Updates on the biggest remaining NBA free agents - ESPN

NBA stars have once again taken center stage during a busy offseason: LeBron James and Jaylen Brown became Philadelphia 76ers, Victor Wembanyama signed a blockbuster extension with the San Antonio Spurs and Giannis Antetokounmpo joined the Miami Heat.

Though some players will don new uniforms next season, several free agents are still available. Players such as Jonathan Kuminga, Jalen Duren and James Harden remain in limbo while contract conversations remain in flux and potential suitors put the final touches on their teams.

Our NBA insiders break down the nine most important players remaining in free agency, where they stand in their negotiations and what's impacting their signings.

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Watson, 23, remains one of the best players available, with one major caveat: He's a restricted free agent. The 6-foot-8 guard had his best pro season in 2025-26 in his fourth year in the league, averaging 14.6 points on 49.1% (41.1% from 3), with 4.9 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.1 blocks. A persistent hamstring issue limited him to just 54 games last season, however, and caused him to miss the postseason when the Denver Nuggets lost to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round.

The question is whether Watson will continue to hold out to up the Nuggets' offer — he is eligible to sign a five-year, $251 million extension, and his teammate, Christian Braun, signed a five-year, $125 million extension last October — or if the Nuggets will focus on trading him. ESPN's Shams Charania reported in late July that Denver is open to sign-and-trade scenarios and would consider a compensation package built around one impact player and one future first-round pick, rather than holding