The second the clock struck zero on the Denver Nuggets’ championship-sealing Game 5 win over the Miami Heat, our collective NBA attention turned toward offseason activity. It starts with the NBA Draft and then works its way into free agency, which begins on June 30 when teams and players can officially commence negotiations.
There isn’t a major, franchise-changing big fish out there in the 2023 crop, however there are some potential free agents that could certainly make a difference in the upcoming season. The list is highlighted by James Harden, who was incredibly productive once again for the Philadelphia 76ers. He’s followed by Kyrie Irving, who is a game-changer in terms of talent but has an off-court history that teams simply have to consider.
Outside of the top names, there are also key players who may not make the biggest splash over the summer, but can lead to wins once the NBA calendar flips to 2023-24. Here is a list of the top 30 potential NBA free agents for 2023.
Top 30 Potential 2023 NBA Free Agents
1
James HardenPHILADELPHIA 76ERS PG
Player optionDespite his playoff failures, Harden has been productive as the 76ers’ point guard, leading the NBA in assists last season while putting up 21 points per game on his best 3-point shooting since his last OKC season back in 2012. The chatter about Harden heading back to Houston has been loud and consistent, but returning to Philadelphia with new head coach Nick Nurse is probably the favorite in the clubhouse.
2
Kyrie IrvingDALLAS MAVERICKS PG
UnrestrictedIrving finished another tumultuous season by averaging 27 points, six assists and five rebounds in 20 games with the Mavericks, who punted on a play-in spot in the final week. Despite Dallas’ lack of success after the trade, the team was actually a plus-four in net rating with both Doncic and Irving on the floor, which will perhaps lead the front office to make him an enticing offer. If not, there will certainly be teams willing to put up with any off-court drama to secure a player of Irving’s caliber.
3
Khris MiddletonMILWAUKEE BUCKS SF
Player optionMiddleton returned slowly from injury in 2022-23, but looked like his old self in the playoffs with 24 points per game on 47/41/87 shooting splits. It’s hard to believe Milwaukee would let him go considering how crucial he is to the team, but there will be plenty of bidders if Middleton elects to become a free agent. It should be noted that Middleton underwent knee surgery after the Bucks were eliminated from the playoffs. He is expected to be cleared to return by training camp.
4
Kristaps PorzingisWASHINGTON WIZARDS C
Player optionThe unicorn is coming off arguably his best season, and most importantly he stayed healthy for the bulk of the year. Washington has a new front office, so Porzingis will have to decide whether he wants to be a part of the future in D.C.
5
Fred VanVleetTORONTO RAPTORS PG
Player optionVanVleet will reportedly decline his option, making him one of the most attractive free agents on the market given his production and championship mettle. He would be a great stabilizer and mentor on a rebuilding team or potentially the final piece of the puzzle for a contender.
6
Draymond GreenGOLDEN STATE WARRIORS PF
Player optionIt’s hard to imagine Green not in a Golden State uniform, but after last season’s disappointment that began with his infamous punch during training camp, a mutual parting of ways isn’t totally out of the question. Green’s value outside of the Warriors’ system he helped build is hard to gauge, but if he declines his option there will likely be plenty of teams willing to pay up to find out.
7
Jerami GrantPORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS PF
UnrestrictedGrant was exactly the Blazers needed last season, playing strong defense while averaging over 20 points per game and shooting a career-high 40% from 3-point range. If Portland decides to rebuild and let Grant walk, he’ll get some significant offers in the free-agent market.
8
Chris PaulPHOENIX SUNS PG
Non-guaranteedPaul has shown clear signs of decline and will turn 39 next season, but he’s still more than capable of orchestrating efficient offense and competing on defense. If things don’t work out in Phoenix, other contenders would love to have him at a discounted price, but Paul might not be interested in that route.
9
Brook LopezMILWAUKEE BUCKS C
UnrestrictedLopez has become one of the best defensive players in the NBA, and is coming off of arguably the best all-around season of his career. With the premium put on rim protection, he should have at least a handful of suitors this offseason.
10
Nikola VucevicCHICAGO BULLS C
UnrestrictedIt doesn’t look like Vucevic is leaving Chicago, but he’s still a free agent who averaged almost 18 points and 11 rebounds per game. A 7-footer who can stretch the floor will always command attention on the open market, so we’ll have to see if Vucevic ends up there this summer.
11
Kyle KuzmaWASHINGTON WIZARDS PF
Player optionThe likelihood is that Kuzma will choose not to exercise his option and test the open market, where he’ll have plenty of suitors as a big wing who can defend multiple positions and also drop 30 points on any given night. Like with Porzingis, the direction of the new Wizards front office could sway Kuzma one way or another.
12
Jakob PoeltlTORONTO RAPTORS C
UnrestrictedPoeltl was excellent after being traded to the Raptors, as they outscored opponents by 9.1 points per 100 possessions in his minutes. They’ll likely look to bring him back, but should they change course he’ll have no shortage of offers from contenders around the league.
13
Austin ReavesLOS ANGELES LAKERS SG
RestrictedReaves evolved from a useful rotation player to a nightly starter to an essential playoff performer in a matter of months for the Lakers, who have the ability to match any lucrative offer that comes his way. A return to L.A. seems likely given the Lakers’ financial restrictions, but there’s also a chance that Reaves’ price tag simply gets too high.
14
Cameron JohnsonBROOKLYN NETS SF
RestrictedBrooklyn’s direction is a bit uncertain at the moment, but it has the right to retain Johnson for whatever price another team is willing to offer. A sharpshooting wing with size who can run the floor is a hot commodity, and he should be paid accordingly.
15
Jordan ClarksonUTAH JAZZ PG
Player optionClarkson was given more responsibility in Utah this season and thrived, embracing more of a point guard role rather than simply a bucket-getter. That newly showcased skill set could increase his value on the open market, should he elect to decline his $14.3 million option.
16
Gary Trent Jr.TORONTO RAPTORS SG
Player optionTrent is expected to receive much more than his $18.6 million player option on the open market, so you’ll likely see him as an unrestricted free agent this summer. He’s an intriguing piece for any team given his shooting ability and defensive versatility.
17
Bruce BrownDENVER NUGGETS SF
Player optionBrown proved himself to be an essential part of the Nuggets’ championship run, and now Denver finds itself in a precarious position since it can only offer him a $7.8 million starting salary on a new contract. He’s clearly worth much more than that, so the question is whether Brown wants to take a major discount to keep things rolling with the Nuggets.
18
Josh HartNEW YORK KNICKS SF
Player optionEver the Swiss Army knife, Hart was a revelation in New York after being acquired before the trade deadline. He’s expected to decline his player option and will look for a bigger payday with the Knicks. If things go sideways for whatever reason, however, Hart will have his fill of suitors.
19
D’Angelo RussellLOS ANGELES LAKERS PG
UnrestrictedThe marriage between Russell and the Lakers looked great until the playoffs when, once again, he became unplayable in certain matchups. He’s a reliable option for the Lakers if they choose to run back what worked so well to close last season, but a player of Russell’s shooting and playmaking ability would also be useful on many other teams around the league.
20
Christian WoodDALLAS MAVERICKS C
UnrestrictedWood was expected to make a big impact with Luka Doncic in Dallas, but things didn’t turn out the way he or the franchise planned. As a result, he’ll likely find a new home this summer. Wood’s talent is obvious, as a 7-footer who can stretch to 3-point range and finish at the rim, but his defensive deficiencies kept him off the floor at times for the Mavericks.
21
Russell WestbrookLOS ANGELES CLIPPERS PG
UnrestrictedDespite his struggles with the Lakers, Westbrook proved with the Clippers that he can still be effective as a lead guard when he has the ball in his hands. The question is whether there are many teams out there, particularly contenders, who are ready to fork over so much responsibility to a former MVP whose efficiency continues to wane.
22
Harrison BarnesSACRAMENTO KINGS PF
UnrestrictedMike Brown heaped praise upon Barnes throughout the Kings’ first playoff series in 17 years, and he would certainly love to have the veteran forward back to help continue their ascent in the Western Conference. That being said, Barnes is the ideal proven, 3-and-D piece to place on any contender.
23
Dillon BrooksMEMPHIS GRIZZLIES SF
UnrestrictedIt’s strange to picture Brooks in a uniform other than the Grizzlies, but reports indicate that he’s not going back to Memphis. His offense is occasionally cringeworthy, but he earned Second Team All-Defense honors this past season for a reason — he’s tenacious, physical and aggressive. The question is what his skill set and demeanor will command on the open market.
24
Max StrusMIAMI HEAT SG
UnrestrictedStrus was one of the many unheralded members of the Heat that came into the spotlight during their run to the Finals. He’s a knock-down shooter who more than held his own defensively in the postseason, which should make him an intriguing option in free agency.
25
Donte DiVincenzoGOLDEN STATE WARRIORS SF
Player optionDiVincenzo fit perfectly on the Warriors, but he’s going to have to take less than his value if he wants to stay. His player option is for $4.7 million, and the Warriors can’t offer much more than that on a new contract. We’ll see if he prioritizes fit over compensation this offseason.
26
Gabe VincentMIAMI HEAT PG
UnrestrictedThe starting point guard for the Eastern Conference champions, Vincent is due for a major pay increase from the $1.8 million he made last season. If Miami goes star-hunting and lets Vincent go, he would be a seamless addition to pretty much any NBA team.
27
Rui HachimuraLOS ANGELES LAKERS PF
RestrictedHachimura raised his stock considerably with an incredible playoff performance for the Lakers, who are likely crunching the numbers on how high of an offer they’re willing to match for the 25-year-old forward. After struggling from 3-point range throughout his career, Hachimura shot 49% in the postseason with L.A.
28
Kelly Oubre Jr.CHARLOTTE HORNETS SG
UnrestrictedOubre is one of those rare players who can average 20 points per game but still seem like he’s hurting your team. But if teams are looking for production and volume shooting — and are willing to live with the inefficiency — Oubre fits the bill.
29
PJ WashingtonCHARLOTTE HORNETS PF
RestrictedWashington was one of the few bright spots on a struggling Hornets team last season, averaging a career-high 16 points per game. As a plug-and-play stretch-four, Washington should get plenty of attention this summer.
30
Naz ReidMINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES C
UnrestrictedA per-minute stat machine, Reid is an ideal backup center for any offense. He can dominate inside or stretch out to the 3-point line and, while not the most agile defender, he had no problem picking up blocks and steals at a high rate.
