Who Is Still A Free Agent in the NBA?

The NBA offseason is in full swing and there are still a few big name free agents on the market. Who are the top free agents still available?

The Big Three

The Big Three are the three best basketball players in the world. They are LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and Kawhi Leonard. They are all free agents, and they are all still unsigned.

Lebron James

Lebron Raymone James Sr. (/ləˈbrɒn/; born December 30, 1984) is an American professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He is widely considered to be one of the greatest players in NBA history and has been praised for his shooting, passing, dribbling and defense. A four-time NBA MVP, he was one of the league’s most dominant players in the early 2010s.

He began his career with the Cleveland Cavaliers, who selected him with the first overall pick of the 2003 NBA draft. He played there for seven seasons, winning Rookie of the Year honors in 2003–04 and consecutive Most Valuable Player awards from 2009 to 2010. In 2010, he left Cleveland in free agency to sign with Miami. He won two NBA championships while playing with Miami (2012 and 2013), was named NBA Finals MVP in both years, and also won a regular season MVP award in 2012. James then rejoined Cleveland in 2014 and led the team to their first NBA championship since 1964.

Kevin Durant

Durant, a 10-time All-Star and two-time champion, is arguably the best player in the world not named LeBron James.
The 30-year-old forward is a free agent for the first time in his career and one of the most coveted names on the market.
Though he’s spent his entire career to date with the Oklahoma City Thunder, it’s widely expected that he will sign elsewhere this offseason.
The Golden State Warriors are widely seen as the favorite to land Durant, but they will face stiff competition from a number of teams.

Kawhi Leonard

Kawhi Anthony Leonard (/kəˈwaɪ/ kə-WY; born June 29, 1991) is an American professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Clippers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played two seasons of college basketball for the San Diego State Aztecs, and was named a consensus second-team All-American as a sophomore. He was selected by the Indiana Pacers with the 15th overall pick in the 2011 NBA draft, but was traded to the San Antonio Spurs on draft night. Leonard won an NBA championship with the Spurs in 2014 and was named the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player (MVP). He was also a two-time Defensive Player of the Year, winning in 2015 and 2016.

In June 2019, after seven seasons with the Spurs, Leonard was traded to the Toronto Raptors in exchange for DeMar DeRozan, Jakob Pöltl and a protected 2019 first-round draft pick. In his first season with Toronto, Leonard averaged 26.6 points per game (ppg) and 7.3 rebounds per game (rpg), leading them to their first NBA championship in franchise history where he was again named Finals MVP. He then helped lead Toronto to their second consecutive Finals appearance in 2020 before ultimately signing with his hometown Los Angeles Clippers later that offseason where he teamed up with fellow All-Star Paul George.

The Next Tier

After the big names in the NBA have been picked up by teams, there are still a few good players who remain free agents. While they may not be all-stars, these players can still contribute to a team and help them win games. Here is a look at some of the best players who are still available.

Kyrie Irving

As one of the top point guards in the league, Kyrie Irving is in high demand following his departure from the Boston Celtics. The six-time All-Star has averaged 22.2 points and 5.7 assists per game over his career, and is coming off a season in which he averaged 23.8 points and 6.9 assists.

The Brooklyn Nets are said to be the frontrunners to sign Irving, but the Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers have also been mentioned as potential destinations. Wherever he ends up, Irving is sure to command a max contract worth over $100 million.

Kemba Walker

Kemba Walker is one of the most sought-after free agents in the NBA this offseason. The All-Star point guard is coming off a career year with the Charlotte Hornets, averaging 25.6 points and 5.9 assists per game.

Walker is a gifted scorer and playmaker who can thrive in both up-tempo and half-court offenses. He’s also an excellent three-point shooter, having connected on 37.1 percent of his attempts from beyond the arc over the last two seasons.

The Hornets are desperate to keep Walker, but they’ll have plenty of competition for his services. The Los Angeles Lakers, New York Knicks and Dallas Mavericks are all expected to pursue him in free agency.

Jimmy Butler

As one of the top scorers in the NBA, Jimmy Butler is a shooting guard that can also play small forward. He played college basketball for Tyler Junior College and Marquette University before being drafted by the Chicago Bulls with the 30th overall pick in 2011. In 2014, he was named an NBA All-Star for the first time and has since been named four times (2015, 2016, 2017, 2018). He was traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2017 and then to the Philadelphia 76ers in 2018.

The Rest

The NBA season officially tips off tonight, but there are still a few unsigned players. The most notable unsigned player is DeMarcus Cousins, who was recently released by the Houston Rockets. Other notable unsigned players include JR Smith, Jamal Crawford, and Joakim Noah. Let’s take a look at some of these players and why they’re still unsigned.

DeMarcus Cousins

As of July 1st, DeMarcus Cousins is still a free agent in the NBA. The former All-Star has seen his stock fall in recent years, due in large part to injuries. He ruptured his Achilles tendon in 2018, and then tore his quadriceps tendon in 2019. As a result, he has played in just 48 games over the past two seasons.

Cousins is still just 28 years old, and when healthy, he is one of the best centers in the league. He is a four-time All-Star, and was named an All-NBA Second Team member in 2015 and 2016. In his last full season (2017-18), Cousins averaged 25.2 points, 12.9 rebounds, and 5.4 assists per game.

There are a number of teams that could use Cousins’ services, but so far no one has been willing to commit to him long-term. The Los Angeles Lakers are one team that has been mentioned as a potential landing spot, but they are reportedly not interested in signing him to a multi-year deal. Cousins will likely have to sign a short-term contract with a team this offseason, with the hope of proving himself healthy and productive before hitting the free agent market again next summer.

Enes Kanter

Enes Kanter is a 6’11” center who hails from Turkey. He was the 3rd overall pick in the 2011 NBA draft by the Utah Jazz. He has also played for the Oklahoma City Thunder, New York Knicks, and Portland Trail Blazers. As of September 2020, he is still a free agent.

Kanter is a skilled big man who can score inside and out. He’s a decent rebounder and shot-blocker, but he has never been an All-Star or an All-NBA player. He has had some injury problems in his career, which may be why he hasn’t been able to land a new contract yet.

Whoever signs Kanter will be getting a solid player who can provide some scoring and rebounding off the bench. He’s not going to change the course of a franchise, but he could be a difference-maker for a team that needs help in the frontcourt.

Taj Gibson

Taj Gibson is an American professional basketball player for the Minnesota Timberwolves of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the USC Trojans. Gibson was drafted 26th overall in the 2009 NBA draft by the Chicago Bulls.

Gibson signed with the Timberwolves in 2017.