While the 2026 NBA free agency period is still unfolding, attention is already beginning to turn towards what shapes as one of the most star-studded free agency classes in league history next season.
With MVPs, NBA champions, All-NBA superstars and franchise cornerstones all potentially available, the summer of 2027 could reshape the league for years to come.
Watch the biggest Aussie sports & the best from overseas LIVE on Kayo Sports | New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1.
According to ESPN salary cap expert Bobby Marks, several of the NBA’s biggest names are in line for record-breaking contract extensions, while others could test free agency in moves capable of sending shockwaves through the competition.
We break down the biggest ten names to watch, the eye-watering contracts on offer and the stars who could be on the move.
10 | JIMMY BUTLER | GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS
Jimmy Butler has never been shy about making a career-changing move, and another could be on the horizon if Golden State’s championship gamble falls short.
Acquired by the Warriors in 2025 to maximise Stephen Curry’s remaining title window, Butler enters the 2026-27 season in the final year of his contract, worth US$56.8 million, before becoming an unrestricted free agent.
The six-time All-Star has played for five NBA franchises throughout his career and has previously forced his way out of multiple organisations in pursuit of a better situation, making him one of the more unpredictable stars in this free agency class.
Much will depend on how Golden State performs this season.
If the Warriors can mount one final championship run alongside Curry, there is every chance Butler remains in the Bay Area. But if the ageing core falls short once again, Butler could become one of the biggest names available in free agency as both player and franchise assess what comes next.
9 | KYRIE IRVING | DALLAS MAVERICKS
Kyrie Irving’s future is one of the more fascinating storylines heading into the 2027 offseason.
After spending the past 18 months sidelined recovering from an ACL injury, the nine-time All-Star is looking to remind the NBA why he remains one of the league’s most gifted offensive players.
Irving is set to earn US$39.5 million this season before holding a US$42.4 million player option for the 2027-28 campaign.
The decision will ultimately come down to what Irving wants from the next chapter of his career.
By then 35 years old, he could choose the security of opting into the final year of his deal, pursue one last lucrative long-term contract or explore free agency in search of another championship opportunity if Dallas is unable to contend.
While exercising his player option remains the most likely outcome, Irving’s name once again surfaced in trade speculation this offseason, proving that when it comes to one of the NBA’s most unpredictable superstars, nothing can ever be completely ruled out.
8 | KAWHI LEONARD | LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS / TORONTO RAPTORS?
No player’s future heading into the 2027 offseason is clouded by more uncertainty than Kawhi Leonard’s.
The two-time NBA Finals MVP remains in limbo after his trade from the Los Angeles Clippers to the Toronto Raptors was paused while the NBA continues its investigation into Leonard and the Clippers.
As it stands, the 35-year-old is entering the final season of his contract, worth US$50.3 million, and is on track to become an unrestricted free agent at the conclusion of the 2026-27 campaign.
According to NBA insider Jake Fischer, Leonard is expected to pursue a long-term extension with Toronto should the trade ultimately be approved.
However, with the league’s investigation still ongoing and no timetable for a resolution, both Leonard’s immediate future and his free agency outlook remain up in the air.
Until the NBA delivers its findings, one of the league’s biggest stars remains at the centre of one of its biggest unanswered questions.
7 | ANTHONY DAVIS | WASHINGTON WIZARDS
Anthony Davis’ place on this list could be short-lived, with his free agency likely to be decided long before the 2027 offseason arrives.
After being traded to the Washington Wizards, the eight-time All-Star is expected to seek a four-year extension worth around US$275 million once he becomes eligible to negotiate on August 6.
Whether that deal is agreed to will shape the rest of Davis’ future.
If the two sides fail to reach an agreement, Davis is set to earn US$58.5 million during the 2026-27 season before holding a US$62.8 million player option for the following campaign, giving him the opportunity to test free agency in 2027.
Should Washington secure his signature on a long-term extension, however, one of the biggest names in the projected 2027 free agency class would immediately come off the board.
For the Wizards, locking up Davis would provide stability around one of the league’s premier big men. If negotiations stall, expect speculation over his long-term future to dominate headlines throughout the season.
6 | KEVIN DURANT | HOUSTON ROCKETS
Kevin Durant has never been afraid to make a blockbuster career move, and his future in Houston could once again become one of the biggest talking points of the 2027 offseason.
The 37-year-old joined the Rockets in a bid to add another championship to his remarkable résumé, but with a player option looming after the 2026-27 season, another major decision is on the horizon.
Durant is set to earn US$43.9 million this season before holding a US$46.1 million player option for the 2027-28 campaign.
Having already suited up for the Thunder, Warriors, Nets, Suns and now the Rockets, Durant has built a reputation as one of the NBA’s most mobile superstars. Even before arriving in Houston, he was the subject of persistent trade speculation involving several contenders.
The Rockets boast one of the league’s deepest and most talented rosters, making them genuine championship contenders in the Western Conference. If Houston delivers on those expectations, Durant is likely to remain in Texas.
However, if the Rockets fall short, don’t be surprised if another chapter is added to one of the NBA’s most fascinating careers.
READ MORE
NBA DAILY: Existential crisis erupts over $817m standoff
UNITED SIGN NBA TALENT: Melbourne United finalise roster with blockbuster signing of former NBA guard
5 | LEBRON JAMES | PHILADELPHIA 76ERS
LeBron James shocked the NBA by leaving the Los Angeles Lakers for the Philadelphia 76ers, but could another blockbuster move already be on the horizon?
The four-time NBA champion signed a two-year, US$8 million deal with Philadelphia, earning US$3.88 million this season before holding a US$4.07 million player option for the 2027-28 campaign.
On paper, it seems almost certain James will remain with the 76ers after making one of the most surprising moves of the offseason. However, his future could hinge on whether Philadelphia’s championship gamble pays off.
If Joel Embiid’s injury troubles continue, or the star trio of Embiid, Jaylen Brown and Tyrese Maxey fails to develop into a genuine title contender alongside James, the NBA’s all-time leading scorer could once again find himself weighing up his options.
While another move would seem unlikely after his arrival in Philadelphia, James has repeatedly shown throughout his career that he isn’t afraid to make bold decisions in pursuit of championships. If the 76ers fall short, expect speculation around his future to intensify once again.
4 | KARL-ANTHONY TOWNS | NEW YORK KNICKS
Fresh off delivering an NBA championship to New York, Karl-Anthony Towns enters the 2026-27 season with one of the more intriguing contract decisions in the league.
The 30-year-old is set to earn US$57.1 million this season before holding a US$61.0 million player option for the 2027-28 campaign, giving him the flexibility to either remain with the Knicks or test free agency.
After helping end New York’s long wait for a championship, it would come as a surprise if Towns chose to leave Madison Square Garden. However, his next contract could be the most lucrative of his career, meaning he’ll need to weigh up financial security against the opportunity to continue chasing titles with the Knicks.
Should he reach free agency, there would be no shortage of suitors for one of the NBA’s premier big men. A proven All-Star and now an NBA champion, Towns would instantly become one of the most sought-after players on the market.
3 | GIANNIS ANTETOKOUNMPO | MIAMI HEAT
The NBA’s biggest blockbuster of the 2026 offseason has already reshaped the Eastern Conference, but could another major twist be just around the corner?
After years of speculation, Giannis Antetokounmpo finally departed Milwaukee, joining the Miami Heat in a blockbuster trade that also brought Bobby Portis to South Beach in exchange for Tyler Herro, Kel’el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kasparas Jakucionis and a mountain of draft capital.
Miami has gone all-in on winning a championship, sacrificing much of its future in the belief that pairing Giannis with its existing core is enough to compete for a title.
The question now is whether the Heat can convince him to stay.
Antetokounmpo remains under contract for the next two seasons, earning US$58.5 million in 2026-27 before holding a US$62.8 million player option for the 2027-28 campaign.
If he declines that option, the two-time MVP would immediately become one of the biggest names on the free-agent market. Alternatively, he could opt in before negotiating a new deal that restructures his salary and gives Miami greater flexibility to continue building a championship-calibre roster around him.
A departure just one year after forcing his way out of Milwaukee appears highly unlikely, particularly given the price Miami paid to acquire him.
But if recent NBA history has proven anything, it’s that no superstar’s future can ever be considered completely certain.
2 | STEPHEN CURRY | GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS
Stephen Curry has spent his entire NBA career with the Golden State Warriors, but the 2026-27 season could determine whether that remarkable partnership continues.
The two-time MVP is set to earn US$62.6 million before becoming an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2027, with Golden State entering a pivotal period as it attempts to balance one final championship push with planning for life after its greatest player.
Curry has made it clear he still believes he can compete for another NBA title after leading the Warriors to four championships, but questions remain over whether the franchise can build a genuine contender around its ageing core.
That uncertainty has once again fuelled speculation that Curry could explore his options if Golden State falls short, although it would still rank among the biggest shocks in NBA history if the 38-year-old finished his career anywhere other than the Bay Area.
Drafted with the No. 7 overall pick in 2009, Curry has transformed not only the Warriors but the game itself, becoming the greatest shooter in NBA history while delivering four championships, two MVP awards and one of the league’s greatest dynasties.
While a departure appears unlikely, another disappointing season could ensure Curry’s future becomes one of the defining storylines of the 2027 offseason.
1 | NIKOLA JOKIĆ | DENVER NUGGETS
There may not be a bigger storyline heading into the 2027 offseason than Nikola Jokić‘s future in Denver.
The three-time MVP has repeatedly reaffirmed his commitment to the Nuggets, but the franchise’s ongoing battle with the NBA’s restrictive second apron has created intrigue around the long-term future of the league’s best player.
Team owner Josh Kroenke has previously acknowledged that the financial penalties associated with the second apron could eventually force difficult decisions, even raising the prospect of trading a superstar if roster flexibility becomes impossible.
Jokić is set to earn US$59.0 million in 2026-27 before holding a US$62.8 million player option for the following season.
Should he decline that option, the Serbian superstar would become the biggest name on the free-agent market. More likely, however, is that he signs a record-breaking five-year extension with Denver worth an estimated US$359.5 million next offseason.
If signed, the deal would lift Jokić‘s career on-court earnings beyond US$720 million, further cementing his place among the highest-paid athletes in NBA history.
While a departure still appears unlikely, Denver’s salary cap challenges mean Jokić‘s future will remain one of the league’s most closely watched storylines until his next contract is signed.
#Adessonews seleziona nella rete articoli di particolare interesse.
Se vuoi leggere l’articolo completo clicca sul seguente link
Source link
