{"id":2015592,"date":"2026-06-28T10:00:59","date_gmt":"2026-06-28T07:00:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2015592"},"modified":"2026-06-28T10:00:59","modified_gmt":"2026-06-28T07:00:59","slug":"nba-free-agency-2026-center-class-features-value-down-the-depth-chart","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2015592","title":{"rendered":"NBA free agency 2026: Center class features value down the depth chart"},"content":{"rendered":"
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NBA free-agent market:<\/strong> Top 25<\/a> | shooting guards<\/a> | small forwards<\/a> | point guards<\/a> | power forwards<\/a><\/p>\n

The center market looks tempting, on paper, but probably less so in reality.<\/p>\n

While several quality centers will technically hit free agency this summer, most are either restricted free agents or players on team options whose contracts will merely be reworked via a brief layover. The picture brightens as you go further down the depth chart, with several quality backups and third centers likely to be poachable unrestricted free agents. In theory, we could have eight free-agent centers worth more than the non-taxpayer midlevel exception, according to my BORD$ valuations. (More on the methodology here<\/a>.)<\/p>\n

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Advertisement<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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As always, I\u2019ve included all free agents and potential free agents due to player options, team options and non-guaranteed contracts, except for absurd cases where there is no chance of a player being waived and \u2014 importantly \u2014 also no chance for other cap shenanigans by declining options and signing new contracts. Utah\u2019s Kyle Filipowski, Phoenix\u2019s Oso Ighodaro and Charlotte\u2019s Moussa Diabate are all on cheapo non-guaranteed minimum deals but have no chance of hitting free agency.<\/p>\n

(PO = player option; TO = team option; NG = non-guaranteed; TONG = team option, non-guaranteed; PG = partial guarantee; POPG = player option, partial guarantee; R = restricted; <\/strong><\/em>R-2w = restricted two-way<\/strong>)<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

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Tier 1: Max guys<\/h2>\n

1. Jalen Duren, Detroit (R): $44,200,295<\/strong><\/h3>\n

BORD$ is based on regular-season production, so it does not include Duren\u2019s playoff performance. I think we can all agree his spring was just a wee bit underwhelming, as both Wendell Carter Jr. and Jarrett Allen outplayed him, and the Pistons often played better with him off the court.<\/p>\n

Duren\u2019s playoff PER of 13.8 was barely half his regular-season mark (26.0, sixth in the league). Lowlights included a minus-1.7 BPM, a modest 55.3 true shooting percentage after leading the league at 68.8 in the regular season and ending up on the business end of a Jamal Cain murder dunk in the first round against the Orlando Magic.<\/p>\n

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Jamal Cain dunks on Jalen Duren<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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