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

  1. LeBron James – Los Angeles Lakers (UFA – PLAYER OPTION)
    James remains a dominant force, even at his advanced age. We’re seeing him do things no one else has ever come close to at even a similar point in their career. While self-admitting that the end is closing in, James still has at least one more season left in him. He’ll be back with the Lakers, either by picking up his option or on another 1+1 deal.

  1. Kyrie Irving – Dallas Mavericks (UFA – PLAYER OPTION)
    Even with his injury, Irving is the best available free agent point guard. But here’s the thing: He’s not really available. Most everyone expects him to re-sign with Dallas on a new deal. How big and long of a deal is the real question here, but expect Irving to do well for at least a few years in his next contract.

  1. Julius Randle – Minnesota Timberwolves (UFA – PLAYER OPTION)
    It took Randle a little bit to find his footing in Minnesota. Once he did, Randle played like an All-Star. His play went up a level in the playoffs too. He’s far from a perfect player, but Randle is still a really good on-ball, playmaking four. The big question: Will he opt in? Or will Randle opt out and sign a long-term deal that brings his salary number down some for the upcoming season?

  1. James Harden – LA Clippers (UFA – PLAYER OPTION)
    Harden is expected to return to the Clippers. He’ll either opt in, or he’ll opt out and sign another 1+1 contract. Either way, Harden is still a productive All-Star-level player, even if the end is starting to close in.

STARTER TIER

  1. Myles Turner – Indiana Pacers (UFA)
    Turner is expected to re-sign with the only NBA team he’s ever known. That’s quite the turn after nearly a decade of trade rumors, but it speaks to Turner’s value for the Pacers. A few other teams could make a run, but it’s unlikely they’ll be able to entice Turner away from Indiana.

  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.

  1. Naz Reid – Minnesota Timberwolves (UFA – PLAYER OPTION)
    There are a lot of options for Reid. He could pick up his option for $15 million. From there, the options are to play out the year and hit free agency in 2026, when more teams are expected to have cap space. Or Reid could extend off that figure at a pretty fair value. He could also opt out and sign a new deal with Minnesota. Or sign-and-trades are very possible too. It’s all on the table for Reid, because of how good he's become, his option and how expensive the Wolves are.

  1. John Collins – Utah Jazz (UFA – PLAYER OPTION)
    In a couple of messy years for the Jazz, Collins bounced back in a big way. He found his jumper again over the last couple of seasons. Collins remains a strong finisher in the paint, even if more shots are coming from floater range vs right at the rim. He’s also a good rebounder too. Collins will likely opt in, but then he’ll become a trade target for teams that need frontcourt help.

  1. Fred VanVleet – Houston Rockets (UFA – TEAM OPTION)
    The Rockets and VanVleet agreed to push back this option decision. That means that there’s at least some thought from the Rockets about declining the option. The best path forward for both sides is Houston declines the option, but re-signs VanVleet to a long-term deal. If the option is picked up, keep an eye on VanVleet being used as a large chunk of salary-matching in a trade.

  1. Malik Beasley – Detroit Pistons (UFA)
    Beasley is coming off one of his best seasons. He proved to be a perfect fit with the Pistons. The challenge for Detroit? They only have Non-Bird rights to re-sign Beasley with. That means creating cap space or using the MLE to match or beat offers from other teams.

  1. Josh Giddey – Chicago Bulls (RFA)
    Giddey isn’t a threat to leave, as only the Brooklyn Nets have enough cap space to sign him to a large enough offer sheet to make the Bulls blink. That’s not going to happen. Expect Chicago to try to squeeze Giddey some, but ultimately, he’ll be back with the Bulls on a long-term contract.

  1. Brook Lopez – Milwaukee Bucks (UFA)
    Lopez can still play. He’s lost a step defensively, but remains a good rim protector in a drop style of scheme. Lopez also remains a good shooting big man too. That has value. Whether he returns to Milwaukee is probably tied to Giannis Antetokounmpo. If the Bucks star returns, Lopez is a decent bet to re-sign. If Antetokounmpo moves on, Lopez probably will too.

  1. Jonathan Kuminga – Golden State Warriors (RFA)
    Kuminga’s restricted free agency is kind of hard to figure out, much like where he’s at in his career. Unless the Brooklyn Nets want to get frisky with an offer sheet, Kuminga will have to work out a new deal with the Warriors or a sign-and-trade to a new team. He can really score, but the rest of Kuminga’s game hasn’t developed much. Scoring still has value though, so expect there to be sign-and-trade interest for the 22-year-old combo forward.

  1. Quentin Grimes – Philadelphia 76ers (RFA)
    Grimes broke out after his midseason trade to the Sixers. He’s still a quality defender and good shooter, but Grimes showed he can do more on-ball in his 28-game run with Philadelphia. Would the Nets throw a big offer sheet his way and see if they can get the 76ers to blink? Or will Philly not even mess around and get Grimes to ink a deal early in free agency?

  1. Dennis Schroder – Detroit Pistons (UFA)
    Schroder is the first player on this list that is a threat to leave for a new team. The Pistons would love to re-sign him, but Detroit’s first priority is going to be re-signing Malik Beasley. Pending the path that takes, Schroder could get squeezed out. Even as he moves towards his mid-30s, Schroder remains a terrific backup and solid spot starter. That should put him range for Non-Taxpayer MLE deals.

  1. Nickeil Alexander-Walker – Minnesota Timberwolves (UFA)
    Alexander-Walker has graduated to 3&D-plus status. He can capably defend anyone 1-3, while also adding a bit of playmaking into the mix. The shooting has stabilized in a great place over the last three years. The real question: Will Alexander-Walker get priced out on an increasingly expensive Wolves roster?

  1. Dorian Finney-Smith – Los Angeles Lakers (UFA – PLAYER OPTION)
    Finney-Smith will likely stick with the Lakers. There are two paths here. First is simple, by picking up his $15.4 million player option. That would keep Finney-Smith’s options open moving forward. He could also opt out and sign a long-term deal with Los Angeles. In that case, expect the Lakers to try to bring Finney-Smith’s salary down a bit for the upcoming season. That would increase their flexibility under the tax aprons.

  2. Bobby Portis – Milwaukee Bucks (UFA – PLAYER OPTION)
    If Giannis Antetokounmpo is back in Milwaukee, Portis will either opt in (and then possible extend) or opt out and sign a new long-term deal with the Bucks. If Antetokounmpo is leaving town, Portis could follow. Deals for the full non-taxpayer MLE might be on the table for Portis from a team that needs frontcourt depth.

  1. Santi Aldama – Memphis Grizzlies (RFA)
    Aldama is likely to return to Memphis, simply because of his restricted status. If he was an unrestricted free agent, opposing teams would line up offers worth at least the Non-Taxpayer MLE. As it is, that’s probably where his value lies. The big question is: Just how many years will Aldama sign for?

  1. Bruce Brown – New Orleans Pelicans (UFA)
    Brown had a weird season. He was injured for most of the first half of the year, then the Raptors weren’t exactly trying to win when he came back. With the Pelicans, Brown was up and down. He shot ok from deep, but struggled to finish inside. Stil, he’s a good defender, solid playmaker and can fill a number of roles. That’s good for contenders who need perimeter help off their bench.

  2. Cameron Thomas – Brooklyn Nets (RFA)
    Thomas would rank higher on this list, but he couldn’t stay healthy last season. At this point we can say he’s one of the better scorers in the league. Thomas is always ready to let it fly. The playmaking for others took a jump last season too. The Nets are lucky that Thomas is a restricted free agent and that they are the only ones with cap space. That should allow them to make things work towards bringing him back to Brooklyn.

  1. 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.

  1. Keon Ellis – Sacramento Kings (RFA – TEAM OPTION)
    Ellis proved he can be a starter in the NBA. He’s an excellent defender and his shooting held up over the course of the entire season. Ellis is also a better-than-you-think playmaker too. Being a restricted free agent works against Ellis, while working in the Kings favor. Look for Sacramento to decline their team option, then to work out a long-term deal to keep Ellis around.

  1. Al Horford – Boston Celtics (UFA)
    Horford is still going strong. He’s not going to play 30-plus minutes per game or 70-plus games. But Boston spotted him well over the last couple of years, which allowed Horford to remain very effective. He’s still a terrific defender and good floor-spacer from deep. Horford says he still wants to play. With the Celtics resetting a bit this offseason, Horford’s free agency will be interesting to monitor.

  1. Caris LeVert – Atlanta Hawks (UFA)
    LeVert is a solid bench scorer at this point in his career. He can hold up as a spot starter, but as a regular starter his lack of a consistent jumper and his defense start to work against him. Still, LeVert’s size and playmaking allow him to play 1-3 and that sort of versatility has value.

  1. Chris Paul – San Antonio Spurs (UFA)
    Paul is still getting it done, but a lessened role. He was very productive for San Antonio, who was able to keep his minutes in a manageable range. That can continue for anyone who needs a veteran point guard. The big question: Where does Paul want to play? He talked about how hard it was being away from his California-based family last season. That could mean he has a self-limited market.

  1. Clint Capela – Atlanta Hawks (UFA)
    Capela moved to the bench midway through the season this year, but he’s still a starting level center. He’s not the beast around the rim that he once was, but Capela is still effective in the paint. He remains a good rebounder, solid defender and finisher on offense. That will have value to a team that needs a starting center.

  1. Malcolm Brogdon – Washington Wizards (UFA)
    Brogdon’s season was kind of a mess. He was hurt a lot, and the Wizards weren’t focused on playing their vets too many minutes. Still, Brogdon can be a solid contributor as a sixth man or as a lower-usage starter. The veteran’s ability to play either guard spot and on- or off-ball will appeal to playoff contenders.

  2. Russell Westbrook – Denver Nuggets (UFA)
    We’re at the point where signing Westbrook is very much agreeing to take the good with the bad. He can’t shoot. He’s wildly inconsistent. He hasn’t been able to fully tone down his role. But Westbrook is a jolt of energy when he hits the floor. He’s still pretty good at getting downhill to make plays. He’s a willing passer. There’s a good chance Westbrook picks up his option and returns to the Nuggets vs looking for a new spot in free agency.

  1. Guerschon Yabusele – Philadelphia 76ers (UFA)
    Yabusele’s return to the NBA went better than anyone could have expected. He was really good in a season where almost everything else went wrong for the Sixers. The challenge for Philadelphia is that Yabusele is coming off a veteran minimum deal and the team only has Non-Bird rights for him. That’s going to make giving him any kind of bump in a pay a potential challenge. That could open the door for another team to snag Yabusele in free agency.

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  1. Duncan Robinson – Miami Heat (UFA – EARLY TERMINATION OPTION)
    Robinson remains one of the best shooters in the NBA. He’s also got terrific size as a shooter, which allows him to fit in a lot of different lineup constructions. If he opts out, which is no guarantee, Robinson will have several offers coming out of the Non-Taxpayer MLE from shooting-needy teams.

  1. D’Angelo Russell – Brooklyn Nets (UFA)
    Russell is good as a low-end starting point guard. He can do enough on-ball, while being ok off-ball, that you can get by with him in your starting lineup. Russell might look for an opportunity with a contender, but that means taking the Non-Taxpayer MLE. There’s a chance the Nets could give him a slightly bigger one-year deal (or two years with team control on Year 2), as a way to hit the salary floor, while retaining Russell as a potential trade asset.

  1. Gary Trent Jr. – Milwaukee Bucks (UFA)
    Trent outplayed the veteran minimum contract he signed with Milwaukee last year. The issue is if anything more will be waiting for him this summer. Trent can shoot and he’s still an above-average defender. But 3&D guys who can’t do much on-ball are starting to get pigeon-holed in as vet minimum players now.

  1. Tyus Jones – Phoenix Suns (UFA)
    Last season didn’t go the way Jones hoped it would. He took a veteran minimum deal, but hoped with a strong year as a starter on a playoff team, that more money might be available this year. Instead, Jones found himself coming off the bench for a bad Suns team. He’s still among the best backup point guards in the league, and a capable fill-in starter. That should garner Jones some offers this summer.

ROTATION TIER

  1. Ty Jerome – Cleveland Cavaliers (UFA)
    Jerome stayed healthy and put together a career-year. He’d like to stay with the Cavs, who would love to have him back. The challenge? Cleveland only has Early Bird rights for Jerome. That could limit their offer to him, which makes him available for teams looking for a very good bench guard.

  2. Luke Kornet – Boston Celtics (UFA)
    Kornet is on the verge of joining the above group. Is his good play a product of the Celtics system and all the talent in Boston? Maybe. But Kornet has become a good interior player. He’s got great timing as a shot blocker, and Kornet finishes really well at the rim. Kornet has earned an upgrade from the minimum deals he’s played on for several years.

  3. Jake LaRavia – Sacramento Kings (UFA)
    The Grizzlies blew it by declining the fourth-year rookie scale option for LaRavia. That issue has now been passed onto the Kings, who can only sign LaRavia to a deal that starts at $5.2 million. That could see LaRavia move elsewhere. He’s a good shooter, has some on-ball creation ability, and LaRavia rebounds better than most realize. He’s a sneaky candidate to get a chunk of the MLE from a smart team looking for a combo forward.

  4. Luke Kennard – Memphis Grizzlies (UFA)
    Even after somewhat of a down season, Kennard remains one of the best shooters in the NBA. He’s also a solid ball-mover. The defense is an issue, but for a bench guard, you can do a lot worse than Kennard.

  5. Tim Hardaway Jr. – Detroit Pistons (UFA)
    Hardaway remains a good scorer, if streaky shooter. He also started in 77 games for a pretty good Pistons team. Detroit would like to have him back, if the price is right. But Hardaway could be had for a team looking for rotation help on the wing, especially if the Pistons have to use resources to re-sign other players.

  6. Tre Jones – Chicago Bulls (UFA)
    Much like his brother, Jones is really good as a backup point guard and a bit stretched as a full-time starter. That still leaves him as a really valuable player for a lot of teams. That just might not be in Chicago, due to the number of other on-ball playmakers the Bulls already have.

  7. Davion Mitchell – Miami Heat (RFA)
    Miami can control the process for Mitchell in restricted free agency. That should leave the Heat in a place to get him back on a relatively team-friendly deal. Mitchell was really good for Miami after landing there at the trade deadline. Look for him to return to the Heat.

  8. Moritz Wagner – Orlando Magic (UFA – TEAM OPTION)
    Wagner was on his way towards pushing for Sixth Man of the Year before a torn ACL. He’s expected to be ready around the start of next season. The Magic love his energy and overall feistiness off the bench. He won’t be back for the $11 million his option calls for, but expect Orlando to re-sign Wagner to a new deal this offseason.

  9. Day’Ron Sharpe – Brooklyn Nets (RFA)
    Sharpe is coming along nicely for the Nets. He’s a good rebounder and an improved defender. He’s also got nice touch on his shot, and really went up several levels as a passer. His restricted status means Brooklyn should be able to get him back on a relatively team-friendly contract.

  10. Ben Simmons – LA Clippers (UFA)
    Simmons isn’t really a point guard anymore, but most of the play-time trackers have most of his minutes coming at point guard last year. He found himself a bit in LA, which was good to see. A big deal isn’t coming for Simmons, but fit is what matters most for him at this point. Don’t rule out a return to the Clippers.

  11. Nicolas Batum – LA Clippers (UFA – PLAYER OPTION)
    Batum is very likely to opt in. He’s in year-to-year mode, but was still really productive for the Clippers as a backup big man. Expect at least one more year of giving LA solid minutes off the bench.

  12. 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.

  13. Chris Boucher – Toronto Raptors (UFA)
    Boucher was shut down late in the season by the Raptors, which actually seems to indicate that he’ll be back in Toronto. They like his combination of energy and shooting off the bench. Unless a rival team offers the full Non-Taxpayer MLE, expect Boucher to return to the Raptors.

  14. 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.