NBA Free Agent Gordon Hayward - Neil Redmond/AP Photo
Free agency seems to get wilder every offseason like in any sport.
The NBA is no exception.
With top-tier players like Jayson Tatum of the Boston Celtics receiving a lucrative 5-year, $315 million contract, that’s crazy money for a player still in his prime.
Additionally, New York Knicks star Jalen Brunson signed a more team-friendly four-year deal worth $156.5 million.
That will at least allow the Knicks some money left over to build a roster around their cornerstone player.
Then you have your more cost-effective, middle-of-the-road free agents who are not the premier players but are comfortable making decent money while having long and successful careers.
NBA: 6 Free Agents That Could Transform Into Stars
1. Isaiah Joe, Thunder – Contract: 4 years, $48 million
This type of signing may not win you publicity, but it’s the right thing to do for your team and organization.
Joe is a solid two-way player who excels at the inverted pick and rolls and guard-guard screening actions.
This was also a great opportunity to maintain a player who was still in his prime and only 25 years old.
It’s one of those instances where an NBA team gets it right by signing a guy who can make a difference to a team immediately.
2. Jonas Valanciunas, Wizards – Contract: 3 years, $30 million
Let’s not sugarcoat it: the Wizards were a special kind of awful last season. The team finished with a woeful 15-67 record and was outscored by 10 points for every 100 possessions.
Suffice it to say, rebounding hurt this team, so why not go and sign a guy with a solid rebounding reputation?
Valanciuans may not be Nikola Jocic, but he is undoubtedly an upgrade from what the team currently has.
Additionally, he signed an NBA reasonable contract of 3 years, $30 million, and can help a team immediately become relevant next year with his frame and talent at grabbing loose balls.
3. Naji Marshall, Mavericks – Contract: 3 years, $27 million
Marshall, a Swiss army knife, took a circuitous route from undrafted to a few stints in the G-League.
Fast forward to the 2024 NBA offseason, and this man has worked so hard to get to this point that he earned a multi-million dollar contract.
Players like Marshall are rare in the NBA, and his journey from working his way up to being relevant in the top Basketball league in the United States embodies living the “American Dream.”
4. Tyus Jones, Wizards – Contract: 2 years, $29 million
He may not be a larger-than-life scoring or playmaking machine, but Jones is a work of art in creating spectacular plays.
In addition, while on a struggling Washington Wizards team, he showed agents and scouts that he was good enough to be a starter on any contending team.
Still, he did not earn a more significant payday from another team, but if he plays his cards right, he could be right back on a playoff team in 2025.
5. Dennis Smith, Jr., Nets – Contract: 1 year, $2.5 million
Although he didn’t develop into the star we thought he’d be, he’s silently becoming a contributing backup point guard.
Therefore, while his size doesn’t wow anyone, this kid is an athletic nightmare to play against.
The scrappy guard can still bring down the house with a Sportscenter highlight dunk.
He is one of the best rental-free agents in the class and can go anywhere that wants to sign him to another one-year deal.
6. Jonathan Issac, Magic – Contract: 5 years, $84 million
Right now, Issac may be the best free agent resigning, not getting enough publicity.
A humble man with dignity and faith has paid his dues in his league, and the Magic finally rewarded him with a nice five-year, $84 million deal.
With a 7-foot-1 inch wing span, Issac is the type of player the NBA needs more of. He’s kind, humble, and talented, on and off the court.
If he can stay healthy, the Magic has found an absolute steal with Issac.
With these NBA: 6 free agents, let’s see how they pan out on the court this upcoming season.
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