Free agency has dragged into its second month, and a handful of proven players are still searching for the right landing spot. One of them two of them—James Harden and Russell Westbrook—are former MVPs and potentially rotation-level contributors. Actually, the same could be said of the other three, as one is a top-30 scorer in NBA history, another is an up-and-coming wing, and the other is a former All-Star. So, without further ado, here are five names still on the board who could shift the balance for whichever team finally lands them.
Jonathan Kuminga
Kuminga is living through his second straight prolonged free agency. The Los Angeles Lakers pitched him early on a high-minutes wing role for a fringe contender badly in need of athleticism, and the fit clearly appealed to him—but the sign-and-trade framework involving the Atlanta Hawks hasn’t satisfied everyone involved, leaving talks stalled for weeks. The Cleveland Cavaliers and Minnesota Timberwolves have also called, each with a legitimate need for a contending-caliber wing, but no offer has been alluring enough yet to end the standoff.
Best Fit: Timberwolves (Kuminga could slot right in with LaMelo Ball and Anthony Edwards to form a dynamic, athletically gifted trio that could run teams to the ground.)
DeMar DeRozan
DeRozan brings 17 years of near-exclusive starting experience and remarkable durability, having logged at least 74 games in each of his last five seasons. Waived by the Sacramento Kings off a $25.7 million expiring deal (he kept the $10 million guaranteed portion), he’s since drawn interest from the Miami Heat, Denver Nuggets, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Washington Wizards as a reliable, team-friendly scoring option. The open question is whether he’s willing to move off the ball and into a bench role, depending on where he lands.
Best Fit: Heat (DeRozan could be a high-usage sixth man for the front-heavy Heat. He could also be a mentor to Andrew Wiggins.)
Russell Westbrook
At 37, Westbrook has been explicit that retirement isn’t on his mind. Sacramento remains open to bringing him back, though the front office understands he may not want a diminished role behind rookie Darius Acuff Jr. General manager Scott Perry admitted Westbrook flatly outplayed his minimum contract last season, starting 58 games while averaging 15.2 points and 6.7 assists and mentoring the team’s younger core. As he did last summer, he appears to be in no rush to decide.
Best Fit: Kings (At this point, Westbrook would be best served playing pressure-free and away from the prying eyes of the basketball public. Sacramento affords both, and he could mentor Acuff, who shares the same athletic explosiveness of a young Russ.)
Bradley Beal
Beal’s last season ended after just six games because of a hip fracture requiring season-ending surgery, and he’s since declined his $5.6 million player option to test the market. Miami looks like an obvious fit: after landing Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis, the Heat need shooting badly to space the floor around their two new stars, and Beal’s 37.6% career mark from three, along with his ball-handling, would address that need directly.
Best Fit: Heat (With Miami losing Norman Powell, there’s an obvious need for shooting at the two-guard spot. Beal can provide that, without the added pressure of having to be a playmaker.)
James Harden
Harden remains unsigned as Cleveland searches for a workaround after missing out on its top target this offseason. The Cavaliers’ position over the second tax apron limits their options, but Harden appears on track for a new multiyear deal to stay put regardless. His bond with All-Star teammate Donovan Mitchell remains a driving factor—Harden was in attendance for Mitchell’s wedding earlier this month—suggesting continuity in Cleveland is very much the expected outcome.
Best Fit: Cavs (Harden probably isn’t good enough to be a team’s alpha, and he won’t have to be at Cleveland with Mitchell having that role already.)
Between a wing still hunting for the right role, two well-traveled veterans looking for one more meaningful contract, and a pair of proven stars settling into their next chapters, this year’s free agent board still has plenty of impact left to hand out.
