The NBA regular season is over, so while some fans still have the playoffs to look forward to, other fans have nothing to look forward to except for thinking about how their team can get better this offseason. Luckily, the 2024 NBA free agent class is one of the best in recent memory. While player and team options will prevent some of these players from becoming free agents, including LeBron James, there is the potential for more stars to switch teams this offseason than in most offseasons.
LeBron James himself is actually somewhat likely to hit the open market despite having a $51.4 million dollar deal on the table with the Los Angeles Lakers. James' son, Bronny James, has officially declared for the draft, and the elder James may jump ship and join his son if Bronny is able to land an NBA deal somewhere.
James is far from the only big name in this free agent class, though. In fact, there is something for everyone on the open market this year, including star-level players, starters, role players, and bargain options. In this article, we are going to rank the top 50 players who have a chance to become free agents once free agency starts on July 6 (negotiation period begins on June 30).
50. Patrick Beverley: Milwaukee Bucks, UFA
Patrick Beverley contributes to winning wherever he goes. He has played on six teams since 2021, but his teams always seem to make the playoffs. There are a lot of words to describe Beverley. Irritant, pest, and annoyance all come to mind. One thing is for sure, though, he is the type of player you want on your team and not one that you want to face. He plays great defense and makes life miserable for opposing guards.
49. Jalen Smith: Indiana Pacers, Player Option
Jalen Smith has had a weird start to his career. He was a first-round pick for the Phoenix Suns, but the team moved on from him less than two years into his career after only 56 games played. Phoenix only got Torrey Craig back in that trade, meaning Phoenix didn't believe in their former first-rounder and just wanted off of him.
Smith has become a solid rotation piece since finding a new home with the Indiana Pacers, though. He is a stretch big man capable of hitting the long ball.
48. Aaron Wiggins: Oklahoma City Thunder, UFA
The Thunder's depth is unbelievable, but that means that they won't be able to pay everyone. Aaron Wiggins has emerged as one of many young, exciting players in Oklahoma City, and if the Thunder prioritize different players for their future, Wiggins would be a good get for a team during free agency.
47. Markelle Fultz: Orlando Magic, UFA
Markelle Fultz was undoubtedly one of the biggest draft busts in recent memory with the Philadelphia 76ers. After becoming the No. 1 overall pick, his Philadelphia career was more than weird. It is still a little bit unclear if it was an injury or psychological issues that led to Fultz becoming a non-threat from deep. Unable to live up to the expectations that the 76ers had for him coming out of college, the team traded him to the Magic.
While shooting is still a concern with Fultz, the guard has turned his career around and become a legitimate NBA player with the Magic. Injuries have severely limited his time on the court, though, and the Magic have built an impressive rotation while he has missed time. Fultz is no longer a starter for the team, and it appears he may no longer be in Orlando's plans going forward, either.
Fultz's lack of a shot will always limit his ceiling, but he is a rotation-caliber player. He has great athleticism and is twitchy as a driver, allowing him to thrive when attacking the rim. Finding a good fit for him may be a tough ask, though.
46. Lonnie Walker IV: Brooklyn Nets, UFA
Lonnie Walker has gone under the radar in recent seasons, but he has become a solid scoring option and is still only 25 years old. Walker averaged double-digit scoring figures in the previous three seasons before making 9.7 points per game this year. He has been on three teams in three seasons, though. Will Walker sign with a new team again when he becomes a free agent?
45. Naji Marshall: New Orleans Pelicans, UFA
The Pelicans have great depth, which may mean that Naji Marshall is expendable when he becomes a free agent. Many teams would love to have him, though, because he is a versatile wing capable of filling a number of roles for a team.
44. Sam Hauser: Boston Celtics, Team Option
Sam Hauser's team option for next season is worth just over $2 million. The Celtics have a number of highly paid stars on their roster, so they need to fill out their depth chart with cheap role players. For that reason, you can expect the three-point sniper to be back in green next season.
43. Reggie Jackson: Denver Nuggets, Player Option
Some Nuggets fans were surprised by Denver's decision to bring back Reggie Jackson last offseason. The decision paid off, though, as Jackson has been great as the Nuggets backup point guard.
42. Simone Fontecchio: Detroit Pistons, RFA
Simone Fontecchio didn't get to the NBA until he was 27 years old, but he has quickly proven himself at the highest level. The stretch forward has really come into his own since being traded to the Pistons. Fontecchio is scoring 15.4 points per game on Detroit's roster, largely thanks to his 42.6% clip from deep.
Detroit has poor roster construction, and they lack shooters, so Fontecchio seems like a perfect fit to still be launching deep balls for the team next year.
41. Andre Drummond: Chicago Bulls, UFA
Andre Drummond emerged as one of the best rebounders ever during his time with the Pistons, but his throwback game has forced him into backup duty in recent seasons. Still, quality backup centers are hard to come by, and Drummond will bring a great interior presence to whichever team he suits up for next season that is willing to put up with his occasional brain farts.
40. Precious Achiuwa: New York Knicks, RFA
Precious Achiuwa has been a nice fit on the Knicks, and he has played a bigger role for the team than many thought since they added him in the trade for OG Anunoby. Achiuwa does the dirty work. He can get rebounds, defend, and hustle, and those facts make it seem likely that Tom Thibodeau will want him back next season.
39. Mo Wagner: Orlando Magic, Team Option
While he is lacking on the defensive end, Mo Wagner does have great footwork and advanced post-scoring ability. He has been crucial to Orlando's bench units over the last couple of seasons, so the Magic might want to pick up the team option on him for next season. This would also help keep Franz Wagner – Mo's brother and one of Orlando's star players – happy.
38. Gordon Hayward: Oklahoma City Thunder, UFA
Gordon Hayward's days as a starter in the NBA are likely past. Still, he is a versatile wing who will be a great bench option for teams in free agency. Hayward can create his own shots, thrive in catch-and-shoot opportunities, and make plays for others.
He has taken a significantly smaller role since joining the Thunder at the trade deadline, and injury red flags will be a concern going forward but don't get it twisted, Hayward is still a talented basketball player.
37. Royce O'Neale: Phoenix Suns, UFA
Royce O'Neale always seems to find himself playing big minutes alongside a bunch of stars. He is a complimentary piece that doesn't need the ball too much but will hit the open shots he gets while playing solid defense.
36. Kyle Anderson: Minnesota Timberwolves, UFA
The Timberwolves are better than they have ever been, but Kyle Anderson hasn't played his best ball in his contract year. Still, “Slowmo” is a jumbo facilitator who can help run an offense. His game is unorthodox, but it is effective. He seems like the odd man out in Minnesota.
35. Isaac Okoro: Cleveland Cavaliers, RFA
Issac Okoro makes his money on the defensive end, but his improvement as a three-point shooter has made him much more valuable on the Cavaliers. Agreeing to terms with Donovan Mitchell will be more important than retaining Okoro for the Cavaliers, so it will be interesting to see how Cleveland approaches Okoro's restricted free agency.
34. Luke Kennard: Memphis Grizzlies, Team Option
Luke Kennard is one of the best three-point shooters in the NBA. Prior to this season (a bizarre year for the Grizzlies that has been riddled with injuries), Kennard was the three-point percentage leader in back-to-back seasons. With a premier penetrator like Ja Morant set to return from injury, the Grizzlies would be smart to pick up Kennard's team option and provide their star with a catch-and-shoot option.
33. Derrick Jones Jr.: Dallas Mavericks, UFA
Derrick Jones Jr. is a sneaky good upcoming NBA free agent. On offense, his leaping ability is matched by few, but it is on the defensive end where his athleticism really stands out. This year, Jones Jr. has often been tasked with defending the opposing team's best player.
32. Spencer Dinwiddie: Los Angeles Lakers, UFA
Spencer Dinwiddie was waived after he was moved to the Raptors at the trade deadline, but he is still a solid player. The problem with Dinwiddie is that he most thrives in isolation, but at this point in his career, he isn't going to be one of the top options on a team, and therefore, the majority of isolation possessions are going to go to different players.
Still, Dinwiddie has been a double-digit scorer in six of the last seven seasons, with the only season during that span when he didn't score in double figures coming when an injury limited him to three games. Dinwiddie has played on multiple teams during the season in each of the past three seasons, so he will likely be looking for stability when he becomes a free agent.
31. De'Anthony Melton: Philadelphia 76ers, Player Option
De'Anthony Melton missed the majority of the 2024 season, but he was able to showcase himself in the final couple of regular season games, as will he during Philadelphia's playoff run. Melton plays elite defense for a guard, and he is capable of knocking down the three-point shot.
Even with his lack of health this season and if he were to play badly in the playoffs, Melton has a proven track record that will help him land a gig as a free agent if he were to decline his player option. His player option will serve as a safeguard, regardless, though.
30. Patrick Williams: Chicago Bulls, RFA
Patrick Williams has great tools, but he has never quite put it all together. It is year four and Williams is still only averaging 10.0 points per game, and the Bulls likely wanted better production from the wing who they surprisingly drafted fourth overall in 2020.
Even though he is still a bit raw, Williams reportedly is expecting a massive payday for his next contract. A deal worth over $100 million for Williams seems extreme, but it costs a pretty penny these days to sign young, talented starters who can play defense.
29. Russell Westbrook: Los Angeles Clippers, Player Option
Russell Westbrook is harder to rank than any other 2024 NBA free agent. Westbrook is one of the best point guards of all time and a future Hall of Famer. He has done a lot of historic things in the league, including being one of two players to average a triple-double over an entire season. Westbrook has nine All-Star appearances and an MVP to his name, but at this point in his career, there are a lot of question marks.
Westbrook isn't very efficient, and at times, his jump shot completely disappears. It has led to critics questioning if he can be a starter on a contending team, and most of the teams around the NBA weren't willing to give him a shot after his Lakers tenure. He has found a home with the Clippers, though.
The Clippers allow him to use his athleticism and speed, but they have also reined him in some. He is now playing important minutes on a Clippers team that truly can win it all this year. Los Angeles has moved Westbrook into a reserve role, and he has thrived there. He is doing the dirty work when he plays with the starters, including setting screens and being used as a slasher, but he also has been given the confidence to run the bench unit.
There are only so many fits that make sense for Westbrook, none of which seem better than what he has with the Clippers. Therefore, it would make a lot of sense for the basketball legend to pick up his player option for next year and avoid the open market, especially if Los Angeles is able to make a run deep into the playoffs.
28. Isaiah Joe: Oklahoma City Thunder, Team Option
Isaiah Joe is a weapon from deep. The Thunder guard shot 42.1% from three-point land this season while the Thunder rose to becoming legitimate title contenders. Oklahoma City's rapid rise to the top of the Western Conference standings was largely due to the spacing that Joe brings to the floor. Considering how cheap he will be next year under the team option, there is likely no way the Thunder will let him walk.
27. Malik Beasley: Milwaukee Bucks, UFA
If your team is in need of three-point shooting, this is the offseason for you. Like Joe, Malik Beasley is one of the best three-point specialists in the NBA. With better players around him this year, Beasley's deep ball volume is down, but his efficiency is up. Beasley shot 41.9% from beyond the arc this season, which was a career-high.
26. Gary Trent Jr.: Toronto Raptors, UFA
Yet another great three-point shooter who shot over 40% from deep this year, Gary Trent Jr. ranks higher than Joe and Beasley as a 2024 NBA free agent because his offensive skill set is a little deeper than those two. Trent Jr. also has an incredible mid-range shot, and he always tends to have a couple of scoring outbursts every season.
25. Caleb Martin: Miami Heat, Player Option
Caleb Martin jumped into the spotlight during the Heat's run to the NBA Finals last season. Martin has a player option for next season, but had he been a free agent last year, he likely would have been in for a big payday.
Martin's regular season numbers actually went up this year in comparison to last year, though, and he will still be an attractive option if he does hit the open market. Martin may be more known for his defense, but he showed off the offensive pop he has in the postseason last year.
24. Saddiq Bey: Atlanta Hawks, RFA
Trae Young needs all of the help he can get on the defensive end. Saddiq Bey is one of the best wing defenders on the Hawks, and it has become clear that the Hawks won the four-team trade that brought him to Atlanta. The concern with Bey is that his three-point production has been fading in recent seasons.
23. Jonas Valanciunas: New Orleans Pelicans, UFA
Jonas Valanciunas has 824 starts in his career. While it is fair to wonder how much longer he can be a starter in the league, that experience is valuable. Valanciunas is somewhat of a throwback big man, but he has expanded his game by improving his passing and adding a jump shot.
22. Obi Toppin: Indiana Pacers, RFA
Obi Toppin has fit better with the Pacers than he did with the Knicks, and he is a big reason that Indiana has one of the best offenses in the NBA. However, like he was blocked on the depth chart by Julius Randle on the Knicks, Toppin is now blocked on the depth chart by Pascal Siakam on the Pacers.
21. Malik Monk: Sacramento Kings, UFA
Malik Monk was not highly coveted after his tenure with the Charlotte Hornets. That will not be the case during free agency this go around, as Monk has turned his career around with the Kings. Monk averaged 15.4 points per game this season as one of the best off-the-bench spark plugs in the NBA.
His athleticism and shot-making will make him one of the most coveted free agents this offseason, especially considering he is likely to win the Sixth Man of the Year Award. His season-ending MCL sprain does make his free-agent outlook a little cloudy, though.
20. Kelly Oubre: Philadelphia 76ers, UFA
Kelly Oubre only signed a one-year deal with the 76ers, so he will become a free agent again this year. Oubre played for just over $2 million this season after averaging over 20 points per game last year. Oubre is a great slasher with high intensity, but for whatever reason, the market has underrated him. Whoever signs him in free agency will likely be getting him for a bargain compared to what he is worth.
19. Isaiah Hartenstein: New York Knicks, UFA
Mitchell Robinson has been often hurt for the Knicks, but Isaiah Hartenstein has always stepped up in the big man's place. Hartenstein has played so well filling in for Robinson that he has actually remained the team's starter since Robinson's return from injury.
The frequency in which Robinson is hurt means that the Knicks would likely love to bring back Hartenstein in free agency, but some team may be able to offer him a bigger role elsewhere. Hartenstein is a good passer for a center, and he sets mean screens.
18. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope: Denver Nuggets, Player Option
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope is the ultimate three-and-D role player. Caldwell-Pope has the second-fewest points in the NBA for players playing 30 minutes per game or more, but that is okay. He is a low-usage player who can let his stars do the bulk of the work on offense, but he can still hit the open shot when the ball is swung his way. On top of that, Caldwell-Pope is capable of locking down opponents' best guards and wings.
Playing alongside Nikola Jokic – the best passing center of all time – is fun, and the Nuggets have a chance to defend their title in the playoff this year. Because of that, Caldwell-Pope might want to stick around in Denver, but there is no way to know how the 2024 free agency period might unfold. The team lost Bruce Brown in free agency when it seemed likely that he would stick around last offseason.
17. Bruce Brown: Toronto Raptors, Team Option
The Pacers invested heavily to sign Bruce Brown after he helped the Nuggets win a championship, but they then used him as trade bait to acquire Pascal Siakam. Indiana had to offer Brown a loftier-than-expected contract to lure him away from Denver, but it is unknown how Toronto feels about his price tag.
The Raptors have a team option on Brown, and they are clearly in a rebuilding stage. They may let Brown hit free agency for the second year in a row, or they might bring him back as a player with winning experience to help usher in the new era of Toronto basketball.
16. Grayson Allen: Phoenix Suns, UFA
Grayson Allen isn't just the pesky/dirty player you remember from Duke. He has become one of the best role players in the NBA, and he led the league in three-point percentage (45.7%) this season. He is a perfect fit alongside the stars on the Suns, but he may have played his way this season into a big contract elsewhere.
15. Tyus Jones: Washington Wizards, UFA
Tyus Jones is one of the best backup point guards in the NBA. Year in and year out he is amongst the leaders in assist-to-turnover ratio. After leading the league in that stat this year, he has now been the league leader in assist-to-turnover ratio five times. His assist-to-turnover ratio this season was an astonishing 7.3, and the second-best player in that regard this season was only at 5.7.
Being so steady with the basketball while still controlling the offense is exactly what you want from a backup point guard, and a number of teams will be calling Jones' agent during free agency.
14. D'Angelo Russell: Los Angeles Lakers, UFA
Opinions on D'Angelo Russell vary. His fans point out that that he is a former All-Star who has averaged at least 15 points per game for eight straight seasons, while his critics wonder if he truly contributes to a winning style of basketball. Regardless, Russell is clearing a starting-caliber player, and he thrived in his first full season with the Lakers.
Russell's struggles on defense and sometimes streaky nature on offense have probably made him underrated. Only six players in NBA history match or exceed his offensive numbers of 17.7 points per game, 5.7 assists per game, and 2.5 three-pointers per game.
13. Buddy Hield: Philadelphia 76ers, UFA
Buddy Hield really does one thing, but he does it extremely well. That, of course, is three-point shooting. The guard is one of the best three-point specialists in the NBA, and that trait would fit anywhere around the league.
12. Immanuel Quickley: Toronto Raptors, RFA
Considering the Raptors traded for Immanuel Quickley at the NBA trade deadline, the team will want him back next season. Rather than trading for a surplus of draft picks when they moved on from OG Anunoby, the Raptors wanted to add young building blocks. They viewed Quickley and R.J. Barrett as these building blocks.
Quickley is an energizer on offense. He has a great floater and a nice three-point shot, and his playmaking has improved since becoming a full-time starter in Toronto.
11. DeMar DeRozan: Chicago Bulls, UFA
It may be surprising to see DeMar DeRozan outside of the top 10 best 2024 NBA free agents because he has spent most of his career as a number one option and elite scorer. DeRozan is even still the top dog to this day with the Bulls. Defense has always been a problem with DeRozan, though, and it has only gotten worse as he has gotten older.
DeRozan is now 34 years old, and he likely doesn't have many good years left. His historically elite mid-range shot doesn't make up for the lack of defense at this stage, and he likely can't make a team a contender if he is a top option anymore.
DeRozan is still averaging 23.6 points per game, though, and he likely still has plenty of buckets to offer a team. Additionally, he has improved his three-point shot, which should increase his longevity in the league. If a team has enough other talented players around him, DeRozan can likely still be a starter for years to come. Only time will tell if his old-school style of play will translate in a smaller role.
10. Nic Claxton: Brooklyn Nets, UFA
On a roster that has undergone a lot of changes in recent seasons, Nic Claxton has been a steady presence. For that reason, the Nets would be smart to bring the center back. Claxton is skinny for a center, but he is a great shot blocker with great length. Offensively, he is a rim-runner who can get put-backs and finish alley-oops.
9. Tobias Harris: Philadelphia 76ers, UFA
Tobias Harris catches a lot of flak because he is one of the most overpaid players ever. That won't matter when he is due a new contract, though. Harris is still a very useful player who would be a solid third or fourth option on any team in the NBA. He can hit the corner three-pointer or face his back to the basket and work in the mid-range.
Harris isn't the star that he has been paid like, but if you set that aside and just look at the production, he is a solid starter worthy of being paid like such.
8. Miles Bridges: Charlotte Hornets, UFA
Off-the-court issues are the concern with Miles Bridges and where any conversation about his impending free agent status must start. Bridges was involved in some disturbing domestic violence issues, but the case has since been dropped. If a team can look past his worrisome history, he is a heck of a player who would be extremely helpful going forward on the court.
Bridges is one of the best high-flyers in the league. His alley-oop catching ability makes life easy on point guards, but he has also improved as a shooter in recent seasons. Bridges off-the-court drama prevented the Hornets from being willing to lock him up long-term, so it is possible that he will sign elsewhere in free agency.
7. James Harden: Los Angeles Clippers, UFA
James Harden has had a Hall of Fame-caliber career, but there are only a handful of teams that would make sense for him in free agency. His ball-dominant style and the frequency with which he has requested trades and created locker-room rifts might scare off a number of teams.
Harden has been a good fit with the Clippers, and he has even expanded his game as he has gotten older. Harden used to be a player that could get you 40 points on any given night, but he is now more of a point guard and one of the best playmakers in the NBA. He has actually led the league in assists twice and is even fourth in that regard this season.
Harden has been known to jump ship, so it will be interesting to see if he returns to the only team that was willing to give him a shot when he demanded out of Philadelphia, or if he will once again be playing for a new team next season.
6. Klay Thompson: Golden State Warriors, UFA
Klay Thompson isn't the player he once was. His defense has regressed significantly, and his three-point shot hasn't been as great as normal this season. Thompson is one of the best shooters ever, though, and shooting isn't usually something that players lose with age.
Even in a down year, Thompson is still shooting 38.4% from deep on 8.9 attempts. While that is the worst mark of his career, he is still an elite shooter, and it is likely that Thompson will get closer to his career averages next season. It would be weird to see Thompson on a team that isn't the Warriors, but shooting is highly coveted and the team may not be able to afford him in the offseason.
It has already been reported that the Magic – a three-point shooting needy team — will pursue the four-time champion this offseason. Thompson wants to be a Warrior for life, but the team's financial issues may prevent that from becoming reality.
5. OG Anunoby: New York Knicks, Player Option
OG Anunoby is a lanky player with elite defensive skills and top-tier hustle. That is Tom Thibodeau's dream, and the Knicks coach has played him heavy minutes because of it. Anunoby missed some time after being traded for by the Knicks, but he has been great for the team when on the floor.
The Knicks got Anunoby at a discounted rate in comparison to what teams thought he was worth the year prior, and they likely view him as a part of their long-term plans. The wing is truly one of the best defensive players in the NBA, but he more than holds his own offensively as well.
4. Pascal Siakam: Indiana Pacers, UFA
Like Anunoby, Pascal Siakam was traded prior to the trade deadline this season. The Pacers gave up a massive haul to add Siakam, and they don't view him as a rental. The team wants him to be a part of their long-term plans, so they will do whatever it takes to lock him down in free agency. Playing on a great offense with an elite playmaker in Tyrese Haliburton can very well persuade Siakam to stick around, but the point guard has actually struggled since Siakam's acquisition.
3. Paul George: Los Angeles Clippers, Player Option
Paul George is a video game-like player whom young basketball players model their game after these days, and rightfully so. George is a tall wing with a great handle, plenty of creation ability, and a nice shot. He even plays elite perimeter defense. This versatile skillset means that he could fit in any rotation, but injuries are the concern for George.
George is now 33 years old, and he has missed significant time in each of the previous four seasons prior to finally having a healthy year this season. Teams may be hesitant to give him a big contract because of his lack of availability, but his talent will warrant a hefty payday. That may all be irrelevant, though, because the Clippers are playing like one of the best teams in the NBA this season, and it is very possible that he will pick up his player option for next season.
2. LeBron James: Los Angeles Lakers, Player Option
LeBron James is clearly one of the best players of all time. He only ranks below Tyrese Maxey because the 76ers' guard is only 23 years old, and his long-term potential would be more coveted by teams. James is more likely to leave his current team, though, and any team in the NBA would love to have him for however long he has left in the NBA.
James' son, Bronny James, has officially declared for the NBA Draft. While the younger James isn't a surefire NBA player, it is safe to assume that the elder James will join whatever team would be willing to give Bronny a chance. In fact, LeBron James has structured his current contract the way it is for this very scenario. James' legacy is cemented, but it would be interesting to see him play for one more team before his inevitable retirement.
1. Tyrese Maxey: Philadelphia 76ers, RFA
Without James Harden or Ben Simmons taking touches away from him this season, Tyrese Maxey took a massive leap forward. In fact, he is likely to win the Most Improved Player Award this season. Maxey is 12th in the NBA in points per game with 25.9, and he has established himself as one of the best players in the league. Locking up Maxey long-term will be a priority for Philadelphia, and he is likely to be a star player for the team for a long time.
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