NBA 2025 free agent rankings: Top players who could be available
The2025 NBA Draftis in the books, meaning we're just days away from free agency. Starting the day after thelast game of the NBA Finals, teams were able to begin negotiations with their prospective free agents. But the doors open officially on Monday, June 30, at 6 p.m. ET, teams may begin talking with free agents who finished seasons on other teams. Some are unrestricted free agents, which means they are able to sign with any team that offers a deal; restricted free agents can sign a contract with another team but the team he last played for has the right to match the offer and retain the player. Others have player options, meaning they can opt out of the final season of their contract and become a free agent or they can opt in and play out the final year of the deal. Similarly, some contracts have a team option on the final season of the contract, meaning the team can decide whether it brings the player back or allows him to enter free agency. It all sets up what should be a busy couple of weeks. Here are the top players who could be available come 6 p.m. on June 30: 2024-25 stats:24.4 ppg, 8.2 apg, 7.8 rpg, 51.3% FG, 37.6% 3PT, 78.2% FT James hit free agency last summer and signed a two-year, $101.3 million contract with a player option at $52.6 million for 2025-26. It's likely James will become a free agent again and try to maximize his earnings (with the Lakers most likely) while including a no-trade clause in his contract. At every chance, James has indicated he is happy playing for the Lakers and living in the L.A. area. Plus, his son, Bronny, is under contract with the franchise. At 40 years old, James still produced at an All-NBA level. 2024-25 stats:22.8 ppg, 8.7 apg, 5.8 rpg, 41% FG, 35.2% 3PT, 87.4% FT Harden has a player option for 2025-26 at $36.3 million for the season. He can play out the final year of the contract or become a free agent in the summer. He still logged significant minutes (35.3 per game) and continued to produce. A strong run during the postseason reaffirmed his status as a capable scorer. 2024-25 stats:18.7 ppg, 7.1 rpg, 4.7 apg, 48.5% FG, 34.4% 3PT, 80.6% FT Randle is another player with an option for 2025-26. He can either finish the contract at $30.9 million for next season or become a free agent in the summer. What to watch here: Is the likely new ownership group led by Alex Rodriguez and Marc Lore ready to spend what it takes to keep the core roster intact? 2024-25 stats:24.7 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 4.6 apg, 47.3% FG, 41% 3PT, 91.6% FT Kyrie Irvingopted out of the final year of his contract and plans to sign a three-year, $119 million deal with the Mavs,according to ESPN. Irving, 33, had one season and $42.9 million left on his three-year, $120 million deal but decided to seek a longer contract. He underwent surgery on March 26 for a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left kne and will miss a significant portion of next season. 2024-25 stats:15.6 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 2.0 bpg, 1.5 apg, 48.1% FG, 39.6% 3PT, 77.3% FT It seems Turner has been mentioned in trade talks for several seasons. Now, he's in control of where he plays next season as an unrestricted free agent. Playing almost four more minutes per game this season than last, Turner remains a positive presence in the Pacers' rotation, and he has been a steady anchor down low during Indiana's run to the NBA Finals. Turner's ability to stretch the floor and knock down 3s should increase his value on the open market. 2024-25 stats:14.2 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 2.3 apg, 46.2% FG, 37.9% 3PT, 77.6% FT Reid is headed for a big payday — whether it's this offseason or the next. He's under contract for 2025-26 at a team friendly $15 million for the season but can exercise his player option and become a free agent this summer rather than the summer of 2026. His production made it possible to part ways with Karl-Anthony Towns before the season. 2024-25 stats:14.6 ppg, 8.1 rpg, 7.2 apg, 1.2 spg, 46.5% FG, 37.8% 3PT, 78.1% FT Giddey is a pending restricted free agent in his first season with the Bulls after Oklahoma City traded him for Alex Caruso. Giddey does a little bit of everything for the Bulls, putting together career highs in assists, 3-point shooting percentage, 3s made per game and minutes. His strong play late in the season elevated the Bulls, which had lacked a distributor and creator, into playoff contention. 2024-25 stats:14.1 ppg, 5.6 apg, 3.7 rpg, 1.6 spg, 37.8% FG, 34.5% 3PT, 81% FT The Rockets aren't picking the final season of a three-year, $128.5 million contract VanVleet signed in 2023 – but VanVleet plans to sign a two-year, $50 million deal to remain with Houston. 2024-25 stats:19.0 ppg, 8.2 rpg, 2.0 apg, 1.0 spg, 1.0 bpg, 52.7% FG, 39.9% 3PT, 84.8% FT Collins exercised his $26.5 million player option for 2025-26, according to ESPN. 2024-25 stats:15.3 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 2.2. apg, 45.4% FG, 30.5% 3PT, 66.8% FT Kuminga is a restricted free agent, meaning the Warriors can match any offer from other teams and retain him. He has missed time with injuries but he's the kind of youthful, athletic wing the Warriors could use, with further development. With Golden State's trade for Jimmy Butler, Kuminga fell out of the rotation, though he did re-emerge once injuries forced him back on the floor. 2024-25 stats:9.4 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 2.7 apg, 43.8% FG, 38.1% 3PT, 78% FT Alexander-Walker is in the final season of a two-year, $9 million contract, which makes him an unrestricted free agent in the summer. He has established himself as a viable rotation player, particularly on defense, where his length and athleticism are extremely valuable in the modern NBA. 2024-25 stats:16.3 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 1.7 apg, 43% FG, 41.6% 3PT, 67.9% FT A veteran sharpshooter, Beasley is a plug-and-play sniper who should give any team instant contributions just from the volume of shots and accuracy he has from beyond the arc. Though he's only an occasional starter, Beasley ranked seventh in the NBA in 3-point shots per game (9.3). But when lacing them at 41.6%, he should find plenty of suitors. 2024-25 stats:15.1 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 1.8 apg, 1.5 spg, 47% FG, 29.3% 3PT, 75.1% FT He took on more responsibility with the series of injuries Philadelphia faced this season, and Oubre responded to become one of the team's more consistent producers. He has plus athleticism, can get to the rim and his length allows him to defend many of the athletic wings in the NBA well enough. 2024-25 stats:24 ppg, 3.8 apg, 3.3 rpg, 43.8% FG, 34.9% 3PT, 88.1% FT Thomas is a restricted free agent and headed for a raise on his $4 million salary in 2024-25. Limited by injuries that sidelined him for more than half of the season, he can still get buckets and drop 20-plus in just about every game. 2024-25 stats:13.9 ppg, 8.4 rpg, 2.1 apg, 46.6% FG, 36.5% 3PT, 83.6% FT Portis has a player option, so he would need to exercise it to remain with the team. Yet, if he opts to test the market, his ability to provide steady and solid scoring and rebounding off the bench could be appealing to any number of teams. A frequent contender for Sixth Man of the Year, Portis also brings instant energy and tenacity upon stepping on the floor. 2024-25 stats:12.1 ppg, 3.4 apg, 3.2 rpg, 46.7% FG, 37.3% 3PT, 71% FT LeVert will hit unrestricted free agency this summer following a two-year, $32 million contract. He had a nice season with Cleveland until it traded him, and he continued to excel as a scorer with Atlanta, where he got more offensive opportunities. 2024-25 stats:14.6 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 3.0 apg, 46.7% FG, 38.5% 3PT, 75.7% FT Grimes is a restricted free agent this summer, and he made the most of his opportunity after being traded from Dallas to Philadelphia. Grimes averaged 21.9 points on 46.9% shooting from the field and 37.3% on 3s and has scored at least 30 points five times with the 76ers, including 46 in an overtime loss against the Rockets. 2024-25 stats:12.5 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 2.9 apg, 48.3% FG, 36.8% 3PT, 69.1% FT Aldama is a restricted free agent in the offseason, and he turned into a valuable big man for the Grizzlies' formidable frontcourt. The fourth-year big averaged career highs in points, rebounds, assists, field goal percentage and 3-point shooting percentage. 2024-25 stats:13.0 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 1.9 bpg, 1.8 apg, 50.9% FG, 37.3% 3PT, 82.6% FT Lopez had been a valuable player for the Bucks, who signed him to a two-year, $48 million contract in 2023. Will the two sides be able to reach terms on a new deal in free agency and continue a mutually beneficial relationship, or will Lopez find a new team? 2024-25 stats:8.7 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 1.4 apg, 44.8% FG, 41.1% 3PT, 66.7% FT Finney-Smith has a $15.3 million player option on the 2025-26 season. One aspect is certain: Since acquiring him from Brooklyn in a trade in late December, Finney-Smith made the Lakers a better defensive team with his length and versatility. 2024-25 stats:8.9 ppg, 8.5 rpg, 1.1 apg, 1 bpg, 55.9% FG, 53.6% FT Capela finished a two-year, $45.8 million contract and will be an unrestricted free agent. He did lose his starting job midway through the season to Onyeka Okongwu, so that could affect his market. Playing his fewest minutes per game (21.4) since 2015-16, Capela's per-36 minutes stats reveal a noticeable contribution: 14.9 points, 14.4 rebounds and 1.6 blocks. 2024-25 stats:8.8 ppg, 7.4 apg, 3.6 rpg, 1.3 spg, 42.7% FG, 37.7% 3PT, 92.4% FT How much more does Paul want to play? He signed a one-year, $10.4 million contract last offseason and will have his choice of teams in unrestricted free agency if he wants to continue his playing career. 2024-25 stats:12.6 ppg, 5.1 apg, 2.8 rpg, 1.0 spg, 39% FG, 31.4% 3PT, 83.4% FT Though his scoring numbers were down, a career low that was below even his rookie season levels from 2015-16, Russell is still a player who can handle the ball and create for others, one who can ignite from 3-point range and one who can infuse instant offense into a system. Feasibly, what Russell has needed most is a clear definition of his role and stability. 2024-25 stats:13.3 ppg, 6.1 apg, 4.9 rpg, 1.4 spg, 44.9% FG, 32.3% 3PT, 66.1% FT Westbrook has a player option for 2025-26 at $3.4 million for the season. Was the partnership successful enough to get another season out of Westbrook in Denver? Will the Nuggets' — and Westbrook's — playoff success determine that? 2024-25 stats:9.0 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 2.1 apg, 42.3% FG, 36.3% 3PT, 89.5% FT This has been another fruitful relationship at the end of Horford's career. Following the end of a two-year, $19.5 million contract with the Celtics, Horford is an unrestricted free agent. Though didn't have as good a season as last, he's beloved by his teammates. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:NBA 2025 free agents: Ranking top players who could be available
NBA 2025 free agent rankings: Top players who could be available The2025 NBA Draftis in the books, meaning we're just days away from fre...
