The NBA thrives on transactions and player movement. What team will a player join next?
That means it’s never too early for a discussion about free agency.
So while many teams are trying to get into the postseason and secure a playoff spot, all teams are focused on the future, which includes free agency this summer.
Some players are unrestricted free agents, which means they are able to sign with any team that offers a deal; restricted free agents can sign a contract with another team but the team he last played for has the right to match the offer and retain the player.
Some players have player options, meaning they can opt out of the final season of their contract and become a free agent or they can opt in and play out the final year of the deal. Similarly, some contracts have a team option on the final season of the contract, meaning the team can decide whether it brings the player back or allow him to enter free agency.
Here are the top 25 NBA free agents in 2025 (stats through games of March 11):
Top NBA free agents in 2025
1. LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers forward
2024-25 stats: 25 ppg, 8.5 apg, 8.2 rpg, 51.7% FG, 38.4% 3PT, 77% FT
James hit free agency last summer and signed a two-year, $101.3 million contract with a player option at $52.6 million for 2025-26. It’s likely James will become a free agent again and try to maximize his earnings (with the Lakers most likely) while including a no-trade clause in his contract. At every chance, James has indicated he is happy playing for the Lakers and living in the L.A. area. Plus, his son, Bronny, is under contract with the franchise. At 40 years old, James is still producing at an All-NBA level.
2. Kyrie Irving, Dallas Mavericks guard
2024-25 stats: 24.7 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 4.6 apg, 47.3% FG, 41% 3PT, 91.6% FT
Irving has a player option for 2025-26 and can become a free agent after this season. He can also remain in his contract at $43.9 million for next season and go to free agency in 2026. Irving sustained a season-ending torn ACL and will miss a significant portion of next season if not the entire season. Irving was an All-Star in 2025 and enjoying another stellar season before the injury. Given his injury and timeline to return, Irving may push free agency to 2026 – unless Dallas is ready to re-up with Irving on another contract. Regardless, with the Mavs trading Luka Doncic to the Lakers for Anthony Davis, there are parts the Mavs need to resolve, which could impact Irving’s future.
3. James Harden, Los Angeles Clippers guard
2024-25 stats: 22.3 ppg, 8.7 apg, 5.8 rpg, 39.4% FG, 34% 3PT, 87.6% FT
Harden has a player option for 2025-26 at $36.3 million for the season. He can play out the final year of the contract or become a free agent in the summer. Still logging significant minutes (35 per game), Harden continues to produce, though his overall shooting percentage is the lowest of his career.
4. Julius Randle, Minnesota Timberwolves forward-center
2024-25 stats: 18.7 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 4.7 apg, 46.9% FG, 31.7% 3PT, 82.1% FT
Randle is another player with an option for 2025-26. He can either finish the contract at $30.9 million for next season or become a free agent in the summer. What to watch here: Is the likely new ownership group led by Alex Rodriguez and Marc Lore ready to spend what it takes to keep the core roster intact?
5. John Collins, Utah Jazz forward-center
2024-25 stats: 18.9 ppg, 8.2 rpg, 2.1 apg, 1 spg, 1 bpg, 52.4% FG, 40% 3PT, 85.4% FT
Collins also can choose to become a free agent this summer or play out the final season of his contract that will pay him $25.6 million in 2025-26. Collins has missed games due to injuries (back, hip) but is productive when on the court and can be a valuable third or fourth option on a playoff team.
6. Naz Reid, Minnesota Timberwolves center-forward
2024-25 stats: 14.9 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 2.2 apg, 1 bpg, 46.5% FG, 39.2% 3PT, 79.2% FT
Reid is headed for a big payday — whether it’s this offseason or the next. He’s under contract for 2025-26 at a team friendly $15 million for the season but can exercise his player option and become a free agent this summer rather than the summer of 2026. His production made it possible to part ways with Karl-Anthony Towns before the season.
7. Jonathan Kuminga, Golden State Warriors forward
2024-25 stats: 16.8 ppg, 5 rpg, 2.2. apg, 45.9% FG, 34.5% 3PT, 63.9% FT
Kuminga is a restricted free agent, meaning the Warriors can match any offer from other teams and retain him. He has missed time with injuries but he’s the kind of youthful, athletic big man the Warriors need.
8. Myles Turner, Indiana Pacers center
2024-25 stats: 15.5 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 1.9 bpg, 1.6 apg, 47.5% FG, 39.7% 3PT, 77.2% FT
It seems Turner has been mentioned in trade talks for several seasons. Now, he’s in control of where he plays next season as an unrestricted free agent. Playing almost four more minutes per game this season than last, Turner remains a positive presence in the Pacers’ rotation.
9. Josh Giddey, Chicago Bulls guard
2024-25 stats: 13.8 ppg, 7.7 rpg, 6.7 apg, 1.1 spg, 46.2% FG, 37.6% 3PT, 78.9% FT
Giddey is a pending restricted free agent in his first season with the Bulls after Oklahoma City traded him for Alex Caruso. Giddey does a little bit of everything for the Bulls, putting together career highs in assists, 3-point shooting percentage, 3s made per game and minutes.
10. Fred VanVleet, Houston Rockets guard
2024-25 stats: 14.4 ppg, 5.8 apg, 3.9 rpg, 1.6 spg, 38.3% FG, 34% 3PT, 82.4% FT
The Rockets have a team option to retain VanVleet for 2025-26 at $44.8 million for the season or they can make the veteran guard a free agent this summer. The Rockets have young players who are in line for lucrative extensions so it is worth watching what the front office – and ownership – decides to do.
11. Cam Thomas, Brooklyn Nets guard
2024-25 stats: 24 ppg, 3.5 apg, 3.2 rpg, 44.3% FG, 34.9% 3PT, 88.3% FT
Thomas is a restricted free agent and headed for a raise on his $4 million salary in 2024-25. Limited by injuries that have sidelined him for more than half of the season, Thomas can still get buckets and drop 20-plus in just about every game.
12. Caris LeVert, Atlanta Hawks guard
2024-25 stats: 11 ppg, 3.4 apg, 3.1 rpg, 47.4% FG, 39.2% 3PT, 71.3% FT
LeVert will hit unrestricted free agency this summer following a two-year, $32 million contract. LeVert had a nice season with Cleveland until it traded him, and he continues to excel as a scorer with Atlanta, where he’s getting more offensive opportunities.
13. Bobby Portis, Milwaukee Bucks forward
2024-25 stats: 13.7 ppg, 2.2 apg, 8.3 rpg, 46.3% FG, 36.4% 3PT, 82.1% FT
Portis has a player option, so he would need to exercise it to remain with the team. Yet, if he opts to test the market, his ability to provide steady and solid scoring and rebounding off the bench could be appealing to any number of teams. A frequent contender for Sixth Man of the Year, Portis also brings instant energy and tenacity upon stepping on the floor.
14. Chris Paul, San Antonio Spurs guard
2024-25 stats: 8.9 ppg, 7.9 apg, 3.6 rpg, 1.3 spg, 41.9% FG, 37.5% 3PT, 93.9% FT
How much more does Paul want to play? He signed a one-year, $10.4 million contract last offseason and will have his choice of teams in unrestricted free agency if he wants to continue his playing career.
15. Quentin Grimes, Philadelphia 76ers guard
2024-25 stats: 12.4 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 2.5 apg, 47.8% FG, 39.1% 3PT, 76% FT
Grimes is a restricted free agent this summer, and he has made the most of his opportunity since being traded from Dallas to Philadelphia. Grimes has averaged 19.3 points on 50.2% shooting from the field and 39.1% on 3s and has scored at least 30 points four times in 12 games with the 76ers, including 44 in a victory against Golden State.
16. Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Minnesota Timberwolves guard
2024-25 stats: 9.4 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 2.5 apg, 44.3% FG, 39.7% 3PT, 75.9% FT
Alexander-Walker is in the final season of a two-year, $9 million contract, which makes him an unrestricted free agent in the summer. He has established himself as a viable rotation player.
17. Santi Aldama, Memphis Grizzlies center
2024-25 stats: 12.7 ppg, 6.7 rpg, 2.8 apg, 0.8 spg, 48.7% FG, 37.5% 3PT, 70% FT
Aldama is a restricted free agent in the offseason, and he has turned into a valuable big man for the Grizzlies’ formidable frontcourt. The fourth-year big is averaging career highs in points, rebounds, assists, field goal percentage and 3-point shooting percentage.
18. Kelly Oubre Jr., Philadelphia 76ers forward
2024-25 stats: 15.1 ppg, 1.8 apg, 6.1 rpg, 1.5 spg, 47% FG, 29.3% 3PT, 75.1% FT
He has had to take on more responsibility with the series of injuries Philadelphia has faced this season, and Oubre has responded to become one of the team’s more consistent producers. He has plus athleticism, can get to the rim and his length allows him to defend many of the athletic wings in the NBA well enough.
19. Clint Capela, Atlanta Hawks center
2024-25 stats: 8.9 ppg, 8.5 rpg, 1.1 apg, 1 bpg, 55.9% FG, 53.6% FT
Capela is finishing a two-year, $45.8 million contract and is an unrestricted free agent this summer. Playing his fewest minutes per game (21.4) since 2015-16, Capela’s per-36 minutes stats reveal a noticeable contribution: 14.9 points, 14.4 rebounds and 1.6 blocks.
20. Brook Lopez, Milwaukee Bucks center
2024-25 stats: 12.5 ppg, 5 rpg, 1.9 bpg, 1.7 apg, 48.6% FG, 36.6% 3PT, 84.6% FT
Lopez has been a valuable player for the Bucks, who signed Lopez to a two-year, $48 million contract in 2023. Will the two sides be able to reach terms on a new deal in free agency and continue a mutually beneficial relationship, or will Lopez find a new team?
21. Malik Beasley, Detroit Pistons guard
2024-25 stats: 16.5 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 1.7 apg, 44.1% FG, 42% 3PT, 65.4% FT
A veteran sharpshooter, Beasley is a plug-and-play sniper who should give any team instant contributions just from the volume of shots and accuracy he has from beyond the arc. Though he’s only an occasional starter, Beasley ranks ninth in the NBA in 3-point shots per game (9.3). But when lacing them at 42%, he should find plenty of suitors.
22. Al Horford, Boston Celtics center
2024-25 stats: 8.3 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 1.9 apg, 41.8% FG, 35.8% 3PT, 89.3% FT
This has been another fruitful relationship at the end of Horford’s career. Following the end of a two-year, $19.5 million contract with the Celtics, Horford is an unrestricted free agent. Though he’s not having as good a season as last season, he’s beloved by his teammates.
23. Dorian Finney-Smith, Los Angeles Lakers forward
2024-25 stats: 8.3 ppg, 1.1 apg, 3.6 rpg, 1 spg, 42.7% FG, 35.1% 3PT, 77.8% FT
Finney-Smith has a $15.3 million player option on the 2025-26 season. One aspect is certain: Since acquiring him from Brooklyn in a trade in late December, Finney-Smith has made the Lakers a better defensive team with his length and versatility.
24. D’Angelo Russell, Brooklyn Nets guard
2024-25 stats: 13 ppg, 5.1 apg, 2.8 rpg, 1.2 spg, 38.9% FG, 31.9% 3PT, 84.7% FT
Though his scoring numbers are down, approaching his rookie season levels from 2015-16, Russell is still a player who can handle the ball and create for others, one who can ignite from 3-point range and one who can infuse instant offense into a system. Feasibly, what Russell has needed most is a clear definition of his role and stability.
25. Russell Westbrook, Denver Nuggets guard
2024-25 stats: 12.8 ppg, 6.1 apg, 5 rpg, 1.4 spg, 46.2% FG, 33.8% 3PT, 63.5% FT
Westbrook has a player option for 2025-26 at $3.4 million for the season. Was the partnership successful enough to get another season out of Westbrook in Denver? Will the Nuggets’ — and Westbrook’s — playoff success determine that?