LeBron, Harden, LaVine headline 2026 free-agent window

2026 NBA – NBA free agency’s 2026 class officially opens Tuesday at 6 p.m. ET, with LeBron James, James Harden, Norman Powell and Zach LaVine among the top names eligible to negotiate—plus restricted options like Jalen Duren, Walker Kessler and Tari Eason.

The calendar may say free agency is only a sliver now, squeezed by trades and front-office speed. But Tuesday at 6 p.m. ET is still a moment where futures can flip on a single phone call.

That’s when the start of the 2026 NBA free-agent period arrives—when the players on this list can officially begin negotiating with new teams. And even if star stardom dominates the headlines. the real intrigue is how often a “restricted” decision or a role player’s next step ends up reshaping a franchise.

Here are the top 15 free agents in the 2026 class, set to begin negotiations Tuesday at 6 p.m. ET / 3 p.m. PT.

LeBron James, a 41-year-old forward, leads the class as an unrestricted free agent. The decision is framed as massive: retire. chase a record 24th season while remaining a Laker. or finish elsewhere—possibly on a new team or returning to somewhere he’s been before. Despite being 41. James is still playing at a very high level. and the idea of one last title before he heads off into the sunset remains part of the conversation.

Close behind is Jalen Duren, a 22-year-old center listed as a restricted free agent. Duren’s breakthrough in 2025-26 moved him into the league’s elite-big-man conversation. He averaged 19.5 points and 10.5 rebounds, earning his first all-star team selection and an all-NBA third team nod. He’s now eligible for a five-year, $287.1 million extension that the Pistons may not be willing to pay. If Detroit can’t afford him. the chance for another team to swoop in for a center for the future becomes the tension around his market.

James Harden. 36 years old and a guard. enters as a player option—$42.3 million—after a career restlessness in recent years that has seen him on his fifth team since 2020. He also made a deadline move to the Cavaliers last season. Now, the story shifts to fit: Harden has adjusted his game into a point guard and playmaker. It appears likely he stays alongside Donovan Mitchell in Cleveland. but what that deal looks like—and whether Harden accepts his option—remains unclear.

Norman Powell. a 33-year-old guard/forward and unrestricted free agent. comes with momentum after a season that earned him the first all-star team of his career. In 2025-26, Powell averaged 21.7 points with 47 per cent shooting. The backdrop is Miami’s offseason shift. with the Heat kick-starting their off-season by bringing in Giannis Antetokounmpo—an acquisition that may push Powell out of Miami’s equation. A team searching for a scoring threat could make a significant offer for the 2019 NBA champion.

Zach LaVine, 31 and listed with a $49 million player option, is an unrestricted free agent. The pressure point is simple: his age doesn’t leave much time for a restart. The Kings won just 22 games last season. and with LaVine not wanting to sit through a rebuild. it would likely be in his best interest to get himself out of Sacramento. After one of the worst statistical seasons of his NBA tenure. he’s expected to opt out and explore a new opportunity in a better situation. He’s previously been a two-time all-star and could showcase those skills on a contender.

Jonathan Kuminga. a 23-year-old forward with a $24.3 million team option. is another name with restricted-market leverage—he’s listed as a restricted free agent. A mid-season trade to the Hawks helped rejuvenate his season. In Atlanta, he averaged 12.3 points and 5.3 rebounds, while also flashing with several 20-plus point performances. The expectation is that the Hawks will accept his cap-friendly team option. keeping him in place for a full season in Atlanta and giving him a clearer runway alongside the team’s young core.

Bennedict Mathurin, a 24-year-old guard and restricted free agent, was shipped to the Clippers at the 2026 trade deadline. In L.A., he fit immediately—averaging 17.4 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists and a steal while playing 28 minutes a night. The Clippers now look headed toward a rebuild, and keeping Mathurin from Montreal is framed as near guaranteed. Holding onto that young scoring threat as a future cornerstone for their backcourt is presented as essential.

Walker Kessler, a 24-year-old center and restricted free agent, ties his value to both timing and availability. The Utah Jazz may finally be ready to compete. and if that’s the case. they need to hold onto Kessler. He played just five games in 2025-26 due to a torn labrum, but in those appearances he averaged a double-double. The contract math is central: if the Jazz give Kessler his big contract. the roster vision includes pairing him with Darryn Peterson and Ace Bailey as a big three—positioned to take the franchise into the next decade behind veterans Jaren Jackson Jr. and Lauri Markkanen.

Mitchell Robinson, 28 and an unrestricted free agent, is another player whose next home may be shaped by team spending limits. With the Knicks seemingly not interested in going over the second apron. Robinson is expected to find a new place this offseason. His defensive impact has helped raise his value, especially as the Knicks won their first NBA Championship in 53 years. With talented centers hard to come by in the modern NBA. multiple teams are expected to throw money at his seven-foot frame to stabilize their front court.

Luguentz Dort, 27, is a forward/guard with an $18.2 million team option. His situation may be tense inside the Thunder. A Canadian 3-and-D specialist. Dort has spent his entire seven-year career in OKC—but he’s due for a payday. and the Thunder have plenty of younger players they could replace him with. The Thunder already gave Isaiah Hartenstein a big extension this off-season. which makes it seem likelier Dort will move to a new team in 2026-27.

Tari Eason. a 25-year-old forward and restricted free agent. is described as a defensive juggernaut for the Rockets since entering the NBA in 2022-23. His ability to stall opponents’ offense has been a major plus for Houston. but the Rockets have a lot of youngsters to pay. That workload could open the door for another team to pursue Eason at a price Houston can’t afford.

Draymond Green, 36, is listed with a $27.7 million player option. It’s hard to imagine him anywhere but Golden State Warriors, and it’s framed as highly unlikely that changes. The Warriors appear ready to make one final push for a title with Green, Stephen Curry and Steve Kerr. Whether Green accepts his option or takes a more team-friendly deal could determine how much flexibility Golden State has to build its roster.

Kristaps Porzingis, a 30-year-old forward/center and unrestricted free agent, carries a different kind of risk: availability. Injuries over the past three seasons have largely limited him. and in 2025-26 he appeared in just 32 games between the Hawks and Warriors. When healthy, though, he’s described as a dominant two-way presence. Listed as a solid shooter for his size and a tremendous rim protector. Porzingis is presented as one of the most sought-after big men on the open market.

Peyton Watson, a 23-year-old forward and restricted free agent, is coming off a breakout. In 2025-26, he averaged 14.6 points, 4.9 rebounds and 2.1 assists on 49.1 per cent shooting from the field and 41.1 per cent from three. He proved to be a key part of the Nuggets’ rotation and someone they cannot afford to lose. His 40 starts were particularly strong: he put up 17.3 points on 60.3 per cent true shooting.

Rounding out the list is Rui Hachimura, 28 and an unrestricted free agent. He’s developed into one of the league’s best floor-spacing three-point specialists. with a career 39.4 per cent shooting from deep and consistent double-digit scoring. Last season. he broke through in the playoffs: he started in all 10 of the Lakers’ games. averaging 17.5 points with a 56.5 per cent clip from three on 5.8 attempts per game.

For teams waiting to decide whether they’re chasing championships now or building toward the next window, Tuesday night at 6 p.m. ET isn’t just a date on a page. It’s the moment negotiations begin—and the moment plans either hold, or change.

NBA free agency 2026 LeBron James Jalen Duren James Harden Norman Powell Zach LaVine Walker Kessler Draymond Green Kristaps Porzingis Rui Hachimura Tari Eason Jonathan Kuminga Bennedict Mathurin Peyton Watson Luguentz Dort NBA negotiations Tuesday