The 2024 NBA free agent class has been much-lamented for how weak it is. That is true at the top of it.
There are a few legitimate All-Stars, but they're probably staying with their teams. A name like Klay Thompson might be the best player to move locations.
What stands out in this class is that the depth is pretty good all the way down past the top 50. There are only six or seven teams with big spending power. The rest of the league will be fighting over those rotation pieces and will have great options available to them.
Both the Celtics and Mavericks showed that to get to the Finals, you need good supporting players around your stars. There might be some diamonds in the rough in this class.
Here is a list of the top 50 players who could switch teams in free agency.
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Ranking the top 50 NBA free agents in 2024
Potential All-Stars
1. LeBron James | Status: Player option
James has a $51.4 million player option that would keep him on the Lakers for another year. If he declines that option, he will likely renegotiate a two or three-year deal to stay with the team.
Even as he is set to turn 40 in December, James is still worth over $50 million annually. He should get somewhere in the neighborhood of that average annual amount on his new deal. Look for him to try and negotiate a no-trade clause so that he can end things on his terms.
Although the Lakers are the odds-on favorite to keep James, there is a chance that he goes somewhere else. There will surely be a lot of interest — he's still a top-15 player in the league.
MORE: Warriors, Thunder, Cavaliers headline best options for LeBron in free agency
2. Paul George | Status: Player option
George is probably opting out of his deal, which would pay him $48.8 million next season.
It's somewhat surprising that George and the Clippers haven't already agreed on an extension. His teammate Kawhi Leonard was in a similar situation but signed a three-year, $152 million extension in January. That is a slight discount from the maximum that he could have earned, and the Clippers are likely looking for the same type of discount on George.
If the Clippers do decide to let George go, the Sixers, Knicks and Thunder are the best options for him. A max deal from another team would run for four years and start at an estimated $49.4 million.
3. Tyrese Maxey | Status: Restricted free agent
Maxey is a free agent in name only. The Sixers are going to give him his max, which starts at $36 million annually, and it will be well-deserved after a breakout All-Star year.
Even if Maxey wanted to switch teams, he wouldn't be able to. As a restricted free agent, the team has the right to match any contract offered to him.
4. Pascal Siakam | Status: Agreed to a contract with the Pacers
The details won't become official until July 6, but Siakam has already agreed to a new deal with the Pacers that will pay him his maximum of $189.5 million over four years.
MORE: Grading Pascal Siakam's new contract for the Pacers
5. James Harden | Status: Unrestricted free agent
Harden started the year disastrously for the Clippers but quietly had a very solid turnaround, playing a great facilitator role and knocking down 38.1 percent of his 3s. He's not nearly as comfortable getting to the rim as in his MVP days, but he's still capable of leading a top offense and solidly a top 30 player in the league.
The Clippers will probably keep Harden, both because they just gave up a decent haul to get him and they have no way of replacing him if he leaves. He should still be worth somewhere around $25-30 million annually.
6. DeMar DeRozan | Status: Unrestricted free agent
DeRozan played like a fringe All-Star last season, showing that he still has a lot in the tank at age 34. He remains one of the best isolation scorers in the league. He is always able to create a quality shot in the midrange due to his excellent footwork and pump fakes. And he is one of the best closers in the game, finishing runner-up to Stephen Curry in last season's Clutch Player of the Year voting (which he should have won).
DeRozan turned down a two-year, $80 million extension offer during last season, per NBC Sports Chicago's KC Johnson, which gives a window into what type of deal he wants. The Bulls may pivot to a youth movement this summer, and he could be on his way out.
7. O.G. Anunoby | Status: Agreed to a contract with the Knicks
Anunoby has reportedly agreed to a five-year, $212.5 million contract to return to the Knicks. The two sides came to an agreement within 24 hours of New York trading for Mikal Bridges.
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High-end starters
8. Immanuel Quickley | Status: Restricted free agent
The other part of the Anunoby trade, Quickley is almost surely re-signing with the Raptors. They moved Anunoby because they believed in him as their guard of the future. He played well in Toronto, averaging 18.6 points and 6.8 assists per game while moving into a full-time starter role.
9. Isaiah Hartenstein | Status: Unrestricted free agent
Hartenstein has bounced around teams throughout his career but made the most of his opportunity after Mitchell Robinson was injured for most of the year. As the starter for the Knicks, he became one of their most valuable players. He would have garnered significant All-Defensive consideration had he played in enough games to qualify for the vote. He's a great rim protector and rebounder who has a deep understanding of various defensive schemes.
Hartenstein is also a good passer who acted as the hub of New York's offense at times, hitting cutters and setting screens to free up Jalen Brunson. He has a lot of qualities that teams are looking for in their big men and should get starter-level money of around $20 million annually.
10. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope | Status: Player option
Caldwell-Pope has reportedly declined his $15.4 million option for next season to become a free agent. He's one of the better 3-and-D wings on the market and can get more in the free agency market.
The Nuggets can extend him for up to four years and $98 million, but they will face serious tax and apron concerns if they do so. They might have to because some other team is going to be willing to give KCP that kind of money.
MORE: Nuggets offseason guide: Can the team re-sign KCP?
11. Klay Thompson | Status: Unrestricted free agent
Thompson is clearly on the decline. He struggled at times last year, getting pulled from the starting lineup and being benched down the stretch of games throughout the season. But he's still a deadly 3-point shooter who hit 38.7 percent of his looks in a down year. He can guard slower players capably but can't stick with speedy guards anymore.
The Warriors want to hold onto Thompson, but they also want to avoid the luxury tax. Can they do both? If not, other teams are looming and have starter money to give him.
MORE: Why Magic, Thunder could be options for Klay Thompson in free agency
12. Miles Bridges | Status: Unrestricted free agent
Bridges' off-court domestic violence incidents turned teams off the possibility of signing him last summer. He was productive on the floor for the Hornets, averaging 21.0 points per game in 2023-24.
13. Nic Claxton | Status: Agreed to a contract with the Nets
Claxton hasn't had a great fit on the Nets. He's a non-shooter but a good pick-and-roll finisher. Where he brings a ton of value is as a defensive center. He can switch out onto the perimeter and block shots at the rim. That is a valuable starter in today's NBA.
Claxton has reportedly agreed to a four-year, $100 million contract with the Nets.
Fringe Starters
14. Malik Monk | Status: Agreed to a contract with the Kings
Monk has been a perennial Sixth Man of the Year candidate but could start for a number of teams. He averaged 15.4 points per game off the bench, hitting 35 percent of his 3s. He's a good scorer and an improved defender from his earlier days.
Monk has reportedly agreed to a four-year, $78 million deal with the Kings.
15. De'Anthony Melton | Status: Unrestricted free agent
Melton is a true sleeper in this free-agent class. When he was healthy, he was an analytical darling because of his great two-way play. He has always generated a ton of steals, and he turned himself into a good 3-point shooter, hitting 38.3 percent of his long-range looks over the past four seasons.
Injuries completely derailed Melton's season, causing him to play only seven total minutes in the playoffs. He won't get the attention of some of the bigger names on this list, but he's a very good rotation player when healthy.
16. Buddy Hield | Status: Unrestricted free agent
Hield also could never really find a rhythm in Philadelphia. He did show how impactful he could be in Game 6 of the first round, scoring 20 points off the bench. He's one of the most high-volume 3-point shooters in the league, and he's hit 40 percent of his bombs for his career. He's not much of a defender, but teams always need shooting.
17. D'Angelo Russell | Status: Player option
Russell has a $18.9 million option that he will likely decline, making him an unrestricted free agent. He was the Lakers' third-leading scorer in 2023-24, averaging 18.0 points per game on 41.5 percent from 3. He's been somewhat of a defensive liability in the playoffs, though.
Look for him to get around the same average annual salary on a longer-term deal.
18. Gary Trent Jr. | Status: Unrestricted free agent
Scary Gary has always been a bucket-getter. He averaged 13.7 points per game in a mix of a starting and bench role for the Raptors last year. He's a good 3-point shooter, hitting 39.3 percent of his looks last season. He is a gambler on defense who can get some momentum-changing steals or leave his teams in a bad position.
19. Patrick Williams | Status: Restricted free agent
Williams is the best young player who could potentially switch teams. The No. 4 pick in the 2020 NBA Draft has had issues with health and consistency, which have led to mixed evaluations all over the league. Still, he has shot the 3 well and played good defense, which is valuable at his 6-7 size.
If teams are believers in his defensive upside and think he can become a more consistent scorer, then he could be a good candidate to steal away from the Bulls.
MORE: How much is Patrick Williams worth?
20. Tobias Harris | Status: Unrestricted free agent
Harris has been one of the most-criticized players in the league due to his massive $180 million contract that he massively underperformed. He has a chance to be properly paid now.
Harris was a good player throughout that deal who would have been fine at half his cost, but teams have to be a bit concerned with how he completely disappeared in the playoffs.
21. Jonas Valanciunas | Status: Unrestricted free agent
Valanciunas has been a solid starting center for years, banging down low as a huge post presence and stretching out for the occasional 3. His slow feet make it tough for him on defense, and the Pelicans went with Larry Nance Jr. to close a lot of games. He may be on his way out.
22. Bruce Brown | Status: Team option
Brown has a $23.0 million team option that is likely to get picked up, per Substack's Marc Stein. He doesn't totally fit with the team's development stage and could be used as a trade chip down the line to go to a contending team.
MORE: Bruce Brown Jr. has strong reaction to trade rumors from Raptors fans
23. Kelly Oubre Jr. | Status: Unrestricted free agent
Oubre was one of the big steals of last summer. There wasn't much interest in him, and he signed on a one-year minimum with the Sixers.
He vastly outperformed that deal, averaging 15.4 points per game and starting in 52 of 68 games. He's never had great on-court feel but he's a capable shooter and good finisher who has great positional size to defend wings.
24. Tyus Jones | Status: Unrestricted free agent
Jones toiled away in Washington, very quietly having a solid season in which he shot 41.4 percent from 3 and scored 12.0 points per game. He was considered one of the best backup point guards in the league previously in Memphis, and that's probably the role that he will play on his new team. He's a good game manager who rarely makes the wrong decision with the ball.
25. Nicolas Batum | Status: Unrestricted free agent
Batum has turned his career around by playing a tough stretch power forward role in his later years. At 35 years old, he probably won't get a long-term deal. But he was great for the Sixers, hitting 39.9 percent of his 3s for them and coming up with some big playoff performances.
26. Caleb Martin | Status: Player option
Martin was the star of the 2023 NBA Playoffs, playing good defense and taking on a lot of shot-creation responsibilities with Tyler Herro injured. He returned back down to Earth this past season, but he's still a guy who can get a bucket and stretch the floor.
27. Russell Westbrook | Status: Player option
Westbrook's player option is for only $4.0 million. He's still a high-energy backup in the league at the age of 37. It's unclear if he will exercise that option with the Clippers or opt-out to seek more money.
28. Kyle Anderson | Status: Unrestricted free agent
Anderson is a funky player who always seems to make his teams better. He's a good defender who can credibly guard some of the better wing scorers in the league. On offense, his extremely slow drives are somehow oddly effective. He's not much of a 3-point shooter, although he can hit the wide-open ones with his slow release.
29. Derrick Jones Jr. | Status: Unrestricted free agent
Nobody wanted Jones last year. He was one of the last players signed, lasting all the way until mid-August before agreeing to a minimum with the Mavs.
He's earned a huge pay raise. Jones turned into a starter for the team, using his length and athleticism to wreak havoc defensively and finish lob dunks. He's become a better 3-point shooter, hitting 34.3 percent last season. The downside is he only takes the open ones from the corner.
30. Andre Drummond | Status: Unrestricted free agent
Drummond has been one of the best backup big men for a while now. He's expected to leave Chicago, per Joe Cowley of the Sun-Times. He is one of the best rebounders of all time, a decent passer and has surprisingly terrific hands in the passing lanes. However, he's not much of a post scorer, he can't credibly stretch the floor and he will make one or two boneheaded plays every week that will leave you scratching your head.
Rotation players
31. Gary Payton II | Status: Player option
32. Monte Morris | Status: Unrestricted free agent
33. Isaac Okoro | Status: Restricted free agent
34. Markelle Fultz | Status: Unrestricted free agent
35. Luke Kennard | Status: Team option
36. Obi Toppin | Status: Restricted free agent
37. Gary Harris | Status: Unrestricted free agent
38. Malik Beasley | Status: Unrestricted free agent
39. Isaiah Joe | Status: Team option
40. Jose Alvarado | Status: Team option (UPDATE: Alvarado's $1.99m option has been exercised)
41. Spencer Dinwiddie | Status: Unrestricted free agent
42. Royce O'Neale | Status: Unrestricted free agent
43. Haywood Highsmith | Status: Unrestricted free agent
44. Delon Wright | Status: Unrestricted free agent
45. Shake Milton | Status: Unrestricted free agent
46. Saddiq Bey | Status: Restricted free agent
47. Kyle Lowry | Status: Unrestricted free agent
48. Gordon Hayward | Status: Unrestricted free agent
49. Simone Fontecchio | Status: Restricted free agent
50. Dario Saric | Status: Unrestricted free agent
