NBA free agent rankings: Bobby Marks' top 20 players for 2026 - ESPN

This is not the summer to switch teams if you are looking for a payday north of $15 million per season.

Just three NBA teams, the Brooklyn Nets, Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers, project to have cap space. Another 11 have only the $15 million non-tax midlevel exception to offer.

But, as the Milwaukee Bucks showed last offseason, avenues exist to manufacture cap room. Milwaukee waived and stretched Damian Lillard to create the necessary space to sign Myles Turner — the only free agent to switch teams on a starting salary of more than $20 million.

The evaporated spending power around the league is a result of more than 60 players signing rookie or veteran extensions over the past two seasons. But signing a player into cap space or using an exception, those are not the only mechanisms for a player to switch teams. In the past two offseasons, 15 players — including Duncan Robinson, DeMar DeRozan and Klay Thompson — changed teams via sign-and-trade.

To better understand the market this summer, we examine the 20 biggest potential free agents and what their next contract should be.

Note: Players with team options for 2026-27 — a group that includes Luguentz Dort, Isaiah Hartenstein, Neemias Queta, Jonathan Kuminga and Daniss Jenkins, among others — are not included.

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Unrestricted free agents
Player option | Restricted

The deal I'd offer: One year, $30 million. The contract includes a full no-trade clause.

Best fits: Lakers, Cleveland Cavaliers, San Antonio Spurs, Denver Nuggets, Golden State Warriors

James' impact during the regular season and playoffs still reflects a max player. He was named an All-Star for a record-setting 23rd season and averaged at least 20 points, six rebounds and seven assists per