2023 NBA Free Agency Grades After One Week
We are officially one week removed from NBA Free Agency beginning! I don’t have any reputable professor or grading skills, but let’s put on the professor cap and hand out some team grades from the first week of Free Agency.
(Each signing listed comes courtesy of Spotrac.)
Atlanta Hawks: D+
Incoming free agents: N/A
Retained free agents: N/A
Outgoing free agents: N/A
The Hawks are one of two teams to have not lost, retained or signed anyone in the first week of free agency. Aside from selecting Kobe Bufkin and Mouhamed Gueye on draft night, their offseason has consisted of 1.) offloading John Collins to the Utah Jazz, generating a $25.3 million trade exception, the biggest existing TPE in basketball 2.) trading multiple second-round picks for two former first-rounders in TyTy Washington and Usman Garuba 3.) Being in Pascal Siakam scuttlebutt that hasn’t seemingly gained any traction and 4.) Extending Dejounte Murray for four years, $111 million ($120 million with incentives).
The Hawks have a full 15-man roster plus decisions to make on Vit Krejci, Tyrese Martin and Bruno Fernando–all who have non-guaranteed deals. It’s been a pretty inactive free agency period for Travis Landry in his first year, but they have an influx of bodies with roster decisions to make in the coming weeks.
Boston Celtics: C
Incoming free agents: Oshae Brissett (two years/$4.6M), Dalano Banton (two years, $4.2M)
Retained free agents: N/A
Outgoing free agents: Grant Williams (four years/$54M)
Losing Grant Williams, an excellent spot-up shooter who can defend multiple positions well defensively, was always going to be an issue after the Kristaps Porzingis trade. While their shots are a work in progress, Boston taking fliers on both Brissett and Banton could be worthwhile, even though the latter could be pushed out of the 8/9-man rotation at the season’s start.
Boston is getting longer, younger and is prioritizing players who excel as cutters off-ball. Brissett will bring fire and a competitive edge on the defensive end and the offensive glass while Banton is a very good grab n’ go initiator at 6-foot-9. Losing both Williams and Marcus Smart isn’t ideal, and it’s ominous that Jaylen Brown hasn’t inked his five-year extension yet. Stevens hasn’t done a terrible working around the fringes to stay below the second apron, but I’m curious to see if they have any moves left ahead of the 2023-24 season.
Brooklyn Nets: B+
Incoming free agents: Dennis Smith Jr. (2.53M), Lonnie Walker ($2.35M)
Retained free agents: Cam Johnson (four years/$108M)
Outgoing free agents: Seth Curry (two years, $9.26M), Yuta Watanabe (one year/$2.35M)
The Nets cleared Joe Harris’ $19 million to bring back Cam Johnson on a four-year deal that includes nearly $14 million in unlikely bonuses. There remains a chance that the Nets could play a hand in the Heat possibly acquiring Damian Lillard after showing initial interest in him. Regardless, Smith should be a good backup option behind Dinwiddie while Walker’s minimum deal could be a massive bargain. They are still well below the luxury tax and have the non-taxpayer mid-level, and I would expect Brooklyn to fortify its frontcourt at some point ahead of the trade deadline if they’re in any sort of buying mode.
Charlotte Hornets: D-
Incoming free agents:
Retained free agents: Miles Bridges (one year/$7.92M)
Outgoing free agents: Dennis Smith Jr. (one year/2.53M)
The Miles Bridges situation baffles me more every time I think about it. For reasons that don’t include basketball, he shouldn’t be on an NBA roster. Teams are running out of cap room to offer a bloated offer sheet to restricted free agent P.J. Washington, who Charlotte could go over the cap to match if it chose to. They are likely to lose Kelly Oubre Jr. in free agency with Brandon Miller now in the fold alongside Miles Bridges and Cody Martin, who missed all but seven games last season. Oh, and LaMelo Ball inked a five-year, $205.9 max extension! Get that bag, LaMelo!
Chicago Bulls: C+
Incoming free agents: Jevon Carter (three years/$20M), Torrey Craig (two years/$5.37M)
Retained free agents: Coby White (three years/$33M)
Outgoing free agents: Patrick Beverley (one year/$3.2M)
Locking in the core of Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan and Nikola Vucevic trio prolongs the inevitable (change). An average of $11 million for White, who’s still 23-years-old, is fair value while the additions of Carter and Craig fortify their defense that was best in the NBA post-All-Star break. Both can also shoot, too; Chicago attempted the fewest 3s on a per-possession basis at an average clip.
Cleveland Cavaliers: B
Incoming free agents: Max Strus (four years/$63M), Georges Niang (three years/$26M), Ty Jerome (two years/$4.63M)
Retained free agents: Caris LeVert (two years/$32M)
Outgoing free agents: Robin Lopez (one year/$2.22M)
The Cavs were near the bottom-third in 3-point attempts per 100 possessions (32.5) and finished just outside the top 10 in 3-point shooting (36.7 percent). Though it collapsed on itself in the first round against New York, shooting a poultry 32.5 percent from distance. Thus, they threw nearly $90 million on Max Strus and Georges Niang, two respected shooters, who have shot 37.6 and 40.2 percent from deep, respectively, over the last two seasons. I’m not a huge fan of the Strus contract, but he figures to have a role after Cleveland dumped Cedi Osman and Lamar Stevens onto San Antonio in the sign-and-trade. LeVert’s contract is also a bigger salary that can be movable in a year. I’m lukewarm on Cleveland’s free agency so far, but they’re not very many more moves I expect from them now that they’re hard-capped and roughly $10 million from the apron.
Dallas Mavericks: B+
Incoming free agents: Seth Curry (two years, $9.26M), Grant Williams (four years/$54M)
Retained free agents: Kyrie Irving (three years/$126M), Dwight Powell (three years/$12M)
Outgoing free agents: Justin Holiday (one year/$3.2M)
The Mavericks weren’t bidding against anyone else for Irving. That said, they wanted to keep him happy, especially after trading for him five months earlier. I loved adding Grant Williams and drafting Olivier-Maxence Prosper–two capable wing defenders (yes, we still have to see it from the latter) after its defense was a disaster. It almost landed another this week with Matisse Thybulle, whose three-year, $33 million offer sheet was matched by Dallas. Regardless, Williams has legit 3-and-D potential and we see Curry and Luka Doncic reunite! Bringing back Powell with a frontcourt logjam was a little confusing to me, but depth never hurts. Dallas has had a great offseason so far under tremendous pressure.
Denver Nuggets: C-
Incoming free agents: Justin Holiday (one year/$3.2M)
Retained free agents: Reggie Jackson (two years/10.25M), DeAndre Jordan (one year/$3.2M)
Outgoing free agents: Bruce Brown (two years/$45M), Jeff Green (one year/$6M), Jack White (two years/$3.92), Thomas Bryant (two years/$5.37M)
Under the new CBA, it’s going to be harder to keep core teams together than ever before. Denver wasn’t the first reigning champ to lose key pieces, nor will be the last. It happens. Bruce Brown rightfully got the bag from Indiana–Denver could’ve only offered $16M over two seasons–while it lost noted journeyman Green, who was productive as a small-ball 5 throughout the postseason. I’m still confused by the Nuggets bringing back both Jackson and Jordan as quickly as they did. Though new opportunities arise for Christian Braun, Peyton Watson and Zeke Nnaji. Denver’s brain trust deserves more than enough benefit of the doubt, and I get why they didn’t want to exceed the second apron after their electrifying title run, but this free agency period still hasn’t been favorable to them.
Detroit Pistons: D
Incoming free agents: N/A
Retained free agents: N/A
Outgoing free agents: Cory Joseph (one year/$3.2M)
Detroit ate money with Joe Harris and Monte Morris to help get over the salary floor. But now they have a backcourt logjam with Cade Cunningham, Alec Burks, Jaden Ivey, Killian Hayes and rookies Ausar Thompson and Marcus Sasser. Couldn’t the dollars have been allocated better?? They went from having too many centers to too many guards in the blink of an eye. What’s Troy Weaver cooking?
Golden State Warriors: B-
Incoming free agents: Cory Joseph (one year/$3.2M)
Retained free agents: Draymond Green (four years/$100M),
Outgoing free agents: Donte DiVincenzo (four years/$50M), Ty Jerome (two years/$4.63M)
Bringing back Draymond Green felt like amustt–he’s the backbone of their defense and their unquestioned leader outside of Stephen Curry. $100 million over four years is a fair price, especially since Golden State saved over $40 million in repeater luxury tax dollars from his previous opt-out ($27.6M) to his new first-year salary ($22.2M). It was going to be difficult to retain DiVincenzo without his bird rights. Cory Joseph brings yet another experienced voice at point guard, while he averaged 6.9 points and 3.5 assists on 38.9 percent shooting from 3-point range (2.9 3PA) a year ago. I’m still cackling over the Chris Paul-Jordan Poole swap, but Golden State could’ve had a more disastrous free agency, if I’m being honest.
Houston Rockets: B-
Incoming free agents: Fred VanVleet (three years/$128.54M), Dillon Brooks (four years/$80M), Jock Landale (four years/$32M), Jeff Green (one year/$6M)
Retained free agents: N/A
Outgoing free agents: N/A
The winners of free agency? None other than the Rockets … players who signed. Handing out north of $240 million dollars to VanVleet, Brooks and Londale alone is absolutely a decision–one that I’m not sure any other team would have made, even with the amount of cap space they had entering the offseason. That said, they add multiple respectable veteran voices to a locker room that needs it–in addition to Ime Udoka.
Fred VanVleet is capable of playing both on- and off-ball alongside Thompson and Houston’s other ballhandlers, plus he’s a very good table-setter and bulldog defensively. I believe Brooks has become fairly underrated, since he’s one of the best perimeter defenders in basketball. They did offload two former first-rounders for second-round picks in lieu of their signings, but who knows how much Washington and Garuba were going to get anyways? It’s not ideal asset management, but I don’t think Houston’s had the worst offseason ever, all things considered.
Indiana Pacers: A-
Incoming free agents: Bruce Brown (two years/$45M)
Retained free agents: N/A
Outgoing free agents: Oshae Brissett (two years/$4.6M)
While committing $45 million to Brown might feel like a lot, it’s a very good fit for him in my view. He can slide into any role he wants to on both ends and gets to play next to Tyrese Haliburton, who got a five-year max of his own shortly after free agency began. Losing Brissett is offset by drafting Jarace Walker, who fits their team perfectly. Plus, it traded essentially nothing for Obi Toppin, a former top-10 pick who could receive a bigger opportunity than he did in New York. Well done, Kevin Pritchard.
Los Angeles Clippers: B
Incoming free agents: N/A
Retained free agents: Russell Westbrook (two years/$7.86M), Mason Plumlee (one year/$5M)
Outgoing free agents: Eric Gordon (two years/$6.55M)
Letting Eric Gordon walk months after giving up assets for him is a puzzling decision, on paper. Though retaining Westbrook and Plumlee at those respective price tags might be as good as you could’ve asked for if you’re Los Angeles, given the cap situation. At one point or another, they’re going to have to make decisions on Robert Covington, Marcus Morris and Nic Batum, among others, but are expected to run it back with Kawhi Leonard and Paul George. We both know they’re a dominant duo when healthy, but neither has been healthy together all that often over the last four years. Fifth time’s a charm?
Los Angeles Lakers: B+
Incoming free agents: Gabe Vincent (three years/$33M), Cam Reddish (two years/$4.63M), Jaxson Hayes (two years/$4.63M), Taurean Prince (one year/$4.52M)
Retained free agents: Rui Hachimura (three years/$51M), D’Angelo Russell (two years/$37M), Austin Reaves (four years/$56M)
Outgoing free agents: Dennis Schroder (two years/$25.43M), Troy Brown (two years/$8.00M), Malik Beasley (one year/$2.71M), Lonnie Walker (one year/$2.35M)
I might be slightly lower on the Lakers’ free agency than the consensus, but they are still one of the NBA’s biggest winners. Prince, Hayes and Vincent are all excellent fits alongside LeBron James and Anthony Davis. Securing Austin Reaves with his early bird rights before a team with enough cap space offered a bloated four-year offer sheet was paramount. I’m not entirely sold on bringing back Hachimura and Russell at their respective price tags, but the former was exceptional in the postseason and has played better since getting shipped to Los Angeles. So I’m optimistic.
Memphis Grizzlies: B
Incoming free agents: Derrick Rose (two years/$6.55M)
Retained free agents: N/A
Outgoing free agents: Dillon Brooks (four years/$80M)
The biggest meat on the bone from Memphis’ offseason was adding Marcus Smart as a Dillon Brooks replacement for a couple of future first-rounders. Boston went to the postseason every year with Smart, their heart-and-soul. Now he’s their Brooks heir apparent, who’s also an underrated initiator, which will help while Ja Morant misses the season’s first 25 games due to suspension. Derrick Rose also returns to the city he called home in college as a well-respected voice to help guide the young guys. Desmond Bane, one of the NBA’s most prolific long-range snipers, received the bag and the Grizzlies are still well below the luxury tax.
Miami Heat: B
Incoming free agents: Josh Richardson (two years/$5.94M), Thomas Bryant (two years/$5.37M)
Retained free agents: Kevin Love (two years/7.66M), Orlando Robinson (one year/$1.8M)
Outgoing free agents: Gabe Vincent (three years/$33M), Max Strus (four years/$63M), Cody Zeller (one year/$3.2M)
The Heat lost two starters from their Finals run in Strus and Vincent, but is there a world where Richardson is better than both players? Richardson, who spent his first four seasons with the Heat, averaged 10.1 points on 36.5 percent shooting from deep last season. He’s bigger, longer, stronger and better defensively than both of his counterparts, while also being familiar with Spoelstra’s system. Reuniting with him for the minimum–after he nearly signed for more with the Celtics and Timberwolves–is a steal, while also grabbing a 25-year-old backup big in Bryant for cheap too. I was down on their free agency initially, but there’s a world where both outplay their deals and become bargains. Oh, and they’re in the thick of the Damian Lillard trade talk. Ever heard of him?
Milwaukee Bucks: A
Incoming free agents: Robin Lopez (one year/$2.22M), Malik Beasley (one year/$2.71M)
Retained free agents: Khris Middleton (three years/$102M), Brook Lopez (two years/$48M), Jae Crowder (one year/minimum?)
Outgoing free agents: Jevon Carter (three years/$20M), Joe Ingles (two years/$22M)
Retaining Khris Middleton and Brook Lopez was huge for Milwaukee. Perhaps Adrian Griffin has a bigger role for Jae Crowder, who was an outcast in Milwaukee’s rotation after it flipped five second-rounders to acquire him from Brooklyn. Adding Malik Beasley, one of the NBA’s most potent movement shooters, is excellent value while there’s a chance we get to see pregame WWE-style wrestling matches with Robin Lopez back in the mix!
Minnesota Timberwolves: B
Incoming free agents: Shake Milton (two years/$10M), Troy Brown (two years/$8.00M)
Retained free agents: Naz Reid (three years/$41.96M), Nickel Alexander-Walker (two years/$9M)
Outgoing free agents: Taurean Prince (one year/$4.52M)
Naz Reid signed a three-year deal before officially hitting free agency. Milton and Brown are two good depth pieces to the backcourt at an inexpensive price, though the Wolves did lose Prince–who shot nearly 40 percent from deep a year ago–to the Lakers. It must be a breath of fresh air for Timberwolves fans that Anthony Edwards inked a five-year deal, and if he can form better chemistry with Karl-Anthony Towns and Rudy Gobert together, should they stay healthy, the Wolves will unquestionably be a better team next season.
New Orleans Pelicans: D+
Incoming free agents: Cody Zeller (one year/$3.2M)
Retained free agents: Herb Jones (four years/$56.25M)
Outgoing free agents: Jaxson Hayes (two years/$4.63M), Josh Richardson (two years/$5.94M)
Swapping Jaxson Hayes and Willy Hernangomez for Cody Zeller, who looked unplayable for the Heat in the postseason, is a clear downgrade. After declining his uber-cheap team option, they were able to secure defensive gem Herb Jones for $56 million with his bird rights before an increased offer sheet–similar to Reaves with the Lakers. That’s a good move for New Orleans, but they did not improve as a team, which is why I’m docking their grade here.
New York Knicks: B+
Incoming free agents: Donte DiVincenzo (four years/$50M)
Retained free agents: N/A
Outgoing free agents: Derrick Rose (two years/$6.55M)
The Knicks offloaded Obi Toppin’s $7 million for a couple of second-round picks, but inked Donte DiVincenzo for most of the $12.4 non-taxpayer midlevel exception. There’s still a world where they find a taker for Evan Fournier, though they will likely need to attach an asset or two. As of right now, it seems content running it back with R.J. Barrett and Julius Randle and they do not have much flexibility to improve around the margins outside of the DD acquisition unless additional salary is moved. The Villanova collection is alive, but how far will that get them?
Oklahoma City Thunder: C
Incoming free agents: Jack White (two years/$3.92)
Retained free agents: N/A
Outgoing free agents: N/A
The Thunder used cap space to absorb Victor Oladipo, who’s likely going to be out for the season (torn patellar), and Patty Mills; both are combined to make over $16 million next season. Perhaps their biggest additions are getting Chet Holmgren back (who’s considered a rookie, by the way) and Cason Wallace, who they drafted No. 10 overall in the 2023 NBA draft. It’s been a pretty inactive free agency for OKC, but a good offseason.
Orlando Magic: C+
Incoming free agents: Joe Ingles (two years/$22M)
Retained free agents: Mo Wagner (two years/$16M)
Outgoing free agents: N/A
I don’t entirely understand the Ingles contract, but good for him! He had an uneven 2022-23 after coming off a torn ACL. He adds 3-point shotmaking and veteran leadership to a young Magic team, and could be used as a trade chip one year from now as a salary filler if that’s the direction they want to go in. The addition of Anthony Black could squeeze one or two guards out, which could come ahead of the season.
Philadelphia 76ers: D
Incoming free agents: Patrick Beverley (one year/$3.2M), Montrezl Harrell (one year/$2.89M)
Retained free agents: N/A
Outgoing free agents: Georges Niang (three years/$26M), Shake Milton (two years/$10M), Jalen McDaniels (two years/$9.3M)
I understand taking a flier on Mo Bamba, who’s shown brief flashes despite being hindered by injuries early in his career. I don’t understand the Harrell signing; I, personally, would want to bring B-ball Paul back before either. They also lose depth at the wings, but could consummate that by whatever they get in a James Harden trade, should he get moved. I’m not a fan of their offseason/free agency so far, but there’s room for growth.
Phoenix Suns: A-
Incoming free agents: Drew Eubanks (two years/$5M), Keita Bates-Diop (two years/$5M), Chimezie Metu (one year/$2.53M) Yuta Watanabe (one year/$2.35M), Eric Gordon (two years/$6.55M)
Retained free agents: Josh Okogie (one year/$2.35M), Damion Lee (two years/$5.37M)
Outgoing free agents: Jock Landale (four years/$32M), Torrey Craig (two years/$5.37M)
Few teams sign players to minimum contracts on day one of free agency because most free agents believe they’re worth more until the market begins drying out. Except for the Suns, who could only sign minimum contracts; a huge bulk of their work, in fact, came on Day 1, and they did a good job doing so. Phoenix added depth defensively with Metu, Bates-Diop while adding additional floor spacers with 3-point shooting with Watanabe and Gordon, one of the best value signings this offseason. We’ve seen how effective Okogie can be alongside Kevin Durant and Devin Booker at the POA, plus Lee is a key sparkplug. I want to see it on the court, but there’s reason to be very intrigued if you’re a Suns fan, especially since they were only limited to minimum signings after the Bradley Beal trade.
Portland Trail Blazers: D+
Incoming free agents: N/A
Retained free agents: Jerami Grant (five years/$160M), Matisse Thybulle (three-year/$33M)
Outgoing free agents: Cam Reddish (two years/$4.63M), Drew Eubanks (two years/$5M)
Portland’s free agency is really dependent on what they get back for Damian Lillard–should it be a two-, three-, four- or five-plus team trade with presumably the Heat and whomever else cares to get involved. Handing out nearly $200 million for both Jerami Grant and Matisse Thybulle is unsatisfactory asset management. The Blazers were already considered winners by landing Scoot Henderson, but the next few weeks will truly determine the offseason.
Sacramento Kings: C
Incoming free agents: N/A
Retained free agents: Trey Lyles (two years/$16M), Alex Len (one year/$3.2)
Outgoing free agents: Chemezie Metu (one year/$2.53M)
The Kings prioritized keeping their own happy this offseason, as opposed to adding to its 48-win team a year ago. It shipped Richaun Holmes to Dallas on draft night and made minor re-signings at the start of free agency. The most any team could’ve offered Domantas Sabonis next year was $193 million, so a $217 million renegotiate-and-extend ($195 million in new money) was an interesting decision when it didn’t at all appear necessary. They were another that didn’t get better, so I’m interested to see if they can replicate their season last year in 2023-24, should they stay healthy.
San Antonio Spurs: B-
Incoming free agents: N/A
Retained free agents: Tre Jones (two years/$20M), Julian Champagnie (four years/$12M), Sandro Mamukelashvili (one year/$2.02M)
Outgoing free agents: Keita Bates-Diop (two years/$5M)
Tre Jones for $20 million is one of the most underrated signings for any team this offseason. He averaged 12.9 points and 6.6 assists last year on 53.4 percent true-shooting. Plus, the Spurs were already offseason winners with Victor Wembanyama. They’re still in the rebuilding phase, so I didn’t expect them to have a crazy offseason, but they will be a team to take a couple more meh contracts so they’re not in danger of not reaching the $122.4 million salary floor this year.
Toronto Raptors: C
Incoming free agents: Dennis Schroder (two years/$25.43M), Jalen McDaniels (two years/$9.26M)
Retained free agents: Jakob Poeltl (four years/$80M)
Outgoing free agents: Fred VanVleet (three years/$128.54M), Dalano Banton (two years/$4.22M)
The Raptors, who held onto their assets with two iron fists at the trade deadline, lost Fred VanVleet–their top table-setter, by far–for nothing and backup guard Dalano Banton, who was pushed out of the rotation. Schroder is an offensive-minded guard without (outside) reputable shotmaking or playmaking, even though he applies good rim pressure and is a sneaky solid point-of-attack defender. I like the buy-low move to add Jalen McDaniels, though the Raptors are already overstocked with rangy 6-foot-8 wings. The Raptors appear to be a slight mix between “running it back” and “tear the core down!” with a new voice–Darko Rajakovic, an offensive-minded head coach– in the room.
Utah Jazz: C-
Incoming free agents: N/A
Retained free agents: N/A
Outgoing free agents: N/A
Jordan Clarkson became the third player over the last two years to negotiate and extend his contract, which will grant him $55 million over the next three seasons. The Jazz also sent 45 cents on the dollar for John Collins, who’s coming off arguably the worst season of his career and making $78.5 million over the next three seasons. They have a full 15-man roster and four additional trade exceptions, so they could absolutely be in play as a beneficiary in any Damian Lillard trade sweepstakes as an extra team. Overall, productive offseason for Utah despite the lack of activity in free agency.
Washington Wizards: C
Incoming free agents: N/A
Retained free agents: Kyle Kuzma (four years/$102M)
Outgoing free agents: N/A
As soon as free agency tipped off, the Wizards rewarded Kyle Kuzma with a wonderful payday, but that’s been the extent of their free agency activity. They’ve been active this offseason with the Bradley Beal, Kristaps Porzingis and Chris Paul trades, which has netted them Jordan Poole, Landry Shamet and Tyus Jones with an excess of (mostly second-round) draft compensation.
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