Top NBA free-agent centers: Myles Turner agrees to team with Giannis Antetokounmpo
Turner agreed to a four-year, $107 million contract with Milwaukee, which isn't even exorbitant — all things considered.
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Let's break down the rest of the potential top available centers in this year's free-agent market, as the negotiating window opened at 6 p.m. ET Monday.
(Note: Positions are being determined off Basketball-Reference's positional breakdowns, meaning a player will be listed at the position in which he played the most minutes.)
Free-agent position rankings: Point guards | Shooting guards | Small forwards | Power forwards
1. Myles Turner, Milwaukee Bucks
Status: Agreed to four-year, $107 million deal
Turner, one of the league's most potent 3&D centers, has undergone an offensive transformation over the past few years, to the point where the Pacers cannot afford to lose him.
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But alas they did. They went cheap to avoid the luxury tax after Tyrese Haliburton's Achilles injury, and now the Bucks are stronger and the Pacers are pretty much done.
What a blow for Pacers fans.
2. Deandre Ayton, Portland Trail Blazers
Status: Unrestricted
Unexpectedly, Ayton is now on the market after he and the Portland Trail Blazers decided to call it quits and end their relationship via a buy-out.
The 7-footer is skilled, but lacks a motor. This means teams likely have him ranked much differently throughout the NBA. Some could see him as one of the top centers in the league, while others view him as primarily a backup.
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What's wild is both are true, depending on the day.
What makes sense: Ayton would be a tremendous addition to teams in need of a center like the Lakers and Hornets.
3. Naz Reid, Minnesota Timberwolves
Status: Agreed to 5-year, $125M deal
There's no question some teams will view Reid as a starting center, especially given his touch from the outside. Yet, the Wolves have used him in a backup capacity throughout his career, which makes you wonder if Reid himself is open to chasing a starting role.
Reid is ingrained in the local community and seems to genuinely treasure being a Timberwolf. Of course, that doesn't mean he'll just sign whatever is in front of him, but it does seem likely he could be willing to sacrifice something to stick around. Is $125 million a sacrifice? Perhaps, but he's sticking around.
4. Brook Lopez, Los Angeles Clippers
Status: Agreed to two-year, $18 million deal
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Lopez might be 37. He might be slow. He might be declining. But the man is still a physical behemoth who will clog the paint, block shots and drain a ton of 3-pointers.
Those are valuable marks in today's NBA, even if Lopez doesn't necessarily fit into the 'switch everything' ideology. The Clippers got someone who is reliable and has championship experience.
5. Clint Capela, Houston Rockets
Status: Agreed to three-year, $21.5 million deal
Capela is getting older and less dynamic, but he's still a tough rebounder who challenges shots at the rim and remains a solid lob threat.
His compensation level diminished due to his age and a starting role no longer being a sure thing, but his return to a deep Houston team is a nice landing spot.
6. Moritz Wagner, Orlando Magic
Status: Team option declined
Value of option: $11,000,000
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Wagner tore his ACL in December, so we should see teams offer him deals that greatly benefit them in terms of flexibility.
If we assume he returns to full health, Wagner immediately becomes one of the best backup scoring big men in the league, with the capability of stretching the floor and providing necessary spacing.
What makes sense: Despite the injury and the fact that he's now an unrestricted free agent, the Magic should try to keep him long term. Perhaps Wagner is inclined to agree to a longer deal worth less money than he's earning now in the hope that he can bounce back after his injury.
7. Guerschon Yabusele, New York Knicks
Status: Agreed to two-year, $12 million deal
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Using last year's Olympics as a display window, Yabusele made the most of his NBA return, becoming a key offensive contributor for the Sixers.
The 29-year-old, affectionately known as The Dancing Bear, is at a stage in his career when optimizing his own salary and role should be his top priority. The Knicks were ready to play ball.
Best of the rest
Jaylin Williams, Oklahoma City Thunder
Status: Agreed to three-year, $24 million extension
Williams is a solid talent, even if he isn't playing a ton of minutes. The 6-foot-9 big man has multiple double-doubles to his name, which underlines the vastness of his skill set.
Andre Drummond, Philadelphia 76ers
Status: Exercised $5 million player option
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One of the greatest rebounders of his generation can dictate his own future, but the market for him hasn't been strong these past few years, so he's staying in Philly.
He'll get a ton of minutes should Joel Embiid not be available.
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