Technically, most of this year’s top free agents remain unsigned. Until the moratorium in place at the start of the 2023/24 league year lifts at 11:01 am Central time on July 6, most of them are ineligible to sign their new contracts.
However, within the last 40-ish hours, 36 of the players from our list of 2023’s top 50 free agents have taken themselves off the market by reaching contract agreements with teams around the league.
[RELATED: 2023 NBA Free Agent Tracker]
While those are just tentative agreements and could still fall apart, that usually doesn’t happen more than once or twice in a given offseason, so it’s safe to pencil those deals in for the time being and assume those free agents are off the board.
So who does that leave? As of early Sunday morning, here are the top free agents from our top-50 list who have yet to agree to new deals:
- Miles Bridges, F, Hornets (RFA)
- P.J. Washington, F, Hornets (RFA)
- Grant Williams, F, Celtics (RFA)
- Christian Wood, F/C
- Kelly Oubre, F
- Eric Gordon, G
- Malik Beasley, G/F
- Matisse Thybulle, F, Trail Blazers (RFA)
- Lonnie Walker, G/F
- Mason Plumlee, C
- Ayo Dosunmu, G, Bulls (RFA)
- Torrey Craig, F
- Hamidou Diallo, G
- Paul Reed, F/C, Sixers (RFA)
The Hornets are very much in the mix for all three of the remaining free agents in our top 20. As long as their qualifying offers to Washington and Bridges remain on the table, they control those players’ free agencies, with the ability to match any offer sheet they sign.
A report on Saturday indicated Charlotte is also mulling the possibility of an offer sheet for Williams. If the Hornets went ahead with a pursuit of the Celtics forward, it would presumably mean moving on from at least one of Bridges or Washington. According to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, Washington has received interest from a few other teams and may be looking at a deal in the range of the one Rui Hachimura got from the Lakers (three years, $51MM).
Since being restricted can slow down the free agency process for players who don’t quickly negotiate a deal with their own teams, it’s possible there won’t be resolution right away for Thybulle, Dosunmu, and Reed. However, the rest of the players in this group are unrestricted and could move faster.
Scotto also has an update on Beasley, reporting today that the veteran shooter has drawn interest from the Sixers, Suns, Raptors, Mavericks, Bucks, and Warriors since reaching free agency. Some of those teams are limited to a minimum-salary offer.
The Kings and Pistons are among the teams that have displayed interest in Craig, according to Scotto, who notes that Detroit’s new head coach Monty Williams was a fan of the wing in Phoenix.
The following free agents were noted in the honorable mention section of our top-50 list and aren’t yet spoken for:
- Mohamed Bamba, C
- Dalano Banton, G
- Terence Davis, G
- Javonte Green, G
- Derrick Jones, F
- Cory Joseph, G
- Romeo Langford, G/F
- Jaylen Nowell, G
- Kendrick Nunn, G
- Dario Saric, F
Here are our full lists of free agents by position/type and by team.
Priority #1 for Charlotte should be keeping Washington. I’m really hoping to see that happen.
Still wish the pistons would purse Bridges ..I know that B.S he did was terrible, but damn .. he’s the wing we needed the most
As a fellow Piston’s fan, I disagree. What is the ceiling with Bridges? Play-in? Not worth stunting Thompson’s development. Cade is a year behind in development and the crowded front court has to be figured out. Unfortunately, it is another development year. But a necessary one. The long-term picture of the team as is being constructed must remain the goal. Bridges would be a short-term jolt, but no more rewarding then the Blake Griffin signing years back.
Blazers should sign Christian Wood asap
Bridges can help a team. Might get him cheap too.
Wood has fallen seems still falling. This is what crying for a max contract gets you.
Bamba needs tutoring. He should be further along than this. Orlando did nothing for him. His ceiling is higher than Mitch’s imo. Blazers should try and straighten him out. Scoot can help with that.
Bulls should be following this list closely. They still have the BAE left and might be able to grab a big when the musical chairs have stops. They really still need a 4.
Didn’t Dario saric sign with the warriors?
There were reports leading up to the start of free agency saying that he was very likely to sign with the Wariors. No formal agreement yet though.
If it had been anything more than rumor it would have been announced already. At this point, he is most likely getting better offers than the Warriors can give him (assuming they are actually interested).
If GSW gets Christian Wood and/or Mo Bamba they will finally have the size that prevented them from winning it all last year.
Want Sixers to go after Bamba and Saric for bench depth but we’ll see. Harden and Lillard trades looming puts a lot on pause