With the offseason just over a month away, NBA front offices are already starting to look towards free agency. When the clock strikes 12:01 PM ET on July 6, deals will be struck between teams and players (although many may be done before that as teams can start negotiating with free agents from other teams on June 30 at 6 PM ET).
But what exactly could that look like, and which players will be targeted? We’ve got you covered, providing one realistic free agent for every NBA team that would bolster their lineup.
But before we begin, it should be noted that players such as LeBron James, Kyrie Irving, Julius Randle, James Harden, and a few other high-quality starters have player options that they’re presumed to decline with the expectation of re-signing with the same team.
Those players will not be included in this list, as the chances of them leaving their franchises are slim.
Atlanta Hawks
Nickeil Alexander-Walker, G, Minnesota
One of the top guards on the market, Alexander-Walker greatly outplayed his two-year, $9 million contract with the Timberwolves.
🇨🇦 Represent The Canadians 🇨🇦
Nickeil Alexander-Walker | vs. Oklahoma City – Game 4
23 POINTS
5 THREE POINTERS
6 ASSISTS
4 REBOUNDS
2 STEALS pic.twitter.com/LHIlNuEVdj— NBA Canada (@NBACanada) May 27, 2025
Now on the open market, he’d be a tremendous complement in the backcourt with a star player like Atlanta’s Trae Young, who is a sub-par defender. Alexander-Walker grew into becoming a versatile and disruptive defender the past two seasons — while adding a three-point shot, something that allows him to fit with any team.
Boston Celtics
Dennis Schroder, G, Detroit
While it remains to be seen what exact changes will be made in Boston, they’re sure to happen with an aging and expensive core and Jayson Tatum out for a majority of next season with an Achilles injury.
Enter a player like Schroder, who would likely be a cheap signing and could lead the bench unit or play in a spot-starter role in the place of potentially departed guards Jrue Holiday or Derrick White.
Brooklyn Nets
Jonathan Kuminga, F, Golden State
The Nets have more than double the amount of cap space (roughly $55 million) than the next closest team, giving them a leg up on any free agent they make a run at. Kuminga fell out of the rotation late in the season for the Warriors due to fit, but his talent is clear.
Still just 22 years old, the former seventh-overall pick averaged 20.8 points per game in the second round against Minnesota when his number was called. The Nets need an infusion of talent and youth, and they’d get exactly that in Kuminga.
Charlotte Hornets:
Steven Adams, C, Houston
It’s far from flashy, but adding Adams to a team led by its core of LaMelo Ball (23 years old), Brandon Miller (22), and Mark Williams (23) would be extremely beneficial in the locker room while giving the Hornets a steady, physical presence down low.
His time with the Rockets was spent with a young team that broke out and made the playoffs in 2025. Adams knows what it takes to win, as he’s done plenty of it in his career and could carry that mentality to Charlotte.
Chicago Bulls
Gary Trent Jr., G, Milwaukee
It’s unclear what the Bulls are trying to do after losing in the Play-In Tournament for the third consecutive year. They haven’t begun a rebuilding process yet, and it’s unlikely they’ll do it now.
Adding Trent would increase the spacing further for a team that jacked up the second-most triples in the league last season. Not a bad defender and a career 39.1% three-point shooter, he could play a key role for a mid-sized contract in Chicago.
Cleveland Cavaliers
Bruce Brown Jr., G, New Orleans
Simply put, Brown is a winning player when put in winning situations. While that may sound odd, it’s the epitome of the former NBA champion and proven playoff performer.
On mediocre to bad teams, Brown struggles to find a role — but once the playoffs come around, he’s all over the court, similar to what Josh Hart does for the New York Knicks. In win-now mode, the Cavaliers would benefit from signing Brown to their roster.
Dallas Mavericks
Caris LaVert, G, Atlanta
With Kyrie Irving’s Achilles injury sidelining him for most, if not all, of next season, the Mavericks desperately need creators on the perimeter.
Though he isn’t the most consistent, LaVert averages 13.9 points and 2.9 assists for his career and has played proficiently well in starting roles when needed. That’s certainly needed in Dallas, where he could help handle some of the ball-handling responsibilities in Irving’s absence.
Denver Nuggets
Tim Hardaway Jr., G, Detroit
The Nuggets’ last-place finish in three-point attempts per game this past season signals an immediate need for perimeter shooters. Kentavius Caldwell-Pope was too expensive last summer for Denver to resign, but Hardaway could be a bargain signing if he doesn’t end up back in Detroit.
Three-time MVP Nikola Jokic’s passing abilities would create wide-open shots galore for the career 36.8% three-point shooting Hardaway.
Detroit Pistons
Jonathan Kuminga, F, Golden State
With the second-most cap space, $24 million, the Pistons are another team that should be in the market for Kuminga’s talents. They have young, promising players on the wing in Ausar Thompson and Ron Holland II, but using their money on another is a risk they could be willing to take.
Despite a surprisingly positive season in which the Pistons pushed the Knicks to six games in the first round, they should still be in talent acquisition mode, as this is far from a finished roster capable of contending.
Golden State Warriors
Myles Turner, C, Indiana
Turner has played extremely well during the 2025 playoffs for the Pacers, continuing to drive up his market value — potentially out of reach for the Pacers. An unrestricted free agent this summer, there will be plenty of suitors for the floor-spacing, shot-blocking big man.
Warriors star Stephen Curry has never played with a high-level stretch big man. Turner could be the first to further open up looks for Curry as he continues into the twilight of his career.
Houston Rockets
Bruce Brown Jr., G, New Orleans
Though Brown averaged just 8.3 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per game last season, he’s expected to be a coveted player for playoff-level teams like the Cavs and certainly the Rockets.
Hard-nosed and tough, Brown fits exactly what Houston is all about and would be a purely additive inclusion to a young roster looking to take the next step after its first playoff appearances with this core.
Indiana Pacers
Clint Capela, C, Atlanta
With Turner potentially playing his way out of the Pacers’ price range, Capela would be a solid consolation prize as a rim-running center.
Though he doesn’t have anywhere near the shooting prowess of Turner, the former Hawks and Rockets center is a terrific rebounder (10.5 rebounds per game in his career) and had great chemistry in the pick-and-roll with Young and James Harden, something he could recreate with Tyrese Haliburton.
Los Angeles Clippers
Malcolm Brogdon, G, Washington
The Clippers were noticeably thin at the guard positions in the second unit, often having to play Kris Dunn — who’s better suited solely as a defender — in that spot.
Bringing in Brogdon would calm those worries while giving Harden a reliable backup who can take the load off him after averaging the 20th-highest minutes per game despite being 35 years old.
The 2023 Sixth Man of the Year, Brogdon is comfortable in a reserve role and is a proven playoff performer on both ends of the floor.
Los Angeles Lakers
Myles Turner, C, Indiana
The addition of Luka Doncic came at the expense of center Anthony Davis, leaving the Lakers without a dependable big man in the middle after the Jaxson Hayes experiment failed.
Having created tremendous chemistry with Haliburton in Indiana, Turner would play a similar role as Los Angeles’ screener in pick-and-pop situations with Doncic. He also blocked two shots per game this season, adding a proven rim protector to the defense.
Memphis Grizzlies
Gary Payton II, G, Golden State
If Payton isn’t resigned by the Warriors, Memphis would be a terrific landing spot. A niche type of player, the 6’2″ Payton is an excellent defender and cutter who has the ability to hit an open three-pointer from the corner.
He exemplifies everything — mental and physical toughness — that the Grizzlies need an injection of.
Miami Heat
Kelly Oubre Jr., F, Philadelphia
Though Andrew Wiggins arrived in the Jimmy Butler III trade, Miami suffered from a lack of production on the wing in the playoffs.
Oubre isn’t a star by any means, but he’s averaged over 15 points a night for the past seven seasons in starting and bench roles. He’s also a versatile, hardworking defender who would fit with what the Heat want to be on that end.
Milwaukee Bucks
D’Angelo Russell, G, Brooklyn
Russell’s market is unlikely to be very robust, giving teams with limited cap space such as Milwaukee a chance to sign him this summer.
With Damian Lillard potentially out for the entirety of next season and Giannis Antetokounmpo exploring his future potentially elsewhere, a proven ball-handler will be needed to safeguard the Bucks from complete disaster.
A 10-year vet, Russell has been around the league and could be a place-holder at the point guard position while Lillard recovers.
Minnesota Timberwolves
Nicolas Batum, F, Los Angeles
Assuming he doesn’t retire and continues playing into his 21st season, as he’s said he wants to do, Batum should be a target for teams trying to win right now.
Minnesota has made the Western Conference Finals two seasons in a row yet hasn’t gotten over the hump. Batum is far from a star, but he’s a star in his role as a floor-spacer and lengthy, disruptive defender. He’d benefit the team in the locker room and on the floor for the Timberwolves.
New Orleans Pelicans
Dante Exum, G, Dallas
Exum has proven himself to be a solid reserve since returning to the NBA after a stint in Europe. Last season, he averaged 8.7 points and 2.8 assists per game for the Mavericks.
Trading away 2025 First-Team All-Defense guard Dyson Daniels hurts for the Pelicans, but Exum could help fill that mold of a defender with positional size and length, albeit in a much smaller role.
He’ll likely be a cheap signing as well, a must for New Orleans as they navigate the offseason with several bloated contracts.
New York Knicks
Tyus Jones, G, Phoenix
The load on point guard Jalen Brunson has always been heavy during his time with the Knicks.
While much of that has to do with coach Tom Thibodeau’s coaching style, he’s never had a reliable backup point guard worthy of giving the ball to that can run the offense effectively, as Cameron Payne is best as a shoot-first spark plug off the bench.
Jones is a steady passer with the second-highest assist-to-turnover ratio in the league last season in Phoenix.
Oklahoma City Thunder
Larry Nance Jr., F, Atlanta
The Thunder are operating with very limited cap space towards free agency, but adding a player like Nance on a cheap contract makes sense.
He’s a proven role player who’s maturity, versatility on both ends of the floor, and ability to space the floor (44.7% from three-point range on 3.2 attempts per game last season) would be a nice addition to Oklahoma City’s back end of the rotation.
Orlando Magic
Ty Jerome, G, Cleveland
Badly needing a guard with outside shooting capabilities, Jerome’s free agency will be one to watch for the Magic this summer.
He broke out during his second season in Cleveland, averaging 12.5 points and 3.4 assists per game while finishing third in the Sixth Man of the Year voting.
He’d be unlikely to start with the Magic, but Jerome would fill a similar role as a scoring and creating guard off the bench, something Orlando could certainly use.
Philadelphia 76ers
Tre Jones, G, Chicago
The 76ers are set at the starting guard positions with All-Star Tyrese Maxey and two-guard Jared McCain, but they lack a commanding presence in the second unit.
Jones is far from flashy, but he averages 4.7 assists in his career and rarely turns the ball over, much like his brother, Tyus.
Philadelphia still considers itself a contender despite a lost 2024-25 season, and Jones would be a cheap but potentially valuable addition to the roster.
Phoenix Suns
Nickeil Alexander-Walker, G, Minnesota
The Suns enter the offseason with a lot of uncertainty. But one thing is certain: no matter who they bring back from this current roster, they need to improve significantly on defense after giving up the 23rd-most points per game.
Alexander-Walker’s defensive abilities would be invaluable for the Suns, especially considering he isn’t a negative on the offensive end with his improved shooting from deep.
Portland Trail Blazers
Precious Achiuwa, F, New York
The Trail Blazers already have three centers on their roster, but only one — Donovan Clingan — is considered a long-term option.
Achiuwa, standing 6’8″ and 243 pounds, can be a small-ball center or a physically imposing power forward, something a young Portland team doesn’t have.
He’s also on the younger side (25 years old) and is an above-average defender, qualities the Blazers’ front office seems to be looking for as they rebuild.
Sacramento Kings
Trendon Watford, F, Brooklyn
Watford has quietly grown into a solid reserve during his two seasons with the Nets, producing averages of 10.2 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game last season.
With backup four-man Trey Lyles also an unrestricted free agent, the Kings could target the younger and more dynamic Watford, who’s sturdy at nearly 240 pounds but can handle the ball well and fits the dribble-handoff offense that starting center Domantas Sabonis excels at.
San Antonio Spurs
Andre Drummond, C, Philadelphia
Last season, the Spurs were forced to turn to Bismack Biyombo once Victor Wembanyama went down to injury and rapidly dropped out of the Play-In race.
Meanwhile, Drummond continues to be one of the best per-minute rebounders in the NBA after averaging 7.3 points and 7.8 rebounds in just 18.8 minutes per game a season ago.
Adding him as insurance behind Wembanyama would be a key pickup. They could also play together sometimes, as Wembanyama often roams on the perimeter.
Toronto Raptors
Matisse Thybulle, G, Portland
The Raptors have all the offensive weapons they need — or, in reality, all they can pay for — but a defensive stopper should be a point of emphasis heading into the summer.
Thybulle struggled to stay healthy during his two and a half years in Portland, depressing his value on the market.
However, he continued his career arc of being a terrific defender with great hands, averaging 2.2 steals in just over 20 minutes a game last season. He could serve a similar role in Toronto as they attempt to make a playoff push.
Utah Jazz
Davion Mitchell, G, Miami
While the Jazz have a number of young guards on their roster, Mitchell finally came into his own during his half-season with the Heat. If they decide not to re-sign him, he revealed himself as a player with some untapped potential on the offensive end of the floor.
Add in that his defense has always been fantastic, and it wouldn’t hurt for Utah to take a low-risk chance here.
Washington Wizards
Ziaire Williams, F, Brooklyn
Not projected to be big spenders, the Wizards have invested heavily into compiling as much young talent as they can. The No. 10 pick in 2021, Williams never caught on with the Grizzlies before he was traded to the Nets.
He played well last season in a reserve role, averaging 10.0 points and 4.6 rebounds per game while showing marked improvement with his three-point stroke. A 6’9″ wing, it’d be wise for Washington to sign him for cheap and see if they can further develop him.
