Like every year, several players enter the upcoming 2024-25 NBA season with something to prove. Whether it’s bouncing back, moving past injuries, or playing for a new contract, every player in the league has something to prove heading into a new season. We’ll focus on the players hoping to land a new contract in the summer of 2025.
It should be noted, however, that we will not be considering players with club or player options, as there is a specific form of control over these transactions. Therefore, names such as LeBron James, Jimmy Butler, Fred Van Vleet, Rudy Gobert, Kyrie Irving, Julius Randle And James Harden will not be listed. We will also not consider restricted free agents, so players such as Alpen Sengun, Jonathan Kuminga And Jalen Johnson are not included. Instead, we will focus on players who will be unrestricted free agents, meaning they are set to test the open market once the 2024-25 campaign is over.
Here are the top five players who will play for their money in 2024-25 to know ahead of your fantasy basketball drafts this season.
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Ingram’s future is extremely uncertain, but there haven’t been many developments regarding his immediate future. The star forward is set to play the 2024-25 season for the Pelicans, but he wants to sign a new contract before training camp. The two sides haven’t agreed on the value of a new contract, so the Pelicans will likely try to trade Ingram if they can’t extend his contract. However, neither team has been willing to meet New Orleans“The asking price for the 27-year-old, who is also looking to sign an extension when he is traded, is therefore high. There are therefore several hurdles to overcome before he is transferred – if it ever happens.
On the court, there’s no doubt that Ingram provides value when healthy. However, that’s a big “if,” as Ingram hasn’t played more than 64 games in the last seven seasons. When available, he’s a capable scorer who can also rebound and distribute the ball with ease. He averaged 20.8 points, 5.7 assists, and 5.1 rebounds per game in 2023-24, making it the third straight season in which he averaged at least 20 points, five rebounds, and five assists per game.
Ingram has scored at least 20 points per game in five straight seasons. If he stays healthy, he should be able to earn the multi-year contract he’s been asking for, though it could come from teams other than the Pelicans. There’s certainly a lot on the line for him next campaign.
Clint Capela, C, Atlanta Falcons
Capela was one of the best defensive centers in the NBA during his prime years with the Rocketsand even though his offensive game has always been a bit behind his defensive value, the Swiss big man has found a way to be a consistent force in the NBA.
One of the best two-way players at the position and a double-double threat every time he steps on the court, Capela is entering the final year of the two-year, $45.4 million extension he signed with Atlanta in September 2021. Given that his chances of extending his tenure in Atlanta appear slim, Capela must bet on himself for the 2024-25 campaign.
Capela is a productive player. After all, he averaged 11.5 points and 10.6 rebounds per game in 2023-24, making it the seventh straight season he averaged a double-double. He’s a great lob finisher and makes his presence felt near the basket on both ends of the floor, but he’s stuck in a context that doesn’t favor him.
THE The hawks are looking to get younger and appear to be one big trade away from entering a rebuilding process. Capela is 30 and the Hawks also have Onyeka Okongwu This is basically a younger, more athletic version of Capela. If Capela can stay healthy and consistent in his production, someone will pay him the money he’s looking for, especially if he can average another double-double this year.
One of the best players in the NBA when comparing his on-court production and contract value, Caruso is expected to play with the Thunder in the 2024-25 campaign after being traded by the Bulls during the offseason. He’s playing for a $9.24 million contract, which seems like a steal considering Caruso is an elite defender who can also make an offensive impact with his three-point shooting. Don’t be surprised if the Thunder try to lock him up at some point before he’s eligible to test the open market, as he could be the veteran presence and defensive anchor this team needs to take the next step in the Western Conference.
Caruso should be a starter for the Thunder, a team that should be a real scourge on defense by pairing Caruso with a combination of Isaiah Hartenstein, Chet Holmgren, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander And Luguentz Dort. All signs point to Caruso signing a lucrative new contract this offseason, and if he can remain a consistent outside shooter, he’s on pace to earn the best deal of his career.
Caruso is certainly on the right track, averaging a career-high 10.1 points per game in 2023-24 while posting career-best numbers in rebounds (3.8), steals (1.7) and blocks (1.0) per game. He also shot an impressive 40.8 percent from three-point range while finishing in the Top 11 in Defensive Player of the Year voting for the second straight year. If this trend continues, Caruso will sign the biggest contract of his career next summer.
Turner has been heavily criticized for his below-average rebounding ability due to his height and frame, as he stands 6’2″ and weighs 250 pounds. However, he has averaged 7.2 rebounds per game over the past three seasons, and there is very little criticism of his play as he enters his 10th season in the league. Turner has also been a major reason for the Pacers’ recent success in the Eastern Conference, and is arguably one of the most capable big men in the league, at least on offense. One would think that re-signing Turner would be a no-brainer for the Pacers, but there are a few factors that complicate the situation.
First, the Pacers are a small-market team and tend to operate as such, so they might be reluctant to grant another extension after handing out new contracts to Pascal Siakam, Tyrese Haliburton And AndrĂ© Nembhard. THE Nembhard Agreement This could have a direct impact on Turner’s chances of getting an extension, but the Pacers need to lock up their star players if they want to be competitive in the years to come.
The rebounding concerns are real with Turner, but while it’s an issue that could conspire against his chances of earning an extension, he can offset those concerns with his elite shot-blocking ability, as Turner has averaged at least 1.8 blocks per game for eight straight seasons.
Additionally, very few centers are as productive on offense as Turner: He’s averaged at least 17 points per game and shot at least 35 percent from three-point range in his last two seasons. Turner has all the makings of a player who can sign a lucrative new contract this offseason, whether he signs with the Pacers or another team.
Russell may be one of the biggest wild cards among unrestricted free agents. The point guard can be an All-Star when given the keys to an offense, but he’s been relegated to a relatively secondary role in the Lakers’ offensive scheme.
In most games, Russell will end up as the team’s fourth option behind LeBron James, Anthony Davis And Austin Reaveswhich doesn’t suit him very well. He exercised his player option worth $18.69 million for the 2024-25 season when he could have opted to hit the open market, meaning he’s undoubtedly betting on himself to secure a long-term contract in the summer of 2025.
Russell averaged 18.0 points, 6.3 assists and 3.1 rebounds per game in 2023-24 while appearing in 76 regular-season games. He averaged at least 18 points per game in five of his last six seasons, so his ability to prove himself as a scorer is not in doubt. It appears his new contract will hinge on his involvement in the offense in 2024-25, as other teams could view him as a starting point guard, such as the Nets He did what he did in the 2018-19 campaign when he made the All-Star Game, or some teams might view him as just a role player. The latter will undoubtedly limit his earning potential, but he could maximize his chances of sticking with a contending team.
Regardless, the decision to exercise his player option this summer means Russell is betting on himself again in 2024-25, and when he has done so in the past, he has usually succeeded. His performance next campaign will determine what kind of contract he gets as a free agent in the summer of 2025.