The first week of 2024 NBA free agency saw some big moves across the league.
The Philadelphia 76ers made the biggest free agent acquisition in history, landing Paul George from the Los Angeles Clippers on a four-year, $212 million max contract. Philadelphia also retained rising star Tyrese Maxey to a five-year, $204 million contract extension.
Although the Clippers lost George, they were able to bring back James Harden on a two-year, $70 million contract, and LeBron James, as expected, remained in Hollywood, re-signing with the Los Angeles Lakers on a two-year, $104 million contract.
Meanwhile, Klay Thompson's legendary run with the Golden State Warriors came to an end with him reportedly signing a three-year, $50 million contract with the Dallas Mavericks, Isaiah Hartenstein left the New York Knicks for a reported three-year, $87 million contract with the Oklahoma City Thunder, and former Denver Nuggets guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope reportedly provided some much-needed shooting power with the Orlando Magic on a three-year, $66 million deal.
So who are the players still available on the free agent market? Here are the best free agents remaining (in alphabetical order by last name):
Malik Beasley, G, Milwaukee Bucks
Beasley shot 41.3 percent from the 3-point line as Milwaukee's No. 2 guard after signing with the Bucks last offseason on the veteran's minimum wage. The 27-year-old Beasley averaged 11.3 points and 3.7 rebounds in 29.6 minutes over 79 games.
Patrick Beverley, G, Milwaukee Bucks
Beverley was acquired by the 76ers and then the Bucks in a mid-season trade in his age-35 season, playing a steady role on two championship-contending teams. He appeared in 73 total games, averaging 6.2 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.9 assists in 20 minutes per game. The defensive-minded guard shot 33.7% from the 3-point line (2.5 attempts per game) and 41.7% overall.
Saddiq Bey, F, Atlanta Hawks
Bey is questionable for the start of next season after suffering a torn ACL in March. The 25-year-old played in 63 games last season, averaging 13.7 points and 6.5 rebounds in 32.7 minutes, but his 3-point shooting percentage fell to a career-low 31.6 percent.
Miles Bridges, F, Charlotte Hornets
Bridges pleaded not guilty to a domestic violence case that occurred in June 2022, avoiding prison time and receiving three years of probation. In that case, the mother of Bridges' two children accused him of assaulting her in front of her children. Bridges turned himself in to authorities in October last year after an arrest warrant was issued for him on suspicion of violating a protection order. The charges were later dropped due to lack of evidence.
Bridges is suspended for the entire 2022-23 season and the first 10 games of the 2023-24 season. The 26-year-old Bridges averaged 21.0 points, 7.3 rebounds and 3.3 assists while shooting 46.2/34.9/82.5 from the field in 69 games.
DeMar DeRozan, G, Chicago Bulls
DeRozan, who turns 35 in August, is clearly the top remaining free agent. At 34 years old, DeRozan averaged a career-best 37.8 minutes per game in 79 games for Chicago this season. The six-time All-Star averaged 24.0 points, 4.3 rebounds and 5.3 assists while shooting 48.0/33.3/85.3 from the field.
Spencer Dinwiddie, G, Los Angeles Lakers
Dinwiddie, 31, joined the Lakers midway through the 2023-24 season after being traded from Brooklyn to Toronto and then bought out. In 28 games with the Lakers, he averaged 6.8 points and 2.4 assists in 24.2 minutes while shooting 39.7 percent from the field and 38.9 percent from deep.
Four-time NBA MVP LeBron James has reportedly signed a new two-year contract with the Los Angeles Lakers.
Markelle Fultz, G, Orlando Magic
While Fultz isn't a 3-point threat, the former No. 1 overall pick has proven he can still contribute with his defensive and creative skills. The 26-year-old Fultz appeared in 43 games last season, averaging 7.8 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.8 assists in 21.2 minutes. However, his shooting efficiency declined overall to 47.2/22.2/69.7 after showing improvement the previous season.
Haywood Highsmith, F, Miami Heat
The 27-year-old Highsmith is a G League success story. He has played in the G League more than 100 times and has established himself as a rotation player for the Heat over the past few seasons. Last season, he started 26 of 66 games and averaged 6.1 points, 3.2 rebounds and 39.6% 3-point shooting in 20.7 minutes per game.
Tyus Jones, G, Washington Wizards
Jones was traded from Memphis to Washington in the offseason and is set to become a full-time starter for the first time in his career in 2023-24. The 28-year-old averaged 12.0 points and 7.3 assists while shooting 48.9/41.3/80.0 from the field in 66 games.
Luke Kennard, G, Memphis Grizzlies
The Grizzlies declined Kennard's $14.8 million player option, making the shooter a free agent. The 28-year-old Kennard appeared in just 39 games last season, but his shooting from deep remained impressive. A career 43.9% shooter from 3-point range, Kennard averaged 11.0 points, 2.9 rebounds and 3.5 assists in 25.6 minutes per game while shooting 45% from long range.
Kyle Lowry, G, Philadelphia 76ers
Lowry's disappointing tenure with the Heat ended when he was traded to the Hornets midseason and then bought out, but the Philadelphia native finished strong in 2023-24 after joining his hometown Sixers, averaging 8.0 points and 4.6 assists in 28.4 minutes over 23 games. The 38-year-old Lowry shot 40.4 percent from the 3-point line and 44.4 percent overall.
Caleb Martin, F, Miami Heat
Martin was a big star on the big stage in the 2023 Eastern Conference Finals, averaging 19.3 points while shooting an astounding 60.2% from the field and 48.9% from deep as the eighth-seeded Heat stunned the Boston Celtics. The 28-year-old wing was grounded as a solid role player last season, averaging 27.4 minutes, 10.0 points and 4.4 rebounds in 64 games.
Isaac Okoro, F, Cleveland Cavaliers (RFA)
Okoro, a restricted free agent, is coming off a season in which he shot a career-best 39.1 percent from three-point range. The defensive-minded former No. 5 overall pick averaged 9.4 points and 3.0 rebounds in 27.3 minutes over 69 games.
Dario Saric, forward, Golden State Warriors
Saric, 30, could be the answer for a team looking for a bench big man. The former 12th overall draft pick averaged 8.0 points, 4.4 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 64 games last season, shooting 37.6 percent from the 3-point line and 46.6 percent from the field.
Gary Trent Jr., G, Toronto Raptors
Another shooter still available is Trent Jr. The 25-year-old appeared in 71 games last season, averaging 13.7 points in 28.1 minutes and shooting 39.3 percent from three-point range.
Lonnie Walker IV, G, Brooklyn Nets
Walker IV can provide scoring off the bench. The 25-year-old appeared in 58 games last season, recording 9.7 points in 17.4 minutes. He shot 42.3 percent overall and improved his 3-point shooting percentage to 38.4 percent for the second straight season.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
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