The NBA Finals between Denver and Miami is getting to be a good one that what used to be odds favoring the Nuggets now has the Heat levelling things. The remaining 28 teams are positioning themselves to further improve (or worsen) their roster. The bulk of player movement happens between this month and August and it could be thru draft picks, trades or free agency.
This year, the NBA have at least 200 free agents this summer and they will have the freedom of choice on where they will be bringing their talents for the 2023-2024 season or make another run with their present employers. But some teams could be overpaying a few borderline stars instead of better than average starters.
There is a possibility for superstars like Russell Westbrook and Kyrie Irving changing locations. It might have been late but Westbrook had been a nice fit for the LA Clippers but unless he agrees to a pay cut, his $47m salary will be too much Steve Balmer. Irving didn't have some off-court drama in Dallas but he's been linked, again, to the LA Lakers. Likewise, the Lakers will be hit with the luxury tax if they do get Irving and his $35.3m salary.
If they will be exercising their player options, we could see these players (by position and with their respective annual salaries) on different teams next season:
Guards
James Harden (PHI, $33m)
Fred Van Vleet (TOR, $21.25m)
Gary Trent, Jr. (TOR, $17.5m)
Jordan Clarkson (UTA, $13.34m)
Victor Oladipo (MIA, $8.75m)
Bruce Brown (DEN, $6.47m)
Forwards
Khris Middleton (MIL, $37.9m)
Kristaps Porzingis (WAS, $33.83m)
Draymond Green (GSW, $25.8m)
Kyle Kuzma (WAS, $13m)
Josh Hart (NYK, $12.96m)
Talen Horton-Tucker (UTA, $10.26m)
Rudy Gay (UTA, $6.18m)
Derrick Jones (CHI, $3.2m)
Centers
Andre Drummond (CHI, $3.2m)
Montrezl Harrell (PHI, $2.46m)
Damian Jones (UTA, $2.29m)
Notable unrestricted free agent big men who would be very welcome to teams are Nikola Vucevic (CHI, $22m, which I think is grossly overpaid), Jerami Grant (POR, $20.95m), Harrison Barnes (SAC, $18.35), Christian Wood (DAL, $14.3m), Brook Lopez (MIL, $13.9m), Jakob Poetl (TOR, $9.4m), Cameron Johnson (BKN, $5.88m), PJ Washington (CHA, $5.8m) and Grant Williams (BOS, $4.3m).
Likewise, available notable unrestricted backcourt men will be John Wall (LAC, $47.34m), D'Angelo Russell (LAL, $31.37m), Patrick Beverly (CHI, $13.8m), Derrick Rose (NYK, $14.52m), Dennis Schroeder (LAL, $2.64m), the wonder boys of Miami, Max Strus ($1.8m) and Gabe Vincent ($1.75m).
Schoeder, Strus and Vincent are likely to be retained by their respective teams.