NBA free agents 2026: Ranking top 20 players in free agency, from LeBron James to Norman Powell

NBA free agents 2026: Ranking top 20 players in free agency, from LeBron James to Norman Powell originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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LeBron James leads a 2026 free agency class that doesn’t have many huge names in it. Due to the way the league has restructured its salary cap rules and dates, the days of LeBron and Chris Bosh unexpectedly teaming up in Miami are long gone. Nowadays, those types of moves are made via trade rather than free agency. 

LeBron might switch teams again, and that would certainly be big news. But aside from him, this free agent class is more about adding role players than All-Stars.

Many other top free agents like James Harden, Austin Reaves, Coby White, CJ McCollum, or others have either already re-signed with their current franchises or are widely expected to opt into a guaranteed deal for next season. 

Those players won’t make my top 20 free agents list. Instead, these are the most realisticly gettable candidates for teams like the Lakers, Bulls, Nets, and Pistons that will have some cap space to work with, or other teams willing to make sign-and-trade deals. 

I’m also including values from my salary model in order to show what fair market value is for these free agents. Here’s what teams are looking at around the league.

NBA DRAFT: First-round grades | Ranking teams’ choices

Ranking the top 20 NBA free agents in 2026

Potential All-Stars 

1. Jalen Duren | Model valuation: $39.3 million

Duren looked headed for a massive new contract with the Pistons that would have paid him a starting salary of over $40 million. He had a rough playoff performance that drastically reduced his value. While his 19.5 points and 10.5 rebounds per game during the regular season were impressive, he struggled to score or make any real impact in some of the Pistons’ biggest games. 

Duren is a restricted free agent, meaning that the Pistons can match any offer given to him and retain his services. He has been underwhelmed by Detroit’s initial offers and is planning to explore a sign-and-trade somewhere else, per The Athletic’s Sam Amick. I would expect him to get somewhere between $35 to $40 million annually. 

2. LeBron James | Model valuation: $20.0 million

It is wild that LeBron is still this productive entering his 24th season. He made his 22nd All-Star game by averaging 20.9 points, 7.2 assists, and 6.1 rebounds per game last season. 

He has obviously fallen off from his peak, and he only managed to play in 60 games, which will lower his value considerably from the $52.6 million he earned last year. The Lakers could bring him back for one last run if they wanted to. Signing him at a deal in the $20 million range would also allow them to have enough cap space to add several more players on this list. 

If LeBron isn’t willing to take a $30 million pay cut, then look for a sign-and-trade to happen. The Cavs and Warriors are the most realistic contenders for his services at this point.

3. Norman Powell | Model valuation: $21.5 million

The Heat would love to retain Powell. They will have competition, and they are already an expensive team after the addition of Giannis Antetokounmpo. Powell could realistically be the best free agent to change teams. 

Powell made his first All-Star game last season, averaging 21.7 points per game. He’s a terrific scorer that has supreme confidence in every shot he takes. He’s a good shot creator, but he’s a below-average defender. Any team that needs 3-point shooting and scoring could use his services. 

MORE: Players most likely to be traded this summer | Jaylen Brown trade destinations

High-end starters

None

Starters / Rotation players

(Getty Images)

4. Walker Kessler | Model Valuation: $25.5 million

Kessler is an elite rim protector, a monster on the offensive glass, and a terrific finisher. He doesn’t do a ton else, but he’s easily a starting-level player that has fallen off the national radar due to playing for a bad Jazz team and missing most of last season after having shoulder surgery. 

He should be fully healthy, and the Jazz are looking to retain the restricted free agent. Kessler knows his value. He turned down a five-year, $140 million extension that would start at around $23 million, per ESPN’s Tim MacMahon. That’s slightly lower than what my model pegs his value at, and he will probably return to the Jazz at starting salary of between $25 to $30 million. 

5. Tari Eason | Model Valuation: $24.5 million

Eason looked well on his way towards earning a huge payday as a restricted free agent this summer. He experienced one of the worst shooting slumps of anyone in the league in the middle of the year though, costing himself a ton of money. He’s had some injury issues in Houston as well. 

My model still likes Eason, but he’s probably getting a bit less than this figure. He’s a good defender and a capable offensive player, but the lack of a reliable jump shot and his availability issues drop his value. 

6. Sandro Mamukelashvili | Model Valuation: $24.2 million

Mamu was one of the Raptors‘ most important players coming off the bench last season. He’s not a household name, but NBA nerds know how valuable he is. The impact metrics agree. He can drain 3’s, play with terrific energy, and just finds ways to make winning plays. 

Mamukelashvili looked a lot worse in the playoffs, where he basically disappeared. He’s a great big man coming off the bench but probably overtaxed as a starter due to his defensive issues. He’ll make a fraction of this number in the open market. He may get some offers at the $15 million mid-level exception. Most likely, he’ll stay in Toronto due to how much he helped them during the regular season last year. 

7. Marcus Smart | Model Valuation: $21.6 million

Smart revitalized his career with the Lakers, looking more like the Celtics version of himself rather than the injured shell that was salary dumped by the Grizzlies and bought out by the Wizards. 

Smart is always going to be great at the intangibles, never backing down from big moments. He’s still a good defender, and he does enough on offense despite a streaky 3-point shot. 

Smart has a $5.3 million option to return to the Lakers. I’d be shocked if he took that. He’s worth way more in the open market. Look for him to become an unrestricted free agent and possibly come back to Los Angeles on a bigger deal. He won’t get the full $22 million that my model values him at, but he’ll get a substantial pay raise from last year’s $5.1 million. He’s also probably capped at the $15 million mid-level exception if he looks to switch teams.

8. Tobias Harris | Model Valuation: $21.1 million

Harris was one of the most mocked players in the league when he was among its highest paid. Now that he’s on a normal salary, fans are beginning to appreciate his value. He’s a do-everything versatile forward that was a great locker room presence for Detroit and an important playoff contributor. At age 33, he’s still capable of starting for teams. 

The going rate for that type of player is $20 million, which is right where my model puts him. Detroit would like to retain him, but other teams will be interested. 

9. Deandre Ayton | Model Valuation: $19.7 million

Ayton signed a two-year, $16.6 million prove-it type of deal with the Lakers last year. He has an $8.1 million player option to return to Los Angeles that he will likely decline, making him an unrestricted free agent. 

Ayton has a lot of flaws. His motor is bad, he doesn’t play with force, and his rebounding leaves a lot to be desired. He also does a lot of things well that he probably doesn’t get enough credit for. He did average 12.5 points and 8.0 rebounds for a playoff team last year. He can start somewhere, although he will always leave fans wanting more. 

10. Robert Williams III | Model Valuation: $18.7 million

Williams very quietly had a comeback year for the Blazers, looking like his old self in the minutes that he played. He’s a great defender, a good lob threat, tough on the offensive glass, and an adept passer. 

Injuries have been a massive issue for him throughout his career. He suited up for 59 games last season, which is about what he played in the previous three seasons combined. That makes it hard to put a value on him, but he’s great when healthy. If he can squeeze out 50 games, then he’s worth about $19 million. That may be asking for too much at this point in his career. 

Full top 20 list

PlayerModel ValuationStatusJalen Duren$39.3 millionRFALeBron James$20.0 millionUFANorman Powell$21.5 millionUFAWalker Kessler$25.5 millionRFATari Eason$24.5 millionRFASandro Mamukelashvili$24.2 millionUFAMarcus Smart$21.6 millionPOTobias Harris$21.1 millionUFADeandre Ayton$19.7 millionPORobert Williams$18.7 millionUFAMitchell Robinson$18.0 millionUFAKelly Oubre$17.3 millionUFAPeyton Watson$17.2 millionRFAKristaps Porzingis$15.8 millionUFADean Wade$15.6 millionUFAJonathan Kuminga$15.3 millionTOMatisse Thybulle$15.3 millionUFAKevin Huerter$14.8 millionUFACollin Sexton$14.2 millionUFADe’Anthony Melton$14.0 millionUFA

RFA = Restricted free agent, UFA = Unrestricted free agent, PO = Player option, TO = Team option

Best of the Rest: Jose Alvarado ($13.6 million), Quentin Grimes ($12.9 million), Jusuf Nurkic ($12.8 million), Harrison Barnes ($11.6 million), Rui Hachimura ($11.5 million), Luke Kennard ($11.0 million), Bennedict Mathurin ($10.3 million), Jock Landale ($10.2 million), Anfernee Simons ($9.7 million), Zach Collins ($7.4 million), Bradley Beal ($6.1 million), Nikola Vucevic ($6.0 million)