It has been a whirlwind first day of free agency in the NBA, with teams committing to over $1 billion in salaries just over an hour into it.
The highlights so far have been Kyrie Irving re-signing with the Dallas Mavericks on a three-year, $126 million deal and Fred VanVleet landing a three-year, $130 million contract from the Houston Rockets. There are still quite a few big names out there though as the first day of free agency comes to an end.
Brook Lopez is still on the market and is coming off a fine campaign that saw him average 15.9 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 1.3 APG, 0.5 SPG, and 2.5 BPG. The Los Angeles Lakers were reported to be one of the teams interested in him but it doesn’t seem likely they’ll be making the move now.
Austin Reaves also remains a restricted free agent but the Lakers are expected to match any offer he gets. Reaves averaged 13.0 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 3.4 APG, 0.5 SPG, and 0.3 BPG last season.
D’Angelo Russell is another member of the Lakers to hit the market and remain unsigned so far. He averaged 17.4 PPG, 2.9 RPG, 6.1 APG, 0.6 SPG, and 0.5 BPG after being traded to L.A. last season. It was reported that the team is leaning toward bringing him back on a two-year $40 million deal.
Russell Westbrook seemed to be in danger of being out of the league for good at one point last season but an impressive stint with the Los Angeles Clippers ensured that won’t happen. The team does want to re-sign him but Westbrook, who averaged 15.8 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 7.6 APG, 1.1 SPG, and 0.5 BPG for them, seems to be assessing his options.
Dillon Brooks remains unsigned as well as he is seeking a deal that is over $12 million per year. His stock is quite low after a disastrous postseason but Brooks is still a fine defender who averaged 14.3 PPG, 3.3 RPG, 2.6 APG, 0.9 SPG, and 0.2 BPG last season.
Christian Wood is set to play for his eighth different NBA team in his eighth season after the Mavericks let him walk. Wood had a solid campaign for them in 2022-23 with averages of 16.6 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 1.8 APG, 0.4 SPG, and 1.1 BPG and is rumored to be a target for the Miami Heat.
Grant Williams is another restricted free agent who averaged 8.1 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 1.7 APG, 0.5 SPG, and 0.4 BPG last season. A return to the Boston Celtics seems unlikely due to salary cap reasons so expect Williams to be wearing a different jersey in 2023-24.
Some other notable names to remain unsigned are Donte DiVincenzo, Patrick Beverley, Eric Gordon, and Kelly Oubre.
