NBA free agency didn’t start out with as much fanfare this year as it usually does. Maybe teams were worried about cheating penalties. Maybe Paul George was slowing down the entire market. Or maybe the new CBA is just too complicated for anyone to fully understand. Either way, things officially heated up on Monday, with most of the top players on the market losing their picks.
of Philadelphia 76ers The Oklahoma City Thunder are primed to win a championship, the Orlando Magic have addressed their biggest weakness and acquired some solid players to complement their young core, and the Mavericks made perhaps the most valuable signing in free agency but lost key players from their 2024 NBA Finals team in the process.
NBA free agency signings are moving fast and we’re keeping track of every signing and trade in our live tracker . Now it’s time to evaluate the biggest free agency contracts.
76ers evaluate Paul George contract
Paul George agrees to four-year, $212 million contract with 76ers
School year: a
Acquiring Paul George for cap space alone is great business for the 76ers. He is an ideal fit between Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey, a wing who can shoot a ton of 3-pointers, play on and off the ball, and take on the toughest defensive assignments. It’s scary to give a 34-year-old with a long injury history a max contract, but if George can stay healthy, he’ll be a perfect fit for Philadelphia. That’s a big improvement over Tobias Harris in the third star category. George will carry the bench unit while Embiid rests and fit seamlessly into the closer unit with the other two All-Stars. The 66ers probably aren’t the favorites to win the Eastern Conference, but if all goes well, they’ll be a threat to win the conference.
Thunder evaluate Isaiah Hartenstein deal
Isaiah Hartenstein agrees to three-year, $87 million contract with Thunder
School year: A+
Hartenstein has been one of the most underrated players in the NBA over the last few years. At 26 years old, he’s an elite defensive center who is entering the prime of his career and can have a major impact on the game without the ball. The Thunder desperately needed some inside strength and rebounding help, and Hartenstein excels in both areas. He’s not a big-time scorer, but his half-court playmaking would make him a vital addition to the likes of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren. This may seem like a high price to pay, but… The final year of the contract is not guaranteed.The Thunder still have Holmgren and Williams on their rookie contracts, but Hartenstein would fill all the holes to help turn Oklahoma City into a legitimate championship contender.
Magic’s assessment of Kentavious Caldwell-Pope’s contract
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope agrees. Three-year, $66 million contract with the Orlando Magic, Chris Haynes
School year: B+
The Magic were one of the worst 3-point shooting teams in the NBA last year, ranking 25th in 3-point shooting percentage and 24th in 3-point shooting percentage. KCP would be an immediate solution to their shooting problems. He shot 42% of his 3-point attempts with Denver in 2022-23 and 40.6% of his 3-point attempts last season. Caldwell-Pope is also a very good defender and would team with Jalen Suggs to form one of the most ferocious defensive backcourts in the league. This is a high price for a 32-year-old and the Magic still need additional shot creation, but overall it’s a match that makes sense.
Mavericks evaluate Naji Marshall contract
Naji Marshall and Mavericks agree to three-year, $27 million deal, Woj reports
School year: a
Marshall is a big forward (6’7″ tall, 7’1″ wingspan) who can protect wing scorers, make passes and grab rebounds. He made great strides as an outside shooter last season with the Pelicans, hitting 38% from 3-point range. He’s not as athletic as Derrick Jones Jr., nor is he as good at guarding speedy guards, but he is a more well-rounded player who would fit well around Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving.
Clippers evaluate Derrick Jones Jr. contract
Derrick Jones Jr. agrees to three-year, $30 million contract with Clippers
School year: B+
The Clippers will acquire Jones at the top of the market after he was a key contributor to the Mavs’ run to the NBA Finals last season. A 6’6″ wing with the jumping ability to catch lobs and quick enough to defend guards, he is one of the best pure athletes in the NBA. He is also a great defensive playmaker and offensive play finisher, and will likely get a lot of setups from James Harden. I like the idea of the Clippers acquiring a player who can make an impact without the ball. This is not a replacement for Paul George, but it’s still a solid move and a long-term tradeable contract.
Pistons evaluate Tobias Harris deal
Tobias Harris and Pistons agree to two-year, $52 million deal, Woj reports
School year: C-
Harris is one of the best bag-getters in NBA history. He’s made $300 million by age 31 without ever being selected to an All-Star team or being on a team that reached the conference finals. Harris is a big forward that fits the Pistons perfectly and can take some pressure off Cade Cunningham and Detroit’s young core, but he doesn’t shoot the ball well enough to spread the floor wide yet. He’s also impactful as a defender. I don’t think it would mean a lot to Detroit, but it would be a great opportunity to get him out of contract in a year.
Chicago Bulls evaluate Jalen Smith contract
Jalen Smith and Chicago Bulls agree to three-year, $27 million deal, Woj reports
School year: Ba
The Bulls needed shots after trading their best trade chip (Alex Caruso) for Josh Giddey, who couldn’t shoot. If there’s one thing Smith can do, it’s open three-pointers. The 6-foot-10 center had what seemed to be a breakout season, making 42 percent of his threes in the Pacers’ incredibly potent offensive system, most of which came on wide-open shots created by Tyrese Haliburton. Smith is a poor defender with little rim protection, which is why he couldn’t stay on the court in the conference finals. CelticsNone of that matters to a rebuilding Bulls team. Smith would provide some much-needed space and still has some potential at just 24 years old. He may not be a great player, but he fits what the Bulls needed.
Wizards evaluate Jonas Valanciunas contract
Jonas Valanciunas has agreed to a three-year contract. $30 million deal Wizard and Mr. Woj.
School year: B-
The Wizards are nowhere near a championship contender, so signing a veteran center like Valanciunas is a head-scratching move. At the same time, Washington needs some strength on the inside, and Valanciunas should help prevent No. 2 overall pick Alex Sarr from hurting in the paint. The 32-year-old center could put up big numbers on a very weak Washington team and look attractive on the trade market in the future. The fact that he signed for half the price of Nikola Vucevic last year makes this deal very valuable, but it still feels like a strange contract.
Spurs evaluate Chris Paul contract
School year: B+
It’s a shame the Spurs seem to be settling for the long haul when Victor Wembanyama looks poised to make the leap to superstardom in his second year. Chris Paul won’t help the Spurs win much next year, but he’ll be a consistent ball-handler to Wembanyama and get out of the way. San Antonio’s point guard play was awful last season. Ideally, the Spurs would have put in a player who won’t be 40 this season, but CP3 has been effective at times. I personally think this move by the Spurs is good, but unless they make a bigger move, their offseason has been disappointing overall.
76ers evaluate Andre Drummond contract
Andre Drummond agrees to two-year, $10 million deal with 76ers, reports Shams
School year: a
Drummond has quietly developed into one of the best backup centers in the league over the last few years. He remains an elite offensive rebounder and can force turnovers defensively with his quick handling. Drummond had a great time as Joel Embiid’s backup in Philadelphia before being traded for Ben Simmons and James Harden, but this move puts him back in a position he was already comfortable in. Paying $5 million per year for a quality backup five is a good deal for the 76ers.
