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Ranking the Top Players Available In 2026 NBA Free Agency
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.
Jaylen Brown is a Sixer, while Kawhi Leonard headed back to The Six. And that's just scratching the surface of the trade 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 last week.
As for who's left, the league is on LeBron Watch 4.0 after a bombshell from The King himself. LeBron James' agent, Rich Paul, told ESPN's Shams Charania that his client will move on from the Lakers in free agency.
The following is a descending ranking, with the top free agents listed at the bottom.
Gabe Vincent
1 of 15
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.
Matisse Thybulle
2 of 15
Team: Portland Trail Blazers
2025-26 Salary: $11.2 million
Rights: Full
Thybulle was drafted at No. 20 for the Philadelphia 76ers (by the Boston Celtics) for his skills on the defensive end of the floor. That's remained his calling card, when healthy, but his outside shot has come and gone.
He struggled to stay on the court this past season, but through 30 games, he hit a strong 39.8 percent from three-point range. While the Blazers aren't likely to pay him as well, he could return. If not, another team hungry for 3-and-D will give him a look.
Gary Payton II
3 of 15
Team: Golden State Warriors
2025-26 Salary: $3.3 million
Rights: Full
It's difficult to imagine Steph Curry's Warriors without Draymond Green and coach Steve Kerr. Similarly, the team just seems better with Payton providing perimeter defense, making back-cuts to the basket, and even hitting an occasional three-point shot.
The Warriors and Kerr decided to continue the relationship; a Curry extension seems inevitable, and while losing Payton wouldn't be as odd to adjust to as Klay Thompson moving on, pencil Payton back in with Golden State.
The team probably can't afford more than a minimum deal, but he should be comfortable sticking at that price. If not, he will earn some interest from others who need his defensive pedigree.
Nicolas Batum
4 of 15
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.
Russell Westbrook
5 of 15
Team: Sacramento Kings
2025-26 Salary: $3.6 million
Rights: Non-Bird
It's been a brutal year for the Kings, and Westbrook might be the face of a downtrodden franchise right now—but Sacramento has been continuously bad for a couple of decades (much longer than Westbrook's lone season).
While his style of play isn't for everyone, Westbrook still averaged 15.2 points and 6.7 assists a game last season. He could find a new home and continue into a 19th season.
Bruce Brown Jr.
6 of 15
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
7 of 15
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.
Draymond Green
8 of 15
Team: Golden State Warriors
2025-26 Salary: $25.9 million
Rights: Full
With age, Green has slowed. Steph Curry has one year left on his deal with the Warriors, and Green could just call it a career—or re-sign for as long as Curry chooses to play, assuming the Warriors will have him.
Or—since ESPN's Charania reported the veteran will decline his $27.7 million player option to become a free agent—Green could opt out to explore other options.
A team with postseason aspirations could use a player of Green's caliber, though he'll struggle to find the same salary as his option.
Jonathan Kuminga
9 of 15
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
10 of 15
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.
Peyton Watson
11 of 15
Team: Denver Nuggets
2025-26 Salary: $4.4 million
Rights: Full (restricted)
Watson helped carry the Nuggets when Nikola Jokić was sidelined for 16 games with a knee injury.
Through 15 games in January, Watson averaged 21.9 points per game and shot 46.2 percent from three-point range, compared to 14.9 points and 41.7 percent from three on the season.
Unfortunately, Watson missed time with a hamstring strain and wasn't able to play through Denver's first-round loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves. In a way, Watson's absence, tied to the Nuggets' short postseason, illustrated how valuable he is to the franchise. Denver has the power to keep the 23-year-old wing, but will another team issue a massive offer sheet to test the Nuggets' mettle?
The expectation is Denver finds a new home for Cam Johnson to make room for Watson.
James Harden
12 of 15
Team: Cleveland Cavaliers
2025-26 Salary: $39.4 million
Rights: Non-Bird
The Cavaliers acquired Harden from the LA Clippers knowing the former NBA MVP had the option to explore unrestricted free agency in July. Harden also had to approve the deal, which meant he lost his full rights (traded after re-signing for one year with the Clippers).
Fast forward to late June, and ESPN's Charania is reporting Harden is turning down his $42.3 million player option. The sides are reportedly working on a multiyear agreement to keep him in Cleveland.
While it's easy to denigrate Harden and the Cavaliers' struggles against the New York Knicks, the trade galvanized the team through the regular season and led to the first conference finals berth since LeBron James was in Cleveland.
Jalen Duren
13 of 15
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.
LeBron James
14 of 15
Team: Los Angeles Lakers
2025-26 Salary: $52.6 million
Rights: Full
Out of respect for James' career and his stature as one of the NBA's legendary stars, the 41-year-old free agent tops the list despite his age. That, and he's been incredible in the postseason for the Lakers.
James' agent, Rich Paul, has announced the veteran's intention to play next season and informed the Lakers he will move on to another organization in free agency, per ESPN's Charania.
Perhaps he will look to join a star-laden team such as the Golden State Warriors with Steph Curry or the New York Knicks with Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns.
Few options will have the power to pay James close to what he earned with the Lakers this past year. To chase what could be his final NBA season, he faces a significant pay cut.
Honorable Mentions
15 of 15
Cam Thomas was recently let go by the Brooklyn Nets and Milwaukee Bucks. So too was Jaden Ivey by the Chicago Bulls and Cole Anthony by the Phoenix Suns. Ben Simmons never found a home through the 2025-26 season.
Bradley Beal has opted out of his final year with the LA Clippers, while the Kings have waived DeMar DeRozan.
Others include Brandon Williams, Ochai Agbaji, Jeremy Sochan, AJ Lawson and Aaron Holiday.
Email Eric Pincus at eric.pincus@gmail.com and follow him on X/Twitter @EricPincus.
