The 2025-26 season is just three weeks old, and there are more than six months until the start of free agency. But the small body of work on the court should not dissuade us from identifying 12 potential free agents who have stood out and what their future could hold with their respective teams.
There are criteria to how we selected our lineup of contract-year All-Stars:
First, we have disqualified players who have previously made an All-NBA or All-Star team. That means you won’t see potential summer free agents such as Chicago Bulls center Nikola Vucevic, LA Clippers guard James Harden, Sacramento Kings guard Zach LaVine, Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young — or even Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James — on this list.
Second, players with team options in their current contracts, such as the Oklahoma City Thunder guard Lu Dort and center Isaiah Hartenstein are also not considered. After all, if a player is outplaying their deal, it is highly unlikely their teams will decline the options.
And while LeBron doesn’t make our roster, the Lakers are well represented. Let’s start there, as one player is making waves as a second option in James’ absence and setting himself up for a major payday in 2026 free agency.
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Starters | Reserves
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STARTERS
2025-26: 31.1 PPG (48.9 FG%), 9.3 APG, 37.8 MPG
Contract status: 2026 player option ($14.9 million)
To say that Reaves has taken advantage of early season injuries to Luka Doncic and James has been an understatement.
Reaves has seen his points per game increase from 20.2 points last season to a career-high 31.1. He currently ranks sixth among all players in points per game, behind Doncic, Tyrese Maxey, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Donovan Mitchell. Reaves became the fourth undrafted player in the shot-clock era with a 50-point game in the regular or postseason, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
What has stood out even more is Reaves’ playmaking.
In three games played without Doncic, Reaves has averaged 10 assists per game, including a career-high 16 against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Oct. 29.
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Because NBA rules restrict the Lakers from extending Reaves up to 140% of the average player (four-years, $87.4 million with a starting salary of $19.5 million next season), it is highly unlikely he will sign a new contract prior to June 30. The more likely scenario is for Reaves to decline his player option and become an unrestricted free agent.
If he does, Reaves will be eligible to sign for up to five-years, $241 million with the Lakers. The Lakers could still have nearly $50 million in cap space even if Reaves signs a new contract.
He is eligible to sign for up to four years, $178.5 million with teams who have cap space. ESPN is currently projecting four teams — the Brooklyn Nets, Chicago Bulls, Utah Jazz and Washington Wizards — to have at least $40 million in room this summer.
Reaves’ $13.9 million salary this season ranks 26th among all shooting guards and 127th overall.
2025-26: 23.3 PPG (46.7 FG%), 4.6 RPG, 29.9 MPG
Contract status: 2026 unrestricted free agent
If we were evaluating Powell based on the first half of last season with the LA Clippers and his first few weeks with the Miami Heat this year, he would likely be in the running for his All-Star appearance.
“I definitely have a chip from feeling like I could have made it,” Powell told Andscape’s Marc J. Spears in September. “I should have made it last [season]. It added fuel to the fire this summer on how I am going to capitalize on this [season], that I have to make sure that I’m a surefire pick for an All-Star selection. Last year with his former team, Powell averaged 24.2 points, 49.6% shooting from the field and 42.8% on 3-pointers prior to the break. His production took a significant drop across the last two months of the 2024-25 season, largely due to a right knee injury in late February and a right hamstring issue in March. (Powell finished the last 15 games averaging 14.4 points.) In six games with the Heat this season, Powell is averaging 23.3 points and shooting a career high 46.2% on 3s.
Starting on Jan. 7, Powell is eligible to sign up to a four-year, $128.5 million extension with the Heat. The 32-year-old will be an unrestricted free agent if no agreement is reached.
Despite being traded, Powell’s bird rights have transferred, allowing Miami to exceed the salary cap to re-sign him if he became a free agent.
The Heat are projected to be $60 million below the second apron next summer.
2025-26: 17.7 PPG (46.7 FG%), 4.4 APG, 31.2 MPG
Contract status: 2026 unrestricted free agent
With the 76ers drafting VJ Edgecombe and with Jared McCain returning from injury, Grimes’ fit was in question entering the season, let alone if he could duplicate the second half of last season.
Acquired at the 2025 trade deadline from the Dallas Mavericks, Grimes averaged career highs in minutes (33.7) and points (21.9) across 28 games. He joined Maxey, Allen Iverson and Hal Greer as the only guards in 76ers history to average at least 28.5 points in a 10-game stretch.
Through Grimes’ first three weeks of this season, there has been no drop off in playing time or scoring.
“The opportunity that coach [Nick Nurse] is giving me provides a lot of freedom out there on the court,” Grimes told the Philadelphia Inquirer on Nov. 4. “The minutes he gave me are starter minutes to come off the bench at this point.” In nine games as a reserve, Grimes ranks fourth in minutes and points per game.
With the 76ers pressed up against the salary cap’s second apron last summer and a lack of teams with real spending power, Grimes signed a one-year, $8.7 million Qualifying Offer.
He is an unrestricted free agent next offseason and Philadelphia can exceed the salary cap to re-sign him because they hold his bird rights.
Next summer, the 76ers are projected to be $44 million below the first apron.
2025-26: 15.8 PPG (56.7 FG%), 3.7 RPG, 34.6 MPG
Contract status: 2026 unrestricted free agent
For a Lakers roster featuring Reaves, Doncic and James, Hachimura has been a constant this season. He is one of three Lakers (Jarred Vanderbilt and Jake LaRavia the others) to play in all nine games and is the only Laker to start in every game.
Hachimura is averaging career bests in minutes per game, points per game and field goal percentage (59%). Since he was acquired from the Washington Wizards in 2023, his 3-point percentage has increased from 33.7% to 48.7%.
And thanks in part to Hachimura’s defense — most notable his knack for defending 3-point shooters — the Lakers are allowing the second lowest field goal percentage on shots outside 25 feet.
“We talk all the time about, in isolation, particularly against guys who can knock down 3s like Klay Thompson, we want to use that stick hand,” Redick told ESPN’s Tim Legler on the Coaches Corner. “Rui Hachimura is the best guy on our team at using that stick hand in isolation. So, he prevents the 3.” Hachimura is eligible to sign a four-year, $114.5 million extension up until June 30.
2025-26: 19.2 PPG (64.3 FG%), 11.3 RPG, 26.8 MPG
Contract status: 2026 restricted free agent
Duren was one of 12 players to forgo signing a rookie extension prior to the season. The decision to wait until 2026 free agency, at least for now, has paid off.
For a third consecutive season, the Pistons center is on pace to average a double-double in points and rebounds. His 109 career double-doubles before turning 22 are the fifth most in NBA history.
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What has been more impressive is Duren’s ability to get to the free throw line and improved percentage of makes. Duren has seen his attempts increase from 3.1 last year to 6.1. He is shooting 85.5% from the line. Last year he shot 66.9%.
“We’ve put together a plan over the summer for him and he was as dedicated to that plan as anybody,” coach J.B. Bickerstaff told the Detroit Free Press on Nov. 7.”He worked relentlessly on his game. He’s always had the talent. I think the confidence is coming now, too.” According to ESPN Research, Duren is one of seven players to average 10 points and 10 rebounds in each of the last three seasons (since 2023-24), along with Nikola Jokic, Nikola Vucevic, Anthony Davis, Victor Wembanyama, Domantas Sabonis and Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Duren will be a restricted free agent this summer, allowing the Pistons to match any offer.
RESERVES
2025-26: 16.1 PPG (51.2 FG%), 5.2 APG, 26.4 MPG
Contract status: 2026 unrestricted free agent
Even before training camp, Hornets coach Charles Lee was already praising Sexton. “Collin has been unbelievable since he got here; the transition’s been seamless,” Lee told reporters at Hornets media day. “You know, we’re all about daily improvement, and Collin is about daily improvement, as well. And so, it’s like a perfect marriage. He comes in every day hungry, curious, excited to work. He just absolutely loves this game. And I can tell he loves his teammates, too.”
Acquired in a trade that sent Jusuf Nurkic to the Utah Jazz, Sexton is enjoying career bests from the field (51% shooting), from 3-point range (44%) and in assists (5.3 per game).
Sexton is eligible to sign a three-year, $71.7 million extension (the deal would increase to four-years, $119 million starting on Dec. 29) and can be an unrestricted free agent next summer.
2025-26: 21.4 PPG (40.2 FG%), 2.6 APG, 28.3 MPG
Contract status: 2026 unrestricted free agent
We were reluctant to include Thomas, considering the guard suffered a left hamstring strain and will be reevaluated in three to four weeks. Thomas missed 55 games last year with the same injury and played a career-low 25 games.
But we couldn’t overlook Thomas’ scoring numbers in the seven games he was healthy this season. Thomas scored a combined 74 points against the Cleveland Cavaliers and San Antonio Spurs in late October and scored at least 25 points in four games. (That’s despite his career-low 40.2% shooting from the field.)
According to ESPN Research, Thomas joins Zion Williamson to average at least 20 points per game while playing fewer than 32 minutes per game in each of the last three seasons.
We will learn next offseason if Thomas made the right decision to bet on himself. Thomas declined both a two-year, $30 million contract with a team option and a one-year, $9.5 million contract — that deal could have increased to $11 million if incentives were reached — from the Nets in September. He eventually signed a one-year, $6 million qualifying offer and is set to hit unrestricted free agency in the summer.
2025-26: 19.2 PPG (52.5 FG%), 5.3 RPG, 37.3 MPG
Contract status: 2026 unrestricted free agent
We could look back at Oubre signing a one-year, $2.9 million contract with Philadelphia in 2023 as a low point in his career. The signing came after the former No. 15 overall pick in 2015 averaged 20 points per game with Charlotte the prior season.
In reality, the veteran minimum contract and the two-year, $16.8 million contract he signed with the 76ers has helped Oubre develop into a more well-rounded player.
This season for the resurgent Sixers, Oubre is averaging 19.2 points per game on a career-best 52% from the field and 44% on 3-pointers after never topping 36% on 3s throughout his career.
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Moving forward, the big question comes with how Oubre is impacted when Paul George returns from injury.
“You saw him. He was fighting [Brandon] Ingram most of the night”, Head Coach Nick Nurse said after their win on Nov. 7. “He’s done that consistently, where he’s got one of the better scorers in the league or the other team and keeps working and working. He’s been really good and done a good job of playing physical.”
Because he signed a two-year contract in 2024, Oubre is not extension-eligible and will become an unrestricted free agent in June.
2025-26: 11.2 PPG (50.0 FG%), 2.3 RPG, 19.6 MPG
Contract status: 2026 unrestricted free agent
Heat coach Erik Spoelstra already had an in-depth scouting report before trading for Fontecchio this summer.
“Italy was my [scouting assignment] when I was an assistant with Team USA,” Spoelstra told the Sun Sentinel on Oct. 27. “He was a stud over there for his national team, putting up big numbers and shouldering that weight you have when you’re the No. 1 option.”
In his first season in Miami, the 29-year old Fontecchio is shooting a career-high 51.2% from 3, good for 10th in the league. Last year with the Pistons, he shot 33.5% from deep.
What Spoelstra’s scouting report probably missed was the impact Fontecchio could have on the defensive side. Per GeniusIQ tracking, opposing shooters are 22-for-63 (34.9%) when Fontecchio is the closest defender this season, seventh among more than 215 players to defend at least 50 field goal attempts in 2025-26.
Fontecchio signed a two-year contract with Detroit in 2024 and is not extension-eligible.
2025-26: 9.6 PPG (53.8 FG%), 1.5 SPG, 23.2 MPG
Contract status: 2026 unrestricted free agent
Of the eight players Houston traded for or signed this offseason, Okogie is the one that flew under the radar the most.
After being waived by Charlotte, the forward signed a one-year, $3.1 million veteran minimum contract with the Rockets in late July. It was his fourth team since the Timberwolves drafted him in the 2018 first round.
The signing was aimed to provide bench depth, but with the season-ending knee injury to starting point guard Fred VanVleet and with forward Dorian Finney-Smith rehabbing from offseason foot surgery, Okogie started for Houston since the third game of the season.
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Offensively, Okogie is averaging career-highs in points per game (9.3), field goal percentage (53%) and 3-point percentage (52%). The Rockets have won four of five games since Okogie joined the starting lineup.
Per GeniusIQ, Okogie has allowed a 41.9% field goal percentage as the closest defender since the start of last season, ranking 19th among 345 players to defend at least 250 attempts in that span.
2025-26: 12.4 PPG (55.2 FG%), 2.8 RPG, 30.5 MPG
Contract status: 2026 unrestricted free agent
If we were basing the criteria solely on the first three games of the season, Barnes would not be on this list. In those three games, Barnes shot 33% from the field, 18% on 3s and scored a total of 18 points.
But over his past five games, Barnes is shooting 63% from the field, 59% on 3s and is averaging 15.8 points. He scored a season-high 24 points in a win against Houston. He is on pace for a second straight season shooting more than 50% from the field, 40% on 3s and 80% from the free throw line.
The 33-year old is eligible to sign up to a four-year, $119.1 million extension with the Spurs.
2025-26: 16.8 PPG (67.3 FG%), 8 RPG, 30.2 MPG
Contract status: 2026 player option ($8.1 million)
After signing a four-year $132.9 million maximum offer sheet with the Indiana Pacers — it was eventually matched by the Phoenix Suns — Ayton was traded to the Portland Trail Blazers prior to the start of the 2023-24 season. His $32.5 and $34 million salary the past two seasons ranked in the top-five among all centers.
But Ayton’s performance failed to match those lofty contract numbers. He averaged a double-double in both seasons but saw a drop in points per game and shooting percentage. The decline was a result of Ayton ranking 45th last year and 97th in 2023-24 in direct picks as a screener, according to GeniusIQ tracking. For comparison, Ayton ranked third in points scored as a screen setter in 2021-22 and 2022-23.
Ayton agreed to a buyout this offseason with Portland, reducing the $35.5 million owed to him to $25.5 million. He would then sign a two-year $16.2 million contract with the Lakers. The $8.1 million salary this season ranks 34th among all centers.
With the Lakers, and next to star guard Luka Doncic, Ayton more resembles the player we saw in Phoenix, which selected Ayton No. 1 overall in 2018 — two spots ahead of Doncic.
Ayton now leads the NBA in on-ball screens this season, and the Lakers have generated 1.12 points per direct pick when Ayton is the screener. That ranks eighth among all players, while his 66% field goal percentage is a career high.
“I think he has played phenomenal all season,” Redick said on Nov. 5. “He’s had a phenomenal start to the year. He has embraced his teammates. He has embraced his role. He’s sacrificed, in terms of just being a screener and getting his guys open. He’s finding his spots. He’s just in a really comfortable rhythm right now.”
That rediscovered rhythm, if it continues throughout 2025-26, should result in Ayton declining his player option to pursue a more lucrative deal in the offseason.
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