Ranking the Top 30 NBA Free Agents In 2024

Ranking the Top 30 NBA Free Agents In 20240 of 12

LeBron JamesRonald Martinez/Getty Images

Now that the 2023-24 NBA trade deadline is in the rear-view, the next big window for player movement is this coming summer.

With around four months of action under the league’s collective belt this season, we have a pretty good idea of who the best free agents will be during the offseason.

Based on current and upcoming trends and philosophies in the NBA, past and current production of the players at issue, age and loads of subjectivity, you’ll find the top 30 free agents below.

Free Agents 30-211 of 12

Russell WestbrookTyler Ross/NBAE via Getty Images

30. Kelly Olynyk

Olynyk is one of the game’s most versatile bigs. He’s one of just six players, regardless of position, who’s averaging a triple-double per 100 possessions this season, and he has a 42.9 three-point percentage to boot.

29. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (Player Option)

He doesn’t pile up a ton of box-score numbers (including points), but KCP has hit 39.9 percent of his threes over the past five seasons and is one of the league’s most reliable perimeter defenders.

28. Markelle Fultz

Injuries remain a significant concern (he’s missed over half the Orlando Magic’s games this season), but Fultz has proven a serviceable distributor and multipositional defender when available.

27. Kyle Anderson

His shooting numbers have fallen off a cliff this season, but Anderson is still in his prime, one of the game’s best and most versatile defenders and an underrated playmaker.

26. Bruce Brown (Team Option)

Brown’s advanced numbers have plummeted without the Nikola Jokić bump, but we’re less than a year removed from his positional and defensive versatility and timely shooting being a key ingredient in a championship run.

25. Miles Bridges

His off-court issues will likely remain a concern for some front offices this summer (he pled no contest to felony domestic violence charges in late 2022), but Bridges’ size (6’7″, 225 pounds), athleticism and scoring ability will bring some suitors to the table.

24. De’Anthony Melton

A low-volume scorer who’s willing to play off of bigger stars, Melton is a high-end perimeter defender who can also set up teammates as a secondary creator.

23. Obi Toppin (Restricted)

It’s tough to know how much of his production is attributable to the Indiana Pacers’ unique, high-octane offensive approach, but his size (6’9″) and athleticism will translate anywhere, and a 39.4 three-point percentage this season is encouraging.

22. Spencer Dinwiddie

Dinwiddie is on track for his 10th below-average effective field-goal percentage in 10 NBA seasons, but his playmaking and the pressure he puts on defenses have helped his teams generally score more efficiently when he’s on the floor.

21. Dario Šarić

Šarić has quietly been one of the league’s best reserves this season, averaging 18.3 points, 9.7 rebounds, 4.6 assists per 75 possessions while shooting 41.5 percent from deep.

Free Agents 20-112 of 12

DeMar DeRozanJustin Ford/Getty Images

20. Tyus Jones

One of the steadiest backup point guards in the league, Jones can organize an offense, reliably hit threes and take care of the ball as well as any playmaker in the league.

19. Russell Westbrook (Player Option)

The way Russell Westbrook has embraced a reserve role with the Los Angeles Clippers should preserve his value and career for a few years. He’s obviously not the nightly triple-double he once was, but the force with which he plays often overwhelms fellow backups.

18. Mike Conley

Conley will turn 37 before the 2024-25 season starts, but he’s settled nicely into a post-prime version of himself who takes care of the ball, is in the right spots on defense and is one of the most reliable three-point shooters in the league. Over the past four seasons, he’s shooting 41.0 percent from deep.

17. Klay Thompson

Thompson’s basketball mortality has been a common topic of conversation this season, but in the right situation, he should still be able to fill a pure shooter’s role like the one Duncan Robinson has had with the Miami Heat over the years.

16. DeMar DeRozan

DeRozan is on track to average at least 20 points for the 11th straight season, but his struggles on defense have only gotten worse, and he’ll be 35 this summer. Still, as perhaps the first option and lead playmaker for some team’s second unit, DeRozan can still be a positive difference-maker.

15. Malik Monk

Long a heat-check-off-the-bench guy (and a pretty good one, at that), Monk has added playmaking to his resume in 2023-24. He’s essentially operating as the Sacramento Kings’ backup 1 and averaging a career-high 5.3 assists in just 25.6 minutes.

14. Jonas Valančiūnas

Early in his career, it looked like the NBA game might evolve beyond the bruising centers of yesteryear, but Valančiūnas survived till a big-man renaissance hit a few years ago. And now, his post scoring, rebounding and a little hint of playmaking could help plenty of teams.

13. Isaiah Hartenstein

One of the league’s more underrated playmaking bigs, Hartenstein has averaged 3.3 assists per 75 possessions over the past four seasons. Add that to his activity as a rebounder, defender and interior finisher, and it’s easy to see Hartenstein fitting on most rosters.

12. Buddy Hield

One of the best floor spacers of all time (no, really), Hield has averaged 17.1 points and 3.5 threes per game over the past six seasons, while shooting 39.8 percent from deep. He may not check a ton of other boxes, but when you shoot that well, there will always be a market.

11. D’Angelo Russell (Player Option)

Defense can be a huge problem for teams with Russell on the floor, but the attention on that part of his game may have actually made him underrated on the other end. There are only six players in NBA history who match or exceed all of Russell’s career marks for points (17.7), assists (5.7) and threes (2.5) per game.

10. Tobias Harris3 of 12

Tobias HarrisJesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images

His hefty contract and the fact that he’s spent so much time alongside All-Stars like Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons and James Harden have often made Tobias Harris an easy scapegoat.

He’s also been the subject of enough trade rumors to warrant an all-time line from Harris himself.

NBC Sports Philadelphia @NBCSPhilly”Casual Sixers fans, they’ll trade me for a Crumbl Cookie.”

Tobias Harris chimes in on the trade speculation surrounding him. ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/8GdU3N9cYw

But if you take away the sometimes unfair expectations, Harris has long been a solid, multipositional forward, and he may have a couple prime years left.

During his five-plus seasons with the Philadelphia 76ers, Harris has averaged a solid (though maybe not inspiring) 17.7 points, 6.6 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.5 threes while shooting an above-average 37.0 percent from deep.

On a more reasonable contract, those are the kind of numbers that could boost just about any attack as a third or fourth option.

9. Immanuel Quickley (Restricted)4 of 12

Immanuel QuickleyVaughn Ridley/NBAE via Getty Images

Immanuel Quickley’s efficiency as a New York Knick hasn’t translated perfectly to his new, expanded role with the Toronto Raptors. That may cause a hint of hesitation from potential suitors, but it certainly shouldn’t scare anyone off entirely.

There’s plenty of time for Quickley to adjust to life as a lead playmaker in the NBA. He’s only 24 years old, has always had a positive impact on his team’s plus-minus and plays with the kind of confidence that can completely swing a game.

Since the start of last season, he’s averaged 15.3 points, 3.6 assists and 2.2 threes in just 28.2 minutes while shooting 38.6 percent from deep.

Despite being just 6’3″, he’s also a solid defender, thanks in large part to his activity level and a 6’8″ wingspan that allows him to occasionally guard wings.

8. Jrue Holiday (Player Option)5 of 12

Jrue HolidayPaul Rutherford/Getty Images

With the Boston Celtics, Jrue Holiday has accepted a much smaller role than he had with the Milwaukee Bucks. When everyone’s healthy, he’s the fifth option.

And the new role has certainly suppressed his numbers a bit. That and the fact that he turns 34 in June means his free-agent value probably isn’t quite what it may have been without the trade to Boston.

But even if averages of 13.3 points and 6.0 assists don’t leap off the screen, Holiday is still one of the game’s better perimeter defenders. And he isn’t limited to matchups with guards. Holiday’s stout enough to defend wings, and in some cases, even bigs.

He’s also become a reliable three-point shooter who’s willing to get off the ball for team’s with more ball-dominant stars. Over the past four seasons, he’s hit 40.1 percent of his triples.

7. Nic Claxton6 of 12

Nic ClaxtonTim Nwachukwu/Getty Images

The Brooklyn Nets’ general mediocrity since last season’s Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving trades has sort of taken the team off the national radar. And that may have contributed to Nic Claxton’s rise flying under the radar.

Over just about the same span, Claxton has become one of the game’s better rim-runners and protectors, and he turns 25 in April. There’s still a little runway for development.

Since the start of last season, Claxton’s put up 12.5 points, 9.6 rebounds and 2.4 blocks in 29.8 minutes while shooting 67.4 percent from the field. Those are far from empty numbers for a non-title contender.

Over the same span, Brooklyn is plus-1.3 points per 100 possessions with Claxton on the floor and minus-2.0 when he’s off.

6. Pascal Siakam7 of 12

Pascal SiakamKent Smith/NBAE via Getty Images

With the ability to play both the 4 and the 5, Pascal Siakam’s versatility on both ends of the floor has long been a selling point.

He can defend multiple positions. He can score off drives starting from the perimeter or on interior catches. And for the first time since 2018-19, he’s scoring with above-average efficiency.

If he can maintain that level of shooting through the rest of the season, he’ll undoubtedly be among this summer’s most sought-after forwards.

But even if he regresses a bit there, Siakam’s ability to create for and distribute to teammates could make just about any offense more dynamic.

Over the past four seasons, Siakam has averaged 22.7 points, 7.6 rebounds and 5.2 assists.

5. OG Anunoby (Player Option)8 of 12

OG AnunobyMitchell Leff/Getty Images

Both basic and advanced numbers suggest OG Anunoby should be behind Siakam on a list like this, but he’s three years younger, a more reliable three-point shooter and an easier fit on teams that already have scorers (as most do these days).

Anunoby’s malleability was obvious the moment he joined the New York Knicks earlier this season. He’ll happily take on the opposition’s toughest defensive assignment, without demanding a high-usage role on the other end.

Anunoby will ably space the floor and hit catch-and-shoot threes, while occasionally making a well-timed cut to the basket. And his willingness to do those less glamorous things on offense can make life an awful lot easier for ball-handlers.

All of the above has made Anunoby a distinctly positive impact player for years. Since the start of 2020-21, his teams are plus-4.5 points with Anunoby on the floor and minus-1.3 when he’s off.

4. James Harden9 of 12

James HardenAdam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images

It felt like James Harden’s legacy was on mighty thin ice when he made another trade request this past summer. Everyone was quick to pile on when he lost his first five games as a Los Angeles Clipper.

But the rest of this season has been a borderline masterclass in point guard play from Harden, and his performance has undoubtedly rehabbed his value (at least to a degree).

His numbers aren’t as gaudy as they were with the Houston Rockets, Brooklyn Nets and Philadelphia 76ers, but that could be a selling point too. Harden has shown an ability to defer to multiple stars at this point in his career.

On the season, he’s putting up 17.4 points and 8.5 assists. The reduction in volume might be helping his efficiency, too. Harden is shooting a career-high 42.6 percent from deep.

3. Paul George (Player Option)10 of 12

Paul GeorgeAdam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images

It’s hard to say which of the Clippers’ upcoming free agents should be in this spot. Because of his playmaking, it wouldn’t be hard to talk me into bumping up Harden to No. 3.

But even with the deference Harden has shown to Paul George and Kawhi Leonard in L.A., PG still seems like the more malleable player.

He’s bigger and a more reliable defender, too. There really isn’t a team in the league on which George wouldn’t easily slot in as a supercharged, three-and-D forward who can also be a secondary playmaker.

Since he joined the Clippers ahead of the 2019-20 season, George has averaged 23.0 points, 6.1 rebounds, 4.7 assists, 3.1 threes and 1.5 steals while shooting 39.3 percent from three.

2. LeBron James (Player Option)11 of 12

LeBron JamesAdam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images

LeBron James has been crushing expectations throughout his career, and that remains true in his age-39 campaign.

No, he’s not the perennial MVP candidate he was for most of the 2000s and 2010s, but LeBron is still a borderline top-10 player and one of the game’s premier playmakers.

If the 39.3 three-point percentage he’s boasting this season is here to stay, he might be able to extend his already impossibly long career a few more years.

Somehow, more than 20 years after he was drafted, LeBron is still good enough to push just about any team into contention.

Though a departure from Los Angeles feels unlikely, if James turns down his player option, there will be no shortage of suitors.

1. Tyrese Maxey (Restricted)12 of 12

Tyrese MaxeyDavid Dow/NBAE via Getty Images

In his first season without either of Ben Simmons or James Harden, Tyrese Maxey almost immediately ascended to superstardom.

Despite spending over half of his minutes alongside one of the best and highest volume scorers in NBA history, Maxey is averaging 25.6 points, 6.3 assists and 3.1 threes while shooting 37.9 percent from deep.

He’s answered just about any question anyone could’ve had about his ability to be a lead guard, with one of the game’s quickest first steps and a pull-up jumper to keep defenses honest.

His defense may need a little work, but Maxey is only 23 years old. He’s still three or four years from his prime. There’s plenty of time to refine his game.