Carmelo Anthony, Collin Sexton headline best NBA free agents still available

Kyle Irving

Carmelo Anthony, Collin Sexton headline best NBA free agents still available image

The madness of NBA free agency has cooled off as we enter the down part of the offseason, but there's still a group of players available who can impact winning.

From skill specialists to veterans who can bring championship swagger to a roster, there are still 20-plus players who are worth monitoring as the offseason rolls on.

23-year-old scoring guard Collin Sexton is still on the restricted free agent market, while veterans like Carmelo Anthony, Blake Griffin and Dwight Howard are still looking for the next chapter in their careers.

Below you can find over 20 free agents still available.

Note: Breakout forward Miles Bridges is still available as a restricted free agent, but he has been omitted from this list as he awaits his preliminary hearing for three counts of felony domestic violence charges.

Who are the best NBA free agents available?

Sexton

1. Collin Sexton, SG

Restricted free agent

The Cavaliers reportedly offered Sexton a three-year deal "around $40 million," per Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com, but that doesn't feel like it would be enough to retain the 24-year-old scorer. Sexton is coming off of a season-ending meniscus injury but the year prior, he averaged 24.3 points and 4.4 assists per game and would be a great addition for any franchise at this stage in his career.

2. Dennis Schroder, PG

Unrestricted free agent

Schroder was traded from the Celtics to the Rockets during the season and his production dropped off in Houston, but he can still make an impact as a playmaking guard. Schroder averaged 15.4 points and 5.8 assists in a featured role in Los Angeles in 2020-21.

3. Montrezl Harrell, PF/C

Unrestricted free agent

Still only 28 years old, Harrell is only two seasons removed from taking home Sixth Man of the Year with the Clippers. He was traded from the Wizards to the Hornets at the trade deadline but only managed to average 11.4 points and 4.9 rebounds per game in a limited role off the bench.

Carmelo Anthony Los Angeles Lakers
NBA Entertainment

4. Carmelo Anthony, PF

Unrestricted free agent

Anthony will be entering his 20th NBA season next year, but the 38-year-old can still provide a scoring punch for any team. Melo knocked down 37.5 percent of his 3s with the Lakers last season, averaging 13.3 points and 4.2 rebounds per game. The 10-time All-Star is only 307 points away from passing Shaquille O'Neal for 10th on the NBA's all-time scoring list.

MORE: Why trade talks have halted between Lakers and Pacers on Hield deal

5. Blake Griffin, PF/C

Unrestricted free agent

Griffin had an up-and-down year with the Nets last season, but he proved he still has something left in the tank with strong moments in their playoff series against the Celtics. He was mainly out of the rotation in Brooklyn, but a change in scenery could be all the six-time All-Star needs to get back to making an impact in a small-ball center role off the bench.

6. Dwight Howard, C

Unrestricted free agent

Howard's production declined in Los Angeles last season but the 36-year-old can still be a solid reserve big at this stage in his career. The eight-time All-Star averaged a career-low 5.9 boards per game in 2021-22, but he'll always make an impact in the paint as a rebounder and rim protector.

7. Hassan Whiteside, C

Unrestricted free agent

Whiteside was limited behind All-Star center Rudy Gobert in Utah last season, but he showed he can fill a role as an interim starting center when he got his opportunity. In eight starts, Whiteside averaged 11.5 points, 11.3 rebounds and 1.9 blocks, even recording a 21-rebound game.

8. Josh Jackson, SF

Unrestricted free agent

Believe it or not, Jackson is still only 25 years old. The former No. 4 overall pick fell out of the rotation in Detroit last season and was traded to the Kings at the deadline, but he averaged 13.4 points, 4.1 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game in 2020-21.

MORE: Who was every team's best player at Las Vegas Summer League?

9. Tristan Thompson, C

Unrestricted free agent

Thompson bounced around last season, spending time with the Kings, Pacers and Bulls. Over 57 games, the veteran center averaged 6.0 points and 5.1 rebounds in 15.7 minutes per game. Thompson will likely be looking to make a contribution to a team with championship aspirations, looking to add another ring to his collection.

10. Eric Bledsoe, SG

Unrestricted free agent

Bledsoe played 54 games with the Clippers last season and was traded to the Trail Blazers at the deadline. He never suited up for Portland and was waived during this offseason, making him an unrestricted free agent immediately. The 32-year-old is a physical defender who can add backcourt depth to any roster.

Honorable mentions

LaMarcus Aldridge, PF/C

Demarcus Cousins, C

Jordan Nwora, SF

Rajon Rondo, PG

Isaiah Thomas, PG

Lou Williams, SG

Ben McLemore, SG

Frank Jackson, SG

Juancho Hernangomez, SF

Andre Iguodala, SF

Markieff Morris, PF

Paul Millsap, PF

Eric Paschall, SF

Kyle Irving

Kyle Irving Photo

You read that wrong – not Kyrie Irving. From Boston, graduated from the University of New Hampshire. Sixth season as a content producer for NBA.com's Global editions. Covering the NBA Draft has become his annual "dream come true" moment on the job. Irving has a soft spot for pass-first point guards, with Rajon Rondo and Steve Nash being two of his favorite players of all time.