After getting your thoughts on Friday on the best and worst trades of the NBA offseason, we’re shifting our focus today to the best and worst of this summer’s free agent signings.
While 14 free agents signed contract worth at least $50MM in total base salary this offseason, only one – point guard Fred VanVleet – received a maximum-salary contract. And VanVleet’s deal with the Rockets only includes two guaranteed years. He’ll make about $83.7MM in guaranteed money before Houston has to decide on a $44.9MM team option in 2025/26.
Here are the 13 other deals worth more than $50MM:
- Jerami Grant (Trail Blazers): Five years, $160MM. Includes a fifth-year player option.
- Kyrie Irving (Mavericks): Three years, $120MM. Includes a third-year player option and an additional $6MM in unlikely incentives.
- Draymond Green (Warriors): Four years, $100MM. Includes a fourth-year player option.
- Khris Middleton (Bucks): Three years, $95MM. Includes a third-year player option and an additional $7MM in unlikely incentives.
- Cameron Johnson (Nets): Four years, $94.5MM. Includes an additional $13.5MM in unlikely incentives.
- Kyle Kuzma (Wizards): Four years, $90MM. Includes an additional $12.2MM in unlikely incentives.
- Dillon Brooks (Rockets): Four years, $86MM. Includes an additional $4MM in unlikely incentives.
- Jakob Poeltl (Raptors): Four years, $78MM. Includes an additional $2MM in unlikely incentives.
- Max Strus (Cavaliers): Four years, $62.3MM.
- Herbert Jones (Pelicans): Four years, $53.8MM.
- Austin Reaves (Lakers): Four years, $53.8MM. Includes a fourth-year player option.
- Rui Hachimura (Lakers): Four years, $51MM.
While big-money contracts have the most potential to pay off or backfire in a major way, there were several notable deals signed below that threshold, as our tracker shows.
Brook Lopez (Bucks), Donte DiVincenzo (Knicks), Coby White (Bulls), Matisse Thybulle (Trail Blazers), Gabe Vincent (Lakers), Caris LeVert (Cavaliers), and Dennis Schröder (Raptors) were among the players who received eight-figure annual salaries and at least two guaranteed years.
Bruce Brown (Pacers) received a massive $22MM salary for 2023/24, but it’s his only guaranteed seasons — his $23MM cap hit for the following year is a team option.
Ayo Dosunmu (Bulls), Jevon Carter (Bulls), Reggie Jackson (Nuggets), Shake Milton (Timberwolves), Nickeil Alexander-Walker (Timberwolves), Jalen McDaniels (Raptors), Russell Westbrook (Clippers), and Mason Plumlee (Clippers) were some of the players who signed for between $4-7MM annually.
Eric Gordon (Suns), Derrick Rose (Grizzlies), Josh Richardson (Heat), Torrey Craig (Bulls), Patrick Beverley (Sixers), Malik Beasley (Bucks), Dario Saric (Warriors), and Cory Joseph (Warriors) were among the veterans who accepted minimum-salary deals.
We want to know what you think. Which teams got the best values in free agency this summer? Which players and agents did the best for themselves, relative to you expectations heading into the offseason?
Head to the comment section below to share your thoughts!
Dillon Brooks for sure. Doesn’t look like anyone else would have given the money or length. And the rockets need leadership on their young team and Brooks should not be that guy.
Brooks isn’t supposed to be that guy, that’s what they signed VanVleet for.
Definitely a terrible move…
If the Rockets hadn’t decided to burn money on him he’d be in China…
Kyrie one of the worst. he won’t help the Mavs win a championship. he is not a guy who wins championships unless he’s carrying LeBron’s bags.
Not a fan of Kyrie at all, but what other choice did they have? They sealed their fate when they made that trade in the first place. Sunk cost fallacy and all of that.
And considering the year they just had, merely making the playoffs and making it to the 2nd round would be a win for the Mavs. They could get there if Hardy and Green continue to develop along with a bit more production at center. I don’t think they will be as bad as some are expecting (at least until if and when Kyrie self-implodes again).
Definitely…
It was a bad choice to trade for him in the first place…
But this new deal guarantees that Luka will retire in a different jersey…
Best
Reaves
Grant
Poetl
Worst
Irving
Brooks
Green
Agree with all of these bud Grant – time will tell but feels like an overpay based on what comparable players got paid this summer. I guess they are paying for upside.
Signing your own FA is a given. But if Kyrie and Luka can work. They can be dangerous.
Brooks is not worth it. He’s not better than Hart. Both Rockets signings are over the top. I can see FVV cause they need a lead PG. He will make a big difference.
Rui and Reaves are still getting better. Playing with Bron will do wonders for them.
I like the Grant signing. He’s solid and can transition the Blazers. Into their next phase. Plus they can always move him later. They will be fine after Dame trade. Scoot is the real thing. And he needs talent around him.
Cameron Johnson’s is the worst. He should be a sixth man. A PF that’s the funniest thing ever. Now he paid more than Bridges lol
I mean Fred Vanfleet is the worst then Cameron Johnson in second