While the most prominent free agents in the 2025 NBA class are All-Stars who have mostly re-signed or opted in, the focus for many teams shifts to building depth. Recent NBA Finals have demonstrated that success requires more than just star power; deep rosters are essential for championship aspirations.
Teams must build strong supporting casts around their stars, providing versatility, injury resilience, and strategic options for the playoffs. Considering this need, here are seven less-talked-about free agents who could be valuable targets during free agency. While not franchise-altering signings, they can significantly strengthen a contender`s bench or rotation.
Chris Paul
Approaching the end of his illustrious career as a 12-time All-Star and future Hall of Famer, Chris Paul`s current impact is arguably underestimated. Even at 40, Paul demonstrated remarkable durability by playing every game last season. He remains an elite pick-and-roll facilitator, ranking highly in efficiency among high-usage ball handlers. Despite career-low scoring and usage, he excels at setting up teammates, ranking among the league leaders in assists per 36 minutes.
A return to San Antonio seems improbable given their current point guard situation. However, he can still provide valuable stability to a contender`s second unit. Potential landing spots include reunions, teaming up with stars, or even a starting role possibility. Paul has numerous appealing options this offseason, potentially joining his fourth team in four years. Having reached the Finals only once (a loss) and coming off a quieter year, he is likely seeking to join a contender to pursue a championship ring.
Chris Boucher
Last season, only two players with significant minutes averaged specific per-36-minute stats (20 pts, 9 reb, 2.5 3PM): Chris Boucher and Victor Wembanyama. While acknowledging this is a select stat line and not equating him to Wembanyama, it highlights Boucher`s surprising production.
Though perhaps undersized for extended minutes at center, Boucher offers a versatile frontcourt skillset: shooting threes, finishing effectively, and blocking shots. He`s also an excellent offensive rebounder, ranking among the active leaders in offensive boards per 36 minutes. Boucher could potentially re-sign with Toronto, where he has spent most of his career. However, other teams should consider him for a high-energy, reserve big man role.
Bruce Brown
Bruce Brown, a key contributor to the 2022-23 champion Denver Nuggets (including a crucial Finals moment), has since been traded multiple times, often used as salary matching. He previously excelled alongside superstar teammates in Brooklyn and Denver. Without similar superstar support, his production declined, and he`s now expected to sign for significantly less than his previous contract.
However, in a suitable role, Brown can still be effective. A return to the Nuggets makes sense for both him and the team. Playing with Nikola Jokic again could highlight Brown`s versatile skills and high basketball IQ, leveraging his previous chemistry with Denver`s core. For the Nuggets, he would provide affordable, reliable veteran presence among their younger reserves.
Malcolm Brogdon
Similar to Brown, Malcolm Brogdon was a key piece for a contender in 2022-23, earning Sixth Man of the Year honors with Boston. Since then, he has also been traded multiple times, primarily as salary filler. He has played limited games over the past two seasons, mostly for non-contending teams.
Yet, he is not far removed from a period of very consistent performance. Over five seasons (2018-19 to 2022-23), his Player Efficiency Rating (PER) was remarkably consistent and above average, indicating a stable level of play. Now 32 with a history of injuries, Brogdon`s focus is less on individual awards and more on contribution.
However, his skills as a 39% three-point shooter, combined with a strong assist-to-turnover ratio and positional versatility (combo guard), mean he can still capably run an offense. He would be a good fit for many contenders needing guard depth or could even temporarily start for a team until their injured guard returns.
Luke Kornet
Luke Kornet stands out in advanced metrics among the 2025 free agent class, despite being a backup center whose scoring averages have been modest. However, his impact is highlighted by various statistical models. Advanced metrics, which measure on/off impact adjusted for context, consistently rank Kornet highly among active players on a per-possession basis, often placing him near recognized defensive or impactful bigs.
Kornet`s strong advanced stats, despite his box score not being flashy, stem from doing many fundamental things effectively. He is a very good rebounder, particularly on the offensive glass. He draws fouls and minimizes turnovers. He is also an effective screener, known for setting solid screens that free up ball handlers. Crucially, Kornet is a strong interior defender. He significantly limits opponents` field goal percentage at the rim, ranking among the league`s best in this category, often found statistically near Defensive Player of the Year candidates.
Kornet is considered likely to re-sign with the Celtics, who have a need at center and are familiar with his contributions. However, other contenders needing frontcourt reinforcement should also inquire about him. Given his impact and his previous salary, he certainly deserves a raise.
De`Anthony Melton
De`Anthony Melton was also overlooked last offseason and remains in that category following an injury-shortened 2024-25 season. He started strong with one team but suffered an ACL tear early in the season, leading to a trade to another team. A positive aspect of his injury timing is that he is expected to be ready relatively early next season, unlike players injured later. This makes him an appealing target for teams seeking backcourt help.
Melton provides valuable skills: capable shooting (around 38% from three), disruptive defense (averaging over 1 steal per game), and overall stat production. He has a track record of positive impact; his teams have performed better with him on the court in most seasons. While post-injury athleticism might create uncertainty and cool his market, at 27, he is expected to make a full recovery.
Melton fits well on teams needing backcourt depth. As a slightly undersized combo guard, he`s particularly effective alongside a larger, more offensive-minded primary ball-handler. Potential fits include teaming up with star guards on various teams.
Gary Trent Jr.
Gary Trent Jr. represents a common player type available this summer: the reliable knockdown shooter. Many such players are free agents, including Trent and several others. Among this group, Trent stands out (setting aside players with off-court issues). He`s a career 39% three-point shooter who is due a significant raise after signing a minimum deal last season.
Beyond his excellent shooting, several factors make Trent appealing. He`s generally considered a more capable defender than some other pure shooters. At 26, he is still relatively young. He has a solid track record, including consistent double-digit scoring and strong performances in playoff games.
Overall, players like Trent, who offer reliable perimeter shooting, are highly sought after in today`s NBA, where outside shooting depth is crucial. Recent playoff success by teams highlights the importance of depth and efficient three-point shooting. This group of free agent shooters addresses these key needs.
