With the NBA season over, it’s already time to turn to the “ free agency », which will shake up the first days of July. This year, it will begin on the night of Sunday June 30 to Monday July 1, at midnight in France (and 6 p.m. in New York).
As always, the signatures will become official once the moratorium period is lifted, one week later, on July 6 at 6 p.m. in France (and noon in New York).
After the Top 10 of the best playmakers and backs available on the market this summer, it's time for wingers. Undoubtedly the most well-stocked position, with two All-Star caliber players, as well as very good starters and role players. Since last night, OG Anunoby has left this section…
1 – Paul George (34 years old – player option – Los Angeles Clippers)
Stats 2023–24 (regular season): 22.6 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.5 steals
Stats 2023–24 (playoffs): 19.5 points, 6.8 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 1.2 steals
The vagueness reigns around the name of Paul George, undoubtedly THE domino that will rock the entire offseason. Will stay, won't stay with the Clippers? Impossible to say at the moment and all options are on the table. What is certain is that “PG13” has the cards in hand, since he can play his player option to test the market, or stay as such to continue a year in Los Angeles or force a transfer. Several franchises are reportedly interested in his services, including the Sixers and Joel Embiid, but Angelenos cannot afford to lose it for free in any case…
2 – LeBron James (39 years old – player option – Los Angeles Lakers)
Stats 2023–24 (regular season): 25.7 points, 8.3 assists, 7.3 rebounds and 1.3 steals
Stats 2023–24 (playoffs): 27.8 points, 6.8 rebounds, 8.8 assists and 2.4 steals
The “King” should give up on his “player option” but the Lakers are determined to extend it, for a contract worth $160 million over three years. It's difficult in these conditions to imagine him leaving Los Angeles, even if his son Bronny is drafted elsewhere and he would have liked to accompany his first steps.
3 – DeMar DeRozan (34 years old – unprotected – Chicago Bulls)
Stats 2023–24 (regular season): 24.0 points, 5.3 assists, 4.3 rebounds and 1.1 steals
Always productive and available, DeMar DeRozan has unfortunately not had the chance to play on a competitive team for several years now. His wish will undoubtedly be to join a candidate for the playoffs, not to say for the title, but as it stands, the market seems closed and, the more the days pass, the more an extension in Chicago takes shape. In the event, of course, that the leaders of Illinois prove sufficiently generous financially, even if they begin their reconstruction little by little…
4 – Kelly Oubre Jr. (28 years old – unprotected – Philadelphia Sixers)
Stats 2023–24 (regular season): 15.4 points, 5.0 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.1 steals
Stats 2023–24 (playoffs): 13.2 points, 4.0 rebounds, 1.8 steals, 1.7 assists and 1.2 blocks
A nice surprise of the Sixers' season, Kelly Oubre Jr. didn't take long to establish himself in the starting five, thanks to his scoring skills and athleticism, always appreciated in modern basketball. We must now expect to see him take advantage of his great 2023/24 campaign to obtain much more than the minimum salary, as he did a year ago. Philadelphia's management would like to keep him, but at what price? The competition will be tough and the winger will not fail to raise the stakes…
5 – Buddy Hield (31 years old – unprotected – Philadelphia Sixers)
Stats 2023–24 (regular season): 12.1 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.8 assists
Stats 2023–24 (playoffs): 5.5 points and 1.3 rebounds
He too is coming off a (half) season with the Sixers but, unlike Kelly Oubre Jr, nothing suggests that Buddy Hield will return to Pennsylvania. Because, even if he remains one of the best shooters in the league, the Bahamian disappeared from Nick Nurse's rotation in the playoffs, because of his inability to defend and score from afar. Under these conditions, he will not be a priority in Philadelphia and some title contenders will rush to seduce him as soon as the market opens, since his profile remains attractive in today's NBA.
6 – Caleb Martin (28 years old – player option – Miami Heat)
Stats 2023–24 (regular season): 10.0 points, 4.4 rebounds and 2.2 assists
Stats 2023–24 (playoffs): 11.6 points, 3.6 rebounds and 1.4 assists
7 – Derrick Jones Jr. (27 years old – unprotected – Dallas Mavericks)
2023–24 stats (regular season): 8.6 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.0 assists
Stats 2023–24 (playoffs): 9.1 points, 3.5 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 1.0 blocks
8 – Saddiq Bey (25 years old – protected – Atlanta Hawks)
Stats 2023–24 (regular season): 13.7 points, 6.5 rebounds and 1.5 assists
9 – Royce O’Neale (31 years old – unprotected – Phoenix Suns)
Stats 2023–24 (regular season): 7.7 points, 4.8 rebounds and 2.8 assists
Stats 2023–24 (playoffs): 5.0 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.0 assists
10 – Isaac Okoro (23 years old – protected – Cleveland Cavaliers)
2023–24 stats (regular season): 9.4 points, 3.0 rebounds and 1.9 assists
Stats 2023–24 (playoffs): 5.5 points, 1.8 rebounds and 1.1 assists
Mentions : Gordon Hayward (Thunder), Nicolas Batum (Sixers), Sam Hauser (Celtics), Simone Fontecchio (Pistons), Naji Marshall (Pelicans), Joe Ingles (Magic), Torrey Craig (Bulls), Doug McDermott (Pacers), Cedi Osman (Spurs), Reggie Bullock (Rockets), Cam Reddish (Lakers), Robert Covington (Sixers), Jae'Sean Tate (Rockets)…
