NBA’s 11 best free agents still available on 2024 market, ranked

While most of the big names in NBA free agency have signed their deals, DeMar DeRozan is still around. The Chicago Bulls star is the best player left on the free market as he approaches his 35th birthday, but there doesn’t seem to be a perfect fit for him anywhere. With the Bulls looking ready to commit to a rebuild, DeRozan is an opportunity to acquire as a veteran wing who can still perform at a near All-Star level.

There has already been a lot of movement in free agency. Paul George 76ersIsaiah Hartenstein joined the Thunder, and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope signed with the Magic at the start of the free agency period. Even second-tier free agents like Naji Marshall (Mavericks), Derrick Jones Jr. (Clippers), Tobias Harris (Pistons) and Jonas Valanciunas (Wizards) found new homes. When Klay Thompson agreed to a three-year contract with the Thunder, Dallas MavericksAnother big name player was drafted in free agency.

While almost all of the headlining stars from this year’s free agent class are gone, there are still some valuable players. Who’s left on the NBA free agent market? Great question. Here are the 11 best players currently unsigned in the 2024 NBA free agent class. Also, read our NBA Free Agent Instant Grades and check out our live NBA free agent tracker.

This list has been updated following the Warriors signing and trading for Buddy Hield.

11. Saddiq Bey

Bey tore his ACL on March 11 and is likely out for the entire season, a terrible misfortune for a player who could have commanded a big salary in the free agent market this summer. The 25-year-old wing has always been a good shooter, but he barely made any shots from outside last season with the Hawks, hitting just 31% of his 3-pointers. It might make sense for the team to sign him to a cheaper, multi-year deal to allow him to rehab his knee and see if he can return to his pre-injury level in 2025-26.

10. Kyle Lowry

Lowry is 38 years old and, although his game is declining rapidly, he is still available. The veteran point guard played nearly 30 minutes per game in the first-round series between the Philadelphia 76ers and the New York Knicks. In his seasons with Miami and Philadelphia, Lowry shot 39 percent from three-point range and remains a threat defensively. For a team with championship aspirations, Lowry would be a good addition as a veteran on the cheap.

9. Markelle Fultz

The former No. 1 overall pick has yet to overcome his imperfect jump shot, but he’s having a good season as a defensively competitive downhill guard. Unfortunately, Fultz had a terrible year with the Magic right before he hit free agency, and now the market won’t be as wide, despite him being only 26 years old. If Fultz wants to salvage his NBA career, he’ll need to figure out how to finish in front of the basket again. He can still be a solid playmaker, but without a scoring threat of his own, his passing just isn’t as potent as it once was.

8. Spencer Dinwiddie

Dinwiddie’s 3-point shooting and finishing at the rim are a matchup with Brooklyn. LakersBut that might make him a good candidate for a championship bargain. The 31-year-old is a big guard with pull-up shooting ability and playmaking skills, but he didn’t score efficiently from anywhere on the court outside the free-throw line last season. There’s not going to be a big market for a guard who shoots sub-40 percent from the field, but Dinwiddie’s foul-draw and shooting still have value.

7. Malik Beasley

Beasley is a solid shooter who doesn’t contribute much else, but there’s still a place for a guy who made 41.3% of his 542 3-point attempts this season. The Bucks would welcome him back into the fold, but his lack of defense and playmaking would make him better suited to a smaller role.

6. Gary Trent Jr.

Trent excels at shooting from long distance, averaging 6.4 three-point attempts per game and hitting 39.3 percent of them. Toronto Raptors He excelled at stealing on defense last season, but has a bad habit of losing his position on defense. Trent is a one-trick player, but every team needs a shot. He’s still only 25, so he won’t get the big bucks he was hoping for, but he’ll likely find a home somewhere down the line.

5. Isaac Okoro

Okoro was the No. 5 overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft and developed slowly, but showed real growth in his fourth pro season. Cleveland Cavaliers The 6’5″ wing is a tenacious backcourt defender who is agile enough to hang with speedy guards and strong enough to take on bigger assignments. The big weakness in Okoro’s game has always been his jump shot, but he made just 39 percent of his 3-point attempts last season on a low number of attempts. Teams still refuse to guard him from the outside, so Okoro will need to continue to increase his 3-point attempts, but his defense at the point of attack is invaluable and should ultimately earn him a good contract from Cleveland.

Photo: Patrick Smith/Getty Images

4. Tyus Jones

Jones is a prototypical point guard with a high assist rate and low turnover rate, and while he had a terrible season last year, he did make some big strides as a shooter. Washington Wizards Jones contributed to the team by making 41.4% of his 256 three-point attempts. Jones is a small guard who lacks elite athleticism, which limits his effectiveness as a driver or defender. At just 28 years old, Jones is a solid interim point guard who can assist teammates, but he probably won’t have the impact his numbers suggest.

3. Caleb Martin

Martin was one of the breakout stars in the Heat’s shocking run to the 2023 NBA Finals, but struggled to maintain his momentum last season. The 28-year-old forward remains a strong defensive player and shot just 35% from three-point range in fewer games. It’s a shame he would have signed a bigger contract had he not become a free agent a year ago.

2. Miles Bridges

No team should want Bridges after 2022, given the horrific domestic violence allegations he faced. The Hornets brought him back last season, but the 26-year-old Bridges was underwhelming in terms of playing time, even as he put up career-highs in scoring. Read James Deiter’s article on how keeping Bridges hurt my feelings as a Hornets fan.

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1. DeMar DeRozan

DeRozan is still incredibly productive in his age 35 season. He is a super efficient mid-range scorer, rarely turns the ball over, and always performs well when it matters. DeRozan needs a very special fit due to his weaknesses as a three-point shooter and defender. The Chicago Bulls seem ready to let DeRozan go after three great seasons and rebuild with a well-rounded team in the 2025 draft. It’s a smart move for Chicago, but it leaves DeRozan without a home despite still having some good years left in his career. It seems like DeRozan could be in a bind in free agency due to a lack of funds. Unfortunately for him, some team will get a great bargain.