The draft is over and the drama has just begun, as the new NBA league year is upon us. Players are making money as teams prepare for a rapidly rising salary cap in the wake of new broadcast rights deals.
The FOX Sports NBA team evaluates the biggest signings of this year’s free agency class and grades each move.
The players are listed according to their rank Fox Sports Top 20 Free Agents List,
Paul George (34) Signed a five-year, $212 million contract with the Sixers.
grade A-
Sure, that’s a lot of money and a lot of years to guarantee a 34-year-old player with a history of injuries. But the Sixers were in a use-or-lose-it situation with their cap space and bringing in George gives them a legitimate title chance over the next two years, which could be all that’s left of Joel Embiid’s prime. George is the perfect fit With Embiid and Maxey for the Sixers – a big wing who can attack one-on-one, play off the ball and lock down opposing scorers. Yaron Weitzman
Tyrese Maxey (23) Re-signed with the Sixers for five years, $204 million
Grade: A+
No notes here. Maxi is young (23), spectacular (25.9 points and 6.2 assists per game last season), incredibly hardworking and a guy everyone loves to be around. The Sixers get bonus points for locking up Maxi for five years with no player option. — Weitzman
OG Anunoby: Re-signed with Nix Five years, $212.5 million
Grade: B+
That’s a lot of money for a 3-and-D role player, no matter how good he is in that role, but with the Sixers and their max cap space, the Knicks had no choice. And New York deserves praise for bringing Anunoby in here for the absolute max (which would have been for $245 million).
Simply put: Anunoby is vital to whatever the Knicks are building. When they had him on the court last season, they outscored opponents by 23.9 points per 100 non-garbage-time possessions, according to reports. Glass cleaningNow that he and Bridges are surrounding Brunson, the Knicks are a real threat to win the East. – Weitzman
james harden: Re-signed with Shear For two years, $70 million.
grade B
According to a league source, the contract is fully guaranteed and includes a player option for the second season. Harden, who will turn 35 in August, is no longer the player he was, but he is still an effective and, at times, elite offensive force; he averaged 16.6 points and 8.5 assists in 72 games for the Clippers last season. And Harden getting a player option for next season is a good thing. However, the Clippers’ approach here is odd. It’s not that bringing Harden back is a bad decision, but it is odd to prioritize Harden over George. Clearly, the Clippers have decided they are willing to spend money on short-term deals. Only time will tell if this is the right decision. — Weitzman.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Signed a three-year, $66 million deal with the Magic
grade A-
This is a good acquisition for an up-and-coming Orlando Magic team that could use a player with Caldwell-Pope’s championship experience to help its young core. Caldwell-Pope was a key part of both the Los Angeles Lakers’ 2020 title team and the Denver Nuggets’ 2023 championship team. He’s a 3-and-D specialist who shot 41.5 percent from beyond the arc last season, a skill that will help boost the Magic’s 3-point percentage that ranked 24th last season.
With this deal, Caldwell-Pope gets the long-term deal he wanted and the Magic get a player skilled and savvy enough to help them make a deep playoff push after their first-round exit to the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 7 in May. – Rohlin
Isaiah Hartenstein (26) Signed a three-year, $87 million contract with the Thunder.
Grade: B+
The Thunder had a void before entering the offseason and it has now been filled. Hartenstein gives them a legitimate center to counter veterans like Nikola Jokic, and what makes him so great is that he isn’t a cumbersome goofball. Hartenstein, who is a great passer and rim protector and one of the league’s best floaters, is skilled enough to play center by himself or alongside Chet Holmgren. The Thunder will now enter the season as not only one of the league’s most talented teams, but also one of the most versatile.— Weitzman
Immanuel Quickley: Re-signed Raptors $175 million for five years
Grade: B+
That number seems high, but it will look even better when the cap increases due to the NBA’s new media deal. Quickley is no star, but he’s a good combo guard who fits well with Scottie Barnes. In his 38 appearances for the Raptors last season, he averaged 18.6 points and 6.8 assists per game and drilled 39.5 percent of his deep looks. He’s also a great defender, with teams usually doing better with him on the floor. — Weitzman
Clay Thompson (34) Signed a three-year, $50 million contract with the Mavericks.
grade A-
The Mavericks have found a much-needed third option who will open up even more space for Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving. And while Thompson is no longer the player he was before, he’s still a great shooter who intimidates defenses and who can keep his cool on defense. And above all: we know, given the way things ended with the Warriors, he’s going to come into this season motivated. Getting a player like that at this low number is a huge upgrade for Dallas.—Weitzman,
Nic Claxton: Re-signed Net Four years, $100 million
Grade: B+
Yes, the Nets are beginning a full teardown, but the salary floor is there and locking Claxton in on a deal that will become more favorable to the team as the cap rises is a good deal. Claxton is good. He’s been a 12-point, 9-rebound, 2-block per game player the past two seasons and he’s just 25 years old. He’s a bit skinny to bang down low with the NBA’s biggest players, but is a great rim protector and as adept at switching to the perimeter as any center in the league. The Nets can either keep him as a piece moving forward, or, given that he’s signed now, they can flip him for assets down the line. – Weitzman
Tobias Harris (31) Signed a two-year, $52 million contract with the Pistons.
Grade: D+
There’s no reason for the Pistons to waste cap space on Harris. It’s not that he’s bad — although he had some troubles last season. It’s just that given the position the Pistons are in in their rebuilding process, all of their cap space should be devoted to taking on other team contracts in exchange for some sort of asset. Signing Harris to this deal would eliminate those opportunities. Harris could provide leadership for a young, rebuilding group, but there are cheaper ways to bring in respected veterans.— Weitzman,
patrick williams: Re-signed Bulls $90 million for five years
Grade: C+
The Bulls selected Williams with the No. 4 pick in the 2020 draft, and he has failed to live up to that billing so far. He’s averaged 10 points per game over the past two seasons while failing to do much else (just four rebounds and 1.5 assists per game last season). He’ll turn 23 in August, so he’s still young, and he’s a good athlete who has shown a solid stroke from deep (40% on 3 on 3.4 attempts last season) But this is purely an upside play, and a dangerous one given the limitations of the new CBA.
It’s also worth noting that the Bulls front office that gave him this extension is the same one that drafted him in 2020. In other words: there was no chance they would let him go and admit the pick was a bluff. That’s probably why Williams was able to get that fifth year as a player option; he had leverage. – Weitzman
chris paulSigned with : Spurs One year, $11 million
grade B
Well, this is interesting. Paul, a 19-year veteran, will be able to guide Victor Wembanyama, who is projected to be the face of the league one day. On the court, there should be some fun pick-and-rolls. And off of it, expect plenty of film sessions. Paul is known to study the game and watch multiple games every night. He could help show Wembanyama what kind of focus and passion it takes to excel in the league.
Interestingly, Paul, who has never won a championship, decided not to move to a contender after renouncing his $30 million non-guaranteed contract with Golden State shortly before the start of free agency. Instead, he signed a one-year deal worth at least $11 million to spend the final stretch of his career focusing on something else — helping to advance its future. – Rohlin
Obi Toppin (26): Re-signed with the Pacers for four years, $60 million
Grade: C
This is a bargain price, but Toppin got exposed in the playoffs. I would give this signing a low grade but it is a movable contract, so credit to the Pacers for retaining a young asset. – Butcher
Ric Butcher is an NBA writer for Fox Sports. He previously wrote for Bleacher Report, ESPN The Magazine and The Washington Post and has written two books, “Rebound,” about NBA forward Brian Grant’s battle with Parkinson’s disease at a young age, and “Yao: A Life in Two Worlds.” He also has a daily podcast, “On the Ball with Ric Butcher.” Follow him on Twitter @RicButcherRickbutcher,
Melissa Rohlin is an NBA writer for Fox Sports. She previously covered the league for Sports Illustrated. Los Angeles The Times, Bay Area News Group and San Antonio Express-News. Follow him on Twitter @melissarohlin,
Yaron Weitzman is an NBA writer for Fox Sports and Getting to the top: The Philadelphia 76ers and the boldest process in the history of professional sports. Follow him on Twitter @yaronweitzman,
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