Spotrac’s Free Agent by Position Series

Point Guards   |   Shooting Guards   |   Small Forwards   |   Power Forwards   |   Centers

2025 NBA free agency is right around the corner. This year’s class is considered a fairly weak one in terms of top-end talent. However, there are still several impact players available. In these rankings, we took a similar approach to the one many teams use when it comes to ranking available players. Each position was broken down into tiers. The tiers are:

  • All-Star: These aren’t all necessarily All-Stars, but they have the ability to be an All-Star
  • Starters: These players are either starters or they produce at a starter-level of impact
  • Rotation: These are solid players that should be in a team’s regular season rotation
  • Fringe: These are players at the end of the bench or Two-Way players playing mostly in the G League

Players were then ranked within their tiers. All potential free agents have been ranked, including those with pending options.

ALL-STAR TIER

None

STARTER TIER

  1. Khris Middleton – Washington Wizards (UFA – PLAYER OPTION)
    Convention wisdom is that Middleton will opt in for next season at about $33 million. There is a world where Middleton opts out and re-signs with the Wizards at a lower salary, which would make him a lot more tradable. Expect Middleton to opt in and for Washington to shop him to teams that need veteran wing help.

  2. Kelly Oubre Jr. – Philadelphia 76ers (UFA – PLAYER OPTION)
    Oubre should be 50-50 on opting out. He might find another team willing to give him $8.4 million without much worry. But Oubre could also get squeezed fairly quickly. We’re projecting he opts in and gives Philadelphia a pretty solid wing scorer for another year.

  3. Justin Edwards – Philadelphia 76ers (RFA – TEAM OPTION)
    If finances are a concern, the Sixers could pick up this option and then have Edwards as a restricted free agent in 2026. If they want to lock up Edwards early, they could decline the option and re-sign the young wing now. Either way, Philadelphia should keep Edwards in the fold for next season. He’s better than most people realize.

  4. Taurean Prince – Milwaukee Bucks (UFA)
    Prince has become one of the more consistent shooting forwards in the league over the last several seasons. He’s a good bet to hit a bunch of threes and he can hold his own defending either forward spot, plus some bigger shooting guards. There just isn’t a lot else here. Still, a team could do a lot worse.

ROTATION TIER

  1. Matisse Thybulle – Portland Trail Blazers (UFA – PLAYER OPTION)
    Thybulle missed most of last season, but when he returned, he looked like himself. He’ll pick up his $11.55 million option. From there, Portland might be able to net a decent return in a trade for an improved-shooting, excellent-defending wing.

  2. Amir Coffey – LA Clippers (UFA)
    Coffey put together his best all-around regular season. His shooting has stabilized after a down season a couple of years ago. But after a late-season knee injury, he struggled to find his form again. Still, Coffey should be a sneaky target for a team that needs a rotation wing.

  3. Ziaire Williams – Brooklyn Nets (RFA)
    After a couple of injury-plagued seasons with the Grizzlies, Williams bounced back some with the Nets. This season showed that he’s never going to be a great self-creator of offense, but Williams can play well in a complementary role. His defense got back to the point where you can see signs of him being a good defender again. The Nets may not issue a qualifying offer, especially if they want to maximize their cap space.

  4. Jalen Wilson – Brooklyn Nets (RFA – TEAM OPTION)
    There’s some projecting here for Wilson. He struggled to shoot it consistently, but there was a lot of on-ball stuff, which wouldn’t be Wilson’s role on a good team. He’s alright defensively, and can do a little secondary playmaking. Having his option picked up by the Nets really comes down to exactly how much cap space Brooklyn needs.

  5. Jae’Sean Tate – Houston Rockets (UFA)
    Tate’s role shrunk in the Rockets crowded forward rotation. He was still good on defense and his shot looked somewhat improved. The prospect shine is off Tate, but he’s still a solid rotation player, and even more if the shot continues to trend upward.

  1. Jabari Walker – Portland Trail Blazers (RFA)
    Walker played a lot less this past season, but was far more efficient. Over the last two years, Walker has flashed a lot of potential. He’s still young enough to grow into a bigger role. As a restricted free agent, Portland should be able to bring him back on a reasonable deal.

  1. Torrey Craig – Boston Celtics (UFA)
    Craig is more of a 3/4 now than a 2/3. That limits his upside a bit. He still brings good energy and solid defense. He’s a solid spot-up shooter too. Unfortunately, Craig having to play up vs down means the 3&D tag is off him. Combo forwards just aren’t necessarily as valuable as true wings.

  1. Lamar Stevens – Memphis Grizzlies (UFA)
    Stevens is right on the edge of being a rotation guy. He can capably defend either forward spot. If he shot it even passably, Stevens would be a for-sure rotation guy. As it is, he’s a year away from being a fringe guy. Stevens is also a good candidate for a bigger role overseas than he’d have in the NBA.

FRINGE TIER (UNRANKED AND PRESENTED IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER)

  1. Emoni Bates – Cleveland Cavaliers (RFA – TWO-WAY)
    Everything looks like it is there for Bates to be an NBA rotation guy. Then you watch him play and it’s a lot of tough, contested shots that don’t go in a lot. Another year on a two-way deal is probably in his future, but it has to start to click this season.

  2. Kessler Edwards – Dallas Mavericks (RFA – TWO-WAY)
    Edwards battled his tail off in an injury-ravaged Dallas frontcourt. He also shot the ball fairly well, and showed that in a pinch he can even play some small-ball center. The challenge is that Edwards doesn’t do much on-ball and that limits his overall value.

  3. Caleb Houstan – Orlando Magic (RFA – TEAM OPTION)
    It’s been a slow burn for Houstan. This year was his best NBA season by a wide margin. Maybe it’s starting to come together and he’s a late-bloomer. The issue in Orlando is that roster spots are becoming an issue. That could put him on the bubble of returning for a fourth year.

  4. Chuma Okeke – Cleveland Cavaliers (UFA – TEAM OPTION)
    Okeke was pretty good in the G League this year. That earned him the chance at a couple of callups with the 76ers and Cavs. He flashed in those spots too. Cleveland will probably decline this option, but Okeke should get a chance to catch on somewhere with a camp deal.

  5. Keshad Johnson – Miami Heat (RFA – TEAM OPTION)
    Johnson was a solid defender and good finisher in the G League. He’s too athletic and strong for most opposing forwards at the minor league level. To stick in the NBA, he’ll need to shoot it better. But Johnson is the exact type of prospect Miami has developed in the past. Expect the Heat to pick up their option to keep working with Johnson.

  6. Jalen Bridges – Phoenix Suns (RFA – TWO-WAY)
    Bridges made no NBA impact, but put together a good G League season. He’s likely to be back with Phoenix on another two-way deal to continue developing in the G League.

  7. Keion Brooks Jr. – New Orleans Pelicans (RFA – TWO-WAY)
    Brooks put together a solid, if unspectacular G League season. He’s a good defender and strong rebounder. There’s just not much there offensively. Brooks’ age is also working against him a bit for continued developmental deals as a two-way player.

  8. Jamal Cain – New Orleans Pelicans (RFA – TWO-WAY)
    In first couple of years with the Heat, Cain looked like Miami’s next G League hit. Last year, things stagnated for Cain in New Orleans. Now, he may be best off to head overseas for a bigger role.

  9. Isaiah Crawford – Sacramento Kings (RFA – TWO-WAY)
    Crawford had a very strong G League season. He did a lot of everything, including shooting it well from deep. The Kings should bring him back on another two-way deal, with the idea of converting him to a standard contract down the line.

  10. Trentyn Flowers – LA Clippers (RFA – TWO-WAY)
    Flowers put together an encouraging year in the G League. He shot better than expected, and showed some on-ball creation skills too. Another two-way contract should be in the cards for the young wing.

  11. Joe Ingles – Minnesota Timberwolves (UFA)
    If you want a tremendous locker room presence, who can occasionally hit an open jumper, Ingles is your guy. He’s beloved everywhere he’s ever played. Ingles also stays ready when he’s asked to fill in. The end is near, but Ingles might have one more season in him.

  12. Harrison Ingram – San Antonio Spurs (RFA – TWO-WAY)
    Ingram’s rookie season was a disappointment. He didn’t do much offensively in the G League. Ingram is a solid rebounder, but he’s got to shot a lot more than rebounding to ever get a real NBA opportunity.

  13. Spencer Jones – Denver Nuggets (RFA – TWO-WAY)
    Jones should be in line for another two-way deal. He really shot it well in the G League. Jones also had a good defensive season. The Nuggets should keep working with him on a two-way contract, with the idea of a standard deal coming down the line.

  14. Braxton Key – Golden State Warriors (UFA)
    Key got a callup after really solid G League season. If he could shoot it from deep, Key would be a more interesting NBA prospect. As it stands, he’s a fringe guy and will likely be back in the G League or overseas next season.

  15. Kevin Knox II – Golden State Warriors (UFA)
    Like Key, Knox was called up after a strong run for the G League Warriors. The difference is that Knox has shown the ability to shoot it. He could find his way onto the backend of an NBA roster after a camp deal.

  16. Emanuel Miller – Chicago Bulls (RFA – TWO-WAY)
    Miller remains an interesting prospect. He’s got good size for a wing, and his all-around skillset is fairly solid. Another year on a two-way deal, while working to improve his shot, should be the path for Miller.

  17. Justin Minaya – Portland Trail Blazers (RFA – TWO-WAY)
    Minaya is really good defensively. He’s an NBA level guy on that end of the floor. The issue is that Minaya can’t shoot at all, and his scoring game is limited to scoring right at the rim. Unless that improves, he won’t make it past a two-way deal.

  18. Riley Minix – San Antonio Spurs (RFA – TWO-WAY)
    The season was abruptly ended for Minix on the first of the year due to a shoulder injury. Before that, Minix was showing out in the G League. He’ll probably have to start that process over, but there’s a lot to like with Minix. Keep an eye on him, even if he’s back on a two-way contract again next season.

  19. Josh Minott – Minnesota Timberwolves (RFA – TEAM OPTION)
    Minott has a lot of fans around the NBA. It’s all theoretical right now, but there’s a player in there somewhere. Minnesota will likely keep Minott around for at least one more year to keep working with him.

  20. Wendell Moore Jr. – Charlotte Hornets (RFA – TWO-WAY)
    Moore’s lack of a consistent outside shot is holding him back. He does a good job getting to his spots in the G League, but doesn’t have that ability at the NBA level. Until he shoots it better, Moore will be stuck in the minors.

  21. Jacob Toppin – Atlanta Hawks (RFA – TWO-WAY)
    Toppin had a really strong G League season. He defended, rebounded and shot it really well. There were a few flashes in the NBA too. One more year on a two-way, with eyes on an in-season callup to a standard deal is the path for Toppin.

  22. Luke Travers – Cleveland Cavaliers (RFA – TWO-WAY)
    In the G League, Travers is a do-everything wing. In the NBA, he’s a little too slow and a little too small. Travers also can’t shoot. Another year of work in the G League to improve, while on a two-way deal, makes a lot of sense for Travers and the Cavs.

  23. Anton Watson – New York Knicks (RFA – TWO-WAY)
    Watson didn’t show a whole lot in the G League this year. There’s talent there, because Watson was such a good college player. But he’s going to have to show a lot more to stick around on a two-way deal in the NBA. Heading overseas may be the best path forward for Watson.