Top 25 NBA free agents: The best potential options this summer (Part 1)

With the draft in the rearview mirror, it’s officially time to dive into the meat and potatoes of the offseason: free agency.

Teams can officially begin negotiations Friday at 6 p.m. ET, with a first wave set to start immediately after. However, no deals can be officially signed until July 6.

Here, we take a look at the 25 best options available on the open market, starting with players 25 through 13.

25. Caris LeVert (Unrestricted)

LeVert seemed to find his groove offensively in his first full season with the Cleveland Cavaliers. He knocked down almost two 3-pointers per game on 39.2% shooting from deep for one of his best shooting seasons in the pros. The 28-year-old can be a suitable option as a starter or bench piece while playing heavy minutes at the wing.

24. Christian Wood (Unrestricted)

Wood began the 2022-23 season as a primary offensive option off the Dallas Mavericks’ bench. The 6-foot-10 center earned early Sixth Man of the Year consideration as he feasted against opposing reserves as both a floor-spacing big man and finisher around the basket. However, Wood’s production fell off, and his poor defensive play often kept him on the bench during crunch time.

23. Russell Westbrook (Unrestricted)

The Lakers cut bait on the Westbrook experience at the trade deadline, but he ended up back in Los Angeles with the Clippers. His shooting improved as he finished the campaign strong. Westbrook’s best chance at winning and playing well seems to be with a team full of veterans, like the Clippers.

22. Donte DiVincenzo (Player Option)

DiVincenzo’s $4.5-million salary was among the NBA’s best bargains last season. The 26-year-old averaged 9.4 points, 4.5 boards, 3.5 assists, and 1.3 steals for the Golden State Warriors to go along with a career-best 39.7% clip from distance. He was a reliable two-way presence on the second unit and more than a serviceable starter during Andrew Wiggins’ extended absence. DiVincenzo’s championship pedigree and selfless attitude would be a great addition to any locker room.

21. Rui Hachimura (Restricted)

Hachimura helped the Lakers reach the postseason after coming over in a January trade with the Washington Wizards. His game reached another level during the playoffs as he averaged 12.2 points per game on 67% true shooting over 16 contests. As a result, Hachimura is in line for a nice payday.

20. Grant Williams (Restricted)

NBA teams could always use players with Williams’ 3-and-D skill set. The Tennessee product has averaged 25.1 minutes and started 44 games over the past two seasons for the Boston Celtics. He was a key cog during the club’s run to the Finals a year ago, shooting nearly 40% from downtown and excelling in its switch-heavy defensive schemes.

19. Dillon Brooks (Unrestricted)

Brooks’ free agency will be interesting. He averaged a career low in true shooting percentage last season but continued to contribute stellar defense, highlighted by an All-Defensive second-team appearance. His shot selection and on-court antics are concerning – he was ejected for hitting LeBron James in the groin in the playoffs after previously calling him “old.”

18. P.J. Washington (Restricted)

Only 24, Washington is still young enough to grow alongside Charlotte’s youthful core of LaMelo Ball and No. 2 overall pick Brandon Miller. However, there hasn’t been a ton of evidence over Washington’s four seasons to suggest he’ll become the complementary star Hornets fans hoped for. He could still cash in as a restricted free agent thanks to his spacing and improved defense.

17. D’Angelo Russell (Unrestricted)

Russell’s market value took a hit during the Lakers’ Western Conference finals loss. He was frequently targeted on defense and only averaged 6.3 points per game on 13.3% 3-point shooting (2-of-15) during the sweep. However, he’s still a talented scoring point guard who can easily start for several teams.

16. Jordan Clarkson (Player Option)

Clarkson thrived in a starting role after the departures of Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell put more on his plate this past season. He averaged a career-high 20.8 points on 44.4% shooting to help the Jazz finish ninth in offensive efficiency. While Clarkson has gained a reputation as a flamethrower, he embraced more of a playmaking role under Will Hardy, dishing out a career-high 4.4 assists per contest.

15. Harrison Barnes (Unrestricted)

Despite being closer to the end of his career than the beginning at age 31, Barnes is still a consistent veteran wing. The former NBA champion has averaged at least 15 points in seven straight seasons while topping 37% from long distance in five straight campaigns. He’s also a decent defensive option with good size at 6-foot-8. Barnes doesn’t have many negatives as a fourth or fifth starter on a competitive roster.

14. Bruce Brown (Unrestricted)

It’s Brown’s time to get paid after being a high-level contributor for the championship-winning Denver Nuggets. The versatile wing played outstanding postseason ball after averaging career highs in regular-season points and threes. Denver can only offer the 26-year-old $7.8 million for next season, but the team would obtain his early Bird rights and then be able to re-sign him next summer to a bigger contract. However, Brown can simply choose to seek a larger deal elsewhere.

13. Josh Hart (Player Option)

Hart likely increased his market value as a key midseason addition and Swiss Army knife for the New York Knicks. The Villanova product is an elite rebounder for his position, a versatile defender, and a capable secondary facilitator. Hart averaged 10.2 points, seven boards, 3.6 assists, and 1.4 steals over 25 regular-season appearances in the Big Apple while shooting a sizzling 51.9% from deep and 58.6% from the field.