Technically, most of this year’s top free agents remain unsigned. Until the moratorium in place at the start of the 2022/23 league year lifts at 11:01 am Central time on July 6, most of them are ineligible to sign their new contracts.
However, within the last 40-ish hours, 40 of the players from our list of 2022’s top 50 free agents have taken themselves off the market by reaching contract agreements with teams around the league.
[RELATED: 2022 NBA Free Agent Tracker]
While those are just tentative agreements and could still fall apart, that usually doesn’t happen more than once or twice in a given offseason, so it’s safe to pencil those deals in for the time being and assume those free agents are off the board.
So who does that leave? As of Saturday morning, here are the top free agents from our top-50 list (which was last updated on Tuesday) who have yet to agree to new deals:
- James Harden, G, Sixers
- Deandre Ayton, C, Suns (RFA)
- Miles Bridges, F, Hornets (RFA)
- Collin Sexton, G, Cavaliers (RFA)
- Cody Martin, F, Hornets (RFA)
- Caleb Martin, F, Heat (RFA)
- Dennis Schröder, G, Rockets
- Montrezl Harrell, C, Hornets
- Jordan Nwora, F, Bucks (RFA)
- T.J. Warren, F, Pacers
Four of our top nine free agents remain on the board, but there are a couple caveats worth considering here. Harden, for instance, is widely expected to remain with the Sixers — it’s just a matter of the two sides figuring out how many years and dollars he’ll get. The two sides are reportedly meeting this weekend to negotiate his new contract.
Bridges’ on-court contributions made him one of our top free agents of this offseason when we published our initial list, but if we were re-ranking the available players today, he would plummet. After being arrested following allegations of felony domestic violence, Bridges was formally charged on Friday, per the Los Angeles Police Department (story via ESPN), and his NBA future is very much up in the air.
Roderick Boone of The Charlotte Observer wrote on Friday that a long-term deal for Bridges, which appeared to be a formality a few days ago, now appears very unlikely. Emiliano Carchia of Sportando (Twitter link) has sources who believe the Hornets will pull their $7.9MM qualifying offer to Bridges, making him an unrestricted free agent. The 24-year-old is toxic right now, and for good reason.
Of the eight other players listed above, four are restricted free agents, which will reduce their leverage to negotiate favorable multiyear terms, at least to some extent. However, Ayton, in particular, still seems like a good bet to land a lucrative long-term contract.
His situation may be tied to the Kevin Durant trade market — if the Suns can acquire Durant, Ayton could be a key part of the outgoing package in a sign-and-trade, either to Brooklyn or a third team. The Jazz and Pacers are among the teams that have been linked to the former No. 1 overall pick.
It remains unclear which teams might try to force the Cavaliers‘ hand on Sexton. According to Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com (Twitter link), Cleveland still has about $15MM in breathing room below the luxury tax line. It’s possible the club will be able to bring back Sexton and stay out of the tax if no rival suitors with cap room are prepared to pursue the 23-year-old guard.
Harrell has his own legal issues to deal with, though the marijuana charges he’s facing will presumably be viewed by teams as far less troublesome as Bridges’ charges.
Warren, meanwhile, is a bit of a wild card. On merit alone, he would’ve ranked much higher on our initial list, but the fact that he has essentially missed two full seasons due to injuries made me wary of placing him too high — it seems as though his lengthy layoff may be giving potential suitors pause as well.
The following free agents were noted in the honorable mention section of our top-50 list and aren’t yet spoken for:
- LaMarcus Aldridge, F/C, Nets
- Carmelo Anthony, F, Lakers
- Bismack Biyombo, C, Suns
- Avery Bradley, G, Lakers
- Thomas Bryant, C, Wizards
- Facundo Campazzo, G, Nuggets
- DeMarcus Cousins, C, Nuggets
- Goran Dragic, G, Nets
- Dwight Howard, C, Lakers
- Serge Ibaka, F/C, Bucks
- Jeremy Lamb, G/F, Kings
- Markieff Morris, F, Heat
- Austin Rivers, G, Nuggets
- Tristan Thompson, C, Bulls
- Hassan Whiteside, C, Jazz
Here are our full lists of free agents by position/type and by team.
Hope Dennis Schröder will find a suitable team and get a good contract too ;)
I’m super curious to see what the Spurs do at point guard … if they’ll make a play for Collin Sexton with all their cap room, or take on Russell Westbrook in a 3 team trade in order to get more draft ammunition.
They got Tre Jones & Josh Primo as their main guys. I could see em go after a couple of Louisiana guys, Elf Payton or DJ Augustin to add a vet presence to the backcourt
I’ve got Primo penciled in as SG with Tre running the point currently. You may be right, and Spurs may elect to do a vet mentor (Augustin, Rondo, Schroder type) who they can offer playing time to at this stage in their career. From a mere asset standpoint, if they take on a guy like Sexton and he provides them with good production, they have a young player to continue building around, or a valuable trade chip. The Westbrook deal … if they can net a couple 1st rounders from taking his huge expiring contract for this season, it’s a smart play … especially if the Lakers are willing to cough up unprotected picks in order to bring Kyrie in.
They won’t get multiple picks for taking am expiring contract. If anything the Nets would take it since they are entering a rebuild to get something back for Kyrie. I don’t understand why fans are always so pie in the sky about their own team and yet see everything as it is for all others.
Nets can’t enter a rebuild cause their picks are controlled by Houston until 3008
You can still enter a rebuild. They are going to get back the biggest haul in history for Durant. Irving will bring some assets. And they still have an all star in Simmons.
Dragic to the Mavs is pretty much a lock, unless he is considering retirement after wrapping with Slovenia … or the Mavs are still trying to sort out some trade options that they need roster flexibility for.
There are reports that Dallas is going to make a run at Sexton, and will likely offer a lot more money than the Cavs.
I really don’t want to lose Collin…
Before he got her he and Garland look promising together
You can rest easy on Dallas. They are capped out and already used their MLE on McGee. The only thing they can do is offer back assets on a sign-and-trade, which they don’t have any appealing ones. If you’re Cleveland, you’d surely rather have Sexton than a veteran like Tim Hardaway, Maxi Kleber or Davis Bertans. Confident Sexton winds up in Cleveland unless San Antonio or Indiana makes a play for him (or Utah commits to a full rebuild and moves Mike Conley/Donovan Mitchell).
Trog, you and your pencil bring the info, cheers.
I like how HR used “force their hand” with Sexton.
If Hornets took the Bridges QO off the table, then no excuse for not reallocating. They would be a goood team to give TJ Warren a spin… They can promise a starting job if he’s up to it.
With what money? They’re already well over the cap.
You can go over the cap to resign your own players.
Rooting for the Sixers to pursue a Martin twin or TJ Warren with a sign and trade using Korkmaz/Niang or some other back of the roster combo and 2nds. Since they’re already hard capped and at 16 players, might as well consolidate and improve.
Sexton will probably become a maverick today
Time for Melo to get his ring by replacing Bjelica on the Warriors.
Melo gets buckets but can’t guard anyone anymore. He’s out. He fills a nice role for a team needing scoring off the bench. Warriors don’t need one trick pony off the bench.