As NBA teams prepare for the NBA draft and rumors of trade heat up, free agents are expected to fly a bit under the radar.
In the NBA, trading has become a new free agency. Teams can usually offer larger and longer contract extensions than they receive in the open market, so players are beginning to demand trades from certain markets, and in many cases they are where they want.
Still, free agency plays a major role in the roster building. The Oklahoma City Thunder signed Isaiah Hertenstein last offseason and played a major role in the league’s best team.
Some stars like Lebron James have player options, but this list only includes players who are unlimited free agents or are expected to opt out of trading.
There’s a better center in the market (Brook Lopez, Myles Turner), but the Atlanta Hawks need to add sizes. Jalen Johnson has erupted as a high level of force, but could lose Clint Capela this offseason, and Onyeka Okongwu is a solid but not elite rebounder.
Jaxson Hayes doesn’t really move the needle in the starting lineup, but he was a solid and athletic backup for the Los Angeles Lakers this season before being promoted to the starting five.
The Boston Celtics’ main priority this offseason is to take off their pay. Derrick White, Julu Holiday and Christaps Porzingis are all included in the trade rumors.
Porzingis appears to be most likely to be traded, with Boston defeating Al Horford and Luke Cornett low. Both are solid floor spacers, but adding a physical rebounder with a title experience is a must, and Kevon Rooney fits perfectly into that role.
If Brooklyn net adds Giannis Antetocompo to the trade, surrounding him with the shooter will soon become a priority. If they trade up in the draft and add inexperienced rookies, shooting around him is also a perk.
Luke Kennard won’t make his own frontrunner for the net title, but he’s one of the most efficient shooters in NBA history and can play a solid role in Brooklyn whether he prioritizes youths this summer.
Let’s face it: Lamelo Ball was injured this season and the Charlotte Hornets need a reliable backup point guard. Plus, Charlotte’s locker room has been one of the worst in the league for a long time, and adding a veteran leader must be a priority.
In an ideal world, the Hornets add Chris Paul to shape the young roster and act as a role model, but there’s no way God can end his career in one of the worst franchises in professional sports. Settle for Malcolm Brogdon.
The Chicago Bulls need defense and fire. Alex Caruso will be a great player for Windy City! Nickeil Alexander-Walker can play off-ball, allowing Josh Giddey to flourish, shooting 38.1% from the 3-point range this season.
While Lonzo Ball, Tre Jones and Alexander-Walker’s defensive backcourts are solid, the Bulls still have a long way to go before returning to the postseason.
The Cleveland Cavaliers are easily the best team of the regular season at the Eastern Conference, and are expected to run things on almost the same roster next season.
Amir Coffey is a solid archer and defender who provides wing depth. As the best team in the East, the Cavs don’t need to make many changes to get over the hump.
Between Anthony Davis, PJ Washington, Klay Thompson, Daniel Gafford, Naji Marshall, Derek Lively II and Cooper Flag, the Dallas Mavericks have introduced a title-worthy roster, but All-Star Point Guard Kyrie Irving tore his ACL near the end of last season and will not be healthy next year.
Dallas will need to add a proven point guard who can get the ball in the hands of the stars, and 20 NBA seasons under his belt aren’t as proven as Chris Paul. If he doesn’t retire, he should head to Dallas.
This is the first player on our list back to his old team and for good reason. Despite the usual Russell Westbrookism, he was solid all year round with the Denver Nuggets, and developed a relationship with Nicola Jokic and didn’t seem to mind coming out of the bench.
With the player option, the nugget must be willing to offer an extension of one year if he agrees to stay in town.
Malik Beasley signed a year-long “proof” with the Detroit Pistons last summer, appearing as one of the league’s best shooting games, finishing second in the Man of the Year vote.
Beasley’s hot hands are a big reason why Piston finally made the postseason, and it seems easy to get things to run with him.
The Golden State Warriors feature Stephen Curry, Draymond Green and Jimmy Butler and have a very clear title window that needs to be maximized. Brooke Lopez is an elite shot blocker and dead eye shooter, but he still doesn’t give too much attention to the attack.
The five starting lineups of Curry, Butler, Green, Lopez and Buddy Heald may have been far better in 2018 than in 2026, but should be enough to keep the Warriors up until the end of Curry’s Prime.
Stephen Adams was rarely called by the Houston Rockets during the regular season. However, in the playoffs, Adams was a rocket force, averaging 5.7 points and 6.6 rebounds.
He would otherwise bring physicality and mentorship to the younger locker room, and Houston would be wise to bring him back for another season.
The Indiana Pacers rarely challenged the luxury tax, but after playing in their first final in 25 years, it’s a simple call to pay extra to bring back one of their best players.
Miles Turner is the best unlimited free agent on the market this summer, and the Pacers are not expected to introduce many offers before he signs a new contract to get things to run.
This season, the Los Angeles Clippers seemed to understand how to keep Kawi Leonard healthy through playoff runs. They didn’t let him start his season until January.
It works and Leonard rests to start the next season, but Jessine Tate can bring defensive and rebound strength. But after Leonard returns, we hope Tate will fall out of rotation, as he did in Houston this season.
Clint Capella is past his prime. In an effort to build around Luka Donsic, the La Lakers could possibly be younger and better along with Miles Turner, but the Pacers seem to do anything to protect him.
Capella is still a Rob threat, a rebounder and a solid shot blocker, something the Lakers need, and should be able to get him without breaking the bank.
The Memphis Grizzlies were urged to replace Ja Morant after being swept in the first round. That seems unlikely, but Morant has been unreliable in recent years due to the stacking of injuries and stops.
Dennis Schroeder is a starting caliber point guard that allows you to get out of the bench and start when you need it. His track record suggests that he also suits his grit and grind playstyle well.
Tyler Hero is a solid facilitator, but the Miami Heat really doesn’t have a true point guard. Tre Jones is away from the years of his career when he was traded to the Bulls from the Spurs, and he is one of the best pass-first guards in the league and an underrated defender.
He’s not an elite shooter, but there’s hope that Bum Adebayo can keep spelling the floor, with Jones, Hero, Adebayo, Andrew Wiggins lineups, and Keruel Wear, will have a size to compete in the weak East.
If Milwaukee trades Giannis, a low bruiser will be required to fill the gap. If they don’t replace him, it’s essential to add a physical defender to take some of his load. Guerschon Yabusele fits the type.
After invading France during the Olympics, Jabsere averages 11 points and 5.6 rebounds for the 76ers, and is expected to order serious money this offseason. After Kyle Kuzma was unable to make a major impact on the Bucks playoffs, Yabucere is firmly upgraded.
Depending on whether Naz Reid and Julius Randle opt out of the contract, the Minnesota Timber Wolves can have a fair amount of money to spend this offseason, but no matter who stays and who leaves, the wolves need a point guard.
Mike Conley has escaped the role, and Rob Dillingham is not ready. Wolves need a general on the floor at the stop. D’Angelo Russell spent some of four successful individual seasons with the wolves.
The Sacramento Kings own a $5.1 million team option for Jay Claravia, but he’s a perfect fit for the New Orleans Pelican. A 37.1% shooter from Deep, the carrier offers shooting and rebound.
Pelicans with Zion Williamson’s off-court problems will need to modify the forward rotation, and Laravia could be the ideal fit.
The New York Knicks don’t have a place to really address, but the depth piece makes for a great addition.
Bruce Brown is all the players that fit the Knicks’ team identity despite Tom Thibodeau being fired, and he is an NBA champion who can help the Knicks with a knick. Brown may have many offers from other teams, but he was able to cut his salary in his quest to win another ring.
The Oklahoma City Thunder has one of the best regular seasons of all time, and none of the players next season have an expired contract, so it makes sense to let things run on the same roster as well as the draft and Nicola topics.
Gary Payton II was a defensive security guard and could ultimately serve as a replacement for Alex Caruso, but in reality, Thunder may not sign anyone.
The Orlando Magic is one of the best teams on the rise, but their inactive three-point shooting has been a shortcoming for a long time. Tim Hardaway Jr. may not be keen to jump from piston to magic, but Orlando is able to provide him with a decent salary and he is one of the league’s most reliable shooters.
After adding Kentabio Scaldwell Pope’s final offseason that didn’t live up to the hype, the pressure to make some shots is hard away.
Between Tyrese Maxey, Joel Embiid and Paul George, the Philadelphia 76ers should compete for titles and don’t have the cap space to add a marquee player.
Bismack Biyombo is cheaper, more reliable and fills the need to back up a jured Embiid, which may not be the same after two injured seasons. Biyombo is certainly an upgrade on the Adem Bona and is very affordable.
In his only season with the Phoenix Suns, Ty Jones averaged 10.2 points and 5.3 assists. He is not asked to do much, and simply brings the ball over the half court before succumbing to one of the established stars of the Suns.
With the Suns expected to trade Kevin Durant, having a solid ball handler next to Devin Booker is a must, and Jones will both fit that bill and be affordable.
Is it too early to declare Scoot Henderson a bust? Perhaps, however, to get the most out of Shaedon Sharpe and Donovan Clingan, the Portland Trail Blazers need a reliable point guard.
Chris Paul would actually be a good option, but he would certainly prefer to be in a bigger market and a better team. With a few minutes’ promise, Spencer Din Widdy could be a solid option, but Portland continues to try and make the most of its youth.
The Sacramento Kings have the core of DeMarde Rozan, Zach Labine, Keegan Malley, Domantas Sabonis and Malik Monk, but lack the point guard to coordinate the attack.
Trade candidates like Marcus Smart and Jule Holiday stand out, but it would be a sweet moment for Derozan and Kyle Lowry to end their careers together.
The biggest area that the San Antonio Spurs need this offseason is their backup center. Victor Wenbanyama needs some insurance behind him, but their start five, wings and guard spins are all solid.
Who would add more than the best backup centres in the league? Naz Reid can shoot, rebound and block shots. The Spurs have the means to fire for him, unless they care about soaking up above the soft NBA salary cap.
The Toronto Raptors have revealed they want to target “big fish” this summer. Realistic free agents don’t fit that type, but John Collins is coming.
He adds size, athleticism and shooting to his younger roster, and if the Raptors can add Cameron Johnson or Giannis this summer, Collins could be a key piece on the title-winning roster if he opts out of contract.
The New York Knicks have a $2.1 million team option on Ariel Fukulti’s contract, but it’s hard to imagine the Knicks coming to pick him up after only 25 games appearing in garbage time.
The Utah Jazz have been away a few more times from making the playoffs, and adding an unproven 23-year-old 23 is the best course as they continue to rebuild. Maybe he’ll become a quality player, but not, but it’s a low-risk investment.
Just like jazz, the Wizards of Washington have been away from the competition for years, but there is a clear direction. Alexandre Sarr, Bub Carrington and Kyshawn George are all full of talent.
Jalen Hood-Schifino averaged 7.1 points per game last season, but he’s never far better than that, but he’s a rare, unlimited free agent that fits the Wizard’s timeline, especially when replacing Jordan Pool.
