Ranking the Top 10 NBA Free Agents Still On the Market
The Boston Celtics needn't worry that an Eastern Conference contender will unseat them with a mid-August signing. Most of NBA free agency was resolved in late June and early July, though several veteran free agents are still available.
From role players to former No. 1 overall draft picks, quite a few viable pickups are available to help teams round out their rotations. Some have developmental upside. Others bring experience and leadership to locker rooms—understanding that the NBA schedule is long, injuries happen, and having too much help off the bench is rarely a mistake.
Most franchises have already spent this summer. While some may have a little cap room left or various exceptions (up to the $12.8 million non-taxpayer mid-level), the bulk of this list will be looking for veteran minimum contracts that range from $1.2 million (for rookies) to $3.3 million (for veterans with 10 or more years of experience).
All teams must get to at least 14 players under regular contract to start the season (technically, the deadline is two weeks into the year). Many will give those spots to younger prospects, but some will go to the veteran players listed here:
10: Bismack Biyombo
1 of 11
Position: Center
Measurements: 6'8", 255 lbs
Age: 31
Most Recent Team: Oklahoma City Thunder
Last salary: $1.2 million
Even in his best years, Biyombo was a non-scorer (peaked at 7.4 points per game in 2019-20), but he is a tremendous locker room presence. And on the court, he plays hard as a rebounder, screen-setter and general physical presence.
He isn't the tallest available center, but he is big-bodied and mobile. With veterans such as Taj Gibson still in the league, Biyombo is a viable option in a low-minute bench role either to start the season or midway as roster spots open via trade or waiver.
9: JaVale McGee
2 of 11
Position: Center
Measurements: 7'0", 270 lbs
Age: 36
Most Recent Team: Sacramento Kings
Last salary: $3.2 million
McGee is a three-time champion, winning twice with the Golden State Warriors (2017 and 2018) and once with the Los Angeles Lakers (2020). He rounded out the Kings' bench last season, playing just 7.4 minutes per game over 46.
He's still efficient (59.8 percent from the field) and has great size and length. Following an inconsistent start to his career, he became one of the more respected guys in the locker room.
Like Biyombo, McGee probably won't play much for a team that signs him, but he's a valuable veteran to have around younger players.
8: Tristan Thompson
3 of 11
Position: Center-Forward
Measurements: 6'9", 254 lbs
Age: 33
Most Recent Team: Cleveland Cavaliers
Last salary: $3.2 million
The trend continues to include experienced big men who are well past their peak and can help teams with playoff aspirations. Thompson was in the Cavaliers' postseason rotation with 10 appearances (8.7 minutes a game).
He helped the Cavaliers win the championship in 2016 and may be more worthy of minutes than Biyombo and McGee, but he probably meant more to Cleveland for his leadership this past season than on-court production.
7: Evan Fournier
4 of 11
Position: Guard-Forward
Measurements: 6'5", 205 lbs
Age: 31
Most Recent Team: Detroit Pistons
Last salary: $18.9 million
It's been a few years since Fournier has made a regular impact in the NBA, but then he was stuck on the New York Knicks as a very non-Tom Thibodeau-style player.
That's not criticizing the Knicks coach, but the Frenchman didn't fit what New York was trying to accomplish. And his post-trade numbers on the Detroit Pistons don't say much about what he's still capable of.
Fournier was an important part of France's Olympic silver-medal squad that lost to the USA in Paris. He's not likely to earn anything close to his prior salary, but he can still help a team as a veteran shooter off the bench.
6: Marcus Morris Sr.
5 of 11
Position: Forward
Measurements: 6'8", 218 lbs
Age: 34
Most Recent Team: Cleveland Cavaliers
Last salary: Just under $313,000
Morris started last season with the LA Clippers but was dealt to the Philadelphia 76ers in early November in the James Harden swap.
In the trade for Doug McDermott before the deadline, he joined the San Antonio Spurs, who then bought out the veteran at $17.1 million. The Cavaliers picked him, and he was a 15.3 minute-per-game rotation player for Cleveland through its playoff run.
So far, he's probably the most skilled player on this list and likely to crack an NBA rotation. But Morris must embrace that he's a role player now—a reserve forward who can add scoring to a team's second unit.
5: Justin Holiday
6 of 11
Justin Holiday
Position: Forward-Guard
Measurements: 6'6", 180 lbs
Age: 35
Most Recent Team: Denver Nuggets
Last salary: $3.2 million
Holiday is one of the best available veteran wings. He's an experienced defender who started nine games for the Nuggets last season, shooting 40.4 percent from three-point range throughout the regular season (37.9 percent over 12 playoff games).
Holiday is a natural for a coach on a veteran team that needs players who can confidently contribute for 15 minutes off the bench.
4: Cedi Osman
7 of 11
Position: Forward
Measurements: 6'7", 230 lbs
Age: 29
Most Recent Team: San Antonio Spurs
Last salary: $6.7 million
The Cavaliers sent Osman to the Spurs before the season in the multi-team trade that landed Max Strus in Cleveland.
Osman, who is under 30 and of good size, played 72 games for the Spurs (17.6 minutes a game) while shooting a steady 38.9 percent from three-point range.
He remains a viable rotation player at either forward position. He's durable, plays hard and has a positive locker room reputation.
3: Lonnie Walker IV
8 of 11
Position: Forward
Measurements: 6'4", 204 lbs
Age: 25
Most Recent Team: Brooklyn Nets
Last salary: $2.3 million
It's difficult to say why Walker's career hasn't quite popped.
The No. 18 pick in 2018 shot 38.4 percent from three-point range last year on a mediocre Nets team. He helped the Lakers get past Steph Curry and the Warriors in the 2023 playoffs with a 15-point fourth quarter in Game 5, giving L.A. the 3-1 series lead.
Yet he remains unsigned after averaging 9.7 points in 58 games for the Nets. Part of the issue might be durability (he's reached 70 games played just once in 2021-22), or perhaps he's viewed as "just a scorer" who doesn't do enough else, like defend or create for others.
Still, Walker should end up on a team this season, and if so, he'll help win games, albeit inconsistently.
2: Markelle Fultz
9 of 11
Position: Point guard
Measurements: 6'4", 209 lbs
Age: 26
Most Recent Team: Orlando Magic
Last salary: $17 million
Fultz isn't going to get paid as well as he did in Orlando, but he's the best available ball-handling guard. However, the 2017 No. 1 overall pick has struggled to stay healthy throughout most of his career.
He started 60 games for the Magic through the 2022-23 season, but his role diminished this past year. He brings speed and a downhill attack to a team, but his biggest flaw is shooting. Last year, he shot just 22.2 percent from three-point range, and he is at just 27.4 percent for his career.
It's difficult for any team to invest heavily in a non-shooting guard, but Fultz should end up in a rotation, perhaps as a change-of-pace guard off the bench.
1: Isaac Okoro
10 of 11
Position: Forward-Guard
Measurements: 6'5", 225 lbs
Age: 23
Most Recent Team: Cleveland Cavaliers
Last salary: $8.9 million
Nearly every NBA season, one restricted free agent ends up in limbo deep into the summer. This year, that appears to be Okoro, who started 42 games (in 69 appearances) for the Cavaliers in 2023-24.
While he gave his team 9.4 points a game on 39.1 percent shooting over the regular season, he struggled in the playoffs at 5.5 and 25.7 percent, which hasn't helped his negotiating position.
The Cavaliers are about $7.4 million below the NBA's $170.8 million luxury-tax line, and Okoro's qualifying offer of $11.8 million is on the table until October.
He can unilaterally accept that figure, and he might if he and the Cavaliers can't agree on a long-term deal. Otherwise, Okoro would need a team willing to give him an offer sheet (that Cleveland can match) or find a franchise capable of executing a sign-and-trade that the Cavs would find appealing.
Honorable Mention
11 of 11
Not in any specific order, but the list of honorable mentions is broad, including Troy Brown Jr., Reggie Bullock, Danilo Gallinari, Jae Crowder, TJ Warren, Thaddeus Young, Dāvis Bertāns, Robert Covington, Dennis Smith Jr., Wesley Matthews and Javonte Green.
Some still-young players who haven't entirely lived up to their potential but are worth considering include Talen Horton-Tucker (23) and Ömer Yurtseven (26), who most recently played with the Utah Jazz. Landry Shamet and Chimezie Metu are just 27 years old, while Oshae Brissett is 26.
The NBA is better when Boban Marjanović is a part of it. His reputation for being the most joyful player in the league is well-earned.
Finally, Guerschon Yabusele was a problem for Team USA at the Olympics on the France squad, but the former Boston Celtics power forward is under contract with Real Madrid for 2024-25.
Per Marc Stein, the 28-year-old has a $2.5 million buyout that would presumably preclude him from coming over to the NBA at the minimum of $2.1 million (even if the team can pay $850,000 on top of that to Real Madrid). He'd undoubtedly need one of the more significant exceptions (at least the $4.7 million bi-annual) to consider coming over.
Email Eric Pincus at eric.pincus@gmail.com and follow him on X/Twitter @EricPincus.
.jpg?w=600 "Pickens' Trade Ultimatum")
.png?w=600 "2027 NFL Mock Draft 🔮")
