Checking In On Top Remaining NBA Free Agents

A handful of this year’s top free agents came off the board during the exclusive window for teams to negotiate with their own players between the end of the NBA Finals and the official start of free agency on June 30. Many more have reached deals with their own teams or new clubs since Sunday at 5:00 pm CT.

But there are still many starter- and rotation-caliber players left unsigned — only 33 of our top 50 free agents have reached contract agreements so far, leaving 17 up for grabs. Here are those players who don’t yet have new deals in place:

4. LeBron James, F
6. DeMar DeRozan, F
12. Miles Bridges, F
15. Tyus Jones, G
18. Gary Trent Jr., G
20. Isaac Okoro, F (Cavaliers RFA)
21. Caleb Martin, F
24. Buddy Hield, G
26. Simone Fontecchio, F (Pistons RFA)
29. Luke Kennard, G
34. Malik Beasley, G/F
36. Haywood Highsmith, G/F
37. Precious Achiuwa, F/C
43. Markelle Fultz, G
45. Saddiq Bey, F
46. Cedi Osman, F
49. Gordon Hayward, F

Now, this isn’t 2010, 2014, or 2018. No one expects James to leave Los Angeles. It’s presumably just a matter of time until he and the Lakers agree to terms on either a new maximum-salary contract or something below that, if it helps L.A. acquire an impact player.

But even if we take the four-time MVP off this list, there are some intriguing names here, starting with DeRozan, a player believed to be the only free agent still available whom LeBron would take a pay cut to accommodate. As we relayed on Tuesday, the Lakers have interest in DeRozan, as do the Heat, but Miami can’t offer more than the taxpayer mid-level exception ($5.2MM) and L.A. would almost certainly have to move at least one eight-figure contract to make a competitive offer for the star forward.

There’s reportedly some mutual interest between the Clippers and Bridges, though that interest may be stronger from the player’s side than the team’s. Jones, meanwhile, is said to be seeking starter-level money, with a sign-and-trade considered a possibility, but we haven’t really heard much about which teams are involved for the steady veteran point guard.

It’s interesting that Trent, Hield, Kennard, and Beasley are among the top free agents without a deal. All four provide valuable floor-spacing on offense, but aren’t elite defenders. Teams may be wary about investing big money in outside shooters who could be targeted (especially in the postseason) on the other end of the court. The Warriors are reportedly discussing a potential sign-and-trade deal for Hield, while Kennard is considered likely to return to the Grizzlies.

As long as there’s no team pursuing an offer sheet for Okoro or Fontecchio, the Cavaliers and Pistons can afford to be patient in those negotiations, since they have most of the leverage over their respective restricted free agents. The Knicks and Hawks don’t have the same leverage with Achiuwa and Bey after declining to issue them qualifying offers, but even as unrestricted free agents, both players appear open to re-signing with their previous teams.

I’m a little surprised that neither Martin nor Highsmith has come off the board yet. The longer the stay out there, the more the door cracks open for a possible return to the Heat, though that’s considered more plausible for Highsmith than Martin.

As for Fultz, Osman, and Hayward, the rumor mill has been pretty quiet on those players so far.

One factor that’ll make it more difficult for all of these players to get favorable contracts? Keith Smith of Spotrac tweeted on Tuesday morning that the Jazz, Pistons, Magic, and Sixers were the only teams with cap room remaining, and Orlando has since used most or all of that leftover space by agreeing to re-sign Moritz Wagner and agreeing to renegotiate Jonathan Isaac‘s contract to give him a pay raise for 2024/25.

Utah and Detroit could still add another free agent or two, but it may be prudent for them to keep much of their cap room open for now in order to be able to jump into trade talks as a third team willing to take on salary that comes with assets attached. Philadelphia is also a possible landing spot for some of these free agents, but the 76ers also seem to be exploring ways to use their remaining cap room on the trade market, with Dorian Finney-Smith mentioned on Tuesday as one potential target.

If they can’t land a deal from one of those cap-room teams, many of the best free agents left on the board will have to find a team willing to hard-cap itself at the first tax apron by acquiring them via sign-and-trade or by signing them using more than the taxpayer portion of the mid-level exception. That may not be easy, and could result in some of the players on the back end of our top 50 ultimately settling for the minimum or something close to it.

All of the free agent deals agreed upon so far can be found within our 2024 free agent tracker. The full list of free agents still available can be found right here (or here, if you prefer to sort by team rather than by position/type).