Through the early days of the 2024-25 regular season, NBA franchises are getting a feel for where they stand in the pecking order. The Cleveland Cavaliers and Oklahoma City Thunder are dominant, and the Utah Jazz are already bottoming out.

As teams identify their weaknesses and adjust to (already mounting) injuries, where can they turn until trade season starts around December 15? What free agents can help?

Outside of hoping for a young G League prospect to take a massive leap, the list of quality, experienced veterans is short. After asking various NBA sources for input, the following are the top five available free agents who could help every team right now.

No. 5: Bismack Biyombo

Position: Center/power forward
Age: 32
2023-24 stats: 40 games, averaging 19.8 minutes, 4.4 points and 5.2 rebounds (Memphis Grizzlies, Oklahoma City Thunder)

A player who can help any and every team needs to be a positive locker-room presence. Biyombo has an excellent reputation, whether starting or serving primarily as a practice player outside of the rotation.

He's a little undersized for a big man (6'8"), but he's strong (255 lbs.), mobile and plays hard. He'll set screens, rebound and fight defensively. Biyombo has never been exceptionally skilled offensively, but players who can impact the game without the ball are much easier to plug into any team.

No. 4: Justin Holiday

Position: Shooting guard/small forward
Age: 35
2023-24 stats: 58 games, 14.9 minutes, 4.0 points, 40.4 percent from three (Denver Nuggets)

Holiday, 6'6", was a regular reserve for the Nuggets last season, shooting very well from deep (on relatively low volume). He can fit with most franchises as a reserve three-and-D wing. While he may not be a high-impact player at this point of his career, Holiday can fill necessary minutes, especially for teams with injury issues.

Perhaps one of his brothers (Jrue Holiday on the Boston Celtics or Aaron Holiday on the Houston Rockets) can pull some strings...

No. 3: Robert Covington

Position: Forward
Age: 34 on December 14
2023-24 stats: 29 games, 16.8 minutes, 4.4 points, 33.9 percent from three (LA Clippers, Philadelphia 76ers)

The Clippers sent Covington to the 76ers early last season as part of the James Harden trade, and the Sixers didn't prioritize the forward. One season earlier, Covington was a 39.7 percent three-point shooter in Los Angeles (2.8 attempts per game).

Covington has always excelled on the defensive side of the ball. Although he's just 6'7", he filled in as a small-ball center for the Clippers. He probably doesn't have the mobility at this stage to check a quick point guard, but he can defend four positions—less so for true bigs like Nikola Jokić or Joel Embiid.

He's an intelligent player who doesn't need the ball to impact games and can fit into a reserve role on almost any team.

No. 2: Markelle Fultz

Position: Point guard
Age: 26
2023-24 stats: 43 games, 21.2 minutes, 7.8 points, 2.8 assists, 22.2 percent from three (Orlando Magic)

Fultz is the oddest name on the list, because he's more challenging to fit onto "every team." Most already have ball-handling guards, and few could easily integrate a non-shooter at the position.

Still, Fultz was the No. 1 overall pick in 2017. He has good size (6'4") and was averaging 14 points and 5.7 assists for the Magic as a starter two seasons ago. Fultz improved as a defender, is a constant downhill threat with the ball and is probably the best overall talent in the free-agent pool (at a position with the fewest available NBA-caliber names).

He may be the best choice for teams that need ball-handling and can find a way to offset Fultz's missing outside shot.

No. 1: Lonnie Walker IV

Position: Shooting guard/small forward
Age: 26 on December 14 (not a typo, same birthday as Covington)
2023-24 stats: 58 games, 17.4 minutes, 9.7 points, 38.4 percent from three (Brooklyn Nets)

Walker, the No. 18 pick in 2018, all but single-handedly helped the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Golden State Warriors in the 2023 playoffs. Still, L.A. chose to go in a different direction, and Walker gave the Nets a productive year. He's consistently found himself in odd situations, like his productive preseason with the Boston Celtics, which was cut short because of economics (the Celtics have a massive payroll, choosing to stick with the minimum of 14 regular-rostered players).

Instead of waiting around, Walker signed overseas, but he has an NBA buyout clause.

It's slightly perplexing why Walker has yet to fully click as a regular NBA player. He's a gifted scorer, but he may not do enough else as a playmaker or defender. Still, Walker could come off the bench for any team and give its second unit a scoring punch.

Teams still have time to bring him back to the league before his deal overseas locks in for the year.

Email Eric Pincus at eric.pincus@gmail.com and follow him on X/Twitter @EricPincus.