6 NBA Players Who Would Be Foolish to Leave In 2024 Free Agency
2024 NBA free agency is still months away, but it is never too early to start looking at the field.
Many big names could potentially become free agents this offseason. The climate, though, may not be ideal for many of them to move to new teams.
For starters, only a few top-level teams have cap space to sign a major free agent. The only contender with that space is the Philadelphia 76ers, which are currently in line to have the most cap space. The next teams after them are the Detroit Pistons, Toronto Raptors and Orlando Magic. The pickings might be slim for top free agents to change teams.
Apart from a few exceptions, many teams with space do not offer the top free agents a genuine chance to compete—if that is what those players are seeking.
Simply put: The grass is not always greener on the other side.
Here is a list of a few players who have the option to leave for greener pastures this offseason but might be better off staying with their current team.
*NOTE: Restricted free agents will not be on this list, as teams holding their contracts have the option to match any offer they receive. For example, Tyrese Maxey, barring some unforeseen circumstance, is likely re-signing with the Sixers. OG Anunoby and Pascal Siakam are also not on this list, as they are likely to re-sign with their teams after being traded from Toronto.
LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers
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Let's get the biggest name out of the way.
LeBron James has a player option for next season and will likely opt out. This will stir up a lot of rumblings wondering where James should go. What team presents the best place to win a championship? Will he sign with whoever drafts Bronny James, if he enters the draft?
Despite all of that, the best and smartest option for James would be to opt out and re-sign with the Lakers.
This current Lakers team is far from contending and is likely to be in the play-in tournament again. However, projecting to next season, Los Angeles can make the kind of massive upgrades to its roster that were not possible this season. This offseason, the Lakers will gain the ability to trade three first-round draft picks, which they can then potentially combine with players, pick swaps and second-round picks to nab a star-level teammate to join James and Anthony Davis.
Being in L.A., they are almost always linked to big names like Trae Young, Donovan Mitchell, and Kyrie Irving. Even if they cannot get a big name, with the asset cupboard slowly reloading, they can make a few trades instead of just one big one to help round out the roster.
The other issue with James leaving the Lakers is there is realistically nowhere else he can go where he could simultaneously make the money he would command while also turning that team into a contender.
James Harden, LA Clippers
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James Harden learned last offseason that not a lot of teams were that interested in signing him. That was why he opted into his contract with the Philadelphia 76ers and demanded a trade. That's how he ended up as a Clipper.
It's safe to say things have stabilized after a rocky first few games, and Harden has found a home. A team could see how he is playing now and talk themselves into making a big play for him. Harden could help a young team like the Orlando Magic, who are desperate for a point guard. If Harden wants to chase the money, he could go that route.
The thing is, though, that Harden has found a home with the Clippers. It is not dissimilar to what he had in Brooklyn with Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving; it's just more stable. Kawhi Leonard is the leading option with Paul George as the second option. Harden needs to make sure they are both getting fed opportunities while he looks for his—mainly with the second unit.
Being a part of a trio suits Harden; he has been a great fit with the Clippers and has helped launch them into contender status. There is no other team where he can play this role and compete for a title. The smartest move for Harden would be to stay with the Clippers.
Paul George, LA Clippers
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It has been quite a ride for Paul George and the LA Clippers. He arrived in Los Angeles after the 2019 season to pair up with Kawhi Leonard. Injuries and a pandemic have painted this run as a failure despite LA making its only-ever conference finals in 2021. Now comes the question of whether George should make another jump to a new team.
It might be tempting to take a path where George can lead his own team. He still is one of the best two-way wing players in the league. George is averaging 22.1 points, shooting 39.5 percent from three and is arguably having his healthiest season as a Clipper (knock on wood).
A jump to the right team might make sense, but he would be leaving a title contender.
Yes, the Clippers are legitimate title contenders. They have already reached a contract extension with Leonard for the next three seasons. LA will likely re-sign James Harden in the offseason (see previous slide).
Barring a move to Philadelphia or New York, there is no other team that George can sign with that has an actual title shot.
Tobias Harris, Philadelphia 76ers
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This is an interesting name to watch in free agency. Tobias Harris is often the forgotten Sixer despite being the second-highest-paid player on the roster. This might be a case of the team having more of a say if Harris returns or not.
Harris is a modern-game power forward and is best suited as a third option on a good team. When Philadelphia is healthy, that is his role. He excels at it, but his last contract was an overpay. Harris was given a max contract by 2019 standards (five years, $180 million). His performance never truly justified that contract.
So that brings a few questions to the table regarding his free agency. First, will the Sixers even try to bring him back, or will they look to upgrade using more of their cap space to bring in a better player? If the Sixers reel in a big fish in free agency, would Harris be willing to take less money and a smaller role to stay with Philadelphia? Would the Sixers even want him at all?
For Harris, he should want to return to the Sixers if the goal is to win a championship. He has carved a solid role as the third option, playing off Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey. His skill set complements their top two stars quite well, and he does not take anything off the court defensively.
It would make sense for Harris to sign a team-friendly deal to remain a Sixer, but in Philadelphia's chase to bring in more star power, he might be collateral damage.
Jrue Holiday, Boston Celtics
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It is easy to envision contenders this offseason jumping all over themselves to clear cap space if Jrue Holiday opts out of his contract and becomes a free agent. As one of the best defenders in the NBA who could guard any position on the floor and is not a liability on offense, teams would do whatever they could to clear cap space to sign him.
But Boston is the perfect landing spot for him.
Holiday's role within the Celtics' defense is one of the reasons they are sitting on top of the Eastern Conference with a sizable gap between them and the rest of the East. Joe Mazzulla has used him as the center of their zone defense, and he has guarded centers to keep Kristaps Porziņģis from having to bang with the big men. He is having a career year from three, shooting 44 percent from deep.
In Holiday's first season as a Celtic, he sits on one of the best teams in the NBA. His role is clearly defined and extremely important to the team's success.
Holiday has no reason to leave Boston, even if a contender clears space to sign him to a lucrative deal. He has continuity with the Celtics, and it would be hard to leave Beantown.
Malik Monk, Sacramento Kings
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Malik Monk could leave the Sacramento Kings for a bigger role with another team. No one could blame him if he wanted to be a starter in the NBA. He has been a sixth man for most of his career, minus a small run with the Los Angeles Lakers. Sometimes, chasing a larger role can backfire.
Monk has the perfect situation for him with the Kings. Besides pairing up with his old Kentucky teammate, De'Aaron Fox, he is killing it off the bench for Sacramento. He is the front-runner for this season's Sixth Man of the Year award on FanDuel. Monk is averaging career-highs with 15.2 points and 5.2 assists per game.
There will be a nice, healthy market for a player like Monk in free agency. He could get a ridiculous offer that Sacramento may not want to match. Could he keep playing at the same high level if he goes somewhere else?
There is a history of players chasing roles and money and those pursuits ending poorly. If the money is close or equal, Monk should stay in Sacramento. He is in the perfect position, and coming off the bench could add more hardware to his mantle. More importantly, he is a pivotal piece for a team that he is already comfortable with.
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