NBA free agency has become a puzzling affair. With business mostly being conducted in the trade market, as star players force moves and all-time jaw-droppers rattle the basketball landscape, free agency has taken something of a backseat.
But this is when championship-calibre teams make the moves that ultimately result in championships.
From the acquisition of Isaiah Hartenstein by the Thunder to the Nuggets’ flyer on Bruce Brown, moves around the edges are the ones that have given teams that extra push toward glory.
While it may not have the glitz and glamour of years like 2019, when Kawhi Leonard spurned the Raptors in favour of the Clippers, and Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant teamed up on the Nets, putting the finishing touches on a roster is just as important as landing that big fish.
So to get you ready for the off-season, here’s a look at the top 20 free agents in the 2025 class that could make an impact once teams officially can begin negotiating with players on Monday at 6 p.m. ET / 3 p.m. PT.
1. Julius Randle, F, 30 — $30.9-million player option
Randle fixed his playoff-shrinker image with the Timberwolves, averaging 21.7 points and 4.9 assists while shooting 50.2 per cent from the field and 38.5 per cent from three — all of which were career highs. While there may still be skeptics, the big-bodied forward proved a worthy contributor in the back half of the season, one who could make an impact as a second option on the right team.
2. Myles Turner, C, 29 years old — Unrestricted free agent
Turner, on the other hand, had an NBA Finals to forget, averaging 10.6 points and 4.4 rebounds while shooting a paltry 37.7 per cent from the field and 21.4 per cent from deep for the Pacers in the championship series. He may have cost himself a few million, but his skillset as one of the best stretch bigs and rim protectors in the league should still fetch some value in a weak centre market.
3. Jonathan Kuminga, F, 22 — Restricted free agent
While it’s likely the Warriors will extend Kuminga a qualifying offer, their unwillingness to trust him in big spots and his appearance in trade rumours make it feel likely he finds himself on a new team come October. It remains unclear what his floor and ceiling are, but plenty of teams may be willing to take that risk on a young athletic forward like him.
4. Josh Giddey, G, 22 years old — RFA
While also an RFA, Giddey seems more likely to stick around in Chicago as the team tries to figure out its next era. His back half of the year was incredible, averaging 20.2 points, 9.5 rebounds and 8.1 assists while shooting 49.1 per cent from the field and 45.1 per cent from three from February onwards. What will determine his next contract is whether the Bulls or any other team consider that sample size reliable enough.
5. Cam Thomas, G, 23 — RFA
In very limited action last season, Thomas continued his high-scoring ways, netting 24 a night, but didn’t add much else to a Nets team still in disarray. Thomas is a great minutes-eater for a tanking team, but whether or not he can be a valuable contributor on a winner is to be determined. Will a team in need of scoring shoot their shot?
6. Malik Beasley, G, 28 — UFA
Signing Beasley worked wonders for the Pistons last summer, as the sharpshooting guard netted 16.3 points on 41.6-per-cent shootting from three mostly off the bench and helped Detroit reach the playoffs. He’s now set to cash in, and any team looking for help on the perimeter should be making a call.
7. Santi Aldama, F, 24 — RFA
Aldama has been a steady piece the Grizzlies have leaned on in spots because of how many injuries they’ve dealt with in recent years. But he may be a luxury they don’t want to spend on with an extension for Jaren Jackson Jr. looming. The Spaniard is a solid depth front-court option and improved from range last year.
8. Ty Jerome, G, 27 — UFA
Despite shrinking in the playoffs, Jerome looked like one of the best sixth men in the NBA in the regular season, running the Cavaliers’ second unit masterfully and knocking down a career-high 43.9 per cent of his threes. He’s unlikely to find a starting role, but depth goes a long way, and a player like Jerome is crucial toward filling that out.
9. Nickeil Alexander-Walker, G — UFA
After showing out against his cousin Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in the Western Conference Finals, the Canadian is in line for a payday. The versatile wing brings a little bit of everything on both ends, capable of taking over a game from deep like he did in Game 4 of the WCF for the Timberwolves, or disrupting plays on the other end as a smart perimeter defender.
10. Brook Lopez, C, 37 — UFA
Lopez enjoyed a career renaissance in Milwaukee, standing out as one of the league’s best stretch fives and finding ways to remain productive despite being on the wrong side of 30. In a weak centre market, Lopez could be courted as teams look to bring championship experience and two-way help down the middle.
11. Gary Trent Jr., G, 26 — UFA
Trent Jr. was lights out for the Bucks in Games 3 and 5 of the first round against Indiana, scoring a combined 70 points and hitting 17 triples, but it was all for naught. While his year as a whole was a drop-off from his time in Toronto, he carved himself a solid niche as a microwave scorer off the bench, a role he’s better suited to in the coming years.
12. Kelly Oubre, F, 29 — $8.3-million player option
As the 76ers dealt with a bevy of injuries, Oubre played a consistent role on the struggling team, netting 15.1 points a night along with 6.1 boards. However, those numbers don’t exactly project well in a winning situation, as he finished with a 51.8 effective field goal percentage. But for any team looking for help on the wing and a solid scorer at a discount price, Oubre should still have a market.
13. Bobby Portis, F, 30 — $13.4-million player option
Portis had a down year for the Bucks last season and was handed a 25-game suspension for violating the league’s anti-drug policy, but at his best, the forward can still give teams double-digit points off the bench while shooting at an above-average rate from deep. He has some defensive lapses, but the spacing, face-up ability and rebounding he brings remain valuable.
14. Quentin Grimes, G, 25 — RFA
After being dealt to the 76ers at the deadline, Grimes put on a show, averaging 21.9 points, 5.2 rebounds and 4.5 assists over 28 games. But with Jared McCain set to return from injury at some point and No. 3 pick V.J. Edgecombe waiting in the wings, the 76ers may consider Grimes a luxury.
15. Moritz Wagner, C, 28 — $11-million club option
While injuries held him to only 30 games with the Magic last season, the elder Wagner showed that there are still levels to his game to be unlocked, averaging 12.9 points, 4.9 rebounds and shooting 36 per cent from deep. He’ll be out with a torn ACL for the first half of the season, but at a discounted price, the German big could be a valuable contributor come playoffs.
16. Dorian Finney-Smith, F, 32 — $15.4-million player option
Likely a mid-level exception player, Finney-Smith provides some solid contributions at both ends. He hit 41.4 per cent of his triples last season with the Nets and Lakers and still has the athleticism and length to defend multiple positions.
17. Caris LeVert, G, 30 — UFA
After being dealt to the Hawks at the deadline, LeVert averaged 14.9 points a night coming off the bench. He may not pour it on every night, but he’s still more than capable of 25-plus-point outings.
18. Clint Capela, C, 31 years old — UFA
Though he isn’t the physical force at the five he once was, Capela still knows his way around a pick-and-roll and finishes well at the rim. He likely won’t have a starting role as his game has become increasingly one-dimensional, but as an experienced play-finisher in a weak class, he’ll find a landing spot. Capela has played for the Hawks the past five seasons.
19. Chris Boucher, F, 32 — UFA
Boucher had too many invisible nights, and for a Raptors team looking to get younger, his place may finally be elsewhere, walking away as the final remnant from Toronto’s 2019 title run. As a ninth or 10th man, the Montrealer can give teams solid production as a lob threat and corner three-point shooter, but he’s not a player to be leaned on at this stage.
20. D’Angelo Russell, G, 29 — UFA
While he can still have a night here and there, Russell is far removed from being an All-Star-calibre player, and his brutal scoring efficiency and inconsistencies have lowered his stock drastically. It’s unclear whether he can properly run a second unit, and any team counting on him to start is in a rough place. However, he’s still an experienced guard that a team could place their faith in. Russell split last season between the Nets and Lakers.
