LeBron James Tops 11 Best NBA Free Agents Still Available After First Signings

Q: After a playoff slump, is Pistons star Jalen Duren actually worth a massive max contract?

Not at a full supermax level, but probably still worth a very large long-term deal. Duren’s regular season made a powerful case. At 22, he averaged 19.5 points and 10.5 rebounds, made the All-Star team and All-NBA Third Team, and was a major reason Detroit finished 60-22. He shot 65% from the field, ranked among the league leaders in paint scoring, and Detroit was dramatically better with him on the floor in the regular season. For a young center with that production and physical profile, teams will still view him as a foundational player. The problem is that his playoff collapse exposed real risk. His scoring fell to roughly 10 points per game, one of the steepest postseason drop-offs ever for an All-Star, and he was even benched late in a key loss. Detroit also reportedly performed better with him off the floor in the playoffs. That does not erase his value, but it does weaken the argument for a no-questions-asked max. The most reasonable read is that Duren is worth near-max money, not an automatic full max. Reports around the league suggest something like five years and about $180 million is easier to justify than a five-year deal in the $239 million to $287 million range that had been discussed before the postseason. Because he is a restricted free agent, Detroit can match outside offers anyway, and league expectation remains that the Pistons will keep him. So the playoff slump likely cost Duren some money, but not his status as a franchise-level investment.

3 articles · Updated · Yahoo Sports · Jul 4

LeBron James remains the clear headliner among 11 notable NBA free agents still unsigned after the first wave of 2026 deals, with no timetable yet for his decision.
At 42 in December, James is still viewed as the top unrestricted player by a wide margin, with the report pointing to the Warriors and Cavaliers as his most likely landing spots.
Jalen Duren ranks as the top overall remaining free agent, but his restricted status limits his options because Detroit can match any offer even as he reportedly wants out.
Other key names still on the board include James Harden, Peyton Watson and Bennedict Mathurin, though Watson and Duren are restricted and Mathurin is seen as likely to stay with the Clippers.
The remaining market is now tilted toward younger restricted free agents, meaning major team changes may be limited unless a surprise offer sheet or late LeBron move reshapes free agency.