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 backs available this summer, a position devoid of big stars this year, but very dense in high caliber “lieutenants”.
1 – Jordan Clarkson (31 years old – player option – Utah Jazz)
2022/23 stats (regular season): 20.8 points, 4 rebounds and 4.4 assists
Stats 2022/23 (playoffs): none
After the best season of his career, Jordan Clarkson should logically decline his “player option” of 14.2 million dollars this summer to sign a more lucrative contract, over several years during the “free agency”.
It remains to be seen whether he will sign him with the Jazz or elsewhere, while the Utah club has just recruited several reinforcements on the external positions via the Draft. We can still imagine that the two camps have a common interest in continuing the adventure together, after a very convincing 2022/23 campaign.
At 31, he still has many good years ahead of him, and his scoring skills will certainly be courted from July 1.
2 – Bruce Brown (26 – unprotected – Denver Nuggets)
2022/23 stats (regular season): 11.5 points, 4.1 rebounds and 3.4 assists
Stats 2022/23 (playoffs): 12 points, 4 rebounds and 1.9 assists
Major player in the title won by the Nuggets, Bruce Brown logically declined its “player option” of 6.8 million dollars last week, because it should receive a nice jackpot this summer.
A jackpot that the Denver franchise will not be able to offer him, unless the player makes a financial effort. It therefore seems very likely that he will sign this fine contract elsewhere, and there will be plenty of options as his Swiss army knife profile is highly sought after off the bench, especially among the teams at the top of the table. The solution for him to stay in Denver? A new short-term contract, with a big check waiting for him in 2024. He assures him that it will not be a question of money.
3 – Austin Reaves (25 – protected – Los Angeles Lakers)
2022/23 stats (regular season): 13 points, 3 rebounds and 3.4 assists
Stats 2022/23 (playoffs): 16.9 points, 4.4 rebounds and 4.6 assists
Rising star with the Lakers for two years, Austin Reaves is the summer priority of the leaders of the Los Angeles club, who intend to align themselves with ” any offer“signed by their 25-year-old back.
Because the boy is a protected free agent, as a reminder, and can therefore sign an “offer sheet” proposed by another club, then leaving the decision to Rob Pelinka and his staff to align or not.
First lieutenant of LeBron James and Anthony Davis during the playoffs, he has become an indispensable part of the Lakers workforce, and should a priori continue his career with the “Angelinos” at the start of the school year. With a long-term contract and a nice jackpot in his pocket.
4 – Donte DiVincenzo (26 years old – player option – Golden State Warriors)
2022/23 stats (regular season): 9.4 points, 4.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists
Stats 2022/23 (playoffs): 5.5 points, 3 rebounds and 2.8 assists
Solid contributor to the Warriors this season, Donte DiVincenzo should afford a big salary increase this summer. Paid up to 4.5 million dollars this season, he will indeed undoubtedly decline his “player option” of 4.75 million dollars to sign a more lucrative contract.
According to Ian Begleythe Knicks are ready to offer him a contract, and they obviously won’t be the only ones as the former Villanova player is a valuable role player for any club.
5 – Max Strus (27 – unprotected – Miami Heat)
2022/23 stats (regular season): 11.5 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.1 assists
Stats 2022/23 (playoffs): 9.3 points, 3.6 rebounds and 1.4 assists
Became an indestructible holder of the Heat at the end of the regular season then in the playoffs, Max Struslike Gabe Vincent, will enter a new financial dimension this summer.
The Heat will probably struggle to keep both, and the shooter, less essential than a point guard like Gabe Vincent, could perhaps be left free to sign elsewhere.
On the market, he will be very courted, and we imagine that the financial aspect will be central in his decision, after a season during which the quality of his contribution was clearly not proportional to his salary (1.8 million dollars).
6 – Caris LeVert (28 – unprotected – Cleveland Cavaliers)
2022/23 stats (regular season): 12.1 points, 3.8 rebounds and 3.9 assists
Stats 2022/23 (playoffs): 15 points, 4.6 rebounds and 2.6 assists
7 – Malik Beasley (26 years old – team option – Los Angeles Lakers)
2022/23 stats (regular season): 12.7 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.5 assists
Stats 2022/23 (playoffs): 3 points, 0.7 rebounds and 0.2 assists
8 – Coby White (23 – protected – Chicago Bulls)
2022/23 stats (regular season): 9.7 points, 2.9 rebounds and 2.8 assists
Stats 2022/23 (playoffs): none
9 – Lonnie Walker (24 – unprotected – Los Angeles Lakers)
2022/23 stats (regular season): 11.7 points, 1.9 rebounds and 1.1 assists
Stats 2022/23 (playoffs): 6.2 points, 0.9 rebounds and 0.8 assists
10 – Seth Curry (32 – unprotected – Brooklyn Nets)
2022/23 stats (regular season): 9.2 points, 1.6 rebounds and 1.6 assists
Stats 2022/23 (playoffs): 8.3 points, 1 rebound and 2 assists
