NBA free agency grades 2024: All 30 teams ranked from best (76ers, Thunder) to worst (Nuggets, Clippers) | Sporting News

There are still a few quality free agents left on the market, but most of the big names have been signed in the summer of 2024, and we have a way better idea of what opening day rosters are going to look like for most teams.

Aside from Paul George, there wasn’t a ton of star movement. There were some more solid deals to bring back the best players, along with smaller signings for rotation players who could make a difference in the playoffs. 

Here’s how every team did over the first three days of free agency.

MORE: Live grades and analysis of every free agency signing

NBA free agency grades 2024

Philadelphia 76ers

Signings: Paul George, Tyrese Maxey, Kelly Oubre Jr., Eric Gordon, Andre Drummond

The 76ers were the big winners of free agency. Armed with over $60 million in cap space and a dozen open roster spots, there were a ton of different directions that they could go.

They maximized their space in getting George, the premier free agent in the market. The trio of George, Maxey and Joel Embiid fits amazingly on paper. If they get decent health (big if), they should easily be one of the top three teams in the East.

Don’t sleep on Philadelphia’s other moves either. Drummond was the best backup center that Embiid has ever had. The 76ers got him back at a reasonable $5 million annual salary over two years. They also got a cheap starter back in Oubre and good shooting off the bench with Gordon. 

Losing Nicolas Batum and De’Anthony Melton were not ideal moves, but the Sixers couldn’t keep everyone. This is a good start for them. 

Oklahoma City Thunder

Signings: Isaiah Hartenstein, Aaron Wiggins, Isaiah Joe

The Thunder addressed their biggest weakness (literally) and got some size to help out Chet Holmgren. Hartenstein was the best center on the market and should fit like a glove on this team with his plus passing and defense. 

Wiggins and Joe are both good rotation players who will make less than the $13 million mid-level exception annually. Hartenstein will get the buzz, but retaining those two on cheap deals is hugely important for this team going forward. The Thunder retained two of their better shooters with those signings.

After trading for Alex Caruso, this looks like a team that could very conceivably win the championship next season. 

ALEX CARUSO TRADE GRADES: Thunder earn a perfect score in disastrous deal for Bulls

San Antonio Spurs

Signings: Chris Paul 

After Paul was waived by the Warriors, he found the perfect home in San Antonio. The Spurs had cap space to use, and they gave $11 million on a one-year deal so that the Point God can teach Victor Wembanyama how to be an elite big man in the league. 

Paul has been a center whisperer throughout his time in the league, turning scrap heap bigs into quality rotation players. It will be amazing to see him work his pick-and-roll mastery with Wemby.

MORE: How Victor Wembanyama, Gregg Popovich impacted Chris Paul’s free agency decision

Cleveland Cavaliers

Signings: Donovan Mitchell

The Cavs had one goal that they absolutely needed to hit, making sure Mitchell stayed in Cleveland long-term. They convinced him to sign for three more years, putting to rest (at least temporarily) trade rumors.

Cleveland still has the mid-level exception available to add another player. 

Milwaukee Bucks

Signings: Delon Wright

The Bucks have an expensive team and only the veteran’s minimums to offer outside free agents. They got a good backup point guard who can provide some perimeter defense in Wright. That’s exactly what they needed.

Sacramento Kings

Signings: Malik Monk, Alex Len

The Kings still have part of their mid-level exception to go out and sign someone. They haven’t done much aside from bringing Monk back on a very reasonable four-year, $78 million deal, and trading for Jalen McDaniels.

Orlando Magic

Signings: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Gary Harris, Goga Bitadze, Moe Wagner, Jonathan Isaac

KCP is going to fit like a glove in Orlando. The Magic badly needed shooting, and they got one of the best 3-and-D players on the market at a reasonable $22 million average salary over the next three seasons. 

Harris, Wagner, Bitadze and Isaac were more value signings. They were all quality role players for the Magic who should outperform their small deals.

If Isaac stays healthy, then his five-year, $84 million deal will be a steal. 

Golden State Warriors

Signings: De’Anthony Melton, Kyle Anderson

The big moves for the Warriors were twofold:

1. They took themselves out of the Paul George running by refusing to part with Jonathan Kuminga, per ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne.
2. They moved on from Klay Thompson and Chris Paul, getting two second-round picks in exchange for facilitating Thompson’s sign-and-trade. 

Those moves will certainly generate all of the headlines, but the Warriors sneakily made one of the best signings in free agency in getting Melton. Back injuries were a major problem for him last season with the Sixers. If those are resolved, he is a starter-level player who has great defensive instincts and can shoot 3s effectively. 

Melton has a very good chance at being better than Thompson next year if he can return to his level of two seasons ago. 

The Warriors also boosted their playmaking (and got even slower) by adding Anderson. He’s a good defender and high-feel player who has possibly the slowest 3-point shot in the league. It’s a solid pickup for them to get someone who can facilitate some offense when Curry rests.

Lastly, Golden State is in advanced stages of adding Buddy Hield via sign-and-trade, potentially bringing some volume shooting to the team. 

MORE: Why did Klay Thompson leave Warriors for Mavericks?

Dallas Mavericks

Signings: Klay Thompson, Naji Marshall

The Mavericks made a great trade to offload Tim Hardaway Jr.’s contract and turn it into Quentin Grimes right before free agency started. That gave them the flexibility to add Thompson, who should alleviate the shooting concerns that Dallas had in the Finals. 

Thompson isn’t close to the defender that he once was, but he can still score. His three-year, $50 million deal pays him less than a solid starter. Losing a promising young player in Josh Green hurt, but Green wasn’t a huge part of the team’s playoff rotation whereas Thompson will be. 

Marshall was the real steal here. He’s a good defender and a much-improved 3-point shooter who earned the nickname “the knife” from Pelicans coach Willie Green because of his ability to be a do-it-all player. He’s one of the best value signings of the summer at just three years and $27 million. 

MORE: Klay Thompson sign-and-trade grades for the Mavericks, Warriors and Hornets

New York Knicks

Signings: O.G. Anunoby

The Knicks did their damage at the draft, trading for Mikal Bridges. They lost a key player in Hartenstein but were able to retain Anunoby. They didn’t have much wiggle room to add anyone else, and they were taken out of the Hartenstein bidding through no fault of their own. 

Phoenix Suns

Signings: Monte Morris, Royce O’Neale, Mason Plumlee, Bol Bol, Collin Gillespie

The Suns are a second apron team that must rely on veteran’s minimums and re-signing their own guys to fill out the rest of their roster. They absolutely had to bring back O’Neale, and they took care of business on that one. They lost Drew Eubanks but replaced him with Plumlee on a cheap deal. Plumlee is a flawed player but a capable backup who can give a solid 15 minutes per game behind Jusuf Nurkic. And Morris was one of the best backup point guards in the league before injuries set him back. He’s a steal at the minimum. 

Minnesota Timberwolves

Signings: Luka Garza

The Wolves only have veteran minimums available to fill out their roster. They did most of their work at the draft, trading into selecting Rob Dillingham in the lottery. Garza showed some potential to stretch out to 3, diversifying his game from the college level. He hasn’t played much but it’s a nice move on the margins to bring him back. 

MORE: Why did the Spurs trade Rob Dillingham to Timberwolves?

Indiana Pacers

Signings: Pascal Siakam, Obi Toppin, James Wiseman

The Pacers took care of business early, signing Siakam to a four-year max. Toppin was a real flight risk, but they got him back at a very reasonable four years and $60 million. They lost their backup center in Jalen Smith as well but replaced him with Wiseman. This was a solid but unspectacular offseason. 

MORE: Grading Pascal Siakam’s new contract with Pacers

Boston Celtics

Signings: Jayson Tatum, Derrick White, Luke Kornet, Xavier Tillman, Neemias Queta

The Celtics only have veteran’s minimums to fill out the rest of their roster. They brought back their key guys and spared no expense to do so, offering the maximum possible to Tatum and White.

Boston still needs to lock up Sam Hauser before the summer is over. 

MORE: Jaylen Brown rewards Celtics fans for return of ring lost at title celebration

Chicago Bulls

Signings: Patrick Williams, Jalen Smith

Williams got an $18 million average value over the course of the next four years. That’s a bet on his future rather than his present. He needs to get much more involved offensively, but it’s not a bad contract given how rare his skill set is. 

Smith is a decent backup who shot 42.4 percent from deep last season. Is that shooting real? The Bulls are betting it is. He’s still fairly young, and $27 million over the next three years is a fine flier to take on a guy who pairs well with new point guard Josh Giddey. 

MORE: Inside Josh Giddey’s ‘All-Star potential’ and tricky fit on Bulls roster

Washington Wizards

Signings: Jonas Valanciunas, Richaun Holmes

The Wizards got a big man to help ease Alex Sarr into the NBA. Valanciunas is still capable of starting, and at three years and $30 million, he’s a good cheap stopgap option while the team leans into their rebuild. 

Utah Jazz

Signings: Drew Eubanks

The Jazz have been relatively quiet, signing Eubanks to a small deal to play backup center and letting Kris Dunn walk. They have a ton of cap room left, which they may use in a trade. 

Brooklyn Nets

Signings: Nic Claxton

The Nets are bringing back Claxton at a four-year, $100 million deal. That is totally normal money for an average starting center, which Claxton can be over the course of that deal. He’s a great defender and a good finisher. 

The Nets did most of their damage in trades, moving Mikal Bridges. More veterans may be soon to follow. 

TRADE GRADES: Why Nets are big winners in blockbuster deal

Houston Rockets

Signings: Aaron Holiday

The Rockets still have their $13 million mid-level exception to use and decisions to make on Jalen Green and Alperen Sengun extensions. In the meantime, they brought back Holiday on a small $10 million deal over two years. He was an OK backup who doesn’t really move the needle for them. 

The Rockets also got a free look at AJ Griffin, who was a promising prospect for the Hawks.

Toronto Raptors

Signings: Immanuel Quickley, Scottie Barnes, Bruce Brown Jr.

Quickley’s $175 million over five years is an overpay. He will have to become one of the top 15 point guards in the league to justify it, which is a tough bar to clear. 

Barnes was given a max rookie extension, which was a no-brainer for a player of his caliber. 

The Raptors guaranteed Brown’s $23 million as a potential trade chip and traded for Davion Mitchell and Sasha Vezenkov.

MORE: Davion Mitchell and Sasha Vezenkov scouting reports 

Detroit Pistons

Signings: Tobias Harris

The Pistons have been renting out their cap space in exchange for picks, which is a prudent move for them. They also strangely signed Harris to a two-year, $52 million overpay. He’s not worth that money, nor is he a great fit for the team.

Miami Heat

Signings: Kevin Love

The Heat are in serious financial trouble, so they couldn’t do much during free agency. They did have the $5 million taxpayer mid-level exception open and may still use it. They also still have a big decision with Jimmy Butler’s extension looming.

Bringing back Love at a two-year, $8 million deal was fine for the backup role that he will play. 

Los Angeles Lakers

Signings: Max Christie, LeBron James

The Lakers saw much of their flexibility go out the window when D’Angelo Russell somewhat surprisingly opted into the final year of his deal. He now becomes their best trade chip on an expiring $18.7 million salary. 

LeBron’s contract was penciled in even before free agency started. It was obvious enough for a dummy like me to predict. The Lakers didn’t have many other options, but they deserve some credit for getting the deal done. 

The one real decision point that the Lakers have had thus far — re-signing Christie to a four-year, $32 million deal — was one that I liked the least. There wasn’t going to be much competition for Christie, and this was a big overpay. He has shown flashes in Summer League and preseason but hasn’t done much in his rotational minutes. 

The Lakers are probably done as far as free agency goes unless they pull off a complicated sign-and-trade. They may try to bring back Taurean Prince and Spencer Dinwiddie and sign a few guys on the veteran’s minimum to fill out their roster.

MORE: What’s next for Lakers about LeBron James signing

Denver Nuggets

Signings: None

The Nuggets let a key starter in Caldwell-Pope leave for nothing due to luxury tax and second apron concerns. They also had to use three second-round picks to dump Reggie Jackson’s salary. They got worse while the teams around them improved.

LA Clippers 

Signings: James Harden, Derrick Jones Jr., Nic Batum, Mo Bamba, Kevin Porter Jr., Kris Dunn

The Clippers got worse in losing George, then gave a huge deal to Harden. Russell Westbrook looks to be on the way out. Jones and Batum are solid role player signings.

This team looks like it’s directionless after a bad summer in which the primary goal appeared to be saving money. 

Memphis Grizzlies

Signings: None

The Grizzlies declined the $14.8 million team option on Luke Kennard, but he may be back at a lower price. The team didn’t do much else, selecting Zach Edey in the draft to fill a hole at center. 

Portland Trail Blazers

Signings: None

The Blazers did most of their damage before free agency, trading for promising wing Deni Avdija. They don’t have cap space to sign any major free agents. 

Charlotte Hornets

Signings: None

The Hornets had cap space to sign free agents. Instead, they rented their space out, getting picks in exchange for taking on Reggie Jackson. They also got a free flier on a good young player in Josh Green in exchange for helping to facilitate the Thompson sign-and-trade.

Atlanta Hawks

Signings: None

The Hawks added talent in Zaccharie Risacher with the No. 1 overall pick. They also picked up promising young guard Dyson Daniels and small ball center Larry Nance Jr. as part of the Dejounte Murray trade. They didn’t sign anyone in free agency, and they don’t have cap space to make any big moves.

New Orleans Pelicans

Signings: None

The Pelicans lost Marshall and Valanciunas in free agency and haven’t added anyone yet. Their big move came in trading for Murray. They still have the taxpayer mid-level exception, which they may not use in order to stay under the tax.