NBA Free Agency Big Board 2026: Top 25 players, best available, live updates and analysis

Before NBA free agency even started, we'd already seen Giannis Antetokounmpo, LaMelo Ball and Ja Morant changing teams. Trade candidates like Jaylen Brown and Kawhi Leonard are still dominating the NBA rumors but with the negotiating period officially open at 6:00 p.m. ET on Tuesday, June 30 things are about to get even crazier.

There is usually a burst of action at the beginning especially for the stars at the top. But there is enough depth in this free agent class that things could stretch well into next week's NBA Summer League with big names still available.

Best available players in NBA free agency

Below, we've ranked the 25 best free agents available, including both restricted and unrestricted free agents. This list only includes players who were still uncommitted as of the morning of June 30, and doesn't include players like Kristaps Porziņģis, Landry Shamet, CJ McCollum or Trae Young, who had already agreed to deals to return to their previous teams. As signings are announced, we'll clean names out of the best available list and add contract details and analysis below, so stay tuned.

1. LeBron James, F

• Previous Team: Los Angeles Lakers
• New Team: TBD
• Status:  Unrestricted free agent

He'll turn 42 in the middle of next season but he's still one of the 25 best players in the league. Whether it's in Golden State, Cleveland or back with the Lakers, he should be in the postseason next season pushing for one more title.

2. Jalen Duren, C

• Previous Team: Detroit Pistons
• New Team: TBD
• Status: Restricted free agent

The Pistons say they're not going to let Duren go but they may have to match a max offer sheet to keep him around. Duren was a disaster in the playoffs but he's one of the best young bigs in the league and a powerful interior anchor at both ends of the floor.

3. James Harden, G

• Previous Team: Cleveland Cavaliers
• New Team: TBD
• Status: Unrestricted free agent

Harden seems to be headed back to Cleveland but he didn't exactly endear himself to Cavs fans with his postseason flameout. He's a problem on defense and has a well established track record of disappearing in big moments. But he's also a one-man offense and put up 24-8-4 last season at the age of 36.

4. Norm Powell, G — SIGNED

• Previous Team: Miami Heat
• New Team: Chicago Bulls
• Status: Two years, $45 million

All signs point to Powell returning to the Miami Heat to team up with Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo in pursuit of a title. He was a late bloomer and will be 33 next season but has become a dynamite second creator and dangerous outside shooter.

Update: Powell opted to secure the bag, jumping from a championship hunt with the Heat to rebuilding situation with the Bulls. He'll create generational wealth and get plenty of shots but might not sniff the playoffs over the life of this contract. The other big ripple effect here is that Collin Sexton and Anfernee Simons — free agents who finished last season in Chicago — are almost certainly on the move now.

5. Peyton Watson, F

• Previous Team: Denver Nuggets
• New Team: TBD
• Status: Restricted free agent

Watson was injured for the Nuggets' postseason run but has blossomed as a versatile, two-way wing — averaging 14.6 points, 4.9 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.1 blocks and 0.9 steals per game. He shot nearly 50 percent from the field, topped 40 percent from beyond the arc and turns 24 just before next season. If you're looking for upside on the wing, he's the guy in this free agent class.

6. Walker Kessler, C — SIGNED

• Previous Team: Utah Jazz
• New Team: Los Angeles Lakers
• Status: Four years, $130 million

The Jazz can match any offer Kessler receives but have so far loathe to pony up for a max. He has limited offensive range but is automatic in the paint, a terrific shot-blocker

Update: The Lakers found out LeBron James wasn't coming back and wasted no time pivoting, completing a sign-and-trade to acquire Kessler on a four-year, $130 million deal for two future first-round picks, two future picks swaps. It's a huge gamble and basically locks the Lakers into Luka Dončić, Austin Reaves and Kessler, But he's young, has upside and fills a huge need with his rim protection and interior finishing.

7. Draymond Green, F

• Previous Team: Golden State Warriors
• New Team: TBD
• Status: Unrestricted free agent

Draymond Green may be headed right back to Golden State, opting out only to give them some financial flexibility to chase other upgrades. But he's still an elite defender and connective passer, even if he can't shoot and will make you listen to his podcast.

8. Jonathan Kuminga, F

• Previous Team: Atlanta Hawks
• New Team: TBD
• Status: Unrestricted free agent

The Hawks declined Kuminga's option and we'll finally get a chance to see what the market really is for his services. It's probably closer to what the Warriors wanted to pay but there should still be a solid market for a highly athletic

9. Rui Hachimura, F

• Previous Team: Los Angeles Lakers
• New Team: TBD
• Status: Unrestricted free agent

Hachmiura is 6-foot-8 and made at least 40 percent of his 3s in each of the last three seasons, topping out at 44.3 percent last year. That's it, that's the whole scouting report.

10. Sandro Mamukelashvili, C — SIGNED

• Previous Team: Toronto Raptors
• New Team: Los Angeles Lakers
• Status: Four years, $52 million

He's not a household name but Mamukelashvili was a key breakout for the Raptors last year, averaging 11.9 points, 4.9 rebounds and 1.9 assists. He's not much of a shot blocker and stands just 6-foot-9, but he plays with bruising physicality and made 38.9 percent of his 3s last season.

Update: Mamukelashvili is now the Lakers back-up center behind Walker Kessler, but he's supremely clean fit with his shooting and physicality.

11. John Collins, F — SIGNED

• Previous Team: Los Angeles Clippers
• New Team: Detroit Pistons
• Status: Three years, $51 million

Collins has not regained his star trajectory but has quietly rebuilt his status after Trae Young and Hawks squandered him. Over the past three seasons since leaving Atlanta, he's averaged 15.4 points, 7.2 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 0.9 bl;ocks and 0.9 steals per game, shooting 39.1 percent from beyond the arc. He doesn't solve all of Detroit's offensive problems but he's a great complement for Cade Cunningham and can probably give the Pistons a lot more scoring (and a lot more efficiently) than Tobias Harris last season.

12. Mitchell Robinson, C — SIGNED

• Previous Team: New York Knicks
• New Team: Boston Celtics
• Status: Three years, $47 million

It turns out you CAN win a championship with Mitchell Robinson playing big minutes in the middle. He has no offensive range and his free throw shooting is historically bad, but he's a big body, a good rim protector and an absolute force on the offensive glass.

Update: The Celtics updated their center position in a huge way. They still need to figure out what they're doing with Jaylen Brown but Robinson is a big center upgrade and this is a roster that won 56 games last year starting Neemias Queta and Luka Garza.

13. Tari Eason, F

• Previous Team: Houston Rockets
• New Team: TBD
• Status: Restricted free agent

Eason is a strong and versatile defender who plays with unmatched motor — plug him in anywhere and he'll make plays. He's only an average outside shooter and gets all his buckets from energy plays or shots created by teammates but he's still just 25 and can be a high level role player.

14. Bennedict Mathurin, G

• Previous Team: Los Angeles Clippers
• New Team: TBD
• Status: Restricted free agent

Mathurin's best offensive attribute is still his ability to get to the line but it makes him an efficient complementary scorer. If he was a slightly better finisher or a slightly better 3-point shooter he'd be a star, but as is he's a very useful complementary option off the bench.

15. Luke Kennard, G — SIGNED

• Previous Team: Los Angeles Lakers
• New Team: Phoenix Suns
• Status: Two years, $13 million

Kennard is an elite movement shooter with some juice as a complementary creator. His value comes down to his teammates — he was a lot more impactful playing next to LeBron and Luka than he was with Ja Morant and Desmond Bane. But he's the kind of guy every contender needs.

Update: Kennard joins Phoenix where he will essentially replace another former Duke standout, Grayson Allen. Kennard is arguably the best spot-up shooter in the NBA these days and he has a bit more depth to his offensive skill set than folks realize. He is an extremely efficient player who amplifies those around him with his gravity and quick decision-making. An easy win for the Suns.

16. Quentin Grimes, G — SIGNED

• Previous Team: Philadelphia 76ers
• New Team: Los Angeles Lakers
• Status: Four years, $60 million

Grimes' stock has fallen off and his 3-point percentage plummeted last season. But he still played solid defense and averaged 13.4 points, 3.6 rebounds and 3.3 assists. In a more stable situation he could still have some upside.

Update: Grimes is a great fit for the Lakers into the cap space left behind by LeBron James. He defends hard, can offer some complementary playmaking and, if his 3-point shot bounces back, can really help space the floor next to Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves.

17. Kelly Oubre Jr., F — SIGNED

• Previous Team: Philadelphia 76ers
• New Team: Indiana Pacers
• Status: Two years, $17 million

Oubre can't make enough 3-pointers to really strecth the defense but he provides a bit of everything else you'd want from a swing forward — size, athleticism, defense, energy, scoring and some connective passing.

Update: Oubre Jr. is a great pick-up for the Pacers, the kind of energetic chaos-maker who should benefit greatly from playing with Tyrese Haliburton. He'll give them some added size and some Pascal Siakam injury insurance, strengthening a bench that aleady could be one of the best in the East.

18. Collin Sexton, G — SIGNED

• Previous Team: Chicago Bulls
• New Team: Los Angeles Lakers
• Status: Two years, $19 million

Sexton is an undersized backcourt scorer who is remarkably efficient considering how much he's bounced around (four teams in eight years). For his career, he's averaged 18.3 points per game on 47/39/84 shooting splits. His size and defensive warts mean he's better as a third guard off the bench but he can absolutely help juice an offense.

Update: The Lakers offense gets another boost with this value signing. Sexton is probably overqualified to be a third option and he'll get a ton of wide open shots and warped defenses playing with Reaves and Dončić. He won't help their defense much but the Lakers are building a team to just outscore everyone anyway.

19. Anfernee Simons, G

• Previous Team: Chicago Bulls
• New Team: TBD
• Status: Unrestricted free agent

Simons may be competing with Sexton for a lot of the same opportunities, with a similar profile as a scoring guard who isn't quite good enough to carry a first-unit offense. Simons is more of a volume shooter but Sexton has been more efficient and plays more physical.

20. Marcus Smart, G — SIGNED

• Previous Team: Los Angeles Lakers
• New Team: Houston Rockets
• Status: Two years, $13 million

Smart is still a shaky shooter and provides even less than he did in Boston as a shooter. But he's a connective passer, brings maximum intensity and can still be a game-changing perimeter defender. He needs the right players around him but he's a useful piece for a playoff team.

Update: Smart is a bit of a strange fit for the Rockets. They needed a point guard but his offensive shortcomings may make him unplayable with Amen Thompson and Alperen Şengün. Of course, it may also be impossible to score on the Rockets with Thompson and Smart on the court so maybe they're just trying to win every game 2-0.

21. Keon Ellis, F — SIGNED

• Previous Team: Cleveland Cavaliers
• New Team: Brooklyn Nets
• Status: Two years, $18 million

Ellis was one of the most sought-after players at the trade deadline but didn't show up at all in the Cavs' playoff rotation after he landed in Cleveland. It's possible there are some issues that aren't obviously apparent but on paper he's a strong, versatile wing defender who can knock down open 3s.

Update: Ellis heads to Brooklyn on a two-year, $18 million contract with a mutual option for the 2027-28 season, which allows both sides to renegotiate but still guarantees Ellis at least $18 million (only one side has to opt-in). He's a phenomenal defender and a decent shooter who should get out and run the floor with Brooklyn's young guards.

22. Bruce Brown, G

• Previous Team: Denver Nuggets
• New Team: TBD
• Status: Unrestricted free agent

Brown's second go-around in Denver wasn't as magical as the first, which resulted in a title. But he's coming off the second-best 3-point shooting season of his career and he's still a strong multi-positional defender who can play on or off the ball in the backcourt.

23. Bones Hyland, G — SIGNED

• Previous Team: Minnesota Timberwolves
• New Team: Minnesota Timberwolves
• Status: One year, $2.5 million

If you need a bunch of points in a hurry, Hyland could be the guy. Just don't ask him to do much else.

Update: Hyland returns to Minnesota on a minimum contract. The Wolves still needed backcourt depth after the LaMelo Ball trade. Bones seemed to find new life last season as much-needed instant offense for the Minnesota bench mob. He won't do much else besides score, but he could play some fun minutes next to LaMelo as the Wolves fly up and down the court.

24. Spencer Jones, F

• Previous Team: Denver Nuggets
• New Team: TBD
• Status: Restricted free agent

Jones came out of nowehre and established himself as a reliable bench piece for Denver. He's a smart 3-and-D wing with good size who won't hurt by trying to do more than he can.

25. Nikola Vučević, C — SIGNED

• Previous Team: Boston Celtics
• New Team: Orlando Magic
• Status: One year, $3.9 million

Vučević is in the twilight of his career and can really only be succesful in a constrained role. But he's still a 7-footer who can punish smaller players in the post and step out and hit 3s. As a second or third big, you could do a lot worse.

Update: The Orlando Magic desperately need shooting and Vučević should definitely help raise their offensive floor in his 10-12 minutes per game.

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