NBA Free Agency Live Deal Tracker: Grading every signing made worst to best

NBA Free Agency signings: Top grades

Suns land Keita Bates-Diop

Contract: Two years, $5 million
Analysis: Excellent value pickup for the Suns, who need big wings to fill out the rotation around Durant and two smaller guards in Booker and Beal. Keita Bates-Diop is a strong, physical defender and he’s a high-30s shooter from deep.
Grade: A-

Nickeil Alexander-Walker re-signs with Timberwolves

Contract: Two years, figures TBD
Analysis: The Wolves ended up getting a lot of mileage out of Nickeil Alexander-Walker’s rangy defensive presence last season. He’s quietly one of the best guard defenders in the NBA and he’s enough of a threat offensively to stay on the floor in the playoffs.
Grade: A-

Kings land Trey Lyes

Contract: Figures and terms TBD
Analysis: Trey Lyles was an important part of the Kings’ second unit. His heady presence on defense, combined with a bankable 3-point shot, make him an easy fit in the Kings’ frontcourt.
Grade: A-

Josh Okogie re-signs with Suns

Contract: Figures and terms TBD
Analysis: The Suns have been able to compile an impressive collection of inexpensive contributors. Keeping Josh Okogie is huge; he started for a portion of last season and he will be an important source of point-of-attack defense on the wing.

Fred VanVleet signs with Rockets

Contract: Three years, $130 million
Analysis: Something might be happening in Houston, folks. Kevin Porter Jr., Amen Thompson, Jalen Green, and now Fred VanVleet. The Rockets get VanVleet, a 19+ per game scorer the last three years. VanVleet was a needed piece to help get the Rockets to contention. If they can land James Harden in a trade with the Sixers, they could leap right to the top half of the Western Conference next season.
Grade: A-

LaMelo Ball re-signs with Hornets on contract extension

Contract: Five years, $260 million
Grade: A-

Suns land Drew Eubanks

Contract: Two years, figures TBD
Analysis: Drew Eubanks was Portland’s best center for long stretches last season. His nimble feet, efficient rim finishing, and burly defensive presence will allow him to anchor the Suns’ second unit. Not unlike the now-departed Jock Landale, there’s a chance he ends up closing a lot of important games over Ayton.
Grade: A

Suns land Chimezie Metu

Contract: One year, figures TBD
Analysis: Rangy rim runner and shot-blocker. Great value as Phoenix’s third center behind Deandre Ayton and the guy listed below. Metu was getting real run with Sacramento last season.
Grade: A

Austin Reaves re-signs with Lakers

Contract: Four years, $56 million

Grade: A

Suns land Yuta Watanabe

Contract: One year, $2.3 million
Analysis: Watanabe shot 44.4 percent from deep and over 55 percent inside the arc last season as a 6-foot-9 wing. Big snipers like Watanabe don’t grow on trees and Phoenix nabbed him for the veteran minimum. He might start and he’s going to feast on open looks while defenses focus on the Durant-Booker-Beal triumvirate.
Grade: A

Timberwolves land Shake Milton

Contract: Two years, $10.25 million
Analysis: Shake Milton was extremely impressive in his limited opportunities last season. He has been one of Philadelphia’s few reliable bench cogs for years and his blend of size and shot-making on the perimeter is worth the investment from Minnesota. He could blow this deal out of the water if afforded enough minutes and ball-handling reps.
Grade: A

Lakers land Gabe Vincent

Contract: Three years, $33 million
Analysis: Lakers upgrade the Dennis Schroder role while paying less than what Schroder eventually received on the open market. Gabe Vincent was the starting point guard on a title team and he’s the exact kind of hard-nosed defender and connective playmaker the Lakers need next to LeBron James and Anthony Davis. Big-time move from Rob Pelinka’s team.
Grade: A

Bruce Brown signs with Indiana Pacers

Contract: Two years, $45 million
Analysis: Absolute home run. It’s a short-term deal and the Pacers won’t be reeling in the big-money free agents next summer, so the financial risk is minimal. Brown might not score a ton, but he’s a proven winner whose basketball I.Q., playmaking acumen, and defensive versatility should connect a lot of dots for Indiana.
Grade: A

Herb Jones re-signs with Pelicans

Contract: Four years, $54 million
Analysis: Herb Jones is already a perennial All-Defense candidate. His extendable arms, razor-sharp instincts, and springy athleticism should make him a mainstay in the best perimeter defender debate for the next decade. The Pelicans have tons of depth and star-power when healthy. Jones will thrive in the playoffs whenever New Orleans can finally manage a deep run.
Grade: A

Desmond Bane re-signs with Memphis Grizzlies

Contract: Five years, $207 million
Analysis: What are people up in arms about? Of course this is a good deal for Memphis, keeping one of the league’s preeminent complementary stars on the books long-term. The Grizzlies have a lot to figure out in the locker room and elsewhere on the roster, but Bane is an elite shooter who has gradually emerged as a legitimate self-creator with his forceful drives to the cup. He can also defend at a high level. There aren’t many players who contribute more efficiently across the board than Bane. Home run.
Grade: A

Tyrese Haliburton re-signs with Indiana Pacers

Contract: Five years, $260 million
Analysis: Max money for a max player. Tyrese Haliburton became the first player in NBA history to average 20 points and 10 assists while shooting 40 percent from deep. He’s arguably the best set-up man in the league already and he continues to improve by leaps and bounds as a scorer. The Pacers have the centerpiece of their next decade. Haliburton can absolutely spearhead a contender.
Grade: A

D’Angelo Russell re-signs with Los Angeles Lakers

Contract: 2 years, $37 million
Analysis: There was thought that Russell might walk into a massive new contract elsewhere. Instead, the Lakers keep him on the books for $18.5 million per year, which adds to a nice string of additions the Lakers already made before Saturday afternoon’s announcement to bring back D-Lo. Russell has a player option on the second year to re-enter the market if he so chooses, but the scoring punch he brings for the price is a massive win for the Lakers.
Grade: A

Lakers hold on to Austin Reaves

Contract: 4 years, $56 million
Analysis: Reaves was going to get paid after his meteoric rise this year, so worry in Los Angeles about being able to hold on to him and D’Angelo Russell was high. The Lakers managed both deals, and several more, getting Reaves to agree to a return at the highest rate possible for the team. At the same time, retaining Reaves at $14 million per year feels like a huge steal.
Grade: A

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