2024 NBA free agency grades, analysis: Evaluating every major signing
The draft has concluded and the drama is just beginning, as a new NBA league year is upon us. Players are cashing in as teams prepare for a rapidly expanding salary cap in the wake of new broadcast rights deals.
The FOX Sports NBA crew evaluates the biggest signings of this year's free agency class and grades each move.
Players are listed according to their rank in FOX Sports' top 20 free agent list.
Paul George (34) Signed with the Sixers for five years, $212 million.
Grade: A-
Sure, this is a lot of money and a lot of years to guarantee a 34-year-old with a history of injuries. But the Sixers were in a use-it-or-lose-it situation with their cap space and bringing in George gives them a legitimate title shot over the next two years, which might be all that’s left of Joel Embiid’s prime. George is the perfect fit for the Sixers alongside Embiid and Maxey — a big wing who can create offense one-on-one, play off the ball and lock down opposing scorers. — Yaron Weitzman
Tyrese Maxey (23) Re-signed with the Sixers for five years, $204 million
Grade: A+
No notes here. Maxey is young (23), awesome (25.9 points and 6.2 assists per game last season), an incredibly hard worker and someone everyone loves being around. Thee Sixers get bonus points here for getting Maxey locked in for five years, with no player option. — Weitzman
OG Anunoby: Re-signed with the Knicks for five years, $212.5 million
Grade: B+
This is a lot of money for a 3-and-D role player, no matter how good he is in that role, but with the Sixers and their max cap space lurking, the Knicks had no choice. And New York does deserve credit here for getting Anunoby in under a full max (which would have been for $245 million).
Simply put: Anunoby is essential to what the Knicks are building. When they had him on the court last season, they outscored opponents by an absurd 23.9 points per 100 non-garbage-time possessions, according to Cleaning the Glass. With him and Bridges now surrounding Brunson, the Knicks are a legitimate threat to win the East. — Weitzman
James Harden: Re-signed with the Clippers for two years, $70 million.
Grade: B
This contact is fully guaranteed and contains a player option in the second season, according to a league source. Harden, who turns 35 in August, is not the player he once was but he's still an effective and, at times, elite offensive force; he averaged 16.6 points and 8.5 assists in 72 games for the Clippers last season. And this is a good job by Harden getting a player option for next season. The Clippers' approach here, however, is strange. It's not that bringing back Harden is a bad decision, but it is strange to prioritize Harden over George. Clearly, the Clippers have decided that they're okay spending money on short term deals. Time will tell whether or not that's the right decision. — Weitzman.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope: Signed with Magic for three years, $66 million deal
Grade: A-
This is a good acquisition for an up-and-coming Orlando Magic team that could use a guy with Caldwell-Pope's championship experience to help their young core. Caldwell-Pope was a key part of both the Los Angeles Lakers' 2020 title team and the Denver Nuggets' 2023 championship squad. He's a 3-and-D specialist who shot 41.5 percent from beyond the arc last season, a skill that will help bolster the Magic's 24th-ranked 3-point percentage last season.
With this deal, Caldwell-Pope gets the longer deal that he desired and the Magic get a guy with enough finesse and savvy who could help them advance farther in the playoffs after their first-round exit against the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 7 in May. — Rohlin
Isaiah Hartenstein (26) Signed with the Thunder for three years, $87 million
Grade: B+
The Thunder had one hole coming into the offseason and now it’s been plugged. Hartenstein gives them a legitimate center when facing giants like Nikola Jokic, and what makes the fit so great is that he’s not a lumbering oaf. Hartenstein, who’s a great passer and rim protector and boasts one of the league’s best floaters, is skilled enough to man the middle by himself or play alongside Chet Holmgren. The Thunder will now not only enter the season as one one of the most talented teams in the league, but also one of the most versatile.— Weitzman
Immanuel Quickley: Re-signed with Raptors for five years, $175 million
Grade: B+
This number seems high but will look better as the cap grows due to the NBA's new media deal. Quickley isn't a star, but he's a good combo guard who fits well alongside Scottie Barnes. In his 38 appearances for the Raptors last season, he averaged 18.6 points and 6.8 assists per game and drilled 39.5 percent of his deep looks. He's also an excellent defender whose teams have typically performed better with him on the floor. — Weitzman
Klay Thompson (34) Signed with the Mavericks for three years, $50 million
Grade: A-
The Mavericks get a much-needed third option who will open up even more space for Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving. And while Thompson is no longer the player he once was, he’s still an elite shooter who terrifies defenses and who can hold his own on defense. And on top of all that: we know, given how things ended with the Warriors, he’s going to come into the season motivated. Getting this sort of player at this low of a number is a massive upgrade for Dallas.—Weitzman.
Nic Claxton: Re-signed with Nets for four years, $100 million
Grade: B+
Yes, the Nets are initiating a full-on teardown, but there is a salary floor and locking Claxton in on a deal that will become more team-friendly as the cap increases is a good piece of business. Claxton is good. He's been a 12-points, 9-rebounds, 2-blocks per game guy over the past two seasons and is just 25 years old. He's a little thin to bang down low with the NBA's biggest players, but is an excellent rim protector and as adept at switching onto the perimeter as any center in the league. The Nets can either keep him as a piece moving forward, or, given that he's now signed, they can flip him for assets down the line. — Weitzman
Tobias Harris (31) Signed with Pistons for two years, $52 million.
Grade: D+
There’s just no reason for the Pistons to waste cap space on Harris. It’s not that he’s bad—though he did have a rough time last season. It’s just that, given where the Pistons are in their rebuilding process, all their cap space should be devoted to taking on other team’s contracts in exchange for some sort of asset. Signing Harris to this deal eats away at those opportunities. Harris might provide leadership for a young, rebuilding group, but there are cheaper ways to bring in respected veterans.— Weitzman,
Patrick Williams: Re-signed with Bulls for five years, $90 million
Grade: C+
The Bulls drafted Williams with the No. 4 pick in the 2020 draft, and he's thus far failed to live up to that billing. The past two seasons he's averaged 10 points per game while failing to do much else (just four rebounds and 1.5 assists per game last season). He turns 23 in August, so he's still young, and he's a good athlete who's flashed a solid stroke from deep (40% on 3s last season on 3.4 attempts) but this is purely an upside play, and a dangerous one given the limitations of the new CBA.
It's also worth noting that the Bulls front office giving him this extension is the same one that drafted him in 2020. In other words: there was no chance they would let him walk and admit that the pick was a whiff. That's probably how Williams was able to get that fifth year as a player option; he had leverage. — Weitzman
Chris Paul: Signed with the Spurs for one year, $11 million
Grade: B
Well, this is interesting. Paul, a 19-year veteran, will be able to mentor Victor Wembanyama, who is projected to become the face of the league one day. On the court, there should be some fun pick-and-rolls. And off it, expect there to be lots of film sessions. Paul is known for studying the sport and watching multiple games every night. He could help show Wembanyama the type of focus and obsessiveness it takes to excel in the league.
What's interesting is that Paul, who has never won a championship, chose not to go to a contender after waiving his $30 million non-guaranteed contract with Golden State shortly before the start of free agency. Instead, he signed a one-year deal worth at least $11 million to spend the twilight of his career focussing on something else – helping lead its future. — Rohlin
Obi Toppin (26): Re-signed with Pacers for four years, $60 million
Grade: C
It’s a bargain price, but Toppin got exposed in the playoffs. I’d give this signing a lower grade but it’s a moveable contract, so give the Pacers credit for retaining a young asset. — Bucher
Ric Bucher is an NBA writer for FOX Sports. He previously wrote for Bleacher Report, ESPN The Magazine and The Washington Post and has written two books, "Rebound," on NBA forward Brian Grant's battle with young onset Parkinson's, and "Yao: A Life In Two Worlds." He also has a daily podcast, "On The Ball with Ric Bucher." Follow him on Twitter @RicBucher.
Melissa Rohlin is an NBA writer for FOX Sports. She previously covered the league for Sports Illustrated, the Los Angeles Times, the Bay Area News Group and the San Antonio Express-News. Follow her on Twitter @melissarohlin.
Yaron Weitzman is an NBA writer for FOX Sports and the author of Tanking to the Top: The Philadelphia 76ers and the Most Audacious Process in the History of Professional Sports. Follow him on Twitter @YaronWeitzman.
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