ESPN just published their Top 20 free agents article and it shows a severe lack of game-changing players. The type of players that franchises can build around and compete with. There aren’t really any guys who, on their own, can change the fortune of an NBA team. That said, that doesn’t mean there aren’t fortifying guys and game-altering types of players.
While it may seem like a synonym, a game-changing player, in our opinion is a prime LeBron James, modern-day Nikola Jokic. A game-altering player is the role player you know is going to step up big on occasion. The Steve Kerr to Micheal Jordan, the Shane Battier to LeBron James. The guys you need to have on your roster for one reason or another.
The types of guys who show their worth for one post-season run and get dramatically overpaid; Matthew Dellavedova come to mind. This free-agent class has plenty of those guys. They even have some fortifying players. Guys, who are still All-Star caliber performers, but aren’t going to be the guy you want to rely on solely to win.
Your Paul George’s and such.
So we had a look at ESPN’s Top 20 free agents and while we don’t see anyone here who can turn the fortunes of a franchise around, we do see five guys that we think could help secure Lauri Markkanen’s path to the playoffs and help alter some games. The only caveat is that no restricted free agents are being considered. Simply guys who are unrestricted free agents or have player options who are expected to opt out. So with that, let’s talk business.
1. SF Paul George – Los Angeles Clippers (ESPN Rank: #2)
Paul George was once a great player. A fantastic two-way wing with the ability to carry the Indiana Pacers quite deep into the playoffs with just largely his play. Guys around him failed for one reason or another, like Danny Granger and Roy Hibbert, let him down, harming his legacy. He’d eventually head over to Oklahoma City to play with Russell Westbrook and Carmelo Anthony to no great success, before heading over to the Los Angeles Clippers.
Since arriving with the Clippers in 2019, the second-best NBA team in LA has done nothing and George has wasted the last five good years of his prime carrying a busted Kahwi Leonard to the playoffs year in and year out. Now at 34 years old, George can’t carry a team like he once could and needs far more help than the Clippers have to offer.
For what the Clippers need him to be anymore, George would be wise to consider another team. A team like the Utah Jazz could use his size, two-way skillset, and shot-making abilities In Salt Lake, he’d be the number two option behind Markkanen, and with an improved defense around him and Markkanen, the Jazz may become the best team in the West.
2. PF Pascal Siakam – Indiana Pacers (ESNP Rank: #7)
Of all the names on the list, Pascal Siakam may just be the kind of guy the Utah Jazz need most of all, offensively speaking. He’s the perfect positional complement to Lauri Markkanen. His ability to score inside, rebound, and pass the ball are all top-notch, making him one of the more impressive offensive players at his position in the game. He’s someone who would balance out Markkanen’s high-volume shooting approach simply by giving the Jazz an inside scorer with near-automatic accuracy.
His lack of a defensive impact is a concern. He isn’t a terrible defender but with his length and mobility, you’d expect more out of him defensively. He’s a negative player when it comes to his defensive box plus-minus but that is also partly due to him covering some of the more impressive scorers. Still, the fact that he can’t stop some of the better scorers in the NBA, or at least slow them down, still shows you he’s not the elite defender some wish he was.
Siakam could give the Jazz a needed inside presence and maybe the kind of guy that the team needs to help get over the hump.
3. SF DeMar DeRozen – Chicago Bulls (ESPN Rank: #9)
DeMar DeRozan, on a two-year contract, would be hard to argue with. Defensively, he’s nothing impressive but he’d be an upgrade over Jordan Clarkson and Keyonte George; which is a start. Offensively, he isn’t much known for his three-point shot and in fact, the fewer threes he attempts per game the better.
DeRozan is someone who excels at the mid-range, so much so that he nearly won the Most Valuable Player of the Year in 2022 had it not been for the Bulls falling off in the second half of the season. He’s not going to stretch the court much but he is going to move well in transition and provide the Utah Jazz very reliable mid-range scoring. Far more effectively than that of Jordan Clarkson. Clarkson was known for his weak pull-up attempts around the paint, and not really succeeding with the shot.
It’s part of the reason why his true shooting was so poor this past season. DeRozan is far more effective than Clarkson when shooting from that area. If he takes less money, he could end up finally finding some post-season success in Utah with the Jazz, as a nice-mid-range improvement over Clarkson.
4. SF/PF Tobias Harris – Philadelphia 76ers (ESPN Rank: #12)
The damage Tobias Harris has done to the perception of basketball greatness is astounding. When he signed his max contract deal with the 76ers originally, a lot of people thought Harris could eventually become a max-level player. He never did. Not only did he never prove himself worthy of a max-level contract, but he also systematically proved that scoring 20 points a game is no longer an impressive feat.
At best he’s a third-option scorer, who can hit a three-pointer at about 37% per game. He’d be a nice starter for a team, but only if he comes in dirt-cheat. Dedicating too much of your salary cap to him is a sure sign that you’re not going anywhere. If the Utah Jazz can land him for about $15 million a year, then the move would be worth it. He can provide adequate scoring in today’s NBA while being fine on defense.
Overpaying for mid-tier players has doomed many teams in the past, and if the Jazz make the same mistake here, they’re in for a long contract of mediocre play. Harris has value, just not as much as he and his agent believe. So, for the right price and the proper place on the team, Harris should be considered.
5. C Isaiah Hartenstein – New York Knicks (ESPN Rank: #19)
Even if Walker Kessler is the guy in Utah, you can never have enough defensive standouts. Isaiah Hartenstein has been one of the better defensive bigs in the NBA since his time with the Cleveland Cavaliers. Only recently, however, has most of the media seemed to catch on with how good he truly is. He’s the best defensive big the Knicks have, even with Julius Randle and Mitchell Robinson healthy and Hartenstein should get starter money to stay in New York.
If they don’t pony up, the Utah Jazz are in some serious need defensively and a guy like Hartenstein will provide a lot of defensive pop. He’s a great asset in that regard. Regardless of whatever skills he lacks or limitations he has offensively, Hartenstein is someone who makes teams better just off of his defense alone.
He has a feel for that side of the court that can’t be taught and he proves that, with every opportunity he’s given that he has the ability to make defenses immensely better. He isn’t an offensive force or even a real threat, but he can put back the ball enough times in a game to not be unplayable.
Coupled that with what I believe to be near All-Defense level talent, and you have someone who can be a huge get for whoever signs him.
