The 2023 free agency coming to an end, it is time to look toward 2024. And if your NBA team missed this year’s class, it may find something good among these free agents for next summer.
Some of the players listed could get their contracts extended between now and July 1, 2024, but currently, they are all potential free agents.
1. Anthony Davis & LeBron James – Los Angeles Lakers
LeBron’s son, Bronny James, will be eligible for the Draft next year, and his dad has a player option for 2024-25, making him a free agent that can sign anywhere. Davis may do the same via an option for early termination.
Los Angeles has reshuffled their roster four times since winning the championship in 2020. The only players remaining from that squad are Davis and James. And the biggest reshuffle could happen in 2024.
2. Jaylen Brown, Boston Celtics
Next on the list of free agents for 2024 is Jaylen Brown. Brown is not a player to be cast aside, so Boston would want to sign him to an extension this summer. Although the Celtics have the most wins (regular season and playoffs) over the last six years, they do not have a championship backing this claim. And Brown’s weaknesses were exposed in the closing round of the playoffs.
However, he is still a talented and dynamic player, and Boston is trying something new by adding Kristaps Porzingis during the offseason.
3. Pascal Siakam, Toronto Raptors
With Fred VanVleet gone, there appear to be some doubts about Siakam’s future. If he does not sign an extension, then he joins the free agents, and the Raptors lose another important veteran. So there may be lots of trade talks (and/or trade) before he joins free agency.
Siakam had a solid season in ‘22-23, averaging career-highs in points (24.2) and assists (5.8) per game.
4. OG Anunoby, Toronto Raptors
Anunoby has not quite reached the peak of his career as an all-round wing with size. But he was second-team All-Defense, shooting 38.7% from 3-point range in 2022-23.
He is also three years younger than Siakam, so Toronto would value him more if they plan on being a team of the future rather than of the present. OG has a $20 million player option for 2024-25 that he will most likely reject to secure a bigger payday.
5. James Harden, Philadelphia 76ers
Harden called in his player option for the 2023-24 season, and he reportedly wants a trade out of the Sixers. If he cannot sign an extension (with whichever team he is on) before next summer, he will become one of the free agents.
There is no clear reason why Harden wants to leave a team that was third-best in the regular season. But Philadelphia cannot afford to regress with the reigning Kia MVP in his prime, and Harden (although his finishing ability has reduced over the last two years) plays a huge role in Joel Embiid becoming the league MVP.
See also – Harden requests trade from Sixers to form ruthless ‘Big Three’ for Clippers.
6. Tyrese Maxey, Philadelphia 76ers
Five first-round picks from the 2020 Draft have signed rookie extensions: Anthony Edwards, LaMelo Ball, Tyrese Haliburton, Isaiah Stewart and Desmond Bane. Maxey is better than the rest, in a list that also has Devin Vassell (Spurs), Immanuel Quickley (Knicks) and Jaden McDaniels (Wolves).
Any of those athletes that do not sign an extension this summer will become a restricted free agent in 2024. This may be the case with Tyrese if the 76ers want to maintain flexibility. Currently, they have only four players (including Embiid) under contract for 2024-25, with Harden, Tobias Harris and De’Anthony Melton all being unrestricted free agents (unless they sign extensions).
7. Nic Claxton, Brooklyn Nets
Nic Claxton is one of the best bargains and most improved players in the league, on a two-year, $17.3 million contract. He led the NBA in field goal percentage and can defend inside and out. The 24-year-old is due for a big raise (as an unrestricted free agent) next summer.
However, Brooklyn (who does not have many players on the frontline) will not let him get away.
8. DeMar DeRozan, Chicago Bulls
DeRozan will turn 35 at the beginning of the 2024-25 season. But he stays a bucket, he missed only 14 matches in two seasons with Chicago, and ‘22-23 was the most efficient (true shooting percentage of 59.2%) he had been in his 14-year career. It will exciting to see what DeMar will do (in terms of contention, location, and compensation) a year from now.
9. Klay Thompson, Golden State Warriors
Gracing the list of prospective free agents, at number 9 is Klay Thompson from Golden State Warriors. The coming season will be the 11th one with Stephen Curry, Draymond Green and Thompson playing together, with Green signing a new four-year contract this summer. Thompson is next up in terms of free agency, with one year left on the five-year $190 million contract he signed (with a torn ACL) in 2019.
Since coming back from a two-and-a-half-year absence in January of 2022, Thompson played in 136 (84%) of an estimated 161 games. He took just 21% of his shots ( the lowest in his career) in the paint in 2022-23. But, Klay shot 41% from 3-point range.
10. Buddy Hield, Indiana Pacers
Hield is one of the best shooters in the world, not just off the catch. Out of 95 players who tried at least 75 pull-up 3-pointers this last season, only Curry and Malcolm Brogdon delivered them better than Hield (43.8%). Every team needs shooting and Hield still has wings attached to his feet.
11. Miles Bridges, Charlotte Hornets
Bridges missed the whole of last season and is suspended for another 10 games to begin 2023-24. After signing Charlotte’s qualifying offer, he will join the free agents’ list next summer. The last time he was spotted, Miles was a Kia Most Improved Player candidate, averaging 20.2 ppg for a top-10 offence.
Without him this last season, the Hornets were in last place in offensive rating, witnessing the NBA’s biggest drop in points scored per 100 possessions.
12. Caleb Martin, Miami Heat
Martin broke out in the playoffs, almost receiving the MVP award for the Eastern Conference Finals, having averaged 19.3 ppg on 60% shooting as Miami beat Boston in seven games.
Caleb turns 29 at the start of the 2024-25 season, so his peak probably is not much higher than the athlete he is present. But he is just the type of dynamic wing every team would be lucky to have.
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