2024 NBA Free Agency: Grades for Every Signing from Day 3

Day 3 of NBA free agency opened with a number of key players still on the board.

DeMar DeRozan is still the best of the bunch, assuming LeBron James re-signs with the Los Angeles Lakers. From there, Buddy Hield, Gary Trent Jr., Malik Beasley, Isaac Okoro, Tyus Jones, Kyle Lowry and others are all still available and ready to help contenders.

Here's a quick look back at the past few days:

Day 1 of Free Agency Grades

Day 2 of Free Agency Grades

With a lot left to be decided here's how every Day 3 deal grades out.

The terms: Three years, $150.3 million with a player option (via Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN)

The most important order of business for the Cleveland Cavaliers offseason has now been taken care of.

Mitchell was eligible to become an unrestricted free agent next summer yet now remains locked into the Cavs until the 2027 offseason at a minimum. The 27-year-old will have a $53.8 million player option for the 2027-28 season.

A full four-year extension with no options would have been the best-case scenario for Cleveland, although even getting two more guaranteed seasons of Mitchell is a big win. The five-time All-Star now has three years and $131.9 million on his deal before the player option, or about $6.1 million less than the Chicago Bulls owe Zach LaVine over the same period of time.

This at least temporarily tables any trade talk for Mitchell, who the Cavs could now get a lot more for should he change his mind and want out in a year or two.

Mitchell is also clearly wanting to hit free agency again with 10 years of service when he can sign for 35 percent of the cap instead of his current 30 percent rate. Based on cap projections, a full five-year max for Mitchell in 2027 would come in at a staggering $380 million, according to CapSheet.com's Yossi Gozlan.

Any sort of commitment from Mitchell was huge for Cleveland, especially with the Utah Jazz owning outright picks or swaps from the Cavs over the next five years.

Grade: A

The terms: Two years (via Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN)

After losing Jalen Smith to the Chicago Bulls in free agency, the Indiana Pacers added more size to their front line with James Wiseman.

We need to stop thinking about Wiseman becoming a star after he was selected No. 2 overall behind Anthony Edwards in the 2020 draft and instead focus on what his role in the league projects to be. The 7-footer is a huge, physical athlete who's going to clean the glass, finish lobs and has the potential to become an elite rim protector.

Still just 23 years old, Wiseman enters a good situation in Indiana. While staying with a rebuilding team like the Detroit Pistons may have allowed him more time to develop, Wiseman gets to learn from proven vets like Pascal Siakam and Myles Turner.

This is a low-risk move from the Pacers, although it's fair to question if there are enough minutes to go around for Wiseman to consistently see the floor. Siakam and Turner are locked in as starters. Obi Toppin just signed a four-year, $60 million contract to return and Jarace Walker was the No. 8 overall pick in the 2023 draft. Indiana still has Isaiah Jackson under contract as well.

For a team coming off a run to the Eastern Conference Finals, the Pacers will need Wiseman to play winning basketball immediately.

If this is just a minimum deal, then it's worth the gamble for Indiana.

Grade: B-

The terms: Two years, $22 million (via Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN)

The Orlando Magic's mission to collect every player in the league who's 6'9" or taller becomes more successful with each passing day.

Moritz Wagner is back on a $22 million deal after the team initially declined his $8 million team option. This is a nice raise for the 27-year-old to stay with his brother Franz, as the older Wagner averaged 10.9 points and 4.3 rebounds on 60.1 percent shooting last season.

The value of the contract is fine for Orlando, although it's fair to question if all of these bigs can find playing time. Paolo Banchero and Wendell Carter Jr. still look like the starters. Wagner is getting paid enough to solidify his place in the rotation. Goga Bitadze reportedly agreed to a three-year, $25 million deal to return, and Jonathan Isaac agreed to a five-year, $84 million contract renegotiation and extension, per Woj.

The team also spent its first-round pick (18th overall) on Colorado forward Tristan da Silva, making this frontcourt even more crammed.

Wagner is a good backup power forward and center, although his return makes the roster construction a little wonky in Orlando.

Grade: B

The projected terms: One year, $2.8 million (Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium reported the agreement but not the terms)

We don't yet know the exact terms of Monte Morris' new contract with the Phoenix Suns, although given that this team is $23 million over the second apron, we can assume this is a one-year, veteran minimum deal, possibly with a player option for a second.

The Suns needed point guard help. While Kyle Lowry would have been the ideal candidate for a minimum deal, Morris is a very good option.

The 29-year-old played well down the stretch following a trade to the Minnesota Timberwolves, averaging 5.1 points, 2.3 assists, 0.7 steals and shooting 42.4 percent from three in 15.1 minutes per game.

Morris rarely turns the ball over (just 1.1 turnovers per 36 minutes in his career), important for a Suns team that finished 25th overall in turnover percentage last season.

Even if he doesn't crack a playoff rotation, Morris will be used plenty during the regular season as a backup point guard who can help the offense and knock down open shots.

Grade: A-

The terms: Two years (via Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN)

The Boston Celtics fortified their frontcourt depth on Tuesday, signing Xavier Tillman to a two-year deal to stick with the reigning champions.

He won't be called on to do a ton with a team that already has Kristaps Porziņģis, Al Horford and Luke Kornet, but his presence on the roster is still important.

Horford is 38, and Porziņģis will miss the start of 2024-25 due to an offseason surgery.

In just 18.0 minutes per game this past season, he averaged 5.3 points, 3.9 rebounds, 0.9 steals and 0.8 blocks.

Grade: B+

The terms: Five years, $84 million (via Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN)

After injuries derailed his career from 2019-20 through 2022-23, Jonathan Isaac played over 1,000 regular and postseason minutes this past season and claimed his position as one of the league's best defenders.

Isaac isn't just a high-end rim protector. He can defend perimeter players all over the floor, too. In 2023-24, he led the NBA in defensive estimated plus-minus.

Add to that an encouraging 37.5 three-point percentage, and it's easy to get excited about this contract, even with the health concerns.

An average annual value of just under $17 million is around 12 percent of this year's salary cap, and that share is going to go down as the cap continues to go up in future seasons.

Grade: A

The terms: Three years, $27 million (via Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN)

As their fans are still dealing with the sting of losing franchise legend Klay Thompson, the Golden State Warriors acquired one of the most versatile players in the NBA on Tuesday via a sign-and-trade with the Minnesota Timberwolves.

He had a down 2023-24, particularly as a shooter, but Kyle Anderson can conceivably defend the 3, 4 or 5 and run an offense as a point forward.

He plays at his own, slower pace, but his passing, vision and feel for the game have screamed "Warriors player" for years. That coaching staff will put his wide-ranging skill set to use.

Grade: A