NBA Free Agency Review

6 min readJul 16, 2023

Thank you to all the readers for supporting me! I’m aiming to put out at least one piece a week moving forward for the next six weeks or so until we get close to pre-season games wherein the velocity will increase.

In this piece, we’re going to be evaluating some of the moves made during the free agency period.

Key free agent signings/ trades:

Boston Celtics

Kristaps Porziņģis

Oshae Brissett

Dalano Banton

Porzingis is the big one, something which I talk about in detail here.

Brissett’s addition provides the Celtics with much-needed frontcourt depth, particularly after the departure of Grant Williams. Brissett’s participation in the FIBA World Cup for Canada this year presents an opportunity for him to gain valuable experience that he can carry over to the 2023/24 NBA season.

As a backup guard, Banton is expected to slot behind players like Derrick White, Malcolm Brogdon, and Payton Pritchard in the team’s rotation. Banton’s intriguing size for the point guard position at 6'7" adds versatility to the roster. Boston would hope that Banton can contribute as a defensive-minded role player.

Cleveland Cavaliers

Max Struss

Georges Niang

Damian Jones

Ty Jerome

Struss is expected to step into the starting lineup alongside Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen. His primary role will be to provide consistent outside shooting, something that has been lacking in Cleveland in recent years. Struss brings a much-needed ability to knock down shots from beyond the arc, adding a valuable dimension to the team’s offense.

Niang will serve as a backup for Mobley and may occasionally start in a jumbo frontcourt lineup. Jones will back up the center position, bringing athleticism and rim-running ability. Jerome will share the backup point guard duties with Ricky Rubio, adding depth and playmaking.

Indiana Pacers

Bruce Brown Jr.

Obi Toppin

With Tyrese Haliburton and Myles Turner locked in as starters, it’s highly likely that Buddy Hield will also secure a starting role. This leaves the small forward and power forward positions open for competition. Among Toppin, Brown, Jarace Walker and Benedict Mathurin, it’s expected that Brown will secure the starting spot at small forward, providing the team with valuable Swiss-Knife versatility at that position. Meanwhile, Toppin is a highly athletic power forward who provides floor spacing, although his defensive abilities are not as strong and will require Turner’s support in covering that area.

Utah Jazz

John Collins

Collins’ move to the Jazz had been a subject of speculation for a while. As a Utah native, Collins would likely step into the power forward position, replacing Kelly Olynyk as a starter, providing an upgrade in that role. While this move might limit the upside of Taylor Hendricks, who was highly ranked on my draft board, he would still likely settle in as the backup power forward or even play as a small-ball center option. Utah should contend for a play-in spot with this squad, at minimum.

Phoenix Suns

Bradley Beal

Yuta Watanabe

Keita-Bates Diop

Chimezie Metu

Eric Gordon

Drew Eubanks

Jordan Goodwin

Beal’s addition to the Suns alongside Kevin Durant and Devin Booker would create a formidable mid-range mafia, potentially giving them one of the strongest top-four combinations in the NBA along with Deandre Ayton.

In terms of roster construction, the Suns have made commendable moves. Players like Gordon and Bates-Diop are both capable of being starters, and one of them could potentially fill the starting position. Considering head coach Frank Vogel’s defensive emphasis, Bates-Diop may be favored to take the spot left vacant by Torrey Craig.

Additionally, Watanabe and Eubanks provide quality depth off the bench, while Goodwin and Metu serve as reliable insurance policies, depending on the situation with Cam Payne.

Overall, the Phoenix Suns have had an impressive offseason, solidifying their roster and positioning themselves for success in the upcoming season.

Los Angeles Lakers

Gabe Vincent

Cam Reddish

Jaxson Hayes

Taurean Prince

The Lakers focused on retaining their core players from last season, including Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura, and Max Christie, who is expected to have an increased role following his impressive performance in Summer League.

One key free agent signing for the Lakers was Vincent, who joined the team on a reasonable contract. Vincent is likely to be the first player off the bench, assuming D’Angelo Russell starts. However, there may be a training camp battle for the starting spot.

Hayes was brought in as a low-risk, potentially medium-reward rim-running big man who will serve as a backup to Anthony Davis. It is anticipated that the Lakers will utilize another roster spot on a big man such as Bismack Biyombo or Christian Wood. They could potentially give a full-time spot to Colin Castleton, although this may be wishful thinking.

Prince adds size and a 3-and-D skill set at the wing position, while Reddish, another project player, will compete with Christie for minutes at the shooting guard and small forward spots.

Overall, the Lakers had a successful free agency period, focusing on retaining key players and securing contracts that provide good value for the team.

Houston Rockets

Dillon Brooks

Jeff Green

Jock Landale

Fred VanVleet

The Rockets made significant investments in NBA free agency, handing out contracts worth $210 million to two players, VanVleet and Brooks. VanVleet is expected to step in and start immediately, while Jabari Smith Jr. and Jalen Green are likely to secure two of the remaining starting spots. Given the substantial investment in Brooks, he could also be a candidate for a starting role. This leaves one spot open, and Alperen Sengun, with his impressive play and development trajectory, would ideally fill that position. However, the final lineup configuration is uncertain as Kevin Porter Jr., Amen Thompson and Cam Whitmore are also expected to be part of the rotation.

An ideal starting lineup from my perspective would be VanVleet, Green, Thompson, Smith and Sengun, as it emphasizes investing in the team’s future, with four out of the five players forming the foundation of the Rockets’ core.

Landale’s addition provides backup support for Sengun, while Green brings a valuable veteran presence to the team.

There we have it. The major moves covered in NBA free agency. Thank you for reading!

Karan, based in Singapore, is the founder of “Swish Scribe,” a basketball blog focusing on NBA analysis, fantasy basketball, and betting. Karan won the Locked on Fantasy Bowl last year and is a regular in our FBI leagues.

This article was originally published at https://swishscribe.beehiiv.com.