The 2023 NBA free agency starts on June 30 at 6 pm ET. Kyrie Irving, James Harden, and Draymond Green are the top free agents in 2023.
Although the signing date is set for July 6, the actual process initiates when teams can start contract negotiations with free agents on June 30.
Deals can be made between teams and players between Friday, June 30, and July 6, but they are not legally effective. Once a contract is signed on or after July 6, they become official.
Houston Rockets, SA Spurs, Sacramento Kings, Indiana Pacers, Detroit Pistons, and Utah Jazz are the NBA teams with the most cap space in 2023.
NBA All-Stars Kyrie Irving, James Harden, Khris Middleton, Fred VanVleet, and Draymond Green are among the top players available in the free agent class of 2023.
NBA Free Agency Start Time 2023
NBA free agency starting time is on June 30, 2023, at 6 pm ET. July 1 to 6 is considered a negotiation period, the Free Agency Moratorium.
Deals made during the moratorium are referred to as agreements, although they are not legal against the player or the organization and are not considered toward team compensation.
Teams can immediately negotiate and reach deals with players. As a result, contracts cannot be officially signed until 12:01 a.m. EST on July 6.
Any deals before that day are considered agreements between the player and the team. The team can work out with a free agent and agree to trade a player during the NBA free agency.
There are two types of free agents in NBA free agency. They are termed as restricted free agents and unrestricted free agents.
A player is an unrestricted free agent if they are under contract and are free to sign with an NBA team without any commitment to their previous team.
Accordingly, a restricted free agent is controlled by their current team, they are not on the roster and are free to get offers from other teams.
A player must get a qualifying offer from his team between the day following the NBA Finals' deciding game and June 29 in order to avoid becoming a restricted free agency.
The qualifying offer is a standing offer for a one-year guaranteed contract that, if accepted by the player, becomes a normal contract.
A player can become a free agent once their contract has expired or after being released by their team. After that, teams can offer these unsigned free agents new contracts, subject to certain wage cap rules and restrictions.
2023-24 NBA Key Dates
- June 30: Free Agency begins (6 pm, ET)
- July 6: Teams can sign free agents (12:01 pm, ET)
- July 3 and 5: California Classic Summer League (San Francisco, CA)
- July 3, 5-6: Salt Lake City Summer League (Salt Lake City, UT)
- July 7-17: NBA 2K24 Summer League 2023 (Las Vegas, NV)
- August 11-12: Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Enshrinement Weekend (Springfield, MA)
- August 25- September 10: FIBA Basketball World Cup (Philippines/Japan/Indonesia)
- February 16-18, 2024: NBA All-Star 2024 (Indianapolis, IN)
When Does NBA Free Agency Ends?
The NBA free agency commences on June 30th, but teams are unable to officially sign free agents until July 6th, 2023. The NBA free agency period encompasses various contract types, exceptions, and a salary cap.
During the period between June 30th and July 6th, teams can engage in negotiations with free agents to secure deals. However, these agreements cannot be finalized until July 6th.
The Free Agency Moratorium is a busy time in the NBA, with teams willing to sign free agents and execute trades. It is also a period when fans begin speculating about the upcoming season's outcomes.
When a restricted free agent intends to join another team, both the player and the new team sign an offer sheet. The team making the offer must have sufficient salary cap space for the offer sheet and must maintain that space until the offer sheet becomes official.
In 2022, one of the most notable signings during the Free Agency Moratorium was Kawhi Leonard, who dealt a four-year, $141 million contract with the Clippers.
While several top free agents have reached agreements, many have ultimately stayed with their respective teams from the previous season.
For instance, Zach LaVine agreed to a five-year, $215 million supermax deal to remain with the Chicago Bulls, and Bradley Beal secured a five-year, $251 million supermax deal with the Washington Wizards.
Dennis Schroder rejoined the Los Angeles Lakers, James Harden signed a player option deal with the Philadelphia 76ers, and KZ Okpala signed a two-year contract with the Sacramento Kings.
The deadline for qualifying offers to eligible restricted free agents was on June 29, 2022, and players had until June 24, 2022, to opt in or out of their existing deals.
NBA Free Agency Rumors So Far
NBA superstars Kyrie, Harden, and Draymond are the top free agents in 2023. It is expected that all three will re-sign with their current teams.
The partnership of Kawhi Leonard and Paul George on the Los Angeles Clippers may be on the verge of dissolution. Jalen Brunson has reached an agreement to join the New York Knicks, signing a four-year contract worth $104 million.
The New York Knicks have been leading the race to acquire Brunson since the beginning of free agency. The Golden State Warriors have shown interest in trading for Damian Lillard.
Following the $35.6 million player option, James Harden and the Philadelphia 76ers are collaborating to explore potential trade scenarios.
On the other hand, Harrison Barnes has agreed to a contract extension with the Sacramento Kings, securing a new three-year deal worth $54 million.
Andre Drummond has made the decision to opt into his existing $3.4 million contract and will continue playing for the Chicago Bulls.
NBA Free Agency Players To Watch Out For
The 2023 NBA free agency players to watch out for are:
- James Harden
- Kyrie Irving
- Draymond Green
- Fred VanVleet
- Brook Lopez
- Khris Middleton
James Harden commits to a three-year contract with the Philadelphia 76ers, with two years guaranteed. He decides to join one of the NBA's strongest lineups for another season.
In 2012, Harden earned the title of NBA Sixth Man of the Year while playing for the Thunder, and he also guided the team to the NBA Finals. At the start of the 2020-21 season, Harden was traded to the Brooklyn Nets as part of a four-team deal.
During the 2023 season, Harden becomes the league leader in assists for the second time in his career, maintaining an impressive streak of never missing the playoffs throughout his professional journey.
Known for his controversial reputation, Kyrie Irving is one of the NBA's most divisive players. With his exceptional abilities, there's no denying his potential to elevate any team.
Following a two-season career with the Boston Celtics, Irving ventured into free agency in 2019 and joined the Brooklyn Nets. After spending four seasons with the Nets, Irving expressed his wish for a trade and was traded to the Dallas Mavericks in 2023.
When Draymond Green declined his player option worth $27.5 million for the 2023-2024 season, he made the decision to explore NBA free agency.
During his career Draymond has an impressive record, having been named to the All-Defensive Team eight times and earning the title of NBA Defensive Player of the Year in 2017.
Green also gained recognition for his achievements when he was selected as a reserve for the 2022 NBA All-Star Game on February 3, 2022.
Following the speculation, VanVleet made the decision to turn down his player option in order to explore the free-agent market. As an impactful player, Fred's market value may increase due to his affordability and versatility, making him an attractive prospect for various teams.
He joined Toronto Raptors after being not selected in the 2016 NBA Draft. During the 2016-17 season, Fred split his playing time between the Raptors and their G League affiliate, Raptors 905.
