NBA free agents 2023 Big Board: Ranking top 50 players, including … – Sporting News

NBA free agency is right around the corner, set to kick off on Friday, June 30. There are some good players sitting at the top of this list, and there will be a lot of turnover on rosters throughout the league.
The Hornets, Jazz, Magic, Pacers, Pistons, Rockets, Spurs and Kings are all expected to have cap space to go for some of these big names. And plenty of other teams should be able to squeeze in a rotation player or two with their mid-level exceptions.
Many players who were projected to be free agents such as Kristaps Porzingis and Gary Trent Jr. have opted into the final years of their contracts, taking them out of this class. That’s why you won’t see them on this list.
Here are the top 50 free agents for the summer of 2023.
NBA DRAFT GRADES: Ranking all 30 teams from Spurs to Clippers
1. James Harden | Status: Player option
Playoff failures aside, Harden is still a fantastic regular season player. He’s adjusted well to playing alongside Joel Embiid and taking on more of a facilitator role, averaging 21.0 points, a league-leading 10.7 assists and 6.1 rebounds per game last season.
Harden is still a premier player in the league. It’s possible he declines his $35.6 million player option to either negotiate a new deal with the Sixers or move elsewhere.
UPDATE: Harden has opted into his contract and requested a trade.
2. Kyrie Irving | Status: Unrestricted free agent
When Irving has been on the floor, he’s been an extremely productive offensive player. He averaged 27.1 points in 60 games with the Nets and Mavericks.
Irving is an elite shooter. At 49.4 percent from the field, 37.9 percent from deep and 90.5 percent from the line, he narrowly missed the hallowed 50/40/90 club.
Irving does have his fair share of off-court distractions and injuries. He’s only surpassed 70 games played in three of his 12 seasons. Despite that baggage, the Mavericks are expected to pony up to retain his services if he doesn’t decide to go elsewhere.
3. Khris Middleton | Status: Unrestricted free agent
Middleton is coming off a down year in which he played only 33 games. He’s also lost a step defensively.
But at 31, he still has a few good years left as a secondary scoring option. He was an All-Star in his last healthy season, averaging 20.1 points per game.
He declined his $40.4 million player option, making him an unrestricted free agent.
4. Draymond Green | Status: Unrestricted free agent
Green declined his $27.6 million player option, making him one of the top unrestricted free agents on the market.
Green is still a world-class defender. He finished in fourth place in Defensive Player of the Year voting and made his eighth All-Defensive Team.
The Warriors could bring him back, but they will face a very hefty luxury tax payment if they choose to. He could realistically be the biggest free agent to switch teams.
5. Fred VanVleet | Status: Unrestricted free agent
VanVleet chose to decline his $22.8 million player option in order to seek a bigger deal. He had a down year shooting the ball, but he still averaged 19.3 points and 7.2 assists per game.
He’s a tough defender and a heady player that was an All-Star in 2022.
6. Jerami Grant | Status: Unrestricted free agent
Grant is widely expected to re-sign with the Trail Blazers, who acquired him via trade last year. But maybe another team could swoop in with a big offer.
Grant is a good two-way player. He averaged 20.5 points per game and shot a very strong 40.1 percent from beyond the arc. He has good length and strength to guard some of the toughest wings in the league. He should get a huge payday.
7. Brook Lopez | Status: Unrestricted free agent
Lopez is one of the best defensive big men in the game, finishing as the runner-up in the Defensive Player of the Year race last season. He offers elite rim protection and volume 3-point shooting, which is an exceedingly rare combination.
At age 35 and with back issues that kept him out of most of the 2021-22 season, a long-term deal is a bit of a concern. But he should still be a very good player next season.
8. Cameron Johnson | Status: Restricted free agent
Johnson is one of the few young 3-and-D wings available. At 27 years old and a career 39.3 percent 3-point shooter, he is going to get paid.
Johnson reportedly turned down an extension with the Suns worth around $70 million, per Hoops Hype’s Michael Scotto, and The Athletic’s Alex Schiffer has heard that his market is more than $20 million per year. After trading for him at the deadline, the Nets will try to retain him and have the right to match any deal offered to him.
9. Austin Reaves | Status: Restricted free agent
Reaves has one of the most complicated free agency situations in the league.
The Lakers can keep him, but they will probably have to match an offer sheet from another team to do so. He’s a proven postseason scorer, averaging 16.9 points and 4.6 assists for the Lakers during last season’s playoff run.
The Lakers have indicated that they will match any offer sheet given to Reaves. That could cost them around $100 million over the next four seasons.
10. Nikola Vucevic | Status: Unrestricted free agent
The Bulls gave up a haul to trade for Vucevic, who is no longer an All-Star caliber center but still a good scorer, averaging 17.6 points per game last season. He’s also a solid passer and shooter. He’s been a workhorse, playing all 82 games last season.
Vucevic doesn’t have good tools as a defender, but he can execute a team’s scheme capably without making mental mistakes. At age 32, he’s got a couple years of being a plus starter left in him.
11. Jakob Poeltl | Status: Unrestricted free agent
The Raptors traded a first-round pick to acquire Poeltl at last season’s deadline, so the chances are that they will try to keep him.
Poeltl made that Raptors team better, and that’s what he’s always done as a glue guy. He’s a great defender, a good passer and a solid roll man.
He does have limitations as a shooter and at the free throw line, where he can be a liability at the end of games.
12. D’Angelo Russell | Status: Unrestricted free agent
Russell was looking like a great bet to return to the Lakers before the postseason. But some shaky games have his future looking murkier.
Russell is a good shooter and scorer, but he does have issues with shot selection at times. He was also targeted on defense in the playoffs.
13. Kyle Kuzma | Status: Unrestricted free agent
Kuzma has turned into a good all-around player in Washington. He averaged a career-high 21.2 points per game last season. He’s also added some passing chops, dishing out a career-high 3.7 assists per game. At 6-9, he has good size and has become a better defender.
Kuzma declined his $13 million player option, making him an unrestricted free agent.
14. Russell Westbrook | Status: Unrestricted free agent
Westbrook turned his career around after joining the Clippers on the buyout market. He was an awful fit on a Lakers team without shooting, but he proved that he can still create offense and get to the rim in the right situation.
Westbrook is no longer a star, but he’s still a good point guard that can put a lot of pressure on opposing defenses.
15. Christian Wood | Status: Unrestricted free agent
The Mavericks are expected to let Wood walk in free agency. He’s a good 3-point shooter, but his undisciplined defense limited his minutes.
16. Bruce Brown | Status: Unrestricted free agent
Brown was a key rotational piece for the Nuggets, playing tough defense and finding ways to fit in on offense. He declined his $6.8 million player option, making him an unrestricted free agent.
17. Harrison Barnes | Status: Unrestricted free agent
Barnes, an 11-year veteran, can still shoot, score and defend well.
UPDATE: Barnes has reached a three-year, $54 million contract extension with the Kings.
18. Jordan Clarkson | Status: Player option
Clarkson is an instant-offense player who can struggle on the defensive end.
19. Grant Williams | Status: Restricted free agent
The Celtics might not be able to afford to keep Williams, who is a hard-nosed defender and capable 3-point shooter.
20. Josh Hart | Status: Player option
Hart was a nice trade acquisition for the Knicks. He does a little bit of everything on the court, although he can be too reluctant to shoot.
UPDATE: Hart has opted into his contract, per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
21. Rui Hachimura | Status: Restricted free agent
Hachimura played extremely well for the Lakers, who are expected to try and retain his services.
22. Caris LeVert | Status: Unrestricted free agent
LeVert can provide some rim pressure and shot creation off the dribble.
23. P.J. Washington | Status: Restricted free agent
Washington is a good 3-point shooter and rebounder. He has some issues on the defensive end.
24. Dillon Brooks | Status: Unrestricted free agent
The Grizzlies have leaked that they don’t intend to bring Brooks back. He was named to the All-Defensive Second Team, but his shot selection and attitude issues can be difficult to deal with.
25. Max Strus | Status: Unrestricted free agent
Strus is a knockdown movement shooter who has played himself into a nice raise with his playoff performances.
26. Joe Ingles | Status: Unrestricted free agent
Ingles came back well from an ACL tear, shooting 40.9 percent from 3-point range last season for the Bucks.
27. Tre Jones Status: Restricted free agent
Jones is a mistake-free point guard with good pick-and-roll skills. His shaky shot and lack of size are issues, though.
28. Gabe Vincent | Status: Unrestricted free agent
Like Strus, Vincent significantly upped his value in the playoffs thanks to hot shooting and tough defense.
29. Alec Burks | Status: Team option
Burks is an underrated two-way player who brings solid defense and shooting. 
UPDATE: The Pistons have picked up Burks’ player option, taking him off the free agent market.
30. Jevon Carter | Status: Unrestricted free agent
Carter is a tough defender and a good shooter who can’t really create much offense for himself. He’s been a nice role player for the Bucks.
31. Jae Crowder | Status: Unrestricted free agent
The Bucks gave up five second-round picks to acquire Crowder, then didn’t play him much in the playoffs. He’s a streaky shooter with decent size.
32. Donte DiVincenzo | Status: Player option
DiVincenzo will probably opt out of his deal and get paid because of his shooting ability.
UPDATE: DiVincenzo has opted out of his contract, making him an unrestricted free agent.
33. Kelly Oubre Jr. | Status: Unrestricted free agent
Oubre is a good scorer with poor instincts and bad defense. But teams always need offense.
34. Dario Saric | Status: Unrestricted free agent
Saric played well for the Thunder after being acquired via midseason trade. He’s a smart player with some athletic limitations.
35. Coby White | Status: Restricted free agent
White is a good 3-point shooter who has improved as a defender and passer.
36. Trey Lyles | Status: Unrestricted free agent
Lyles is a good stretch big that played well for the Kings last season.
37. Seth Curry | Status: Unrestricted free agent
Curry’s best days are behind him. His defensive limitations make him tough to play. But he can still shoot the ball extremely well, hitting 40.5 percent of his 3-pointers last season.
38. Georges Niang | Status: Unrestricted free agent
Niang’s lack of athleticism has earned him the nickname “The Minivan.” That presents problems on the defensive end, but he’s a good shooter.
39. Lonnie Walker IV | Status: Unrestricted free agent
Walker came on strong in the playoffs, showing teams that he can score the ball well.
40. Andre Drummond | Status: Player option
Drummond plans to exercise his player option. He’s a terrific rebounder and one of the best backup centers in the league. 
UPDATE: Drummond has opted into his deal, bringing him back to the Bulls.
41. Dennis Schroder | Status: Unrestricted free agent
Schroder is a good player when he sticks to his role. At times, though, he can try to do too much, leading to up-and-down play.
42. Malik Beasley | Status: Team option
Beasley is a volume 3-point shooter with defensive issues.
43. Torrey Craig | Status: Unrestricted free agent
Craig has vacillated between starting and coming off the bench for the Suns. He’s a good defender, but he has problems with being too passive on offense.
44. Yuta Watanabe | Status: Unrestricted free agent
Watanabe was leading the league in 3-point percentage for much of the season, finishing at a sterling 44.4 percent on the season.
45. Jalen McDaniels | Status: Unrestricted free agent
McDaniels is a good defender with nice athleticism but a somewhat shaky 3-point shot.
46. Mason Plumlee | Status: Unrestricted free agent
Plumlee is a good backup center who won’t make many mistakes. However, he is very limited in terms of shooting ability.
47. Paul Reed | Status: Restricted free agent
Reed is a good athlete and shot blocker who had trouble finding a spot in Doc Rivers’ rotation.
48. Patrick Beverley | Status: Unrestricted free agent
Beverley played well for the Bulls down the stretch of the season, providing leadership and defensive intensity. His shot has gotten shakier in the past few seasons, and he’s not a threat on offense. Still, he’s a solid backup.
49. Josh Richardson | Status: Unrestricted free agent
Richardson is an eight-year veteran who will play solid defense on the wing and hit open 3-pointers. 
50. Thomas Bryant | Status: Unrestricted free agent
Bryant is a good bench big man who is a talented scorer but has defensive limitations. 

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