We’re into the sixth day of NBA free agency, and amazingly, the top names on this list are the ones that were there when free agency started. That’s not a shock with the restricted free agents, that’s a battle of leverage, and in the case of LeBron James, he is taking his time and letting the market play out.
A few of the top names are off our board — Trae Young, Austin Reaves, Isaiah Hartenstein, Walker Kessler — but a lot remain. Here are our top 10 currently available free agents.
Jalen Duren and his representatives have tried. They met with the Lakers, who called him a player deserving of a max offer, then Los Angeles traded for Walker Kessler, and that took them off the board. They met with Sacramento, and it was leaked how much Duren wanted to play for the Kings (something that met with a few eye rolls around the league). The sides discussed a sign-and-trade, but Detroit shot that idea down, especially with Domantas Sabonis at the heart of any proposed deal.
Duren wants to get paid, reportedly seeking a deal with an average salary north of $40 million a season, the Pistons are thinking mid-$30 million a year range. Duren’s camp points to an All-NBA regular-season campaign for the 22-year-old big man, in which he averaged 19.5 points and 10.5 rebounds per game while playing elite defense. However, a playoffs where he largely disappeared in key moments (averaging 10.2 points and 8.5 rebounds) hurt his value. In the end, it sucks to be a restricted free agent in the NBA because you have no real leverage. The choices on the board for Duren are ultimately to sign a deal with the Pistons or play for the $9.6 million qualifying offer and become an unrestricted free agent. But with the Pistons likely offering four or five years, at mid-$30 million a season (five years, $180 million?), that’s generational wealth and a lot of money to just leave on the table.
2. LeBron James
LeBron James, as he has done throughout his career, is now dominating the free agency spotlight — and he is going to bask in it. No decision is expected in the next few days.
There are six teams in the running for LeBron’s services, listening to his agent Rich Paul lay it out: Golden State, Cleveland, Minnesota, Denver, Miami and Philadelphia. Since trading for Jaylen Brown, the 76ers became a hot name in rumors (that has cooled), and Minnesota is ramping up its recruiting of LeBron. However, the smart money is on him coming full circle in his career and finishing where he started in Cleveland. Golden State is a real possibility, and I would add keep an eye on Denver, a team that could really use him, could contend, and LeBron is friends with the owners. Wherever he lands, LeBron seems to accept that he will take a pay cut, going from $52 million last season to possibly below $10 million this season.
3. James Harden
Harden declined his $42.3 million player option and is technically a free agent, but he did so to help the Cavaliers’ front office make deals like potentially bringing back LeBron. Harden and the Cavaliers will eventually work out a contract with a lower per-season number but a higher total, as reported by ESPN’s Shams Charania. There isn’t a lot of drama here, just a question of what the final contract looks like.
Much like Jalen Duren, Watson is a restricted free agent hoping that some other team on the market will step up and make an offer that will at least force Denver to match a higher offer. Denver has made it very public that they intend to match any offer for Watson, a player who averaged 14.6 points a game last season, played well off Nikola Jokic, is a plus defender on the wing and shot 41.1% from 3-point range. Denver is also a team feeling a financial crunch under the aprons, which is influencing their decision on what to offer.
Coming off an impressive playoff run with the Lakers (17.5 points per game, shooting 56.9% from 3), Hachimura was looking for a raise from the $18.3 million he made last season, but that market may not be out there for the veteran forward. With Tobias Harris going to the Spurs, the number of options for Hachimura is shrinking, and there is even some hope among Lakers fans that he will return at a much lower price (don’t bet on it). A sign-and-trade to a team that needs him is possible, there are plenty of teams who could use a 6’8″ forward who shot 44.7% from 3-point range last season and has shown the last couple of years that he can step up in the playoffs.
As had been expected, Draymond Green has opted out of his $27.7 million player option for next season and is a free agent. However, much like the James Harden situation, there is no doubt he is going to re-sign with the Warriors, the only question is for how much (a slightly lower per-year number but with more total guaranteed money). The Warriors are trying to use the cap space Green has afforded them to make a bold move and improve the team, and Green won’t be re-signed until the Warriors finish rounding out the roster.
Mathurin brings some things to the table that the Clippers need, especially with Kawhi Leonard now back in Toronto. After coming to the Clippers in the Ivica Zubac trade, he averaged 17.4 points per game, and his skill at getting downhill and drawing fouls would be a big boost off the bench behind Darius Garland (he also could play with just-drafted Keaton Wagler at points). It’s hard to imagine he’s anywhere other than back with the Clippers next season, but other teams may poke around and see if they can poach him. The real question here is how much does he end up signing for.=
The bad news for Kuminga is that the Hawks declined his $24.3 million team option, and as a free agent, he won’t find a payday anywhere near that. That said, a few teams are interested in him — the Lakers and Cavaliers among them — but many of the teams that might be interested are also pursuing LeBron, so Kuminga may need to wait for that domino to fall before other teams will seriously talk deal.
Brown is no longer the guy who was so critical to Denver’s 2023 title run, but he can be a solid backup guard at an affordable price. Brown averaged 7.9 points a night playing all 82 games for Denver last season, shooting 38.5% from 3. Maybe the market needs to shake out a little more for him to find a spot (and it could be back with Denver), but there are teams with an eye on Brown.
He just picked up a ring with the New York Knicks, but the former Sixth Man of the Year and longtime bench scorer is not returning to the champions. Clarkson, 34, could help a team looking for points on its second unit during the regular season. He averaged 8.6 points a night and provided a boost to New York last season.
Just outside the top 10: Khris Middleton, Russell Westbrook, Brandon Williams, Gary Trent Jr., Nick Richards, Nicolas Batum, Gary Payton II, Gabe Vincent.
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