Updated
Updated · Yahoo Sports · Jul 13
LeBron James Tops NBA’s 80-Player Free-Agent Board as Austin Reaves Lands $185 Million
Updated
Updated · Yahoo Sports · Jul 13

LeBron James Tops NBA’s 80-Player Free-Agent Board as Austin Reaves Lands $185 Million

3 articles · Updated · Yahoo Sports · Jul 13

Summary

  • LeBron James opened the negotiating window as the No. 1 player on a newly published top-80 NBA free-agent board, with James Harden ranked fourth and DeMar DeRozan eighth.
  • The rankings weigh expected contract value, upside for younger players, decline risk for older veterans, 3-point shooting and injury history rather than talent alone.
  • Austin Reaves was listed No. 2 after agreeing to a four-year, $185 million deal, while Trae Young ranked third with a four-year, $212 million contract.
  • The board also highlights how much of a thin 2026 class is already spoken for, with several notable names tied up by extensions, options or short-term deals as free agency begins.

Insights

As stars sign record extensions, is the era of landscape-altering NBA free agency officially over?
As the NBA investigates the Clippers, could a landmark penalty reshape how teams and stars negotiate deals forever?
With his Lakers tenure over, what does LeBron's search for 'complete happiness' mean for the NBA's balance of power?