2024 NBA free agency: Ranking top 30 players, tracking latest news as Paul George, LeBron James opting out

The 2024 NBA offseason has officially begun after the Boston Celtics defeated the Dallas Mavericks in the Finals. Unlike previous years, the league’s new collective bargaining agreement allows teams to negotiate with their own players right after the final game of the season. This applies to any player set to hit free agency or eligible for a contract extension in July. So yes, NBA free agency is already underway.

Keep in mind that players are not allowed to negotiate with teams other than the one they finished last season with until June 30 at 6 p.m. ET, and contracts can’t be signed until the moratorium ends (on July 6 at 12:01 p.m. ET).

We’ve already got some news on this front. LeBron James and Paul George, who sit atop our rankings, have decided to opt out of their respective contracts. George will become a free agent for the first time since 2018, and James is expected to sign a new deal with the Lakers. Both are unrestricted free agents, meaning they can sign with any team with the necessary cap space and their current teams would not have the opportunity to match.

Will LeBron leave the Lakers? Probably not — considering the L.A. drafted his son, Bronny, with the No. 55 pick in the 2024 Draft — but it’s not out of the question. George, on the other hand, is a serious threat to exit L.A., though interest from an expected suitor in the Philadelphia 76ers is reportedly waning. Speaking of Philly, All-Star guard Tyrese Maxey ranks third on our list and will most certainly stay in Philadelphia, barring something extremely unexpected.

Some other developments include Immanuel Quickley, who agreed to a $175 million deal to remain with the Raptors on June 28 and Lakers’ D’Angelo Russell, who exercised a $18.7 million player option to stay in L.A.

Pascal Siakam and the Indiana Pacers agreed to a new, long-term contract shortly after the Finals. Siakam slots at No. 5 in our 2024 top-30 free-agent rankings, which can be found below. He’s not the only top-10 player to reach a new deal, either. Kings guard Malik Monk is…


Source link : https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/2024-nba-free-agency-ranking-top-30-players-tracking-latest-news-as-paul-george-lebron-james-opting-out/

Author : Brad Botkin

Publish date : 2024-06-29 21:01:03

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