The NBA season is finally here, and somehow, there are still quite a few interesting players looking for jobs. The Lakers waived Dalton Knecht on Monday , the Bucks surprisingly released Kevin Porter Jr. , and the Mavericks also moved on from Dwight Powell after almost 12 years. That's three recognizable names becoming available literally one day before Opening Night.
And the timing is pretty interesting. Most teams have already finalized their 15-man rosters , with very few standard roster spots left to fill, but that doesn't mean everybody on this list will spend the next few months without a team. Between injuries, potential trades, and teams looking to improve their benches, I wouldn't be surprised if we see another wave of minimum contracts, two-way deals for eligible younger players, and G League opportunities pretty soon.
There are former All-Stars, recent first-round picks, championship veterans, and even a few guys who were averaging double figures just last season. Some probably deserve a rotation spot right away, while others might have to prove themselves all over again.
So, with 24 names to consider, let's rank the eight best available guards, forwards, and centers heading into the 2026-27 season.
1. Kevin Porter Jr.
2. Cam Thomas
3. Aaron Holiday
4. Gabe Vincent
5. Rob Dillingham
6. Victor Oladipo
7. Seth Curry
8. Lonzo Ball
I'd honestly be surprised if Kevin Porter Jr . stays available for long, because finding a 26-year-old guard who just averaged 17.4 points, 5.2 rebounds, 7.4 assists, and 2.2 steals per game isn't something that happens very often. The Bucks had a crowded backcourt , but that still doesn't make their decision to waive Porter any less surprising. Obviously, his injury history and off-court concerns are going to come up in negotiations, but I think he's easily the most talented all-around guard on this list.
And if we're talking about pure scoring ability, Cam Thomas isn't far behind him. The 25-year-old posted 24.0 points with the Nets in 2024-25 before dropping to 13.5 points and 2.6 assists across 42 games with the Nets and Bucks last season. He's definitely not for everybody, considering his defensive limitations and tendency to dominate the ball, but I could see a team desperately needing bench scoring giving him another opportunity. I mean, we're talking about someone who's already proven he can score 30 or 40 points in an NBA game, and there aren't many free agents with that kind of offensive upside.
Of course, not every team needs another high-volume scorer, which is why Aaron Holiday might actually be an easier player to fit into an established rotation. He averaged 5.5 points while shooting 39.4% from three with the Rockets last season, and he's spent eight years playing behind different starting guards without needing many touches.
Gabe Vincent offers a somewhat similar veteran option, although his recent production is much less encouraging. After averaging just 4.4 points on 35.2% shooting from the field with the Lakers and Hawks last season, Vincent probably won't be getting a significant offensive role anytime soon. Still, both guys have enough experience to provide backcourt depth, especially for teams that don't want to spend months developing another young guard.
Speaking of younger players, I'm much more interested in Rob Dillingham than his numbers might suggest. The former No. 8 overall pick averaged 6.3 points and 2.2 assists last season, but he looked noticeably better after joining the Bulls, putting up 9.6 points and 2.8 assists in his limited opportunities. He's only 21, and while his size and defense are obvious problems, I find it pretty difficult to believe his NBA career should already be over . I'd much rather see a rebuilding team give him 15 or 20 minutes per game than watch him sit at the end of another crowded rotation.
Victor Oladipo is basically the opposite situation, because he's already accomplished almost everything Dillingham is still trying to achieve. The two-time All-Star hasn't played an NBA game since 2023, and at 34, nobody should expect him to return to the player who once scored 23.1 points with the Pacers. But he's been pushing for another opportunity , and I wouldn't completely rule out a comeback if he's physically ready. He's probably looking at an Exhibit 10 or G League shot again rather than straight-up NBA minutes, although I'd definitely be interested in seeing how much he still has left.
Then there's Seth Curry, who might have the simplest offensive role of anybody here. He played only 10 games with the Warriors last season, but he shot 48.0% from three and remains a career 43.3% shooter from deep. At 36, Curry isn't going to defend opposing guards particularly well, and his limited availability last year makes him a difficult player to trust over an entire season. But I could absolutely see a playoff team calling him after losing a shooter to injury. He doesn't need 20 minutes or 10 shots to help an offense, and his shooting alone gives him a pretty needed ability.
Lonzo Ball is a much more complicated case to finish the ranking. I was really hoping his comeback would work out, but averaging 4.6 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 3.9 assists while shooting 30.1% from the field and 27.2% from three with the Cavaliers last season isn't exactly encouraging. His passing and defensive instincts are still interesting, and he's somehow only 28, but his knee history makes it difficult to know what kind of role he can handle anymore. I still think there's a place for a healthy Ball in the NBA, although he might have the hardest time convincing teams he's ready for regular minutes.
Overall, Porter and Thomas are the two guards I'd expect to attract the most attention because of their offensive production, while Holiday and Vincent make more sense for teams looking for experienced backups. Dillingham is easily my favorite developmental gamble, and Curry could become an interesting option for a contender later in the season. With so many different situations here, I wouldn't be surprised if some of these players get signed pretty quickly while others spend a few months waiting for the right opportunity.
1. Bruce Brown
2. Dalton Knecht
3. Ochai Agbaji
4. John Konchar
5. Jeremy Sochan
6. Haywood Highsmith
7. Gary Harris
8. Pat Connaughton
I think it's a bit of a surprise that Bruce Brown ended up as a free agent after all. The wing just played all 82 games for the Nuggets, putting up 7.9 points, 3.9 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 1.0 steals while hitting 38.5% of his threes. He's already won a championship, can defend different positions, handle the ball a little, and give you 20 solid minutes. The Knicks wanted to keep him but ended up choosing James Wiseman for their final roster spot , mostly because of their frontcourt needs and salary situation. I really don't see Brown staying unsigned for too long, especially with so many contenders needing exactly the type of player he is.
Now, Dalton Knecht is a completely different story, because I still can't believe how quickly things went downhill for him. We're talking about someone who scored 37 points with nine threes as a rookie, only to finish last season with 4.2 points per game and then shoot a miserable 25.0% from the field during preseason. The Lakers clearly ran out of patience, but man, he's only 25 and was the No. 17 pick two years ago. I still like his shooting potential, and I'd love to see him somewhere he can actually get consistent minutes .
And if we're giving Knecht another shot, I think Ochai Agbaji deserves another. Remember when he was hitting 39.9% of his threes and scoring 10.4 points per game in 2024-25? Well, that shooting disappeared last season, dropping to 26.6% from deep with only 5.1 points per game. The Knicks brought him in for training camp before cutting him earlier this month , so things obviously haven't gone his way lately. But he's still 26, has good athleticism, and can hold his own defensively. I trust his defense far more than Knecht's right now, although getting that three-point shot back is going to decide whether he earns another chance.
John Konchar doesn't have the same upside as those two, but he'd be easier to use right away. His 4.4 points per game aren't going to impress anybody, but add 4.3 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 1.5 steals, and suddenly you've got a pretty interesting bench guy. He basically does a little bit of everything, and I like that he doesn't need the offense to run through him. If you're looking for someone to defend, rebound, and keep the ball moving, Konchar can still handle that job.
Jeremy Sochan might be the most frustrating player on this entire list, though. How are we already talking about a 23-year-old former No. 9 pick trying to save his NBA career? He went from being a regular starter with the Spurs to scoring just 3.6 points with 2.4 rebounds last season, and even the Trail Blazers decided against keeping him after giving him another chance this summer. The funny thing is that he wasn't even terrible during preseason, scoring 6.0 points with 3.3 rebounds while going 10-of-16 from the field.
If a team wants somebody with a more established role, Haywood Highsmith could make more sense than Sochan. The Suns just waived him after an injury-filled season where he managed only seven appearances, so his health is obviously a concern. But go back to his last full season with the Heat, and he was giving them 6.5 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 38.2% shooting from three across 74 games. That's the version I'd be trying to get. I wouldn't mind seeing him return to a playoff rotation if he's finally healthy.
Gary Harris is a tougher sell because he's 32 and barely had an offensive role with the Bucks last season. He finished with just 2.7 points in 48 games, but here's something interesting: he still shot 41.2% from three. Granted, we're talking about only 1.4 attempts per game, so it's not like he's suddenly becoming a major offensive weapon. Still, I can see a contender needing an extra shooter at some point, and Harris has spent enough time in the league in a limited bench role.
And finally, there's Pat Connaughton, who was another casualty of the Hornets' final roster cuts. He's 33 now, coming off a season with only 2.6 points and 1.5 rebounds in 42 appearances, so I can't really argue that teams should be lining up to sign him. At least he knocked down 40.4% of his threes, which gives him something to offer if a contender needs another spot-up shooter. Plus, he knows what playing in the playoffs feels like after winning a championship with the Bucks in 2021.
1. Chris Boucher
2. Drew Eubanks
3. Kevin Love
4. Dwight Powell
5. Maxi Kleber
6. Mason Plumlee
7. Bismack Biyombo
8. Trey Jemison
Honestly, Chris Boucher being the best center available tells you everything about how thin this free-agent market is right now. But I still like him quite a bit, especially if we're talking about somebody who can give you some energy off the bench. His time with the Celtics was a complete disaster, playing only nine games with 2.3 points and 2.0 rebounds, but he was putting up 10.0 points and 4.5 rebounds with the Raptors just one season earlier. He's 33 now, sure, but he can still block shots, run the floor, and occasionally knock down threes.
And Drew Eubanks would probably be my first choice if he hadn't gotten hurt during preseason. The 29-year-old was competing for a roster spot with the Knicks before tearing his pectoral muscle, which pretty much ruined his chances of making the team. That's unfortunate because he's still a perfectly decent backup center, coming off 5.2 points and 3.0 rebounds on 59.6% shooting from the field with the Kings last season.
Kevin Love is obviously one of those older guys, and man, it's pretty crazy that we're still talking about him as an NBA option at 38. He's nowhere near the player who used to dominate the boards with the Timberwolves and Cavaliers, and I definitely wouldn't want him trying to defend athletic centers for 20 minutes. But here's the thing: Love actually put up 6.7 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 1.8 assists while hitting 37.3% from three with the Jazz last season. I think we're probably looking at one final NBA opportunity eventually.
And while Love can still stretch the floor, Dwight Powell has basically spent his entire career doing the opposite. The Mavericks finally released him after almost 12 years, ending one of the longest runs with a single franchise in the league. His 3.3 points and 4.1 rebounds last season aren't exactly going to get anybody excited, but I still think some teams could use what he brings. For a third center, you could certainly do worse.
Maxi Kleber is another former Mavericks frontcourt piece who's having a pretty difficult time staying relevant, although his problems are completely different. Remember when he was a reliable stretch big man who could also play D? Well, that feels like forever ago. The 34-year-old finished last season with just 2.0 points and 2.0 rebounds in 43 games with the Lakers, and the worst part was his 23.1% shooting from three.
Mason Plumlee is probably a safer bet if all you're looking for is somebody to handle a few minutes behind your starting center. He's 36 and coming off a season with just 1.6 points and 2.7 rebounds in 20 games, so yeah, his best days are definitely behind him. But I've always liked his passing for a center, and he can still help move the ball from the high post instead of just standing under the basket waiting for rebounds.
And speaking of guys who have been around forever, Bismack Biyombo somehow keeps finding his way back into the NBA conversation. The 34-year-old barely featured for the Spurs last season, getting only 25 appearances with 0.9 points and 1.0 rebounds, and I honestly don't see him getting regular minutes anywhere right now. I could see somebody calling him if they suddenly lose a couple of centers to injuries, but that's probably the type of opportunity he's waiting for at this point.
I'd actually be more interested in seeing a younger guy like Trey Jemison get another look, even if he's last in this ranking. He's only 26, stands 6-foot-10, and spent most of last season in the G League, where he produced 8.0 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 3.0 assists per game. He barely got any NBA minutes with the Knicks before the Raptors gave him a two-way deal this summer, only to waive him again on October 14.
For me, Kevin Porter Jr. is easily the best overall player available, especially after putting up 17.4 points and 7.4 assists last season. Cam Thomas is probably the most interesting scorer, while Bruce Brown might be the most stable option for a contender looking to add somebody who already knows how to contribute to winning basketball.
But I'm especially interested in what happens with Dalton Knecht, Rob Dillingham, and Jeremy Sochan. They're all former top-20 draft picks, they're still young, and I don't think their NBA careers should be over just because their previous teams couldn't find a role for them.
Obviously, the market is pretty complicated with most opening-night rosters already set. But injuries happen, rotations change, and teams start realizing they need more shooting, defense, or size. I wouldn't be surprised if several of these players are back on NBA rosters before we get too deep into the season.
