Free agency is coming to the NBA in a matter of weeks. The 2023 NBA free agency class is an intriguing one for many reasons, among them, the crop of power forwards available.
There are several All-Star caliber power forwards who could be available in free agency, including one from a recent NBA champion. There are also intriguing starters and rotation players that can adapt to bigger roles in the right situation.
For the purpose of this exercise, we’re going to stick with restricted and unrestricted free agents, rather than players with club or team options. It’s too soon to say whether some of those players will actually be available come free agency.
Who are the top power forwards set to be available during NBA free agency this summer?
There aren’t a lot of players at the position with club options heading into the summer. The only one of real interest is Kenyon Martin Jr., who seems destined to return to the Houston Rockets after a breakout year.
Player options provide a much more robust list of possible free agents. Those that stick out the most include Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green and Washington Wizards forward Kristaps Porzingis, both of whom would be considered top 3 free agents at their position should they become available.
Disagree with the rankings or feel there are any notable omissions from the list? Feel free to sound off in the comments!
Without further ado, here are the top five power forwards available in free agency this summer.
5. Keita Bates-Drop, San Antonio Spurs
Keita Bates-Diop is not a major name and may even be quickly forgotten in San Antonio Spurs lore when Victor Wembanyama arrives. He could prove to be a solid rotation piece for a number of teams, though.
Bates-Diop has been toiling around the Western Conference for several years, a late bloomer by NBA standards, since he stayed in college for several years. He’ll turn 28 years old halfway through the coming season.
This past year was Bates-Diop’s first as a primary starter, perhaps a function of the bare bones roster being put on the court by the Spurs. Still, he took advantage, averaging 9.7 points and 3.7 rebounds per game while hitting an impressive 39.4 percent of threes (albeit on 2.1 attempts per game).
Bates-Diop doesn’t have a particularly high ceiling at this point of his career, but that shouldn’t deter some teams from trying to get him for a steal, as he also doesn’t have a particularly low floor.
The forward is an adequate defender and has versatility to his game, able to play either forward spot. That will entice at least one team to pick him up this summer.
There doesn’t appear to be room for Bates-Diop with the Spurs, who already have Jeremy Sochan and Keldon Johnson at forward spots, not to mention its bevy of draft picks to play with. He was a better shooter than those two last season, though, which could make his return worthwhile to Gregg Popovich.
Again, Bates-Diop is in the upper tier of free agent power forwards, but he would be a good depth signing wherever he goes.
4. PJ Washington, Charlotte Hornets
PJ Washington is a restricted free agent this summer, giving the Charlotte Hornets the right to match any offer for the power forward. As the Hornets try to accelerate their rebuild with a top draft pick, it will be interesting to see what they do about Washington.
The forward was reportedly offered a four-year extension last summer in the range of $50 million to $52 million. He turned it down.
Washington then had a career year and may have even been the brightest light in Buzz City this season. Despite some substandard shooting, Washington averaged a career-high 15.7 points per game, starting in 73 contests.
Some of his other stats took a step back, though. Besides shooting, his rebounding down and his fouling was up. He also didn’t seem as impressive as he has in the past in terms of blocking shots.
Part of his efficiency issue may have stemmed from playing the role of a small ball center from time to time, which he’s ill-suited to do. That can make his general numbers even more impressive at power forward, which is where he should expect to play going forward.
The Charlotte front office has indicated that they’re interested in trying to hang on to the players they drafted and developed – despite the questionable results – and Washington would certainly fit that rubric. His versatility could make him a keeper, but the Hornets may not match if a power forward-needy team decides to break the bank with an offer sheet.
3. Grant Williams, Boston Celtics
If Grant Williams was going to be paid based on the number of free throws he can hit after boasting of his aptitude at the line, he’d be getting a minimum contract next year. Luckily for him, that’s not how this offseason will work.
Like Washington, Williams is also a restricted free agent. He’s been playing on a similar salary and they are only months apart in age. Their deals are going to be compared directly this summer.
The former first-rounder is coming off his best season, when his role expanded with the Boston Celtics once again, even if the numbers didn’t necessarily pop out. He averaged 8.1 points and 4.6 rebounds per game off the bench, hitting 39.5 percent of his threes.
Williams has quietly developed into one of the more consistent three-point shooters in the NBA, averaging 37.9 percent accuracy for his career. In the playoffs, he steps it up even further, boasting a 43.3 percent mark, which would rank among the top postseason shooting performances ever.
The forward is also a versatile defender, a pivotal attribute when being asked to guard the likes of Giannis Antetokoumpo and Jimmy Butler. His size and quickness make him an asset on that end.
His three-point shooting and defensive versatility make him more intriguing than Washington. So does the fact that he could draw a slightly less expensive offer sheet, though the Celtics will have the right to match.
Williams could command between $12 million and $14 million per year, ESPN’s Bobby Marks said on the Celtics Talk Podcast (h/t NBC Sports Boston). Some of the teams Marks floated as potential chasers include young up-and-coming teams like the Indiana Pacers, Orlando Magic, and Oklahoma City Thunder.
It feels like Williams is a contender to stick around in Boston for longer and eventually usurp minutes from Al Horford. But after the Celtics’ up-and-down postseason, anything is on the table.
2. Jerami Grant, Portland Trail Blazers
Jerami Grant faded into obscurity on the national page as the Portland Trail Blazers struggled. He had a good season, though, and should be able to cash in with one more major free agent deal.
Grant arrived via trade to the Trail Blazers last summer with one year left on his deal. It was already the fifth stop in his career, but the biggest opportunity for him yet.
Grant averaged more than 35 minutes per game under Chauncey Billups, rewarding his coach with the first 40 percent three-point efficiency season of his career. He averaged 20.5 points and 4.5 rebounds per game.
Despite not finishing his three-year, $60 million contract with the Detroit Pistons, the dollar amount to that pact seems fair. He’ll be looking for more this summer, though, which may be a big ask for someone already 29 years old.
There’s a good chance Portland brings back the former second-round pick. He was one of their best players last season and an important player to keep if the Trail Blazers are going to try and keep their Damian Lillard window open. Grant is also a Portland native, so it just makes sense.
Other teams will be vying for the unrestricted free agent’s services, though. There are plenty of rumors that the Pistons might try to bring Grant back as they try to accelerate back towards contention. Almost every team in the Central Division, in fact, feels like a good fit.
After the trade, Grant was offered a four-year, $112 million extension, which he confirmed he received and rejected. He could likely command a four- or five-year deal starting at an average of $30 million per year.
1. Harrison Barnes, Sacramento Kings
Harrison Barnes never lived up to the hype of his lottery pick status, but he’s just been solidly plugging away at a long career. He’s got one more opportunity to get his money, although he may be tempted to stay with the Sacramento Kings, even for less money.
De’Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis rightfully get the attention, but the Kings probably wouldn’t have busted int he upper echelon of the Western Conference – at least during the regular season – without Barnes, their veteran block. He averaged 15 points and 4.5 rebounds per game.
Those may not sound like mind-altering numbers, but it’s Barnes’ consistency that wins the day. Not only was he one of the league leaders in minutes once again this past season, but he played in all 82 games for the second time in his career.
His ability to shoot consistently across the court led to an offensive rating of 126.5 this season. It was the first time Barnes ranked in the top 20 in the metric during his decade-plus career.
The 31-year old is coming off a four-year, $85 million deal, which he signed with the Dallas Mavericks before being dealt to the Kings. He seems more attractive than Grant because his age could portend a cheaper contract, likely to be Barnes’ last big one of his career.
Barnes is believed to be open to a return to California’s capital next season. Don’t be surprised if one of those power forward-needy teams – Cleveland? – swoops in for the 3-and-D ace veteran.
Power forward isn’t the most stacked free agency position this summer, at least on the surface. But there will be opportunities for franchises to cash in.