NBA Free Agency 2024: Biggest Moves, Changes in Championship Odds, and Free Agent Tracker

NBA Free agency is in full swing as teams around the league gear up for a run at the 2024-25 NBA Season, and ultimately, the 2025 NBA Finals.

The Philadelphia 76ers and Dallas Mavericks made the most impactful acquisitions during the first few days of free agency, agreeing to terms with Paul George and Klay Thompson. But while those deals were inked, teams such as the Los Angeles Lakers and Miami Heat, both of which were in the market for upgrades, were eerily quiet. 

Here, we will touch on the marquee moves of NBA free agency, their impact on 2024-25 NBA championship odds, and the list of remaining free agents.

Moving the Needle

The goal for general managers around the NBA is simple: upgrade a roster and field a team capable of competing with the Boston Celtics, who just won the championship after only dropping three games during their entire playoff run.

This year’s free agent class was headlined by top-25 players, previous champions, and future Hall of Famers. Several of those players already agreed to new deals, while others are still waiting to find out where they will suit up next season.

Paul George - Los Angeles Clippers to Philadelphia 76ers

George, 34, agreed to a four-year, $212 million max contract with the Sixers, sending him back to the Eastern Conference for the first time since 2016-17.

The deal pairs him up with burgeoning superstar Tyrese Maxey (25.9 points, 6.2 assists, 3.7 rebounds) and 2023 MVP Joel Embiid (34.7 points, 11.0 rebounds, 5.6 assists) as the team continues to pursue its first championship since 1983. 

Klay Thompson - Golden State Warriors to Dallas Mavericks

One-half of the Splash Brothers signed a three-year, $50 million deal with a player option in the final year. This will be Thompson’s first year away from the Bay Area since he was drafted with the 11th pick in 2011.

The Mavericks suffered greatly from a lack of perimeter shooting, particularly above the break, during the 2024 NBA Finals. Thompson shot 38.7 percent last year and 41.3 percent for a career from three-point land, and he’ll make an instant impact alongside Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving.

Tobias Harris - Philadelphia 76ers to Detroit Pistons

The ex-Sixer penned a two-year, $52 million deal with the Pistons, whom he played for from 2015-18. Harris averaged 17.2 points and 6.5 rebounds for Philly last year but was the subject of criticism for failing to elevate his game in key moments, particularly in the playoffs, when he averaged just nine points on 43.1 percent shooting in a six-game series with the New York Knicks.

The Pistons desperately needed shooting in their lineup given that Cade Cunningham, Ausar Thompson, Jalen Duren, and Ron Holland II are all expected to be featured pieces of their rotation. At 31, he also offers a veteran presence to a young team that just fired Monty Williams after one year, replacing him with J.B. Bickerstaff.

Re-Upping With Their Teams

LeBron James - Los Angeles Lakers

LeBron agreed to a two-year, $104 million contract to bring him back to the purple and gold for his age 41 and 42 seasons. James reportedly was willing to take a pay cut for his team to sign one of Thompson, James Harden, or Jonas Valanciunas, but after those players all signed elsewhere, agreed to another lucrative deal.

Jayson Tatum - Boston Celtics

Tatum signed the largest contract in NBA history, sealing $314 million over the next five years. The C’s also re-signed Derrick White, meaning their entire starting five is now making close to, if not well over $30 million per year.

Donovan Mitchell - Cleveland Cavaliers

Mitchell re-signed on a three-year, $150.3 million deal with a player option in 2027-28. He will be eligible for a five-year extension potentially in excess of $380 million in 2027. 

2024 NBA Championship Odds in Flux

The Boston Celtics started free agency in pole position for the 2024-25 NBA Finals. They remain there at +300 odds, by far the shortest of the entire field.

Here’s how the rest of the odds stack up with the 2024 NBA Free agency in full swing.

Oklahoma City Thunder (+900 to +750)

The Oklahoma City Thunder are second in title odds at +750 at the time of writing. They added to a squad that produced the best regular-season record in the Western Conference by signing big man Isaiah Hartenstein and trading for defensive ace Alex Caruso, providing them with even more defense and significantly boosting their one real area of weakness: rebounding.

The Thunder already have an MVP candidate in Shai-Gilgeous Alexander, were first in three-point shooting (38.9 percent), and ranked fourth in defensive rating. They lost Josh Giddey and could still part with more assets if they go after a star player, but they’re in an even better situation on paper than they were in 2023.

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Philadelphia 76ers (+1000 to +850)

The 76ers were one of the three or four best teams in the Eastern Conference before the signing of George—now, they’re second in odds in the East, ahead of the New York Knicks and Milwaukee Bucks before a steep drop-off to the Heat.

Philly’s burden will always be getting Joel Embiid to the postseason with a full bill of health. The trio of him, Maxey, and George not only fit together perfectly, but they’re arguably the best three-headed monster in the league. If they can keep Embiid upright, this team has a chance to be a real headache for Boston.

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Dallas Mavericks (+1000 to +1100)

The Mavericks did not move in Finals odds immediately after the signing of Thompson and ultimately took a step back once other moves were made around the league. That’s not to say that the sharpshooting guard won’t help their deficiencies, as they shot only 31.6 percent from beyond the arc in the Finals, while Thompson is a career 39.8 percent shooter from deep in the Finals.

On the downside, the Mavs lost their point of attack defender, Derrick Jones Jr. They got better on the bench with Naji Marshall joining the fold but are still fairly small and will suffer defending the perimeter. 

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Golden State Warriors (+3000 to +3500)

The Warriors did not have much of a chance to win the Finals in 2025, but their flimsy hopes still took a hit when Thompson departed for Dallas. The Dubs fell from +3000 to +3500 and are now seventh in odds to win the Western Conference.

Steph Curry is still unbelievably at the top of his game but has little-to-no support around him. Draymond Green’s on-court impact greatly declined in recent seasons, no player on the roster averaged more than 16.1 points per game last year, and they don’t have many high-upside young players in wait.

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2024 NBA Free Agency Tracker

Atlanta Hawks

• None

Boston Celtics

• Jayson Tatum - five years, $314 million

• Luke Kornet - one year

• Derrick White - four years, $125.9 million

• Xavier Tillman - two years

Brooklyn Nets

• Nic Claxton - four years, $100 million 

Charlotte Hornets

• None

Chicago Bulls

• None

Cleveland Cavaliers

• Donovan Mitchell - three years, $150.3 million

Dallas Mavericks

• Klay Thompson - three years, $50 million

• Naji Marshall - three years, $27 million

Denver Nuggets

• Jamal Murray - four years, $209 million

Detroit Pistons

• Tobias Harris - two years, $52 million

Golden State Warriors

• De’Anthony Melton - one year, $12.8 million

• Kyle Anderson - three years, $27 million

Houston Rockets

• Aaron Holiday - two years, $10 million

Indiana Pacers

• None

Los Angeles Clippers

• Kevin Porter Jr. - two years

• Nic Batum - two years, $9.6 million

• Mo Bamba - one year

Los Angeles Lakers

• LeBron James - two years, $101 million

• Max Christie - four years, $32 million

Memphis Grizzlies

• None

Miami Heat

• Kevin Love - two years, $8 million

Milwaukee Bucks

• Delon Wright - one year, $3.3 million

Minnesota Timberwolves

• None

New Orleans Pelicans

• None

New York Knicks

• OG Anunoby - five years, $212.5 million

Oklahoma City Thunder

• Isaiah Hartenstein - three years, $87 million

• Aaron Wiggins - five years, $47 million

• Isaiah Joe - four years, $48 million

Orlando Magic

• Kentavious Caldwell-Pope - three years, $66 million

• Gary Harris - two years, $14 million

• Moritz Wagner - two years, $22 million

• Jonathan Isaac - five years, $84 million

Philadelphia 76ers

• Paul George - four years, $212 million

• Tyrese Maxey - five years, $204 million

• Kelly Oubre Jr. - two years, $16.3 million

• Andre Drummond - two years, $10 million

• Eric Gordon - one year, veteran’s minimum

Phoenix Suns

• Royce O’Neale - four years, $44 million

• Mason Plumlee - one year

• Monte Morris

Portland Trail Blazers

• None

Sacramento Kings

• None

San Antonio Spurs

• Chris Paul - one year, $11 million

Toronto Raptors

• Scottie Barnes - five years, up to $270 million

• Immanuel Quickley - five years, $175 million

Utah Jazz

• None

Washington Wizards

• Jonas Valanciunas - three years, $30 million

Top 10 Remaining 2024 NBA Free Agents

1. DeMar DeRozan

2. Miles Bridges

3. Tyus Jones

4. Gary Trent Jr.

5. Isac Okoro

6. Caleb Martin

7. Buddy Hield

8. Luke Kennard

9. Simone Fontecchio

10. Saddiq Bey