21 free agents in 2026: James may cause trouble, KD looks forward to staying in the team, and the five Clippers are on the list

Translator's note: The original text was published in CBSSports, and the data in the text were as of the time of publication (local time on August 12). The dates and times involved are all local time. The views in the article have nothing to do with the translator and the platform.

The NBA free agent market in 2025 is not completely over yet. There are still some well-known players in the market - Russell Westbrook and Malcolm Brogden, although Amir Kofi is probably the best among them. There are also restricted free agents who are still seeking the best contracts possible, such as Jonathan Kumingga and Josh Giddy.

With that being said, it's time to look forward to the future - what will the free agent market look like next summer, 2026?

The depth of the free agent lineup this year does not seem to be top (in the era of the new labor agreement, the free agent market is usually not the way for star players to change teams), and the candidates on this list will certainly change from now until July next year, but here are a few free agents worth our attention a year in advance.

The biggest player

LeBron James

When LeBron James executes his $52.6 million player option and decides to play for the Lakers in the new season, his agent Ritchie Paul's less implicit statement made the NBA's trading rumors run at high speed. However, the reality of the market means that he is most likely to play in Los Angeles in the new season.

But what about next season? That's when things get interesting. What will happen then depends largely on how LeBron feels and how he will perform in Los Angeles in the new season - whether he is still healthy and at a high enough level to make the championship team willing to take a bold move to get him?

Will he stay in Los Angeles with his family? LeBron won't just end his career somewhere casually, but if he wants to go to the Knicks or return to the Cavaliers, would he be willing to accept a substantial salary cut to make it all possible? Can we achieve a transaction that is also beneficial to the Lakers to sign first and then exchange?

There are far more questions than answers at the moment, but that won't stop the storyline from developing - LeBron James' potential free agent status will be a big highlight of the new season and may be the headline story of the summer of 2026.

The players may sign early contract renewals, but they are likely to become free agents next summer.

Kevin Durant

Durant is about to usher in the final year of his contract with a salary of $54.7 million, but he and the Rockets are expected to reach a two-year early contract renewal (thanks to the "over-38-year-old rule" which is the longest time he can sign). The question is, to help the Rockets, how big is Durant willing to accept a salary cut? The traditional view has always believed that he would get less money to stay on the team he wanted to play for, but how much less would it be? As an elite but aging scorer and one of the most box office-friendly players in the league, what is his current market situation? Regardless of the amount, it is generally expected that the two sides will reach an agreement, and Durant will continue to stay with the Rockets after the new season.

Trey Young (player option)

The Hawks hope to postpone Young's early renewal negotiations, which are likely to be pushed to next summer, but neither side wants to part ways. Eventually, both parties will reach an early renewal contract, perhaps a shorter contract (two years?). But before that, the possibility of Young choosing to jump out of his $48.9 million contract to become a free agent exists (which the Hawks hope to avoid).

Dyson Daniels

If the Hawks' fastest-progressive player and best-defensive wing do not sign an early contract renewal before the start of the new season, he will become a restricted free agent next summer. It is reported that both Daniels and the Hawks want to reach an agreement, so it is likely to reach an early renewal. But if the Hawks offer him a low-priced contract, Daniels may choose to be a restricted free agent next year, and other teams will be interested in trying to poach him.

The potential player to be a full free agent

Christaps Porzingis

He's future in the Hawks - and how much demand he needs in the league - will depend on how well he is in the new season and how he blends with Trae Young. That being said, there is always a market for 7-foot (about 2.13 meters) franchise guards who can shoot three points. There will be a team calling Porzingis next summer, but will they offer a higher salary than his $30 million in the new season?

Norman Powell

He was traded to the Heat in the last year of his contract, with a salary of $20.5 million. He just had a leap season (in his 10th season of his career!), averaged 21.8 points per game and shot up to 41.8% from three points. At the age of 32, the Clippers are hesitant to give him a longer early contract renewal that he wants, which has led to the deal, but will the Heat be willing to provide the long-term contract he expects (the Heat are also trying to clear up the cap space to chase superstars in the future)? Although the Heat and Powell may reach an early contract renewal, his entry into the free agent market seems to be a very realistic possibility.

Anfini Simmons was traded to the Celtics, who appreciated his scoring ability, averaging 19.3 points and 4.8 assists per game last season. He can score anywhere in the court, and the Celtics need to have that ability around Jaylen Brown. However, the Celtics’ trading operation is not over yet and may try to send Simmons away on the trade deadline, even if they don’t, he may not be in the team’s long-term plan once Jason Tatum returns. Simmons' performance in the new season will determine whether his future salary will be higher than the $27 million this season, but he is likely to become a free agent.

John Collins

He has executed the $26.6 million player option for the new season, but is likely to become a free agent next summer (or sign-on and switch). Collins has switched to the Clippers in the new season and joined a team composed of veterans such as Kawhi Leonard, James Harden, and Ivica Zubac. This may highlight his technical characteristics and make him more valuable. When he was healthy last season, Collins averaged 19 points and 8.2 rebounds per game, with a 39.9% three-point shooting percentage. There are many teams who need space-type four positions like him, and if he plays a strong season, there will be demand for him in the market.

Kobe White signed a three-year, $36 million contract after shoulder surgery, which he has completely exceeded the value of. He expects to get a big contract next summer, and he is reportedly seeking a contract with an annual salary of more than $30 million, and even if the final figures are below that level, the young defender's salary is expected to rise significantly. The Bulls may try to keep him, depending on the situation of restricted free agent Josh Gidey, but White will get a big contract anyway.

Chris Middleton

How much oil is left in the fuel tank of the former All-Star and Olympic athlete? The Wizards keep the veteran forward and will seek to trade him mid-season, but if the deal fails, the team is expected to reach a mid-season buyout with him. All of this shows that he will be a free agent next summer, before his 35-year-old season begins. He must prove that he still has enough ability to get a championship team to sign him.

CJ-McCollum

I feel like I can copy and paste a lot of the above content about Middleton: McCorum is in the Wizards, and they will be looking to trade him all season, and if it doesn't work, they may buy him out. How much oil is left in McCollum’s fuel tank as he enters the 34-year-old season? When he was healthy last season, he averaged 21.1 points and 4.1 assists per game, and if he could do that again, the free agent market would have some interest in him. Veterans with player options Austin Reeves

Reeves

There are players options and will become a free agent. He has zero chance of executing the $14.9 million player option, even if he plans to stay with the Lakers. Reeves reportedly hopes to get a contract similar to Taylor Herro with an annual salary of $30 million (and in many ways, Herro is a good reference object). If Reeves proves this season that he can be a high-level scorer with Luca Doncic and improve his performance in the playoffs, the Lakers will be happy to pay the money to keep him (and Reeves would want to stay too). However, if he struggles again in the playoffs, the Lakers with a lot of cap space may question whether this is the best way for them to spend money.

James Harden

This summer, Harden signed a two-year contract with the Clippers that includes a $42.3 million player option for the 2026-27 season, and it is wise to implement that option. The Clippers are working to clear cap space for the summer of 2027 (not coincidentally, Giannis Antetokounmpo may become a free agent) and are unlikely to offer another early contract extension to the aging Harden (35). In addition to the Clippers, are there any teams in the market that are willing to provide Harden with more than $40 million in contracts? If not, he would take the contract on the table.

Draymond Green

As the decisive needle for the Warriors' defense, Green has a player option worth $27.7 million in the 2026-27 season. The Warriors are still going all out, trying to win another championship ring with Stephen Curry, so it's hard to imagine Green leaving (or being traded). But this possibility remains and is worthy of attention. There will be teams interested in his defense and leadership.

Zach Laven's future depends largely on where he plays after the trade deadline in February next year - the Kings are open to trading the wing player who averaged 23.3 points per game last season. LaVine has a $48.9 million player option, and if he is traded, his new owner may want to reach an early contract extension. If it is not traded, will LaVine take that big contract, or may enter the free agent market next summer and be willing to accept a small cut in annual salary in order to get three to four years of protection? There are far more questions about Lavine than answers at the moment. Things will be much clearer after the transaction deadline.

Bradley Bill has a luxury tax middle class special player option worth $5.6 million in the 2026-27 season. The Clippers plan to clear cap space and maintain flexibility for the summer of 2027, so they won't offer an early contract renewal that gives Bill a big pay increase. Bill’s decision next summer will depend on his performance in the new season. Does he want to stay with the Clippers at this price or will he win a bigger contract for himself by staying healthy and performing well? He can enter free agent market if he wants.

Fred Van Variett signed a two-year $50 million contract with the Rockets this summer, so he has a $25 million player option for the 2026-27 season. He will likely execute the option, but he can also choose to be a free agent if he wants..

Veterans with team options, Lu Dort Isaiah Haltenstein, we put the two together to discuss because they face the same problem in the Thunder: When will quality role players like Dort and Haltenstein be abandoned when the team is deeply troubled by luxury tax? The Thunder is expected to exceed the second luxury tax line by about $24 million in the 2026-27 season (then Shay Gilgers Alexander, Jaylen Williams and Chet Homegren will all have more than $40 million in seasons). The Thunder’s hoarding draft picks provide them with the capital to make trades (or drafts) to find people who can replace players like Haltenstein and Dortmund. At some point in time, it is likely to cut salary for role players outside of star players. Will this start with Haltenstein ($28.5 million team option) and/or Dortmund ($18.2 million) next summer? The Clippers will likely execute Lopez's $9.2 million team option in a year. However, based on the performance of the new season, the Clippers may not leave this veteran center who can open up space.

Bogdan Bogdanovic

The veteran defender has a $16 million team option in the 2026-27 season. If the Clippers don't trade him, they'll likely execute that option, especially if they plan to move into next season with a similar roster to this year. If he is traded, he may be sent to a team that wants to make him a free agent to save money.