The 2026 NBA Draft has come and gone, and thus begins the most exciting part of the NBA offseason: free agency. While a couple of impact players are already rumored or reported to have committed to re-signing with their current franchises, we’ll be focusing on the wild cards—players who might take their time deciding their basketball futures this summer.
The Zach LaVine Sweepstakes
At the top of the list is Zach LaVine. The 12-year NBA veteran spent the last season and a half in a Sacramento Kings uniform after spending the previous seven and a half years with the Chicago Bulls. It wasn’t a wonderful stint at all, as injuries limited him to just 71 total games.
LaVine has a massive $49 million player option that he will likely decline, since the Kings’ current roster construction just doesn’t make sense for his style of play moving forward. Expect him to be heavily pursued by the likes of the Orlando Magic and the Los Angeles Clippers—two defensive-minded franchises that would serve as the perfect landing spots for an iso-heavy and dynamic guard like LaVine.
The Reliable Veteran: Tobias Harris
Another player to watch this offseason closely is Tobias Harris. Harris was a huge reason why the Detroit Pistons shocked the league to capture the top seed in the Eastern Conference, serving as a reliable focal point for their offense and willing to sacrifice for the team at a moment’s notice. He was one of the few consistent bright spots the Pistons relied on throughout the regular season and into the playoffs, where their deep campaign finally ended in the Semifinals.
At 33 years old, the do-it-all forward will have plenty of suitors aside from Detroit. He’s highly likely to receive multiple Mid-Level Exception (MLE) offers from contending teams in desperate need of a veteran upgrade out on the wing.
The Restricted Market: Walker Kessler
Shifting gears to the frontcourt, Walker Kessler is a prime candidate for the summer rumor mill. A few weeks back, Kessler doubled down on his love for the Utah fanbase, expressing a strong desire to stay in Salt Lake City. However, the front office has been dead silent on that front since, which has naturally fueled intense speculation.
As one of the top elite big men available this summer, the restricted free agent could easily receive an aggressive offer sheet from a rival team worth around 4 years and $100 million. It’s a steep price tag, but not far-fetched given his defensive value, meaning the Jazz have their work cut out for them.
The Financial Casualty: Norman Powell
Another highly intriguing name hitting the market this offseason is Norman Powell. The Miami Heat just landed Giannis Antetokounmpo in a historic, blockbuster trade that completely nuked their roster depth, meaning they will need to be incredibly smart with their finances moving forward.
Unfortunately, Powell appears to be the immediate casualty of this situation. Under the current cap restrictions, he can practically only return to South Beach if he agrees to take a massive pay cut. Since he’s highly likely to command about $18 to $22 million on the open market, a discount is highly unlikely. At 33 years old, Powell will understandably be looking for the last big multi-year payday of his career.
