2023 NBA Free Agent Position Series: Power Forwards

Keith Smith
Keith Smith, Resident NBA ExpertMarch 29, 2023
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© USA TODAY Sports

Spotrac’s Free Agent by Position Series

Point Guards   |   Shooting Guards   |   Small Forwards   |   Power Forwards   |   Centers

2023 NBA free agency is right around the corner. This isn’t considered to be a blockbuster free agent class, but there are several impact players available. In these rankings, we took a similar approach to the one many teams use when it comes to ranking available players. Each position was broken down into tiers. The tiers are:

  • All-Star: These aren’t all necessarily All-Stars, but they have the ability to be an All-Star
  • Starters: These players are either starters or they produce at a starter-level of impact
  • Rotation: These are solid players that should be in a team’s regular season rotation
  • Fringe: These are players at the end of the bench or Two-Way players largely in the G League

Players were then ranked within their tiers. All potential free agents have been ranked, including those with pending options.

ALL-STAR TIER

  1. Draymond Green – Golden State Warriors    PLAYER

    Green remains a top-tier defender. He's worked around his shooting and scoring shortcomings by becoming an excellent playmaker. The big question now: Does Green stay in the only NBA home he's ever known?

  2. Jerami Grant – Portland Trail Blazers    UFA

    No longer miscast as a primary option, Grant's efficiency has rebounded. He's not the defender he once was, but he's still above-average on that end. Grant's versaility is also a key attribute keeping him near the top of free agent rankings.

  3. Kristaps Porzingis – Washington Wizards    PLAYER

    Porzingis has stayed mostly healthy and turned in his best season since his ACL tear. He was an All-Star level player this season and that should sustain into his late-20s. But any contract has to price in injury concerns moving forward.

STARTER TIER

  1. Harrison Barnes – Sacramento Kings    UFA

    Even in Year 11, Barnes remains a very good starter. His defense is still solid, and Barnes can still get himself to the free throw line better than most. His ability to play either forward spot is a boon too.

  2. Kenyon Martin Jr. – Houston Rockets    CLUB

    Martin has had a breakout season. His shot remains a work in progress, but he's an top-end finisher around the rim and flashes some defensive potential. Houston should decline their team option to control Martin's restricted free agency.

  3. PJ Washington – Charlotte Hornets    RFA

    With less talent around him due to Hornets injuries, Washington has lost a bit of his efficiency. He's also slipped some as a rebounder. But Washington remains an ideal modern 4, and he can slide over and play the 5 in small-ball lineups too.

ROTATION TIER

  1. Grant Williams – Boston Celtics    RFA

    Williams has been one of the better stretch-4s in the NBA the last two seasons. Even as his volume has increased, Williams has maintained his effiency. He's also a versatile defender, solid rebounder and good passer.

  2. Georges Niang – Philadelphia 76ers    UFA

    Niang is a knockdown shooter from deep. He's probably the best shooter of this free agent power forward class. Niang is also a solid ball-mover. If he could do anything else a bit better, he'd be higher on this list.

  3. Rui Hachimura – Los Angeles Lakers    RFA

    Hachimura hasn't been able to build on his solid 2022 season, but he's still a good rotation forward. He's been about equally as productive coming off the bench or starting, and that versatility should see him land with a playoff contender.

  4. Trey Lyles – Sacramento Kings    UFA

    Lyles is an underrated player. He's become a good shooter and solid positional defender. His ability to play both the 4 and 5 gives him the versatility teams look for in the frontcourt.

  5. Jalen McDaniels – Philadelphia 76ers    UFA

    McDaniels was in the midst of a breakout season before being traded to the 76ers. His role has been lessened in Philadelphia, but if he can show his inside-outside game in the postseason, it will help his cause in free agency.

  6. Jeff Green – Denver Nuggets    UFA

    Green keeps chugging along in Year 15. He's probably equal parts 5 and 4 now, and he no longer shoots from the outside. But teams can do worse for a fourth big, who brings a solid locker room presence.

  7. Danilo Gallinari – Boston Celtics    PLAYER

    Gallinari has yet to play this season after tearing his ACL. It's likely he'll opt in and debut for the Celtics next season.

  8. JaMychal Green – Golden State Warriors    UFA

    For a while, it looked like Green wasn't a rotation guy anymore. Then he started seeing more minutes and he's put up a 54/38/78 shooting line, while still providing good rebounding at both the 4 and 5.

  9. Dario Saric – Oklahoma City Thunder    UFA

    In his first full season back from a torn ACL suffered in the 2021 NBA Finals, Saric has been solid. He's shot it well from deep and remains a good ball-mover. A contender might get a bargain deal on him for next season.

  10. Keita Bates-Diop – San Antonio Spurs    UFA

    Bates-Diop could be the sleeper of this class. He's seen more minutes and starts than he would on a playoff contender, but it's hard to ignore 50/39/78 shooting splits. Some smart team could scoop him up as a rotation forward.

  11. Derrick Jones Jr. – Chicago Bulls    PLAYER

    It's been a weird season for Jones. Between injuries and an inconsistent role, he's been unable to gain much traction. Jones is only 26 and still an uber-athlete. Someone will give him another shot to fill some rotation minutes.

  12. Rudy Gay – Utah Jazz    PLAYER

    Gay has slipped enough that he'll probably just pick up his player option. From there, it's up to the Jazz to keep him or move Gay to a contender. However, his days as a key rotation player are likely over.

  13. Wenyen Gabriel – Los Angeles Clippers    UFA

    Gabriel is probably a little over his head as a rotation player. He doesn't have any standout traits. Ideally, he'd be a fifth big for a good team, instead of the key backup role he's had to play for the Lakers this season.

  14. Justise Winslow – Portland Trail Blazers    UFA

    Winslow has never been able to build on the promise he showed in his Miami years. He's also struggled to stay healthy. Someone will take another shot, but we're getting down to last-chance time here for the versatile wing/forward.

FRINGE TIER (UNRANKED AND PRESENTED IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER)

  1. Thanasis Antetokounmpo – Milwaukee Bucks    UFA

    Antetokounmpo is with the Bucks because he's an elite cheerleader on the bench and it keeps his brother happy. That'll get him another deal in Milwaukee.

  2. Dominick Barlow – San Antonio Spurs    RFA

    Barlow is one of the younger players in the NBA. He won't turn 20 until the end of May. San Antonio may bring him back for another year on a Two-Way.

  3. Darius Bazley – Phoenix Suns    RFA

    Bazley's play has slipped and he fell completely out of the Thunder's rotation and hasn't found a role with the Suns either. His potential will get him another deal, with a team hoping Bazley is a late-bloomer.

  4. Oshae Brissett – Indiana Pacers    UFA

    For a while, it looked like Brissett was going to be a regular rotation player. This season, he's fallen out of favor as Indiana ran with small-ball lineups. Someone will grab Brissett and hope there's still some untapped potential there.

  5. Moussa Diabate – Los Angeles Clippers    RFA

    Diabate has had very little impact in the NBA, but he's been good in the G League. He's shown some elite rebounding skills, along with solid finishing and good rim protection. He'll likely get another Two-Way deal.

  6. Mamadi Diakite – Cleveland Cavaliers    RFA

    Diakite is the NBA equivalent of a 4A player. He's too good for the G League, but not quite good enough for the NBA. He's got one more season of Two-Way eligibility, before he'll be fighting for backend roster spots.

  7. Udonis Haslem – Miami Heat    UFA

    If Haslem were to return, and it doesn't look like he will, it'll be with the Heat and no one else.

  8. Andre Iguodala – Golden State Warriors    UFA

    Iguodala has said this is it. But it's been an injury-plagued mess of a season. It's unlikely he'll come back for another run, but if he did, it'll be with Golden State.

  9. James Johnson – Indiana Pacers    UFA

    In Year 14, Johnson is a practice guy and a good locker room presence. If he's back somewhere next season, those are the reasons why.

  10. Mfiondu Kabengele – Boston Celtics    RFA

    Kabengele has been an excellent G League player for three seasons now. He's an excellent rebounder and rim protector in the minors. If he could shoot it better, he'd be an NBA guy. Alas, he's got one more season of Two-Way eligibility left.

  11. Nathan Knight – Minnesota Timberwolves    CLUB

    The Wolves will probably pick up their team option for Knight. If Naz Reid leaves town, Knight could battle Luka Garza for the third-big minutes behind Rudy Gobert and Karl-Anthony Towns next season.

  12. Isaiah Mobley – Cleveland Cavaliers    RFA

    Mobley might have gotten his spot because his brother is a budding Cavs star. But Mobley kept it with dominant G League play. His numbers project favorably for a potential NBA role, but his age is starting to work against him a little bit.

  13. Markieff Morris – Dallas Mavericks    UFA

    If Morris' three-point shooting felt a bit more real, he'd probably squeeze a couple more years out of his NBA career. As it is, he's a deep bench veteran big, and there are only so many of those spots to go around.

 

2023 NBA Free Agent Trackers

All Positions |  Point Guards |  Shooting Guard  |  Small Forward  |  Power Forward  |  Center 


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