1 Hole Every NBA Team Can Fill In 2023 Free Agency
The start of NBA free agency is just weeks away, with all 30 teams finalizing their wish lists before June 30th.
Every team attacks free agency differently, although identifying your biggest hole or weakness and attempting to fix it is the general idea here. This could mean signing a player who fills a specific position, role or skill set.
For this exercise, we're looking at every NBA team's most glaring hole while identifying three (reasonable) free agent targets that would help turn this weakness into a strength.
Note: (TO) = player has a team option that would need to be declined to become a free agent, (PO) = player must decline a player option to become a free agent and (RFA) = player can become a restricted free agent, meaning his current team possesses the right to match an offer sheet.
Atlanta Hawks: Backup Point Guard
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Potential Targets: Jevon Carter (PO), Patrick Beverley, Reggie Jackson
Atlanta has quietly become one of the deepest teams in the NBA, with two potential All-Stars at guard, a load of wings after the trade for Saddiq Bey and a frontcourt that somehow still features John Collins.
The Hawks can't afford to be big spenders in free agency but could use a veteran point guard behind Trae Young and Dejounte Murray.
Carter is the perfect fit, a tenacious defender who made 42.1 percent of his threes last season. Beverley can still hit shots and defend at a high level in limited minutes and Jackson carries 75 games of playoff experience.
This roster probably needs a trade or two to consolidate talent and shed some future money, but getting a veteran point guard would help as well.
Boston Celtics: Shooting
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Potential Targets: Joe Ingles, Torrey Craig, Damion Lee
Poor shooting ultimately helped nail the Celtics' coffin shut during the East Finals.
As ESPN's Tim Bontemps wrote, "Boston finished the season 38-2 when it hit at least 40% of its 3-pointers and 30-32 when it didn't. That's why, in a way, it was fitting that Boston's season slipped away thanks to an awful shooting night. The Celtics went 9-for-42 from behind the arc in Game 7, tied for the second-worst shooting performance of Boston's season. Over their final two games, the Celtics shot a combined 16-for-77 from 3. Miami went 28-for-58."
Cost is also an issue for Boston, a team that is already projected to dive deep into the luxury tax, especially if Grant Williams is brought back.
Trying to snag a veteran like Ingles, Craig or Lee for the veteran minimum would be ideal. Ingles only got better as his season went along in a return from a torn ACL, while Craig (39.5 percent) and Lee (44.5 percent) set career-high marks from deep.
Inserting any of these guys into the rotation around the current core would help make sure Boston avoids any three-point playoff droughts again.
Brooklyn Nets: Backup Center
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Potential Targets: Thomas Bryant, Mo Wagner, Mike Muscala (TO)
The Nets have become extremely wing heavy, which is actually a good thing in today's NBA.
It also means that work needs to be done in the frontcourt, unless Nic Claxton plans to play 48 minutes a night. Brooklyn needs to find a backup center, preferably one who can clean the glass after the Nets finished next-to-last in rebounding this past season (47.2 total rebound percentage).
Bryant looked good in stretches for the Los Angeles Lakers before he was traded to the Denver Nuggets. Still just 25, Bryant made 44.1 percent of his threes and is a good finisher around the rim.
Both Wagner and Muscala bring some floor-spacing as well, providing a nice contrast to Claxton's rim-heavy game.
Charlotte Hornets: Sixth Man
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Potential Targets: Donte DiVincenzo, Caris LeVert, Kendrick Nunn
Part of what the Hornets do with the No. 2 overall pick will factor into what position group they target in free agency.
For now, we'll pencil them in as needing a wing who can score off the bench, especially with Kelly Oubre Jr. hitting free agency.
DiVincenzo came on strong for the Golden State Warriors, putting up 11.0 points, 4.8 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 1.4 steals and shooting 41.1 percent from three over the last four months of the regular season.
LeVert can play either wing spot and Nunn looked like his Miami Heat self near the end of the year with the Washington Wizards.
Chicago Bulls: Point Guard
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Potential Targets: D'Angelo Russell, Gabe Vincent, Patrick Beverley
With Lonzo Ball likely missing another season due to knee surgery, the Bulls need to address the point guard position this summer, assuming the franchise doesn't pivot to a rebuild.
Russell isn't a pure floor general, but he's another talented ball-handler to mix in with DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine. The 27-year-old averaged 17.8 points and 6.2 assists and shot 39.6 percent from three between the Minnesota Timberwolves and Los Angeles Lakers this year. If the Lakers choose to chase Kyrie Irving, Chris Paul or another point guard, Russell could be looking for a new home.
Vincent is showing us he's ready for a full-time starting job thanks to this postseason, one where he's putting up 13.6 points, 3.7 assists and shooting 40.2 percent from three.
If the first two plans fail, re-signing Beverley is an option, as Chicago went 13-9 with the veteran guard as a starter last season.
Cleveland Cavaliers: 3-and-D Wing
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Potential Targets: Max Strus, Josh Richardson, Alec Burks (TO)
The Cavs have four really, really good players to build around in Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley, Darius Garland and Jarrett Allen. This offseason should be about filling in the gaps around their stars, mixing in floor-spacing and defense on the wing.
Strus would be an upgrade over Isaac Okoro as the starting small forward. In 33 starts with the Heat this season, the 27-year-old averaged 14.0 points, 3.6 rebounds, 2.4 assists and has a career mark of 37.1 percent from three.
Richardson can play and defend multiple positions with his 6'5" frame and Burks has shot 41.5 percent from three over the past three seasons. Detroit would have to decline his $10.5 million team option first, however.
With Mitchell under contract for just two more years, Cleveland needs to continue to build a winner around him. For this offseason, this means wings and overall depth.
Dallas Mavericks: Center
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Potential Targets: Brook Lopez, Naz Reid, Grant Williams
Perhaps no team has a greater variance in potential offseason outcome than these Mavericks, who need to re-sign Kyrie Irving and fill in the rest of the gaps on this roster.
Even if Irving comes back, Christian Wood and Dwight Powell can both sign elsewhere. JaVale McGee clearly wasn't the answer at center, so more help in the frontcourt is needed.
Lopez would be the dream target, an elite defensive center who made 37.9 percent of his threes this season and has 78 playoff starts under his belt. When he says no, Reid and Williams would serve as potential starters instead.
Reid, 23, averaged 16.5 points, 7.0 rebounds, 1.4 steals and 1.0 blocks in 11 games as a starter with the Minnesota Timberwolves and can knock down threes as well. Williams is a bit undersized to play the five full-time, but he's strong for his 6'6" frame and made 40.2 percent of his three-pointers over the past two years.
Denver Nuggets: Rim Protector
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Potential Targets: Bismack Biyombo, Andre Drummond, Damion Jones (PO)
While the Nuggets possess fewer weaknesses than perhaps any other team, rim protection was an issue this year. Denver ranked just 25th in opponent accuracy in the restricted area, allowing 69.5 percent shooting.
The Nuggets also have to keep Nikola Jokić fresh coming off such a long playoff run as well, so finding a backup center who can log at least 15 minutes a night and play solid defense is a must.
Biyombo remains one of the best rim protectors in the league, and Drummond one of its top rebounders. Jones held opponents to just 50.7 percent shooting at the rim, a mark that finished ahead of players like Walker Kessler, Nic Claxton and Jarrett Allen.
Denver is a potential dynasty. Giving this franchise another reliable big off the bench would only make life easier for Jokić next season.
Detroit Pistons: Wings
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Potential Targets: Cameron Johnson (RFA), Dillon Brooks, Jalen McDaniels
This Pistons roster is loaded with ball-handlers and bigs, especially after the trade that swapped out Saddiq Bey for James Wiseman.
Free agency should be about balancing out these pieces, adding some wings who can shoot, defend, or do a little of both.
Johnson averaged 16.6 points following a trade to the Brooklyn Nets and has shot 41.6 percent from three over the past two seasons. Detroit would need to make a big enough offer to get the Nets to say no to a match, or else work out a sign-and-trade deal, however.
Brooks made the NBA's All-Defensive second team, helping a Pistons team that ranked 27th overall defensively this season. McDaniels can guard multiple positions and shot 40.0 percent from three following a trade to the Philadelphia 76ers.
Golden State Warriors: Affordable Depth
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Potential Targets: Jeff Green, Kevin Love, George Hill
Changes in the new CBA are designed to help prevent teams from making a mockery of the luxury tax, which is precisely what these Warriors are doing.
A's Bleacher Report's Eric Pincus writes, "The Warriors' $213.2 million projected salary (assuming Draymond Green opts in) will come with a $254.6 million penalty. The team won't have the taxpayer mid-level exception, which was used last year to bring on Donte DiVincenzo."
Golden State will need to search for additional help who will agree to play for the veteran's minimum, selling players on the chance to win a championship instead of cashing in elsewhere.
This means vets who are nearing the end of their careers but can still play postseason minutes when called upon. Players like Green, Love and Hill would all fit this bill, if they're willing to take a pay cut, of course.
Houston Rockets: Point Guard
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Potential Targets: Fred VanVleet, Tre Jones (RFA), Ish Smith
No, the Rockets shouldn't chase James Harden this summer. Yes, they still need playmaking help after finishing dead last with a 1.38 assist-to-turnover ratio this year.
If Houston wants a veteran point guard, VanVleet would be a better option thanks to his age (29), leadership and championship experience. He'd be someone the rest of the guys in the locker room could rally around, a former undrafted free agent who worked his way to becoming an All-Star.
Jones, 23, better fits this Rockets timeline, but the San Antonio Spurs can match any offer he receives. If Houston believes in Kevin Porter Jr. to continue to develop into a pure point guard, then just bringing on a veteran point guard behind him like Smith is an option as well.
Indiana Pacers: Power Forward
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Potential Targets: Jerami Grant, Rui Hachimura (RFA), P.J. Washington (RFA)
The Pacers have a glaring hole in their starting lineup at power forward. Thankfully, there's plenty of attractive options in free agency that give Indiana an answer at the position both now and for years to come.
Grant is perhaps the best win-now option, as the 29-year-old averaged 20.5 points and shot 40.1 percent from three for the Portland Trail Blazers this season. He'd give the Pacers' starting lineup some additional length and defensive ability as well.
Hachimura and Washington are both restricted free agents, but Indiana can carve out enough cap space to make a competitive offer for either. Hachimura, 25, thrived in the postseason for the Los Angeles Lakers with 12.2 points on 55.7 percent shooting overall. Getting Washington from the Charlotte Hornets would hurt a conference opponent as well.
If the Pacers don't find a franchise power forward with the 7th overall pick in the draft, free agency provides lots of options.
Los Angeles Clippers: Point Guard
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Potential Targets: Chris Paul, Russell Westbrook, Dennis Schröder
Point guard was a revolving door for the Clippers last season, as the team bounced between Reggie Jackson and John Wall before ultimately parting with both in favor of Russell Westbrook.
While Westbrook played well enough to earn a new contract (15.8 points, 4.9 rebounds, 7.6 assists, 48.9 percent shooting overall, 35.6 percent from three), he shouldn't be the Clippers first option if Paul becomes available.
Reuniting with the greatest point guard in franchise history would be ideal, pairing Paul with Kawhi Leonard, Paul George and company. After failing to make it to the NBA Finals alongside Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan, Paul gets a second chance now in Los Angeles.
Schröder is still a borderline NBA starter who gave the Lakers 12.6 points and 4.5 assists in his 66 games last season.
Los Angeles Lakers: Point Guard
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Potential Targets: Chris Paul, Kyrie Irving, D'Angelo Russell
Like their in-house rivals, the Lakers will need to address their point guard situation this summer.
Trying to decide between chasing Irving and re-signing Russell can easily be solved by doing neither and recruiting Paul, should he be waived by the Phoenix Suns.
Besides the relationship with LeBron James, Paul fits nicely alongside Anthony Davis as a pick-and-roll partner. Having James and Austin Reaves around as ball-handlers eases Paul's workload as well at age 38. With both James and Davis able to hit free agency in 2024, this would be an all-in move by the Lakers to try and win a championship next year.
Irving should only be seriously pursued if he's willing to take a pay cut, which seems unlikely, and Russell shrunk in the playoffs but could now he re-signed at a reasonable rate.
Memphis Grizzlies: Small Forward
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Potential Targets: Harrison Barnes, Kelly Oubre Jr., Jae Crowder
Assuming Dillon Brooks isn't brought back, the Grizzlies will have a need at small forward. Even if Ziaire Williams makes a leap in Year 3, Memphis could use some additional depth on the wing.
Barnes is as steady and reliable of a player that the NBA has to offer. The 31-year-old played all 82 games this season, chipping in 15.0 points a night for the Sacramento Kings while shooting 37.4 percent from three. He'd be an ideal floor-spacer to place between players like Ja Morant, Desmond Bane and Jaren Jackson Jr.
Oubre would likely be a cheaper option, an instant-offense wing who can create his own shots but struggled from the outside (31.6 percent). His stats have rarely led to wins, but playing on a Grizzlies team this talented could change that.
Crowder should be back in NBA shape after sitting out most of last season and showed off an impressive outside shot (43.6 percent) in 18 games with the Milwaukee Bucks. At 32, he can still defend at a high level.
Miami Heat: Power Forward
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Potential Targets: Kyle Kuzma, Jae Crowder, Kevin Love
Playing an undersized lineup nearly all season simply didn't work for Miami, a team that's caught fire in the postseason thanks in part to a bigger starting five.
Bringing back Love is a low-cost option, but he'll turn 35 before the season begins and shouldn't be playing starting minutes any longer.
Kuzma is coming off a career-high 21.1 points per game, giving Miami another go-to option on offense to complement Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro. He brings the floor-spacing like Love and should be entering his prime at age 27.
A reunion with Crowder should be considered, as the veteran forward was the starter on Miami's 2020 run to the Finals as well. He started all 21 games that postseason for the Heat, chipping in 12.0 points, 5.6 rebounds, 1.9 assists and shooting 34.2 percent from three.
Milwaukee Bucks: Wing Depth
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Potential Targets: Khris Middleton, Joe Ingles, Jae Crowder
The Bucks have a decision to make. Do they bring back the band that just got bounced in the first round (but won a title in 2021), or make wholesale changes around Giannis Antetokounmpo while he's still in his prime?
This roster is getting expensive fast, especially if Khris Middleton and Brook Lopez are re-signed. Wing depth is also an issue, as Ingles, Crowder and Jevon Carter can all become free agents as well.
With Antetokounmpo, Jrue Holiday, Bobby Portis and Grayson Allen all under contract, however, the focus needs to be on the wing. Middleton is just the start, as the Bucks should try to bring back at least one of their own between Ingles and Crowder if they can afford it.
Hopefully, some veterans will agree to take pay cuts for a chance to win a title on what should still be considered one of the best teams in the NBA.
Minnesota Timberwolves: Backup Center
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Potential Targets: Naz Reid, Andre Drummond, Dwight Powell
Bringing back Reid should be the priority for Minnesota, although a real-time contract valued at $13.5 million this season according to ProFitX.com could price him out, especially with Rudy Gobert and Karl-Anthony Towns already on the books for $77 million.
Reid may also pursue a starting job elsewhere, causing the Wolves to look for other options.
Drummond and Reid are among the best reserve centers in the NBA right now, with the former potentially creating a devastating rebounding trio along with Gobert and Towns.
After mostly serving as a starter for the Dallas Mavericks last year, Powell looks better suited for a reserve role. He's a smart, active defender who can rebound and finished off a career-high 73.2 percent of his shot attempts this season.
New Orleans Pelicans: Rim Protector
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Potential Targets: Bismack Biyombo, Andre Drummond, Damion Jones (PO)
The Pelicans, like the Denver Nuggets, struggled to protect the rim this season and should have similar players on their free agency wish lists.
Biyombo held opponents to a stingy 47.7 percent shooting mark at the basket this season, a mark only bested by Defensive Player of the Year Jaren Jackson Jr. among centers.
Drummond came in at 60.0 percent (just behind Robert Williams III), although his defensive rebounding would help keep opponents off the glass. Jones is another quality option for a cash-conscience New Orleans franchise that will see Zion Williams begin a max deal.
New York Knicks: Three-point Shooting
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Potential Targets: Seth Curry, Gary Harris (TO), Damion Lee
The Knicks, not the Miami Heat, looked like they could be the Cinderella story of this year's playoffs. New York's inability to hit anything from outside the arc ultimately doomed this storybook ending, however.
A 29.2 percent from three this postseason was a black eye on an otherwise successful season, one the Knicks can build on with some added shooting.
Curry is the obvious choice, one of the best three-point shooters in NBA history who's equally as dangerous off the catch or the dribble. Lee, Curry's brother-in-law, just capped off a career-high 44.5 percent mark this season as well.
New York should keep an eye on Harris with the Orlando Magic. His $13 million contract for 2023-24 is completely non-guaranteed, meaning the Magic could waive him at any time to collect the extra cap space. He'd be the best defensive option of the three as well.
Oklahoma City Thunder: Rebounding
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Potential Targets: Jakob Poeltl, Paul Reed (RFA), Mason Plumlee
Teams should be very afraid of OKC, as this young core is ready to make a playoff run next season and has the draft assets to go star shopping at any time.
Rebounding was a weakness of this Thunder squad in 2022-23, however, as Oklahoma City ranked just 28th in defensive rebounding and 25th in total rebound percentage.
Getting Chet Holmgren back from a foot injury will help, but so will adding another big man in free agency.
Poeltl is a terrific glass cleaner, unselfish passer and finisher around the rim who would help out in a number of areas. Reed was one of the best per-minute rebounders in the NBA last season and Plumlee is a sneaky-good passer who plays his role perfectly.
Orlando Magic: Wings
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Potential Targets: Bruce Brown Jr. (PO), Dillon Brooks, Gary Trent Jr. (PO)
Orlando's strategy of playing four players 6'10" or taller worked for the most part this season and this is a roster that's loaded with size and length. Adding another wing or two to make Magic more versatile would come in handy, especially if this team reaches the postseason.
Brown is a 6'4" wing but can act as a big at times, playing off guards in the pick-and-roll while still possessing the ability to handle the ball, shoot threes and defend.
Brooks brings some defensive chops to this Magic team, one that finished 18th overall a season ago while Trent is a two-way threat who provides floor-spacing and shot making both in and outside the arc.
Philadelphia 76ers: Playmaking*
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Potential Targets: James Harden (PO), D'Angelo Russell, Jordan Clarkson (PO)
Harden and the Sixers should stay together this offseason as both need each other to have any chance at a championship. If Harden leaves, Philly doesn't have the cap space to chase another All-Star level talent like Kyrie Irving or Fred VanVleet, either.
Of course, just running the same team back with Harden (who turns 34 in August) isn't enough to win a title, either, putting the Sixers in a tough position.
Should Philly need to look at other options, Russell and Clarkson may be the best available, and even they could command contracts north of what the Sixers can pay.
Phoenix Suns: Point Guard?
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Potential Targets: Chris Paul, Kyrie Irving, Reggie Jackson
Paul is technically still a member of the Suns, although his future with the team is very much in doubt. The 38-year-old is still good enough to be a starter in the league, especially with players like Devin Booker and Kevin Durant to help share ball-handling responsibilities.
If Paul is waived or traded, Irving is an intriguing option to replace him.
The Suns already tried to trade for the 31-year-old once this year, failing to do so at the deadline in an offer that included Paul. The interest is clearly there.
Even if Paul stays, Jackson is a nice insurance plan in case of injury or load management. The 33-year-old averaged 10.2 points and 3.4 assists between the Los Angeles Clippers and Denver Nuggets this season.
Portland Trail Blazers: Defensive Help
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Potential Targets: Draymond Green (PO), Jerami Grant, Bismack Biyombo
Assuming Damian Lillard stays in Portland (which may not be a safe assumption at this point), Portland desperately needs to add defensive help around him. The Blazers have ranked 27th, 29th, 29th and 28th in total defense the last four years.
Green will almost certainly stay with the Golden State Warriors, but he can become a free agent if he turns down a $27.6 million player option. A 2021 report stated that Lillard "has been obsessed" with getting Green to Portland.
If Green indeed returns to Golden State, simply re-signing Grant would be the next best option due to his scoring and multi-positional defense. Snagging a rim protector like Biyombo to back up Jusuf Nurkic would make a difference as well.
Sacramento Kings: Starting-Caliber Forward
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Potential Targets: Harrison Barnes, Josh Hart (PO), Dillon Brooks
The Kings should be content with running back the group that finished No. 3 in the West standings this season, counting on internal growth from players like De'Aaron Fox, Domantas Sabonis and Keegan Murray to propel them further into the postseason.
This strategy would mean re-signing Barnes, who started all 82 games for the Kings and has become a big part of the franchises' return to relevancy.
If the two sides can't agree on a new contract, Sacramento should try to poach Hart from New York. He's the perfect role player and glue guy that can shoot, rebound, defend, pass and do whatever a contender needs from him.
Brooks isn't the shooter that Barnes and Hart are, but he's the best defender of the three who would help improve a Kings defense that ranked just 24th overall this year.
San Antonio Spurs: Point Guard
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Potential Targets: Tre Jones (RFA), Austin Reaves (RFA), Coby White (RFA)
Much of the buzz around the Spurs this season will come via the draft instead of free agency, and that's perfectly OK. This team now needs to do everything it can to maximize the play of Victor Wembanyama, which includes solidifying the point guard position.
Bringing Jones back is the easy decision. The Spurs can match any offer sheet the 23-year-old signs with another team and likely will after he averaged 12.9 points, 3.6 rebounds, 6.6 assists, 1.3 steals and shot 45.9 percent overall this year.
Trying to sign Reaves away from the Los Angeles Lakers would be a terrific move as well. Reaves looked like the Lakers third-best player during the postseason, able to serve a primary ball-handler or off-the-ball threat.
White, 23, could use a change of scenery after being benched by the Chicago Bulls. He's got good size at 6'5" and play either guard position.
Toronto Raptors: Guards
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Potential Targets: Fred VanVleet (PO), Jordan Clarkson (PO), Seth Curry
With VanVleet and Gary Trent Jr. both potentially hitting free agency this summer, the Raptors may need to overhaul the starting backcourt. Of the two, VanVleet is more likely to return on a juicy new deal to retain his role as the starting floor general.
If VanVleet leaves, or even if he doesn't, Clarkson and Curry bring more ball-handling and shot-making to a roster that ranked just 27th overall in total field goal percentage (45.9 percent).
Clarkson averaged a career-high 20.8 points and 4.4 assists with the Utah Jazz this season, showing what he's capable of as a starter. Curry shot over 40.0 percent from three for the seventh straight year and would help keep the offense spaced out in Toronto.
Utah Jazz: Playmaking
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Potential Targets: Gabe Vincent, Austin Reaves (RFA), Talen Horton-Tucker (PO)
With Mike Conley Jr. shipped to the Minnesota Timberwolves and Jordan Clarkson potentially leaving in free agency, the Jazz could find themselves short on playmakers this offseason. Even Horton-Tucker can turn down an $11 million player option and look for a new home.
Vincent, 26, has proven capable of being a starter on a playoff team after this Finals run with the Miami Heat. It's worth throwing a big offer sheet at Reaves as well, if nothing else but to make the Los Angeles Lakers' future cap space more constricted.
Bringing back Horton-Tucker on a new deal is a good investment. Still somehow just 22 years old, the 6'4" wing averaged 18.3 points, 5.2 rebounds and 5.9 assists in 20 games as a starter.
Washington Wizards: Young Talent
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Potential Targets: Lonnie Walker IV, Cam Reddish (RFA), Coby White (RFA)
With a new front office, some big names hitting free agency (Kristaps Porziņģis, Kyle Kuzma) and a roster that failed to reach the playoffs, a rebuild seems inevitable in the nation's capital.
This means the Wizards shouldn't go into free agency with a specific position or skill set in mind when shopping, but instead going after some promising young talent that could thrive with a bigger role.
Walker, 24, had some impressive playoff showings for the Los Angeles Lakers and Reddish, 23, averaged 14.6 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.4 steals and shot 37.1 percent from three for the Portland Trail Blazers over an 11-game stretch. White, 23, could play a big role for Washington if Bradley Beal is moved as well.
Rebuilding is the right way to go. Bringing in some medium-to-high-upside free agents gives the Wizards a head start.
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