The free agency period this year has seen some interesting moves. Several teams acquired both talented young players and experienced veterans to improve their rosters with the intention of becoming more competitive in the upcoming season. However, it is natural that not every free agent found a team to play for.
With the influence of the current CBA, teams have been hesitant to offer sizable, multi-year contracts to free agents, both restricted and unrestricted. This has resulted in talented players being unsigned.
With training camp right around the corner, the future of these players appears to be uncertain. But considering that they would undoubtedly have an impact on the team they join, we examine the six best free agents who are still available in the market.
Jonathan Kuminga
Golden State Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga has been among the most widely discussed free agents this year. As a restricted free agent, the avenues for Kuminga to explore other teams have been quite limited.
While several teams, including the Sacramento Kings and the Phoenix Suns, have been inclined to pursue the 22-year-old, the outlook hasn’t been positive.
Given his physical tools, impressive athletic ability, and unique offensive skill set, Kuminga has positioned himself to become a star in the future. Although his average of 15.3 points and 4.6 rebounds per game last season may not reflect this, the forward is capable of increasing his productivity if provided with a significant role.
Kuminga’s prospects have been limited by the Warriors, primarily because of their intentions to retain him. Although this would be a positive sign, the primary conflict has been with regard to negotiating a contract.
At the current juncture, Golden State has extended a two-year deal in the range of $40 million. While this is significantly lower than what the forward believes he is worth, it is also important to note that the Warriors included a team option in the last year of his contract. This has been a major point of contention, as the 22-year-old remains adamant in his demands for a player-option.
While the Kings remain hopeful that they can eventually complete a trade for Kuminga, the forward is closer to returning to the Warriors next season by accepting the one-year, $8 million qualifying offer instead.
Josh Giddey
Like Kuminga, Josh Giddey has found himself in a similar situation with the Chicago Bulls. Although the trade interest in Giddey hasn’t been as noteworthy, the Australian guard hasn’t been able to finalize a new deal.
The major issue involving Giddey has been his demands. While the Bulls have expressed their desire to re-sign him on a multi-year deal worth approximately $20 million annually, the guard hasn’t viewed this as a fair appraisal of his value.
Giddey has expressed his demands for a contract similar to the ones received by Immanuel Quickley and Jalen Suggs. This would value him at roughly $30 million annually, something that doesn’t align with Chicago’s plans.
The 22-year-old has proven himself to be an extremely competent player. Last season, he recorded an average of 14.6 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 7.2 assists per game. When additionally considering his shooting splits of 46.5% from the field, 37.8% from three-point range, and 78.1% from the charity stripe, Giddey has all the tools to develop into a capable offensive threat.
His positional flexibility and offensive versatility would make him a crucial building block for the Bulls’ core next to Matas Buzelis and Coby White. Given the value of such a player, Chicago would be wise to invest in him now.
Cam Thomas
Among the restricted free agents this season, Cam Thomas has probably been in the most unfavorable of situations. With the Brooklyn Nets, Thomas positioned himself as an elite scoring threat. Despite such a reputation, the Nets guard has seen very sporadic trade interest thus far.
Last season, the 23-year-old recorded an impressive average of 24.0 points to go with 3.3 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game. His shooting splits of 43.8% from the field, 34.9% from three-point range, and 88.1% from the free-throw line were also promising in this regard.
Given his ability to score, Thomas could be a valuable asset for several teams, especially as a primary offensive option off the bench. Unfortunately, the guard hasn’t garnered favorable offers, especially considering the Nets’ reported offer of a two-year, $28 million deal.
While the guard considers himself to be on par with players such as Jalen Green and Tyler Herro, no team has shown the inclination to place such a value on him. This has limited his prospects for the upcoming season, potentially forcing him to accept the Nets’ qualifying offer to return to the team and test free agency next summer.
Quentin Grimes
Another key restricted free agent this summer has been Quentin Grimes. Although the Philadelphia 76ers guard has garnered some interest in trade talks, no deal has materialized, primarily due to ongoing contract discussions.
At the current juncture, the 76ers have seemed invested in re-signing Grimes. Given his performance with the team last season, Grimes displayed reliable scoring and playmaking skills, making him a solid asset to have in the rotation.
In 28 games for Philadelphia, Grimes started in 25, as injuries hobbled the 76ers’ rotation. In this time, the 25-year-old notched an impressive average of 21.9 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game.
Given the depth of Philadelphia’s guard rotation, retaining a player like Grimes would only serve to improve their bench strength. But considering how the team has been struck by injuries before, having a solid shooter and playmaker would be in their best interests.
There hasn’t been much of an update on Grimes’ contract situation with the Sixers, but he is expected to sign with them ahead of training camp.
Ben Simmons
Ben Simmons didn’t garner much interest from teams during the early days of free agency. But now, with training camp on the horizon, he has seen a significant uptick in interest from teams across the league.
Simmons has been viewed as a valuable addition to a roster, primarily as a bench contributor on defense and playmaking. Given his limited capacity as a scoring threat, the three-time All-Star has rebranded himself as a defensive force, utilizing his athleticism and length to switch between multiple defensive assignments.
Last season, the 29-year-old played for the Nets before joining the Los Angeles Clippers. In 18 games for the team, coming off the bench, he posted an average of 2.9 points, 3.8 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 0.7 steals per game in 16.4 minutes played.
Simmons’ ability to push the tempo in transition and lock down on defense has been considered valuable by teams such as the New York Knicks, Sacramento Kings, Phoenix Suns, and the Boston Celtics.
While it seemed likely that he would be joining the Celtics, given his demands for a contract greater than the veteran’s minimum, he may find himself going unsigned heading into training camp.
Russell Westbrook
Another intriguing free agent heading into training camp is Russell Westbrook. Given his reputation as an impact player, it is rather odd to see the nine-time All-Star go unsigned.
Last season, Westbrook was a key rotation player for the Denver Nuggets. As a valuable contributor off the bench, the guard notched a solid average of 13.3 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 6.1 assists per game. His shooting splits of 44.9% from the field, 32.3% from three-point range, and 66.1% from the free throw line also instilled some hope in his ability to impact winning.
The 36-year-old could have stayed on with the Nuggets. Instead, he chose to decline his player-option and test free agency, resulting in his current predicament.
But Westbrook has garnered interest from teams looking for a playmaker in their rotation. While the guard was interested in the Milwaukee Bucks and the Phoenix Suns, the Sacramento Kings emerged as potential suitors and a likely landing spot.
The Kings haven’t finalized the move, primarily due to their ongoing trade efforts. But considering the reports of Westbrook’s desire for a contract greater than the vet minimum, he may find himself in a similar situation to Simmons.
What Does The Future Hold For These Players?
Players such as Kuminga, Grimes, and Giddey are likely to find themselves returning to their former teams ahead of training camp. Given their importance in the rotation, the respective organizations are unlikely to part ways with them. Meanwhile, Thomas may be forced to accept the qualifying offer due to the limited interest from other teams.
As positive as the outlook is for the RFAs, the UFAs mentioned here face far more uncertainty. As training camp looms, both Westbrook and Simmons may have to make crucial decisions if they intend to secure a roster spot for the 2025-26 season.
