As NBA teams prepare for the NBA draft and trade rumors heat up, free agency is expected to fly under the radar a little bit.
In the NBA, trades have become the new free agency. Teams can offer bigger and longer contract extensions than they would usually receive on the open market, so players have started demanding trades to specific markets, and more often than not, they end up right where they want to be.
Still, free agency plays a big part in roster building. The Oklahoma City Thunder signed Isaiah Hartenstein last offseason, and he played a massive role on the best team in the league.
While some stars like LeBron James have player options, this list will only include players who are either unrestricted free agents or are expected to opt out of their deals.
While there are better centers on the market (Brook Lopez, Myles Turner), the Atlanta Hawks need to add size. Jalen Johnson has broken out as a high-level power forward, but they will likely lose Clint Capela this offseason, and Onyeka Okongwu is a solid, but not elite, rebounder.
Jaxson Hayes doesn’t really move the needle in the starting lineup, but he was a solid, athletic backup for the Los Angeles Lakers this season before being elevated to the starting five, and should be a great lob threat for Trae Young.
The Boston Celtics’ main priority this offseason will be to shed salary, and Derrick White, Jrue Holiday, and Kristaps Porzingis have all been included in trade rumors.
Porzingis seems to be the most likely to be traded, leaving Boston with only Al Horford and Luke Kornet down low. Both are solid floor spacers, although adding a physical rebounder with title experience is a must, and Kevon Looney fits that role perfectly.
If the Brooklyn Nets add Giannis Antetokounmpo in a trade, then surrounding him with shooters immediately becomes a priority. If they trade up in the draft to add an inexperienced rookie, then having shooting around him is a perk, as well.
Luke Kennard will not make the Nets title frontrunners by himself, but he is one of the most efficient shooters in NBA history and could play a solid role for Brooklyn regardless of if they prioritize youth or not this summer.
Let’s face it: LaMelo Ball will get injured this season, and the Charlotte Hornets need a reliable backup point guard. On top of that, Charlotte’s locker room has long been one of the worst in the league, and adding a veteran leader must be a priority.
In an ideal world, the Hornets would add Chris Paul to whip their young roster into shape and serve as a role model, but there’s no way that the Point God will end his career on one of the worst franchises in professional sports. Let’s settle for Malcolm Brogdon.
The Chicago Bulls need defense and shooting. Alex Caruso would be a great player in the Windy City! Nickeil Alexander-Walker can play off-ball, allowing Josh Giddey to thrive, and he shot 38.1% from 3-point range this season.
A defensive backcourt of Lonzo Ball, Tre Jones, and Alexander-Walker would be solid, but the Bulls still have a long way to go before they are back in the postseason.
The Cleveland Cavaliers were easily the best regular-season team in the Eastern Conference, and they are expected to run things back with mostly the same roster next season.
Amir Coffey is a solid shooter and defender who provides some wing depth. As the best team in the East, the Cavs don’t need to make a lot of changes to get over the hump.
Between Anthony Davis, PJ Washington, Klay Thompson, Daniel Gafford, Naji Marshall, Dereck Lively II, and Cooper Flagg, the Dallas Mavericks have a title-worthy roster in place, although All-Star point guard Kyrie Irving tore his ACL near the end of last season and won’t be healthy next year.
Dallas needs to add a proven point guard who can get the ball in the hands of their stars, and with 20 NBA seasons under his belt, no one is more proven than Chris Paul. If he doesn’t retire, he should head to Dallas.
This is the first player on our list who returns to his old team, and for good reason. Despite the usual Russell Westbrook-isms, he was solid for most of the year with the Denver Nuggets, developed a rapport with Nikola Jokic, and didn’t seem to mind coming off the bench.
With a player option, the Nuggets should be willing to offer him a one-year extension if he agrees to stay in town.
Malik Beasley signed a one-year “prove it” deal with the Detroit Pistons last summer, and emerged as one of the league’s best shooters and came in second in Sixth Man of the Year voting.
Beasley’s hot hand was a massive reason why the Pistons finally made the postseason, and running things back with him seems like a no-brainer.
The Golden State Warriors, with Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, and Jimmy Butler, have a very clear title window that they need to maximize. Brook Lopez is an elite shot-blocker and deadeye shooter, and yet he doesn’t command much attention on offense.
A starting five of Curry, Butler, Green, Lopez, and Buddy Hield might have been much better in 2018 than 2026, but they should be enough to keep the Warriors afloat through the end of Curry’s prime.
Steven Adams was rarely called on by the Houston Rockets during the regular season, posting a regular-season high of only 14 points. However, in the playoffs, Adams was a force for the Rockets, averaging 5.7 points and 6.6 rebounds.
He brings some physicality and mentorship to an otherwise young locker room, and Houston would be smart to bring him back for one more season.
The Indiana Pacers have rarely ventured into the luxury tax, although after making their first Finals appearance in 25 years, paying extra to bring back one of their best players is an easy call.
Myles Turner is the best unrestricted free agent on the market this summer, and the Pacers, in an effort to run things back, aren’t expected to let him field many offers before inking him to a new contract.
This season, the Los Angeles Clippers seemingly figured out how to keep Kawhi Leonard healthy through a playoff run. They didn’t let him start his season until January, relying on James Harden, Norman Powell, and Ivica Zubac to keep them afloat.
It worked, and while Leonard rests to start next season, Jae’Sean Tate can bring some defensive and rebounding intensity. After Leonard returns, however, expect Tate to fall out of the rotation like he did in Houston this season.
Clint Capela is past his prime, and in an effort to build around Luka Doncic, perhaps the LA Lakers could go younger and better, with Myles Turner, although the Pacers will seemingly do anything to keep him.
Capela is still a lob threat, rebounder, and solid shot-blocker, which are all things the Lakers need, and they should be able to get him without breaking the bank.
The Memphis Grizzlies, after getting swept in the first round, were urged to trade Ja Morant. That seems unlikely, although Morant has been unreliable in recent years with injuries and suspensions piling up.
Dennis Schroder is a starting-caliber point guard who could come off the bench, provide some much-needed intensity, and start when needed. His track record suggests he would fit in well with the Grit and Grind playstyle, as well.
Tyler Herro is a solid facilitator, although the Miami Heat don’t really have a bona fide point guard. Tre Jones is coming off a career year where he was traded from the Spurs to the Bulls, and he is one of the best pass-first guards in the league, and an underrated defender.
While he is not an elite shooter, there is hope that Bam Adebayo can continue to space the floor, and a lineup of Jones, Herro, Adebayo, Andrew Wiggins, and maybe Kel’el Ware would have the size to compete in the weak East.
If the Milwaukee Bucks trade Giannis, then they will need a bruiser down low to fill the gap. If they don’t trade him, adding a physical defender to take some of his load away is a must. Guerschon Yabusele fits the mold.
After breaking out for France during the Olympics, Yabusele averaged 11 points and 5.6 rebounds for the 76ers and is expected to command serious money this offseason. After Kyle Kuzma failed to make much of an impact in the playoffs for the Bucks, Yabusele would be a solid upgrade.
Depending on whether Naz Reid and Julius Randle opt out of their contracts, the Minnesota Timberwolves could have a decent amount of money to spend this offseason, but regardless of who stays and who leaves, the Wolves need a point guard.
Mike Conley is aging out of the role, and Rob Dillingham is not quite ready; the Wolves need a stopgap floor general. D’Angelo Russell spent parts of four successful individual seasons with the Wolves, and a reunion could be overdue while he fills a position of need.
The Sacramento Kings hold a $5.1 million team option on Jake LaRavia, although he would be an excellent fit on the New Orleans Pelicans. A career 37.1% shooter from deep, he would provide shooting and rebounding.
The Pelicans, with Zion Williamson’s off-court issues, might have to retool their forward rotation, and LaRavia could be an ideal fit.
The New York Knicks don’t really have a position of need to address, although any depth piece would be an excellent addition.
Bruce Brown is a do-all player who fits the Knicks’ team identity despite Tom Thibodeau being fired, and he is an NBA champion who could help get the Knicks over the hump. Brown might have plenty of offers from other teams, although he could take a pay cut in a quest to win another ring.
The Oklahoma City Thunder had one of the best regular seasons of all time, and none of their players are on an expiring contract for next season, so it stands to reason that they will run things back with an identical roster, plus their draft picks and Nikola Topic.
Gary Payton II is a defensive-minded guard who could eventually serve as a replacement for Alex Caruso, although in reality, the Thunder might not sign anyone.
The Orlando Magic are one of the premier teams on the rise, although their lackluster 3-point shooting has long been a fault. Tim Hardaway Jr. might not be eager to jump from the Pistons to the Magic, although Orlando could offer him a decent salary, and he is one of the most reliable shooters in the league.
After adding Kentavious Caldwell-Pope last offseason, who didn’t live up to the hype, the pressure would be on Hardaway to make some shots.
Between Tyrese Maxey, Joel Embiid, and Paul George, the Philadelphia 76ers should be competing for a title, and they don’t have the cap space to add a marquee player.
Bismack Biyombo would come cheap, is reliable, and fills a position of need backing up the oft-injured Embiid, who might never be the same after two injury-riddled seasons. Biyombo is certainly an upgrade over Adem Bona and is very affordable.
In his lone season with the Phoenix Suns, Tyus Jones averaged 10.2 points and 5.3 assists. He wasn’t asked to do much, simply bringing the ball over halfcourt before giving it up to one of the Suns’ established stars.
With the Suns expected to trade Kevin Durant, having a solid ball handler next to Devin Booker is a must, and Jones both fits that bill and will be affordable.
Is it too early to declare Scoot Henderson a bust? Probably, but in order to get the most out of Shaedon Sharpe and Donovan Clingan, the Portland Trail Blazers need a reliable point guard.
Chris Paul would actually be a good option, but he would certainly prefer to be in a bigger market and on a better team. With the promise of minutes, Spencer Dinwiddie could be a solid option while Portland continues to try and get the most out of their youngsters.
The Sacramento Kings have their core of DeMar DeRozan, Zach LaVine, Keegan Murray, Domantas Sabonis, and Malik Monk, but are missing a point guard to orchestrate the offense.
While trade candidates like Marcus Smart and Jrue Holiday stand out, having DeRozan and Kyle Lowry end their careers together would be a sweet moment.
The biggest area of need for the San Antonio Spurs this offseason is a backup center. Their starting five, wing, and guard rotations are all solid, although Victor Wembanyama needs some insurance behind him.
Who better to add than the best backup center in the league? Naz Reid can shoot, rebound, and block shots. The Spurs have the means to shell out for him, provided they don’t mind dipping above the soft NBA salary cap.
The Toronto Raptors have made it clear that they want to target a “big fish” this summer, and while no realistic free agent fits that mold, John Collins comes close.
He adds size, athleticism, and shooting to a young roster, and if the Raptors can add Cameron Johnson or even Giannis this summer, Collins could be a key piece on a title-winning roster if he opts out of his contract.
The New York Knicks have a $2.1 million team option with Ariel Hukporti’s contract, although after only appearing in 25 games in garbage time, it’s hard to imagine the Knicks picking him up.
The Utah Jazz are still several moves away from even making the playoffs, and adding an unproven 23-year-old is their best course as they continue to rebuild. Maybe he ends up being a quality player, maybe not, but it’s a low-risk investment.
Much like the Jazz, the Washington Wizards are years away from competing, although they have a clear direction. Alexandre Sarr, Bub Carrington, and Kyshawn George are all brimming with talent.
Jalen Hood-Schifino averaged 7.1 points per game last season, and while he will likely never be much better than that, he is the rare unrestricted free agent who fits the Wizards’ timeline, especially if they trade Jordan Poole.
