Ranking Every Team's Top 3 Free Agency Targets After 2025 NBA Draft
With the 2025 NBA draft behind us, free agency is just days away.
Teams and players can agree to contracts beginning Monday at 6:00 p.m. ET, while free agents can already negotiate with their current franchises.
The market isn't star-rich, although there's a ton of starting and rotation talent at nearly every position. Only one team (Brooklyn Nets) projects to have real cap space, although as many as 20 could be eligible to use the $14.1 million non-taxpayer mid-level exception.
Due to the discrepancy in spending power, every team's top free-agent targets will vary based on positional need and money available. In some cases, simply re-signing one's own free agents is going to be the best option.
These are the top three free-agent targets for all 30 NBA teams as well as their cash available to spend.
Note: All salary figures courtesy of Yossi Gozlan's CapSheets.com.
Non-taxpayer mid-level exception = NTP MLE
Taxpayer mid-level exception = TP MLE
Veteran minimum salary = Vet min
Atlanta Hawks
1 of 30
Max Spending Power: $14.1 million NTP MLE
Free Agent Targets:
- Caris LeVert, G/F
- Guerschon Yabusele F/C
- Brook Lopez, C
The Atlanta Hawks' first priority should be to bring back LeVert, as the veteran wing became a reliable scorer off the bench (14.9 points, 3.7 rebounds, 2.9 assists). The Hawks are still $32 million below the luxury-tax line and can re-sign LeVert while still retaining the full non-taxpayer mid-level exception.
Clint Capela and Larry Nance Jr. are both free agents, meaning Atlanta may need more size in its frontcourt alongside Onyeka Okongwu even after trading for Kristaps Porziņģis, given his injury history.
Yabusele was good in his return to the NBA last season, as both he and Lopez can stretch the floor with their outside shooting.
Boston Celtics
2 of 30
Max Spending Power: $5.7 million TP MLE
Free Agent Targets:
- Al Horford, F/C
- Taurean Prince, F
- Tim Hardaway Jr., G/F
Trading Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porziņģis in salary-shedding moves has allowed the Boston Celtics to get below the second apron and unlock the taxpayer mid-level exception, although they won't be able to use all of it given that Boston is just $4.5 million below the line.
Lots of teams will have interest in Horford, who's still playing at a strong level even now at age 39. Re-signing him is extremely important given the Celtics' depleted frontcourt.
Prince played on a discount for the Milwaukee Bucks last year while shooting 43.9 percent from three, and Hardaway may be willing to take a pay cut if it means a big scoring role in Boston with Jayson Tatum likely sidelined for most of the season.
Brooklyn Nets
3 of 30
Max Spending Power: $43.3 million in cap space
Free Agent Targets:
- Cam Thomas, SG
- Jonathan Kuminga, F
- Naz Reid, F/C
The only team likely to have cap space this summer, the Brooklyn Nets can actually get to $63 million in room if they don't keep any cap hold on the books. Brooklyn should continue to use most of this space for salary dumps, however, as 29 other teams will look to them to help facilitate deals.
In terms of actual targets, finding middle ground with Thomas on a new deal is important. The 23-year-old averaged 24.0 points and 3.8 assists per game last season and is the best young player on a roster that's just beginning a rebuild.
Kuminga is also a restricted free agent, although he's unlikely to return to the Golden State Warriors. The two teams could negotiate a deal for Kuminga to sign a modest deal to come to the Nets with some light draft compensation going back to the Warriors so they won't match. Reid is a little old for the rebuild in Brooklyn (26 in August) although the Nets could use him as trade bait later.
Charlotte Hornets
4 of 30
Max Spending Power: $14.1 million NTP MLE
Free Agent Targets:
- Malik Beasley, SG
- Quentin Grimes, SG
- Nickeil Alexander-Walker, G/F
Finding wings who can shoot is important for a Charlotte Hornets team that ranked 28th overall in three-point efficiency (33.9 percent) last season. LaMelo Ball needs more targets to spray the ball out to and keep the floor open.
Beasley made 43.1 percent of his catch-and-shoot threes for the Detroit Pistons last season and would be an ideal starter between Ball and Brandon Miller.
Grimes thrived in a bigger role after a trade to the Philadelphia 76ers (21.9 points, 4.5 assists, 37.3 percent from three), and Alexander-Walker is an underrated 3-and-D wing.
Chicago Bulls
5 of 30
Max Spending Power: $14.1 million NTP MLE
Free Agent Targets:
- Josh Giddey, PG
- Santi Aldama, PF
- Davion Mitchell, G
Giddey was very good in his first season with the Chicago Bulls (14.6 points, 8.1 rebounds, 7.2 assists, 37.8 percent from three) and should secure a long-term deal with the franchise. The Bulls should be negotiating with Giddey now before the Brooklyn Nets can legally extend him an offer sheet.
Aldama, 24, fits this young Bulls frontcourt as a do-it-all power forward, although the Memphis Grizzlies can match any deal he receives.
Stealing Mitchell from the Miami Heat would give the Bulls a quality point-of-attack defender after the team finished tied for 25th in steals per game.
Cleveland Cavaliers
6 of 30
Max Spending Power: $3.6 million vet min
Free Agent Targets:
- Ty Jerome, G
- Spencer Dinwiddie, G
- Larry Nance Jr., F/C
Despite being $13 million into the second apron already, the Cleveland Cavaliers need to invest in Ty Jerome. The Cavs can pay their sixth man up to $14.3 million per season on a new deal (barely passing the non-taxpayer mid-level exception), whereas letting him walk would mean only being able to use the veteran minimum on his replacement.
If the luxury tax penalties are deemed to be too great, Dinwiddie would be a cheaper option who averaged 11.0 points and 4.4 assists for the Dallas Mavericks on a minimum deal last season.
A reunion with Nance as a third big behind Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley makes a lot of sense for both sides as well.
Dallas Mavericks
7 of 30
Max Spending Power: $5.7 million TP MLE
Free Agent Targets:
- Tyus Jones, PG
- Chris Paul, PG
- Russell Westbrook, PG
Positionally, the Dallas Mavericks are stacked in the frontcourt with Anthony Davis, Dereck Lively II, Daniel Gafford and No. 1 overall pick Cooper Flagg. What little money they have to spend in free agency should go to another point guard, one who can run the offense while Irving fully recovers from a torn ACL.
Jones played for the veteran minimum with the Phoenix Suns last season and could at least get a slight increase in pay and a temporary starting job here. Dallas should love to bring in Paul as well, an Olympic teammate of Davis' in 2012.
Westbrook may have a higher ceiling than either point guard although his floor is much lower as well.
Denver Nuggets
8 of 30
Max Spending Power: $5.7 million TP MLE
Free Agent Targets:
- Al Horford, F/C
- Brook Lopez, C
- Bruce Brown, G/F
Finding a reliable backup center for the Denver Nuggets has become a never-ending treasure hunt that will continue this offseason.
An attempt to lure Horford away from the Boston Celtics should be made, as he could play behind Nikola Jokić or alongside the three-time MVP in big lineups. Lopez would be a dream target as well as he nears the end of his career.
A reunion with Brown would make for a neat story. After not being able to afford to retain him following the 2023 title, bringing the veteran wing back now would help balance out the young talent off the bench.
Detroit Pistons
9 of 30
Max Spending Power: $14.1 million NTP MLE
Free Agent Targets:
- Malik Beasley, SG
- Naz Reid, F/C
- Duncan Robinson, G/F
The Detroit Pistons could get up to $16.9 million in cap space, although it would mean releasing cap holds on players like Beasley, Dennis Schröder, Tim Hardaway Jr. and others. The Pistons would be wise to keep the holds, function as an over-the-cap team and still have their full mid-level exception to use.
Detroit should use the exception to try and re-sign Beasley who's coming off one of the best seasons of his career (16.3 points, 3.9 three-pointers per game, 41.6 percent from deep).
If Reid and the Minnesota Timberwolves can't come to terms on a multi-year deal, he'd be an ideal big to plug into the Pistons frontcourt to balance out Jalen Duren. Robinson's shooting (39.3 percent from three) gives Cade Cunningham another target to find.
Golden State Warriors
10 of 30
Max Spending Power: $14.1 million NTP MLE
Free Agent Targets:
- Al Horford, F/C
- Brook Lopez, C
- Ty Jerome, G
The Golden State Warriors don't have a true starting-caliber center and will see Kevon Looney become an unrestricted free agent in July.
As with many other teams, Horford is an ideal target with his veteran leadership, three-point shooting, passing and defense. He'd essentially be guaranteed a starting position alongside Draymond Green and Jimmy Butler in the frontcourt.
Lopez is another potential starter who can protect the rim, and the Warriors should be interested in a reunion with Jerome, who can play alongside or behind Stephen Curry in Steve Kerr's rotation.
Houston Rockets
11 of 30
Max Spending Power: $14.1 million NTP MLE
Free Agent Targets:
- Gary Trent Jr., SG
- Nickeil Alexander-Walker, G/F
- Caris LeVert, G/F
The trade for Kevin Durant shook up the Houston Rockets' free agency wish list, as the team could now use another guard to take the place of Jalen Green.
Trent, 26, averaged 11.1 points and made 41.6 percent of his threes for the Milwaukee Bucks last season while Alexander-Walker helps atone for the loss of Dillon Brooks' defense.
LeVert can fill a number of roles with his three-level scoring and facilitating. He gives good defensive effort and can guard multiple positions.
Indiana Pacers
12 of 30
Max Spending Power: $14.1 million NTP MLE
Free Agent Targets:
- Myles Turner, C
- Tyus Jones, PG
- Malcolm Brogdon, G
A new contract for Myles Turner is going to push the Indiana Pacers into the luxury tax (currently $19.9 million below), although they could always pull off a mid-season trade to try and duck it later. Turner is too important for this team to let go, as this group should be in the championship hunt for the next few years when Tyrese Haliburton returns from a torn Achilles.
Jones is arguably the best pass-first point guard on the market, which is what this team needs more so than a pure scorer. He'd essentially be guaranteed a starting job for the entire regular season.
Both Brogdon and the Pacers should be interested in a reunion now, as the veteran guard averaged 18.9 points, 5.1 rebounds and 6.3 assists for the franchise from 2019 to 2022, leaving for the Boston Celtics in the deal that brought Aaron Nesmith to Indiana.
Los Angeles Clippers
13 of 30
Max Spending Power: $14.1 million NTP MLE
Free Agent Targets:
- James Harden, PG
- Clint Capela, C
- Chris Paul, PG
Harden can become a free agent if he turns down a $36.3 player option, although he's in no danger of going anywhere else. Both parties should want to run things back for another year or two, and we could see the 11-time All-Star signing a nearly identical contract to the one he did last offseason (two years, $68 million with a player option).
Ivica Zubac has quietly become one of the better starting centers in the NBA, but there's no real depth behind him. A veteran like Capela would be useful for 15 to 20 minutes a night in relief with his rebounding and screen setting.
Harden will be 36 in August, so managing his minutes for the postseason is important. A Clippers reunion with Paul would be a nice send-off for his career as he approaches age 40 next season.
Los Angeles Lakers
14 of 30
Max Spending Power: $5.7 million TP MLE
Free Agent Targets:
- LeBron James, F
- Al Horford, F/C
- Brook Lopez, C
Getting a contract settled with James is the first priority, as the 21-time All-Star will need to make a decision on his $52.6 million player option. James will likely opt out and sign a new deal as he can make slightly more next season ($54.1 million) while tacking on another player option and no-trade clause and trade kicker on his deal.
This roster desperately needs a starting-caliber center, although one will be hard to find given the cash available.
Horford and Lopez may be willing to take pay cuts to play with James, Luka Dončić and company for a chance to win a title.
Memphis Grizzlies
15 of 30
Max Spending Power: $14.1 million NTP MLE
Free Agent Targets:
- Santi Aldama, PF
- Caris LeVert, G/F
- Clint Capela, C
Aldama has become too good of a player for the Memphis Grizzlies to let go of in free agency. The 24-year-old averaged a career-high 12.5 points, 6.4 rebounds, 2.9 assists and shot 36.8 percent from three last year, mostly in a bench role.
LeVert would bring a veteran scoring punch on the wing that this team needs after trading Desmond Bane, and Capela could hold down the starting center job while Zach Edey recovers from ankle surgery.
Even after trading Bane, this Grizzlies team should be aggressive in upgrading the roster given the amount of talent still in Memphis.
Miami Heat
16 of 30
Max Spending Power: $14.1 million NTP MLE
Free Agent Targets:
- Davion Mitchell, G
- Tyus Jones, PG
- Kelly Oubre Jr., SF
After an underwhelming start to his career, Mitchell played his best basketball following a trade to the Miami Heat. He was one of the lone bright spots in the team's first-round series against the Cleveland Cavaliers, averaging 15.0 points, 6.3 assists and shooting 50.0 percent from three. His defense helps take pressure off Tyler Herro as well.
There's no true point guard on this roster, creating a need for a player like Jones who averaged 5.3 assists to just 1.1 turnovers a game last season.
Oubre can give this offense a spark from the wing. The 29-year-old has averaged at least 15 points per game or more for seven straight years.
Milwaukee Bucks
17 of 30
Max Spending Power: $14.1 million NTP MLE
Free Agent Targets:
- Tyus Jones, PG
- Malcolm Brogdon, PG
- Bobby Portis, F/C
Damian Lillard is expected to miss most or all of the 2025-26 season with a torn Achilles, meaning this team needs a starting-level point guard if it wants to remain in the East playoff picture.
Jones and Brogdon are both capable of running the offense and getting the ball to Giannis Antetokounmpo on a regular basis while knocking down threes at a high efficiency.
Portis has a $13.4 million player option to make a decision on. If he opts out, Milwaukee should be glad to give the veteran big man a multi-year deal with a pay increase given his rebounding and scoring prowess.
Minnesota Timberwolves
18 of 30
Max Spending Power: $5.7 million TP MLE
Free Agent Targets:
- Julius Randle, PF
- Naz Reid, F/C
- Nickeil Alexander-Walker, G/F
Simply running back the same roster from 2024-25 may not be the most exciting option for Minnesota Timberwolves fans, but with Kevin Durant off the board, it's probably the best.
Both Randle ($30.9 million) and Reid ($15 million) have player options they can pick up and extend off of or opt out and re-sign new deals. Randle could sign a multi-year contract that starts at a lower rate, something in the three-year, $90 million range.
Alexander-Walker is probably the most likely to leave, as the Wolves are only $8.6 million under the second apron. He'll likely be able to sign for more than this given the number of contenders who have the full $14.1 million mid-level exception to use. Minnesota may have to get creative in order to keep the two-way wing.
New Orleans Pelicans
19 of 30
Max Spending Power: $14.1 million NTP MLE
Free Agent Targets:
- Guerschon Yabusele, F/C
- Clint Capela, C
- Chris Paul, PG
The trade that sent CJ McCollum and Kelly Olynyk to the Washington Wizards left the New Orleans Pelicans extremely thin at the center position, the primary area they'll look to fill in free agency.
Yabusele would compete with second-year center Yves Missi for the starting job and Capela would be an ideal mentor for the 21-year-old.
Starting point guard Dejounte Murray will miss the first few months of the season recovering from a torn Achilles, so there's a need for a stop-gap floor general. Bringing Paul back to New Orleans should be a real consideration.
New York Knicks
20 of 30
Max Spending Power: $5.7 million TP MLE
Free Agent Targets:
- Taurean Prince, F
- Luke Kornet, C
- Chris Boucher, F/C
Increasing the team's depth and adding another rim-protector who can play alongside Karl-Anthony Towns should be two main goals for the New York Knicks in free agency.
Prince started 73 games for the Milwaukee Bucks last season and has become one of the best three-point shooters in the NBA.
Kornet is a 7'2" shot-blocker who would help the Knicks' interior defense. Boucher is the smaller, more mobile option who made 36.3 percent of his threes last season.
Oklahoma City Thunder
21 of 30
Max Spending Power: $14.1 million NTP MLE
Free Agent Targets:
- Al Horford, F/C
- Bruce Brown, G/F
- Caris LeVert, G/F
More so than any other team, it's tough to identify what the defending champions actually need. There's plenty of depth, defense and shooting to go around already.
Horford had to play on a bad Oklahoma City Thunder team in 2020-21, so it only seems right he gets a chance to win a title with this version now. Given Chet Holmgren's injury history, he could see steady minutes at times.
Brown and LeVert would add to the wing depth, giving OKC two versatile veterans who can play and defend multiple positions around the existing stars.
Orlando Magic
22 of 30
Max Spending Power: $5.7 million TP MLE
Free Agent Targets:
- Tyus Jones, PG
- Chris Paul, PG
- Malcolm Brogdon, G
The trade for Desmond Bane helps this team's offensive woes but didn't truly solve its biggest issue. The Orlando Magic need a playmaker, someone to run the offense and get easy buckets for others.
This is the ideal landing spot for Jones, who'd likely come off the bench behind Jalen Suggs but still play a big role in the rotation.
Paul still has plenty of court life left after playing all 82 games last season and Brogdon should be thrilled to join a contender once again.
Philadelphia 76ers
23 of 30
Max Spending Power: $14.1 million NTP MLE
Free Agent Targets:
- Quentin Grimes, SG
- Larry Nance Jr. F/C
- Taurean Prince, F
Grimes played himself into a big payday by the end of the season, using an increased role on a tanking Philadelphia 76ers team to average 25.3 points, 5.2 rebounds, 1.8 steals and shoot 37.6 percent from three over his final 20 games.
Nance shot a career-high 44.7 percent from three last season and would give Philly more insurance in the middle behind Joel Embiid.
Prince would provide the Paul George insurance here as a 6'6" forward who can knock down shots.
Phoenix Suns
24 of 30
Max Spending Power: $3.6 million vet min
Free Agent Targets:
- Spencer Dinwiddie, PG
- Tre Jones, PG
- Kevon Looney, C
Following the Kevin Durant trade, the Phoenix Suns have approximately 23 wings and no real answer at point guard. Obviously, some roster balancing needs to happen before the fall.
Still in the second apron, the Suns will need to find some bargains with nothing but veteran minimum contracts to hand out. Dinwiddie played under one with the Dallas Mavericks last year and was well worth his money.
Jones could take over his brother's role last year as the team's starting point guard or play behind a backcourt of Devin Booker and Jalen Green. Looney would be a nice veteran to play behind injury-prone Mark Williams and rookie Khaman Maluach.
Portland Trail Blazers
25 of 30
Max Spending Power: $14.1 million NTP MLE
Free Agent Targets:
- Nickeil Alexander-Walker, G/F
- Bruce Brown, G/F
- Nic Batum, F
Now with Jrue Holiday likely locked in as the starting point guard and with three rotation-caliber centers on the roster, look for the Portland Trail Blazers to target versatile wings in free agency.
Stealing Alexander-Walker from the Minnesota Timberwolves would make an already good defense a step closer to being great. Brown would do the same and averaged 10.8 points, 4.6 rebounds, 2.8 assists and made 44.0 percent of his threes as a starter last season.
Batum spent his first seven years in Portland, although it's already been a decade since he was a Blazer. If he doesn't return to the Los Angeles Clippers, Portland should be interested in a reunion as it looks to make a playoff run in 2025-26.
Sacramento Kings
26 of 30
Max Spending Power: $14.1 million NTP MLE
Free Agent Targets:
- Tyus Jones, PG
- Keon Ellis, SG
- Dorian Finney-Smith, F
He's become a popular name in this activity, as Jones once again should be at the top of a team's wish list. The Sacramento Kings' point guard situation is pretty dire after trading away De'Aaron Fox and Tyrese Haliburton in recent years, with Jones likely looking at a full-time starting job should he sign.
The Kings have a team option on Ellis at a super cheap $2.3 million number. Rather than have him play on this and risk leaving as a free agent next summer, Sacramento should try to work out a long-term deal like the Oklahoma City Thunder did with Isaiah Joe and Aaron Wiggins last year.
Finney-Smith is exactly the type of low-maintenance role player to fit next to guys like Zach LaVine, Domantas Sabonis and DeMar DeRozan. The veteran forward has a player option valued at $15.4 million he needs to make a decision on first.
San Antonio Spurs
27 of 30
Max Spending Power: $14.1 million NTP MLE
Free Agent Targets:
- Malik Beasley, SG
- Guerschon Yabusele, F/C
- Chris Paul, PG
Given the amount of gravitational pull players like Victor Wembanyama and De'Aaron Fox have, the San Antonio Spurs should add some more shooters to the roster who are inevitably going to get open looks. Beasley was terrific for the Detroit Pistons last year in this role (16.3 points, 41.6 percent from three).
Yabusele was a teammate of Wembanyama on the French Olympic team last summer and is versatile to start alongside the former No. 1 overall pick or play minutes behind him at center.
Paul and the Spurs should be interested in running things back one more year, although the veteran would no longer have a starting job with Fox, Stephon Castle and now Dylan Harper all on the roster.
Toronto Raptors
28 of 30
Max Spending Power: $14.1 million NTP MLE
Free Agent Targets:
- Duncan Robinson, F
- Taurean Prince, F
- Luke Kennard, F
The Orlando Magic were the only team to make fewer three-pointers than the Toronto Raptors last season (11.8 per game). Finding players who can space the floor and knock down open shots will be key.
Robinson has an early termination option in his contract, so he could return to the Miami Heat or become an unrestricted free agent. The 31-year-old made 39.3 percent of his threes last season.
Prince (43.9 percent from three) and Kennard (43.3 percent) have been lethal from downtown as well.
Utah Jazz
29 of 30
Max Spending Power: $14.1 million NTP MLE
Free Agent Targets:
- Quentin Grimes, SG
- Santi Aldama, PF
- Jake LaRavia, PF
The Utah Jazz should look to continue to add to their young talent base with some modestly-high upside swings here.
Utah could throw a big offer sheet at Grimes using the full mid-level exception with the hope that the Philadelphia 76ers don't match. Both Collin Sexton and Jordan Clarkson are entering the final year of their contracts.
Aldama brings some stability to the power forward position with Taylor Hendricks battling injuries thus far in his career, and LaRavia is a former first-round pick who shot 42.3 percent from three this past season.
Washington Wizards
30 of 30
Max Spending Power: $14.1 million NTP MLE
Free Agent Targets:
- Jonathan Kuminga, F
- Davion Mitchell, G
- Mo Wagner, F/C
The Wizards should be looking to add young-ish talent at nearly every position at this stage in the rebuild.
The full mid-level exception probably won't be enough to land Kuminga from the Golden State Warriors, although the Dubs could work out a sign-and-trade option to send the former lottery pick to the Washington Wizards. Getting to learn from Khris Middleton would do wonders for his development.
Mitchell gives this backcourt a premier defender who's developed a reliable three-point shot, and Wagner is a former Wizard who's worked his way into becoming one of the better backup bigs in the NBA when healthy.
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