The 2025-26 season is three weeks old and free agency remains months away, but early performance can highlight players headed for meaningful summers. Below are 12 contract-year standouts, selected with two rules: players who have previously been All-Stars or All-NBA are excluded, and those with team options that teams are unlikely to decline were not considered. Here’s what each player has shown and how their contract futures shape up.
STARTERS
Austin Reaves | Los Angeles Lakers
2025-26: 31.1 PPG (48.9 FG%), 9.3 APG, 37.8 MPG
Contract: 2026 player option ($14.9M)
Reaves has markedly increased his scoring and playmaking, stepping up while LeBron and Luka have missed time. He sits among the league scoring leaders and produced a 50-point game as an undrafted player. In games without Luka he’s averaged 10 assists, including a 16-assist outing. Salary-cap rules limit what the Lakers can offer if they extend before free agency, so Reaves will likely decline his option and test unrestricted free agency, where he could reach a five-year maximum with the Lakers or a four-year big deal with teams that have cap space.
Norman Powell | Miami Heat
2025-26: 23.3 PPG (46.7 FG%), 4.6 RPG, 29.9 MPG
Contract: 2026 unrestricted free agent
Powell has been a high-volume scorer when healthy, shooting efficiently and producing at an All-Star level through stretches last season and early this year. He’s eligible for a multi-year extension with Miami starting Jan. 7 but will become an unrestricted free agent if no deal is reached. The Heat hold his Bird rights and project to have flexibility to re-sign him.
Quentin Grimes | Philadelphia 76ers
2025-26: 17.2 PPG (47.0 FG%), 4.4 APG, 31.0 MPG
Contract: 2026 unrestricted free agent
Acquired at the 2025 trade deadline, Grimes carried over the scoring and minutes into Philadelphia, thriving in a role with freedom under Nick Nurse. He signed a one-year qualifying offer last summer and will be a free agent next offseason; the 76ers hold his Bird rights and can exceed the cap to re-sign him.
Rui Hachimura | Los Angeles Lakers
2025-26: 15.8 PPG (56.7 FG%), 3.7 RPG, 34.6 MPG
Contract: 2026 unrestricted free agent
Hachimura has been a rock for the Lakers, starting every game and posting career-best minutes, scoring and shooting percentages. His perimeter defense has been especially valuable, limiting opposing 3-point threats. He’s eligible to sign a four-year extension through June 30 and is a clear fit on a title-aspirant roster.
Jalen Duren | Detroit Pistons
2025-26: 19.4 PPG (65.1 FG%), 11.8 RPG, 27.9 MPG
Contract: 2026 restricted free agent
Duren declined a rookie extension this season and is on pace for another double-double campaign. He’s dramatically improved his free throw shooting and attempts, boosting his overall efficiency. As a restricted free agent, Detroit can match any offer he receives.
RESERVES
Collin Sexton | Charlotte Hornets
2025-26: 16.1 PPG (51.2 FG%), 5.2 APG, 26.4 MPG
Contract: 2026 unrestricted free agent
Sexton’s transition to Charlotte has been seamless, with career highs in field goal and 3-point percentage and a jump in assists. He’s eligible for a multi-year extension (three years now, four years after Dec. 29) and can also hit free agency next summer.
Cam Thomas | Brooklyn Nets
2025-26: 21.4 PPG (40.2 FG%), 2.6 APG, 28.3 MPG
Contract: 2026 unrestricted free agent
Despite an early hamstring setback and a history of missed time, Thomas’ scoring in limited games has been impressive, including multiple 25-plus point nights. He turned down earlier multi-year offers to sign a one-year qualifying offer and is betting on himself to reach unrestricted free agency.
Kelly Oubre Jr. | Philadelphia 76ers
2025-26: 18.6 PPG (51.1 FG%), 5.3 RPG, 37.2 MPG
Contract: 2026 unrestricted free agent
Oubre’s resurgence in Philadelphia follows a period where veteran-minimum opportunities helped him reshape his game. He’s posting a career-best field goal percentage and improved 3-point shooting while providing physical defense. He will be unrestricted in June.
Simone Fontecchio | Miami Heat
2025-26: 11.2 PPG (50.0 FG%), 2.3 RPG, 19.6 MPG
Contract: 2026 unrestricted free agent
A summer acquisition for Miami, Fontecchio already shoots a career-high from distance and has unexpectedly strong defensive results when the opponent is his matchup. Signed to a two-year deal in 2024, he’s not extension-eligible this season.
Josh Okogie | Houston Rockets
2025-26: 8.6 PPG (50.0 FG%), 1.3 SPG, 22.6 MPG
Contract: 2026 unrestricted free agent
Okogie arrived on a veteran minimum and has emerged into a starter after injuries to Houston’s backcourt. He’s producing career-high percentages and the Rockets have improved since he joined the starting lineup. Defensively, he ranks well in on-ball metrics since last season.
Harrison Barnes | San Antonio Spurs
2025-26: 12.4 PPG (55.2 FG%), 2.8 RPG, 30.5 MPG
Contract: 2026 unrestricted free agent
After a slow start, Barnes has heated up, shooting extremely well over recent games and projecting to sustain efficient scoring across the season. He’s eligible for up to a four-year extension with San Antonio.
Deandre Ayton | Los Angeles Lakers
2025-26: 16.8 PPG (67.3 FG%), 8.0 RPG, 30.2 MPG
Contract: 2026 player option ($8.1M)
Ayton agreed to a buyout this offseason and signed a two-year deal with the Lakers at a reduced salary. With Los Angeles he’s rediscovered high-efficiency scoring, especially as a screener; he currently leads the league in on-ball screens and the Lakers generate strong offense from his direct picks. If the season continues well, Ayton could decline his option to pursue a bigger deal.
Conclusion
These 12 players have elevated value in contract years through increased production, role changes or defensive impact. Some are positioned for extensions with their current teams, others will enter open market bidding, and a few will be restricted decisions for their clubs. Early-season performance is a small sample, but it has already clarified which players could see major contract activity next summer.
