2025 Free Agency: 8 potentially pivotal players
2025年自由球员： 8位重点球员
The peak of 2024 free agency is past, but many teams are already maneuvering
to prepare for next year’s offseason options.
Here’s a look at some of the most intriguing players that could draw
significant attention next summer (listed alphabetically by last name):
2024年的自由球员市场的高峰期已经结束，但许多球队已经在为明年的休赛期做准备。
以下是一些明年夏天可能引起广泛关注的球员（按姓氏字母顺序）：
Jimmy Butler, Miami Heat
Unrestricted free agent (player option)
After extension talks hit a dead end in Miami, Butler’s potential free agency
looms over the Heat and the league. Team president Pat Riley said he wanted
to see Butler be “available every single night” after an injury-riddled and
disappointing finish to 2023-24. A six-time All-Star, Butler has missed at
least 15 games in six of the last seven seasons. Butler will turn 35 on Sept.
14, but he remains a dependable all-around force that injects an extra dose of
fear into opponents at playoff time.
在与迈阿密的续约谈判陷入僵局后，Butler的潜在自由身笼罩着热火和整个联盟。球队总
管Pat Riley表示，在经历了饱受伤病困扰且令人失望的2023-24赛季后，他希望看到
Butler“每晚都能上场”。身为六次全明星的Butler，在过去七个赛季中有六个赛季中至
少缺席了15场比赛。Butler将于9月14日满35岁，但他仍然是一名可靠的全能战力，在季后
赛能给对手一定程度的恐惧。
Aaron Gordon, Denver Nuggets
Unrestricted free agent (player option)
For Nuggets fans, it may be depressing to contemplate a third straight summer
of the team losing a key piece of its championship rotation. Gordon, however,
could very well eye a pay raise after proving to be one of the most versatile
defenders in the league. Under an ever-increasing salary cap, Gordon would
make an approximate and relatively modest $24 million in 2025-26 if he does
not enter free agency via player option. For context, former teammate
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope is slated to average $22 million over the next three
seasons after signing his new deal with Orlando.
对金块球迷来说，考虑到球队连续第三个夏天失去冠军轮换的关键球员，可能令人沮丧。
然而，在证明自己是联盟中最全能的防守者之一后，Gordon可能会考虑挑战加薪。在薪资
上限不断提高的情况下，如果Gordon不透过放弃球员选项来进入自由球员市场，他在2025-
26赛季的薪水大约为相对普通的2400万美元。而类似的背景下，前队友KCP在与奥兰多签
下新合约后，预计未来三个赛季的平均收入为2200万美元。
Brandon Ingram, New Orleans Pelicans
Unrestricted free agent (extension-eligible)
New Orleans’ recent trade for Dejounte Murray, combined with the always
tantalizing prospect of a healthy Zion Williamson, has left Ingram’s long-
term future with New Orleans up for debate. He’ll be 27 when he hits
unrestricted free agency, boasting a combination of age, choice and talent
that usually yields an enormous payday. Team fit — and a bounce-back season
from 3-point range — will play a large role in his not-so-distant future.
纽澳良最近交易来的Dejounte Murray，再加上健康的Zion Williamson带来的光明前景，
让Ingram在纽澳良的长期计画中备受讨论。当他成为不受限自由球员时，他将满27岁，年
龄、选择和天赋的结合通常能带来高薪。而球队适性，以及三分球命中率能反弹的赛季，
将在他不远的未来发挥重要作用。
Kyrie Irving, Dallas Mavericks
Unrestricted free agent (player option)
Irving’s first steady season in years coincided with Dallas’ unexpected NBA
Finals run. If he follows up last season with an equivalent-or-better outing
in 2024-25, he could be tempted to use his player option to enter free agency
for long-term contract security. Such a move could see the eight-time All-Star
join his fifth team in nine seasons, or Dallas keep intact arguably the most
talented duo in franchise history.
Irving多年来第一个稳定的赛季，恰逢达拉斯意外闯入了NBA总决赛。如果他继上赛季之后
，能在2024-25赛季打出同等甚至更好的表现，他可能会想利用自己的球员选项进入自由球员
市场以获得长期合约保障。这样的举动可能会让这位八次入选全明星的球员，加入他9个
赛季中的第5支球队，或是达拉斯能留下球队历史上可说是最有天赋的二人组。
Jonathan Kuminga, Golden State Warriors
Restricted free agent
Golden State’s fading present clashes with a tantalizing future when it comes
to Kuminga. The former No. 7 overall pick in 2021, Kuminga averaged 11.3
points per game in November, 14.3 ppg in December and 20.6 ppg in January
before his up-and-down end marked the Warriors’ Play-In Tournament
elimination. Still just 21 years old, Kuminga could be extended if the
Warriors want to keep him long-term … and if that extension meets Kuminga’s
asking price. If the 6-foot-8 forward reaches restricted free agency, teams
with cap space could force the Warriors to choose between matching a large
contract or letting him walk for nothing.
当谈到Kuminga，金州勇士衰落的现在与诱人的未来便发生了冲突。作为前2021年第七顺位
新秀，Kuminga在11月场均得到11.3分，12月场均得到14.3分，1月场均得到20.6分，随后
他的状态起伏不定，导致勇士队在附加赛被淘汰。Kuminga仍只有21岁，如果勇士队想长期
留住他，而且续约符合Kuminga的要价，Kuminga可能续约。如果这位身高6尺8寸的前锋成
为受限自由球员，拥有薪资空间的球队可能会迫使勇士队在匹配大合约或让他白走之间做
出抉择。
Lauri Markkanen, Utah Jazz
Unrestricted free agent (extension-eligible)
The most-clicked name in everyone’s imaginary trade machine, Markkanen poses
an enormous pivot point. As John Schuhmann details here, Markkanen is up for
an extension on Aug. 6. That date doubles as the last day he can be extended
and still be dealt by the February trade deadline. The versatile 27-year-old
forward represents elite shooting and All-Star-level improvement for whatever
team employs him long-term.
Markkanen是每一队理想交易机器中点击次数最多的名字，他构成了一个巨大的支点(对联
盟交易版图影响巨大的意思？)。如John Schuhmann在详细介绍的那样，Markkanen准备在8
月6日尝试续约，这个日期是他可以签下延长续约，同时在下季的交易截止日被交易的最后
期限。对于任何能长期持有他的球队来说，这位全能的27岁前锋能提供精英级别的投射和
全明星级别的进步。
Jalen Green & Alperen Sengun, Houston Rockets
Restricted free agents
A year ago, Houston was so far below the salary floor that it shelled out
above-market contracts for veterans Fred VanVleet and Dillon Brooks. Those
days are essentially done as Houston faces upcoming pay-days for its young,
home-grown talent. Sengun’s production and playmaking at center had him as a
fringe All-Star last season. Green, meanwhile, spearheaded the Rockets’
midseason turnaround that nearly led to a Play-In Tournament berth. Teams with
cap space could draw up an offer sheet (which the Rockets can match) for
either young player if Houston is reluctant to meet their asking price.
一年前，休士顿的薪资远低于底线，以至于为老将Fred VanVleet和Dillon Brooks提供了
高于市场行情的合约。随着休士顿自己培养的年轻潜力即将面临换约，这些日子基本上将
结束了。Sengun在中锋位置的表现和组织能力使他上赛季跻身全明星边缘。同时，Green带
领火箭队在赛季中差一点逆势打入附加赛。如果休士顿无法满足他们的要价，有薪资空间
的球队可以为两者的任一位提供报价（当然火箭可以匹配）。
来源：https://www.nba.com/news/2025-free-agents-8-pivotal-players
心得：虽然还有一年，但这些人的动向以及球队可能操盘，已经可以开始关注了。