The first two weeks of 2026 NBA free agency have already changed almost every part of the league. Kawhi Leonard returned to the Raptors, Walker Kessler landed with the Lakers through a sign-and-trade, Trae Young secured a four-year deal with the Wizards, and several contenders completely changed their rotations through trades instead of waiting for the open market to solve everything. The offseason hasn’t lacked major movement, even if many of the biggest deals technically came outside normal free-agent signings.
The Lakers also committed four years and $180.0 million to Austin Reaves, while teams around the league quickly found deals for proven contributors such as Norman Powell, John Collins, Nikola Vucevic, Mitchell Robinson and Kristaps Porzingis. Most of the obvious starters and high-level role players disappeared during the opening wave, leaving a much smaller market than the one teams were looking at on June 30.
Still, some of the most talented players from the original class haven’t signed. LeBron James continues to control the biggest decision of the offseason, James Harden remains connected to a Cavaliers return, and Draymond Green is expected to work toward another deal with the Warriors. Restricted free agents such as Jalen Duren, Peyton Watson and Bennedict Mathurin are also stuck in different negotiations because their current teams can match outside offers, while the limited cap space around the league makes it difficult for another franchise to apply serious pressure.
That creates a very strange second stage of free agency. The huge spending is mostly finished, but the available group still includes former MVPs, All-Stars, young restricted free agents, and several veterans who can help a playoff rotation immediately. Some are waiting for one major decision to unlock the market, others need to lower their salary expectations, and a few may have to accept minimum contracts after entering the offseason expecting much more.
Here are the 10 best NBA free agents still available.
10. Bruce Brown Jr.
Few players on this list do more with less than Bruce Brown Jr. He showed up for all 82 games with the Nuggets last season, putting up 7.9 points, 3.9 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and a steal per night in 24 minutes while shooting 47.5% from the field and a respectable 38.5% from three. Nothing jumps off the page, but that’s exactly why he stays useful.
The Lakers have been gaining traction as a real landing spot, especially if the Jonathan Kuminga pursuit goes nowhere. Jake Fischer and Marc Stein have both flagged him as a logical fallback in Los Angeles, and it makes perfect sense on the court. With Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves running the show, Brown wouldn’t have to create much. He could defend, find seams behind help defenders glued to Luka, and bring veteran playoff poise off the bench.
As Jake Fischer reported: “There’s definitely Lakers interest in Kuminga too. If that pursuit falls through due to contract demands, Bruce Brown has emerged as the top fallback option for Los Angeles.”
At 29 and without one elite skill, it’s no shock he’s still unsigned. Teams pinching pennies often chase younger upside instead. Still, he’s already helped win a title and doesn’t need a perfect system to contribute. Any contender hunting 20 solid bench minutes should be all over him. He might not be the sexiest name left, but he’s one of the safest.
9. Russell Westbrook
Even at 37, Russell Westbrook is putting up numbers that most guards his age can only dream about. Last season, he dropped 15.2 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 6.7 assists in 64 games, shooting 42.7% from the field, 33.8% from three, and 69.4% at the line. He can still create, get to the paint, and lift second units when the ball is in his hands.
The catch has never changed. He needs touches to be effective, and that creates real trade-offs. Stand him in the corner, and defenses ignore him. Give him the keys, and you live with turnovers, tough shots, and occasional chaos. That package was easier to swallow in his prime. Now it’s a heavier lift for teams chasing rings.
His market has been dead quiet. He wants to stay in the NBA, but serious suitors haven’t exactly lined up. Per Stefan Bondy of the New York Post, Westbrook is a candidate to join the Heat, but not if LeBron signs in Miami, as Washington has also been connected to him.
There’s still a role for him if a team gets the usage right. He can push tempo, create for others, and inject energy on any given night. Durability isn’t even a huge issue after 64 games last year. The problem is fit. Most contenders already have their lead guards and want bench guys who shoot, defend, and stay off the ball. Westbrook doesn’t check those boxes easily anymore. That’s why he lands here despite the production.
8. Jonathan Kuminga
At 23 years old with the physical tools of a future starter, Jonathan Kuminga should be one of the more exciting names still out there. Yet last season was messy. He averaged just 12.2 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 2.3 assists in 36 games while shooting 46.3% from the field and 33.3% from three after bouncing between the Warriors and Hawks.
The year started with a trade request out of Golden State. Atlanta got him in the Porzingis deal but declined his team option, leaving him unrestricted. He showed flashes in limited time with the Hawks and even stepped up a bit in the playoffs with 13.7 points per game against the Knicks.
The Lakers have pushed for Kuminga, while the Cavaliers have also remained connected to him. According to Fischer, his market is currently on hold while teams wait for LeBron to decide his future. Kuminga could have reportedly signed with the Lakers already, but his camp hasn’t been satisfied with the role or money available.
Kuminga still carries himself like a high-usage starter who deserves a big payday, while the league sees a freak athlete still figuring out consistency. The jumper isn’t reliable, defense comes and goes, and his best work happens with the ball.
The upside is undeniable. He can bully slower forwards, finish through contact, and guard multiple spots when locked in. A rebuilding team could bet on him developing into something special. For a contender, though, he requires minutes, patience, and possessions that aren’t always available. That makes him one of the toughest evaluations left.
7. Draymond Green
Pretty much everyone expects Draymond Green to be back with the Warriors, even after declining his $27.7 million player option. It felt more like a move designed to give Golden State flexibility as they chase LeBron and sort out the rest of the roster than a real free agency test.
Last season, he put up 8.4 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 5.5 assists in 68 games. The scoring keeps dropping, but nobody has ever judged Draymond by points. His impact comes from elite defense, playmaking, screening, and running the offense on the floor.
Even at 36, he’s still one of the sharpest defenders alive. He sees plays before they happen, switches everywhere, and anchors small lineups. Offensively, he creates advantages with handoffs and short rolls, especially when Curry is spacing the floor.
For any other team, the concerns are real. Without Curry, his offensive limits are exposed, and his personality isn’t the easiest to adapt to a new culture. Any new home would need shooting around him and strong leadership to handle the emotional side.
There’s also been zero indication he actually wants out. He’s been helping recruit LeBron alongside Curry and recently made his own pitch after hanging with James. That doesn’t scream “new chapter.”
He lands here because he’s still a better playoff piece than plenty of guys ranked above him. In the end, his market is probably just one team. Barring a surprise collapse in talks, expect him back in the Bay chasing another title next to Steph.
6. DeMar DeRozan
DeMar DeRozan hitting the open market after the Kings released him caught people off guard. The 37-year-old still put up 18.4 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 4.1 assists in 77 games while shooting nearly 50% from the field and 86.8% from the line. He’s not the volume scorer he once was, but that mid-range efficiency still matters.
He can create good shots with footwork and patience, and few players draw fouls better in the half-court. For teams that go stagnant in slow playoff possessions, that skill is worth real money.
The fit is the tricky part. He doesn’t stretch the floor much, defense has slipped, and he needs touches to be effective. Teams overloaded with creators might struggle to feed him enough. He also shouldn’t be asked to chase elite wings around the perimeter anymore.
Golden State and the Clippers have been mentioned, along with Toronto, Miami, and other veteran groups. Money is likely slowing things down. He can still produce like a starter, but most big cap space is already gone. His next deal could be smaller than the numbers suggest.
The sweet spot is probably a contender that needs a sixth man surrounded by shooting and defense. Let him cook second units and close out games. Asking him to carry the whole offense at this stage would be asking too much.
5. Bennedict Mathurin
Young scoring wings who can put up real numbers don’t usually sit unsigned this long, which is why Bennedict Mathurin stands out. At 24, he averaged 17.6 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 2.4 assists last season while getting to the line at a high rate and shooting 86.9% from the free-throw line.
He started the year in Indiana before landing with the Clippers in the Zubac deal. Los Angeles gave him a qualifying offer, so they hold matching rights, and that has cooled the market.
His calling card is attacking. He’s physical, fearless at the rim, and the free-throw numbers suggest the jumper could keep improving even if it’s not there yet. The questions are real, too. He can get stuck on the ball, defensive effort varies night to night, and playmaking is still a work in progress. A big contract would be a bet on continued growth.
The Clippers reportedly want to keep him, especially after beginning a younger phase following the Kawhi Leonard trade. They have also shown interest in Peyton Watson, but recent reporting suggested there was an increasing possibility they would focus on retaining Mathurin instead.
He ranks this high because of the upside. Sign him now, and you could still have a 27-year-old scorer at the end of the deal. That kind of youth with production is rare this late in free agency.
4. Peyton Watson
Peyton Watson finally broke out before a hamstring issue slowed him. In 54 games, he averaged 14.6 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 2.1 assists while shooting 49.1% from the field and a very encouraging 41.1% from three. For a 6-8 forward already known for defense, that shooting changed the conversation.
Denver tendered him a qualifying offer, so he’s restricted, and the Nuggets are expected to match, although there have been talks recently about a potential sign-and-trade if things go south.
The Hawks, Clippers, and Bucks have shown interest, as Milwaukee has been the latest team to be linked with the small forward, per Marc Stein. Los Angeles needs two-way wings in their reset, while Milwaukee could offer a bigger role in their post-Giannis rebuild.
The appeal is obvious. He switches across positions, helps at the rim, and runs the floor. If the three-point shooting sticks, defenses can’t sag off him anymore.
Injuries and limited sample size are the risks. He’s never played a full season, and decision-making on offense is still basic. Paying him big money is betting heavily on that one strong shooting year.
3. James Harden
James Harden keeps showing he belongs among the best offensive guards in the league, even at 36. Splitting time between the Clippers and Cavaliers, he averaged 23.6 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 8.0 assists while shooting 37.5% from three and 88.4% from the line.
He turned down a big player option to give the Cavaliers more flexibility in a potential LeBron reunion, but this doesn’t feel like a wide-open process. Cleveland and Harden are working on a new multiyear deal, with timing tied to the LeBron pursuit and salary complications.
The fit with Donovan Mitchell clicked. Harden can orchestrate, create for the centers, and let Mitchell hunt more as a scorer. Reaching the Eastern Conference Finals gave them no reason to blow it up. Age, playoff efficiency, and money are the hurdles. Regular-season dominance is still there, but postseason dips make long, expensive deals risky for a roster already carrying big contracts.
A longer deal with a lower annual number could solve it for both sides. Harden gets security and another title shot; Cleveland keeps flexibility. While anyone can technically call, the Cavaliers look like the clear best fit. He ranks third because the production is still elite, even if the destination feels pretty predictable.
2. Jalen Duren
Few young big men impact the game like Jalen Duren. The 22-year-old averaged 19.5 points and 10.5 rebounds in 70 games last season, shooting a ridiculous 65.0% from the field while helping Detroit go 60-22 and earning All-NBA recognition.
He’s restricted after the qualifying offer, and the big sticking point is money. His camp wants north of $40 million a year; the Pistons prefer closer to $30 million or a shorter structure.
The case for paying him is easy. He dominates the interior, owns the glass, and has great chemistry with Cade Cunningham. Improved free-throw shooting helps him stay on the floor late. The risk is the modern center profile and his 10.2-point playoff sample. No threes, limited creation, and questions defending in space make the big number scary unless he becomes an elite protector.
Not many teams have the space for a max offer sheet, so Detroit can play the waiting game. Duren knows signing the QO buys him unrestricted status next year, but this was his golden chance for a huge deal with All-Star and All-NBA bonuses triggered after the season.
He sits second because of the age, production, and ceiling. LeBron is still the King, but nobody else combines proven output with this much long-term potential.
1. LeBron James
No one else on the board moves the needle like LeBron James, even after 23 seasons. He averaged 20.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 7.2 assists in 60 games while still looking like an elite passer and playoff creator.
James informed the Lakers that he would play for another team in 2026-27, ending his eight-season run with the franchise. Since then, Cleveland and Golden State have emerged as the strongest options, while Miami, Philadelphia, Denver, and Minnesota have also been connected at different stages.
The decision appears to be in its final phase. Rich Paul reportedly told Chris Haynes that James has received all the information he needs and is now ‘deliberating’. Recent reports have narrowed the race mainly toward the Cavaliers and Warriors, although no final agreement has been reached.
Cleveland means the homecoming and a strong defensive group around him. Golden State means teaming up with Curry and Green, something both sides have been pushing publicly and privately.
At 41, he can’t carry 38 minutes a night anymore. The smart move is conserving him for when it matters most. Nobody left shifts the title picture the way he does. That’s why, even this late, LeBron remains the free agent every real contender is waiting on.
