We are a little over 24 hours away from NBA Free Agency kicking it off. This time of the year is one of the most exciting for NBA fans to see if their front offices will be able to land a free agent that will improve their roster. This NBA Free Agency doesn’t have the “hottest” names in the pool, but there are still All-Star players who could be on the move to a new team for the 2023-2024 NBA season. Below I have highlighted the top free agents available and where they could possibly land.
2023 Top NBA Free Agents Destinations
Fred VanVleet
Destinations: Raptors, Rockets
Fred VanVleet opted out of his contract with the Toronto Raptors. By all accounts, it seems like VanVleet is headed to the Houston Rockets. The Rockets are a team that has $60 million+ in cap space to spend in the off-season. The Rockets will look to add veteran leadership to the locker room. VanVleet gives the Rockets a veteran presence in the locker room, along with depth at the point guard position.
VanVleet has provides lethal three-point shooting for the Houston Rockets, who struggled in that area last season. The Toronto Raptors were rumored to try and re-sign VanVleet, but it almost seems that come Friday Night, VanVleet and the Rockets will have an agreement in place.
Khris Middleton
Destinations: Bucks, Mavericks
Khris Middleton also opted out of his $40 million player option with the Milwaukee Bucks. I find it hard to believe that Middleton will leave in free agency and sign with another team. Middleton has not been rumored to another team over the past several weeks.
However, I believe a team like the Dallas Mavericks could offer Middleton a contract IF they cannot agree on a new deal with Kyrie Irving. However, at the end of the day, I expect Middleton to re-sign a new deal with the Bucks for four years.
Kyrie Irving
Destinations: Mavericks, Suns, Lakers
Arguably the biggest free agent in this offseason is Kyrie Irving. During the trade deadline last season, Irving was traded from the Brooklyn Nets to the Dallas Mavericks in an attempt to create another dynamic backcourt in the Western Conference. While the Dallas Mavericks can offer a 5-year max contract to Kyrie, the question is can Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving co-exist in an offense and lead the Mavericks to a championship?
Another team that has been linked to Irving’s name over the past couple of seasons is the Los Angeles Lakers. We know the history of LeBron James and Kyrie Irving from their days in Cleveland. The duo led the Cavaliers to their first title in franchise history in 2016. We know the two All-Star players are close friends, but is Kyrie Irving a final piece to the puzzle that will put the Lakers over the top and achieve another NBA Title?
Lastly, as of Thursday morning, there was a report that indicated Irving will take a meeting with the Phoenix Suns. The Suns made the trade for Bradley Beal to add to an existing backcourt of Devin Booker and Kevin Durant.
Basketball fans know the “fit” is not ideal when the Suns have three players who need the basketball to be effective. The biggest concern the Phoenix Suns have is filling the roster with depth around Durant, Booker, Beal, and Ayton.
James Harden
Destinations: Rockets, Sixers, Clippers
All throughout the season, the rumors heated up about a reunion between the Houston Rockets and James Harden. Harden still has several ties to the city of Houston and has called Houston “home.” However, does Harden want to be part of a team that is in rebuild mode or wants to contend for a championship? Does it make any sense for the Rockets to give Harden a long-term contract?
Harden has until Friday to decide whether he wants to opt into his player option or test the market for a new contract. The fit with the Rockets does not make sense since it could hinder the development of the young talent on the Rockets. Further, Harden could return to the Sixers and continue contending for a championship with MVP Joel Embiid. Is Harden the domino of the 2023 NBA Free Agent class? We shall see.
Another team rumored to be in the mix for Harden is the Clippers. Earlier this week, the Clippers waived Eric Gordon saving this plenty of tax money. The Clippers have tried several point guards from John Wall to Russell Westbrook. Why not give another former Rockets guard a try? The Clippers have the assets the Sixers would want in a Harden deal. Can Harden be the final piece next to Paul George and Kawhi Leonard?
Draymond Green
Destinations: Warriors, Kings, Lakers
The Golden State Warriors’ offseason started off with quite the move when they traded Jordan Poole for Chris Paul. Were NBA fans surprised by this move? Probably not. After the altercation that took place between Jordan Poole and Draymond Green, the Warriors’ season seemed tainted with tensions that steamed from the altercation. Further, going into the 2023-2024 NBA season, either Green or Poole would not be on the roster.
It came as no surprise that Green opted out of the final year of his contract in search of a long-term deal for a whole lot more money. Is it hard to imagine the Warriors don’t re-sign Green? No. But we’ve multiple times during the regular season and offseason, Green hanging out with his close friend, LeBron James.
Could the Lakers use the services of Draymond Green? Of course. But I find it hard to imagine Green leaving the Warriors after all the success he has had with the core of Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson.
Another team to keep an eye on is the Sacramento Kings. Draymond Green and head coach of the Sacramento Kings Mike Brown had a close connection while Brown was an assistant coach for the Warriors. The Kings could definitely use another ball handler and the veteran presence of Draymond Green. However, at the end of the day, I believe the Warriors and Green will come to a contract agreement to keep him in the Bay Area.
Dillon Brooks
Destinations: Rockets
As soon as the Memphis Grizzlies season ended, they made it clear that Dillon Brooks would not return with the team. As I mentioned above, the Rockets are a team with plenty of cap space and looking for veterans and improve on the defensive side of the court. Brooks fits both of those criteria. However, we have seen and heard some of the outlandish comments by Dillon Brooks throughout his career. Like Fred VanVleet, I expect the Rockets to sign Brooks on a short-term deal and provide guidance defensively to the young core of the Rockets.
