The NBA Draft is finally out of the way and it’s time to start the new league year.
You know what that means. It’s time for free agency. The most chaotic time of the NBA calendar that everyone loves so much. This is where all the drama happens.
RELATED: Here’s our undrafted free agent tracker
Who is going to play with what team? Where are all of the big stars going? Is anyone going to demand a trade? There’s always a name or two out there on the market that completely shocks the NBA world.
But the little names are out there, too. There are plenty of free agents who aren’t superstars who could completely shift the NBA on where they go.
Here are 30 under-the-radar names you should be watching this summer.
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1
Brook Lopez
It’s hard to say Brook Lopez is a free agent anyone is sleeping on at this point considering how good he is. He was a legitimate threat to win Defensive Player of the Year last season with the Milwaukee Bucks.
He’s one of the best defensive bigs in the NBA and has an elite jumpshot from deep. Plus, he still knows how to attack mismatches in the post and can help plenty of teams with that offensive versatility.
It’s hard to know what he’ll look like away from Giannis Antetokounmpo, but he’s still a pretty good player — even at 35 years old.
2
Cam Johnson
Cam Johnson is the prototypical 3-and-D forward you’d want in today’s NBA.
He’s got size, he shoots the ball well from 3-point range, he’ll defend almost any position on the floor and he’s able to hold his own offensively when he has to put the ball on the floor. He’s the sort of player every team could use.
He’s a restricted free agent this offseason, so the Nets have first right of refusal on any deal he might receive. But teams are going to come with a boatload of money for Johnson. He’s going to get really expensive really fast.
3
Austin Reaves
I don’t think there’s any argument that Austin Reaves was the Lakers’ third-best player in the playoffs this year.
He hit timely shot after timely shot for LA in their run to the conference finals. He’s a master at getting to the free throw line and plays the slow-it-down style that the Lakers absolutely dominate smaller teams in. He’s a perfect fit alongside LeBron James and Anthony Davis. The Lakers have made clear they want to bring him back.
Other teams should absolutely make that hard for them to do.
4
Rui Hachimura
Like Reaves, the Lakers have made very clear that they’re prioritizing bringing back Rui Hachimura after his brilliant playoff run.
He proved himself to be an integral piece of their frontcourt alongside LeBron James and Anthony Davis. He knows how to create his own shot, poses a size advantage on the wing against most teams and can be a knockdown 3-point shooter when his shot is going.
He’ll find himself a nice deal this summer.
5
Josh Hart
It’s incredible so many teams have not only allowed Josh Hart to leave their organization but have also sent him on his way. From New Orleans to Portland and now, potentially, New York if the Knicks can’t get a deal done with Hart in free agency this year.
Hart guards multiple positions, is an absolute beast on the glass and is a solid 3-point shooter. He’s the sort of glue guard every team in the NBA needs. There’s no way the Knicks should let him walk. But other teams should absolutely try to put them in a position where they have to.
6
Gave Vincent
Gabe Vincent was the Miami Heat’s second best player behind Jimmy Butler during certain stretches of their run to the NBA Finals — particularly against the Celtics.
There’s going to be some team out there that takes a swing and bets that he can keep that production up in a bigger role for them. The Heat are going to do what they can to retain Vincent, but he might find a bigger deal elsewhere.
7
Max Strus
Max Strus has played a key role for the Miami Heat in two straight postseason runs deep into the playoffs.
There’s no doubt that he’ll find himself a nice deal out on the open market as a 3-point marksman. He can be a bit inconsistent at times, but he’s a shooter who is willing to shoot difficult shots at a high volume. That’s extremely valuable in today’s NBA.
8
Donte DiVencenzo
Donte DiVincenzo was the quintessential Warriors player last season. Immediately, it seemed like he knew how to play in that system.
He showed his versatility as a player with his passing, cutting and finishing inside. He showed his shooting prowess by shooting a career-high 39 percent from 3-point range. He also showed that he can defend at a high level as he did in his days with the Milwaukee Bucks.
He’ll find himself a nice mid-level deal out there on the market. The Warriors probably won’t be able to afford to bring him back.
9
Kyle Kuzma
Kyle Kuzma played his way into a payday with the Wizards. He was given a green light to score and create offense and didn’t look back.
Now, Kuzma has shown his versatility to the NBA. He can be a 3-and-D role player who plays alongside a couple of superstars and wins a championship. He can also create his own offense or even play a bit of point forward when the situation calls for it. He needs to improve his shot selection and get better at finishing inside, but he’s going to get a nice deal this summer.
10
Dillon Brooks
Dillon Brooks was thoroughly embarrassed by LeBron James in these playoffs, but he still is one of the best wing defenders in the NBA.
If he can cut down on taking absolutely terrible shots he can be a really good and useful player on a winning team. The Grizzlies aren’t going to make an effort to re-sign him, so his market probably won’t be robust. It’s easy to see a scenario where a team — like the Lakers! — actually takes a flier on him.
11
Harrison Barnes
Harrison Barnes isn’t necessarily the best playmaker out there, but he’s certainly one of the more consistent wings in the NBA.
He can find his own shot, is a solid 3-point shooter at 37 percent on decent volume, gives you good size on the wing at 6-foot-8 and plays games every single night. You won’t find that consistency very often in today’s NBA. There’s lots of value there.
12
Jakob Poeltl
You wouldn’t know it from the lack of team success he’s seen over the years, but Jakob Poeltl has developed into one of the best rim-protecting big men in the NBA. Opponents barely shot 60% at the rim when Poeltl was defending the basket.
The Raptors will do everything they can to keep him in the building after trading for him from the Spurs once again, but if a team can pry him away he can be a really good contributor on a playoff team.
13
Grant Williams
Grant Williams fell out of the Celtics’ rotation more than a few times this past season, but he’s still a very good player.
There aren’t many guys out there in the NBA who can say they’re able to credibly guard both Giannis Antetkounmpo and Joel Embiid for stretches effectively while also shooting 40% from deep. The Celtics would be making a huge mistake if they don’t bring back Williams.
14
Christian Wood
Christian Wood spent most of the season coming off of the bench and getting buckets for the Mavericks last year.
He was solid in that role and was actually very good with Luka Doncic. His defensive warts aside, he’s proven himself to be an amenable player who will play whatever role it takes to win. He’d pair nicely with a range of star players around the NBA.
15
Bruce Brown
Nuggets Head Coach Michael Malone has made it clear that he wants Bruce Brown back with the team next season, but it’s unclear if the Nuggets actually feel the same way.
There’s no question he was an integral part of the team’s championship run this year, but Denver is also about to get extremely expensive with big extensions coming up for Jamal Murray this year and Aaron Gordon next year. Brown fitting into that equation is tough under the new collective bargaining agreement.
16
Jerami Grant
It’s hard to envision the Trail Blazers letting Jerami Grant walk when Damian Lillard is demanding to play with more veteran players to give himself a shot at a championship.
Grant gives Lillard a lengthy, defensive counterpart on the wing who also brings a bit of scoring ability on the other end offensively. Losing him would be a huge loss for Portland, but it could be someone else’s huge gain.
17
Jordan Clarkson
It’s hard to know what Jordan Clarkson’s future in Utah holds because the team’s direction is unclear.
They could fully reset finally and embrace their youth movement. They’ve got Keyonte George, who will certainly be happy to fill that scoring guard role off the bench for the team.
But if the team is trying to win games, Clarkson should still have a home with the Jazz. He’s really good and one of the best bucket-getters in the NBA at his position. Plenty of teams can use him.
18
Jae Crowder
It’s hard to know what the market for a player like Jae Crowder will truly be.
He barely played at all last season and, when the Bucks finally traded for him, it was late in the year. He clearly didn’t have his legs under him at that point and was playing from behind a bit. It’s easy to give him a break there.
But he’s also going to be 33 years old next season and in his 12th year in the NBA. He’ll have to prove that he can still plat at a high level. He’ll certainly get an opportunity to do so.
19
Kevin Love
Kevin Love has proven time and again that he can still play at a high level in spurts.
He was a huge reason why the Heat completely dominated the Knicks in the playoffs last year and also helped the Heat win a game in the NBA Finals when Erik Spoelstra chose to put him in the starting lineup.
If Love wants to keep playing, he certainly can. He won’t be expensive and he’s the type of veteran who can help any team in the league with his skillset.
20
D'Angelo Russell
D’Angelo Russell didn’t finish his playoff stint with the Lakers on a high note. But when he scored well, the Lakers won games. And that wasn’t a coincidence. He brought shooting and shot-creating to a position where they hadn’t really had any all season.
Maybe it’s risky to depend on Russell heavily. But he’s still a talented player who has plenty left in the tank. His market probably won’t be robust, but there are a few teams out there who could use him.
21
Caris LeVert
Caris LeVert probably shouldn’t be depended on to completely carry an offense as he once was in Brooklyn. But he’s still a very good shot-creating guard with a ton of size shooting 40 percent from 3-point range.
Plenty of teams could use that sort of player. It’s just up to them to make sure he’s playing in the right role.
22
Patrick Beverley
Everybody knows what Patrick Beverley is coming with. No, he’s not the same defender he used to be. But he’s going to play hard — even when he’s not hitting shots.
His 3-point percentage trending downward to 33 percent last season isn’t a great sign and makes it harder for him to be on the floor as a smaller guard. But I’d bet a team gambles that — in the right role — his numbers can jump again. He’ll have teams on the phone this summer.
23
Dwight Powell
Dwight Powell found himself out of favor in the Dallas Mavericks’ rotation last season because of his porous defense. He’s not the biggest player for a center.
But he’s a solid pick-and-roll partner who cuts and dives hard to the basket. He’s not afraid to get mixy in the paint offensively and that counts for a lot.
24
Dario Saric
Just a few seasons ago Dario Saric was making big plays in the NBA Finals against the eventual champion Milwaukee Bucks as a small-ball center for the Phoenix Suns.
Saric had his first season back last year and it wasn’t the greatest, but he showed flashes of the player he once was. At 28 years old, he’s someone a good team should take a flier on.
25
Mason Plumlee
Mason Plumlee isn’t necessarily the greatest defender for his size at center, which makes him a bit of a liability on teams that require switchability. He holds his own, but it’s not his strongsuit.
Offensively, however, Plumlee knows how to read the floor. He’ll be able to keep the offense flowing. He sets screens, attacks the boards and makes winning plays. He’s a great rotational big on a playoff team and he shouldn’t be too expensive.
26
Coby White
Coby White is just one of those players who everyone is still waiting on to blossom.
A change of scenery from Chicago might do the trick. He’s a twitchy scorer and a solid shooter who shoots 37 percent from deep while taking some difficult looks. He may be a bit expensive as a restricted free agent, but plugging him into a bench scoring role might do a playoff team some good if they can afford it.
27
Josh Okogie
Josh Okogie has proven he can be a solid defensive option at point guard on a playoff team. He was serviceable in his role with the Suns last season, though the team probably depended on his shaky offense a bit too much against the Nuggets.
I doubt Phoenix lets him remain on the market for too long given their already shaky depth issues, but if a playoff team is looking for a plug-and-play defensive guard he’s definitely a target they should pursue. He won’t be too expensive.
28
Dennis Smith Jr.
Dennis Smith Jr. was one of the most surprising — and pleasant — stories in the NBA last season.
There was talk about him potentially trying out for the NFL once upon a time. But last season in Charlotte, he not only proved that he’s an NBA player, but he’s also a really good one who can be a solid backup option at point guard.
29
Josh Richardson
Josh Richardson has had a rough few years in the NBA after bouncing around from team to team. He was traded to the Pelicans last season where he played a rotational role on a team battling lots of injuries.
He’s still a serviceable 3-and-D guard, though, and should be able to play a fringe role on a contending team.
30
Trey Lyles
Trey Lyles is an absolute gem of a player. He’s a stretchy big who has plenty of skills on the perimeter but is also solid defensively.
He’s a rotational guy for the Kings who could potentially go back to Sacramento, but he could also have a pretty robust market for a player of his skillset considering how well he played in his bit role last season during the team’s turnaround.
