Top 10 NBA Free Agents 2022 Rankings

Ranking the best NBA Free Agents for the 2022-2023 NBA Season as we keep track of the next steps for Bradley Beal, Russell Westbrook, Kyrie Irving, and more

By admin | June 26, 2022

The 2022-2023 NBA off-season has just begun while getting off to a hot start with an exciting 2022 NBA Draft. Now as team’s continue to look to bolster their 2022 NBA rosters, manage their salary cap, and now time has turned for these teams to look at the NBA upcoming free agents.

While many fans are still wondering who’s a free agent in the 2022 NBA, NBA top executives have completed their cap space homework and are ready for June 30th, 2022, at 6pm.

Now if you are wondering what June 30th, 2022, is, the answer is it is expected to be the start of the NBA free agency period. At this time NBA teams are allowed to negotiate with the best NBA free agent point guards or the top NBA free agent centers.

In all, teams can negotiate with any free agent on the board, come to an agreement before having to wait till the moratorium period is lifted a week after free agency kicks off.

This gives us a great chance to take a look around at the best potential NBA upcoming free agents. While this list is subject to change as some players hold player options, these 10 NBA players are the top NBA free agents in 2022. With that said, here is our list of the Top 10 NBA Free Agents 2022.

Honorable Mention

Jusuf Nurkic

2021 Team: Portland Trail Blazers

Free Agent Status: Unrestricted

Just missing the cut on the Top 10 NBA Free Agents 2022 rankings is the former Portland Trail Blazers center Jusuf Nurkic. Nurkic who is just 27 years of age, has shown flashes over his career of being a solid NBA center.

With his strong success prior to his injury last year, Nurkic was setting himself up to be one of the top NBA free agent centers on the market this off-season. While injury concerns are present with the former Trail Blazer, his potential is well worth the risk.

Nurkic averaged 15 points per game to go along with a career high 11.1 rebounds per game over 56 NBA games before missing the rest of the season with a foot injury.

Free Agency Tracker:

Jusuf Nurkic agrees to 4-year, $70 million deal to stay with the Portland Trailblazers

Gary Harris

2021 Team: Orlando Magic

Free Agent Status: Unrestricted

Another interesting NBA free agent and one that should see a lot of attention this off-season is Gary Harris. Harris, who played for the Orlando Magic the past two seasons, averaged 11.1 points per game to go along with two rebounds per game and 1.8 assists per game.

In addition, Harris shot nearly 40 percent from behind the three-point line (38.4 %). Over his career, Harris has shown the ability to be a scorer, averaging a career high 17.5 points per game during the 2017-18 NBA season.

Free Agency Tracker:

Gary Harris agrees to 2-Year, $26 million deal to stay with the Orlando Magic

Top 10 NBA Free Agents

10. Anfernee Simons

2021 Team: Portland Trail Blazers

Free Agent Status: Restricted

You always hate to see a star player go down such as Damian Lillard, but the injury benefitted Anfernee Simmons who propelled his free agency status while making him one of the top NBA free agent shooting guards on the list.

While the Portland Trail Blazers hold restricted rights to him, the team could look to perform a sign and trade to acquire additional assets. Nonetheless, Simmons picked up his play late in the season averaging 23.4 points per game to go along with 5.8 assists after the team lost Lillard.

Free Agency Tracker: Reportedly agreed to 4-year extension worth $100 million to stay with the Portland Trail Blazers

9. Russell Westbrook

2021 Team: Los Angeles Lakers

Free Agent Status: Player Option

Here is an interesting name on the list and one that is hard to tell if it will land as an actual NBA free agent.

Westbrook, who has a $47.06 million dollar player option available for him to take, can also elect to become an NBA free agent while landing near the top of the list as one of the top NBA free agent point guards during the 2022 NBA free agency.

Despite seeing his overall performance numbers drop, the Los Angeles Lakers point guard still finished the season ranked 31st in scoring (18.5 ppg), 35th in rebounds (7.4 rpg), and 12th in assists (7.1 apg), on a team including LeBron James.

Free Agency Tracker: Exercised his $47.1 million player option for the 2022-23 season to return to the Los Angeles Lakers

8. Collin Sexton

2021 Team: Cleveland Cavaliers

Free Agent Status: Restricted

Landing at number eight on the Top 10 NBA Free Agents 2022 rankings list is the Cleveland Cavaliers restricted free agent Collin Sexton. Sexton, who went down after just 11 NBA games last season after tearing his meniscus, should be a hot name among the NBA upcoming free agents.

While the Cavaliers hold the rights to Sexton, he is still one of the top free agent point guards in the NBA. Prior to his injury last season limiting him to just 16 points per game, Sexton had averaged at least 20 points per game over the previous two seasons including a career high 24.3 points per game and 4.4 assists during the 2020-2021 NBA schedule.

Free Agency Tracker:

7. Miles Bridges

2021 Team: Charlotte Hornets

Free Agent Status: Restricted

Following Collin Sexton as one of the top NBA free agents is the Charlotte Hornets 24-year-old small forward Miles Bridges.

Bridges is coming off his best season in the NBA where he averaged career highs in points per game (20.2), assists per game (3.8), and rebounds per game (7).

Bridges lands high as one of the top NBA free agent small forwards potentially available. Currently the Hornets hold the exclusive rights to Bridges who will also look to extend the former Michigan State Spartan well into the future.

Free Agency Tracker:

6. James Harden

2021 Team: Philadelphia 76ers

Free Agent Status: Player Option

Once potentially the NBA free agent headliner of the 2022-2023 NBA free agency, has seen his name drop down the list after his struggles during the 2021-2022 NBA season.

James Harden, who was the 2018 NBA MVP, struggled to find consistency once joining the Philadelphia 76ers after struggling in his time with the Brooklyn Nets.

Harden averaged his lowest totals since the 2011-2012 NBA season averaging just 22.5 points per game with the Nets and just 21 points per game with the 76ers.

While concerns over Harden’s conditioning and workout program, the six time All-NBA First Team selection is still a player that can change any roster in the NBA.

Free Agency Tracker:

5. Deandre Ayton

2021 Team: Phoenix Suns

Free Agent Status: Restricted

Landing at number five on the Top 10 NBA Free Agents 2022 rankings list is the Phoenix Suns center Deandre Ayton. During an NBA free agency that lacks top tier stars at the center position, Ayton lands as the top NBA free agent center.

However, the Suns look like the favorite to retain the former Arizona Wildcats star since they currently have restricted rights to the 23-year-old.

Ayton is coming off another strong season finishing with 17.2 points per game to go along with 10.2 rebounds per game and 1.4 assists while helping the Suns to the NBA’s best record.

Free Agency Tracker:

4. Zach LaVine

2021 Team: Chicago Bulls

Free Agent Status: Unrestricted

While many eyes around the NBA will be on fellow unrestricted free agent NBA point guard Jalen Brunson, Zach LaVine is another popular name that should see a ton of interest this off-season.

LaVine, who has been in the NBA since 2014, is just 27 years old and continues to be as strong a threat at the shooting guard position as any player in the NBA.

LaVine is coming off his fourth straight season with at least 23 points per game (24.4 ppg), while also adding at least four rebounds per game (4.6 rpg), and four assists (4.5 apg).

Free Agency Tracker:

3. Kyrie Irving

2021 Team: Brooklyn Nets

Free Agent Status: Player Option

Only thing that held back Kyrie Irving last year was the fact he wasn’t allowed to play home games in Brooklyn due to not having his vaccine.

Removing that status, the Brooklyn Nets point guard showcased his abilities as one of the top point guards in the NBA.

Irving averaged 27.4 points per game to go along with 4.4 rebounds per game and 5.8 assists per game. Currently expectations are that Irving will elect to pick up his $36.5 million dollar player option and return to the Nets with Kevin Durant.

Free Agency Tracker:

Kyrie Irving accepts his $37 million player option and remain with the Brooklyn Nets

2. Jalen Brunson

2021 Team: Dallas Mavericks

Free Agent Status: Unrestricted

Point guards are always a hot commodity during the NBA off-season and that will be the case this season. One unrestricted free agent NBA point guard looking to headline the list is the potential former Dallas Mavericks star Jalen Brunson.

Brunson who put together a brilliant campaign was often looking for more control in an offense built around Luka Doncic.

Nonetheless, the former Villanova Wildcats star finished the season averaging 16.3 points per game to go along with 3.9 rebounds per game and 4.8 assists per game.

Free Agency Tracker: Reportedly agreed to 4-year deal worth $110 million to the New York Knicks

1. Bradley Beal

2021 Team: Washington Wizards

Free Agent Status: Player Option

Landing at the top spot on the Top 10 NBA Free Agents 2022 rankings is the potential former Washington Wizards star guard Bradley Beal.

Beal, who has a $36.4 million dollar player option, has yet to announce his decision on staying with the Wizards or to test free agency.

Beal finished last season averaging 23.2 points per game to go along with 4.7 rebounds per game and 6.6 assists per game.

Despite seeing his numbers drop to his lowest since the 2017 NBA season, Beal will still be the potential hottest commodity on the free agent wish list for the other 29 NBA teams around the league. In addition, Beal lacked other top tier stars like many of the other top players in the NBA.

Free Agency Tracker: Reportedly agreed to 5-year deal worth $251 million to stay with the Washington Wizards

How would you rank these free agents for the upcoming 2022-2023 NBA Season?