The 25 Best NBA Free Agents Still Available, Plus Top Landing Spots

Most of this NBA offseason’s biggest dominos have already fallen, but there are still plenty of potential difference-making free agents on the market.

Whether you need playmaking, shooting or versatility, there are players who are available and should be willing to accept minimum contracts or cap exceptions who can help.

The 25 best—based on age, upside, recent performance and plenty of subjectivity—can be found below.

But that’s not all. A good fit for each of the players in today’s exercise also follows, but those will be limited to, well, reality. There’s only a certain amount of roster spots and spending power left in the league, and that has to be considered when identifying these landing spots.

You may see a few teams come up more than once. That’s simply because they have the spots and flexibility to consider multiple options, while several other teams are essentially done for the summer.

Some text below has been repurposed from our last free-agency rankings.

Lamar Stevens is 6’6″, plenty switchable on the less glamorous end of the floor and has had above-average marks in defensive estimated plus-minus in each of the last two seasons.

If he figures out how to be even an average outside shooter, he could be a solid rotation player.

The Golden State Warriors are a team that could add him as an end-of-bench wing, especially if they have to trade a few 2s and 3s in a deal for a second option such as Lauri Markkanen.

He’s certainly past his prime, but 33-year-old Tristan Thompson may be younger than some realize. And last season, he played a real role with the Cleveland Cavaliers.

A team in need of a third-string center or some help on the boards could give him a look.

And after losing Jalen Smith in free agency, the Indiana Pacers might fit that description. Last season, they were 28th in rebounds per game, despite finishing second in pace.

Danilo Gallinari turns 36 in August. If he gets another NBA contract this summer, it might be his last.

But in the right role, his moneyball offensive approach could boost a team’s second unit. For his career, Gallinari has averaged 6.4 three-point attempts and 5.9 free-throw attempts per 75 possessions, and his 2023-24 marks weren’t far behind those.

After losing Sasha Vezenkov, Davion Mitchell, Harrison Barnes and Chris Duarte in separate deals, the Sacramento Kings may be a team that could use Gallinari’s skills and experience off the bench.

His banishment from the Knicks’ rotation and eventual jettison to the Detroit Pistons likely did a number on Evan Fournier’s value, but he’s still only 31 years old. And the last time he was a starter, back in 2021-22, he averaged 14.1 points and shot 38.9 percent from three. That really wasn’t that long ago.

And while it may be easy to imagine a jump to the EuroLeague, according to longtime reporter Marc Stein, “league sources say Fournier prefers to try to continue his NBA career.”

One of his former teams, the Orlando Magic, could use his three-point shooting off the bench, especially if he’s willing to provide it on a veteran minimum contract.

Like Fournier, Robert Covington found himself essentially bumped from his team’s rotation in 2023-24, but the 33-year-old should have some years left as a useful three-and-D forward.

Even in a more limited role over the last four seasons, he has averaged 5.1 rebounds, 1.5 threes, 1.3 steals and 1.0 blocks in just 25.0 minutes, while shooting 37.9 percent from three.

His most recent team, the Philadelphia 76ers, could use his size and versatility at the 4 now more than it did in 2023-24. Philly has dramatically overhauled its roster, but power forward remains a position of need.

Over the last five seasons, longtime backup guard Cameron Payne has averaged 9.1 points and 3.7 assists in 19.1 minutes, while shooting 38.6 percent from deep.

A team in need of a little offensive pop off the bench could use him.

One of Payne’s former teams, the Milwaukee Bucks, could use a little insurance at that spot, since the backup 1 they signed this summer (Delon Wright) has long struggled with durability.

He wasn’t exactly a regular in the Denver Nuggets’ rotation this past season, but he always played hard and didn’t venture outside his role when called upon.

Holiday shot 40.4 percent from deep in 2023-24, and he remains a solid wing defender against opposing backups.

He’s another good option for the 76ers, who still have six open roster spots and a need for depth just about everywhere. For teams in that situation, it’s hard to have too many wings.

In his first season away from the Cleveland Cavaliers, Cedi Osman’s playing time plummeted to 17.6 minutes per game, his lowest average since his rookie year.

On the bright side, he posted a career-high 38.9 three-point percentage and had the third-highest assist rate of his career in 2023-24.

His former team, the Cavaliers, has multiple roster spots available and could use more depth on the wing.

In terms of his defense or any ancillary contributions like rebounding or passing, Doug McDermott’s last three seasons with the San Antonio Spurs and Indiana Pacers didn’t go great.

But McDermott still possesses one NBA skill, and it happens to be the most important one. There are only nine players in NBA history who match or exceed both of McDermott’s career marks for three-point attempts (2,293) and three-point percentage (41.0).

If the Memphis Grizzlies are unable to re-sign Luke Kennard, McDermott might make some sense as a shooting specialist. The Grizzlies were 29th in the league in three-point percentage last season.

After having what felt like a little breakout in 2022-23, Markelle Fultz went back to the Orlando Magic’s bench in 2023-24, averaged 7.8 points and shot just 4-of-18 (22.2 percent) from three.

That dropoff and his injury history are scary, but Fultz still offers a hint of upside as a distributor and defender.

There’s already plenty of young talent in the backcourt for the reloading Detroit Pistons, but following Monte Morris’ midseason departure, they could use a little veteran insurance.

A high-effort, high-intensity big, Precious Achiuwa doesn’t do a ton as a passer or shooter outside the paint, but he generally stacks up rebounds, blocks and steals when he plays. And he doesn’t demand a ton of touches on the offensive end.

After landing with the New York Knicks midseason, he averaged 7.6 points, 7.2 rebounds and 1.1 blocks in 24.2 minutes.

And with the Knicks losing Isaiah Hartenstein to the Oklahoma City Thunder, they’re in need of a backup 5. Achiuwa may fit the bill.

“New York chose not to extend a qualifying offer to Achiuwa, which would have made him a restricted free agent but made that decision purely because it was better for the team’s cap flexibility,” Fred Katz wrote for The Athletic. “The Knicks are leaving open the possibility of re-signing Achiuwa, a league source said. Were Achiuwa to return, he would play behind Robinson.”

Gordon Hayward completely fell out of the Oklahoma City Thunder’s rotation by the end of his time there, and he scored exactly zero points in 46 postseason minutes, but the 34-year-old should still have a little more to offer before he’s done.

As a point forward facing second units, the 6’7″ forward should have a couple more productive seasons.

The Denver Nuggets are reportedly still planning to go after Russell Westbrook with a veteran minimum deal if the Los Angeles Clippers waive him, but if that doesn’t happen, Hayward would be an interesting use of that roster spot.

Kyle Lowry just turned 38 in March. His best NBA basketball is obviously behind him, but he shot 39.2 percent from deep this season.

Adding his experience and outside shooting could do a lot for any team’s second unit.

And that includes the Kings. With his new contract, Malik Monk could make his way into Sacramento’s starting five, and in that case, the team could use a new playmaker to back up De’Aaron Fox.

Josh Okogie’s 29.3 three-point percentage is a big problem in today’s NBA, but his 7’0″ wingspan and good rebounding rate make him an interesting wing for teams in need of a low-usage defender.

Over the last two seasons for the Phoenix Suns, he’s averaged 3.1 rebounds and 0.8 steals in just 17.5 minutes. And the Suns’ point differential has been slightly better with him on the floor.

Depending on whether the New Orleans Pelicans trade Brandon Ingram (and what might come back in such a trade), they could use a depth piece on the wing.

He’s woefully inefficient as a scorer, especially inside the three-point line. And while his playmaking is solid, it’s not game-breaking.

Where Jose Alvarado makes his biggest impact is as a spark of energy, particularly on the defensive end, off the bench.

This is another potential option to backup De’Aaron Fox in Sacramento.

His three-point percentage plummeted in 2023-24, but the theoretical version of Saddiq Bey is still intriguing.

The 25-year-old has defensive potential as a sort of wide-bodied, multipositional defender similar to a younger Jae Crowder. And he’s generally been OK with operating as a catch-and-shoot threat.

It probably feels too early for him to start signing minimum contracts, but if nothing better is available elsewhere, this should be another Sixers target.

He’s never put up significant per-game numbers, but Isaac Okoro has developed into a helpful perimeter defender in recent years. He’s had an above-average three-point percentage in each of the last two seasons. And he’s only 23 years old.

For whatever reason, though, he apparently hasn’t received any satisfactory offers in restricted free agency.

Now that he’s seen what’s out there, perhaps a return to the Cleveland Cavaliers, who hold his Bird rights, could be in order. Over his four seasons with the Cavs, Okoro has started 216 of his 279 games.

His role was severely limited after he joined the Los Angeles Lakers, but Spencer Dinwiddie is still a solid playmaker and dangerous enough outside shooter to command attention at the three-point line.

His potential to impact the game will be even greater if he’s consistently up against second units.

And he could have a role like that with the Magic, who don’t seem anxious to bring Fultz back.

There are still real concerns with his jump shot, but Talen Horton-Tucker is only 23 years old, typically puts up raw numbers whenever given the chance and has good size (6’4″ with a 7’1″ wingspan) for a primary playmaker.

During his two seasons with the Utah Jazz, THT has averaged 10.5 points, 3.6 assists and 1.0 threes in just 20.0 minutes.

If there’s a team that could develop his raw talent into something more consistent, it may be the Miami Heat.

He certainly didn’t play with the kind of notoriety he enjoyed with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2022-23, but Lonnie Walker shot 38.4 percent from deep this season and had a pretty significant boost in assist rate.

He’s only 25 years old, so there’s still time for him to develop into a more consistent reserve scorer.

He’s another good option for backcourt depth alongside Jalen Suggs and Cole Anthony in Orlando.

The ancillary contributions are almost nonexistent, but Gary Trent Jr. has been a consistent, high-volume three-point threat throughout his career.

Shooting is still the most important skill in the NBA, so he should have some value as long as that remains true.

Trent is another option if Memphis doesn’t bring Kennard back. The Grizzlies could spend some portion of the non-taxpayer mid-level exception on him.

Trendon Watford is only 23 years old, and he’s hit 39.4 percent of his three-point attempts over the last two seasons.

With his size (6’9″) and that kind of outside shooting, he has some real three-and-D upside.

Following the departures of Barnes, Vezenkov and Duarte, Watford is another option for Sacramento at forward.

Luke Kennard is one of the most accurate three-point shooters in NBA history. His career three-point percentage of 43.9 ranks third of all time, but he’s proved to be more than that in the right situation. In 2023-24, he averaged 3.5 assists in just 25.6 minutes.

If the Toronto Raptors are moving forward with Scottie Barnes as their cornerstone (last season’s trades and this summer’s max contract for him suggest they are), they need more shooting to deploy around him.

Kennard may be the best shooter left on the market.

He never became the star some may have expected, but Dennis Smith Jr. has quietly developed into a very solid backup point guard.

Despite being undersized, he can present problems to opponents as a defender and distributor. And he’s still capable of the occasional eye-popping highlight dunk.

If the Nuggets aren’t able to land Westbrook, he’s another interesting option on a minimum deal in that last roster spot.

He doesn’t bring much volume as a scorer or playmaker, and he’s undersized on the defensive end, but Tyus Jones is among the game’s most reliable creators.

Over the last three seasons, he has started just over half his games and averaged 10.3 points, 5.6 assists and 1.4 threes, while shooting 39.0 percent from deep.

And his 6.6 assist-to-turnover ratio over that span is first (by a long shot) among the 393 players with at least 100 assists.

Jones is good enough to start for multiple teams and was likely hoping for a bigger payday this summer, but spending power is drying up. And if a team like the Magic were willing to use a cap exception on him, he could get back to the playoffs in 2025.