Overall Top 25 Centers in NBA Free Agency
Introduction:
In the final installment of our NBA free-agency breakdown, we turn our attention to the center position, which offers the least number of high-quality options. While there are only two starting-caliber players available, there is a horde of minimum-contract third centers to consider. In this article, we will analyze the value and potential landing spots for each center based on the BORD$ formula.
Tier I: Max and Near-Max Guys
Unfortunately, there are no players in this tier for the center position this offseason.
Tier II: More than Midlevel Exception, Less than Max
1. Isaiah Hartenstein, New York Knicks: The Knicks face a predicament with Hartenstein due to his current contract. As an early Bird free agent, New York can’t offer him more than $16.2 million for next season, but his market value is considerably higher. One possibility is a one-plus-one deal that would give Hartenstein the opportunity to opt out next summer and secure a larger contract.
2. Nic Claxton, Brooklyn Nets: Claxton is expected to re-sign with the Nets for around $90 million over four years. This deal aligns with the evaluation provided by the BORD$ formula.
Tier III: Midlevel Exception Guys
No players fall into this tier for the center position.
Tier IV: More than Minimum
3. Paul Reed, Philadelphia 76ers (non-guaranteed): Reed has a non-guaranteed deal for $8.1 million for 2024-25, but the Sixers may need to wipe away this salary to free up cap space. They could re-sign him later if he clears waivers.
4. Christian Wood, Los Angeles Lakers (player option): Wood’s offensive skills are undervalued, but his soft defense has made coaches hesitant to rely on him. It’s recommended that he picks up his $3 million player option rather than testing the market.
5. Jonas Valančiunas, New Orleans Pelicans: Valančiunas’ days as a starter may be numbered due to his defensive limitations. The Pelicans have Bird rights on him, but other teams may target him with their exceptions.
6. Moritz Wagner, Orlando Magic (team option): The Magic have the option to decline Wagner’s team option and re-sign him using their cap space or the room exception.
7. Jalen Smith, Indiana Pacers (player option): Smith fell out of favor with the Pacers last season and might consider opting out to find a better situation.
Tier V: Minimums
8. Andre Drummond, Chicago Bulls: Drummond had a productive year for the Bulls and could be brought back at a higher number using Early Bird rights.
9. Xavier Tillman Sr., Boston Celtics: Tillman’s defensive abilities make him an attractive backup center, but his price may exceed the Celtics’ current tax situation.
Tier VI: Signed but Vulnerable
Several centers fall into this tier, including Jock Landale, Bruno Fernando, and Damian Jones. Their contracts are non-guaranteed or team options, making their future uncertain.
Tier VII: Everyone Else
The remaining centers, including Bismack Biyombo, Cody Zeller, and Boban Marjanović, face varying degrees of uncertainty in finding new teams due to factors such as age, defensive limitations, or lack of playing time.
Conclusion:
While the center position offers limited high-quality options in NBA free agency this offseason, teams will still be looking to fill their rosters with reliable backup centers or developmental prospects. The BORD$ formula provides a valuable evaluation tool for assessing the value of each center and determining potential landing spots. As the NBA offseason unfolds, it will be interesting to see how teams address their center needs and which players find new homes in the league.