NBA’s 11 best free agents still available on 2024 market, ranked

Virtually the entire large names in NBA free company are off the board, however DeMar DeRozan nonetheless lingers. The Chicago Bulls star is the most effective participant left on the open market getting ready to his thirty fifth birthday, and there doesn’t appear to be an apparent match for him on the market. With the Bulls seemingly able to decide to a rebuild, DeRozan is on the market for the taking as a veteran wing who can nonetheless carry out at a close to All-Star degree.

There’s already been a lot motion in free company. Paul George signed with the 76ers, Isaiah Hartenstein joined the Thunder, and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope inked a take care of the Magic at the beginning of the free company interval. Even second tier free brokers like Naji Marshall (Mavericks), Derrick Jones Jr. (Clippers), Tobias Harris (Pistons), and Jonas Valanciunas (Wizards) have discovered new houses. When Klay Thompson agreed to a three-year take care of the Dallas Mavericks, one other large title in free company got here off the board.

Whereas the headline stars of this yr’s free company class are nearly all gone, there are nonetheless some good values available. Who’s nonetheless left on the NBA free agent market? Glad you requested. Listed here are the 11 finest gamers nonetheless unsigned in 2024 NBA free company proper now. Additionally learn our on the spot grades for NBA free company, and take a look at our dwell NBA free company tracker.

This listing has been up to date following the Warriors’ sign-and-trade for Buddy Hield, the Pistons’ signing of Malik Beasley, and 76ers’ signing of Caleb Martin.

11. Saddiq Bey

Bey tore his ACL on March 11 and might be sidelined for all the season. It’s terrible luck for a participant who might have seen a pleasant payday on the open market this summer season. The 25-year-old wing has all the time been a very good shooter, however his outdoors shot principally deserted him final season with the Hawks, making solely 31 p.c of his threes. It’d make sense for a crew to signal him to an inexpensive multi-year deal so he can rehab his knee and see if he can get again to his pre-injury ranges within the 2025-26 season.

10. Kyle Lowry

Lowry can nonetheless be efficient at 38 years outdated even when his play is quickly declining. The veteran level guard someplace performed practically half-hour per sport for the Philadelphia 76ers of their first spherical sequence in opposition to the New York Knicks. He hit 39 p.c of his threes on the season between Miami and Philadelphia, and continues to be an irritant on protection. Lowry shall be a pleasant buy-low veteran addition for a crew chasing a hoop.

9. Markelle Fultz

The previous No. 1 general decide has nonetheless by no means discovered his damaged soar shot, however he’s had some good seasons as a downhill guard who can compete defensively. Sadly, Fultz had a horrible yr for the Magic simply earlier than getting into free company, and now doubtless received’t have a lot of a market regardless of being solely 26 years outdated. Fultz wants to determine a method to begin ending on the rim once more if he’s going to avoid wasting his NBA profession. He can nonetheless be a stable playmaker, however his passing doesn’t hit the identical with out the specter of his personal scoring.

8. Haywood Highsmith

Highsmith is likely one of the nice profitable tales of the Warmth’s growth program, going from a DII school program (Wheeling) to an eventual playoff contributor for the Warmth a couple of years later. Now 27 years outdated, Highsmith is a ahead who brings toughness, defensive versatility, and spot-up capturing. He knocked down a career-best 39.6 p.c of his threes final yr for the Warmth. He lacks supreme dimension at 6’5, however Highsmith simply is aware of how one can play.

7. Spencer Dinwiddie

Dinwiddie’s three-point shot and rim ending fell off a cliff this previous yr in stops with Brooklyn and the Lakers, however that may make him a very good purchase low candidate for a contender. The 31-year-old is a giant guard with pull-up capturing means and a few playmaking ability, however he failed to attain effectively from any a part of the ground final season that wasn’t the free throw line. Guards who shoot beneath 40 p.c from the sphere aren’t going to have a giant market, however there’s nonetheless some worth in Dinwiddie’s foul baiting and capturing.

6. Lonnie Walker IV

Walker is a microwave scorer who can his personal offense in a pinch. The 25-year-old guard can get scorching as a quantity three-point shooter, and can also be an athletic finisher in transition. He’s had sufficient good video games over the yr — together with a couple of within the playoffs for the Lakers — that it looks like a much bigger breakout is feasible with a extra sizable position. The 6’4 guard is the most effective pure scorer left in the marketplace after DeRozan.

5. Gary Trent Jr.

Trent can actually shoot it from deep. He hit 39.3 p.c of his three-pointers on 6.4 makes an attempt per sport with the Toronto Raptors final season. He’s first rate defensively at producing steals, however has a nasty behavior of discovering himself out of place on that finish. Trent is type of a one-trick pony, however each crew wants capturing. Stil solely 25 years outdated, Trent will discover a residence someplace ultimately even when he doesn’t get the large payday he was in search of.

4. Isaac Okoro

Okoro developed slowly as the previous No. 5 general decide within the 2020 NBA Draft, however he confirmed actual enchancment in his fourth professional season with the Cleveland Cavaliers final yr. The 6’5 wing is a tenacious backcourt defender fast sufficient to stay with speedy guards and powerful sufficient to deal with greater assignments. The gaping gap in Okoro’s sport has all the time been his soar shot, however final season he hit 39 p.c of his threes on low quantity. Okoro must maintain upping his quantity from three as a result of groups nonetheless refuse to protect him from the skin, however his point-of-attack protection is so priceless that he ought to land a pleasant deal from Cleveland ultimately.

3. Tyus Jones

Jones is a traditional level guard who constantly posts a excessive help fee and a low turnover fee. He made a serious leap as a shooter final season for a horrible Washington Wizards crew by flattening 41.4 p.c of the 256 three-pointers he tried. Jones is a smaller guard with out top-end athleticism, and that limits his effectiveness as a driver and defender. Nonetheless solely 28 years outdated, Jones is a stable caretaker level guard who can arrange teammates however received’t have as a lot of an impression as his numbers may point out.

2. Miles Bridges

No crew ought to need Bridges after the horrifying home violence allegations he confronted in 2022 and past. The Hornets introduced him again final season, and have been smoked in his minutes on the ground regardless of the 26-year-old placing up career-best scoring numbers. Learn our James Dator on how retaining Bridges killed his Hornets fandom.

1. DeMar DeRozan

DeRozan continues to be extremely productive as he enters his age-35 season. He’s a hyper-efficient mid-range scorer, he hardly ever turns the ball over, and he’s constantly wonderful in crunch-time. DeRozan simply requires a really specific match as a result of his weaknesses as a shoot three-point shooter and defender. The Chicago Bulls seem prepared to maneuver on from DeRozan after three great seasons so the crew can rebuild in a loaded 2025 draft class. That’s a clever transfer for Chicago, however it leaves DeRozan with no residence regardless of some good years left in his profession. It looks like DeRozan might get squeezed in free company because of the lack of cash out there. Whereas that’s unlucky for him, some crew goes to finish up with an excellent cut price.