NBA's 10 best free agents still available on 2025 market, ranked

02/07/2025 14:00

Let's rank the best NBA free agents who are still available.

The NBA free agency was also destined to be a dud in the summer of 2025. The list of unrestricted free agents was topped by older veteran stars who were never going to leave their incumbent teams, and younger restricted free agents who were going to get squeezed due to the lack of available cap space around the league.

The first two days of free agency took most of the top names off the board. The most shocking moment was the Milwaukee Bucks' decision to waive-and-stretch Damian Lillard so they could pay Myles Turner to be their new starting center. The Denver Nuggets have loaded up out West with several smart signings and one huge trade, while the Atlanta Hawks also look like an Eastern Conference contender with some shrewd moves for both their present and future.

Who's still available on the 2025 NBA free agent market? We have you covered. Here's a handy list of unsigned players that we'll try to keep updated.

10. Russell Westbrook, G

Unrestricted free agent

Westbrook had one of his better seasons since leaving the Thunder last year with the Denver Nuggets. Playing with Nikola Jokic has that effect on people. Westbrook still plays with a ton of energy and can provide some scoring and playmaking, but his shaky three-point shot and high turnover rate are killers. He turns 37 years old at the start of the season. The Knicks and Kings are reportedly among the teams interested.

9. De'Anthony Melton, G

Unrestricted free agent

Melton felt like an exciting addition for the Golden State Warriors last year, but he tore his ACL in the sixth game of the season. Now 27 years old, Melton has always been an impactful defensive-minded guard who has a workable three-point shot. The Lakers are reportedly among the teams interested.

8. Mo Wagner, C

Unrestricted free agent

Wagner had turned into a valuable bench big man for the Orlando Magic before tearing his ACL in late Dec. this past season. The 28-year-old has become really productive on a per-minute basis (he averaged 24.5 points and 9.4 rebounds per-36 minutes before the injury), and he's become a solid three-point shooter now after hitting 36 percent on nearly five attempts per game. Wagner is also the type of dirty work guy teams love to have around. Would he really leave his younger brother Franz in Orlando? There should be a market here even as he recovers from injury.

7. Al Horford, C

Unrestricted free agent

Al Horford is still going strong at 39 years, and he's seeking a new home with the Celtics taking a step back in the wake of Jayson Tatum's torn Achilles. Horford was a key piece on Boston's 2024 championship team, and he's reportedly drawing interest from the Lakers and Warriors this summer, among others. Horford still has some mobility defensively in his old age, and his three-point shot has been a real weapon for years at this point. In a small role, he can still be effective.

6. Chris Paul, G

Unrestricted free agent

CP3 is 40 years old now, but he's coming off a season where he somehow played all 82 games for the San Antonio Spurs. Paul was effective in his 28 minutes per night, adding three-point shooting, halfcourt organization, playmaking, and pesky defense. He doesn't have much scoring punch anymore, but there's still plenty of value on and off-the-court in having Chris Paul around. Two of his former teams — the Clippers and Suns — are rumored to be in the mix.

5. Cam Thomas, G, Brooklyn Nets

Restricted free agent

Arguably the league's most unrepentant bucket-getter, Thomas has rarely met a field goal attempt he hasn't liked. He averaged 24 points per game on pretty good scoring efficiency (57.5 percent true shooting) given his volume, but it's hard to be believe a Cam-centric offense can lead to winning. There's still some upside here for the soon-to-be 24-year-old, and he'll likely return to the Nets soon.

4. Deandre Ayton, C,

Unrestricted free agent

Ayton reportedly gave back $10 million to be waived by the Trail Blazers, who had grown frustrated with his lazy work habits. The former No. 1 overall pick is on the brink of his 27th birthday and still might have some upside left if he can be paired with a great playmaker. Ayton lacks with an astounding lack of force for a player with this gifts. There's no reason someone this big and this athletic should get to the foul line less than Cameron Payne, but that's part of the Ayton experience. Still, in a market without many starting caliber bigs, Ayton can be that for a team with low-end playoff aspirations.

3. Quentin Grimes, G, Philadephia 76ers

Restricted free agent

Grimeswas dumped by the Dallas Mavericks at the deadline in the aftershock of the Luka Doncic trade, and he went on to have a phenomenal close to the season with the Sixers. Grimes reportedly wants a big deal, but he's going to have to play on the qualifying offer to get it. The 25-year-old is a shooting guard who can play- or off-the-ball with real scoring juice, a dependable spot-up three-pointer, and solid backcourt defense. Was his March run real? If so, the Sixers could potentially lock him in for a bargain contract ... if he's willing to accept it.

2. Jonathan Kuminga, F, Golden State Warriors

Restricted free agent

The Warriors just never trusted Kuminga enough to give him the minutes he needed to develop, and it appears he could change teams with anything resembling a strong offer. The 22-year-old forward has an enticing combination of length, explosiveness, and scoring upside, but his limited awareness on both ends of the floor has hurt his career. Kuminga makes the most sense in an uptempo team that can lean into his physical gifts. It also feels like there's a chance he could take the qualifying offer and test unrestricted free agency next season.

1. Josh Giddey, G, Chicago Bulls

Restricted free agent

The Bulls' decision to swap Alex Caruso for Giddey in a 1-for-1 deal worked out great ... for the NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder. It could still work out for Chicago, but first he needs to agree to a new deal in a depressed restricted free agency market. The 22-year-old point guard struggled in the first half of last season, but took off after the Bulls traded Zach LaVine. Giddey was electric for the last 20 games of the season as Chicago built a high-tempo system around him to accentuate his strengths. Can he sustain that production for a full year? He'll return to the Bulls eventually, the only question is how much money he gets.