Why NBA Execs Are 'Keeping an Eye' on Big 2027 Free Agents

It does, of course, take two to tango, and in the NBA, the big problem these days with free agency is that there's no one to tango with. Teams could excise as much space as they'd like, but that takes a lot of hard graft and sacrifice. Then when they get to the summer they'll to find the top available targets are the likes of Myles Turner and Jonathan Kuminga, and wonder what it was all for.

Where, once upon a time, free agency was a major event in the NBA summer, it's now no way to run a team. So few teams have space that they find the preferable way to do business is to give out extensions, then make trades.

But that might be changing. As teams adjust to the NBA's new tax rules and as star players who have already made hundreds of millions reach the end of their contract, there's a sense that free agency could be on the rise again--in 2027.

"If it is going to happen, it is going to be then," one NBA GM said. "There are teams already planning on it. Some of that is just prudence, getting flexibility back. But there's also a belief that some of these guys are just going to run out their contracts the way players used to and you can sign them. Everybody is keeping an eye on this. You have to."

Which Teams Will Have Cap Space in 2027?

This is fluid, of course, as teams will sign players in the interim, or trades will present themselves that either lop off cap space or add to it.

But the three teams that stand out are the Lakers, Heat and the Clippers, which happen to be three of the most popular free-agent destinations, historically.

Miami has Bam Adebayo under contract, and that won't change, but they're set up to clear out Tyler Herro, Davion Mitchell and Andrew Wiggins and will have max space available.

The Clippers are in the same position with Kawhi Leonard, James Harden and just about the rest of the roster. The Lakers are thinking ahead to the All-Luka, No-LeBron Era, and did not re-sign Dorian Finney-Smith, in part, because he would have eaten into their 2027 cap space.

"All of those organizations are looking at a reset, but it makes sense to time things the way they're timing them, so that if there are big players who shake free, they're ready for them," the GM said. "And all of those teams have played (the free-agent) game before and are comfortable with it."

The Nets, too, figure to have cap space as part of their rebuild. They've had less success playing the free-agent game and it's uncertain whether they'd want to start in two summers.

The Rockets, too, could be in position to create space. And a dark horse for the market in 2027 could be the Pistons, depending on how they approach extensions for their young players.

Which NBA Players Will Be Free Agents in 2027?

Again, things can change. But the first two names on this list are of special interest, because they will be 32 years old that summer and presumably will still have five good years left (though Jokic has spoken of early retirement). Also, it's no sure thing that they'll sign extensions to stay put.

• Nikola Jokic, Nuggets.
• Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bucks.
• Stephen Curry, Warriors.
• Karl-Anthony Towns, Knicks.
• Anthony Davis, Mavericks.
• Donovan Mitchell, Cavaliers.
• Jimmy Butler, Warriors.
• Kawhi Leonard, Clippers.

Curry has a near-zero percent chance of signing elsewhere, and there may not be much use for a 37-year-old Butler and an oft-injured Leonard. But it's still a top-heavy list that has teams thinking big in 2027 free agency for the first time in a while.