NBA Free Agency Grades So Far
Many have already found their new homes. How do each of these moves stack up?
Paul George to the 76ers, 4-year/$211 million: B+
In an offseason where Paul George was the prized free agent, the Philadelphia 76ers won the sweepstakes. George heads to his fourth team on a 4-year/$211 million max contract at the age of 34 and joins Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey in pursuit of their first championship.
On all accounts, this is—and always seemed to be—a match made in heaven. Philly needed a third star and two-way player on the wing, and things fizzled out between George and Los Angeles, so here he is. The 76ers also had the cap space to get it done, and even with the addition of a $49.2 million cap hit, they’re still under the 1st apron, allowing them to add even further.
The question many are raising now is that of health: How deep into the season—let alone a playoff run—can George and Embiid stay on the court? Granted, George played 74 games last season. But in his other four seasons in LA (not including the Covid-ridden 2019-20), he played 54, 31, and 56. He’s not exactly the model of an Iron Man player, but Embiid is certainly more concerning.
In terms of fit, it will take acceptance of a new role for George to thrive with Philadelphia. Nick Nurse loves to run everything through the block with Embiid, and the continuing growth of Maxey will leave George with the ball in his hands less often. He shot a career-high 41.3% from 3 last season and 43.5% on catch-and-shoot 3s—that is the most important statistic that has to translate. Can he stay engaged on both ends without touching the ball as much, defend the best wing on every team, and possibly be the late-game closer when his name is called?
Even if all of this comes true and George has a phenomenal season with Philly, the 76ers are still battling to be likely the third-best team in the East. Props to Daryl Morey for trying to capitalize on the ever-closing window of competing with Joel Embiid, but it all may be just unlucky timing with how good the top of the East is.
Klay Thompson to Dallas, 3-year/$50 million: B+
The 13-year partnership between Klay Thompson and the Golden State Warriors is officially over. The 34-year-old sharpshooter heads to Dallas on a 3-year/$50 million deal that pairs him with Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving while the Mavericks send two second-round picks back to Golden State. Dallas was among a list of teams including the Lakers and Clippers pursuing Thompson, but at the end of the day, the Mavericks took care of business early by dumping Tim Hardaway Jr.’s salary and freeing the space (while also having just been to the Finals and having no state income tax).
We’ll see how Thompson’s body continues to hold up, but it’s no secret this is not the Klay Thompson of old. The one who used to knock down 3s at a 43% clip while providing elite wing defense is gone, but this new version can play a vital role for a Mavs team centered around Doncic and Irving, similar to Ray Allen in 2013 when he joined LeBron James and Dwayne Wade in Miami.
Thompson averaged 17.9 points last season and shot 38% from 3, but much more went into that than just on-court dynamics. He had to watch as Jordan Poole, Andrew Wiggins, and Draymond Green all got paid after the 2022 title, and after no extension was finished last summer, it was clear the contract weighed on him all season. He didn’t get to play with the joy of the Klay from the four championship teams.
But he has that chance again. It just feels like a change of scenery could revitalize him and bring out the best version of whatever he can still be.
The loss for Dallas comes because they had to let Derrick Jones Jr. walk. Jones bet on himself last season and it worked out as he landed a 3-year/$30 million contract with the Clippers this week, but he provided a nice slashing presence for Dallas off the creation of Doncic and Irving. Without much more wiggle room under the 2nd apron, they were unable to bring him back in any capacity. It’s safe to say Thompson won’t bring the same 45+ inch vertical and athleticism, but Jason Kidd will find ways to adjust the offense.
Isaiah Hartenstein to OKC, 3-year/$87 million: A
Outside of their youth/inexperience, the biggest knock on Oklahoma City last season was its size. Yes, Chet Holmgren is 7-foot-1, but he only weighs 195 pounds. So when faced with the likes of experienced, larger bigs it was difficult for him and the 6-foot-9 Jaylin Williams to defend and rebound. The perfect storm occurred when New York traded for Mikal Bridges and resigned OG Anunoby along with OKC’s abundance of space under the 1st apron, and the Thunder were able to outbid the Knicks by a landslide.
Hartenstein became a vital cog in the New York playoff run that ended one game short of the Eastern Conference finals, with his size and offensive rebounding allowing New York to play through its stars multiple chances per possession. Now, Hartenstein pairs with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in a pick-and-short roll scenario and allows Holmgren to play more on the perimeter where he’s comfortable and growing.
The Thunder had a need and their financial situation allowed them to address it at the highest level in this free agency. With the additions of Hartenstein and Alex Caruso while bringing back the shooting of Isaiah Joe and Aaron Wiggins, OKC will continue to grow and now should be the favorites in the Western Conference.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope to Orlando, 3-year/$66 million: B+
The idea of going over the 2nd apron really seems to be scaring some teams this offseason. It’s why the Clippers let Paul George walk. It’s part of the reason LeBron was willing to take a pay cut to acquire a contributor. It’s also why the Nuggets had to let Kentavious Caldwell-Pope go. Frankly, this was the goal of the new CBA. Going over the 2nd apron handcuffs a team in many ways—they can’t use the mid-level exception, they can’t take on salary in a trade, and they can’t go after February buyout guys. It’s punishing.
For the Magic, it’s beneficial. It allows smaller market teams to go after effective players when the other teams run out of space. With that benefit, Orlando brings in Caldwell-Pope on a 3-year/$66 million deal. There’s a lot to like for Orlando. The roster is full of guys who are long, athletic, and can defend effectively. But offensively, they were super limited last season. In the regular season, they shot just 34% from 3. That number dropped to 30% in the playoffs and that—along with some of the best basketball of Donavan Mitchell’s career—sent them home in the first round.
Now, with promising young talent and cap space, they were able to be in the race for Paul George and Klay Thompson, and they landed with Caldwell-Pope. The 31-year-old is a two-time champion, has played with two of the smartest players of all time, and has shot 41% from outside while being part of one of the most efficient lineups in the league. He brings the shooting that Orlando needs while continuing its elite defense.
Chris Paul to the Spurs, 1-year/$11 million: A-
Mike Dunleavy and the Golden State Warriors tried in every way they could to trade Chris Paul before Free Agency opened at 6 PM EST on Sunday. They waited until 5:45 to finally waive him, making him an unrestricted free agent. By 8:30, he had signed with the Spurs.
Now, Golden State wanted to waive Paul because $30 million for a 39-year-old guard is a lot to commit for a team with a payroll as expensive as the Warriors already had. But getting that guy at $11 million to pair with Victor Wembanyama is a perfect fit for San Antonio. We’ve seen the effect Paul has on other young players he’s been with, and that could be invaluable for guys like Wembanyama, Devin Vassell, or Stephon Castle. He and Greg Popovich will pair to be one of the smartest coach-guard teams in the league, and it’s certain to yield positive results for the Spurs.
Jonas Valanciunas to Washington, 3-year/$30 million: C
Jonas Valanciunas is a guy that many contenders were after, especially the Los Angeles Lakers. The 32-year-old just averaged 12.2 points on 56% shooting from the field and 8.8 rebounds—numbers that only jumped in the postseason to 14.5 points and 11 rebounds per game. He had a real chance to join a team that could compete for a title; instead, he signed with a Wizards team that just won 15 games for 3 years and only $30 million. He’ll be 35 when his contract is up, and unless he’s moved at February’s trade deadline, this doesn’t make sense for either side.
Washington just drafted Alex Sarr 2nd overall, and on a team that seems to have no direction, it makes no sense to put someone over him. Washington just won 15 games (I know I just said that but it bears repeating). On a team that’s trying to develop Corey Kispert, Johnny Davis, Marvin Bagley III, and others while also rediscovering Jordan Poole and getting the most of Kyle Kuzma, there’s no point in burying Sarr behind Valanciunas and newly acquired Richaun Holmes.
Again, if they flip him at the deadline for some real assets, it’s a truly great move. But right now, it doesn’t add up.
Los Angeles Clippers: C
It may not look like it, but it kind of feels like the Los Angeles Clippers have some sense of direction now. They’ve established that they want to be under the 2nd apron, and while they wanted to keep Paul George and James Harden, George wanted a long-term max. With Russell Westbrook also expected to be on the move, it seems like LA is no longer just trying to compile star names and see what happens. It understands that a true championship team needs depth and chemistry while also developing young talent, and it’s giving itself the room to do that.
It also somehow simultaneously appears like the Clippers don’t know how to do that. While they’ll presumably be down to only two stars, they seem to just be spending money on guys they know to be role players without thinking of fit. Derrick Jones Jr. is a good signing who can fill the hole that George left. But Nicolas Batam is an old 35 and while he’s cheap, the roster is full of guys like Terrance Mann, Amir Coffey, and now Jones Jr. Kevin Porter Jr. is another guy that can contribute, but his off-court issues certainly raise questions.
Their biggest signing obviously was James Harden and if they can unclog the backcourt a bit more by moving Westbrook, Harden and Kawhi Leonard can fit really well together.
De’Anthony Melton to Golden State, 1-year/$12.9 million: C+
No matter what they do at this point—outside of trading for Lauri Markkanen—this offseason will be viewed as a failure for Golden State. The Warriors swung and missed on Paul George, the relationship with Klay Thompson became irreparable, and they were forced to waive Chris Paul for nothing.
But Mike Dunleavy is trying his best to surround Stephen Curry and Draymond Green with some semblance of what they’ve had in the past. Bringing in De’Anthony Melton gives the Warriors some decent shooting and athleticism to play behind Brandin Podziemski and hopefully Moses Moody.
Overall, it’s just a decent signing; it doesn’t throw the Warriors back into top-tier playoff contention, but it gives Steve Kerr some kind of veteran option if Podziemski isn’t able to replicate a lot of the success from his rookie season.
There are still a lot of important names on the market as we move through free agency. LeBron, DeMar DeRozan, Miles Bridges, Tyus Jones, Buddy Hield, and more still sit on the board as teams continue to try improving their rosters.