A month after the opening of free agency, important names are still on the market
This week marks the first month of NBA free agency. Most of the most sought-after names have already resolved their situations over the past month. Between renewals, such as those of Kyrie Irving and James Harden, and new destinations, such as Nickeil Alexander Walker with the Atlanta Hawks and Myles Turner with the Milwaukee Bucks, there are few options left on the market.
However, some top-tier players are still negotiating their new contracts. The most notable are restricted free agents, who are unlikely to change teams but find themselves in unexpected situations. We’ll detail them later.
Now, with training camps scheduled for September, August is crucial for these names to finally sign their contracts and show up for the new season.
The Playoffs has selected the seven best free agents still available in the NBA. Check it out!
Josh Giddey left the Oklahoma City Thunder on a low note after being removed from the rotation during the 2024 playoffs. He also saw his former teammates lift the Larry O’Brien Trophy at the end of last June. However, he managed to turn things around with the Chicago Bulls and finished the season on a high note.
After asking to leave his former team when he found out he would no longer be a starter, the Australian rediscovered his best basketball and had career-best averages in assists (7.2), rebounds (8.1), steals (1.2) and perimeter shooting (37.8%). His performance was even better after the All-Star break, when he averaged close to a triple-double with 21.2 points per game, as well as 45.7% on three-pointers, one of the biggest weaknesses in his game up until then.
Despite his positive track record, Giddey finds himself in an uncomfortable situation, shared by three other restricted free agents. His rights are tied up with the Bulls, so the franchise can match any offer made for him. Furthermore, no team has enough cap space to make a fair offer for his services. The tendency, therefore, is for the point guard to remain in Chicago. But given the clear disadvantage in the negotiation, he could end up leaving some valuable dollars on the table.
Quentin Grimes’ situation is very similar to Giddey’s. The point guard enjoyed the best days of his career with the Philadelphia 76ers, and the franchise stands to gain from a contract extension, given he’s a key player in the rotation.
However, in market terms, the player also has no bargaining power in the negotiation. In a survey recently published by The Athletic, several executives around the NBA believe that a fair value for both parties in a new contract would be close to the mid-level exception (approximately $14.5 million).
However, it remains to be seen whether the figures please the point guard and whether the parties can agree on the length of the contract. Grimes was the Sixers’ biggest surprise last season, averaging 21.9 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 4.5 assists since arriving from the Dallas Mavericks during the trade deadline.
Theoretically, Jonathan Kuminga ‘s situation is similar to that of the players mentioned above. In practice, however, it’s even more complicated. Neither the player nor the Golden State Warriors seem interested in a reunion, and the two are willing to go their separate ways.
But the Warriors don’t want to lose Kuminga, the seventh pick in the 2021 Draft, for free. And that’s where the obstacles begin. The current collective bargaining agreement (CBA), a collective agreement signed by the league and the players defining contractual guidelines, hinders a potential sign-and-trade due to salary cap rules.
The winger has already rejected two contract offers from Golden State, which in turn was unhappy with the packages offered by the Sacramento Kings and Phoenix Suns. If the two sides fail to reach an agreement, the Congolese international can activate the qualifying offer. This would mean he would receive $7.9 million next season, non-tradable, and would become an unrestricted free agent in the 2026 offseason.
Rounding out the quartet of restricted free agents, Cam Thomas is also part of a case where the player and the franchise seem far from agreeing on the true value of his services. The point guard has already turned down an offer from the Brooklyn Nets of around $14 million annually, and negotiations are ongoing.
However, the team doesn’t appear willing to raise the amount significantly. And if Thomas also doesn’t accept a lower amount, accepting the qualifying offer could also be an option. However, in this case, he would only have a salary of $6 million, significantly less than what he could receive from the Nets themselves.
During the last season, the youngster entered the court in only 25 opportunities, but averaged 24 points, 3.3 rebounds and 3.8 assists.
Don’t be fooled by Al Horford’s advanced age. Having just turned 39, the Dominican native is no LeBron James, but he remains a reliable center. His recent performance with the Boston Celtics, in fact, establishes him as perhaps the best center still available on the market.
His averages of nine points, 6.2 rebounds, and 2.1 assists last season are relatively modest. However, they don’t even begin to illustrate the veteran’s contribution on the court. An excellent defender, Horford continues to perform very well in rim protection and even on the perimeter against more agile and skilled players.
He continues to attract strong interest from the Golden State Warriors, who, incidentally, had been expecting the center to sign a contract in recent weeks. However, retirement also remains an option.
After tortuous years in California, playing for the rivals Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers, Russell Westbrook seemed to have found a new home in Colorado. Throughout the season, the point guard was the star of the Denver Nuggets’ bench, playing a key role in the team’s success and forming a strong partnership with Nikola Jokic.
Towards the end of the season, however, things began to deteriorate. First, he was one of the driving forces behind the firings of coach Michael Malone and general manager Calvin Booth, who disagreed with the veteran’s minutes. Then, his excellent performance in the first round of the playoffs, against the Clippers, helped allay those doubts.
These same suspicions, however, multiplied in the following round, against another of Westbrook’s former teams, the Oklahoma City Thunder. The player again struggled with his three-point shooting, shooting a paltry 21.9% over the seven games. He ultimately declined the player option he was entitled to at the end of the campaign and ended his tenure.
Despite the bitter final stretch, the 2017 league MVP could still be a valuable prospect for teams looking for a point guard off the bench. Furthermore, his recent contracts have been increasingly modest financially. The Sacramento Kings, among other teams, are interested in the player.
One of the NBA’s most determined players in recent years, Gary Payton II has the profile to fit into any roster. A superb perimeter defender, he shot 40.7% from the dead zone last season for Golden State. He’s also expected to be available on a team-friendly contract.
The point guard’s only issue tends to be fitness, as he’s missed 58 games in the last two campaigns combined. Four teams are currently competing for his signature, including the Los Angeles Lakers and the Warriors themselves.
Speaking of physical issues, we come to the last veteran point guard on the list. Malcolm Brogdon is an excellent passer, creates excellent three-point shots for himself and his teammates, and is a true floor general. The big problem? He’s only capable of all of this when he’s physically fit.
And in the last two seasons, with the Portland Trail Blazers and Washington Wizards, he was far from his best in this regard. He played in just 63 of a possible 164 games. Despite this, he’s a cerebral point guard with extensive NBA experience , a profile valued by virtually every team in the league.
Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images
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