Ranking the top free agents in the 2026 NBA offseason requires a few ground rules. There is no point including restricted free agents, like Jalen Duren, who are not expected to actually reach the open market. Players with options expected to be exercised are excluded as well.
These rankings focus on players likely to genuinely reach free agency with a realistic chance of changing teams. That means no Austin Reaves, no Fred VanVleet, and no James Harden.
With that in mind, here are the top 15 free agents of the 2026 NBA offseason.
1. LeBron James
Just in case you haven’t heard, LeBron James is once again a free agent. The fractures in his relationship with the Lakers seemed to heal down the stretch, with LeBron accepting a third-option role in the regular season before putting the team on his back in the playoffs.
A pay cut is coming. The question is how little he would accept. A return to the Lakers is very much still on the table, but it is far from guaranteed. The Cavaliers and Warriors are the other two obvious suitors, with the potential pairing alongside Steph Curry in San Francisco surely the most appealing outcome for neutral observers.
2. Coby White
Charlotte didn’t seem to love pairing Coby White with LaMelo Ball. Only 26% of his minutes as a Hornet came alongside Ball, and his overall workload dropped significantly after the trade.
There’s a world where White becomes a starting guard alongside a big, playmaking forward like Jalen Johnson or Cooper Flagg. The Hornets will be tempted to pay for one of the league's best backups to be used in relief of the oft-injured LaMelo.
3. Norman Powell
Miami's reluctance to play Norman Powell alongside Tyler Herro suggests his days with the Heat are numbered unless Herro gets dealt. Teams aren’t going to rush to hand a big deal to a 33-year-old guard with injury concerns.
Powell feels like the archetypal midlevel player. He is good enough to start but doesn’t fit well on every roster, and might be at his highest value as an overqualified sixth man.
4. Ayo Dosunmu
Minnesota needs to keep Ayo Dosunmu barring some sort of franchise-altering blockbuster trade. Dosunmu is a talented two-way guard more than capable of starting for a contender, and he was integral for the T-Wolves after arriving from Chicago.
Four years and $60 million would be appropriate if the Timberwolves go all-out to keep him. Alternatively, he could end up on a cap space team or land a bigger deal through a sign-and-trade.
5. Peyton Watson
Denver's most feasible path to keeping Peyton Watson is by moving on from one of its larger salaries. Watson, who made an offensive leap in 2025-26, is the kind of athletic, two-way wing contenders covet.
Injuries might deter some front offices from escalating the bidding, but Watson is bound to be in demand. He showed real upside last season, and that ceiling could make him an ideal fit on the Lakers, Pacers, or Spurs.
6. Andrew Wiggins
Andrew Wiggins is going to decline his player option and try to land one last long-term deal. There isn’t a huge difference between the 2026 version of Wiggins and the player who was the second-best piece on a title team.
He remains an athletic, impactful defender at either forward spot, and his shot-creating ability pairs with a respectable three-point percentage. Miami may pay up to avoid losing the former All-Star for nothing.
7. Trae Young
Trae Young's decision to opt out has created some uncertainty over his future in Washington. Reporters, including Brian Windhorst, still expect him to remain a Wizard, but it is notable that he is testing the open market at all.
As the Hawks discovered in their efforts to trade him, there are not many genuine suitors. Young commands a star-level salary and needs a roster carefully built around him to cover for his weaknesses. Washington might be the team best positioned to do that.
8. Kelly Oubre Jr.
Kelly Oubre Jr. had a good season in Philadelphia. He is a good-not-great defender, an inconsistent three-point shooter, and has been a fine starter for most of his teams. Likely overpaid relative to his output as a bench scorer, Oubre still profiles as a solid fifth starter on a contending team.
The Sixers do not seem eager to pay the tax, so Oubre may be a casualty. There is a real chance he ends up elsewhere, and there are always teams willing to pay near the midlevel for a capable wing.
9. Rui Hachimura
Another likely midlevel target, Rui Hachimura is a poor defender and does not rebound much for his size. He has become a dynamic offensive player, though, knocking down threes at an elite rate with a portion of his own shot creation mixed in.
There is a clear blueprint for teams that make sense for Hachimura. They need strong defense at the two and three to cover for him, along with a big, powerful center to handle rebounding and rim protection. Could San Antonio step up? Or perhaps a post-Julius Randle Minnesota? This one will be highly interesting to watch unfold.
10. Quentin Grimes
Maybe the Sixers manage to keep Quentin Grimes for less than $15 million per year. Remember, though, that Philadelphia failed to negotiate an extension with Grimes last summer, so he may have a bigger number in mind.
It depends on whether teams view him as a fifth starter or bench piece who provides solid three-and-D value, or whether his scoring surge late in 2024-25 means he is something more. His opportunities were limited behind Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe in 2025-26, which could make him an appealing flyer for a rebuilding team.
11. CJ McCollum
By far the most likely outcome is a sizable one-year deal in Atlanta. CJ McCollum starred in the Hawks' two playoff wins and played a key role in their strong second half with his scoring and veteran presence.
If the Hawks go in a different direction, McCollum probably fits into the sixth man bracket at this stage of his career. He can still produce big scoring nights, but he is not the player he once was. It would not be the worst idea for a rebuilding team to bring him in for a year or two.
12. Mitchell Robinson
Are the Knicks going into the second apron? If so, bringing back a key member of their drought-ending team could be one of the first orders of offseason business. If not, Mitchell Robinson becomes an intriguing free agent.
Injury history means Robinson has to split the center spot with another competent five. In his minutes, he is a dominant offensive rebounder, rim protector, and lob threat, but opposing teams employing a Hack-a-Mitch strategy can turn him into a fourth-quarter liability.
13. Tobias Harris
Tobias Harris can still be a serviceable starting forward for a good team, as long as he is not taking up a disproportionate share of the salary cap. Put him on a midlevel deal and his shooting, useful creation, and reliable rebounding become a genuinely useful package.
A veteran widely praised as a good teammate, Harris certainly has a starting role somewhere in the league. It just might not be in Detroit if the Pistons feel the need to shake things up.
14. Keon Ellis
Teams already carrying two small guards, like Cleveland, find Keon Ellis too small to play the three. He doesn’t offer much shot creation of his own, so he needs multiple other creators on the floor to be effective at the two.
He can be a highly disruptive defender and a solid enough three-point shooter, but his limitations mean only specific situations fit him well. Playing alongside Austin Reaves and Luka Dončić would make too much sense.
15. Anfernee Simons
Is this too low for Anfernee Simons? Perhaps. There are a lot of all-offense, little-defense players hitting free agency this summer, and his circumstances in Portland, Boston, and then Chicago mean his stock is not quite as high as White, Powell, or McCollum.
A midlevel deal as an explosive bench scorer is the most likely outcome for Simons. His defensive shortcomings are very difficult for a team to compensate for.
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