NBA Swing: Four Notable Remaining 2026 Free Agents

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Over two weeks into 2026 free agency, everyone is focused on LeBron James and the decision he’ll make for his 24th NBA season. Despite the media focusing on James, there are several free agents of notoriety that are still available. Some are All-Star players, while others are veteran players on the rise, and even an already forgotten name that is still waiting to sign a deal for the 2026-27 season and beyond.

Jalen Duren

Jalen Duren would have a breakout season during the 2025-26 campaign. He would average. 19.5 PPG and 10.5 RPG in 70 games, not only landing his first All-Star nod, but also landing on the third team All-NBA. Making an All-NBA team, Duren would become eligible for a rookie extension worth up to five years and over $280 million. And then the 2026 playoffs would happen. Duren would disappear in the playoffs, averaging 10.2 PPG and 8.5 RPG across 14 games. Seven of those 14 games would see Duren finish with less than 10 points. Duren’s shortcomings would ultimately play a role in the Detroit Pistons’ second-round exit.

Reports have noted the Pistons do not want to offer Duren a max contract due to his playoff performance and are going to match any offer Duren gets, while other reports have said Duren wants out due to frustrations over the contract talks. He has been linked to several teams, including the Los Angeles Lakers and Sacramento Kings. There is currently no team in the NBA that can offer Duren what he wants. He will likely go back to Detroit, whether it’s on the qualifying offer or a new deal, but it would not be a surprise if Duren is not a Piston much longer.

Bennedict Mathurin

As part of the 2026 Ivica Zubac trade between the Indiana Pacers and Los Angeles Clippers, Benedict Mathurin had a season, both in Indiana and L.A. In 28 games with the Pacers, Mathurin would average 17.8 PPG and 5.4 RPG, mainly in a starting role. In L.A., he would average 17.4 PPG and 5.5 RPG, mainly coming off the bench. Now a restricted free agent, the Clippers can match any offer that comes Mathurin’s way. With the Clippers entering a rebuild and the future of Darius Garland unknown, there could be a prominent spot for Mathurin.

Russell Westbrook

A veteran guard and former MVP, Russell Westbrook has not had the easiest last couple of seasons. After a rough season and a half with the Los Angeles Lakers, Westbrook would spend time with the Los Angeles Clippers, Denver Nuggets, and Sacramento Kings. While he is not near the MVP level he once was, he still averaged 15.2 PPG, 5.4 RPG, and 6.7 APG in 64 games with the Kings this past season. Westbrook’s game has not aged the best in recent years, but he has still proven to be a reliable scorer. Westbrook has reportedly been linked to the Miami Heat, but that could change if LeBron James joins the Heat, due to their previous history on the Lakers.

Peyton Watson

In his fourth season in the league and with the Denver Nuggets, guard Peyton Watson would have a breakout year. Watson would go from averaging 8.1 PPG, 3.4 RPG, and 1.4 APG in 68 games during the 2024-25 season to 14.6 PPG, 4.9 RP, G and 2.1 APG in 54 games during the 2025-26 season. While Denver wants and hopes to retain the restricted free agent, reports say Denver and Watson’s agent, Rich Paul, are far apart in contract talks. Heading into the 2026-27 season, Denver has one of the worst salary sheets in the league. Denver currently has $209.2 million allocated to 11 players. They are already over the first apron of $209.01 million, and with $2 million in dead cap money for Jonas Valanciunas and qualifying offers for Watson and Spencer Jones, they would be just $3 million under the second apron of $221.6 million.

Watson is reportedly looking for $25-$30 million per year, which Denver cannot offer at this time. The Christian Braun contract has become an albatross for the Nuggets, and rumors suggest they are looking for anyone willing to trade Braun, among others, on the roster.

Denver has reportedly also been open to a sign-and-trade for Watson, but their focus remains on retaining him. Watson has drawn interest from several teams, including the Milwaukee Bucks, Atlanta Hawks, and previously the Los Angeles Lakers as well. With Watson’s camp in no rush to resolve contract discussions with Denver, Watson’s decision may not come until late in the offseason.

Honorable Mention: Ben Simmons

In a report from ESPN’s Ohm Youngmisuk, eight-year veteran Ben Simmons is working on an NBA comeback after not playing during the 2025-26 season. The first pick of the 2016 draft, Simmons last played for the Brooklyn Nets and Los Angeles Clippers during the 2024-25 season, averaging 5.0 PPG, 4.7 RPG, and 5.6 APG across 51 games. Following the infamous Eastern Conference Semifinals Game 7, Simmons was far from the All-Star player he once was. From the 2022-23 season, Simmons would not play more than 51 games in a season. Simmons has shown interest in several teams, noting a potential return to the Philadelphia 76ers or potentially joining the Miami Heat, expressing his admiration for head coach Erik Spoelstra and the Heat organization. While the expectations for Simmons would be low if he were to return, he could be a deep bench role player for several contenders.