For years, it looked like the big man was going out of style. As spacing increased, so did the popularity of small ball lineups. Luckily for centers, the position has been revitalized, as it is once again viewed at as a franchise cornerstone. Nikola Jokic just won his third MVP award, and Joel Embiid won the MVP in the one year over the last four years when Jokic didn't win it. Both players are centers and are among the best players in the NBA.
Even Giannis Antetokounmpo, a player who has spent some time at the five, won the MVP in the two seasons before Jokic. It is safe to say the center position is back and better than ever, but centers do play the game differently than they used to. For example, Jokic is an elite passer, and Embiid is a player who can put the ball on the ground on the perimeter.
The modern center still needs to be able to dominate in the interior on both sides of the ball, but player's skill sets at the position are improving as well. With the center position so coveted, we decided to look at the 15 best free agents centers for the 2024 offseason. Teams are looking for the key players to add to get their squads to the next level, and these players might be the missing pieces to help them do so.
15. Kevin Love: Miami Heat, player option
Kevin Love isn't the player he once was, and considering he will be 36 years old next season, he might choose to pick up his player option. Love became a megastar in the NBA because of his stellar rebounding and ability to stretch the floor and knockdown jump shots. That led to him being named to five All-Star Games. Now, Love is more of a veteran presence than a key contributor.
14. Luke Kornett: Boston Celtics, UFA
Luke Kornett only played in garbage time during the Celtics 18th championship victory, but he did play some important minutes for the champions throughout the regular/postseason. Kristaps Porzingis is often injured, and although Al Horford has indicated he won't retire, he is 38 years old.
Those factors would make Kornett's potential free agency departure a sneaky big one for Boston. The Celtics need depth, so bringing him back would be smart.
13. James Wiseman: Detroit Pistons, RFA
James Wiseman wasn't drafted second overall long ago, but he has already become one of the biggest NBA Draft busts of all time. Despite that, he is only 23 years old, so some team might think that they can salvage the potential the Warriors saw in him when they drafted him so early in 2020.
The likelihood of Wiseman reaching his potential seems low at this point, but as a prospect, scouts saw a player who could dominate both inside and outside. It is clear a change of scenery is probably necessary for the Memphis product, especially considering the logjam that the Detroit Pistons have had at the center position during his time with the team. He is running out of time to become a NBA contributor, but his draft status will afford him another chance somewhere.
12. Jaxson Hayes: Los Angeles Lakers, player option
Jaxson Hayes didn't live up to the expectations that come with being a lottery pick, but he was given a second chance with the Lakers, and he still as some desirable traits. Hayes is long and lanky and has great athleticism. He is more than capable as a rim-runner who can finish plays inside.
11. Goga Bitadze: Orlando Magic, UFA
Goga Bitadze started more games this past season for the Magic than he had in any previous season. Still, he has been unable to establish himself as anything more than a fringe rotation player. Bitadze likely won't be asked to start for whatever team signs him in free agency, but he is a big body who can eat up minutes if need be.
10. Drew Eubanks: Phoenix Suns, UFA
Drew Eubanks already declined his player option to return to the Phoenix Suns, so he is now slated to be an unrestricted free agent. After improving during his time with the Portland Trail Blazers, Eubanks had a down year, so he will be looking to have a bounce-back season next year.
9. Xavier Tillman: Boston Celtics, UFA
Xavier Tillman didn't make as big of an impact on the Celtics rotation as they would have hoped for when they traded for him at the NBA trade deadline. For that reason, he might be viewed as only a rental and would, therefore, sign elsewhere in free agency.
Even though Tillman wasn't super influential in the Celtics championship run, he did walk away with a championship ring. He is also not far removed from being an important player in the Memphis Grizzlies rotation. Potential suitors can expect a player who will do the dirty work that leads to winning.
8. Mason Plumlee: Los Angeles Clippers, UFA
If you just watched Mason Plumlee's highlight reel, you would probably think he is a megastar. He can do a lot of things that most centers can't. He is a good passing big man, he has some nice dribble moves, and he has a flashy dunk package. However, he is not a star.
Plumlee is still a solid center, though, and he will likely be coveted as a free agent for a backup role. The Clippers have so many veterans hitting the open market that it may be unrealistic for them to be able to bring back Plumlee, and the fact that he has been playing backup to Ivica Zubac confirms that.
7. Jalen Smith: Indiana Pacers, player option
The start of Jalen Smith's career was weird. The Suns drafted him in the first round in 2020, but they traded him for next to nothing after suiting up for only 56 games with the team. Smith did find a home with the Indiana Pacers. He most thrives as a stretch big who can knock down shots from beyond the three-point line.
6. Andre Drummond: Chicago Bulls, UFA
Andre Drummond's skillset is outdated, so he is no longer viewed as the franchise building block he once was. Even so, Drummond is an elite rebounder and has claim as one of the best at cleaning the glass in league history. For centers, that is still a valuable trait. Plenty of teams will be looking for size during free agency, and if a team is willing to look past the occasional boneheaded plays that he will make, then they can get a massive player who will out-rebound any other backup center in the league.
5. Precious Achiuwa: New York Knicks, RFA
Precious Achiuwa was thrown into the trade deadline deal centered around OG Anunoby, R.J. Barrett, and Immanuel Quickley. However, the Raptor-turned-Knicks center is a pretty good player in his own right, and he fits the mold of the type of player Tom Thibodeau likes to coach.
Another Knicks center who we will get to latter is bound for unrestricted free agency, so New York would be smart to bring back Achiuwa.
4. Mo Wagner: Orlando Magic, team option
The NBA is a star-driven league, and keeping your best players happy is a priority. That is one incentive for the Magic to pick up Mo Wagner's team option and bring him back for next season, as he is the brother of Franz Wagner. The younger brother and up-and-coming Magic star would surely love to play with his brother again.
That is only one reason to bring back Mo, though. He is more than deserving of a roster spot, regardless of who he is family with. Mo has great footwork and is a great paint scorer. He has been a vital part of Orlando's bench scoring in recent seasons.
3. Jonas Valanciunas: New Orleans Pelicans, UFA
Jonas Valanciunas' production has regressed in recent seasons, and his minutes have dropped off as well. That could be a sign that the Pelicans are ready to move on from the big man. Valanciunas is a solid player, though. Over 12 seasons he has averaged 13.4 points and 9.5 rebounds per game.
2. Isaiah Hartenstein: New York Knicks, UFA
The Knicks would love for Isaiah Hartenstein to be back in blue and orange next season, but he will be highly coveted as a free agent. Hartenstein does typical center things like cleaning up the glass and setting mean screens. He has a little more to his game, though, and it was finally unlocked in New York.
For a center, Hartenstein is advanced as a passer. He spent most of his time backing up the often-injured Mitchell Robinson in New York, but he always stepped up to the plate when called on, and that will likely earn him a hefty contract this offseason.
1. Nic Claxton: Brooklyn Nets, UFA
Nic Claxton ranked 10th on our list of best 2024 free agents, regardless of position (which was written before Pascal Siakam and Malik Monk re-signed). He might not be the megastar that some of the players ranked ahead of him on that list are, but he will be one of the most highly sought-after players on the open market.
A player as young as Claxton (25 years old) with as much production (10.3 points per game, 7.3 rebounds per game) as he has becoming an unrestricted free agent is relatively rare. Teams will be chomping at the bit to sign him because he still has room to grow and can be a valuable piece for years to come.
The Nets player is sure to get a big payday this offseason. Claxton most thrives as a shot blocker. He alters shots at the rim against fellow centers and is great in help side. The Nets are in a weird purgatory right now where they aren't good enough to be postseason locks, but they aren't bad enough to get high draft picks. It doesn't help that they owe a number of their picks to other teams from previous trades. It will be interesting to see how they approach Claxton's free agency.
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