A few notable free agents have found new homes in August. Bradley Beal, James Harden, Peyton Watson, and, most recently, DeMar DeRozan have all signed new contracts. Still, several players remain in limbo as they wait to learn where they’ll play next season. Here are the top five free agents to keep an eye on.

Jalen Duren remains the biggest name left on the market, and the Detroit Pistons are still expected to be his most likely destination. That said, negotiations have reportedly become complicated, with the two sides still far apart on the value of his next contract.

Duren put together an All-NBA regular season, earning Third Team honors while making his first All-Star appearance. He averaged a career-best 19.5 points per game and helped Detroit finish 60-22, the best record in the Eastern Conference. His playoff performance, however, changed the conversation.

Duren struggled during Detroit’s second-round exit to the Cleveland Cavaliers. Other teams have been linked as potential destinations in the past. A sign-and-trade now appears unlikely, leaving Duren with two realistic choices: accept a deal below his preferred price or play on the qualifying offer and enter unrestricted free agency in 2027.

Either way, Duren should remain an important part of Detroit’s plans. The only real question is how much the Pistons are willing to pay for him.

Bennedict Mathurin is another restricted free agent who remains unsigned, although the Los Angeles Clippers retain matching rights and remain involved in efforts to keep him.

Mathurin split last season between the Indiana Pacers and Clippers. He averaged 17.8 points per game while shooting 37.2% from three in 28 games with Indiana before putting up 17.4 points per game after arriving in Los Angeles.

The 24-year-old has plenty of scoring ability. He can create his own shot, attack the basket and provide instant offense off the bench.

His performance during Indiana’s run to the 2025 NBA Finals also showed that he can contribute on a big stage, including a 27-point effort against the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 3.

Still, there are legitimate concerns about his consistency. Mathurin struggled to shoot efficiently last season, posting a career-high scoring average while also recording a career-low shooting percentage.

His defensive impact has also been inconsistent, leaving teams to weigh his considerable offensive potential against the areas of his game that still need work.

Jonathan Kuminga’s free-agency situation is considerably more complicated. His market took another hit after the Cleveland Cavaliers chose Peyton Watson instead of pursuing him, while the Los Angeles Lakers and Milwaukee Bucks remain among the teams linked to him.

Kuminga spent last season with the Atlanta Hawks after finally moving on from the Golden State Warriors. He came off the bench in Atlanta, but his first-round playoff performance against the New York Knicks offered a reminder of why teams remain intrigued by him.

His combination of size, athleticism and physicality gives him plenty of upside. Kuminga can defend multiple positions, attack the basket and punish smaller defenders in the paint.

Reports suggest that Kuminga is seeking around $20 million annually, a figure that has apparently scared off some interested teams. The bigger problem is that many of the teams connected to him don’t have the cap space to sign him outright.

That means a sign-and-trade with Atlanta would likely be necessary, and the Hawks would have little reason to facilitate such a move without receiving something in return.

Bruce Brown has already played an important role in Denver’s history, helping the Nuggets win their first NBA championship in 2023. His return to the team last offseason looked like a natural fit, but his second stint in Denver didn’t quite live up to expectations.

Brown averaged 7.9 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 2.1 assists during the 2025-26 season. He shot 38.5% from three, his second-best mark from deep, although he didn’t attempt many threes. More importantly, he remained available, playing all 82 games while averaging 24.4 minutes per night.

The issue was his overall impact. Brown no longer had the same burst that made him so valuable during Denver’s championship run. Still, Brown is only 30 and remains a useful veteran for teams looking for a low-maintenance role player.

He rarely turns the ball over, can knock down open shots, and understands how to play alongside star players.

Cam Thomas has gone from looking like one of Brooklyn’s potential building blocks to searching for another NBA opportunity.

Cam Thomas began the 2024–25 season averaging a career-best 24.7 points per game through his first 17 appearances, but recurring left-hamstring injuries derailed his momentum.

Those injuries continued to cause issues, and Brooklyn eventually moved on from him after the trade deadline. He landed with the Milwaukee Bucks but lasted only 18 games before being waived in March after falling out of favor with the coaching staff. Thomas averaged 13.5 points and 2.6 assists last season while shooting just 31% from three.

There is no question about his ability to put the ball in the basket. He has always been a natural scorer and can create his own shot when given the opportunity. The problem is everything else.

Thomas has struggled to consistently impact games as a passer, defender and all-around contributor. For a player whose biggest strength is scoring, that limitation becomes more significant when his efficiency isn’t there. That combination has left Thomas without a team for months.