The 2023 offseason promises plenty of chaos and drama. Keep up with every signing in our NBA Free Agency and see how we grade each deal.
Many of the biggest lingering questions of the 2023 offseason will be answered on the trade market but NBA Free Agency still holds the potential to dramatically reshape the power structure of the league. Huge names like James Harden, Khris Middleton, Kyrie Irving, Draymond Green can re-up with contenders or create new ones by swapping teams.
The action, officially, opens at 6 p.m. ET on Friday, June 30, when teams and players can begin negotiations. We’ll likely get a flurry of announcements in the immediate aftermath but it could days or even weeks for all the dust to settle. And while we’re waiting, we already have seen a few potential free agents take themselves off the market by signing extensions with their current teams.
As all the action unfolds, we’ll be tracking every signing, offering instant analysis and grading each deal. Bookmark this page and follow along.
Pre-NBA Free Agency extensions:
Bulls decide to keep Nikola Vucevic around
Contract: Three years, $60 million
Analysis: Vucevic was better last season than in his first full season with the Bulls but this deal still has disaster written all of it. Vucevic will be 35 by the time the deal ends and presumably much less effective. In the meantime, the Bulls are all but locked into a core that wasn’t good enough to make the playoffs last season. Even if they decide to pivot they’ll have a very hard time trading him on this contract and in terms of the actual number it appears they may have been bidding against themselves. What are we doing here folks?
Grade: F
Naz Reid is staying with the Timberwolves
Contract: Three years, $42 million, player-option in year 3
Analysis: The Wolves kept Reid out of free agency by inking him to this three-year extension. It allows them to keep one of the best young bigs on the market at a very reasonable price but it does create a frontcourt logjam that could increase the pressure to trade Rudy Gobert or Karl-Anthony Towns.
Grade: B+
NBA Free Agency signings: Worst grades
Reggie Jackson re-signs with Nuggets
Contract: Two years, $20 million
Analysis: Denver using what little money it could spend to re-sign Reggie Jackson after he was essentially out of the rotation last season is a bit strange. Jackson bounced from the Clippers to the Nuggets after having his contract bought out and he never really popped in Denver’s high-powered offense. Who was Denver bidding against here?
Grade: D
Lakers land Jaxson Hayes
Contract: Two years, figures TBD
Analysis: Hm. The Lakers need backup center help, sure. Jaxson Hayes is toolsy and worthy of intrigue. There aren’t many athletes like him, endlessly long and bouncy. When locked in, Hayes can absolutely eviscerate shots at the rim and he’s a more-than-capable lob threat on the offensive end. That said, he doesn’t have all the fundamentals down on defense and the offense is extremely limited outside of dunks.
Grade: C
Dennis Schroder signs with Raptors
Contract: Two years, $26 million
Analysis: A lot of money for Dennis Schroder, who was almost out of the league before his resurgent campaign with the Lakers. Still, with Fred VanVleet out the door, he’s primed to field productive minutes in the Raptors’ starting five. Schroder is a slippery downhill driver with a real penchant for finishing at the rim. His lack of 3-point volume, however, is a concern given Toronto’s well-established spacing issues.
Grade: C
Jerami Grant re-signs with Blazers
Contract: Five years, $160 million
Analysis: Jerami Grant had a step-forward offensive year scoring 20.5 points per game, but his defense took a step backward. This feels like an overpay for a team desperately holding onto any sense of relevancy. Grant will have to step forward as an authentic No. 2 option — if not No. 1 if Damian Lillard is traded — for Portland moving forward.
Grade: C
Nuggets land DeAndre Jordan
Contract: Figures and terms TBD
Analysis: If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. DeAndre Jordan doesn’t have much left in the tank, but he’s fine as a bench warmer who can occasionally spike lobs or swat shots.
Grade: C+
Magic land Joe Ingles
Contract: Two years, $22 million
Analysis: Bit of a head-scratcher given the perceived market for Joe Ingles’ services, but the fit is strong. He’s a heady vet who can splash 3s and connect dots with his passing. In 15-20 minutes per game, Ingles is the kind of steady hand and veteran leader who could pay dividends for a young Magic team.
Grade: C+
Cam Reddish signs with Lakers
Contract: Two years, figures TBD
Analysis: Sure. Cam Reddish has flashed ample upside as a smooth shot-maker and quality wing defender, but he rarely puts all the pieces together. He’s a mixed bag who’s worth the gamble on a small contract.
Grade: C+
Mavericks land Seth Curry
Contract: Two years, figures TBD
Analysis: Seth Curry is one of the best shooters in the NBA. He has experience in Dallas, more specifically with Luka Doncic, and his contract has bargain potential relative to his skill level. That said, a smaller guard who can’t defend will have very limited utility in Dallas given the circumstances of that perimeter rotation.
Grade: C+
Derrick Rose signs with Memphis Grizzlies
Contract: Two years, $6.5 million
Analysis: Derrick Rose can still provide some punch as a slasher and finisher offensively, plus he’s presumably a good vet to have around Ja Morant in the locker room. He’s a considerable downgrade from Tyus Jones in the backup point guard spot, but the Grizzlies’ options were limited on that front.
Grade: C+
NBA Free Agency signings: B grades
Sixers land Reggie Jackson
Contract: One year, figures TBD
Grade: B-
Jakob Poeltl re-signs with Raptors
Contract: Four years, $80 million
Analysis: Good value for Jakob Poeltl, one of the league’s most underrated defensive anchors. The Raptors gave up a fair amount to acquire Poeltl at the trade deadline in February, so there was definite urgency to get this deal done. He can’t shoot a lick, which doesn’t help Toronto’s spacing concerns, and he’s not maximized as a rim finisher with Toronto’s lack of high-end point guard play. But, he’s a very good player worth $20 million per year in a vacuum.
Grade: B-
Rui Hachimura re-signs with Lakers
Contract: Three years, $51 million
Analysis: The Lakers were treated to Rui Hachimura’s coming out party in the postseason. He started really hammering spot-up 3s and he was consistently the third or fourth-best player on a conference finals team. That kind of reliability in the playoffs is no joke, but it will be worth monitoring whether or not Hachimura’s torrid shooting carries over to next season. He still has room to grow as a decision-maker offensively.
Grade: B-
Coby White re-signs with Chicago Bulls
Contract: Three years, $40 million
Analysis: Coby White has gradually developed into a reliable role player for the Bulls, delivering on his promise as a microwave scorer while improving drastically on the defensive end. Chicago is wise to keep him around on a movable contract, but losing Ayo Dosunmu would really sting.
Grade: B-
Cam Johnson re-signs with Nets
Contract: Four years, $108 million
Analysis: It’s a little tricky to grade this one as we watch the new era of Brooklyn basketball unfold, since the plan is largely nebulous to this point. I don’t hate this deal, but I need more context to bump it up higher.
Grade: B-
Contract: Three years, $26 million
Analysis: The Cavs need more shooting on the wing, which Georges Niang readily provides. He doesn’t address their defensive concerns, but he will absolutely scorch the nets in the regular season and that’s enough for $8 million per year.
Grade: B-
Cavaliers land Georges Niang
Contract: Two years, $26 million
Analysis: Georges Niang addresses Cleveland’s need for shooters. He’s one of the best in the NBA at spot-up 3s, but that’s generally the extent of his contributions. Niang has made marginal improvements on the defensive end, but he remains a significant liability. Cleveland is paying $8 million per year for a very useful regular-season player who will get phased out of the rotation when the games start to count.
Grade: B-
Timberwolves land Troy Brown
Contract: Terms and figures TBD
Analysis: Troy Brown remains intriguing enough with his intersection of athleticism, shooting, and slashing to warrant an investment from Minnesota. The Wolves need reliable wings. Brown might be able to scrap his way to a consistent role for a contender.
Grade: B
Celtics land Oshae Brissett
Contract: Two-year deal, figures TBD
Analysis: Oshae Brissett is an enthusiastic wing defender and an impressive athlete at 6-foot-7. He’s considerably less impactful on the offensive end. The Celtics will hope his 3-point shot comes around in a big way. He’s a smart low-dollar investment for Boston, who could use another bigger wing defender with Grant Williams potentially out the door.
Grade: B
Josh Richardson makes his way back to Heat
Contract: Two years, figures TBD
Analysis: What better place for Josh Richardson to revive his career than where it all started? Famously the centerpiece of the Jimmy Butler sign-and-trade with Philadelphia, there was once a time when Richardson looked like a future All-Star with Miami. He probably won’t reach those same heights, but I’d imagine Erik Spoelstra will find a use for a scrappy wing defender and mostly competent 3-point shooter of Richardson’s ilk.
Grade: B
Kevin Love re-signs with Heat
Contract: Two years, figures TBD
Analysis: Kevin Love stepped right into Miami’s starting lineup last season and looked at home. His toughness, veteran savvy, and 3-point shooting are well suited to Miami’s current areas of need. It’s a little concerning that he’s the only player the Heat have brought back, but he still has gas in the tank.
Grade: B
Lakers land Taurean Prince
Contract: One year, $4.5 million
Analysis: Perfectly solid wing depth for the Lakers. Prince shot 38.7 percent from deep last season and was one of the most reliable members of Minnesota’s second unit. He can guard a few positions, rebound at a decent clip, and thrive as a play-finisher offensively.
Grade: B
Kyrie Irving re-signs with Mavericks
Contract: Three years, $126 million
Analysis: After joining the Mavericks midseason to the tune of a disappointing absence from the NBA Playoffs, Kyrie Irving will run it back on a three-year, $126 million contract. For a superstar, it’s a solid deal, but Irving likely being close to the decline of his career and a noted public relations headache makes this tough to give anything higher than a B.
Grade: B
Caris Levert re-signs with Cavaliers
Contract: Two years, $32 million
Analysis: The Cavaliers had to know there was high interest around signing Levert from teams around the league but they made sure they locked him down to a two-year deal immediately, per Adrian Wojnarowski. The price is plenty reasonable for a wing of Levert’s caliber with the option to use him in a trade very much on the table.
Grade: B
Damion Lee re-signs with Phoenix Suns
Contract: One year, figures TBD
Analysis: The Suns keep Damion Lee on a minimum contract. He’s experienced with winning teams and he should earn minutes as a volume shooter in the second unit. The Suns’ ability to surround the Durant-Booker-Beal trio with shooters will make the offense very difficult to stop.
Grade: B+
Tre Jones re-signs with Spurs
Contract: Two years, $20 million
Analysis: The Spurs were always going to keep Tre Jones around. While it’s a bit basic to compare him to his brother Tyus, the root appeal is similar. Jones limits mistakes and plays with great poise at the helm of the offense. He thrived in an expanded role last season, but his limitations as a 3-point shooter — combined with a slender, undersized frame — limit his upside.
Grade: B+
Bulls land Jevon Carter
Contract: Three years, $20 million
Analysis: Jevon Carter provides steady 3-and-D value. He shot 42.1 percent from deep with Milwaukee last season and he’s on the shortlist of best point guard stoppers in the NBA. He won’t make many mistakes with the ball in his hands and he add some edge to Chicago’s rotation.
Grade: B+
Kings land Sasha Vezenkov
Contract: Three years, $20 million
Analysis: Strong value for the MVP of the second-best league in the world. There are natural defenses concerns that will follow Sasha Vezenkov from Turkey to the U.S., but he’s a dynamic shooter who can beat closeouts and run some pick-and-roll on the side. He should earn minutes with the Kings. He fits their general offensive philosophy quite well.
Grade: B+
Cavaliers land Max Strus
Contract: Four years, $63 million
Analysis: Great value for one of the playoffs’ top role players. Cleveland was frightfully short on playable guards in their first-round series against New York, and we all know how that series ended. Strus can shoot, defend, and make the right plays within the flow of the offense. He’s going to really bolster the supporting cast around a core that is more than ready to contend in the winnable Eastern Conference.
Grade: B+
Kyle Kuzma re-signs with Wizards
Contract: Four years, $102 million
Analysis: On the backside of acquiring Jordan Poole before free agency opened, the Wizards bring Kyle Kuzma back for a deal that honestly feels below what another team would have paid for him. This might be slightly out of affordable for what he offers, but he brings a real scoring punch alongside Poole that could make the Wizards low-key interesting in 2023 depending on the moves they make around this.
Grade: B+
Khris Middleton re-signs with Bucks
Contract: 3 years, $102 million
Analysis: After opting out of his contract, Milwaukee keeps Khris Middleton with the Bucks for another three years on a more affordable deal. A good, needed deal to keep Giannis satisfied, assuming Middleton bounces back from an injury-defined season.
Grade: B+
Draymond Green re-signs with Warriors
Contract: Four years, $100 million
Analysis: The Warriors officially avoided losing one of their core stars, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic, which is obviously a good thing. However, penning the 33-year-old to a four-year deal is banking on his body holding up into his late 30s. From Green’s perspective, it’s basically the same deal as he had before.
Grade: B+
Brook Lopez re-signs with Bucks
Contract: Two years, $48 million
Analysis: In a vacuum, this deal probably gets an A. The Bucks bring back Brook Lopez who scored more and shot better from distance last year, things he was already doing well the years prior. The rationale for bumping down to a B+ is that the Bucks process to roster building is feeling a little uninspired. After a disappointing early exit from the postseason, Milwaukee runs it back with mostly its same roster now that it has re-signed Middleton and Lopez. It could work, but it wouldn’t be surprising to see this play like flat soda.
Grade: B+
Mo Wagner re-signs with Magic
Contract: Two years, $16 million
Grade: B+
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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