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NBA Free Agency: LeBron James headlines 6 best forwards available – NBA.com
These players, who are adept on offense and defense, could shift the NBA landscape if they change teams this summer.
John Schuhmann
Paul George and Miles Bridges are 2 of the top free-agent forwards to watch this summer.
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Many of the best players in the league are versatile forwards who can create advantages on offense while also defending at a high level.
There are multiple forwards in this year’s free agency class, led by the league’s all-time leading scorer. If you want players who can shift the landscape if they were to change teams this summer, they’re in this group.
Here are six free-agent forwards (in alphabetical order) who could help teams next season:
OG Anunoby, New York Knicks (player option)
Number to know: The Knicks were 25-5 (including the playoffs) in games that Anunoby and Jalen Brunson played together, outscoring their opponents by 17.4 points per 100 possessions in 923 total minutes with both on the floor.
Anunoby was a perfect fit in New York as an impactful wing defender and someone who could comfortably play off the ball, shoot corner 3-pointers and attack closeouts. The Knicks were at their best with him on the floor, but he played in just 18 of their final 49 games while dealing with elbow and hamstring injuries.
Anunoby has reportedly declined his $19.9 million player option for next season. The Knicks wouldn’t have traded for him without intending to re-sign him, but he should have other suitors.
Miles Bridges, Charlotte Hornets
Number to know: Bridges has seen a big jump in usage rate from 2020-21 (17%) to 2023-24 (24.2%), but also a big drop in true shooting percentage (from 62.5% to 55.6%).
That drop in true shooting percentage came with Bridges shooting worse from the field and not getting to the line as often as he did two and three seasons prior. But you can probably chalk that up to the lack of talent and playmaking around him. His defensive rebounding percentage of 17.6% this past season was a career-high mark by a healthy margin.
It’s a fresh start in Charlotte, with a new leader in the front office (Jeff Peterson) and a new coach (Charles Lee). We’ll know soon enough if they want Bridges to be a part of what they’re building for the future.
DeMar DeRozan, Chicago Bulls
Number to know: DeRozan has led the league in midrange field goal attempts in each of the last three seasons (and five of the past eight).
The 34-year-old DeRozan saw a drop in his midrange field goal percentage (43%) from the previous three seasons (47.1%), but he still got to the line and remains a player a team can call on to get a decent shot on a critical possession.
The Bulls made a move for the future by trading Alex Caruso for Josh Giddey, who isn’t a great fit alongside DeRozan given that neither is much of a 3-point shooter. But thus far, the Bulls haven’t been very interested in taking a big step backward by parting ways with all of their productive vets. Maybe DeRozan is domino No. 2.
Paul George, LA Clippers (player option)
Number to know: The Clippers were 15.2 points per 100 possessions better with George on the floor (plus 9.1) than with him off the floor (minus 6.1). That was the third-biggest on-off differential among 255 players who played at least 1,000 minutes this past season.
Highest on-off NetRtg differential, 2023-24
NetRtg = Team’s point differential per 100 possessions
Minimum 1,000 minutes with single team (255 players)
George remains one of the best two-way forwards in the league. He played in 80 of a possible 88 games this past season and at the age of 33, he had the most efficient scoring season of his career, registering a true shooting percentage of 61.3%.
The Clippers have been all-in on a championship since acquiring George and Kawhi Leonard five years ago. But the Philadelphia 76ers would surely love to add George to their duo of Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey, and other teams can get involved if George opts into his deal and is available via trade.
Tobias Harris, Philadelphia 76ers
Number to know: Harris registered a usage rate of just 11.8% in the playoffs. That mark ranked 62nd among 67 players who played at least 200 playoff minutes.
If George goes to Philadelphia, it’s to replace Harris, one of the Sixers’ 11 free agents and maybe the most likely to land somewhere else. Harris’ regular-season true shooting percentage saw a dip from a career-high 60.2% in 2022-23 and he seemingly disappeared in the playoffs with that usage rate of 11.8% down from 20.3% in the regular season.
It’s likely time for a fresh start for both parties.
LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers (player option)
Number to know: James was the league’s leading fourth-quarter scorer, averaging 8.1 points in the final 12 minutes of regulation this past season.
The league’s all-time leading scorer has slowed down over the last few years, but not by much. He remains an elite passer and an efficient scorer, having shot a career-best 41% from 3-point range last season.
It seems doubtful that James would leave L.A., but another team drafting his son would add some intrigue to his free agency. If he declines his $51.4 million player option for next season, it’s been reported that the Lakers would offer him a longer deal, starting at a lower mark, but averaging more over the length of the contract.
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John Schuhmann is a senior stats analyst for NBA.com. You can e-mail him here, find his archive here and follow him on X.
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