It’s been 15 years since LeBron James made one of the biggest moves in NBA free agency, broadcasting his decision to go from the Cavs to the Heat. That was a different era of the league, where teams kept their books clean in the hopes of luring multiple big fish.
Free agency hasn’t worked that way in recent years. Consider that Paul George, DeMar DeRozan, and Klay Thompson were probably the biggest names to switch teams last summer. And it took complicated multi-team sign-and-trades to get DeRozan and Thompson to their new teams.
This summer is going to be even more underwhelming. It’s a good year to pick up role players or solid starters, but most of the game-changers are going to re-sign with their own team or have already come to terms on contract extensions during the season.
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Only the Nets have significant cap space to lure an opposing free agent away. Most other teams will be restricted to the $14.9 million mid-level exception or less. If you want your team to make big changes, it will have to through sign-and-trades or more conventional trades.
MORE: SN’s latest 2-round NBA Mock Draft
Here are the best options in a free agent class that is weak up top but does have good depth throughout.
Ranking the top 30 NBA free agents in 2024
All-Stars
None
This category was filled with three players — LeBron James, James Harden, and Kyrie Irving. All three came to agreements with their teams to return, highlighting how difficult it is to get high quality players to switch teams via free agency these days.
High-end starters
1. Myles Turner, Pacers | Status: Unrestricted free agent
Turner has been in trade rumors for seemingly forever. He’s probably staying in Indiana now. They don’t have cap space to go out and replace him if he walks. He’s not quite the defender that he used to be, but shot-blocking centers who can stretch out to 3 are a rare commodity. He’s a good fit in their offense.
2. Josh Giddey, Bulls Status: Restricted free agent
Giddey played well for the Bulls to close the season, and they gave up a lot in Alex Caruso to get him only a year ago. He’s almost certainly re-signing with Chicago. The question is at what price. Expect him to get $25-30 million annually.
Starters / Rotation players
3. Quentin Grimes, Sixers | Status: Restricted free agent
Grimes was one of the few bright spots for the Sixers last season, coming in via trade and becoming one of their best two-way players. He averaged a stunning 21.9 points per game in his 28 appearances after the trade deadline.
Grimes’ role will scale down with the return of Joel Embiid and Paul George. Is he capable of that March production throughout an entire year? He’s the type of player that the Nets might go after and force Philadelphia to match any deal that he gets.
4. Dorian Finney-Smith, Lakers | Status: Player option
Finney-Smith was crucially important to the Lakers defense after being acquired at the trade deadline. He has experience playing with Luka Doncic through their Mavericks days and was one of JJ Redick’s favorite teammates in Dallas. The Lakers aren’t going to let him go.
Finney-Smith opted out of his $15.4 million player option, making him an unrestricted free agent. Expect the Lakers, to re-sign him at a higher number.
5. Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Timberwolves | Status: Unrestricted free agent
With the Wolves already giving big extensions to Julius Randle and Naz Reid, Alexander-Walker could be the odd man out. There should be plenty of interest in the two-way shooting guard. He’s turned into a reliable 3-point shooter and good defender who is an easy fit on a number of teams.
The Clippers, Magic, and Hawks have showed interest in Alexander-Walker, according to The Stein Line’s Jake Fischer.
6. Jonathan Kuminga, Warriors | Status: Restricted free agent
Kuminga is seeking a bigger role than what the Warriors allowed him to do over previous seasons. He’s not a good fit in Steve Kerr’s offensive system, but he’s also a good asset that the team seems reticent to let go for nothing.
Kuminga’s free agency could go a number of different ways. He could be a sign-and-trade candidate, but he is subject to an unusual base year compensation clause that makes those trades difficult to pull off. The Warriors could get around that restriction by signing him and trading him closer to the trade deadline. Or they could keep him and continue to try and find better ways to fit him into their team.
MORE: Jonathan Kuminga contract prediction: Where he could go, and possible sign-and-trades
7. Santi Aldama, Grizzlies | Status: Restricted free agent
Aldama may not be a household name, but he’s a good forward who can do a little bit of everything. He averaged 12.5 points per game last season while shooting 36.8 percent from 3, flashing some advanced passing skills, and holding up defensively. He’s a low-end starter on a Grizzlies team that has already made some big changes this year.
8. Cam Thomas, Nets | Status: Restricted free agent
Thomas is one of the more polarizing players in the league. There may never have been a player who averaged 24.0 points per game in a season and received less acclaim for it.
Thomas is a tough shot maker who is more efficient of a scorer than he’s given credit for. Detracts point to his defensive limitations and lack of contributions in other areas of the game. He can help a lot of teams with his instant offense though.
9. Malik Beasley, Pistons | Status: Unrestricted free agent
Beasley was in line for a big payday after a fantastic year for the Pistons where he shot 41.6 percent from 3 and was no. 2 in the league with 319 total made 3’s. He is currently involved in an ongoing investigation about allegedly betting on games, and his NBA future is in doubt.
MORE: Malik Beasley gambling investigation, explained: Latest details on federal probe into Pistons guard
10. Brook Lopez, Bucks | Status: Unrestricted free agent
Lopez is 37 years old but was still an effective starter for the Bucks last year. He’s a great rim protector who hit 37.3 percent of his 3’s last year. His lack of footspeed does make him a liability in some matchups — he wasn’t able to play much in the team’s first round loss to the Pacers last season.
The Bucks are expected to take a step back this season while Damian Lillard recovers from a torn Achilles. Lopez doesn’t have many years left, and he could be on the move to go to a team with better championship aspirations. He’s been linked to the Lakers according to Jake Fischer.
11. Al Horford, Celtics | Status: Unrestricted free agent
12. Deandre Ayton, Blazers | Status: Unrestricted free agent
13. Chris Paul, Spurs | Status: Unrestricted free agent
14. D’Angelo Russell, Nets | Status: Unrestricted free agent
15. Caris LeVert, Hawks | Status: Unrestricted free agent
16. Clint Capela, Hawks | Status: Unrestricted free agent
17. Ben Simmons, Clippers | Status: Unrestricted free agent
18. Tyus Jones, Suns | Status: Unrestricted free agent
19. Malcolm Brogdon, Wizards | Status: Unrestricted free agent
20. Ty Jerome, Cavaliers | Status: Unrestricted free agent
Best of the rest: Duncan Robinson, Tre Jones, Kevin Porter Jr, Bruce Brown, Gary Trent Jr., Luke Kennard, Dennis Schroder, Russell Westbrook, Luke Kornet, Jake LaRavia
