2023 NBA Free Agency: Grades for Every Signing from Day 2
The NBA's 2023 free-agency window is officially open, and Bleacher Report is here to help you sort through and react to all the moves.
As Day 2 of free agency unfolds, we'll provide live grades to every signing below, with the most notable moves up top.
To see how your favorite teams or free agents are faring, scroll below.
*Check back throughout the day as we grade every deal from Day 2.
Day 1 Grades
1 of 29
There was no shortage of fireworks as NBA free agency opened up, as over a billion dollars worth of contracts were handed out in the first few hours.
Fred VanVleet (three years, $130 million with the Houston Rockets), Kyrie Irving (three years, $126 million with the Dallas Mavericks) and Jerami Grant (five years, $160 million to return to the Portland Trail Blazers) were the biggest winners of the day, although players like Draymond Green, Khris Middleton, Kyle Kuzma and Cam Johnson all received $100 million or more on new deals as well.
Day 2 is already off to a strong start as well, with two players getting max rookie extensions and a sign-and-trade deal that lands a key wing on a new Eastern Conference contender.
Check out our complete grades from Day 1 NBA free agency.
Tyrese Haliburton Signs Max Extension with Pacers
2 of 29
The Deal: $206 million (up to $260 million), five years
Following a trade from the Sacramento Kings, Haliburton has done nothing but produce and accept his role as the face of this new-look Pacers squad, and he's now been rewarded with a max contract.
By agreeing to a designated rookie extension, Haliburton will earn a minimum of $206 million over five seasons beginning in 2024-25, although the total number jumps to $260 million if he wins MVP, Defensive Player of the Year or lands on an All-NBA team.
This was a no-brainer for Indiana and for Haliburton. The 23-year-old now owns the largest contract in Pacers history and should be worth every penny.
Grade: A
Brook Lopez Re-Signs with Bucks
3 of 29
The Deal: $48 million, two years
Lopez was easily the best free-agent center on the market, one drawing interest from the Houston Rockets as well as Milwaukee.
This may have been more than the Bucks wanted to spend to bring back the 35-year-old center, but losing him for nothing would have been devastating given the lack of talent left in free agency to replace him. Milwaukee was already well over the salary cap and couldn't have spent this kind of money on anyone else, either.
Lopez finished second in Defensive Player of the Year voting to Jaren Jackson Jr. on top of scoring 15.9 points a night and shooting 37.4 percent from three.
The signing puts Milwaukee back into the luxury tax, a spot it was inevitably going to end up if Lopez and Khris Middleton were re-signed. The Bucks will be reduced to veteran minimum contracts for the rest of free agency.
Grade: B+
Austin Reaves Re-Signs with Lakers
4 of 29
The Deal: $56 million, four years
As a restricted free agent, Reaves was always going to return to the Lakers. Another team could have made this a pricey reunion, however, by signing the 25-year-old guard to an offer sheet far higher than the max the Lakers could originally present.
Fortunately for Los Angeles, this never happened, and Reaves returns on an Early Bird max deal that is going to look like one of the NBA's best contracts in a few years.
Reaves was the Lakers' third-best player during their run to the Western Conference Finals, averaging 16.9 points, 4.4 rebounds, 4.6 assists and shooting 44.3 percent from three during 16 playoff games.
This is a great deal for Reaves as well, who was signing a two-way contract just two years ago and now gets $56 million guaranteed along with a 15 percent trade kicker and fourth-year player option.
The Lakers are having one hell of an offseason. Getting Reaves at this number without having to match a big offer sheet may be their best move yet.
Grade: A+
Dillon Brooks to Rockets
5 of 29
The Deal: $80 million, four years
We may have a new winner for the worst contract this offseason.
Brooks securing $80 million from the Rockets is an absurd amount, especially considering the Memphis Grizzlies were reportedly not even interested in bringing back the veteran forward. Who exactly was Houston bidding against?
While Brooks is a talented defender, his 39.6 percent shooting mark overall this season ranked 63rd out of the 65 players who took at least 900 shots or more this season. Fred VanVleet, the Rockets' other big offseason signing, ranked dead last with a 39.3 percent mark overall.
Houston needed defense and playoff experience, but not at this price. This was a massive overpay for a player who's own team had no interest in re-signing him.
Grade: D
Russell Westbrook Re-Signs with Clippers
6 of 29
The Deal: $8 million, two years
In a dramatic turn of events, Westbrook may have gone from the NBA's most overpaid player to its biggest bargain.
The Clippers already had one of the highest payrolls in the league and could only offer Westbrook $3.8 million this season. Getting a player who averaged 15.8 points, 4.9 rebounds, 7.6 assists and 1.1 steals and shot 54.0 percent on twos and 35.6 percent from three for under $4 million is a robbery for L.A., which now brings its starting point guard back.
This was always the perfect scenario for Westbrook as well, being home in Los Angeles, getting a starting job and playing for a terrific head coach and former point guard in Tyronn Lue.
Now we wait to see if this affects a potential trade for James Harden, who had a falling out with Westbrook in Houston after just one season together.
Grade: A+
Desmond Bane Signs Max Extension with Grizzlies
7 of 29
The Deal: $207 million, five years
Bane cemented himself as a max player this past season with the Grizzlies, averaging career highs of 21.5 points, 5.0 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 1.0 steals per game while shooting over 40.0 percent from three for the third straight season.
He's quietly become one of the best shooting guards in the NBA and a big part of Memphis' rise to the No. 2 seed last season. This also means that Memphis has Bane, Ja Morant, Jaren Jackson Jr., Marcus Smart and Brandon Clarke all under contract for the next three years or longer.
While this young team continues to get more expensive, this is a core that's going to be going deep into the playoffs for years to come. Grizzlies fans should be thrilled with Bane coming back, even if it took a max deal to happen.
Grade: A
LaMelo Ball Signs Max Extension with Hornets
8 of 29
The Deal: $206 million (up to $260 million), five years
Like Tyrese Haliburton, Ball gets a designated rookie extension that will pay him the maximum amount allowed. Ball will only earn $260 million if he wins MVP, Defensive Player of the Year or lands on an All-NBA team.
Injury concerns are the only reason Charlotte wouldn't max out Ball now. The 21-year-old point guard played just 36 games last season due to ankle injuries but was an All-Star the year before and is one of the best young floor generals in the game when healthy.
Ball averaged 23.3 points, 6.4 rebounds, 8.3 assists, 1.3 steals per game and shot 37.6 percent from three in 2022-23 when healthy. On a Hornets team that looked like one of the NBA's worst last season, Ball, rookie Brandon Miller and Mark Williams are the only true building blocks.
Ball wasn't going to take anything less than the max. Getting a deal done now was best for both sides, even if Charlotte should rightfully question his durability.
Grade: A-
Domantas Sabonis Extends with the Kings
9 of 29
The Deal: $217 million, 5 Years
For years, giving massive contracts to centers felt dicey. When the Golden State Warriors were sort of the blueprint for playoff success, bigger, less mobile 5s were hard to keep on the floor in the postseason.
But the tide may be turning a bit. Sabonis isn't Nikola Jokić, but the Denver Nuggets center just proved you can win at the highest level when your best player is a big man.
And that's the role Sabonis is filling for the Sacramento Kings right now.
Last season, Sabonis was Third Team All-NBA and averaged 19.1 points, a league-leading 12.3 rebounds and an underappreciated 7.3 assists per game. And over the course of that campaign, the Kings were plus-3.9 points per 100 possessions with Sabonis on the floor and minus-1.2 with him off.
Putting up those kind of numbers and being the engine of 2022-23's best regular-season offense will probably make Sabonis worth his salary for the first few years of this deal.
If there is a down side, it's that $40-plus million could look a little less manageable when Sabonis is in his 30s and struggling even more than he does now to anchor a defense or switch onto smaller players outside.
But that's a ways down the road, and the salary cap figures to keep going up for the foreseeable future.
Grade: B+
Max Strus to the Cavaliers
10 of 29
The Deal: $63 million, four years
Strus joins the Cavaliers in a three-team sign-and-trade, with the San Antonio Spurs acquiring Cedi Osman, Lamar Stevens and a second-round pick from the Cavs and a second-round selection heading back to Miami as well.
Cleveland had already used most of its $12.4 non-taxpayer mid-level exception on George Niang, so getting Strus at this number (nearly $16 million a year) required some sacrifice.
Strus should begin the season as the Cavs' starting small forward. He's a 6'5" wing who's shot 37.1 percent from three for his career. Still, this seems like an overpay for someone who was wildly inconsistent during the postseason, including averages of just 5.8 points on 18.8 percent shooting from three during the Finals.
He fits Cleveland's primary need as a shot-making wing, but giving Strus $63 million while losing two role players and draft picks in the process was too much.
Grade: C
D'Angelo Russell Re-Signs with Lakers
11 of 29
The Deal: $37 million, two years
While this may not be a long-term partnership, Russell and the Lakers were each other's best option as cap space begins to dry up around the league.
The 27-year-old point guard is getting $18.5 million in annual salary, with the second year serving as a player option. If Russell has a strong season with the Lakers, he can opt out and look for a bigger, longer contract next summer.
Los Angeles already signed Gabe Vincent using the majority of its non-taxpayer mid-level exception and can match any deal Austin Reaves receives in free agency. This collection of ball-handlers should help keep LeBron James' workload at a modest level as he enters his 21st season.
After getting benched during the playoffs, this is more money that was likely expected for Russell, although only signing a two-year contract makes the deal movable in a trade. A team option in Year 2 instead of a player option would have been far better for the Lakers as well.
Grade: B
Donte DiVincenzo to the Knicks
12 of 29
The Deal: $50 million, 4 Years
The New York Knicks used their non-taxpayer mid-level exception to reunite Donte DiVincenzo with two other Villanova Wildcats already on the roster.
DiVincenzo, Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart were all on Nova's 2016-17 roster, but this addition is about a lot more than a little sentimentality.
After an injury-plagued 2021-22, DiVincenzo thoroughly rehabbed his value with the Golden State Warriors this season. In just 26.3 minutes, one of the best rebounding guards in the league averaged 9.4 points, 4.5 boards, 3.5 assists, 2.1 threes and 1.3 steals, while shooting 39.7 percent from deep.
Pardon the cliche, but the Knicks now have one of the grittiest backcourt rotations in the league. And DiVincenzo's multifaceted game has a lot to do with it.
Of course, if coach Tom Thibodeau is planning to play DiVincenzo (6'4"), Hart (6'5") and Brunson (6'1") together, they'll probably be at a size disadvantage against most lineups. But all three play bigger than they are.
Grade: B+
Sasha Vezenkov to Kings
13 of 29
The Deal: $20 million, three years
After initially acquiring his draft rights during the 2022 NBA draft, the Kings will now be bringing Vezenkov to Sacramento after last playing for Olympiacos in Greece.
The 27-year-old is a strong fit for this Kings roster with his three-point shooting and cutting, as he projects to be a rotation player on the wing behind Harrison Barnes and Keegan Murray. The EuroLeague's Most Valuable Player, Vezenkov averaged 17.6 points and 6.8 rebounds this past season.
ESPN's Bobby Marks notes that the Kings still project to have $18.8 million in salary cap space even after signing Vezenkov and a new Trey Lyles contract.
This is a solid depth move for Sacramento, as Vezenkov was one of the best basketball players in the world not in the NBA.
Grade: A
Patrick Beverley to 76ers
14 of 29
The Deal: $3.2 million, one year
As we wait to see James Harden's future, the 76ers have added Beverley as some veteran insurance next to Tyrese Maxey and De'Anthony Melton in the backcourt.
This number is a far cry from the $13-$15 million Beverley previously stated he expected, as reality may be settling in for the soon-to-be 35-year-old.
While he brings a good deal of experience and vocal leadership to any team, Beverley's offensive game has fallen off in recent years. He's no longer a starter in the NBA but can still be a solid rotation player for a team like Philly with title aspirations.
This is a low-risk move for the Sixers, who still want to build a winner around Joel Embiid, with or without Harden.
Grade: B+
Vasilije Micić to Thunder
15 of 29
The Deal: $23.5 million, three years
After just missing the postseason this past spring, the Thunder are turning to Europe for veteran help to accompany one of the youngest rosters in the NBA.
Micić, 29, has most recently been playing for Turkish club Anadolu Efes, and averaged 16.5 points and 4.6 assists while being named MVP of the Turkish Finals.
He's another ball-handler to add to a backcourt of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Josh Giddey, giving OKC even more playmaking and shooting. At 6'5", he fits in with an already supersized guard rotation.
This is a smart move by the Thunder, who look playoff-bound in 2023-24.
Grade: A
Thomas Bryant to Miami
16 of 29
The Deal: $5.4 million, two years
One of the best three-point shooting big men on the market, Bryant becomes the perfect backup center to Bam Adebyao in Miami.
The 25-year-old started last season strong with the Los Angeles Lakers, averaging 12.1 points, and 6.8 rebounds in 21.4 minutes while making 69.7 percent of his twos and 44.0 percent of his three-pointers.
A trade to the Denver Nuggets saw Bryant fall out of the rotation during the playoffs, but this is still a terrific signing for the Heat that didn't have much cash to spend in free agency. The defending East champs continue to get deeper as they explore a trade for Damian Lillard.
Grade: A
Mo Wagner Re-Signs with Magic
17 of 29
The Deal: $16 million, two years
Following the best season of his career, Wagner gets rewarded in a return to Orlando.
The 26-year-old big man averaged 10.5 points, 4.5 rebounds and shot 50.0 percent overall this past season while continuing to showcase his floor-spacing ability (31.3 percent from deep).
Wagner has established himself as a rotation big and now gets life changing money to stay with his brother in Orlando while helping the Magic chase the playoffs. While he may not have gotten this contract from any other team, this is an easily movable salary for Orlando and will be up before players like Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner and Jalen Suggs are due for extensions.
Grade: B
Dwight Powell Returns to Mavericks
18 of 29
The Deal: $12 million, three years
Powell returns to the Mavericks, his home for the eight-plus years, on a team-friendly deal.
After starting 64 of his 76 games for Dallas last season, Powell will almost certainly move to a bench role at some point this season after the Mavs selected center Dereck Lively II with the No. 12 overall pick. Richaun Holmes and JaVale McGee are both on the roster as well.
Powell is a good locker room guy, respected veteran and solid bench option at this stage of his career. Dallas did well to bring him back, even if the center position is a little crowded at the moment.
Grade: B+
Jae Crowder Re-Signs with Bucks
19 of 29
The Deal: One year
Crowder stays in Milwaukee after the Bucks acquired the 32-year-old forward at the trade deadline this year.
His role could increase as well, given that Joe Ingles has committed to sign with the Orlando Magic.
Crowder shot 43.6 percent from three and will be a key member of a Bucks team that has already re-signed Khris Middleton and Brook Lopez. Milwaukee needs his playoff experience and two-way ability alongside its stars and should be thrilled he agreed to re-sign on what should be a team-friendly deal.
Grade: B+
Dennis Smith Jr. to Brooklyn
20 of 29
The Deal: $2.5 million, one year
Smith proved he belongs in an NBA rotation with his play in Charlotte last season, and now becomes a backup point guard to Spencer Dinwiddie in Brooklyn.
The 25-year-old had the second-highest defensive estimated plus-minus score in the league last season (plus-3.8) according to DunksandThrees.com, numbers that ranked him among players like Alex Caruso, O.G. Anunoby and Draymond Green.
He gave the Hornets 8.8 points, 4.8 assists and 1.4 steals in 25.7 minutes last season. If Smith can start shooting threes at even a league-average level (21.6 percent last year), this will be one of the steal signings of free agency.
Grade: B+
Jaxson Hayes to Lakers
21 of 29
The Deal: $4.6 million, two years
Hayes joins Cam Reddish as the second top-10 pick of the 2019 draft to sign with the Lakers this offseason.
This is a good opportunity for the 23-year-old to rehab some value after seeing his minutes cut with the New Orleans Pelicans. Anthony Davis has averaged just 44 games a season the past three years, meaning Hayes could see extended minutes and some starting time if Davis once again struggles with injuries.
For now, perfecting a role as a rim protector, rebounder and lob-finisher should earn Hayes a spot in the rotation immediately. This is a low-risk option for the Lakers, and Hayes gets a player option in Year 2 if he outperforms this deal and wants to test the market again next summer.
Grade: B
Ty Jerome to Cavs
22 of 29
The Deal: $5 million, two years
Jerome had his best game of the season against the Cavs in 2022-23, going off for 22 points and eight assists as the starting point guard on a night the Golden State Warriors rested most of their starters.
Obviously, Cleveland's front office liked what it saw.
Jerome will battle Ricky Rubio for the primary backup point guard spot behind Darius Garland. At 6'5", he gives the Cavs a big ball-handler who can pass and knock down threes (38.9 percent).
Just shy of his 26th birthday, Jerome joins a talented backcourt in Cleveland.
Grade: B+
Jock Landale to Rockets
23 of 29
The Deal: $32 million, four years
Giving a 27-year-old backup center with only two years of NBA experience $32 million seems preposterous at first, but Landale's contract is non-guaranteed in Years 2-4 according to HoopsHype's Mike Scotto.
This is essentially a one-year, $8 million-ish deal for Landale, with the Rockets possessing full control of his future on a year-to-year basis. While that's still a lot of money this season, there's no commitment past this year.
Landale averaged 6.6 points and 4.1 rebounds on 52.8 percent shooting in only 14.2 minutes for the Phoenix Suns this season. He'll be a good defensive option behind Alperen Şengün.
This is probably still a bit of an overpay, but not nearly as bad if all four years were guaranteed.
Grade: C+
Jalen McDaniels to the Raptors
24 of 29
The Deal: $9.3 million, 2 Years
Jalen McDaniels has yet to register an above-replacement-level box plus-minus in his career. At 25, he's not exactly a prospect anymore. And after shooting 33.2 percent from deep in 2022-23, he has a below-average three-point percentage for his career.
But the Raptors aren't shelling out huge money here. And McDaniels' size (6'9" with a 7'0" wingspan) make him a fascinating fit with this team from a physical perspective.
Few teams have leaned as heavily into modern, positionless basketball as Toronto. And another player who fits the archetype for that kind of game makes sense.
Grade: C+
Jack White to the Thunder
25 of 29
The Deal: 2 Years
He played just 66 minutes all season, but Jack White is officially an NBA champion after finishing the campaign with the Denver Nuggets.
And while that championship sheen may have helped free agents like Bruce Brown and Thomas Bryant secure deals elsewhere, White's landing spot probably has more to do with his productivity in the G-League.
In 15 games with the Grand Rapids Gold, White put up 19.5 points, 8.9 rebounds and 1.8 threes, while shooting 40.9 percent from deep.
For what's almost certainly a minimum salary, a shot at solid rebounding and outside shooting from a reserve big is worth a two-year commitment.
The Grade: B
Sandro Mamukelashvili Stays with the Spurs
26 of 29
The Deal: $2 million, 1 Year
Sandro Mamukelashvili is a 24-year-old backup big with just over 1,000 career minutes and below-average marks in both player efficiency rating and box plus/minus.
They may not be re-signing a diamond in the rough, but his 10.8 points, 6.8 rebounds and 2.4 assists in just 23.3 minutes after last season's trade to the San Antonio Spurs suggest a hint of playmaking 5 potential.
And for a salary that will take up just 1.5 percent of the cap in 2022-23, that potential is worth exploring.
Grade: B
Jeff Green to the Houston Rockets
27 of 29
The Deal: $6 million, 1 Year
Bruce Brown isn't the only Denver Nuggets rotation player bolting after winning the title. Jeff Green is now a part of the Houston Rockets' infusion of experience, thanks to a one-year deal worth just 4.4 percent of the salary cap.
And while Green can certainly help Houston with off-court intangibles like professionalism and championship experience, he doesn't make a ton of sense on the floor.
Green turns 37 in August, shot 28.8 percent from three in the regular season and had minus-0.5 wins over replacement player in the playoffs (value over replacement player times 2.7).
Any minutes he gets in Houston could potentially take developmental time away from members of the young core.
Grade: C-
Alex Len Stays with the Kings
28 of 29
The Deal: $3.2 million, 1 Year
Thirty-year-old Alex Len is coming off a 2022-23 campaign in which he averaged 1.7 points in 26 appearances.
With Richaun Holmes gone, there may be a slightly cleaner path to minutes for Len this season, but it probably won't move the needle much for the Sacramento Kings.
As a center, Len's hit just 52.7 percent of his two-pointers in the NBA, and his teams' point differentials have generally been worse when he plays.
Still, he's a legitimate seven-footer, and this is only 2.4 percent of the salary cap, so it's probably fine.
Grade: C
Dante Exum to the Mavericks
29 of 29
The Deal: TBD
It's tough to grade this deal without knowing the terms, but Dante Exum last appeared in the NBA in 2020-21, when he played just six games for the Cleveland Cavaliers. Given that reality, it's safe to assume this deal isn't a whopper.
And this season with Partizan Belgrade, Exum proved himself more than worthy of another shot in the NBA.
Across 74 games in various competitions, Exum was arguably Partizan's best player and averaged 20.0 points, 5.9 free throws, 5.1 assists, 1.7 threes and 1.3 steals per 36 minutes. He also shot 38.8 percent from three and 84.7 percent from the line while posting a 22.5 player efficiency rating.
He'll be one of the Dallas Mavericks better perimeter defenders from Day 1 of training camp, and his cutting and improved outside shooting could make him a nice weapon for Luka Dončić.
Grade: B+
