Unsigned, Unwanted? The LAST NBA Free Agents Standing

Joel Piton
14 hours ago
7 min read

By Joel Piton · 10/17/25 · Sportz Nation

The NBA season is set to tip off in just five days, and yet it doesn’t feel real that some of the league’s most familiar names won’t be on the court. Annually, a handful of veterans and role players linger on the market, but this season’s list still feels jarring. With preseason and training camps wrapping up and rotations taking shape, the reality is setting in: it's time to start picturing a season without these players in uniform. There’s still time for a last-minute signing, as seen with Westbrook, but with rosters nearly finalized, the window is closing fast. For fans, it means adjusting to a year without some notable contributors—and for the players, it could mark the beginning of an uncertain new chapter. Here are the biggest names still waiting for a jersey on opening day.

Ben Simmons

Credit: Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via GettyImages

Once an All-Star and All-NBA defender, Simmons has seen a steep and steady decline that few could have predicted. Still, it would be shocking to see him completely fall out of the league. At 6'10 with point-guard instincts, Simmons remains a unique playmaker who thrives on creating opportunities for his teammates and he can defend every position on the floor. The jumper never came, and injuries have sapped some of his explosiveness, but his size, vision, and defensive versatility should still warrant a roster spot. His career hasn’t gone the way anyone expected, yet it feels premature to believe there’s no role for him in today’s NBA.

Markelle Fultz

The former No. 1 overall pick has followed a path not too far removed from Ben Simmons, though hasn't come close to reaching an All-Star peak. After carving out a role as a steady primary ball handler with the Orlando Magic in the early 2020s, his career has since drifted. Now 27, where he should be at his peak, Fultz’s impact has been minimal. Last season with Sacramento, he appeared in 21 games, averaging just 3 points in 8 minutes per night. While the flashes of scoring prowess and control that once made him such a coveted prospect have faded, his size and feel for the game still offer value. On the right rebuilding roster, Fultz could settle in as a serviceable floor general and steady presence in the backcourt.

DeAndre Jordan

At 37, it’s possible DeAndre Jordan has already played his final NBA minutes without much fanfare. The 6'11 center is undeniably one of the greatest in-game dunkers the league has ever seen, and his resume backs it up. A former All-Star, All-NBA First Team selection, and multiple-time rebounding and defensive leader, Jordan carved out a reputation as one of the most durable and traditional big men of his era. His above-the-rim highlights defined a generation of Lob City highlights, and his interior presence anchored playoff teams for over a decade. If this is the end, no one would fault him for hanging it up—it’s been a phenomenal career by every measure.

Talen Horton-Tucker

THT’s peak came as an LA Laker, where he earned a championship ring and flashed the potential of a stocky, linebacker-built guard who could pour in 10–15 points a night off the bench. In 2020, an anonymous scout even suggested that, given the right situation, Horton-Tucker could average 20 points per game on a non-contending team. But the consistency never arrived. Across two seasons in Utah, he posted around 10 points per game on 40% shooting, before struggling to find footing on either end of the floor in Chicago. At just 24, he’s now headed overseas, signing with one of the top EuroLeague clubs in the world. While that might be the right reset for now, there’s still hope his journey circles back to the NBA—his youth leaves the door wide open.

Bol Bol

At 7'2, Bol Bol is much more than a stretch five. He can step out and knock down threes from well beyond the arc, yet also use his length to finish inside with ease. While he’s not the defensive presence his size suggests he should be, he’s far from a liability on that end. Offensively, his efficiency speaks volumes—shooting around 55% from the field across three different ball clubs. And yet, despite flashing unique talent in limited roles, he’s averaged just 13 minutes per game for his career. Why he’s still unsigned is anyone’s guess. Every time Bol has been given a chance, he’s made the most of it—which makes his absence from an NBA roster one of the more puzzling, and maybe frustrating, storylines heading into this season.

Killian Hayes

Drafted seventh overall in 2020, Hayes once represented hope for the Pistons before the Cade Cunningham era began. By the end of his tenure, though, both the team and its fans seemed ready to move on. At 6'5, Hayes brings great size to the point guard spot, with the vision and passing instincts to see over defenses and create opportunities. His glaring weakness has always been scoring efficiency. In Detroit, he shot just 37% from the field and 28% from deep as the primary starter. However, in a short six-game stint with the Brooklyn Nets last season, he looked noticeably sharper and more efficient. Hayes is still just 24, which leaves time for another opportunity: but if he’s going to carve out a long-term NBA role, he’ll need that chance to come quickly.

Morris Twins

Credit: Eric Collins-Kaitlyn Ledford/GettyImages

For more than a decade, the Morris twins have been reliable contributors across the league, filling important roles on nearly every team they suited up for. In fact, glance at any NBA roster from the last 14 years, and chances are one of the twins was there. Now 36, it’s clear their careers are winding down, but it’s still surprising they aren’t on a roster—especially Markieff, who played a pivotal part in the blockbuster Anthony Davis-Luka Doncic trade. Both have brought toughness, versatility, and veteran presence to teams over the last few years, carving out reputations as dependable role-playing forwards. If this is the end, the league loses two respected veterans who left their mark in a multitude of locker rooms.

Kai Jones

Hailed “the best player on the planet” by no other than himself, there’s no denying Kai Jones has talent. Long, athletic, and fluid for his size, Jones runs the floor with ease, finishes at the rim with authority, and plays with relentless energy. In limited action last season, he turned heads averaging 11 points per game on a staggering 83% shooting across 12 games (including six starts). At just 24 years old, his physical tools and flashes of production make him too intriguing to ignore. While he may not live up to his own lofty proclamation, it feels likely Jones will get another opportunity to prove himself on an NBA roster sooner rather than later.

Jalen Hood-Schifino

A former Montverde standout and Indiana Hoosier, Jalen Hood-Schifino entered the league with plenty of hype but has yet to meet NBA expectations. In 36 games across two seasons, he’s averaged just 4 points per game on 33% shooting from the field. Even so, there are signs of potential. At 6'6, his size and awareness give him the tools to develop into a steady facilitator, and he flashed promise as a finisher at the rim during a 13-game stint with Philadelphia last season. Still only 22, Hood-Schifino has time on his side. With the right development and system around him, he could settle into a capable bench role as a secondary ball handler.

Victor Oladipo

Victor Oladipo’s path has been anything but ordinary. From all but retired and stepping into an analyst role to becoming a CBA superstar, he’s shown that his competitive edge is still very much alive. His recent preseason performances reminded fans of the explosive guard who once electrified Indiana, proving he can still attack with bursts of energy. The concern, as always, is durability— njuries have plagued his career and kept him from sustaining his rhythm at the NBA level. Even so, Oladipo insists that at 33 he still feels like a kid, brimming with energy and ready to show the league what he can do. If he can stay healthy, there’s little doubt he could bring an instant spark to a roster in need of backcourt depth.

Dariq Whitehead

Once the nation’s top-ranked high school player and a five-star recruit, Dariq Whitehead entered the NBA with superstar expectations. Unfortunately, his body hasn’t cooperated. Injuries derailed his first two seasons with Brooklyn, limiting him to just two games as a rookie and 20 the following year. When healthy, his offensive talent is evident—and we've just recently seen his scoring ability in preseason play. But with the Nets recently deciding to waive him, his future is full of uncertainty. At only 21 years old, it’s jarring to see such a highly touted prospect fall out of contention so quickly. Still, if he can finally get his health in order, Whitehead has the natural ability to work his way back into the league.

Cory Joseph

At 34, Cory Joseph has carved out a long and steady career as one of the league’s most dependable floor generals. The Canadian guard is an NBA champion and has been a part of multiple playoff-caliber rosters, often serving as the steady hand that helped push his teams into contention. Known for his ball IQ and reliability, Joseph brings value wherever he goes. But Father Time is undefeated. In his most recent stint with Orlando, he averaged just 3 points per game, signaling that his days of steady rotation minutes may be behind him. Regardless of whether he suits up again, Joseph leaves behind a career defined by consistency and an ability to make winning plays in the margins.

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For now, these players may be down on their luck, but history shows that veterans and hungry talents rarely stay out the league. Each of them will be fighting with everything they’ve got to claw their way back onto an NBA roster, and their journeys will be worth following as the season unfolds. On the flip side, the league keeps moving, and fans will need to adjust to a new landscape without some of the names we’ve grown accustomed to seeing in the mix. That’s the brunt of the game: opportunities come and go, and the NBA waits for no one.