logo
Potential 2027 NBA Free Agent Class Is Insane: Teams Are Saving Space For Historic Summer

Potential 2027 NBA Free Agent Class Is Insane: Teams Are Saving Space For Historic Summer

Yahoo13-07-2025
Potential 2027 NBA Free Agent Class Is Insane: Teams Are Saving Space For Historic Summer originally appeared on Fadeaway World.
If you thought the 2025 NBA offseason was exciting, just wait another two years for a historically eventful summer. In that year, unlike this one, the free agent market will be ripe with talent, including some big names across several franchises.
Advertisement
In fact, with so many superstars potentially up for grabs, teams are already making an effort to free up their cap space and preserve their financial flexibility in the summer of 2027. For those teams who are patient and build a lucrative situation, they'll be rewarded with star power that will shift their place in the NBA hierarchy.
As it stands, this is the current list of NBA free agents in 2027, barring any contract extensions that might take them off the market:
- Nikola Jokic
- Luka Doncic
- Giannis Antetokounmpo
- Donovan Mitchell
- Anthony Davis
- Trae Young
- Stephen Curry
- James Harden
- Kawhi Leonard
- Jimmy Butler
- Karl-Anthony Towns
- Kyrie Irving
- Zach LaVine
As arguably one of the best players in the NBA right now, Nikola Jokic's loyalty is an important subject, and it will be a hot topic leading up to his free agency. The 3x MVP is still owed $176 million over the next three years, but he can opt out of that final year to either negotiate a new contract with the Nuggets or join a different team altogether. At 30 years old with a championship in the books, Jokic isn't feeling any pressure to leave, but he could always opt for a change of scenery that would shake the balance of power.
Advertisement
In Los Angeles, Luka Doncic's future is critical to the organization. Despite trading their franchise center to acquire Luka, the Lakers could lose him either next summer or in 2027 if he opts into his player option. If he chooses the latter, expect Doncic to consider a potential partnership with fellow European superstar Nikola Jokic, or even a new job on the Clippers. Of course, anywhere he goes that's not the Lakers will have major implications on the Western Conference standings.
In the East, Giannis Antetokounmpo has been at the heart of countless trade rumors as the Bucks have struggled to stay competitive. As arguably a top-three player in the league (averages of 30.4 points, 11.9 rebounds, and 6.5 assists per game last season), any team that has Giannis has a path to the title, and he'll be a top target for teams in 2027 if he opts out of his $62.7 million player option.
While those three superstars may be the most lucrative names on the market, they will be far from the only elite free agents available. Young superstar Donovan Mitchell could leave the Cavaliers and control his destiny for the first time in his career. There's also Anthony Davis, whose departure from Dallas would cause an epic meltdown for the organization.
2027 could also come with a major decision for NBA legend Stephen Curry. He'll be 39 by that summer and will either be ready to retire or preparing for his final season. If he ends up leaving the Warriors, it would mark the end of a historic and iconic era in the NBA. To a smaller degree, the same could be said for Kawhi Leonard, who has been with the Clippers since 2019.
Advertisement
It's impossible to say for sure where these stars will end up, but we can be certain that teams across the league will be waiting to get in on that action. With the potential for seismic NBA activity, the summer of 2027 threatens to change everything for the league, and many teams (like the Los Angeles Lakers) are going out of their way to avoid any deals that might limit their cap space in a potentially historic offseason.
Related: The Biggest Free Agency Mistakes So Far In 2025 NBA Offseason
This story was originally reported by Fadeaway World on Jul 8, 2025, where it first appeared.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Is Tuli Tuipulotu the next Joey Bosa for the Chargers? Edge rusher 'does it all'
Is Tuli Tuipulotu the next Joey Bosa for the Chargers? Edge rusher 'does it all'

Yahoo

time15 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

Is Tuli Tuipulotu the next Joey Bosa for the Chargers? Edge rusher 'does it all'

Tuli Tuipulotu is still finding his voice. Naturally, he speaks through force on the field — a relentless pass rusher with a patented spin move that is disruptive to most offenses. Yet the third-year edge rusher for the Chargers remains reserved and soft-spoken in the locker room, still growing into his presence. 'He's a quiet dude,' said Khalil Mack. 'But when he speaks up, everybody listens.' In the past, the homegrown talent — a Lawndale High product who played just 10 minutes from the Chargers' facility — identified himself as an 'underdog.' Now, he's coming into his own vocally, stepping out of that label and doing it so convincingly that Mack, a future Hall of Famer, wants even more from him. Read more: With Mike Williams gone, Quentin Johnston confident he can deliver for Chargers 'When we're on the field, signals being called on the sidelines, he kind of calls it,' Mack added. 'He's always been that guy anyway. Just to hear him speak in the room and speak in a group, amongst the defense, everybody hears him loud and clear.' Since his rookie year, Tuipulotu has filled in as a spot starter. But with franchise stalwart Joey Bosa's departure to Buffalo in the offseason, Tuipulotu could be primed for a breakout season, becoming a central piece in what was the top-ranked defense last season. Even with more snaps and higher expectations, his standard hasn't changed. 'I've been starting since my rookie year, and if that's my role this year, then it's going to feel the same,' Tuipulotu said. 'I don't think it's anything different from what I've been doing.' What has changed is Tuipulotu's role as a leader. Read more: Chargers got more 'Tongan Power' than expected when they drafted Tuli Tuipulotu 'That comes with credibility,' he said. 'You can't just talk and not have stuff to back you up. I wouldn't say I've been talking too much, but I've been talking enough.' Last season, Tuipulotu boosted his credibility by filling in for Mack, who missed time because of an injury, and Bosa, who could never get fully healthy when trying to return from injury. Despite starting just nine games, Tuipulotu logged 732 defensive snaps — a heavy workload that showcased his rising potential. He led the Chargers with 8½ sacks and emerged as a key piece of a defense that ranked top seven in total sacks (46). The conversation now shifts to Tuipulotu's ceiling. With Bosa gone, he'll take over a starting role and see a major uptick in snaps. Still, defensive coordinator Jesse Minter and veterans such as Mack remain measured — careful not to pile too much pressure or expectation on the 22-year-old. Even so, those around him can't help but be impressed by his playmaking ability and growing comfort in Year 2 of Minter's system. 'The really good players — can they do what you want them to do, but also have that little magic where sometimes they go outside of their realm and make a play?' Minter said. 'They've always been that way, and he can be that.' Opposite him on the edge, Mack says he is 'taking all the steps and is playing all the different roles — inside, outside, dropping [into coverage]. He does it all.' 'I want to see him ball and make plays this year,' Mack added. 'Not putting too much on him. I know what I expect from him this year … [It's] just letting it happen naturally, just putting the action to it and not speaking on it too much.' Early in his career, Tuipulotu's versatility kept him on the field, particularly on special teams — a role that might now take a back seat despite his influence. As a backup, he logged 339 snaps on kickoff and field-goal units, second most on the team. While Tuipulotu stays willing to contribute wherever needed, his coaches remain cautious, careful not to overextend him or slow his defensive development. Read more: With Chargers back in San Diego, players hope to win back their traditional fan base 'You wish you could clone and have a bunch of him,' special teams coach Ryan Ficken said. 'But there's some give and take. Now you gotta take [his starting role] into consideration. … He wants to do it all. He wants to play on all those phases, and it's just going to depend on the situation.' Those around Tuipulotu are noticing his growing confidence — through his actions on the field and his voice off it. Building that confidence has been a key focus early in training camp, and he aims to carry it through the season. With his elevated responsibilities, confidence will be key to his success as he steps into a new position that comes with leadership expectations and greater demands. For now, though, he isn't making it bigger than it needs to be. 'It's a game,' Tuipulotu said, nonchalantly. 'It's not hard to go out there and do your best. This is what we do. This is what we love to do.' Get the best, most interesting and strangest stories of the day from the L.A. sports scene and beyond from our newsletter The Sports Report. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

Orioles at Guardians Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends and stats for July 24
Orioles at Guardians Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends and stats for July 24

Yahoo

time15 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

Orioles at Guardians Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends and stats for July 24

Its Thursday, July 24 and the Orioles (44-57) are in Cleveland looking to avoid being swept by the Guardians (51-50). Charlie Morton is slated to take the mound for Baltimore against Logan Allen for Cleveland. The Guardians won their third in a row against Baltimore and fourth straight overall Wednesday. Kyle Manzardo drove in a pair of runs to lead Cleveland to a 3-2 win over Baltimore. Slade Cecconi and three relievers limited the O's to five hits as the Guardians moved a game over .500. Lets dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two. We've got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch tipoff, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts. Follow Rotoworld Player News for the latest fantasy and betting player news and analysis all season long. Game details & how to watch Orioles at Guardians Date: Thursday, July 24, 2025 Time: 1:10PM EST Site: Progressive Field City: Cleveland, OH Network/Streaming: MASN, CLEG, MLBN Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out. Odds for the Orioles at the Guardians The latest odds as of Thursday: Moneyline: Orioles (-101), Guardians (-119) Spread: Guardians 1.5 Total: 9.0 runs Probable starting pitchers for Orioles at Guardians Pitching matchup for July 24, 2025: Charlie Morton vs. Logan Allen Orioles: Charlie Morton (5-8, 5.58 ERA)Last outing: July 18 at Tampa Bay - 11.81 ERA, 7 Earned Runs Allowed, 8 Hits Allowed, 3 Walks, and 4 Strikeouts Guardians: Logan Allen (6-8, 4.06 ERA)Last outing: July 19 vs. Athletics - 5.06 ERA, 3 Earned Runs Allowed, 8 Hits Allowed, 0 Walks, and 4 Strikeouts Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type! Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Orioles at Guardians The Guardians have won 4 of their last 5 home games, while the Orioles have lost 6 of 7 7 of the Orioles' last 9 road games in Cleveland have gone over the Total Jackson Holliday is riding a modest 4-game hitting streak (6-17) to raise his batting average for the season to .261 Jose Ramirez is hitting .294 (5-17) since the All-Star Break If you're looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our MLB Top Trends tool on NBC Sports! Expert picks & predictions for today's game between the Orioles and the Guardians Rotoworld Best Bet Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700. Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts. Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager. Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Thursday's game between the Orioles and the Guardians: Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Cleveland Guardians on the Moneyline. Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Baltimore Orioles at +1.5. Total: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Game Total of 9.0. Want even more MLB best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert MLB Predictions page from NBC Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff: Jay Croucher (@croucherJD) Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper) Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports) Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)

49ers predicted to trade No. 1 WR during training camp
49ers predicted to trade No. 1 WR during training camp

Yahoo

time15 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

49ers predicted to trade No. 1 WR during training camp

While the 2025 NFL season is still a bit away, the San Francisco 49ers have fully reported for training camp with their first practice set to take place at their SAP Performance Facility on Wednesday in Santa Clara, California. However, the group of players that the 49ers enter camp with won't be the same as the one they will play with in Week 1. There will be more cuts, signings and trades that will change the trajectory of their season over the next few weeks. Interestingly, Pro Football and Sports Network's Jacob Infante recently predicted San Francisco will make a major trade during training camp and send Jauan Jennings elsewhere. "Amidst rumors that Jauan Jennings wants a new contract before his current deal expires in 2026, the San Francisco 49ers find themselves in a tight spot," Infante said. "They have the likes of Brock Purdy, Nick Bosa, Brandon Aiyuk, and Fred Warner on massive long-term deals. They could find themselves fielding trade offers if they aren't willing to pay Jennings what he wants." Jennings, 28, has caught 155 passes for 1,938 yards and 13 touchdowns in his four-year career, including an impressive 77-catch, 975-yard and six-touchdown season in 2024. He's entering the final year of a two-year, $11.89 million extension that he signed last May, so he's looking for more long-term security. San Francisco needs help at wide receiver with Deebo Samuel traded to the Washington Commanders earlier this offseason and Brandon Aiyuk likely missing the start of the 2025 season while recovering from a torn ACL, MCL and meniscus. Moving on from Jennings could really impact the 49ers offense and their chances of making it back to the article originally appeared on Niners Wire: 49ers predicted to trade Jauan Jennings before the 2025 season

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store