Ranking the 10 best available small forwards in NBA free agency

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May 2, 2023; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks guard Josh Hart (3) celebrates his three point shot against the Miami Heat during the fourth quarter of game two of the 2023 NBA Eastern Conference semifinal playoffs at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /

4. Josh Hart

The New York Knicks acquired Josh Hart at the 2023 trade deadline, and he quickly turned out to be a perfect fit. He provided solid scoring, great rebounding, tough defense, and hustle. In the playoffs, he had a big part in the Knicks’ victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers by hounding Donovan Mitchell on defense and making his life as a scorer hell.

Now, Hart has a player option coming up. He is widely expected to re-sign with the Knicks for the long-term but if he were to hit free agency, he would be one of the most sought-after small forwards on the market.

Hart shot incredibly well with the Knicks (51.9 percent from three over 25 games) but his career three-point percentage is 35 percent. Thus, he is not the floor spacer many teams are looking for on the wing, but he brings pretty much everything else a team needs to reach the next level. He does all the little things well, brings a great energy with him, and can significantly boost any bench unit. Considering how well he fits with the Kicks, other teams probably do not have much hope to land Hart this summer, but they are surely keeping an eye on the situation.