Chris Paul, Russell Westbrook, Top Remaining NBA Free Agents After Smart to Lakers
A top trade candidate this offseason came off the board on Saturday when the Los Angeles Lakers agreed to sign former Defensive Player of the Year Marcus Smart to a two-year, $11 million deal following his buyout by the Washington Wizards, according to ESPN's Shams Charania.
The Lakers might not be done making moves after signing Smart, given that they are over the luxury tax line and have Shake Milton's $3 million salary set to become guaranteed on Sunday, per ESPN's Bobby Marks.
With the Lakers working out how to finalize their own roster, other NBA teams will turn their attention to some of the top free agents still available this summer.
Here's a look at some of the biggest names left on the board after the Lakers signed Smart.
Russell Westbrook (UFA)
Westbrook was an effective contributor mostly off the bench with the Denver Nuggets last season, where he averaged 13.3 points on 44.9 percent shooting from the field and 32.3 shooting from deep before opting out of his $3.4 million player option for 2025-26. NBA insider Jake Fischer said earlier this month that the Nuggets, Sacramento Kings and New York Knicks had been interested in Westbrook, although the Kings have since acquired Dennis Schröder and the Knicks have since signed Jordan Clarkson. A team in need of guard depth could turn to him as a veteran option next season.
Chris Paul (UFA)
Paul is coming off the first 82-game season of his career, during which he averaged 8.8 points and 7.4 points for the San Antonio Spurs. NBA insider Marc Stein reported that the Spurs adding Dylan Harper to join De'Aaron Fox and Stephon Castle on the depth chart likely means Paul is leaving San Antonio, and that the veteran would prefer to play for a team close to his home of Los Angeles. The Clippers could consider pursuing him as depth behind James Harden and Bradley Beal.
Al Horford (UFA)
Horford, 39, remained an effective center option for the Boston Celtics as he moved between the bench and filling in for Kristaps Porziņģis' starting spot while averaging nine points, 6.2 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game last season. Salary cap limitations could mean the Celtics are forced to move on from the big man this summer. Fischer said earlier this week on a Bleacher Report livestream that Horford is expected to join the Golden State Warriors, where he could replace outgoing free agent Kevon Looney in the starting lineup alongside Draymond Green.
Ben Simmons (UFA)
Simmons split the 2024-25 campaign between the Brooklyn Nets and the Clippers as the injury struggles that have plagued him throughout his career continued. He averaged 6.2 points in 33 games with the Nets, although his production and playing time dropped as he struggled to find a spot in the Clippers rotation. Fischer said on a recent Bleacher Report livestream that the Kings and Knicks, who have both already addressed the guard position by adding Schröder and Clarkson, respectively, are considering Simmons as a depth option.
Josh Giddey (RFA)
Giddey averaged 14.6 points, 8.1 rebounds and 7.2 assists per game during his contract year and first season with the Chicago Bulls. Despite that productive season, contract talks between him and the Bulls have stalled this offseason amid numerous reports that Giddey is seeking a contract in the range of $30 million per year. If he is unable to work out a contract with the Bulls, his sign-and-trade destinations could be limited by his asking price.
Quentin Grimes (RFA)
Grimes enjoyed a breakout campaign with the Philadelphia 76ers, where he stepped up amid injuries to Tyrese Maxey and Jared McCain to average 21.9 points and 5.2 rebounds through 28 games following his midseason trade by the Dallas Mavericks. The Sixers may need to decide whether to pay Grimes based on the relatively small sample size of his output in Philadelphia or consider the 8.5 points per game he averaged during the three seasons leading up to the 2024-25 campaign.
Jonathan Kuminga (RFA)
Kuminga is seeking a contract in the range of $25 million per year after averaging 15.3 points, 4.6 rebounds and 2.2 assists for the Golden State Warriors last season, per Fischer. The NBA insider noted that the Warriors are reluctant to meet that asking price but also want "some level of first-round draft compensation" if agreeing to a trade. Given that Kuminga's playing time has been limited throughout his career in Golden State, another team could decide to take the swing if they have a high opinion of the 22-year-old forward's ceiling. Fischer noted that Phoenix Suns are interested but might not be able to meet the Warriors' asking price. He also added on a recent Bleacher Report livestream that the Chicago Bulls had explored a sign-and-trade for Kuminga in exchange for Lonzo Ball, who was ultimately dealt to the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Cam Thomas (RFA)
Thomas was limited to just 25 games with the Brooklyn Nets last season due to a lingering hamstring injury, but when available averaged career highs in every offensive category with 24.0 points, 3.3 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game. He has expressed that he hopes to return to Brooklyn next season, but the New York Post's Brian Lewis reported on Thursday that team and player "are in no hurry" to sign a new contract.
Malcolm Brogdon (UFA)
Brogdon was limited to 24 games with the Washington Wizards last season, but when available remained an effective playmaker while averaging 12.7 points and 4.1 assists in 23.5 minutes per game. Fischer, who previously reported the Wizards are open to considering a sign-and-trade for Brogdon, recently said on a Bleacher Report livestream that the Kings, Warriors, Minnesota Timberwolves and New Orleans Pelicans have interest in adding the veteran guard.
Seth Curry (UFA)
Curry hit free agency ahead of his age-35 season after averaging 6.5 points and 1.7 rebounds through 68 games largely as a bench option for the Charlotte Hornets. Curry told NBC Sports Bay Area's Monte Poole earlier this month that he would "love" to return to Charlotte, "but that's a young team, them doing what they are doing." The Warriors, who already employ Curry's brother Steph Curry, could consider adding him amid their search for shooting after watching the veteran hit a career-high 45.6 percent of his shots from behind the line last season.
Teams will look to finalize their roster before training camps begin in September. Free agency restrictions start kicking in when the offseason ends on Oct. 20, which is the final day teams can sign-and-trade free agents.
