NBA free agency 2026: Grades, head-scratchers and analysis from Day 2

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Day 2 of NBA free agency is in the books, and we had a lot more action than on Night 1.

The Los Angeles Lakers received a complete makeover and actually pried away a prized restricted free-agent center by throwing draft picks at the situation. They also made a bunch of signings. And then Jaylen Brown was traded to Philly out of nowhere.

Some significant free agents also agreed to join new teams, so we have plenty to analyze (and if we forgot a move, please forgive us). Remember: Most deals only become official on July 6 when the negotiation period is over. Let’s review what went down on Wednesday (through 11:59 p.m. ET).

Big moves

Walker Kessler agrees to sign-and-trade with Lakers (four years, $130 million)

I’ll fully admit that it didn’t seem possible that the Lakers (or anybody) would be able to wrestle Kessler away from the Utah Jazz in restricted free agency. And yet, the Lakers are signing him to a max deal via sign-and-trade. The Jazz are just getting draft picks in return, but those could end up being valuable. The Lakers really needed an actual presence in the paint to improve their standing in the Western Conference. Kessler is one of the NBA’s best rim protectors, as well as one of the best rebounders in the league. And he can catch passes from all angles and finish around the rim.

Maybe he isn’t a household name yet, but the Lakers need someone to defend behind Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves. Those two are brutal on defense, so Kessler should be able to support them. If he can consistently defend in space, they won’t be stuck utilizing drop coverage against pick-and-rolls. He tried to flash a 3-point shot last season but played in only five games due to an injury. If Kessler is on the floor consistently, along with the other players the Lakers agreed to sign Wednesday, they will take a big step forward in the West. Grade: A for the signing, A- when you factor in the draft assets given

Norman Powell agrees to sign with Bulls (two years, $45 million)

This is a bit of a shocking signing. It felt like Powell would be destined to join the Detroit Pistons because his scoring was much needed. Instead, he’s going to a Chicago team that might not actually compete in many games. Maybe this is more of a trade deadline play? Or maybe this is more like when Bruce Brown signed with Indiana? Many contenders will covet Powell. His scoring and impact have been All-Star-worthy the last two years, and he was an All-Star this past season. Powell should be a very tradable asset for the Bulls. It’s just hard to believe he’s part of their actual plan this season. Grade: B

Mitchell Robinson agrees to sign with Celtics (three years, $47.4 million)

The Celtics went through waves with this, but rebounding was an issue for them. Robinson fixes that quite a bit, and he’s going to do a great job of extending possessions. Yes, the free-throw shooting and fouls can be an issue. However, the Celtics want to put a lot more pressure on the rim this season, and Robinson aids that. His vertical spacing around the rim can be a big thing for the defense to focus on. For a team that loves taking 3-pointers, Robinson complements a lot. We just don’t know if he’s capable of playing starter-level minutes. Grade: A-

John Collins agrees to sign with Pistons (three years, $51 million)

The Pistons are essentially swapping out Tobias Harris for Collins. And that doesn’t seem like an upgrade at all. Collins struggles with consistency, which is definitely a criticism you could throw Harris’ way. Collins doesn’t play great defense, and he kind of floats from possession to possession. Next to (potentially) Jalen Duren, this could be a lot better for Collins. He’ll be a good pick-and-roll option for Cade Cunningham. However, Collins won’t be a convincing backup center when Duren is out, now that Isaiah Stewart is in Memphis. This feels like a misstep by Detroit unless there’s another big move out there. Grade: C-

Tobias Harris agrees to sign with Spurs (two years, $31 million)

This is a very good short-term option for the Spurs at power forward. Harris isn’t entirely reliable on the court, but they’ll need a lot less out of him than Detroit did last season. Harris showed a lot of fight in the postseason, and any of that getting to San Antonio would be a good boost. The Spurs can utilize Harris as a luxury, rather than a necessity. They just need him to consistently knock down outside shots. Alongside Victor Wembanyama, he has plenty of strength and heft to play some physical defense. We’ll see if this is really more of a one-year deal or something that extends beyond. Grade: B

Expected re-signs

De’Anthony Melton agrees to re-sign with Warriors (two years, $11 million)

Melton hasn’t exactly returned perfectly from his ACL injury the last couple of years, but the Warriors do need a veteran guard like him off the bench. When he’s at full strength, he can defend on the perimeter and knock down 3-pointers. He didn’t knock down outside shots last season, but the Warriors are confident he’ll be back to form. Grade: B-

Jonathan Isaac agrees to re-sign with Magic (one year, minimum)

The Magic got rid of Isaac before free agency started to save some money on his non-guaranteed contract and then brought him back on a minimum deal. He’ll still earn like $10 million altogether this season because of it. The big question is whether he’ll actually get on the court. Grade: C+

Great values

Quentin Grimes agrees to sign with Lakers (four years, $60 million)

Last summer, as a restricted free agent, there seemed to be a possibility that Grimes would get $80 million over four years. Instead, he signed the qualifying offer with Philadelphia to become a free agent now. The Lakers really need a 3-and-D wing next to their backcourt of Dončić and Reaves. If he plays anywhere close to the way he did at the end of the 2024-25 season, this is an absolute steal. Getting him for essentially the midlevel exception is a big-time move by the Lakers’ Rob Pelinka. Grade: A-

Collin Sexton agrees to sign with Lakers (two years, $19 million)

Interestingly, Sexton and Coby White had similar numbers last season, yet White received $74 million over three years to remain in Charlotte. While White is a better player, Sexton getting $19 million over two years feels close to a steal. He could be a Sixth Man of the Year candidate, and the Lakers will really need his outside shooting and scoring off the bench. Maybe this ends up being a short-term play, like a few of the Lakers’ other moves for a backup guard under Pelinka (Malik Monk and Lonnie Walker IV come to mind). This has the potential to be a brilliant deal. Grade: B+

Sandro Mamukelashvili agrees to sign with Lakers (four years, $52 million)

With Kessler as the starter and Deandre Ayton picking up his option, I like that the Lakers still decided to improve here. Maybe Ayton gets traded or waived, but Mamukelashvili is a better fit for what the Lakers want to do. He’s far more active, and he can do more playmaking. He’s also more of a consistent option than Ayton. Grade: B+

Marcus Smart agrees to sign with Rockets (two years, $13 million)

There were times when the Rockets seemed to truly not know where to go with their guard options off the bench. Smart is going to fit perfectly into what Ime Udoka wants to do. You can pair him with Reed Sheppard and be perfectly comfortable. Likewise for him with Fred VanVleet. The Rockets can make Smart the lead guard for a few minutes here and there. This is a solid, short-term signing. Grade: B

Kelly Oubre Jr. agrees to sign with Pacers (two years, $16.5 million)

Oubre isn’t entirely reliable when it comes to on-court consistency. There are times when he’s able to knock down 3-pointers with ease. There are times he plays great perimeter defense. In an uptempo style of play like Indiana wants to employ, Oubre can potentially thrive. For this money and length, he should work just fine. Grade: B

Moe Wagner agrees to sign with Nets (two years, $19 million)

The Nets have so much up in the air with trying to find some competitive basketball combinations. Wagner will, at worst, be a good backup option. Maybe this ends up being more of a one-year deal. He can score and compete on defense, and he should end up pushing Day’Ron Sharpe for some minutes. That’s exactly the type of player you want challenging a young guy for playing time. Grade: B

On-the-fence deals

Nikola Vučević agrees to sign with Magic (one year, $3.9 million)

The Magic have some real playmaking issues. So, naturally, their move is to bring back Vučević. They lost Wagner to the Nets, so this does help provide some depth. I’m not sure the Magic need this as a priority with Wendell Carter Jr. and Goga Bitadze still on the roster. This feels like a nostalgic move. Grade: C+

Head-scratchers

Jaxson Hayes agrees to sign with the Jazz (two years, $12 million)

It’s funny to me that the Jazz and Lakers essentially swapped centers, with Kessler going to Los Angeles to start and Hayes going to Utah as a backup big. Hayes doesn’t need to play a lot. The Jazz have Jaren Jackson Jr. and Jusuf Nurkić on the team. Hayes just isn’t someone a serious team needs for regular minutes, so maybe Utah is hoping to unlock some player development to make him a consistent backup option. Grade: C-

Trade(s) of the day

Jaylen Brown traded to the 76ers for Paul George, two firsts (2028, 2031) and two seconds

I’m genuinely shocked the Celtics actually moved Brown. I’m also shocked it’s for such a mediocre return. It feels like the Celtics completely overreacted to the Brown situation before taking 40 cents on the dollar for last season’s best player. Paul George is near the end of his effectiveness and is coming off a pretty mundane season by his standards. The Celtics are also hoping these draft picks become significant, but I’m not sure if that time aligns with their current window.

As for the 76ers, they feel a lot more Joel Embiid-proof, as long as Brown and Tyrese Maxey can coexist. Boston is going to take a step back and try to regroup in a year or two with Jayson Tatum. Meanwhile, Philly feels a lot closer to challenging New York in the East. Grade: A for Philadelphia, D+ for Boston.

Small moves

Mike Conley Jr. agrees to sign with the Celtics (one year, minimum)

At the beginning of the day, it felt like Conley would provide a good locker-room presence to help Brown get over the trade rumors. Now, he just feels like a good adult for the team. Yay or nay? 👍

Jevon Carter agrees to re-sign with Magic (one year, $3.5 million)

Carter is the quintessential third point guard in a rotation. He can defend and is pretty good at knocking down shots. This is a decent depth play. Yay or nay? 🤝

Alijah Martin agrees to re-sign with the Raptors (two years, $4.8 million)

He was a killer in the G League but didn’t show much in the NBA last season. Maybe he moves up in the rotation with Gradey Dick gone. Yay or nay? 🤝

Ariel Hukporti agrees to sign with the 76ers (one year, $3.4 million)

Hukporti showed a little bit of potential on the Knicks, but this is mostly a depth play for “break glass in case of emergency.” Yay or nay? 🤝

Names to watch

Big names: James Harden, LeBron James, Draymond Green

Restricted free agents: Jalen Duren, Bennedict Mathurin, Peyton Watson, Tari Eason, Keaton Wallace, Spencer Jones, Jaylen Clark, Pat Spencer, Keshad Johnson

Veteran guards: Anfernee Simons, Jordan Clarkson, Bradley Beal, Gary Trent Jr., Gary Payton II, Javonte Green, Aaron Holiday, Tyus Jones, Jordan McLaughlin, Garrett Temple

Important veterans: Russell Westbrook, Khris Middleton, Bruce Brown, Kyle Anderson, Matisse Thybulle

Young guys to take a chance on: Jonathan Kuminga, Ochai Agbaji, Jalen Wilson, Brandon Williams, Kobe Brown, Jett Howard, Blake Wesley, AJ Lawson, Jeremy Sochan, Ziaire Williams, Julian Phillips, Andre Jackson Jr., Jalen Pickett

Mentors: Kevin Love, Jeff Green, Joe Ingles, Kyle Lowry

Forwards: Rui Hachimura, Kenrich Williams, Larry Nance Jr., Dwight Powell

Wings and shooters: Seth Curry, Doug McDermott, Amir Coffey, Jae’Sean Tate, Lindy Waters III

Big men: Marvin Bagley III, Kevon Looney, Andre Drummond, Thomas Bryant, Nick Richards, Drew Eubanks, Tony Bradley, Kelly Olynyk, Maxi Kleber, Xavier Tillman, Bismack Biyombo

Plumlees, Zellers and Antetokounmpos: Mason, Marshall, Miles, Cody, Tyler, Luke, Thanasis, Alex, Kostas