(The original article was published on July 2, and the author is Kevin Pelton from ESPN website. The content of the article does not represent the translator's views)

As expected, when the free agent market was first launched, the signing of new contracts came in a flash. Just 24 hours after free agents can officially start negotiating contracts with the team, 18 of the top 25 free agents I listed have determined their place. However, there are still some players in the free market that may have an impact next season and even longer.

This latest free agent list is mainly divided into two categories: restricted free agents (it will be difficult to obtain a quote contract due to limited salary space for each team), and center players who are still considering their next stop. In addition, there are several big-name players in the market waiting to be sold, including future Hall of Famers Chris Paul and Russell Westbrook. Let's see what these players can bring to the new team, which next players are suitable for them, and what are the powerful players who have not yet signed but are underrated.

1, Josh Gidey

Restricted free agents

After this year's All-Star Weekend (two weeks after the Bulls traded Zach Lavine), Gidey made amazing data performance: averaging 21.2 points, 10.7 rebounds, 9.3 assists per game, shooting percentage of 50%, and three-point shooting percentage as high as 46%. Although this level of three-point shooting may be difficult to sustain, Giddy's 38% three-point shooting percentage in the regular season has hit a career high, completely changing his opponent's defensive strategy against him. The player, who is about to turn 23 in October, still has time to continue polishing his skills and is expected to show a greater influence in the playoffs in the future than when he played for the Thunder last year.

Potential next company: Unless the Nets decide to offer a quotation contract to Gidey, the contract renewal negotiations with the Bulls may be deadlocked. Gidey's biggest bargaining chip at present is that she can accept a $11.1 million qualification quotation contract for another year, but this means giving up a large amount of guaranteed salary. Unlike Patrick Williams' restricted free agent situation last year, the Bulls don't seem to have the intention to actively raise the price this time.

2, Quentin Grimes, restricted free agent

Similar to Gidey, Grimes also ushered in an explosion after the All-Star Weekend. This is due to the lack of star players after he was traded to the Sixers, due to the absence of injuries from Paul George, Embiid and Maxi. In 28 games with the Sixers, Grimes averaged 21.9 points per game (as true shooting percentage as high as 59.2%) and had another 4.5 assists and 5.2 rebounds.

Potential Next: Although full middle class specials are available as a Grimes offer contract option, it is not clear which team is willing to offer, and most teams with full middle class specials do not urgently need Grimes. The Bulls were a reasonable choice, but they were busy dealing with Gidey's restricted free agent matters. Will the Wizards make a quote to Grimes for subsequent potential transactions?

3. Jonathan Kumingga

Restricted free agent

After being excluded from the rotation by head coach Steve Cole in the early stage of this year's playoffs, Kumingga became a key player due to Curry's absence in the second round of the series against the Timberwolves. He averaged 24.3 points per game in the last four games of the series and shot as high as 55%. The 22-year-old Kumingga is expected to grow into a more stable contributor over time, but given his technical features overlap with Butler and Dream Chasing Green, this growth is more likely to happen to teams outside the Warriors.

Potential Next: Among the top three restricted free agents on this list, Kumingga is the most likely to leave the team by signing first and then trading, provided that the Warriors can find players who are more helpful in winning the championship. The Bulls are a reasonable choice, and the Heat have also had scandals with Kumingga.

4, Chris Paul

Complete free agent

Paul, who just turned 40 in May this year, is one of the only six players in the league to start the game this season to play 82 starts. Although he averaged only 8.8 points per game, Paul scored more than 82% of the players who received at least 1,000 ball covers per game, according to tracking data from GeniusIQ website. With the Spurs picking Dylan Harper with the second pick and overlapping with a large number of ball holders in the team, the possibility of Paul returning to the Spurs is slim.

Potential Next Home: For Paul, close to his offseason residence in Los Angeles may be more important than basketball adaptability. It is reported that he is considering returning to the Clippers or the Suns. After signing center Lopez, the Clippers still retain some of the full middle-class special cases; and due to the second rich line, the Suns can only provide a veteran's basic salary contract.

5. Al Horford, who just turned 39 on June 3, remains an indispensable core for the Celtics with his versatility on both ends of offense and defense. This season, his playing time increased to 27.7 minutes per game (31.6 minutes in the playoffs), but the Celtics also protected his health through a large number of rest. With Tatum's Achilles tendon injury causing the team's lineup to reorganize, Horford may consider joining a team with more championship strength.

Potential Next: Horford has a rumor with two West Coast teams that require their skills - the Lakers and the Warriors. He can enable the Lakers to maintain the "five foreign" space lineup this year's playoffs without sacrificing their size and ability to protect the basket; and their shooting traits will also be perfectly adapted to the Warriors' frontcourt and complement Butler and Dream-Chasing Green.

6, Chris Boucher

Complete free agent

Boucher quietly recovered after experiencing a sluggish 2023-24 season, achieving his second career scoring in doubles with averaging 17.2 minutes of playing time.. Boucher made an efficient performance of 36% three-point shooting percentage and 63% two-point shooting percentage, while proving that he could be competent on the wing defense in a big substitute. As the only member of the 2019 championship lineup, Boucher may not have a position after the Raptors introduced 26-year-old power forward Mamukailashvili.

Potential Next: Boucher's shooting ability makes him a reasonable center choice for the Warriors, and his career began with the Warriors as a undraft. At the same time, Boucher has a good adaptability to the 76ers. After losing Abussele, the 76ers need a shooter with a body advantage.

7, Cameron Thomas

Restricted free agent

Cameron Thomas played 25 games for the Nets this season, averaging a career-high 24 points, but was absent for a long time due to multiple hamstring strains. This high-yield score is no longer as precious in today's leagues, especially when the efficiency is only at the league average. The 23-year-old defender's defense is below average and has limited contributions to other data except scoring, but his three-point threat is actually greater than the career 34.5% three-point shooting percentage shows.

Potential Next: Compared with other restricted free agents, Cameron Thomas is in a more difficult situation. As the parent team, the Nets happen to be the team most capable of offering large quotations on the market. In addition, the existence of a $5.9 million qualification quotation contract also reduces the operational space after Cameron Thomas becomes a full free agent next year.

8. After D'Antoni Melton signed a one-year $12.8 million contract with the Warriors last year, Melton suffered a partial tear of the season-reimbursed ACL after playing only 6 games. After being sent to the Nets in the Warriors' deal for Schroeder, the elite defender with a career-based three-point shooting percentage of 37% has now become a full free agent again and is expected to return early next season.

Potential next player: Its technical characteristics are suitable for almost all teams. The Lakers have been in touch with him, and this team that desperately needs depth of the lineup does need such puzzle players.

9, Russell Westbrook

Complete free agent

Westbrook performed well as Jokic's starting partner during his time with the Nuggets this season. He averaged 15.3 points, 7 assists and 6.1 rebounds per game in 36 starting games, and scored 50% of his shooting percentage with empty cuts and conversion offenses. But Westbrook's shooting percentage dropped to 39% when he came on the bench, and in the seven games between the Nuggets and the final champion Thunder, this data further dropped to 35% (only 7 of 32 three-pointers, shooting percentage of 22%).

Potential Next Home: Westbrook is extremely adaptable at the current stage of his career. Any team that signs him needs to actively adapt to his playing style, not vice versa. With the Nuggets introducing two veterans, Bruce Brown and Tim Hardaway Jr. this week, the possibility of returning to the Nuggets is slim.

Other names worth paying attention to:

Malcolm Brogdon

Alec Burks

Amir Kofi

Gary Payton II

Moritz-Wagner

Original text: Kevin Pelton

Compiled by: Li Taibai