As soon as the FA market opened, the biggest name disappeared... 'Byun Jun-hyung stays for 800 million won' — who are the remaining mid-tier cards?

*This content was translated by AI.

The biggest name in the men's professional basketball free agent (FA) market has quickly vanished. However, the market is not yet completely over. From now on, each team is expected to begin a game of wits to sign mid-tier players.

Anyang Jung-gwanjang officially announced on the 20th that it has re-signed Byun Jun-hyung (30) under a three-year contract with a total salary of 800 million won. Byun Jun-hyung was considered the biggest name of this FA market. Drafted second overall by KGC Ginseng Corporation (now Jung-gwanjang) in the 2018 rookie draft, Byun Jun-hyung won the Rookie of the Year award in his debut season and contributed to the team's second-place finish in the regular season with averages of 10.4 points, 4.0 assists, and 2.9 rebounds in 37 games during the 2025-2026 season.

Had Byun Jun-hyung entered the market, he would have been a top-tier guard resource attracting interest from many teams. However, just three days after the FA market opened on the 18th, Byun Jun-hyung re-signed with his original team, Jung-gwanjang. Jung-gwanjang explained, "As our key guard and the biggest FA target, the club moved quickly to secure Byun Jun-hyung. We considered both the expectation of his future performance based on his skills and his popularity as a star player with a solid fan base."

However, with the destination of the biggest name now decided, the biggest variable in the FA market has also quickly disappeared. The FA market is now shifting from "major transfers" to "substantial reinforcements."

Nevertheless, there are still resources left. While Changwon LG has chosen to re-sign Jeong In-deok, Park Jun-young (30, Suwon KT), Oh Se-geun (39, Seoul SK), and Jung Hyo-geun (33, Wonju DB), who are on the FA list, will engage in autonomous negotiations with 10 teams, including their original clubs, until the 1st of next month.

One of the most eye-catching players is Park Jun-young. A first overall pick in the 2018 rookie draft, he is a forward who can play both inside and outside. Although he faced struggles early in his professional career, he has recently established himself as a starter for KT and is gradually showcasing his value. Park Jun-young played in 45 regular-season games during the 2024-2025 season, averaging 8.2 points. In the 2025-2026 season, he recorded averages of 7.3 points, 3.6 rebounds, and a 33.7% three-point shooting percentage in 51 regular-season games. He is relatively young and stands at 195cm, making him an attractive option for teams needing a tall forward.

Additionally, "veteran big man" Oh Se-geun is a card that can be expected to strengthen the team's roster. While not possessing the same destructive power as in his prime, he still exerts influence in the paint with his experienced game management and good physical abilities. He recorded averages of 4.5 points and 2.2 rebounds in 42 regular-season games during the 2025-2026 season. Furthermore, as a senior player, his experience and leadership in guiding younger teammates are plus factors. In particular, under KBL regulations, FA players aged 35 and older are exempt from compensation rules regardless of salary. For teams in urgent need of height, he is certainly an attractive option.

In addition to Oh Se-geun, veterans such as Bae Byeong-jun (36) and Heo Il-young (41, both from Changwon LG), who continue to demonstrate league-level skills, can also be good cards.

Tall forward Jung Hyo-geun is also worth watching. Standing at 202cm, he possesses multi-position ability to play both inside and outside. He recorded averages of 9.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 2.2 assists in 38 regular-season games during the 2025-2026 season. His three-point shooting percentage was 32.5%.

In the end, the nature of this FA market has become clear. The battle over "who will sign Byun Jun-hyung" has long been settled. Now, the focus is on which team will achieve roster reinforcement through substantial acquisitions.

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*This content was translated by AI.