List: Tyrese Maxey and 14 other 2024 free agents due for pay raises
We are six weeks into the season and are starting to get an idea of who are the best upcoming free agents. Here is an early look at 15 of the best 2024 free agents and what their next contract could look like.
Tyrese Maxey (Restricted)
Salary: $4,343,920
2023-24 stats: 27.0 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 6.7 apg, 46.4 FG%
Extension-eligible: No
The Philadelphia 76ers notably chose not to extend Maxey last offseason in order to maximize 2024 cap space. The motivation to play without an extension and the added usage from trading James Harden has resulted in an All-Star-level season from Maxey. He will certainly get a maximum contract offer from the Sixers this summer projected at five years, $207 million if he keeps this up. He’s even in the running to make All-NBA, which would increase his maximum to a projected $249 million over five years.
OG Anunoby (Unrestricted)
Salary: $18,642,857
2023-24 stats: 14.9 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 2.0 apg, 47.5 FG%
Extension-eligible: Yes
Anunoby remains one of the most coveted wings in the league and just about every team could make a case to acquire him. He has a $19.9 million player option for 2024-25 that he’s expected to decline. He is currently eligible to extend for up to four years, $116.9 million but could potentially get more on the open market as a free agent. His next contract should top the annual salaries Mikal Bridges ($22.5 million) and Jaden McDaniels ($26.2 million) got on their recent deals, and his maximum extension amount ($30.2 million) already does that.
Nicolas Claxton (Unrestricted)
Salary: $9,625,000
2023-24 stats: 12.6 ppg, 8.3 rpg, 1.5 apg, 67.2 FG%
Extension-eligible: No
The Nets re-signed Claxton on a very team-friendly deal but they’re probably wishing they had gotten him on one more year. Since his deal only runs for two seasons, he will not be extension-eligible and will enter unrestricted free agency this summer. He made significant improvements since re-signing with the Nets in 2022, especially on the defensive end. He could be looking at an annual salary in the $20 million range similar to Jakob Poeltl.
Immanuel Quickley (Restricted)
Salary: $4,171,548
2023-24 stats: 16.3 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 3.0 apg, 44.6 FG%
Extension-eligible: No
Quickley was one of the best players to not receive a rookie-scale extension ahead of the deadline. The Sixth Man of the Year runner-up is already one of the favorites for the award this year having improved his numbers. His next contract with the Knicks would essentially replace the $19 million team option for Evan Fournier next season. According to HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto, Quickley was seeking $25 million per year while the Knicks offered $18 million annually.
Saddiq Bey (Restricted)
Salary: $4,556,983
2023-24 stats: 12.1 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 1.3 apg, 49.7 FG%
Extension-eligible: No
Bey could be looking at an annual salary in the $18-20 million range like starting forwards such as Keldon Johnson and Harrison Barnes. He could still command that on the open market this summer but the Hawks would need to make a cost-cutting move to accommodate him. Jalen Johnson’s ascent could make DeAndre Hunter the odd man out eventually. Shedding his $21.7 million salary for 2024-25 would allow the Hawks to re-sign Bey while avoiding the tax.
De'Anthony Melton (Unrestricted)
Salary: $8,000,000
2023-24 stats: 12.4 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 3.8 apg, 40.0 FG%
Extension-eligible: Yes
Melton immediately stepped up for the Sixers upon the departure of James Harden. They could be looking for a player on the trade market who could potentially take Melton’s starting spot, but he’s impactful enough to close on any given night. He has vastly outplayed his $8 million annual salary and could double it in free agency. He’s currently extension-eligible for up to four years, $75 million, which would give him an annual salary similar to Derrick White. However, such an extension now would eliminate a portion of the Sixers’ cap space. They could generate north of $40 million while re-signing Melton and Maxey.
Pascal Siakam (Unrestricted)
Salary: $37,893,408
2023-24 stats: 19.9 ppg, 7.1 rpg, 5.1 apg, 47.9 FG%
Extension-eligible: Yes
Siakam’s stats are down this season but that is mostly a product of his minutes and usage decreasing. He’s in the final year of his maximum contract and the salary cap has increased so much that his $37.9 million salary is arguably below market value. He could be looking at an increase in his annual salary that gets him closer to the max, and those offers could come from teams looking to steal him away from the Raptors in free agency. He’s in his final year of supermax eligibility but he’s not in the running with the current season he’s having.
Malik Monk (Unrestricted)
Salary: $9,945,830
2023-24 stats: 13.8 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 4.6 apg, 40.3 FG%
Extension-eligible: No
Monk’s bet on himself playing on a minimum salary with the Lakers two years ago paid off with a two-year, $20 million deal with the Kings. He’s outplayed the value of that deal as one of the best bench scorers who often closes for the Kings. Also helping his case was his elevated performance in his debut playoff series against the Warriors. He can’t extend his current contract, but the Kings will be allowed to re-sign him this offseason for up to four years, $78 million with his Early Bird rights. That would make his annual salary comparable to other bench scorers like Gary Trent Jr. and Jordan Clarkson.
Miles Bridges (Unrestricted)
Salary: $7,921,300
2023-24 stats: 19.8 ppg, 8.0 rpg, 2.7 apg, 49.4 FG%
Extension-eligible: No
Bridges finally returned from his long absence and looks like he’s picked up from where he last left off. He might not get a contract in the salary range he was expected to get in 2022 free agency, but if he keeps this up he’s certainly worth more than his current rate. He will become an unrestricted free agent this summer since he accepted his qualifying offer. The Hornets hold his Bird rights so they could re-sign him without limitations. Even if they want to move on from him, it’s unlikely that he will get traded this season since he has veto rights, and accepting a trade would eliminate his Bird rights.
Obi Toppin (Restricted)
Salary: $6,803,012
2023-24 stats: 11.8 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 1.2 apg, 58.8 FG%
Extension-eligible: No
Toppin has made the most of his change of scenery and looks locked in as a starter in Indiana for the future. He has great chemistry with Tyrese Haliburton fueling the Pacers to a league-leading offensive rating. If he entered free agency right now, he could be looking at a contract above the mid-level exception like Grant Williams and Isaiah Stewart. He still has room to improve and get more comfortable in Indiana, so his potential earnings could end up being much higher.
Caleb Martin (Unrestricted, Player Option)
Salary: $6,802,950
2023-24 stats: 8.4 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 1.4 apg, 37.5 FG%
Extension-eligible: No
Martin played a major role in Miami’s run to the 2023 NBA Finals. He notably played really well in the Eastern Conference Finals against Boston, where he averaged 19.3 points per game on 60.2 percent shooting and 48.9 percent from three-point range. He’s still coming back to form from a knee injury but should command a significant raise based on his playoff heroics from last year. He could be looking at an annual range of at least double his current salary amount.
Tyus Jones (Unrestricted)
Salary: $14,000,000
2023-24 stats: 10.7 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 4.8 apg, 49.1 FG%
Extension-eligible: No
The Grizzlies are probably missing Jones right now given their disastrous start to the season. His playmaking helped keep them winning games whenever Ja Morant was out of the lineup. His numbers this year as a starter don’t look encouraging, but he’s also playing in a tough situation in Washington. He will likely be a trade candidate this year since he doesn’t fit in the Wizards’ timeline. An over-the-cap team could acquire him and re-sign him with his Bird rights since he can’t extend his current contract.
Haywood Highsmith (Unrestricted)
Salary: $1,902,137
2023-24 stats: 7.3 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 1.7 apg, 43.0 FG%
Extension-eligible: Starting on March 8, 2024
Highsmith has emerged as one of Miami’s developmental breakout players this season. His emergence has helped keep the Heat afloat after losing Max Strus and Gabe Vincent and while Caleb Martin missed the beginning of the season with an injury. He’s secured the starting power forward spot and seems unlikely to relinquish it. He should get a significant raise off his minimum salary amount this year and could extend starting on March 8, 2024.
Xavier Tillman (Unrestricted)
Salary: $1,930,681
2023-24 stats: 9.3 ppg, 6.7 rpg, 2.4 apg, 42.2 FG%
Extension-eligible: Yes
Tillman went from being a reserve who rarely played to one of the only remaining Grizzlies big men in their rotation. He played very well last year once both Steven Adams and Brandon Clarke went down with injuries and could have a long-term future in Memphis with so much uncertainty at center. He will be an unrestricted free agent this summer since the Grizzlies picked up his team option for this season. He is extension-eligible throughout the season and should at least receive a raise in the range of what Mo Wagner ($8 million) and Paul Reed ($7.7 million) get.
Isaiah Hartenstein (Unrestricted)
Salary: $9,245,121
2023-24 stats: 5.7 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 1.0 apg, 56.5 FG%
Extension-eligible: No
Hartenstein is one of the best backup centers in the league who could potentially start on other teams. He also can’t extend his current contract but could re-sign with the Knicks this summer for up to four years, $72.5 million. He could be looking at a $14-16 million annual salary similar to big men like Bobby Portis and Zach Collins.
