Conventional wisdom in NBA free agency is that one big signing could swing the pendulum of power, making teams consider backing up the Brinks truck to bring in a player who could fulfill championship dreams, whether those dreams are realistic or not.
The free-agent class of 2027 might actually live up to that thought process, as it has the potential to be the biggest ever, with future Hall of Famers all over the place, ready to cash in.
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The jewels of the class are Nikola Jokic and Giannis Antetokounmpo, two players who figure to have multiple years left in their careers, barring injury, of All-NBA type play. They have won a total of five NBA MVP awards and could break the bank by becoming the first players in one of the four major North American sports to earn more than $75 million per season.
Here is a list of the most prominent free agents for 2027 (with players’ ages in 2027, free agent status and contract details):
1 / 9
Kawhi Leonard is reuniting with the Raptors. Relive their title run
Toronto Raptors forward Kawhi Leonard (2) lifts up the Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy after defeating Golden State Warriors for the NBA Championship in Game 6 of the 2019 NBA Finals at Oracle Arena.
(Kelvin Kuo, USA TODAY Sports)
1 / 9
Kawhi Leonard is reuniting with the Raptors. Relive their title run
Toronto Raptors forward Kawhi Leonard (2) lifts up the Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy after defeating Golden State Warriors for the NBA Championship in Game 6 of the 2019 NBA Finals at Oracle Arena.
(Kelvin Kuo, USA TODAY Sports)
2 / 9
Kawhi Leonard is reuniting with the Raptors. Relive their title run
Toronto Raptors guard Fred VanVleet (23), guard Kyle Lowry (7), forward Kawhi Leonard (2) and center Serge Ibaka (9) celebrate after beating the Golden State Warriors in Game 6 of the 2019 NBA Finals at Oracle Arena.
(Kyle Terada, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
3 / 9
Kawhi Leonard is reuniting with the Raptors. Relive their title run
Toronto Raptors forward Kawhi Leonard (2) celebrates winning the Bill Russell NBA Finals MVP after beating the Golden State Warriors to win the NBA Championship in Game 6 of the 2019 NBA Finals at Oracle Arena.
(Kyle Terada, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
4 / 9
Kawhi Leonard is reuniting with the Raptors. Relive their title run
Toronto Raptors forward Kawhi Leonard (2) and Toronto Raptors center Serge Ibaka (9) celebrate with the Larry O’Brien Trophy after the Golden State Warriors in Game 6 of the 2019 NBA Finals at Oracle Arena.
(Kyle Terada, USA TODAY Sports)
5 / 9
Kawhi Leonard is reuniting with the Raptors. Relive their title run
Toronto Raptors forward Kawhi Leonard (2) and Toronto Raptors guard Kyle Lowry (7) celebrate winning the NBA Championship over the Golden State Warriors after Game 6 of the 2019 NBA Finals at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif., on June 13, 2019.
(Sergio Estrada, USA TODAY Sports)
6 / 9
Kawhi Leonard is reuniting with the Raptors. Relive their title run
Toronto Raptors forward Kawhi Leonard (2) shoots the ball against Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson (11) in Game 5 of the 2019 NBA Finals at Scotiabank Arena in Tornto, Ontario, Canada, on June 10, 2019.
(Nathan Denette, USA TODAY Sports)
7 / 9
Kawhi Leonard is reuniting with the Raptors. Relive their title run
Toronto Raptors forward Kawhi Leonard (2) shoots the basketball against Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) during the second half in Game 3 of the 2019 NBA Finals at Oracle Arena. The Raptors defeated the Warriors 123-109 to lead the series 2-1.
(Kyle Terada, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
8 / 9
Kawhi Leonard is reuniting with the Raptors. Relive their title run
Toronto Raptors forward Kawhi Leonard (2) dunks for a basket past Phildelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) in game one of the second round of the 2019 NBA Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena.
(Dan Hamilton, USA TODAY Sports)
9 / 9
Kawhi Leonard is reuniting with the Raptors. Relive their title run
Toronto Raptors forward Kawhi Leonard (2) answers questions during media day at Scotiabank Arena in Tornto, Ontario, Canada on Sept. 24, 2018.
(Dan Hamilton, USA TODAY Sports)
Nikola Jokic (32) — Player option, $62.8 million (Denver Nuggets)
Giannis Antetokounmpo (33) — Player option, $62,786,682 (Miami Heat)
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Anthony Davis (34) — Player option, $62.8 million (Washington Wizards)
Stephen Curry (39) — unrestricted
Kawhi Leonard (36) — Unrestricted
Kevin Durant (39) — Player option, $46 million (Houston Rockets)
Kyrie Irving (35) — Player option, $42.4 million (Dallas Mavericks)
Karl-Anthony Towns (32) — Player option, $61 million (New York Knicks)
Jimmy Butler (38) — Unrestricted
Brandon Ingram (30) — Player option, $41.9 million (:Los Angeles Clippers)
Cooper Flagg (20) — Team option*, $15.2 million (Mavericks)
Jalen Green (25) — Player option, $36 million (Phoenix Suns)
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Julius Randle (33) — Player option, $35.8 million (Brooklyn Nets)
Rudy Gobert (35) — Player option, $38 million (Minnesota Timberwolves)
Dylan Harper (21) – Team option*, $14 million (San Antonio Spurs)
Paul George (37) — Player option, $56.6 million (Boston Celtics)
Zach LaVine (32) — Unrestricted
Michael Porter Jr. (29) – Restricted
Jrue Holiday (37) — Player option, $37.2 million (Portland Trail Blazers)
Tyler Herro (27) – Unrestricted
Jerami Grant (33) — Player option, $36.4 million (Memphis Grizzlies)
Josh Hart (32) — Team option, $22.4 million (Knicks)
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Isaiah Stewart (26) — Team option, $15 million (Detroit Pistons)
Kristaps Porzingis (32) — $20 million (Golden State Warriors)
* Player currently on rookie scale contract
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Nikola Jokic, Giannis Antetokounmpo top NBA free agent class for 2027
