The NBA calendar is a relentless machine, and right now, in the thick of the 2025-26 season, we’ve hit that weird mid-January lull. You know the one. The initial excitement of the Christmas Day slate has faded, the All-Star voting is getting annoying, and front offices are frantically checking the "NBA free agents that are still available" list to see if anyone can actually save their bench.
Honestly? The pickings are slim. If you’re looking for a savior, you’re about six months too late. But if you’re looking for a grizzled vet who can play 12 minutes without falling over or a G-League standout who’s finally figured out how to shoot, there’s still some hope. The current landscape of the 2026 market is basically a mix of "he's still in the league?" and "wait, why hasn't he signed yet?"
The State of NBA Free Agents That Are Still Available (And Why It's Bleak)
Usually, by January 18, the guys who are going to be on a roster are already there. But this year is different. We’ve seen a massive shift in how teams handle the luxury tax and the "second apron" rules. It’s made everyone terrified of signing a 15th man who might cost them $20 million in penalties.
Because of that, some genuinely useful players are sitting at home on their couches. Take Dennis Schröder, for example. After a weird, blink-and-you-missed-it stint with the Warriors, he ended up in Detroit, but since he's a veteran on a rebuilding squad, he’s been a prime candidate for the "buyout" conversations we see every single year.
Then you have the true unsigned veterans. We’re talking about guys like Bismack Biyombo or Jae Crowder. These aren't the names that sell jerseys, but they are the names that win you a random Tuesday night game in Orlando because they actually know how to rotate on defense.
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Who is actually left?
It’s a mix. You’ve got:
- The "Ring Chasers" waiting for a contender to have an injury.
- The "Buyout Candidates" who are technically on teams but basically available via trade or eventual release (looking at you, Chris Paul).
- The "Young Projects" like Emoni Bates or Charles Bassey, who are bouncing between the G-League and the end of the bench.
The weirdest part of this season has been the Chris Paul situation. Reports are swirling that he’s basically been "sent home" by the Clippers after some disagreements with Ty Lue. If he hits the open market via a buyout, he becomes the crown jewel of NBA free agents that are still available. Every contender from Boston to Oklahoma City will be tripping over themselves to get him.
The Buyout Market: The Only Place With Real Talent
If you’re a GM, the "available" list is just a fallback. The real game is the buyout market. This is where players on massive contracts—who are on teams going nowhere—negotiate a release to join a winner.
The Sacramento Kings are a prime example this season. The experiment with Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan, and Domantas Sabonis has been, well, a disaster. With Sabonis dealing with a meniscus tear, the Kings are looking like sellers. If they can’t find a trade partner for their veterans, don't be surprised if some of those names start appearing on the free agency trackers.
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The Giannis Factor
Wait, what? Yeah, the rumors are getting loud. While Giannis Antetokounmpo isn't a free agent, the way the Bucks have struggled has sparked "trade request" talk. If a superstar of that caliber moves, it creates a vacuum. Teams will dump their current rosters to make room, suddenly flooding the market with "serviceable" players who were starters 48 hours ago. It’s chaos. Pure and simple.
Why Some Big Names Are Still Unsigned
You might be wondering why guys who were solid contributors last year are still looking for work. It usually comes down to three things: ego, money, and the "Second Apron."
- The Second Apron: This is the big one. Under the new CBA, if a team's payroll is too high, they lose the ability to sign buyout players who made more than the mid-level exception. This has effectively killed the market for guys like James Harden (if he were to be moved) or other high earners.
- Health Questions: Look at Robert Williams III. When he's healthy, he's a defensive monster. But "when he's healthy" is the most expensive "if" in sports. Teams are scared to commit a roster spot to a guy who might spend the playoffs in a walking boot.
- The Youth Movement: Teams would rather give a 10-day contract to a 21-year-old from the South Bay Lakers than sign a 34-year-old vet who wants a guaranteed deal.
How Teams Are Using 10-Day Contracts in 2026
We are currently in the prime window for 10-day contracts. These are the "trial dates" of the NBA. A team signs a player for ten days, plays them in three games, and then decides if they want to keep them or send them back to the wilderness.
Right now, the list of NBA free agents that are still available is being picked over by teams like the Lakers and Suns, who are desperate for cheap depth. They aren't looking for stars. They want "warm bodies" who won't mess up the spacing for LeBron or KD.
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Actually, speaking of the Lakers, they’ve been linked to almost every available big man. With the way the West is looking, you need size. If someone like Brook Lopez or Clint Capela becomes available through a buyout or a weird roster crunch, expect them to be in purple and gold within the hour.
Moving Forward: What to Expect Before the Deadline
The trade deadline is looming, and that’s when the free agent list usually gets its biggest injection of talent. When teams make 3-for-1 trades, they have to cut players to make room. That’s when the "scraps" become valuable.
If you’re a fan, keep an eye on the Washington Wizards and Portland Trail Blazers. These teams are in full-blown "Cooper Flagg" mode (the race for the #1 pick). They have zero incentive to keep veterans. Guys like Malcolm Brogdon or Luke Kennard could easily find themselves waived if a trade doesn't materialize.
Actionable Insights for the Rest of the Season:
- Watch the Buyout Date: March 1st is usually the deadline for a player to be waived and still be eligible for the playoffs with a new team. That's when the "real" free agents hit the market.
- Follow the 10-Day Cycle: If a player gets two consecutive 10-day contracts, the team must either sign them for the rest of the year or let them go. This is a great way to see who a team actually values.
- Monitor Injury Reports: A random ankle sprain in Denver could suddenly make a guy like Jevon Carter the most wanted man in the league.
Free agency in the middle of an NBA season is less of a shopping spree and more of a garage sale. You have to look past the dust and the "as-is" tags to find the value. It isn't pretty, but for a team one player away from a deep playoff run, that one "available" free agent is everything.
The best move right now is to stay patient. The list of NBA free agents that are still available today will look completely different in three weeks. Between the buyout market and the post-trade deadline cuts, the real talent hasn't even hit the waiver wire yet. Keep your notifications on; the 2026 mid-season shuffle is just getting started.