The NBA season over and the 2023 Draft passed, it is now time for “free agency”, which will shake up the first days of July. This year, it will begin on the night of Friday June 30 to Saturday July 1, at midnight in France (6 p.m. in New York).
As always, the signatures will only become official once the moratorium period is lifted, one week after the opening of the “free agency”, on July 6 at 6:00 p.m. in France (12:00 p.m. in New York).
Here is the Top 10 of the best pivots available this summer, a rather dense position this year, with three starters in the prime of life who could earn a nice check by extending in their current team, then several linings of quality in search, for the most part, of a new challenge.
To read >> The best playmakers // The best fullbacks // The best wingers // The best strong wingers
1 – Brook Lopez (31 – unprotected – Milwaukee Bucks)
2022/23 stats (regular season): 15.9 points, 6.7 rebounds and 2.5 blocks
Stats 2022/23 (playoffs): 19 points, 6.4 rebounds, 1.4 steals and 1.8 blocks
With Khris Middleton, also a “free agent”, Brook Lopez is the Bucks’ other big offseason record. Always the anchor of the defense of the Milwaukee club, the pivot will undoubtedly be a priority for its leaders when the market opens, tonight at midnight, and we imagine that it will give priority to the Bucks.
It is therefore difficult to imagine a departure from Wisconsin by Brook Lopez, even if we will have to keep an eye on the Rockets in particular, who have money and spend and are targeting veterans and defenders.
2 – Jakob Poeltl (28 years old – player option – Toronto Raptors)
2022/23 stats (regular season): 12.5 points, 9.1 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.2 blocks
Stats 2022/23 (playoffs): none
Returned to Toronto from San Antonio during the season, Jakob Poeltl will undoubtedly be at the opening of the market a priority for the management of the Raptors, who nevertheless dropped their first round of the 2024 Draft as well as two second rounds of the Draft to bring back the Austrian pivot.
A departure would therefore be a terrible setback for Bobby Webster and Masai Ujiri, and we can then easily assume that Jakob Poeltlt will quickly receive an extension offer, as soon as the market opens.
He could earn at least $20 million per season, and according to Hoopshypethe Spurs and the Rockets will be the main competitors on this file for the Ontario club.
3 – Mason Plumlee (27 – unprotected – Los Angeles Clippers)
2022/23 stats (regular season): 10.8 points, 8.9 rebounds and 3.1 assists
Stats 2022/23 (playoffs): 8.2 points, 6.8 rebounds and 1.8 assists
Going from weak Hornets to much more serious Clippers during the season, before delivering good playoffs, mason plumleeat 27, is in his prime and can afford a nice contract this summer.
Probably not at the Clippers, where the priority could rather be to recruit James Harden. Especially since the Los Angeles club has almost no room for maneuver financially: the departure of Eric Gordon was also part of a desire to save money…
Financially, there would then be only crumbs for Mason Plumlee at the Clippers, and we can therefore easily assume that he will go and afford a nice check elsewhere. Its options should not be missing.
4 – Christian Wood (26 – protected – Dallas Mavericks)
2022/23 stats (regular season): 16.6 points, 7.3 rebounds and 1.8 assists
Stats 2022/23 (playoffs): none
While the Mavs, obviously not convinced by the experience, do not even intend to offer him a contract extension, Christian Wood will have to find a new base, his 8th already in the NBA.
He should have options but he will certainly have to be moderate in his salary expectations, because he will not be a priority for the franchises on the position. Especially since the next collective agreement will be tougher for overspending teams, which could hesitate to give large salaries to additional players.
But at 26, despite real defensive limits, Christian Wood still remains a player capable of providing good offensive production with regularity. He should easily find a new team.
5 – Dwight Powell (27 – unprotected – Dallas Mavericks)
2022/23 stats (regular season): 6.7 points and 4.1 rebounds
Stats 2022/23 (playoffs): none
Exemplary soldier with the Mavericks for almost ten seasons, Dwight Powell may well continue his career in Texas, unlike his painting colleague, Christian Wood.
It is indeed hard to imagine the Dallas club letting him go, given his importance in the game, he who is a soldier particularly appreciated by his teammates, as a specialist in obscure tasks, such as screens, defense and rebounds offensive. And this even if he does not really have the build of a holder.
6 – Thomas Bryant (25 – unprotected – Denver Nuggets)
2022/23 stats (regular season): 9.8 points and 5.7 rebounds
Stats 2022/23 (playoffs): none
7 – Jaxson Hayes (22 – unprotected – New Orleans Pelicans)
2022/23 stats (regular season): 5 points and 2.8 rebounds
Stats 2022/23 (playoffs): none
8 – Jock Landale (36 – unprotected – Phoenix Suns)
2022/23 stats (regular season): 6.6 points and 4.1 rebounds
Stats 2022/23 (playoffs): 6.1 points and 4 rebounds
9 – Bismack Biyombo (30 – unprotected – Phoenix Suns)
2022/23 stats (regular season): 4.3 points and 4.3 rebounds
Stats 2022/23 (playoffs): 3.4 points and 3.4 rebounds
10 – Mike Muscala (28 – unprotected – Boston Celtics)
2022/23 stats (regular season): 6.1 points and 3.2 rebounds
Stats 2022/23 (playoffs): 1.5 point and 0.7 rebound
