NBA free agents 2023: Which players are still available at the brink of playoffs?
With the playoffs rapidly approaching, we're taking a look at some of the biggest NBA free agents in 2023. With just weeks to go until the play-in tournament tips off on April 11, there are plenty of big-name free agents still available. With loads of experience, the vets could help bring some experience to playoff teams.
Let's take a look at some of the biggest and most experienced players still available.
When breaking down available players by years of experience, Carmelo Anthony's name jumps out as the most distinguished.
Anthony has played 19 NBA seasons, most recently with the LA Lakers before finding himself as a free agent. Similarly, Trevor Ariza and Dwight Howard, who have both played 18 seasons, have yet to find teams after parting ways with the LA Lakers.
Howard is currently playing overseas in Taiwan, where he has put up Wilt Chamberlain-like numbers since leaving the NBA. While Anthony and Howard are widely considered to be two players who many think could make a 12-man roster, Dillon Brooks thinks otherwise.
Brooks recently shot down talk that the Memphis Grizzlies need a veteran player with playoff experience for a postseason run.
"Who do you want to sign?" Brooks said. "You wanna sign Carmelo Anthony? You wanna sign Dwight Howard? Who do you want to sign? Those guys are trying get back into the league. They're not trying to hone in on a guy and be a vet. A real vet is like Udonis Haslem (of the Miami Heat)."
"Who do you want to sign? You wanna sign Carmelo Anthony? You wanna sign Dwight Howard? Who do you want to sign? Those guys are trying get back into the league. They're not trying to hone in on a guy and be a vet. A real vet is like Udonis Haslem."
Dillon https://t.co/hI5Hf5V20D… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…
Other notable NBA free agents
In addition to the three LA Lakers vets, several other notable names stand out to NBA fans, including Lou Williams, who struggled with a hip injury late last season. At 36 years old, Williams finds himself young enough to play, but without the same speed and quickness that made him a three-time Sixth Man of the Year.
Another notable name on the list is LaMarcus Aldridge, who looked to return to the league after retiring in April 2021 as the result of an irregular heartbeat. The following season, he returned after being medically cleared, dropping several impressive performances last season.
Since then, he has yet to play in an NBA game despite having 72 games worth of playoff experience in his 16-season career. Along with him, two other notable players who have spent 16 years in the league and find themselves as free agents are Paul Millsap and Rajon Rondo.
The 38-year-old Millsap played just nine games with the Philadelphia 76ers last season and currently finds himself in a tricky spot. Similarly, Rajon Rondo, who bounced around the league following the LA Lakers' 2020 championship run, is still available.
The 37-year-old split time between the LA Lakers and Cleveland Cavaliers last season before finding himself essentially out of the league.
With the playoffs rapidly approaching, it will be interesting to see whether any of the veteran free agents find homes for the remainder of the year.