Ranking Top 2026 NBA Free Agents Still Available After James Harden Re-Signs with Cavaliers

The 2026 free-agent period has seen a whirlwind of action so far, with multiple stars changing teams and available players flying off the board.

LeBron Watch 4.0 concluded July 24 when The King said he'd be joining the 76ers.

Jaylen Brown is joining James in Philadelphia, while Kawhi Leonard is headed back to Toronto. And that's just scratching the surface of the market. On the free-agent front, Walker Kessler is headed to the Lakers in a sign-and-trade, as L.A. made a flurry of moves.

The following is a descending ranking, with the top free agents listed at the bottom.

Gabe Vincent

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Team: Atlanta Hawks
2025-26 Salary: $11.5 million
Rights: Full

Vincent is an experienced veteran guard, with a strong playoff resume with the Miami Heat. He spent the last few years with the Los Angeles Lakers as an occasional starter, but was sent to the Atlanta Hawks before the trade deadline.

While he shot a steady 36.9 percent from three-point range for the Lakers, the fit wasn't seamless in Atlanta, where he dropped to 30 percent.

In the right situation, Vincent should be able to help a team that needs veteran bench leadership. At this stage in his career, he may not get more than a minimum contract.

Nicolas Batum

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Team: LA Clippers
2025-26 Salary: $5.6 million
Rights: Early Bird

The Clippers have several questions this offseason. The James Harden and Ivica Zubac trades suggest the franchise is going younger, with players like Darius Garland, restricted free agent Bennedict Mathurin and the No. 5 pick from the Indiana Pacers via the Zubac deal.

Batum is similar to Al Horford. They're seasoned veterans past their primes, but still elite in basketball intelligence with the knack for hitting clutch open shots.

The Clippers declined Batum's $5.9 million team option, per B/R's Jake Fischer, giving them greater cap flexibility and the chance to give his spot to a younger player, but he still holds value in this league for postseason contenders.

Bruce Brown Jr.

AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post

Team: Denver Nuggets
2025-26 Salary: $3.1 million
Rights: Non-Bird

Fit in the NBA can be everything, and Brown fits in Denver. He helped the team win a championship in 2022-23, shooting the second-best three-point percentage in his career (38.5). Returning as a free agent on a minimum contract, Brown is at his best at 38.1 percent from deep.

Not that he takes too many attempts. He knows his role is to play defense, feed off Jokić, and do whatever is needed to get his squad a win. While he's only on a one-year deal, Brown may return to Denver, given his success with the Nuggets.

Nick Richards

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Team: Chicago Bulls
2025-26 Salary: $5 million
Rights: Full

The Bulls picked up Richards from the Phoenix Suns via trade ahead of the deadline, desperate for a starting-capable center. Through 20 games, Richards has thrown his weight around as a physical, old-school big man, averaging 9.4 points and 7.6 rebounds.

Richards may be best as a backup center, but he can fill that starting role for teams in need. Chicago may keep him to play behind Nicolas Claxton, who will be joining the Bulls in trade in early July.

Jonathan Kuminga

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Team: Atlanta Hawks

2025-26 Salary: $23.8 million

Rights: Non-Bird

ESPN is reporting the Atlanta Hawks are declining Jonathan Kuminga's $24.3 million team option, making him a free agent.

Last season, the Golden State Warriors finally traded Kuminga after a lengthy, uncomfortable couple of years. The 23-year-old forward didn't fit with coach Steve Kerr's philosophy. The Hawks took a flier on Kuminga‚ and he enjoyed a late postseason surge against the New York Knicks, but Atlanta didn't see enough value at the $24M price tag.

Bennedict Mathurin

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Team: LA Clippers
2025-26 Salary: $9.2 million
Rights: Full (restricted)

The Indiana Pacers, committed to avoiding the luxury tax as much as possible, chose to trade Mathurin to fill a void at the center position (adding Ivica Zubac in the deal). The Clippers have had an eye on Mathurin for some time, as they need more young, talented players.

Mathurin has found a friendly home with the Clippers, especially when Kawhi Leonard is healthy alongside him. Through 28 games with the Pacers, he averaged 17.8 points a game (37.2 percent from three). With the Clippers, he contributed 17.4 per game (though he's still searching for his three-point shot).

Despite his age, 23, Mathurin has NBA Finals experience, scoring 27 points in Game 3 against the champion Oklahoma City Thunder.

Jalen Duren

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Team: Detroit Pistons
2025-26 Salary: $6.5 million
Rights: Full (restricted)

Along with MVP candidate Cade Cunningham, Duren has emerged over the last two years as a true game-changer in Detroit. He's grown on both sides of the floor, especially defensively on a very stingy Pistons squad.

Named to the All-NBA Third Team and a first-time All-Star, Duren averaged a career high of 19.5 points a game for the best team in the Eastern Conference by record (60-22). He was up and down throughout the playoffs, but Duren should get a sizable raise to stay. If the Pistons aren't willing to max him out, the Lakers have plenty of cap room for an offer sheet.

Honorable Mentions

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Cam Thomas was recently let go by the Brooklyn Nets and Milwaukee Bucks. Jaden Ivey was also waived by the Chicago Bulls. Ben Simmons never found a home during the 2025-26 season. And the Kings have waived DeMar DeRozan.

Others include Brandon Williams, Ochai Agbaji and Aaron Holiday.

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