NBA free agency has officially begun! With the legal tampering period opening on Monday, June 30 at 6 p.m. ET, deals are starting to be reported across the league.
In this article, I’ll give a grade for every major signing that occurs Monday night. Stay tuned for projections and thoughts on all the major action that takes place across the NBA.
NBA Free Agency Grades | Instant Reactions to Every Signing
Tre Mann — Charlotte Hornets | 3 years, $24 million | Grade: A
After spending the last two seasons in Charlotte, Tre Mann has signed a three-year deal to return to the team. Last season, he averaged 14.1 points per game while shooting 43.5% from the field and 40% from three. Mann has carved himself out a nice role on the team, and will join LaMelo Ball and Collin Sexton in the backcourt. At still only 24 years old, the sky is the limit for the former Florida Gator.
Duncan Robinson — Detroit Pistons | 3 years, $48 million | Grade: B+
With the uncertainty surrounding Malik Beasley’s future, the Pistons needed more shooting. On Monday, they signed Caris LeVert to a two-year deal. On Tuesday, they added even more with the signing of Duncan Robinson.
Robinson can certainly shoot it, as his 1,202 three-pointers for Miami are the most of any player in franchise history. It’s even more impressive when you factor in that he came into the league undrafted, and he’s only one of eight undrafted players in NBA history to hit over 1,000 threes. He shot 39.3% from behind the arc last season, just below his 39.7% career average. Robinson is now 31 years old, but it feels like he still has plenty in the tank. The Pistons will certainly be hoping so, as he will be there for at least the next three seasons. His 74 games played last season were the second most of his career thus far.
Dennis Schroder — Sacramento Kings | 3 years, $45 million | Grade: C
Sacramento’s endless search for a point guard — after trading away two franchise facilitators in Tyrese Haliburton and De’Aaron Fox — has led them to Schroder. There’s no sugarcoating this one, $15 million annually is a reach at this stage in the score-first guard’s career.
Schroder is coming off an abysmal shooting season in which he hit only 40.6% of his shots from the field and 34.2% of his long-range attempts. Still a crafty ballhandler, Schroder is capable of producing as a scorer around the rim and playmaker, as evident by his 13.1 points and 5.4 assists per game. That said, his slow tempo doesn’t fit with Zach LaVine and his need to have the ball in his hands won’t mesh with Domantas Sabonis.
The 31-year-old may still end up filling up the stat sheet, but I doubt it will be in an effective manner.
Myles Turner — Milwaukee Bucks | 4 years, $107 million | Grade: B+
In a stunning turn of events, Myles Turner finally departs Indiana — by his own accord, after being the subject of trade rumors for virtually the entirety of his career — to pair with Giannis Antetokounmpo in Milwaukee’s frontcourt. The corresponding move? Waiving Damian Lillard, who just tore his Achilles at the end of last season. No one outside of Milwaukee could have predicted this outcome, but the Bucks are clearly prioritizing winning now to appease Giannis.
Turner averaged 15.6 points and 6.5 rebounds while shooting 39.6% from beyond the arc last year, although he struggled mightily in the NBA Finals. This is a slight overpay — $26.75 million annually — but if it means convincing Antetokounmpo to stay in Milwaukee, it’s worth it.
Best Milwaukee Bucks Futures Bet: Central Division Winner (+750)
The Bucks’ roster still has plenty of flaws, but adding a proven high-caliber two-way starting center is a massive step in the right direction. If Giannis continues to produce like a top-three player in the league, they’ll have a shot to edge out Cleveland for the division. There is plenty of value here.
Guerschon Yabusele — New York Knicks | 2 years, $12 million | Grade: A-
Yabusele immediately bolsters a Knicks front court that is in desperate need of size. What Yabu lacks in height (6’8) he makes up for in strength at 265 pounds. After flaming out to start his NBA career in Boston, the 29-year-old rebuilt his game on Real Madrid and returned to the United States last season, averaging 11 points and 5.6 rebounds per game while shooting 38% from three. He will be a valuable rotational piece in New York.
Luke Kennard — Atlanta Hawks | 1 year, $11 million | Grade: A-
The Hawks’ spending spree continues! This offseason, Atlanta has acquired a high-end starting center, a versatile bucket-getter, and now a truly elite sharpshooting wing. Forget just last year, Kennard hasn’t shot below 43% from three in SIX STRAIGHT SEASONS. That is virtually incomprehensible considering his consistent role with the Clippers and Grizzlies.
Operating alongside Trae Young and the rest of this newly upgraded Hawks roster, Kennard should do what he does best once again this year.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker — Atlanta Hawks | 4 years, $62 million | Grade: B+
The Hawks continue their offseason load-up with the addition of a bucket off the bench in NAW. Alexander-Walker played a significant role in back-to-back Western Conference Finals campaigns for the Timberwolves, but was an inevitable cap casualty this offseason.
As a result, he cashes in with Atlanta. The Hawks are building quite the high-octane offense around Trae Young and could be a real threat in the East next year, assuming health.
Best Atlanta Hawks Futures Bet: Southeast Division Winner (+280)
Atlanta’s competition in the Southeast is relatively scarce, with Orlando posing the clearest threat after acquiring Desmond Bane. That said, if the Hawks can stay healthy — I’m looking at you, Kristaps Porzingis — I actually love how their roster stacks up with not just the Magic, but the rest of the East. Offensively, Atlanta will be a headache to deal with, and they now have multiple players with value on the defensive side of the ball.
Brook Lopez — Los Angeles Clippers | 2 years, $18 million | Grade: A-
Don’t be fooled by Lopez’s age. At 37 years old, the 7-footer is coming off another remarkably impressive campaign, piling in 13 points and five rebounds a night while shooting 37.3% from three.
Even more impressive than those stats? 80 games played. That it truly remarkable durability for a player of his age and size. Lopez will serve as an extremely valuable backup to Ivica Zubac in L.A.
Best Los Angeles Clippers Futures Bet: Pacific Division Winner (+425)
While the Lakers and Warriors boast bigger starpower, the Clippers have somewhat quietly assembled an elite roster on both sides of the ball. A shot at the title is certainly in play if Kawhi Leonard and James Harden can stay healthy down the stretch, but I really love the value within their division.
Clint Capela — Houston Rockets | 3 years, $21.5 million | Grade: A+
If the Dorian Finney-Smith signing was great, then Capela’s contract is in another stratosphere on the value scale. The 6’10 lob threat only played 21.4 minutes per game for Atlanta last season, but he was still a monster on both ends of the floor when called upon, averaging 8.9 points and 8.5 rebounds. Houston now has a plethora of starting caliber big men as Ime Udoka and company load up for a shot at the title.
Best Houston Rockets Futures Bet: 2025-26 NBA Finals Winner (+750)
The Rockets are loading up at the right time, adding a proven NBA Finals performer in Durant and bolstering the roster’s depth. With the current state of the league, few teams are in as strong of a position to win it all next year as Ime Udoka’s squad.
Caris Levert — Detroit Pistons | 2 years, $29 million | Grade: B-
LeVert fills a need for the Pistons, adding to the scoring depth on their roster. That said, I’m not the biggest fan of the fit, as the 30-year-old is a volume scorer who lacks efficiency, particularly from long range.
LeVert will certainly fill up the stat sheet, but I doubt his ability to give the Pistons consistent, truly valuable minutes, which they desperately need form support pieces around Cade Cunningham.
Luke Kornet — San Antonio Spurs | 4 years, $41 million | Grade: B+
Kornet cashes in after the best season of his career, and honestly, I couldn’t be happier for him. At 29, Kornet has put in the work on a minuscule contract for years, and he’s finally being rewarded for it. The stats don’t tell the full story with Kornet, who is a great rim protector, an elite offensive rebounder and a gifted passer out of the post.
That said, this is a relatively high price tag for San Antonio, which is why I can only give them a B+.
Dorian Finney-Smith — Houston Rockets | 4 years, $53 million | Grade: A-
Stellar work by the Rockets to secure added wing depth after trading some key pieces in Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks to land Kevin Durant. Finney-Smith is a massive loss for the Lakers, which means he’s just as big a gain for Houston on both sides of the ball.
At 32 years old, DFS is one of the premier rotational 3&D wings in the association. He’s coming off the best shooting season of his career in which he hit 41.4% of his long-range attempts. If he can do that for Houston while staying productive on the defensive side of the floor, he’ll be a highly valued addition to the core.
Jake LaRavia — Los Angeles Lakers | 2 years, $12 million | Grade: B+
The Lakers have made it clear that their goal is to build a sustainable young core with upside around Luka Doncic, and LaRavia certainly fits the bill. At 23 years old, the 6’8 wing shot a tremendous 42.3% from beyond the arc across his tenures with the Grizzlies and Kings last season.
This isn’t the massive addition that Lakers fans were hoping for in the frontcourt, but LaRavia is a young talent with plenty of potential to crack a regular rotational role.
Best Los Angeles Lakers Futures Bet: Too Soon To Say
The Lakers have a bunch of massive moves ahead of them this offseason. Until we see what happens with LeBron James and potential additions to the frontcourt, I’m holding off on assessing the Lakers’ futures markets.
Ty Jerome — Memphis Grizzlies | 3 years, $28 million | Grade: A
The first A of NBA free agency gets handed out to the Memphis Grizzlies! After playing in just two games for the Cavs the prior year, Jerome broke out last season, averaging 12.5 points on absolutely ridiculous shooting efficiency in just 19.9 minutes per contest. After trading Desmond Bane, the Grizzlies had a clear hole at guard, and they just filled it.
Santi Aldama — Memphis Grizzlies | 3 years, $52.5 million | Grade: B+
Aldama is fresh off his best year as a pro by a large margin, averaging a career-high 12.5 points, 6.4 rebounds and 2.9 assists on 48.3% shooting and 36.8% from long distance. All across the board, the 6’11 stretch four improved, securing a significant role in Memphis’ rotation. At 24 years old, Aldama still has plenty of room to grow. His current production justifies a $17.5 million annual price tag, and that certainly will be a tradeable contract if necessary. Overall, great work by the Grizzlies to retain one of their key role players.
Best Memphis Grizzlies Futures Bet: Southwest Division Winner (+1600)
After retaining Aldama and extending Jaren Jackson Jr., the Grizzlies still have work to do to replace Desmond Bane’s production. That said, this is a squad that has had no shortage of recent regular season success, and there’s plenty of value on Tuomas Iisalo’s squad to surprise the Southwest at +1600.
D’Angelo Russell — Dallas Mavericks | 2 years, $13 million | Grade: A-
The Mavericks have been in the market for a significant playmaking addition at point guard, and while D’Lo isn’t quite as productive as some of the other rumored names, this is fantastic value for a guy who can give you 12 and five on a nightly basis. If Russell can regain his long-range shooting form from a few years ago with the Lakers, this will be an absolute steal of a deal.
Best Dallas Mavericks Futures Bet: To Win Western Conference (+2500)
The Mavericks are quietly building a true title contender. If Anthony Davis can stay healthy down the stretch, Kyrie Irving returns to form post ACL tear for the playoffs and Cooper Flagg is as league-ready as he appears, Dallas could return to the Finals for the second time in three years after moving on from Luka Doncic.
