Just a little over a week ago, the Denver Nuggets became the 2023 NBA champions after defeating the Miami Heat in five games. Almost immediately, the NBA rumor mill went into full swing, and free agency began to take center stage as it often does this time of year. In its first week, we have already seen the 2023 offseason bring us the trade of Bradley Beal to the Phoenix Suns as well as numerous big names declining their player options for next season, including Draymond Green and Kyle Kuzma.
On top of those moves, the trade buzz has been electric, and the list of available free agents is led by names such as Kyrie Irving and James Harden. As we take a look at the free agency landscape ahead of the NBA Draft and the time in which the teams can actually start agreeing with players on June 30, we realize things can get very complicated trying to keep up with all of the best players available.
For that reason, we have decided to break down the 2023 free agents into 10 different categories heading into the signing period. We will talk about the best frontcourt players, forwards, centers, and even the players presenting the possibility of signing the best and worst deals.
These are the 2023 NBA free agents ranked by category.
Best Available – James Harden
The 2022-23 season came to an end in disastrous fashion for James Harden and the Philadelphia 76ers. After an inconsistent postseason, Harden and teammate Joel Embiid completely disappeared in Game 7 of their second-round matchup with the Boston Celtics, and the Sixers were sent home.
This was followed by the firing of Doc Rivers as the Sixers’ head coach and immediate speculation on what James Harden wanted to do with his pending free agency. At first, a return to the Houston Rockets seemed likely with the hiring of Ime Udoka as their head coach and a bit of financial freedom to use on Harden. Then, things got interesting when the Sixers hired Nick Nurse and increased the chances of a Harden return.
Wherever he goes, Harden is going to be a big part of that team’s game plan, as he should be. Harden is coming off a season in which he led the NBA in assists with 10.7 APG while still putting up 21.0 PPG on 44.1% shooting overall and 38.5% from three. Harden is among the game’s best playmakers, and even though he has completely revamped his game to utilize his playmaking and passing, he is still a dangerous scorer when he needs to be.
Harden’s all-around contributions to an offense cannot be overlooked, as I explained above. Even with his postseason struggles, I believe he is still a high-level competitor and the best overall player available in free agency. I am expecting a big 2023-24 season from Harden, whether that be in Houston or Philadelphia.
Most Expensive – Kyrie Irving
Despite the skill and greatness of Harden, the most expensive player this free agency period will undoubtedly be Kyrie Irving. It was reported earlier this season, while Irving was still with the Nets, that he was in hot pursuit of a new max deal worth over $196.5 million. The way things look right now, he could make even more than that.
Once Kyrie Irving was traded to the Mavericks in February, people around the league looked at Dallas as a serious championship contender. Things didn’t pan out that way, as the Mavericks went on to miss the playoffs despite boasting one of the best backcourts in the game. Now, Dallas has the opportunity to sign Kyrie back for four or five years in free agency, and there is reportedly mutual interest.
If Dallas does take Irving back, they have two options when giving him a max deal. They can offer him a max of $272 million over five years or $210.5 million over four years. With all of the information we have about the 2023 free agents, no one should come close to that much in a contract, not even Harden, who is expected to take a pay cut that is team-friendly.
There is no doubt that Kyrie Irving will be the most expensive free agent this offseason. Whether the money will be worth it or not remains to be seen.
Best Guard – Kyrie Irving
Just a short while ago, we named James Harden the best player available in free agency. However, that does not automatically make him the best guard available. Let me explain.
Kyrie Irving gets the nod as the best guard available for a few reasons. First, Kyrie is undoubtedly the best shot-creator and most efficient basketball player available this offseason. In 2022-23 with the Nets, Kyrie averaged 27.1 PPG, 5.1 RPG, and 5.3 APG. When he went over to Dallas, he averaged 27.0 PPG, 5.0 RPG, and 6.0 APG, so the consistency is there, especially when we consider his 49.4% shooting overall and 37.9% shooting from three.
Kyrie is a guard I am comfortable having to step in and run an offense that allows him to create for himself and others. As time goes on, I am not as convinced about Harden as a scorer. Defensively, I will give the edge to Harden only because of his ability to defend bigger forwards on the inside. For what a guard needs to be able to do, I would take Kyrie to stick with the shiftier guards in the NBA and make their job from the outside more difficult.
As far as guards in this year’s free agency class, Kyrie Irving is the cream of the crop.
Best Forward – Draymond Green
Although he wasn’t on our original list of every team’s free agents this offseason, Draymond Green joins the list late in the game as the best forward available. Earlier this week, Green declined his $27 million player option for next season, making him an unrestricted free agent after playing his entire 11-year career with the Golden State Warriors.
There are a number of reasons for Green to opt out. For all we know, Green is just trying to restructure his contract with Golden State for more money, or even less, to help the team improve elsewhere. I think we all know it isn’t the second one. He could also be seeking employment elsewhere which would not come as a shock or surprise to anyone.
Whatever the case, Draymond’s value is exponential as a forward for any team he is a part of. He is clearly someone who is respected in the locker room and on the court. His defense, playmaking, and team effort are major reasons why the Warriors are four-time NBA champions as well. On top of that, he is constantly guiding and directing the other four players on the court at any given time.
Green has shown to be much more valuable to team success than, say, a forward like Jerami Grant and Kristaps Porzingis. Those two may be younger and put up better offensive numbers which appeal to the naked eye, but as far as impact goes, they are not nearly on the same level as Green. With his basketball IQ and what he has meant to the Warriors’ championship success, there is no other free agent forward I would rather have for my team. Period.
Best Center – Brook Lopez
When looking at the rest of the starting centers available this offseason, there are none I would rather have than Brook Lopez. Heading into his 16th NBA season in 2023-24, Lopez played some of the best basketball of his career with the Bucks in 2022-23.
After undergoing back surgery that cost him most of the 2021-22 season, fresh off the heels of an NBA championship, Lopez came back with a vengeance in 2022-23. He started 78 of 82 games for Milwaukee this past season, averaging 15.9 PPG, the most of his career since 2016-17 with the Nets. He also shot a career-best 37.4% from three on 4.4 attempts.
Lopez also raised his stock with his play on the defensive end averaging 2.5 BPG and finishing as a finalist for the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year award. Lopez and the Bucks have a mutual interest in another contract, but it remains unknown if the money will be enough to bring him back. The most they can offer him is three years and $54 million, which could be enough to keep him in Milwaukee until the end of his career.
Stock Went Up – Bruce Brown
One of the biggest reasons that the Denver Nuggets won the NBA championship in 2023, aside from the duo of Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokic, was the depth and outstanding play off their bench. Numerous role players stepped up on both ends of the floor to make timely plays and come through for Denver en route to the title.
One of Denver’s biggest contributors off the bench was Bruce Brown in his first season with the team. In 20 games off the bench during the NBA playoffs, Brown averaged 12.0 PPG, 4.0 RPG, and 1.1 SPG throughout the entire postseason. Beyond the numbers, though, Brown was a spark of energy all season long for the Nuggets as they delivered the first championship in team history.
Earlier this week, Brown declined his $6.8 million player option for next season, becoming an unrestricted free agent. Brown has expressed the desire to stay in Denver, but it will cost more money as he proved his worth ten-fold this season. For Denver’s sake, I hope they re-sign him but in the event they don’t, one team will be getting one of the best glue guys in the entire league.
Stock Went Down – Dillon Brooks
Believe it or not, it wasn’t that long ago when Dillon Brooks, formerly of the Memphis Grizzlies, was viewed as one of the better role players in the game. Over the last two years, things have changed drastically, coming from Brooks’ own words and his own actions.
In 2021 and 2022, Brooks was one of the catalysts behind Memphis’ rise to the top of the Western Conference standings. He was a decent three-point shooter and near-elite defender whose game fits the Grizzlies’ system perfectly. In 2022-23, things began to change both on and off the court.
From Brooks’ on-court arguments with Shannon Sharpe to his public comments about Draymond Green and LeBron James, Brooks began to take the villain role to an entirely new level. The final straw for Memphis was clearly this past playoff run that saw the Grizzlies eliminated by the Lakers in the first round. Brooks’ repeated attacks on LeBron James backfired as James thrived, and Brooks struggled to the tune of just 10.5 PPG on 31.2% shooting overall and 23.8% from three.
Any player who talks as much as Brooks but fails to back it up is a player that any team considering a run at a championship should stay far away from. Regardless, there will be an NBA franchise that brings him in. Let’s just hope it doesn’t backfire on them as the 2022-23 playoffs did for Brooks.
Most Overvalued – Grant Williams
When gauging how overvalued an NBA free agent may be, you have to take a look at the rumors swirling around their names. Earlier this season, Grant Williams of the Boston Celtics, who is a restricted free agent, declined an offer from Boston for a $12.2 million deal at the mid-level exception, letting the team know that he was going to at least listen to offers outside of Beantown.
Williams proceeded to have an up-and-down season that concluded with an enormously disappointing playoff run. Despite the run of bad luck, Williams has drawn interest from several teams that could surpass the mid-level exception and force Boston to either pay a steep price or let him walk.
Williams was a big part of Boston’s run to the 2022 NBA Finals, and I am sure they would love to keep him around for a while. However, there is a cap that has to be set on a player like Williams, who has yet to show consistency worth anything over the mid-level exception. Right now, Williams is definitely the most overvalued if teams are considering going over that mark in order to force him away from Boston.
Money Deal – Austin Reaves
Whether it is warranted or not, Lakers restricted free agent Austin Reaves is set to make a ton of money this offseason. As a restricted free agent, Reaves has the right to sign any offer sheet with any of the other 29 teams in the NBA. Then, if the Lakers want to, they can match that offer sheet in order to retain Reaves and keep him in L.A.
The Lakers have said that anything up to $100 million is what they would be willing to do to keep Reaves on their squad next season and beyond. As we have heard from reports, there are teams, including the Spurs and Rockets, who may be willing to exceed those numbers in order to pry him away from the Lakers.
Reaves had a breakout season in 2022-23, averaging 13.0 PPG on 52.9% shooting during the regular season. In the NBA playoffs, his price tag seemed to increase with his production. Reaves averaged 16.9 PPG, 4.4 RPG, and 4.6 APG on 44.3% shooting from three as the Lakers advanced to the Western Conference Finals. It is clear that Reaves is going to become a very rich man with his basketball deal this summer after inking a $1 million deal annually with shoe company Rigorer this offseason already. Will he be in purple and gold in 2023-24?
Yes, but only for the right price.
Best Price – Russell Westbrook
After a nightmare stay in Los Angeles with the Lakers for the 2021-22 season and part of 2022-23, Russell Westbrook was finally set free at this year’s trade deadline. After being bought out by the Jazz, Westbrook signed for the rest of the season with the Clippers for just $500,000, while Utah paid the rest of his $47 million salary.
During the NBA playoffs, when Kawhi Leonard and Paul George both went down with injuries, Westbrook proved he could still be a contributor on any NBA team. Ok, well, maybe besides the Lakers. He averaged 23.6 PPG, 7.6 RPG, and 7.4 APG in the NBA playoffs as the Suns eliminated the Clippers in five games. Heading into the offseason, Westbrook has some decisions to make basketball-wise, and financially.
The Los Angeles Clippers, along with every other team, know that the veteran’s minimum is on the table for Westbrook this offseason. The Clippers can offer him the veteran’s minimum of $3.6 million, or he can fetch the mid-level exception which is projected to be around $11.7 million this summer. Obviously, Westbrook cares most about comfort and his family, so staying in Los Angeles could end up being the best fit for him and the team itself. That is unless Westbrook still cares about the money and accepts a team that overpays just a bit for his services. Whether it is the veteran’s minimum or mid-level exception, teams are getting one heck of a deal for a Hall of Fame point guard.
We sincerely appreciate and respect you as a reader of our site. It would help us a lot if you follow us on Google News because of the latest update.
Thanks for following us. We really appreciate your support.
