NBA Free Agents For 2023: Top 3 Forwards Available

We continue our early look at the top free agents in the NBA this coming summer, this time checking out the top forwards that will be available. And there is some serious talent on this list. 

Keep in mind that for some, player or team options must be decided upon by late June. But in some of those cases, it's already widely known that certain players will be opting-out to become free agents. And that's where we begin our list. 

Kyle Kuzma (Player option)

The former Los Angeles Laker broke out big-time this season, raising his scoring to a career-high 21.2 points per game. He added 7.2 boards and another personal best, in assists, at 3.7. He was set to make $13M on the final year of his deal, but by opting out, he'll be able to pull in a much bigger sum than that on the free agent market. 

Does he still want to remain a Washington Wizard, though, on a new deal? He says they are "100%" in the conversation. 

Jerami Grant

The 28-year-old fit in quite well with the Portland Trail Blazers, and he claimed he was quite happy there. But he wasn't interested in the Blazers' maximum in-season allowable offer of a 4-year, $112M extension. That's mainly because he too, like Kuzma, can quite likely get much more on the open market. As a free agent, his maximum offers rise to $233M over five years from Portland, or $174M over four years from other teams. Not saying that's what he'd receive, but there's certainly a higher ceiling than $112M.

Christian Wood

Wood arrived in Dallas this season as an accomplished offensive player capable of putting up 20-and-10 any night. But he started the year as a 6th Man, then finally after he'd graduated to the starting unit, the Kyrie Irving trade bumped him back down the rotation, from where he was averaging 34 minutes a game, down to the 20-minute range. He'll be looking for some team to give him a more significant role back. 

Honorable mention for free agent forwards goes to Harrison Barnes of the Sacramento Kings, who put up another solidly consistent season. 

Kristaps Porzingis is another key F/C who has a player option, but at $36M, it's a bit more tricky. All reports to this point indicate that there appears to be considerable interest from both him and the Wizards to get an extension done before he makes that opt-out decision. How the recent removal of Tommy Sheppard as GM affects that remains to be seen.

We had a look at the Top 3 Free Agent Centers for 2023, here. 

Photo: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports