10 Best NBA Free Agent Centers in 2023

The Denver Nuggets just won the NBA Finals behind a dominant postseason from center Nikola Jokic, which only drives home the fact that having a reliable big man is crucial in the league. That has to be on the mind of front offices heading into what should be an exciting next few months.

Owners and general managers could always opt to build at the center position through the NBA Draft, but that's far from the only way to land talented players ahead of the 2023-24 regular season. With that being said, here's a look at the 10 best free agent centers available in the 2023 NBA offseason.

10 Best Free Agent Centers 2023

1. Nikola Vucevic, Chicago Bulls

Nikola Vucevic tops this list thanks to the versatility and floor-spacing skills he brings to the table. The two-time All-Star has averaged double-digit rebounds in nine of his last 11 seasons and shot 52.0% from the floor in 2022-23. He has yet to pass his prime as a scorer, which would prove beneficial for any team in need of added production around the rim.

2. Brook Lopez, Milwaukee Bucks

What Vucevic brings from an offensive perspective is what Brook Lopez brings from a defensive perspective. The 15-year NBA pro finished runner-up as Defensive Player of the Year after averaging 2.5 blocks in 2022-23. He isn't only a shot-blocker, either, as he shot a career-best 37.4% from three-point range this past season.

3. Naz Reid, Minnesota Timberwolves

Naz Reid doesn't have the same name recognition as the top two options on this list, but he did everything he could to increase his value ahead of free agency. The 23-year-old emerged as a reliable scorer for Minnesota prior to suffering a wrist injury, averaging 11.5 points on a 53.7% shooting mark in 68 games played. Reid's potential is sky-high if he lands in the right offense.

4. Jakob Poeltl, Toronto Raptors

An underrated trait of a starting center in the NBA is the ability to adjust to what a team needs. Jakob Poeltl knows that to be true, as he can step up as a post scorer when needed but can also take a step back and excel as a rebounder if the game calls for it. The 27-year-old is due for a hefty payday after averaging 12.5 points and 9.1 rebounds across 72 games last season.

5. Christian Wood, Dallas Mavericks

Christian Wood is the last name on this list that has definitive starting potential in 2023-24. The veteran has averaged over 16.5 points per game and shot over 37.0% from three-point range in each of the last three years. Lackluster rebounding and free throw numbers make him more of a No. 3 or No. 4 offensive option, however, and prevent him from being ranked higher on this list.

6. Mason Plumlee, Los Angeles Clippers

Contending teams are always looking for tough players, and tough is a mindset Mason Plumlee has always taken on. He is never hesitant to set physical screens or drive through contact on pick-and-roll plays. Plumlee's best scoring days are behind him, but he still managed to average 10.8 points per game last year. That will get the job done in a steady rotation role.

7. Thomas Bryant, Denver Nuggets

Thomas Bryant is an intriguing free agent. On one hand, he is only 25 years old and averages 5.7 rebounds across 19.7 minutes in his career. On the other hand, he failed to crack the playoff rotation for the Nuggets and lacks much scoring upside outside dunks. It'll be interesting to see which rebuilding team takes a chance on the former Indiana standout.

8. Kevin Love, Miami Heat

Veteran leadership is what Kevin Love has in his corner during free agency after his role as a mentor with the Miami Heat helped the team reach the NBA Finals as a No. 8 seed. While he is coming off the worst scoring season of his career (8.2 points per game), he is a 37.0% career three-point and 83.0% free throw shooter. That is enough to warrant a bench spot for a contender.

9. Bismack Biyombo, Phoenix Suns

The free agent center pool isn't nearly as deep as the guard or forward pool, which means someone like Bismack Biyombo could be in for a bigger payday than some NBA fans expect. After all, the 30-year-old averaged 1.4 blocks and 4.3 rebounds per game last year despite appearing in just 14.3 minutes per contest. An increased role could work wonders for Biyombo's production.

10. Montrezl Harrell, Philadelphia 76ers

Montrezl Harrell finds himself in the same boat as Biyombo. The eight-year pro has shown flashes of greatness over his career, especially during his three-year run with the Los Angeles Clippers from 2017-2020. His job with the 76ers never grew beyond being an occasional backup center, however, so he should be looking to land with a team that has a more substantial role up for grabs.

Larry Rupp is not a FanDuel employee. In addition to providing DFS gameplay advice, Larry Rupp also participates in DFS contests on FanDuel using his personal account, username phillyfan424. While the strategies and player selections recommended in his articles are his personal views, he may deploy different strategies and player selections when entering contests with his personal account. The views expressed in their articles are the author's alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of FanDuel.