The NBA offseason is almost over. Teams around the league will begin preseason preparations in the coming weeks, with training camps starting shortly after. As such, most rosters are now set, with very few teams having multiple open roster spots.
Nevertheless, there’s always room for another talented player on the back end of a rotation, especially if that player is still young enough to have genuine upside. Fortunately for front offices around the NBA, there’s a string of untapped potential in the free agency market. He’s the best free agent at each position aged 25 or under.
Point Guard: Kira Lewis Jr. | 22 years old
Lewis Jr. was the 13th overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft. With shades of John Wall, Lewis Jr. boasts elite speed and high-level passing skills and can be a blur in the open court. Unfortunately for the Alabama native, he’s yet to find a favorable situation in the NBA. He spent his first three seasons with the New Orleans Pelicans before bouncing around the league last season, splitting his time between the Pelicans, Toronto Raptors and Utah Jazz.
In 131 regular-season games, Lewis Jr. averaged 5.2 points, 1.3 rebounds and 1.8 assists. He must improve his finishing to remain in the NBA (39.7% from the field). Nevertheless, his age and status as a former lottery pick should give him another chance in the league.
Shooting Guard: Talen Horton-Tucker | 24 years old
It feels like Horton-Tucker has been in the NBA forever. The former Los Angeles Lakers prospect has played in 247 regular-season NBA games, averaging 9.8 points, 2.8 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game. The Lakers front office once viewed him as a possible future star but failed to build on an encouraging sophomore season.
Nevertheless, at 24, Horton-Tucker is far from reaching his prime. The most significant area of improvement for the former second-round pick is undoubtedly his perimeter scoring, where he’s averaging an anemic 29.3% for his career.
Small Forward: Kevin Knox | 25 years old
Knox has struggled to prove his value since entering the NBA as the ninth overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft. During his journeyman career, he’s spent time with the New York Knicks, Atlanta Hawks, Detroit Pistons and Portland Trail Blazers.
Still, there’s some promise there. Knox has good size for his position and has flashed some potential as a versatile defender and slasher. However, he must improve his scoring ability to cement himself on a roster moving forward. Otherwise, his time in the NBA looks to be running out.
Power Forward: Darius Bazley | 24 years old
During his first three and a half years in the league, Bazley was an ever-present in the Oklahoma City Thunder’s rotation. He has since struggled to hold down a rotation spot for the Phoenix Suns, Philadelphia 76ers and Utah Jazz. Bazley has a high upside as a slasher and interior defender.
Nevertheless, modern-day forwards must be serviceable from the three-point line. Bazley’s a 30.9% career shooter from deep, likely hindering his ability to find a new opportunity around the league. He has enough talent for a rebuilding team to take a “buy low” chance on him in the coming months.
Center: Moses Brown | 25 years old
Brown is a quintessential rim runner. He is of excellent size, athleticism, explosiveness and length. He is a solid rim protector and lob threat. Yet, his lack of defensive positioning and screening ability has left him on the fringes of every team he’s played for.
Big men are notorious for developing slower than other players. Brown could serve as a bench big who could eat some spot starts when required, but his inability to stick with a team for more than one season at a time is concerning. He will face a challenging task in landing with another NBA team in the upcoming season.
