The NBA Finals are over, the draft is over, June has rolled around, NBA free agency has officially begun, and the offseason is in full swing.
Free agency only started today, and already there have been some game-changing moves. The Philadelphia 76ers signed Paul George to a four-year, $212 million contract and extended Tyrese Maxey's contract. The Oklahoma City Thunder acquired Isaiah Hartenstein from the New York Knicks for four years and $87 million. James Harden re-signed with the Los Angeles Clippers. The Orlando Magic signed Kentavious Caldwell-Pope to a three-year, $66 million contract. Klay Thompson also signed a three-year, $50 million contract with the Dallas Mavericks.
Despite the popularity of these names, there are still plenty of impactful players available to sign, so here are our top ten.
NBA Free Agents:James Harden returns to Los Angeles in first NBA free agent move with Clippers
2024 NBA free agent rankings:
1) SF LeBron James
The King may have opted out of the final year of his contract, but he is expected to re-sign with the Lakers after the team selected his son with the 55th overall pick in the draft. Even at 40 years old, James still has the ability to score and be a key part of a championship team.
But can he lead a team to a championship like he once did? Fans may start debating there. That being said, he is arguably the best player still available this summer.
2) SF DeMar DeRozan
DeMar DeRozan remains one of the most athletic players in basketball and a highly efficient mid-range scorer, so he's sure to attract a lot of attention as the offseason progresses. At this point, the Lakers seem like the favorites, with reports saying LeBron James would be willing to take a pay cut to team up with DeRozan.
3) PF Miles Bridges
Bridges has recently developed into a very strong outside shooter and a great player in transition, and while the Hornets are obviously interested in bringing him back and have made that known to him, there are a few teams that could make a move for Bridges.
The most obvious would be the Detroit Pistons — Bridges is from Michigan and may be more inclined to play for his hometown team — but other teams looking to add another player to their young roster, like the Memphis Grizzlies or Utah Jazz, could also be in the running.
There are few rumors surrounding Bridges at this time, but he has been linked to the Jazz and Pistons in the past, with NBA insider Michael Scotto claiming in May that the Jazz were definitely one of the teams interested in Bridges, along with the Hornets.
4) SF Buddy Hield
A talented outside shooter, Hield isn't a franchise-changing player, but he could fill that role for any team in need of a shooter. The Golden State Warriors recently emerged as an option for Hield after failing to re-sign fellow shooter Klay Thompson. Other teams that could be interested include the Miami Heat and a reunion with the Philadelphia 76ers.
5) SF Saddiq Bey
Saddiq Bey may have been denied a qualifying offer, but he's still a very versatile player with solid defense and the ability to score off the dribble. He should attract attention from teams in need of rebounding, such as the Cavaliers or Magic, over the summer. However, there are few rumors surrounding Bey's next team at this time.
6) PG Tyus Jones
The Washington Wizards could be interested in trading Jones in a sign-and-trade deal. Jones is not the best available player or one that has garnered a lot of attention like Paul George or Chris Paul, but he still has the ability to help a championship-contending team. It is not yet clear which teams would be interested in acquiring Jones in a sign-and-trade deal with Washington.
7) C. Moritz Wagner
The Magic declined Wagner's $8 million team option, but both sides are reportedly interested in bringing him back to Orlando next season. Wagner is one of those players who helped spark the franchise's star player. He's a great player to have on a team, but he doesn't make a difference on his own.
8) PG Spencer Dinwiddie
Dinwiddie had a tough year last season in terms of efficiency, but he still has a chance to bounce back, and both the Lakers and Mavericks have reportedly expressed interest in signing him.
9) SG Malik Beasley
Beasley may not be a great defender, but he was one of the best shooters in basketball last year with Milwaukee. The Golden State Warriors have reportedly been interested in Beasley, but the team may not be able to offer him the kind of contract he is hoping for. Instead, the Rockets and Magic, who were both mentioned as interested teams in the aforementioned report, have the funds to make such a deal happen. Both teams are likely to be active in free agency this summer, so a deal could happen sooner than expected.
10) SF Isaac Okoro
The Cavs have the advantage when it comes to Okoro, who is a restricted free agent. It's hard not to want to bring back a versatile defender who shot 49 percent from the field, but with former Cleveland head coach JB Bickerstaff leaving for Detroit this offseason, the Pistons could make a move to acquire Okoro.
Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com wrote, “The Detroit Pistons are a team to watch, per sources, with plenty of cap space and former Cavs coach J.B. Bickerstaff now on the team. Okoro's playoff-specific shortcomings wouldn't be as troubling on a rebuilding team, and his toughness, competitiveness, tenacity and defense-first beliefs would all help instill the culture Bickerstaff wants in Detroit and give the Pistons a sharp wing with untapped offensive talent.”
NBA Free Agent Tracker:Klay Thompson to Mavericks, Sixers to sign Paul George
