What happens with the free agency of 2022 is that we have already had a lot of action considering that we have not yet reached the “free agency” part of the program. The players ’transactions go back and forth despite this in the form of player exchanges and contract extensions, although no one can accept an agreement until 6pm on June 30th.
Also, this time we have a little more mystery. There is no guarantee that we will know the fate of all significant free agents at 6:01 pm as we did a year ago. On the one hand, some parties are at least a little punished by the coupling of the second round of the Chicago Bulls and Miami Heat league elections following the debacle of 2021. The most important thing, however, is that some these situations may need more time to develop.
Above all: the future of Deandre Ayton. The top restricted free agent in this year’s class has no obvious maximum contract contenders right now, with tapas room teams like the Detroit Pistons and San Antonio Spurs now turning into a dump for unwanted contracts. ‘others in the last two days. These were supposed to be the two main horses to incite other teams to pay to re-sign their own players. Keep them and there is little precious margin in the market to pursue free agents above $ 10 million a year. Without this offer sheet, Ayton’s employers in Phoenix also have no overwhelming reason to give him a contract that cuts the budget. The Suns would be on the brink of the luxury tax, if they don’t surpass it, with another maximum or near-maximum deal on their books.
With so little space in the market, where could even a competitive offer for him come from? Could the Indiana Pacers, probably under reconstruction, but perhaps not, make a run for Ayton with his not-so-maximum room, or in a Myles Turner sign and exchange? What about the Orlando Magic, who have money and motives, but apparently need perimeter help more than another big one? Could the Memphis Grizzlies get into the game with their excess assets and $ 22 million in a maximum space? (The Grizzlies’ reception, already set up in their family bunker in the Utah Summer League, isn’t tilting their hands on the team’s endless options this summer.)
The people of Ayton will earn the bushes for signs and trades, but are there any that really work? Will Ayton only sign the $ 16.4 million qualifying offer and try it again next summer? It’s a strange state of affairs. No one really thinks Ayton will return to Phoenix … but it’s getting harder and harder to build scenarios where he ends up somewhere else. Something has to give, you might think, but it hasn’t happened yet.
As for the other first restricted free agent in that class, Miles Bridges, he was arrested the day before the free agency began. It is unclear how it will affect the interest of other teams. The Hornets extended a $ 7.9 million qualifying offer to him to return to Charlotte.
Meanwhile, some teams on the sidelines right now are still trying to get into the game. The Minnesota Timberwolves continue to work with D’Angelo Russell’s offer angles. The Sacramento Kings could have $ 20 million in space if they find a home for Richaun Holmes. The Oklahoma City Thunder has 24 hours to use $ 23 million in the boundary room. Matisse Thybulle of Philly is widely known to be available for the right asset; you can have Furkan Korkmaz just by kindly asking. And, of course, there’s Kyrie Irving of Brooklyn. He almost broke the Internet before hiring his 2022-23 contract for $ 36.5 million, but that doesn’t mean the situation is gone. Just because the monster is submerged in Loch Ness right now doesn’t mean it won’t resurface by the end of this summer.
In contrast, other free agent destinations are already well known. Bradley Beal, Zach LaVine, James Harden, Mitchell Robinson, Jusuf Nurkić and Nicolas Batum are almost certain to re-sign with their respective teams. Jalen Brunson, not so much. Donte DiVincenzo did not receive a qualifying offer although Sacramento negotiated draft shares for him on the exchange deadline, perhaps as part of a Kings cap-room play that depends on making another change. first. (Or not … but that’s the best reason I have.)
There is also activity further down the market in the food chain. John Wall has been bought and seems likely to become a Clipper with the exception of mid-level taxpayers, which in turn probably means Isaiah Hartenstein will have his payday elsewhere. The Clippers will return to Batum and Amir Coffey, but they, like the Heat, will not allow a tight limit situation and few draft assets to stop them from circling the waters in search of other prey.
Harden’s exclusion from Philadelphia and the subsequent signing for a lower limit figure, according to The Athletic, is also important in this part of the market. It probably opens the door for the Sixers to sign PJ Tucker with his non-contributing middleweight exception, even if the rumored three-year deal for the 37-year-old seems to tempt fate. (I say this as someone who once signed a three-year contract with a 37-year-old player for the full MLE.) It also opens the biannual exception of the Sixers and maybe some signs and exchanges.
With all that said … who is really available to sign right now?
I’m glad you asked. I have already listed my top 25 free agents for BORD $ ahead of free agency, as well as BORD $ values for all probable free agents base, pitcher, small forward, forward and center. These links also contain some descriptions of how player ratings were produced and where the market may differ for specific players.
This list has changed slightly as a result of decisions in recent days. Looking ahead to the opening minute of the free agency, here’s the “BORD $ dashboard” look of the top 25 free agents (and BORD $ projections) after a few options and extensions. We will keep track of this as the free agency continues:
- James Harden, SG, Philadelphia: $ 46,617,283 (previously: 2)
- Bradley Beal, SG, Washington: $ 38,520,130 (3)
- Zach LaVine, SG, Chicago: $ 31,716,188 (4)
- Deandre Ayton, C, Phoenix (restricted): $ 31,406,061 (5)
- Miles Bridges, PF, Charlotte (restricted): $ 30,940,550 (6)
- Jalen Brunson, PG, Dallas: $ 29,371,294 (7)
- Chris Boucher, C, Toronto: $ 19,782,672 (8)
- Bruce Brown, SF, Brooklyn, $ 19,043,654 (9)
- Kyle Anderson, PF, Memphis, $ 18,990,342 (10)
- Mitchell Robinson, C, New York: $ 18,862,212 (11)
- Jusuf Nurkic, C, Portland: $ 17,414,518 (12)
- Otto Porter Jr., SF, Golden State: $ 16,603,510 (13)
- Malik Monk, SG, Lakers: $ 16,511,722 (14)
- Bobby Portis, C, Milwaukee: $ 15,793,989 (15)
- Donte DiVincenzo, SG, Sacramento: $ 15,551,549 (16)
- Montrezl Harrell, C, Charlotte: $ 14,730,416 (17)
- Delon Wright, PG / SG, Atlanta: $ 14,546,800 (18)
- Tyus Jones, PG, Memphis: $ 13,791,316 (19)
- Nicolas Batum, SF, Clippers: $ 13,734,340 (20)
- Jae’Sean Tate, PF, Houston (restricted): $ 13,343,341 (NR)
- Kevon Looney, C, Golden State: $ 12,533,705 (21)
- Cody Martin, SG, Charlotte, (restricted): $ 12,366,850 (22)
- Anfernee Simons, PG, Portland (restricted): $ 11,467,484 (23)
- Collin Sexton, SG, Cleveland (restricted): $ 10,816,788 (25)
- Isaiah Hartenstein, LA Clippers: $ 10,549,849 (NR)
(Photo by Deandre Ayton: John Hefti / USA Today)