previously expressed interest in Okoro, and while there have been no signs-and-trade rumors between the two teams, a move becomes more likely with each passing day.
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