The NBA market has heated up with the arrival of new contracts in the first hours of free agency. A day after players could officially negotiate with new teams, 18 of the 25 most prominent free agents have already found a place. Despite this, there are available players who could make a difference next season and beyond. The updated list of the top 10 free agents is mainly divided into two categories: restricted free agents who will have difficulty getting offers due to lack of salary space, and pivots who are still deciding their next destination. Additionally, there are important names available, including future Hall of Famers like Chris Paul and Russell Westbrook. Let’s analyze what these players can bring to their new teams, the destinations they could fit, and some undervalued players who haven’t signed yet.
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1. Josh Giddey
Position: BaseSituation: Restricted Free Agent After the All-Star break, Giddey showed an impressive performance, averaging 21.2 points, 10.7 rebounds, and 9.3 assists, with 50% field goal accuracy and 46% from three-pointers. Although that level of three-point accuracy is likely not sustainable, Giddey reached a career high of 38% during the regular season, which changed the way opponents defended him. Giddey, who turns 23 in October, has time to continue developing his game and have a greater impact in the playoffs.Possible destinations: Unless the Nets decide to extend him an offer, we could be at a standstill. Giddey’s biggest asset is playing this season with his $11.1 million qualifying offer, but that would mean leaving a lot of guaranteed money on the table. Unlike Patrick Williams’ restricted free agency last year, the Bulls don’t seem inclined to negotiate against themselves this time.2. Quentin Grimes
Position: Guard/ForwardSituation: Restricted Free Agent Like Giddey, Grimes’ performance improved after the All-Star break, in this case due to a trade to the Sixers, who were playing without stars like Paul George, Joel Embiid, and Tyrese Maxey due to injuries. Grimes averaged 21.9 points with high efficiency (59.2% true shooting percentage), along with 4.5 assists and 5.2 rebounds in 28 games with Philadelphia.Possible destinations: While the mid-level exception for non-taxpayers is a viable offer for Grimes, it’s unclear which team would be willing to offer it. Most teams with the mid-level exception don’t need Grimes. Chicago would make sense, but the Bulls are busy dealing with Giddey’s restricted free agency. Would the Wizards make an offer to Grimes just to potentially trade him later?3. Deandre Ayton
Position: PivotSituation: Unrestricted Free Agent After agreeing to a buyout with the Blazers on the eve of free agency, Ayton is an interesting option for teams in need of a starting center. They can convince themselves that Ayton will have a financial incentive to play with the kind of focus we saw in 2020-21, when he helped the Suns reach the NBA Finals. Since then, Ayton’s stats have remained relatively consistent. He has averaged a double-double in each season of his NBA career. However, his efficiency has gone in the wrong direction, and now that two teams have gotten rid of him, it’s a worrying sign.Possible destinations: The Pacers and Lakers are the two teams looking for a starting center. Indiana signed Ayton with a maximum offer as a restricted free agent in the summer of 2022 and could now get him using the non-taxpayer mid-level exception to replace Myles Turner, and the Lakers could offer a starting position in a glamorous market playing alongside Luka Doncic and LeBron James.4. Jonathan Kuminga
Position: Small ForwardSituation: Restricted Free Agent After starting the playoffs out of Steve Kerr’s rotation, Kuminga became a key player with Stephen Curry out against the Timberwolves in the second round. Kuminga averaged 24.3 points in the last four games of the series, shooting 55% from the field. At 22 years old, Kuminga should become a more consistent player over time. But that’s more likely with a team other than the Warriors, given how Kuminga’s skill set overlaps with those of Jimmy Butler III and Draymond Green.Possible destinations: Of the three restricted free agents on the list, Kuminga seems the most likely to be traded via a sign-and-trade deal if Golden State can find someone who helps more to compete for a championship. The Bulls are a logical fit, and the Heat have also been linked to Kuminga.5. Chris Paul
Position: BaseSituation: Unrestricted Free Agent Paul, who turned 40 in May, was one of six NBA players who played all 82 games last season. Although his average of 8.8 points was the lowest of his career, he still ranked in the 82nd percentile in points per direct opportunity among players who received at least 1,000 screens with the ball, according to GeniusIQ tracking. A return to San Antonio doesn’t seem to be in the cards after the Spurs added Dylan Harper, the second pick, to a large number of ball handlers on their roster.Possible destinations: Proximity to Paul’s home in Los Angeles during the offseason could be as important to him as the fit in basketball. According to reports, Paul is considering returning to the Clippers, who have a portion of their non-taxpayer mid-level exception available after signing center Brook Lopez, as well as the Suns. Limited by the second apron, Phoenix could only sign Paul for the veteran minimum.
