2023 NBA Free Agency: Grades for Every Signing from Day 3
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 we head into Day 3, players like Christian Wood, Grant Williams, P.J. Washington, Kelly Oubre Jr., Malik Beasley, Mo Bamba and others are still available, with plenty of quality depth options still on the market.
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 3.
Day 1 Grades
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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.
Check out our complete grades from Day 1 NBA free agency.
Day 2 Grades
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The free agency party continued on Day 2, as we saw a flurry of massive extensions in addition to most of the best remaining talent finding a home.
Tyrese Haliburton, LaMelo Ball, Desmond Bane and Domantas Sabonis all agreed to $200-million-plus extensions with their existing clubs, while a number of other stars re-signed with their own teams.
Brook Lopez and Jae Crowder are back for a title run with the Milwaukee Bucks, D'Angelo Russell and Austin Reaves continue to man the backcourt with the Los Angeles Lakers while Russell Westbrook agreed to stay on as the starting point guard of the Clippers.
Among the biggest names to change teams were Dillon Brooks joining the Houston Rockets (four years, $80 million), Max Strus to the Cleveland Cavaliers (four years, $63 million) and Donte DiVincenzo creating a Villanova reunion with the New York Knicks (four years, $50 million).
Check out our complete grades from Day 2 NBA free agency.
Jordan Clarkson Signs Extension with Jazz
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The Deal: $55 million, three years
Clarkson was always going to get paid this summer coming off the best season of his career. When he opted into his $14.3 million player option to stay with the Utah Jazz instead of becoming an unrestricted free agent, it seemed certain an extension was coming.
Clarkson now stands to make $69.3 million over the next four seasons in Utah, an average of $17.3 million per year. The 31-year-old proved his worth as a starter last season after previously serving as a sixth man the last six years, averaging 20.8 points, 4.0 rebounds, 4.4 assists and shooting 44.4 percent overall.
This is a good contract for both Clarkson and the Jazz. Utah has five players making between $10-$18 million this season, with no player earning more than $25.3 million. This gives them tons of flexibility moving forward, with the Clarkson contract easy to move if they need to.
Grade: A-
Miles Bridges Stays in Charlotte
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The Deal: $7.9 million, one year
Bridges and the Hornets were unable to work out an extension, with the 25-year-old agreeing to sign the qualifying offer instead. He'll be free to sign with any team of his choosing as an unrestricted free agent next summer.
Bridges missed all of last season following a domestic violence arrest in June of 2022. He has 10 games left in his 30-game suspension after pleading no contest to a felony domestic violence charge in November with two more charges dismissed as part of the plea deal.
It's easy to see why the Hornets were reluctant to make a long-term commitment to Bridges. The talent far outweighs the money here, but if the Hornets want to build a strong culture around LaMelo Ball, Brandon Miller, Mark Williams and others, they could have pulled the qualifying offer and let Bridges sign with another team, too.
There was no easy solution here for Charlotte.
Grade: C
Eric Gordon to the Suns
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The Deal: $6 million, two years
One of the best shooting guards left on the market, Gordon reportedly chose the Suns over the Golden State Warriors, Milwaukee Bucks and Houston Rockets.
This is a huge signing for the cash-strapped Suns, as the 34-year-old averaged 12.4 points, 2.7 assists and shot 37.1 percent from three last season with the Rockets and Los Angeles Clippers. Following a trade to L.A. and surrounded by better talent, Gordon's three-point mark jumped to 42.3 percent.
He'll likely play a reserve role behind Devin Booker and Bradley Beal, serving as a scoring and playmaking wing off the bench. Gordon has 60 games of playoff experience to his name, including five starts and 10.2 points per game against these Suns during their first-round meeting in April.
The Suns need depth, shooting and experience. Gordon provides them with all three.
Grade: A
Cody Zeller to New Orleans
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The Deal: $3.1 million, one year
After losing Jaxson Hayes to the Los Angeles Lakers a day earlier, the Pelicans found a new backup for Jonas Valančiūnas.
Zeller was a late-season signing by the Miami Heat in February yet earned a spot in the rotation all the way into the NBA Finals. He's a low-usage big that plays defense, crashes the glass and cuts hard to the rim in the pick-and-roll.
The 30-year-old isn't going to be an offensive hub for New Orleans, but Zeller can give the Pelicans 10-15 good minutes a night of winning basketball playing off of Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram, C.J. McCollum and company.
Grade: B
Lonnie Walker IV to the Nets
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The Deal: One year
Walker's role diminished with the Los Angeles Lakers following the trade deadline last season, although the 24-year-old wing showed his offensive prowess at key times.
His 15 points in the fourth quarter of Game 4 against the Golden State Warriors helped the Lakers take a 3-1 lead in their second-round series, as Walker hit jumper after jumper while showing no hesitation.
The Nets should be able to offer him a regular role, joining a backcourt that features Spencer Dinwiddie, Cam Thomas and newly-signed Dennis Smith Jr. After trading both Joe Harris and Patty Mills, minutes should be available for Walker.
This is a low-risk, high-upside move for the Nets who are rebuilding the roster around Mikal Bridges. Walker could thrive in a consistent role.
Grade: A-
Justin Holiday to Denver
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The Deal: One year
The defending champs needed another wing after losing Bruce Brown in free agency. Holiday, 34, is 6'6", can defend multiple positions and won a ring with the Golden State Warriors in 2015.
That being said, Holiday simply wasn't good last season. He began the year with the Atlanta Hawks and was later traded to and waived by the Houston Rockets. After signing with the Dallas Mavericks, Holiday averaged just 4.4 points and shot 28.6 percent from three.
With players like Torrey Craig, Danny Green, Terrence Ross and Will Barton still available, signing Holiday this early into free agency was a surprise.
Grade: D+
Cory Joseph to the Warriors
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The Deal: Veteran Minimum, 1 Year
Cory Joseph has never had jump-off-the-screen numbers, but that's been especially true as he's toiled in obscurity with the Detroit Pistons over the last two seasons.
For a veteran minimum, though, this is probably fine. Joseph will be 32 in August, fits the Golden State Warriors' win-now timeline and is the kind of steady-handed point guard that can keep an offense afloat for 10-15 minutes per game.
Golden State was in need of a guard following the departures of Donte DiVincenzo and Ty Jerome, and Joseph will fit into a minimal role well.
Grade: B
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