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Kevin Pelton, ESPN Senior Writer
Just 24 hours after NBA teams were allowed to negotiate with free agents From other teams as of 6 p.m. ET on June 30, nearly all of the top players on the market have closed deals, including Paul George leaving the Los Angeles Clippers For him Philadelphia 76ers.
Lebron James Technically he is still a free agent. After having offered the the Los Angeles Lakers A possible pay cut if they get a player worth signing Using the mid-level exception for non-taxpayers, James is still waiting for that chance, but the league’s all-time leading scorer won’t be leaving Los Angeles this summer.
That leaves DeMar DeRozan of the The Chicago Bulls as the only remaining free agent of Top 10 Projections of the Past Month who has not yet reached an agreement on a contract and has other teams pursuing him.
With that in mind, let’s take a look at an updated list of my top 10 free agents on the market with an eye toward what kind of value additions might be available to the handful of teams with remaining cap space and several more capable of offering more than the veteran minimum using exceptions.
1. LeBron James
Los Angeles Lakers | Forward
James’ return to Los Angeles is a foregone conclusion. It’s just a matter of the franchise finding a move that can convince him to accept less than his max as part of a new deal. Klay Thompson heading to the Dallas Mavericks Through sign-and-trade, it’s unclear how many remaining free agents qualify as the kind of “impact players” James hoped the Lakers could bring in. It may come down to the next two on my list.
2. DeMar DeRozan
Chicago Bulls | Forward
The Bulls’ moves during the first weekend of free agency have indicated that they do not expect DeRozan to return. By agreeing to bring Jalen Smith as a backup for Nikola VucčevićChicago will activate a strict cap on the lower luxury tax. Along with a new contract for forward Patrick Williamsallowing the Bulls to offer DeRozan a maximum starting salary of around $21.5 million without a trade to save money.
If the Lakers are willing to offer DeRozan their $12.8 million non-taxpayer mid-level exception, Chicago would presumably have to do more to keep him from heading home to Los Angeles. Alternatively, DeRozan could look to expand his market and salary range via a sign-and-trade deal.
3. Mile Bridges
Charlotte Hornets | Forward
Bridges sat out the entire 2022-23 campaign after pleading guilty to domestic violence charges in November 2022. Suspended by the NBA for the first 10 games of last season in addition to missing time, Bridges played for his $7.9 million qualifying offer as a restricted free agent, making him an unrestricted player this year.
Despite having to use salary cap space to complete at least one of the two trades they made last week to add Josh Green and Reggie JacksonThe Hornets could still re-sign Bridges using all of Bird’s rights. Otherwise, he’s one of the few remaining free agents who deserves more than the mid-level player who doesn’t pay taxes in basketball terms.
4. Tyus Jones
Wizards of Washington | Guard
He Spurs of Saint Anthony agreeing to sign Chris Paul Playing with Jones’ younger brother, Tre, eliminates his only avenue to signing with another team as a starting point guard. Although Washington has added other options at the position by trading the veteran Malcolm Brogdon On draft night and selecting Pitt guard Carlton Carrington, Jones returning on a deal that carries trade value seems like the most likely outcome.
5. Caleb Martin
Miami Heat | Forward
So far, Martin has been left out of the carousel of 3 and D forwards that landed Derrick Jones Jr. with the Clippers and Nazi marshal as his replacement in Dallas. Compared to them, Martin is even more accomplished as a playoff contributor, having averaged 12.7 points on 64% two-point shooting and 42% three-point shooting during Miami’s run to the 2023 NBA Finals. It’s possible Martin simply returns to the Heat, though they should be mindful of spending given luxury tax and second-bench concerns.
6. Gary Trent Jr.
Toronto Raptors | Guard
This summer’s free agent class was unusually crowded at the shooting guard position. So far, Monk Malik has reached an agreement to return to the Kings of Sacramento, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope He landed a three-year contract with the Orlando MagicKlay Thompson left for the Dallas Mavericks via a sign-and-trade deal and De’Anthony Melton replaced it with the Golden State Warriors using the mid-level exception for non-taxpayers.
That leaves Trent as my favorite among the remaining options. Though he saw his scoring average drop from 17.4 points to 13.7 last season, Trent shot 39 percent from three-point range and is still in his prime at age 25.
7. Isaac Okoro
Cleveland Cavaliers | Forward (Restricted)
Okoro, the top remaining restricted free agent, has a better chance of receiving an offer if the handful of teams with remaining salary-cap space don’t spend it before the moratorium ends on July 6. That’s the starting point for the matchup decision timer, which must come by July 7 for offers made during the moratorium.
At that point, a team that makes Okoro an offer will see its cap space tied up for about 36 hours before the Cavaliers must decide whether to match the offer. If no offer for Okoro comes in from another team, negotiations could drag on, with the threat of accepting their one-year, $12.7 million qualifying offer being Okoro’s only leverage.
8. Friend Hield
Philadelphia 76ers | Guard
He has a three-point shot, he will travel. Alone Stephen Curry (1,618) has made more 3-pointers than Hield (1,600) over the past five seasons, and no one else is within 260 of Hield’s total. At this stage of Hield’s career, he’s probably better suited to a reserve role. Still, Hield could be a difference-maker for a team hungry for shots.
9. Simone Fontecchio
Detroit Pistons | Forward (Restricted)
Since the Pistons sent the Utah Jazz Even though Fontecchio was drafted 32nd overall at the trade deadline, it’s surprising that he hasn’t been finalized on a new deal as a restricted free agent yet. That was a different regime, though, and new Detroit front office executive Trajan Langdon may not value Fontecchio as highly. He’s coming off a second NBA season in which he shot 55 percent from two-point range and 40 percent from three-point range, starting 43 of the 66 games he played.
10. Lucas Kennard
Memphis Grizzlies | Guard
The Grizzlies declined Kennard’s $14.8 million team option in an effort to manage their luxury tax situation. Memphis is currently $7.3 million under the tax with 13 players under contract. As a result, the Grizzlies could still bring Kennard back at a lower salary by utilizing all of Bird’s rights. A career 44% shooter from long range, Kennard has twice led the NBA in 3-point percentage.