The 2024 NBA free agent class was never particularly strong or deep to begin with, and within 24 hours of the market opening on Sunday evening, most of the top players available were already out of contract.
At the start of the free agency period, Paul George signed with the 76ers, Isaiah Hartenstein joined the Thunder, and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope signed with the Magic. Second-tier free agents such as Naji Marshall (Mavericks), Derrick Jones Jr. (Clippers), Tobias Harris (Pistons), and Jonas Valanciunas (Wizards) also found new teams. Another big name in free agency was released after Klay Thompson agreed to a three-year contract with the Dallas Mavericks.
While almost all of the headlining stars from this year's free agent class are gone, there are still some valuable players. Who's left on the NBA free agent market? Great question. Here are the 11 best players currently unsigned in the 2024 NBA free agent class. Also, read our NBA Free Agent Instant Grades and check out our live NBA free agent tracker.
11. Spencer Dinwiddie
Dinwiddie's 3-point shooting and rim finishing have fallen off sharply over the past year with Brooklyn and the Lakers, but that may make him a player a championship favorite might want to buy at a low price. The 31-year-old is a big guard with pull-up shooting ability and playmaking skills, but he wasn't efficient from anywhere on the court outside of the free-throw line last season. There's not going to be a big market for a guard who shoots sub-40% from the field, but Dinwiddie's foul-baiting and shooting still offer value.
10. Kyle Anderson
Anderson is a big 6'9″ forward who remains effective defensively but is coming off a tough season offensively. Anderson's true shooting percentage of 54 percent makes him one of the least efficient scorers in the league. Still, he used his size and smarts to rank in the 93rd percentile in Defensive EPM. He never made an outside shot and remains very slow, but Anderson's feel for the game on both sides of the ball still makes him useful in the league.
9. Malik Beasley
Beasley is a solid shooter who doesn't contribute much else, but there's still a place for a guy who made 41.3% of his 542 3-point attempts this season. The Bucks would welcome him back into the fold, but his lack of defense and playmaking would make him better suited to a smaller role.
8. Gary Trent Jr.
Trent is a real three-point shot guy. Last season with the Toronto Raptors, he took 6.4 three-point attempts per game, hitting 39.3% of them. Defensively, he's good at stealing, but has a bad habit of getting out of position on that end. Trent is a one-trick player, but every team needs a shot. He's still only 25, so he'll likely find a home somewhere, even if he doesn't get the big bucks he was hoping for.
7. Isaac Okoro
Okoro developed slowly as the No. 5 overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, but showed real growth last year in his fourth pro season with the Cleveland Cavaliers. The 6'5″ wing is a tenacious backcourt defender who is agile enough to hang with speedy guards and strong enough to take on bigger assignments. The big hole in Okoro's game has always been his jump shot, but he made just 39% of his three-point attempts last season on a low number of attempts. Teams still refuse to guard him from the outside, so Okoro will need to continue to increase his three-point shooting numbers, but his defense at the point of attack is invaluable and should ultimately earn him a good contract from Cleveland.
6. Tyus Jones
Jones is a prototypical point guard with a high assist rate and low turnover rate. He took a big leap as a shooter last season on a terrible Washington Wizards team, making 41.4% of his 256 three-point attempts. Jones is an undersized guard and doesn't have top-tier athleticism, which limits his effectiveness as a driver or defender. Still just 28 years old, Jones is a solid transitional point guard who can set up teammates, but he doesn't have the impact his numbers suggest.
5. Caleb Martin
Martin was one of the breakout stars in the Heat's shocking run to the 2023 NBA Finals, but struggled to maintain his momentum last season. The 28-year-old forward remains a strong defensive player and shot just 35% from three-point range in fewer games. It's a shame he would have signed a bigger contract had he not become a free agent a year ago.
4. Moritz Wagner
The older brother of Franz Wagner had a solid season with the Magic last year as a 6'11″ big man with plenty of offensive versatility. Wagner finished efficiently inside, had decent rebound numbers and got to the free throw line well. After shooting an astounding 67.6% from the field last year, Wagner should have a serious market. He was never a true three-point threat and has limitations defensively, but Wagner knows who he is and is willing to do the dirty work.
3. Buddy Hield
Hield is one of the best three-point shooters in NBA history, shooting 40% from three-point range for his career. The 31-year-old started the season strong in the Pacers' lightning-fast offense, but his production dropped off after he was traded to the Philadelphia 76ers midseason. After a disappointing showing in the 2024 NBA playoffs, Hield may not get the money he wants. Accepting a short-term deal and hoping to cash in again a year from now may be his best bet.
2. Miles Bridges
No team should want Bridges after 2022, given the horrific domestic violence allegations he faced. The Hornets brought him back last season, but the 26-year-old Bridges was underwhelming in terms of playing time, even as he put up career-highs in scoring. Read James Deiter's article on how keeping Bridges hurt my feelings as a Hornets fan.
1. DeMar DeRozan
DeRozan is still incredibly productive in his age 35 season. He is a super efficient mid-range scorer, rarely turns the ball over, and always performs well when it matters. DeRozan needs a very special fit due to his weaknesses as a three-point shooter and defender. The Chicago Bulls seem ready to let go of DeRozan after three great seasons and rebuild with a well-rounded team in the 2025 draft. It's a smart move for Chicago, but it leaves DeRozan without a home despite still having some good years left in his career. It seems like DeRozan could be in a bind in free agency due to a lack of funds. Unfortunately for him, some team will get a great bargain.