Sunday, December 22, 2024

2024 NBA Free Agency: 5 key free agents still available

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Veteran guard Tyus Jones is among a strong class of remaining free agents.

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While the initial wave of free agency and player movement from early July has passed, there are still key free agents on the market as teams look to finalize their rosters.

Below are five players who offer a distinct skill as front offices try to fill any gaps in their teams.


Tyus Jones (Unrestricted)

Jones is the top playmaker remaining on the free agent market.

• The point guard is set to enter his 10th NBA season and is coming off career-best marks in scoring (12 ppg) and assists (7.3 apg) in his first full season as a starter in Washington.

• His 7.35 assist/turnover ratio last season is the highest mark for a player who averaged at least five assists per game while playing at least 50 games in the 47 seasons since turnovers became an official stat.

• He shot a career-best 41.4% from 3-point range – ranked 22nd in the NBA – on 3.9 attempts per game last season.


Luke Kennard (Unrestricted)

Kennard is the top shooter remaining on the free agent market.

• Ranked second in the NBA in 3-point percentage (45.0%) last season with Memphis, after leading the NBA in his previous two seasons – 2022-23 (49.4% in Memphis and LA) and 2021-22 (44.9% in LA).

• A career 43.9% 3-point shooter, which ranks third all-time behind only Steve Kerr (45.4%) and Hubert Davis (44.1%).

• With 39.5% of all shot attempts across the NBA coming from 3-point range, there will be a market for one of the best shooters of all-time


Gary Trent Jr. (Unrestricted)

Gary Trent Jr.’s 13.7 points per game leads all available free agents.

Trent Jr. is the top scorer remaining on the free agent market.

• Trent Jr. has the highest scoring average from last season (13.7 ppg) of any remaining free agent despite it being his lowest mark since becoming a part-time starter in the 2020-21 season.

• The scoring dip coincides with his fewest minutes of play (28.1 mpg) since his second season in the NBA (2019-20). Trent Jr. is just two seasons removed from averaging career-highs in points (18.3) and minutes (35) in his first season in Toronto. Can the 25-year-old get back to that level?

• He shot 39.3% from 3-point range last season and is a career 38.6% shooter from deep while averaging at least 2.5 3-pointers made in each of the past four seasons.


Precious Achiuwa (Unrestricted):

Achiuwa is the top rebounder remaining on the free agent market.

• Averaged career-highs in both offensive rebounds (2.6 per game) and total rebounds (6.6 per game) while splitting the season between Toronto and New York.

• His production peaked after being traded to New York, with averages of 2.9 offensive rebounds and 7.2 total rebounds over 49 games, including 18 starts.

• Ranked 19th in offensive rebounding despite playing under 22 minutes per game. His motor and instincts to crash the glass and create extra scoring chances are valuable skills that translate to any team.


Isaac Okoro (Restricted)

Okoro is a young, 3-and-D wing on the free agent market, although the Cavs do have the option to match any contract he receives.

• Averaged 9.4 points per game, his highest scoring average since his rookie season when he averaged a career-high 32.4 minutes per game.

• Shot a career-best 39.1% from 3-point range last season on 3.1 attempts per game with all but one of his 3-point attempts being either open (closest defender 4-6 feet away) or wide open (closest defender 6+ feet away).

• Often tasked with defending the opposing team’s top perimeter scorer, Okoro was matched up with guards for 66.2% of his defensive matchup time, holding opposing guards to 41.5% shooting. He ranked in the 91.7 percentile in pick-and-roll ball handler defense (allowing 0.75 points per possession) per Synergy.

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