The best free agents remaining in the NBA: opportunities for championship contenders

The NBA 2026 free agency market is entering its final stretch with several players still available who could strengthen teams with championship aspirations. Jalen Duren, Bruce Brown, Gabe Vincent, Ben Simmons, Cam Thomas, Kelly Olynyk, and other veterans are still waiting for an opportunity, although their situations are very different.

At this point in the summer, there are no major stars left, but there are players capable of addressing specific problems for certain rosters. For contenders with limited depth, finding a good specialist for the minimum or a moderate amount can be much more important than chasing a big-name player.

Jalen Duren, the big prize of the market

The most striking case is Jalen Duren, although his situation is completely different from that of unrestricted free agents. Detroit retains him as a restricted free agent, and both sides remain far apart economically after the pivot's great season.

Duren just came off being an All-Star and All-NBA, so his arrival could immediately transform the paint for any contender. The problem is the price: the Pistons still have the capacity to match an offer, and the player is even considering accepting his qualifying offer of $9.6 million and becoming an unrestricted free agent in 2027.

Bruce Brown, a solution for any bench

Much more accessible would be Bruce Brown, a player who fits particularly well on competitive teams due to his ability to defend multiple positions, handle the ball, and play different roles without needing too many shots.

His market has been surprisingly cold after his second stint in Denver. The Nuggets could be one of the most logical destinations, although a team with aspirations that needs exterior depth might find in him an immensely useful addition.

Gabe Vincent looks to regain value

Gabe Vincent could also be interesting for a contender needing quality minutes at the point guard position. His experience in Miami and Los Angeles provides him with playoff experience and the ability to guard opposing perimeter players.

Washington was linked with the player during the market's opening and still has a need in its roster, although his situation shows that Vincent is not finding the expected contract.

Ben Simmons, a risky bet

The case of Ben Simmons is probably the most intriguing. After spending the entire 2025/26 season not playing, several teams have shown interest, and at least one franchise in the West has offered him an invitation to training camp. Simmons would be willing to accept the veteran minimum.

For a contender, the risk is evident, but so is the potential reward. If he physically regains part of his best version, he can provide defense, size, transition, and secondary creation. Philadelphia stands out as a particularly attractive destination due to his past and the Sixers' interior needs.

Cam Thomas, offensive talent without a buyer

The situation of Cam Thomas is much more surprising. He is a scorer capable of producing points in large quantities and serving as a microwave off the bench, but his defensive doubts, shot selection, and reputation as a player not oriented toward team play have cooled the market.

A team needing immediate scoring could benefit enormously from him if he accepts a limited role and understands that he must become a specialist.

Veterans to complete a rotation

Kelly Olynyk represents another interesting opportunity for a team needing an interior player capable of spacing the floor and passing. San Antonio decided not to continue with him while it develops its young pivots, but his profile could be very useful in the playoffs.

The list is completed with names like Ochai Agbaji, while Nicolas Batum should no longer appear among the available: the veteran ended up returning to the Clippers with a two-year contract.

The conclusion is clear: Duren is the only player capable of radically changing a roster, but Brown, Vincent, Simmons, Thomas, or Olynyk can become very valuable pieces for a contender. With the season approaching, it will be a matter of finding the right team for each profile, and the market will likely accelerate again when franchises detect their first real needs.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Los mejores agentes libres que quedan en la NBA: oportunidades para los aspirantes al anillo