Top NBA free agents ranked, including Kyrie Irving, Draymond Green, as market opens Friday – USA TODAY

With the 2023 NBA draft in the books, it’s time for one of the most unpredictable times on the sports calendar − NBA free agency.
The ball drops at 6 p.m. EST on Friday when players and teams will be allowed to officially negotiate deals. Unrestricted free agents will be able to sign with any team. Restricted free agents can too, but the player’s original team can choose to match any offer and retain the player. Everyone will be chasing the defending champion Denver Nuggets, who have a key player that will enter free agency.
From Draymond Green to Austin Reaves, USA TODAY Sports breaks down some of the biggest names set to be free agents during this offseason:
Despite refusing to get the COVID-19 vaccine and spreading anti-Semitic material, Irving remains one of the best players in the league. Last season, he averaged 27.1 points, 5.5 assists and 5.1 rebounds and was close to the 50-40-90 club, shooting 49.4% from the field, 37.9% on 3-pointers and 90.5% on free throws.
The Sixers want Harden back, but a lot will depend on the length and amount of the contract and how much Harden really wants to return to Houston. Harden can still do some of the things that made him an MVP − just not as often or for as long especially in the playoffs.
The point guard market is interesting, and VanVleet hopes he can capitalize. The one-time All-Star averaged 19.3 points, 7.2 assists and 4.1 rebounds and shot 39.3% from the field and 34.2% on 3-pointers in 2022-23 and brings championship experience.
Middleton has been an important part of the Bucks’ success over the past five seasons, including a title in 2021. However, he is coming off an injury and surgery that forced him to miss 49 games last season − which marked a career-low in field goal percentage (43.6%), second-lowest 3-point percentage (31.5%) and his lowest points per game (15.1) since 2014-15.
At age 33, Green is one of the league’s biggest question marks. Will the Warriors or another team meet his monetary demands in what he can provide in the next few seasons, or will he be paid on past success? It’s about the intangibles and defensive presence Green delivers at this point, as the 8.5 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 6.8 assists he averaged last season doesn’t warrant a max deal.
When Vučević puts his mind to it, he is one of the game’s most skilled big men: a center that eats up space on the floor and can pick and pop from anywhere on the court. A nightly double-double waiting to happen, teams might shy away from offering the max because of his age − he will start next season at 33.
June 28: The Chicago Bulls locked down Vučević’ ahead of free agency and extended his contract on Wednesday. The team didn’t disclose the terms of Vučević’s contract, but his agents told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski that Vučević is finalizing a three-year, $60M contract extension.
No matter where Grant ends up, the team that signs him is getting a 20 points per night scorer and someone who has improved every season. He is just 29 and set a career-high in three-point percentage, making him more of a hot commodity, especially for teams that need a versatile wing who can guard different frontcourt positions.
Kuzma turned into a legitimate No. 1 scorer last season, averaging 21.2 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 3.7 assists for a Wizards team that is now dumping players and salaries in rebuild mode. It would behoove Kuzma to seek maximum dollars and do so on a team where his prolific scoring can help win games.
Reaves earned himself a big raise with his play in 2022-23. After signing a two-year, $2.48 million contract in 2021, Reaves worked his way into a prominent role as a defender and scorer on a team that reached the Western Conference finals in 2023. In the playoffs, Reaves was the Lakers’ third-leading scorer (16.9 points per game) and second-best 3-point shooter (44.3%) and had the team’s best plus-minus at plus-73 in 16 games.
Hart has a player option for $12.9 million in 2023-24, yet becoming a free agent and signing a long-term deal that provides security makes sense for the sixth-year veteran. Hart had some big moments for the Knicks in the playoffs, especially against Cleveland in the first round.
Regular season Russell (17.8 points, 6.2 assists) is worthy of a good deal, but his playoff performance, which saw him at times relegated to the bench, leaves much to be desired. Russell can be a dynamic scorer who sometimes is uninterested in playing defense but can handle the duties of a point guard for a team that needs stability at that position.
In his second stint with the Raptors, Poeltl averaged 13.1 points, 9.1 rebounds, and 2.2 assists in 26 games after being traded from the San Antonio Spurs. Poeltl is more than a serviceable big man who can get you a double-double and isn’t a defensive liability.
After being traded midseason from the Phoenix Suns, Johnson broke out in a larger role, averaging 16 points in the regular season. He’s a 6-foot-8 wing who shot 40% from deep last season, a highly sought-after combination in the NBA. Johnson is 26, young enough to make a big impact.
The 34-year-old big man showed no signs of slowing down last season, averaging his highest points per game total since 2015 and finishing second in Defensive Player of the Year voting. Lopez has championship experience that can be useful on any team and his defense is especially important since big man Nikola Jokic will likely be in the way of any title run. Lopez also made $13.9 million last season and is due for a pay raise.
The former NBA Sixth Man of the Year started all 61 games he played last season with career highs across the board. Clarkson averaged 20.0 points, 4.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists last season. He proved he’s not just a spark plug off the bench, but someone who can contribute on a team fighting for a playoff spot, increasing his value across the league.
The Nuggets signed Brown to a team friendly two-year, $13.2 million contract in free agency a year ago. Brown has a player option, and if he becomes a free agent, he’s due for a bigger deal based on his play for Denver, especially during the playoffs when he averaged 12.0 points on 51.1% shooting. When he he was on the court, the Nuggets held opponents to just 107.6 points per 100 possessions, No. 2 on the reigning champions behind Aaron Gordon.
Barnes had a key role in the Kings ending their 16-year playoff drought, starting in every game last season. He averaged 15.0 points and 37.4% from deep. Barnes struggled in a first-round defeat to the Golden State Warriors, but teams will value his experience and consistency.
Wood concluded the final year of his three-year, $41 million deal with another solid offensive season while seeing his minutes reduced. However, he continued to struggle with making a difference on defense. That alone may be the reason Wood doesn’t sign a major contract this offseason.
Hachimura found himself a perfect role with the Lakers, where he can play defense and get a lot of open shots playing alongside LeBron James and Anthony Davis. He flourished in the playoffs, averaging 12.2 points on 55.7% shooting from the field and 48.7% on 3-pointers.
DiVincenzo did what he needed to do during his one season with the Warriors, averaging 9.4 points a game in primarily a reserve role. But he started 36 games, and now it is time to cash in. But the question is whether he will accept another bench role when he goes to another team or if an organization is willing to take a chance to see if he can become a top-three scoring threat.
Washington had a strong offensive season on the final year of his rookie contract, averaging a career-high 15.7 points. He’s proved he can be a solid rotational player, meaning he is bound for a pay raise this offseason.
If there’s one player whose value took a major hit during the NBA playoffs, Brooks may have the best case. He called out LeBron James and shot 23% in the series against the Lakers, therefore, it’s unclear what Brooks’ market will be after making $11.4 million last season.
Bridges missed all of last season as legal proceedings played out in court, resulting in Bridges pleading no contest to one count of domestic violence. The NBA in April suspended Bridges 30 games but gave him 20 games credit, so he will miss the first 10 games in which he is eligible next season. In 2021-22, he was on the verge of All-Star credentials, averaging 20.2 points, 7.0 rebounds and 3.8 assists while shooting 49.1% from he field.

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