For the most part, standard roster spots across the league have dried up with the bulk of the top free agents having decided their destinations earlier in July. And some of the teams that do have open roster spots seem to be maneuvering to bring back some of the bigger names remaining in free agency.
Take the Grizzlies for example, who salary dumped Ziaire Williams in a move that seems to be setting up a return for Luke Kennard, one of the top players still available. The Cavaliers have three open standard roster spots, but figure to fill one or more of them once Isaac Okoro‘s restricted free agency is resolved (whether they’re keeping flexibility for a sign-and-trade or simply plan to bring him back remains to be seen). The Knicks, likewise, are the most likely destination for Precious Achiuwa but could still execute a sign-and-trade.
[RELATED: Latest On Cavaliers RFA Isaac Okoro]
The remaining players on our top-50 list are Okoro (No. 20), Kennard (No. 29), Achiuwa (No. 37), Markelle Fultz (No. 43), Cedi Osman (No. 46) and Gordon Hayward (No. 49). While teams seem to have at least some level of plans in place for the top few remaining free agents, there are several others who have found recent success in the NBA and could help teams, but who appear to have been overlooked to this point.
A pair of Nets guards in Lonnie Walker IV and Dennis Smith Jr. are among the free agents who haven’t found new homes. Both are still relatively young and have shown promise in their careers. Smith, in particular, established himself as one of the better backcourt defenders in the league in his season with Charlotte in 2022/23, but he didn’t catch on for the long term. Walker has shown an ability to score in bunches and averaged 9.7 points in just 17.4 minutes last season (20.1 points per 36).
Likewise, Jordan Nwora is a young wing who can score in a pinch, but he hasn’t been brought back by the Raptors to this point. Though he’s shown flashes in Milwaukee, Indiana and Toronto, Nwora’s NBA future is unknown at this point. In 206 career appearances, the former No. 45 overall pick has averaged 7.6 points per game.
Talen Horton-Tucker made 11 starts for the Jazz last season and averaged 10.1 points and 3.5 assists per contest. While it’s possible the Jazz continue to develop the 23-year-old, there has been no indication so far that he remains in their plans.
Other young players like Omer Yurtseven, Dominick Barlow and Brandon Boston Jr. have had moments in the league, but none have found homes this offseason.
Davis Bertans feels likely to end up signing a deal with a contender, but his name hasn’t come up much in free agent conversations. Though he isn’t young, Bertans seemed to rehabilitate his value with Charlotte after averages 20.8 minutes last year after being acquired at the deadline, and he shot 37.5% from three on 6.3 attempts per game.
To be clear, the perceived lack of a market for the aforementioned players isn’t necessarily surprising. Tyus Jones and Gary Trent, though they reportedly passed on more lucrative offers, ended up only signing for the minimum. Teams are impacted by the CBA’s recent tax apron changes and a smaller-than-usual cap increase, resulting in a slower free agency this season.
Still, there’s always value to be found across professional basketball, and plenty of talented players are available to be signed by teams.
We want your input. Who do you think are the most underrated remaining free agents? Are there any players you feel are unfairly overlooked? Is there anyone we forgot?
Head to the comment section to let us know! We look forward to hearing your input.
That’s. A whole team worth of talent
I’m still a fan of Markelle Fultz’s ceiling. Poor dude just can’t stay healthy, so he’s still a bit behind in his development, but he has flashed plenty to show he might end up being a solid PG on a good team. Only 26 entering next season, he’s still got time to rise… as long as his body isn’t destroyed.
I think after 7 NBA seasons he’s established that he won’t get better as a shooter and thus doesn’t have any untapped potential. It’s all downhill from here as a player who relies on athleticism.
He’s also played only 42% of his career games during his athletic prime.
Not every player is built for an 82-game marathon.
I’m going to preface this by saying that I haven’t seen a heap of him playing recently but … why do teams keep signing Bertans? I get it, the guy is tall and can shoot, but he appears to be a huge liability on D. it seems like teams keep signing him, then slapping themselves on the head and saying “oh that’s right, he can’t defend”, then they have to bench him. Rinse and repeat…
Bertans career defensive per 100 rates is actually a sparkling low 113. I realize he is onl 1 of 5 players. But how his rating is that good when he usually plays on bad defensive teams I don’t know. Perhaps he is better on defense than you think but doesn’t make friends easily. Or is a club house cancer. I suspect he has played on a lot of team that had to clean house in the off season. When those teams do spare parts are the first ones to be discarded.
Or defensive metrics aren’t worth much
Bertans signed a total of three contracts in his career. Two with the Spurs.
A combination of “shooting is very valuable, especially from the frontcourt spots”, “crappy teams can’t really go after better options because they have to build around young guys”, and “he’s played with good teams and coaches in the past and thus serves as a good veteran”.
His defense doesn’t matter as much when you get that far down on the bench. There’s a reason he only averages like 15 mpg at best on any team that isn’t a bottom-feeder anymore; teams already know. Washington phased him out after his first year there and then used him to match salaries for Porzingis, Dallas played him mostly when Maxi Kleber (who does most of the same things with better D) was injured, OKC played him like 8 mpg, and Charlotte was actively tanking.
Don’t think he was a clubhouse cancer. Popovic absolutely loved the guy in San Antonio, and was furious when his attempted sign-and-trade for Marcus Morris ended up with nothing for the Spurs; Morris’ agent nixed the deal and then doubled back iirc. Pops said he missed Bertans and would have absolutely kept him if he knew they were going to get double-crossed.
Fultz needs to sign with Washington for a chance at most minutes. Memphis should go after Okoro in trade
Who would Memphis trade for Okoro?
I am not sure on the amount he will sign for but a sign and trade Okoro, Niang and or Jerome to Memphis for Marcus Smart, Diakite(Or Rose Cleveland has no veterans and that’s a problem) and or GG Jackson.
Okoro moves into the startling lineup at SF.
Cleveland signs another veteran for the locker room like Danny Green.
Jackson would be an interesting get for the Cavs. Smart could work for salary matching, but the Cavs would probably prefer to flip him to a third team since they have five guards (LeVert and Strus can play the 3, but they’re functionally guards). Ditto Rose. They might take Luke Kennard for his elite 3pt shooting, but that would require a multi-year deal too, since he because the team didn’t pick up his option.
Expectations are that Okoro will get about 12 million per year over three or four years if a S&T happens.
Think Washington likes Brogdan and Carrington as it’s two guys at PG.
I’d like to see him In Brooklyn as a back up to Schroder and potential long term piece as they embark on a rebuild.
Alternatively if he’d rather build his value on a team winning then maybe Cleveland as a back up. There’s still some question marks surrounding Garland so with some good play off the bench he could be seen as a good insurance policy. He’d atleast be a handy perimeter defender
I do like Brogdon too but just him and Carrington on the bench to develop is not much force or enough if injury happens (Jared Butler too).
Just sign Fultz like they did to Jonas (doesn’t make sense signing). Fultz, Brogdon and Jonas can all be traded at some point or Fultz can start one year and build himself up again while Carrington gets ready the one year to take over.
I do like the idea of Fultz in Brooklyn though. That is a good idea too.
I think Fultz playing well in Washington with Jonas and then trading them for…
Cleveland just needs to make one trade then sign veterans on the bench for guidance. Having no veterans is their only problem and that’s easy. Trade Tye Jerome, Bates, Merrill and the draft rights to J Tyson for a good back up PG and back up C (veterans in their 30s) and then sign a veteran(means not in their 20s) SF or SG as another veteran on the bench
The Cavs are NOT trading Jaylon Tyson’s draft rights unless it’s for a big upgrade. He’s not the caliber of player you just throw away for some quick savings. He already looks like he can play, even if he won’t necessarily dominate. And that’s what the Cavs need. Size and shooting at the 3. Tyson fills both.
Why would they trade Merril? Or Bates? Bates looked good last season in the G-League. Merril is one of their best bench shooters. Ty Jerome and Georges Niang, sure. But Bates and Merril are staying. Merril on a minimum deal, Bates on a 2-Way.
Tyson is what teams will be trading for. The point is to get a really good back up PG and C (veterans). Bates can be traded enen on a two way contract. Only two young guys and no veterans and you don’t see a problem? You are a cavs fan and should see they need veterans on the bench. They could also look for a all star SF. Maybe trade all that for Ingram. Okoro, Niang and Jerome with some picks for Ingram. Then sign two veterans on the bench for leadership.
Do you see they need veterans? A team with no veterans doesn’t know how to get the job done
Majority of the players should meet and band together when the next CBA comes up …. proper salary/wealth distribution should be the point of discussion.
I understand the reasoning behind your argument but success in the NBA is directly related to the production of their star players. Hence why teams are willing to give them $50-60MM/yr.
For example, the Bucks were a top 5 team in the league but lost in the first round because Giannis was hurt. Stars matter more than role players.
Role players definitely matter. We saw Hartenstein get paid and players like Caleb Martin get comparative scraps because teams were handcuffed.
Just look at this year’s Knick team w/ Hartenstein, Donte DiVincenzo, Josh Hart, Miles McBride
They were missing All-Star Julius Randle but somehow that didn’t stop them from advancing.
Hayward back to Indy would be cool.
He’s never played there in the NBA but it’s where he grew up and played college ball. Could be a handy back up scorer for then and locker room guy. He’s atleast give me a ball handling option that can create his own shot.
I think teams are looking at the OKC stint as “oh, he’s done”.
He’s also looking at the minimum and for a guy with injury issues whose made 272M he’s probably fine calling it a career.
Teams are not using the 15th roster spot due to tax concerns, which has decreased jobs.
Teams are giving more long-term contracts to unproven second round picks (the Hinkie special), gambling on potential, because it’s a huge savings when they hit. Jose Alvarado is in his 4th year of making only 2M. Julian Champagnie has three years remaining at 3M per. Mitchell Robinson, Isaiah Joe, Aaron Wiggins, Sam Merrill are other examples of hits from these types of deals.
For every guy like them, there are plenty like Colby Jones or AJ Green taking jobs away from the Gary Trents and Lonnie Walkers of the world.
Gui Santos is signed for 3 years and the appeal to him was the tax savings he’d generate from his rookie year since the first two years are cheaper than what a team would be forced to pay on the veteran’s minimum. Teams are passing on real players with more roster spots essentially going to budget. No team would otherwise take him over say, Cedi Osman, Jae Crowder, Oshae Brissett, Jordan Nwora, Chuma Okeke, Davis Bertans etc
Looks like second round picks are more valuable during this CBA.
Surprised no teams are giving Jordan Goodwin a look.
Fills multiple spots as a ballhandler and playmaker who can defend multiple spots on the floor. He’s produced at ever stop.
Goodwin did not produce in Phoenix.
He’s behind Markelle Fultz and Dennis Smith Jr for defensive PGs who can’t shoot. And this is with Patrick Beverley going overseas. He’s looking at 2-Way offers because nobody has standard spots available.
76ers need a couple of players who can actually play the 4 in a more conventional way, good rebounder, be able to physically defend larger opposing 4s (Giannis. Mobley, Tatum,Randle etc..), the only 2 that appear to remain available and would possibly accept the league min. would be Marcus Morris & Robert Covington.
I wouldn’t mind the Jazz giving a roster spot to Jordan Nwora. I’ve always liked how productive he is in limited minutes. Perfect for some added bench scoring punch.
Someone sign Osman, Dennis Smith, Boston and Okafor please
Again. Say hello to the new in season, trade deadline pickups, veteran help names.
Betrans will land somewhere before camps start.
We need expansion teams
No we don’t. The league is already weak enough. Weakest era ever
Yes are 3 players you didn’t mention. Yes they have been way overlooked. They are Luka Samanic, Henri Drell & Svi Myhailiuk. Svi Myhailiuk is also very underrated. When you list players like Wesley Matthews, Bertans, McGee, Crowder, Gordon Hayward or Svi Myhailiuk that’s just wrong. He is a NBA champion but is disrespected which is a shame. He is not on anyone’s free agent list for teams to know about. Luka Samanic can provide a lot as a young player to start some or come off the bench. He is a 2 way player like Svi Myhailiuk. Henri Drell just needs a team to sign him to a 2-way contract.
Nico & the Mavericks would have been smart if they had signed Svi Myhailiuk to address their wing position. At 6-7 he is a 2 way player that they desperately need. I would rather Nico sign Luka Samanic rather than trying to sign Markief Morris for the final roster spot if they do cut Lawson.