Bargain NBA Free Agents Who Can Still Help Any Team
NBA training camps convene in less than two weeks. Most rosters are overstuffed with prospects hoping to make the franchise, many of whom will end up playing in the G League.
Still, several quality veterans remain available, eager for an opportunity on a minimum contract. A few, such as Jonathan Kuminga and Josh Giddey, are still in the limbo of contract negotiations.
The following is a list of the bargain NBA free agents who can still help any team.
Honorable Mentions
1 of 6
Some players may need to wait for the season to start, as roster spots become available through trades or injuries. The following is a list of players to keep an eye on, though they may choose overseas options (or the G League) if the NBA call doesn't come quickly enough:
- Cody Martin
- Pat Spencer
- Delano Banton
- Torrey Craig
- Jeremiah Robinson-Earl
- Cam Payne
- Cory Joseph
- Chuma Okeke
Locker Room Vets
2 of 6
Not every player on an NBA contract is on the roster to play minutes. Some are experienced (read: older) veterans who are there to help mentor the team's younger prospects and stars. Fans may not understand the value they bring in holding the locker room together and providing private counsel, be it to stars or impressionable, developing players.
There's a reason players like Markieff Morris have stuck around so long, past their primes as rotational contributors. Each earned the minimum $3.3 million with their respective clubs:
- Markieff Morris; last team: Los Angeles Lakers
- DeAndre Jordan; last team: Denver Nuggets
- Taj Gibson; last team: Charlotte Hornets
- Tristan Thompson; last team: Cleveland Cavaliers
Any team with an open roster spot would benefit.
4. Delon Wright
3 of 6
Last Team: New York Knicks
2024-25 Salary: $3 million
Rights: Non-Bird
Delon Wright has played for a third of the league, bouncing around most of his career after his initial run with the Toronto Raptors. He's only reached a double-digit scoring average once. He's rarely been considered much of a shooter.
Still, his longevity stems from his willingness to play defense at the point guard position. Wright, at 33, can still eat up minutes as a bench player. He's ideally third in the rotation, playing spot minutes—or called in for defensive purposes against a hot opposing guard.
3. Alec Burks
4 of 6
Last Team: Miami Heat
2024-25 Salary: $3.3 million
Rights: Non-Bird
Alec Burks, 34, is a multipositional wing. He's not a point guard, but he's handled minutes there as well. Where he stands out among this group is as a shooter. Through 49 games last season with the Heat, Burks shot 42.5 percent from three-point range.
He's at 38.6 percent over his 14-year career and was a double-digit scorer a couple of seasons ago (10.4 points per game through 2023-24). The 6'6" Burks is also a willing defender with good size.
For about 15 minutes a game off the bench, Burks can still contribute.
2. Precious Achiuwa
5 of 6
Last Team: New York Knicks
2024-25 Salary: $6 million
Rights: Full Bird
After playing a bit part for the Knicks, Precious Achiuwa has been linked to the Miami Heat this offseason. He's still young at 26, has bouncy legs and isn't afraid of physical play. The knock is that he's positionally a 6'8" center—not quite big enough while lacking an outside shot to punish larger opponents.
Achiuwa's three-point shooting peaked in 2021-22 with the Toronto Raptors, hitting 35.9 percent on 2.1 attempts. His volume and efficiency have only diminished. But for a team that needs a physical, mobile big who isn't spreading the floor, Achiuwa is a solid option.
1. Thomas Bryant
6 of 6
Last Team: Indiana Pacers
2024-25 Salary: $2.8 million
Rights: Non-Bird
It's only been a few months since Thomas Bryant was knocking down threes to help down the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference Finals. His 11 points in 13 minutes in Game 6 propelled the Pacers to the NBA Finals.
The loss of Tyrese Halliburton to an Achilles injury sent Indiana in a different direction, leaving Bryant without a home. While the 28-year-old's not known to be a defensive anchor, he's a credible offensive threat and floor spacer off the bench.
Email Eric Pincus at eric.pincus@gmail.com and follow him on X @EricPincus and Bluesky.
