The playoffs aren’t quite in the rearview, but with 26 teams now eliminated from contention, plenty of fans are now eyeing the offseason.
And while NBA free agency may not be as fruitful for teams as it once was, it can still offer us some surprises.
Today, we’re going to look at some potential moves that would fit that billing, while also making sense for both the free agent and the team acquiring him.
Just a couple other note before we start, though.
First, potential free agents whose futures are almost entirely dependent on the incumbent organization (so, restricted free agents and players with team options for 2026-27) weren’t included in this mix. That means no Jalen Duren, Isaiah Hartenstein or Walker Kessler, just to name a few.
But those who are unrestricted or have player options they can decline are fair game (unless all signs are pointing to returns, as they are with Trae Young and James Harden, for example).
Second, it’s important to remember that signing players outright from other teams is extremely rare in today’s NBA, largely because most teams operate over the salary cap. Even if every organization did all it could to maximize cap space this summer (meaning they’d have to renounce their own free agents, decline team options, etc.), there would only be 11 with any room. And only five of those can get to over $30 million.
Sign-and-trades may open up a few other spots, but functionally speaking, most of the NBA is off the table for star free agents.
Still, we managed to cook up some surprising (though realistic) landing spots for some of this summer’s top potential free agents.
