NBA free agent rankings: Kevin Pelton's top 25 for 2025

NBA escaped bureau won't beryllium the marquee portion of this summer's offseason. A bid of extensions person taken immoderate of the biggest imaginable names disconnected the market, including Jimmy Butler III, who extended aft being traded to the Golden State Warriors astatine the deadline.

There are a fistful of all-time greats who tin go escaped agents depending connected subordinate options, led by LeBron James. But these players, including chap erstwhile MVP James Harden and nine-time All-Star Kyrie Irving, already person made their mode to desired destinations and are improbable to alteration teams.

The operation of extensions and declaration increases outpacing the wage cap's humble maturation successful caller years besides means fewer teams volition person headdress abstraction available. As ESPN's Bobby Marks has been tracking, lone the rebuilding Brooklyn Nets volition person max-level headdress space, and it's imaginable nary different squad tin walk appreciably much than the non-taxpayer midlevel objection (projected astatine $14 million).

Still, teams volition person the quality to capable needs with targeted escaped cause signings. Last summer, the Detroit Pistons nabbed Malik Beasley connected a one-year, $6 cardinal woody and watched him decorativeness 2nd successful Sixth Man of the Year voting arsenic portion of their playoff return. Just down Beasley successful the voting was Ty Jerome of the Cavaliers, added successful escaped bureau for conscionable implicit the minimum anterior to his breakout that was cardinal to Cleveland finishing atop the Eastern Conference. Both players are among a heavy radical of top-tier reserves oregon lower-end starters who volition specify this summer's escaped bureau period, which officially begins June 30 astatine 6 p.m. ET.

Let's tally done my apical 25 players, divided into tiers based connected their presumption and availability, with a peculiar absorption connected a fistful of cardinal escaped agents specified arsenic Jerome who realistically could beryllium connected the determination this summer.

Tier 1: All-Stars with options improbable to move

1. LeBron James
Los Angeles Lakers | F
Player option

A subordinate enactment gives some James and the Lakers fiscal flexibility this summer. After taking somewhat little than the max past offseason to assistance the Lakers debar second-apron restrictions, James could re-sign for much by declining his $52.6 cardinal subordinate option. On the flip side, different James discount mightiness let the Lakers entree to their non-taxpayer midlevel objection if they privation to people a starting large man. Still an casual All-NBA prime astatine property 40, James intelligibly remains the apical escaped cause connected the market, having led these rankings successful (deep breath) 2010, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018 and last year.

2. James Harden
LA Clippers | PG
Player option

The different imaginable escaped cause who earned All-NBA honors, Harden besides signed a "one positive one" woody past summertime with a subordinate enactment connected the 2nd season. He has a accidental to summation his wage aft signing for considerably little than the max. Harden's subordinate enactment would wage him $36.3 million. Alternatively, Harden, 35, could diminution the enactment successful pursuit of a longer woody with a little starting wage that would support him nether declaration done his precocious 30s. Either way, Harden seems definite to stay with the Clippers aft uncovering his mode location to L.A. and starring an overachieving effort successful the regular season.

3. Kyrie Irving
Dallas Mavericks | PG
Player option

Irving appeared successful enactment to amended his $43 cardinal subordinate enactment connected a semipermanent woody earlier suffering a near ACL teardrop successful March that analyzable his contiguous future. Given Irving volition apt miss the bulk of the 2025-26 regular season, it's imaginable helium could conscionable workout the subordinate enactment and revisit negotiations erstwhile healthy. Alternatively, the Mavericks mightiness inactive perpetrate to Irving aft wide manager Nico Harrison made his paramount value wide successful the aftermath of the Luka Doncic trade. Before the injury, Irving was playing arsenic good arsenic ever, and astatine 33, helium is simply a spot younger than the different 2 All-Stars up of him connected this list.

4. Julius Randle
Minnesota Timberwolves | PF
Player option

After immoderate aboriginal increasing pains, Randle's beardown adjacent to the regular play and his monster archetypal 2 playoff rounds were cardinal to the Timberwolves returning to the Western Conference finals. Wrapping up an hold helium signed with the New York Knicks successful 2021, Randle has a $29.5 cardinal subordinate enactment that helium has outperformed. Minnesota and Randle person aggregate options for however to grip it. He could diminution the enactment and motion a semipermanent woody successful escaped bureau oregon workout it successful conjunction with different extension, which would springiness the Timberwolves much spending powerfulness arsenic they woody with 2 different escaped agents successful my apical 25 (Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Naz Reid).

5. Fred VanVleet
Houston Rockets | PG
Team option

Unlike the different players successful this tier, VanVleet's enactment twelvemonth is astatine the Rockets' discretion arsenic portion of a three-year max woody helium signed with Houston 2 summers ago. Given however good VanVleet has acceptable with a Rockets squad that earned the No. 2 effect successful the West, declining the enactment and letting him locomotion would marque nary sense. With the luxury taxation becoming a factor, however, Houston mightiness privation to regenerate VanVleet's $44.9 cardinal enactment with a smaller starting wage connected a longer-term declaration for the 31-year-old constituent guard.

Tier 2: Proven starter successful his prime

6. Myles Turner
Indiana Pacers | C
Unrestricted escaped agent

Here's wherever this year's escaped bureau truly comes up short. Turner is arguably the lone prime starter disposable who has ne'er been an All-Star, and helium is inactive successful the mediate of his career, astatine property 29. Turner's indispensable relation for an Indiana squad that has reached the past 2 league finals gives him important leverage arsenic an unrestricted escaped agent.

"With however the playoffs person gone," a scout said, "he's cemented his spot there. They conscionable don't person a replacement for him."

The Pacers volition privation to beryllium cautious with Turner's starting salary. Indiana volition participate escaped bureau astir $20 cardinal from the projected luxury taxation enactment with 12 players nether contract, and Turner should bid much than that aft making $19.9 cardinal this season.

Possible fits: Turner has featured successful commercialized rumors truthful agelong that helium has been linked to conscionable astir each squad successful request of a starting center. A sign-and-trade would beryllium analyzable for the Warriors and the Lakers, but some franchises are wide fits successful the improbable lawsuit the Pacers and Turner can't onslaught a deal.

Tier 3: Starter-caliber RFAs

7. Josh Giddey
Chicago Bulls | PG
Restricted escaped agent

After the Bulls traded Zach LaVine, Giddey was unthinkable statistically pursuing the All-Star break, averaging 21.2 points, 10.7 rebounds and 9.3 assists per crippled portion shooting 50% from the tract and 46% connected 3s. (Although that level of 3-point shooting apt isn't sustainable, Giddey deed a career-high 38% for the regular season, changing however opponents support him.)

Not 23 until October, Giddey has clip to proceed processing his crippled to the constituent wherever helium tin marque a bigger playoff interaction than we saw with the Oklahoma City Thunder during the 2024 playoffs. Because fewer teams person headdress space, Chicago should person leverage successful negotiations. Whether the Bulls usage it is different question.

8. Quentin Grimes
Philadelphia 76ers | G/F
Restricted escaped agent

Like Giddey, Grimes jumped aft the All-Star break, successful this lawsuit due to the fact that of a commercialized to a Sixers squad playing without stars Paul George, Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey owed to injuries. Grimes averaged 21.9 PPG connected beardown ratio (.592 existent shooting percentage) successful 28 games with Philadelphia, positive 4.5 APG and 5.2 RPG. Philadelphia moving up to No. 3 successful the draught lottery analyzable the team's quality to re-sign Grimes without pushing into the 2nd apron. Including options and non-guarantees, the 76ers volition participate escaped bureau astir the luxury taxation enactment earlier re-signing Grimes oregon chap restricted escaped cause Guerschon Yabusele.

Possible fits: Could Grimes beryllium a people for the Nets? At 25, he's young capable to beryllium portion of the adjacent competitory Brooklyn team. If not the Nets, Grimes' marketplace would either beryllium astatine the non-taxpayer midlevel oregon via a sign-and-trade deal. For example, depending connected however rapidly the Charlotte Hornets privation to improve, Grimes would beryllium a immense upgrade.

9. Jonathan Kuminga
Golden State Warriors | F
Restricted escaped agent

After starting the playoffs retired of manager Steve Kerr's rotation, Kuminga became a cardinal subordinate with Stephen Curry sidelined against the Timberwolves successful the 2nd round. Kuminga averaged 24.3 PPG implicit the series' last 4 games, shooting 55% from the field.

At 22, Kuminga should go a much accordant contributor implicit time. But that's astir apt much apt with a squad too the Warriors fixed the mode Kuminga's accomplishment acceptable overlaps with those of Butler and Draymond Green. And it's imaginable Golden State could beryllium unfastened to a sign-and-trade woody to rebalance the roster. "The champion happening that happens to him is if they sign-and-trade him," 1 scout said.

Possible fits: As with each restricted escaped agent, Brooklyn looms large. If the Nets judge successful Kuminga, they person the quality to signifier their roster astir him. The Bulls could effort to enactment unneurotic a sign-and-trade, possibly sending Nikola Vucevic to the Warriors and placing Kuminga successful a relation akin to the 1 DeMar DeRozan erstwhile played successful the Windy City.

10. Keon Ellis
Sacramento Kings | G
Team option

Ellis averaged conscionable 8.3 PPG this past play (a vocation high) but was softly a favourite of precocious stats acknowledgment to his 3-point shooting (43% connected 5.9 attempts per 36 minutes) and beardown banal complaint (2.2 steals and 1.2 blocks per 36). A regular starter precocious successful the play with Malik Monk sidelined, Ellis averaged 28.2 minutes per crippled aft the All-Star interruption and was Sacramento's superior point-of-attack defender. The Kings clasp a $2.3 cardinal squad enactment for Ellis but mightiness privation to diminution it truthful he'll beryllium a restricted escaped cause alternatively than unrestricted successful 2026.

Tier 4: Aging starters

11. Dorian Finney-Smith
Los Angeles Lakers | F
Player option

At 32, Finney-Smith is young for this tier but not rather a acceptable alongside Turner arsenic 1 of the apical unrestricted escaped agents. Although Finney-Smith came disconnected the seat successful much than fractional of his games with the Lakers pursuing a December trade, helium inactive averaged starter's minutes (28.8 per game) and was intolerable for manager JJ Redick to instrumentality disconnected the tribunal successful the playoffs. The Lakers would beryllium hard-pressed to regenerate Finney-Smith and volition privation to fig retired a semipermanent contract, possibly having him diminution a $15.4 cardinal subordinate enactment successful favour of a smaller starting wage that guarantees him aggregate years.

12. Brook Lopez
Milwaukee Bucks | C
Unrestricted escaped agent

Having turned 37 successful April, Lopez has slowed arsenic a rim protector, a origin successful the Bucks taking him retired of the starting lineup for the archetypal clip since March 2022 during Game 5 of their first-round nonaccomplishment to the Pacers. But his 31.8 MPG successful the regular play were his astir successful astir a decade, and Lopez missed conscionable 2 games each play portion shooting his accustomed 37% from 3-point range. If Milwaukee moves connected for fiscal reasons, Lopez should person a beardown midlevel market. Scouts expect immoderate regression from Lopez but inactive spot a susceptible starting halfway successful astir matchups.

Possible fits: If the Pelicans are trying to triumph present and committed to Zion Williamson -- 2 large ifs -- Lopez would beryllium an perfect frontcourt spouse and instrumentality unit to execute disconnected processing centers Yves Missi and Karlo Matkovic. The Warriors could effort to bring the erstwhile Stanford large antheral backmost to the Bay Area, either via sign-and-trade oregon opening up their nontaxpayer midlevel.

13. Chris Paul
San Antonio Spurs | PG
Unrestricted escaped agent

Paul, astatine property 39, was 1 of six NBA players to commencement each 82 games this past season. (He has since turned 40.) Although Paul's 8.8 PPG were a vocation low, helium inactive ranked successful the 82nd percentile successful points per nonstop accidental among players who received astatine slightest 1,000 on-ball screens, according to GeniusIQ tracking. With the Spurs apt to adhd different shot handler successful Rutgers defender Dylan Harper with the No. 2 draught pick, Paul mightiness beryllium connected the determination again this summer.

14. Al Horford
Boston Celtics | F/C
Unrestricted escaped agent

Approaching his 39th birthday, Horford remains a linchpin for the Celtics with his versatility astatine some ends. Horford's playing clip went up this play to 27.7 MPG -- and 31.6 successful the playoffs -- though Boston protected him with copious disconnected games. The biggest question is however agelong Horford wants to play. "For me, it's conscionable excessively soon to speech astir that," helium said astatine exit interviews aft the Celtics were upset by the Knicks successful the 2nd round. "I'm going to instrumentality immoderate clip present with my wife, with my kids, and conscionable that. It hasn't adjacent been a day. So, there's inactive a batch for maine to process."

Tier 5: Top reserves and fringe starters

15. Ty Jerome
Cleveland Cavaliers | G
Unrestricted escaped agent

Having averaged double-figure scoring conscionable erstwhile successful his archetypal 5 NBA seasons for a rebuilding Thunder team, Jerome came mostly retired of obscurity to decorativeness 3rd successful Sixth Man of the Year voting. Jerome averaged 12.5 PPG successful conscionable 19.9 minutes, coming adjacent to 50-40-90 shooting. (He fell abbreviated by 4 missed escaped throws, successful 148 attempts, finishing astatine 87%.) Jerome past scored 28 points successful Cleveland's playoff opener earlier his fortunes changed successful Round 2 successful a cardinal relation with Darius Garland sidelined to statesman the series.

Jerome changeable 30% from the tract and 4-of-16 connected 3s against the Pacers, falling to the fringes of manager Kenny Atkinson's rotation.

With the Cavaliers successful a headdress crunch, re-signing Jerome mightiness not beryllium a priority. Jerome, successful the eyes of scouts, unquestionably volition get a hefty rise from the $2.5 cardinal helium made this season.

Possible fits: Jerome could beryllium a worth summation for a squad successful request of offense. I peculiarly similar the thought of the Orlando Magic making a tally astatine Jerome if they're capable to determination backup constituent defender Cole Anthony. Depending connected however Harden's subordinate enactment works out, the Clippers could utilize their non-tax midlevel connected Jerome.

16. Malik Beasley
Detroit Pistons | SG
Unrestricted escaped agent

After playing connected smaller, one-year contracts implicit the past 2 seasons, Beasley has earned a raise. He finished 2nd successful Sixth Man of the Year voting by joining Curry, Harden, Anthony Edwards and Klay Thompson arsenic the 5th subordinate successful NBA past to marque 300 3-pointers successful a season. Now that Cade Cunningham has triggered a 30% max hold by being named an All-NBAer, the Pistons apt won't person headdress abstraction to usage for re-signing Beasley, which astir apt volition bounds them to the non-tax midlevel arsenic a starting constituent for a caller deal. But fewer teams person the headdress abstraction to bushed that offer. He is expected to get a rise connected the $6 cardinal helium made this past season.

17. Naz Reid
Minnesota Timberwolves | F/C
Player option

A twelvemonth removed from being named Sixth Man of the Year, Reid really averaged much points, rebounds and assists this season, albeit connected somewhat weaker efficiency. Reid has had a large interaction arsenic a 3rd large man, but helium astir apt would beryllium stretched defensively arsenic a starter. That and the deficiency of headdress abstraction should assistance the Timberwolves navigate Reid's $15 cardinal subordinate option. The sides could hold to workout the enactment past physique a semipermanent hold disconnected it to support the instrumentality favourite successful Minnesota.

18. Caris LeVert
Atlanta Hawks | G/F
Unrestricted escaped agent

After playing a smaller relation successful Cleveland this past play owed successful portion to Jerome's emergence, LeVert was dealt to Atlanta successful February arsenic the Cavaliers added De'Andre Hunter astatine the deadline. LeVert was productive for the Hawks arsenic they reached the play-in tournament, averaging 14.9 PPG and finishing with acold and distant the champion existent shooting percent (.582) of his career. LeVert besides has developed into a prime perimeter defender, utilizing his magnitude astatine 6-foot-6.

19. Gary Trent Jr.
Milwaukee Bucks | G/F
Unrestricted escaped agent

Trent tried to travel Beasley's lead, taking a minimum woody with the Bucks aft uncovering his marketplace constricted successful escaped agency. Trent was dreadful arsenic the Bucks started dilatory and mislaid his starting job, but helium rebounded to sprout 42% connected 3s portion attempting 8.2 per 36 minutes. Trent past went for 30-plus points doubly successful the archetypal circular against the Pacers, making a combined 17 treys successful those games. At 26, Trent is squarely successful his prime, and immoderate squad should find the blessed mean betwixt the $18.6 cardinal helium made with the Toronto Raptors and this past season's minimum deal.

20. Santi Aldama
Memphis Grizzlies | F
Restricted escaped agent

Playing some guardant spots, Aldama averaged vocation highs successful points (12.5), rebounds (6.4) and assists (2.9) chiefly disconnected the seat this past season. He changeable a career-high 37% from 3-point scope and 60% wrong the arc. Aldama mightiness apical retired arsenic a 3rd forward, but helium has earned a much lucrative declaration aft making $10 cardinal full connected his four-year rookie woody arsenic the last first-round prime successful 2021.

21. Nickeil Alexander-Walker
Minnesota Timberwolves | G
Unrestricted escaped agent

A screaming worth connected a two-year, $9 cardinal woody signed arsenic a restricted escaped cause 2 years ago, Alexander-Walker is successful enactment for a large raise. He averaged a career-high 25.3 MPG arsenic the Timberwolves' 3rd guard, defending pb shot handlers and shooting 38% from 3-point range. Alexander-Walker isn't rather bully capable arsenic a distributor to service arsenic a full-time constituent guard, and helium has slumped beyond the arc successful the playoffs, but helium should much than treble his erstwhile salary.

22. Chris Boucher
Toronto Raptors | F
Unrestricted escaped agent

Boucher softly bounced backmost from a down 2023-24 run to mean double-figure scoring for the 2nd clip successful his vocation portion playing conscionable 17.2 MPG. He changeable 36% connected 3s and 63% connected 2s successful producing elite ratio portion besides proving susceptible of defending connected the helping successful large second-unit lineups. At 32, helium astir apt belongs connected a contending team, but Boucher, who went to precocious schoolhouse successful Quebec, is astatine location with the Raptors arsenic the lone remaining subordinate from the 2019 rubric team.

23. Tim Hardaway Jr.
Detroit Pistons | G/F
Unrestricted escaped agent

Despite starting each 77 games helium played, Hardaway surely wasn't arsenic important to Detroit's astonishment playoff play arsenic Beasley was disconnected the bench. Hardaway's ratio was lone mean successful the smallest usage complaint (15.5%) of his career. Still, Hardaway was a reliable seasoned susceptible of toggling backmost and distant betwixt the helping spots, and the Pistons look apt to reward him with a caller contract.

24. Dennis Schroder
Detroit Pistons | G
Unrestricted escaped agent

An atypical play saw Schroder mean treble figures for 3 antithetic teams. He started the run connected occurrence for the Nets, making 39% of his 3s, and finished playing an important reserve relation for the Pistons successful the playoffs. In between, Schroder proved a mediocre acceptable for the Warriors' motion-based offense. Having played for 9 teams successful 12 NBA seasons, Schroder could beryllium connected the determination again if Detroit feels similar Jaden Ivey's instrumentality means little request for ballhandling disconnected the bench.

25. Tyus Jones
Phoenix Suns | PG
Unrestricted escaped agent

Adding Jones connected a minimum declaration didn't beryllium the coup the Suns had hoped for past summer. He produced arsenic expected, shooting 41% connected 3-pointers and posting his accustomed precocious assist-to-turnover (4.7), yet helium couldn't assistance Phoenix's discourtesy present connected its potential. For each their talent, the Suns were hardly amended than league mean successful violative rating, and Jones started conscionable 4 games aft the All-Star break. He mightiness request to motion different short-term declaration to rebuild his value. One absorbing option: Could Jones instrumentality to his hometown Timberwolves if Alexander-Walker heads elsewhere?

ESPN's Tim Bontemps contributed to this story.