Top 3 NBA Free Agents Who Will Change Teams This Summer

There are plenty of big names in NBA free agency this summer. Some of those names, however, like RFA Jalen Duran of the Detroit Pistons, Austin Reaves of the LA Lakers, and Trae Young of the Washington Wizards, are all expected to re-sign with their own teams.

But for a look at the NBA free agents who will be up for grabs, let's check out this list of the top 3 players who ARE most likely to change teams on the open market, as listed by Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report.

1. LeBron James

It has seemed all season that his days as an LA Laker have been nearing an end. It's expected that LeBron will move on in free agency, either for his age-42, 24th season elsewhere, or perhaps even to retire.

As Pincus writes, "On one hand, the Los Angeles Lakers have said they would love for James to retire with the franchise. On the other hand, the team is intent on building properly around All-Star Luka Dončić. Paying another $50+ million to James doesn't add up."

2. Kawhi Leonard

Kawhi joins this list if the NBA brings down the hammer on Leonard and the Clippers for the cap circumvention scandal that it has been investigating all season. Kawhi's contract could very well be voided, making him a free agent, unable to sign back with the Clippers. There are several teams poised and ready to pounce on Leonard if this were to happen.

3. Peyton Watson

The Denver Nuggets have watched key supplementary players get scooped up in free agency the past few seasons, including the likes of Bruce Bowen and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. Peyton Watson could be next in line.

Watson broke out with a huge season for the Nuggets this year, boosting his scoring by over six points a game to 14.6, as well as his three-point shooting to over 41%. If he hadn't missed a bunch of time due to injury, he'd be a top candidate for Most Improve Player.

He's a restricted free agent, "but will the team choose to let him go (on an offer sheet) rather than face luxury tax and (second) apron penalties?" asks Pincus.

Honorable mention — Other free agents who are likely to change teams: