NBA Swing: The Five Best Remaining Free Agents

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As July nears its end, the NBA is deep into the 2025 offseason. With free agency having started nearly a month ago, almost every notable free agent has signed to a new team or re-signed with their previous team. There are still a surprising number of notable free agents, with many restricted free agents stuck dealing with the impact on the CBA on teams.

Josh Giddey

A restricted free agent, Chicago Bulls guard Josh Giddey is in a stalemate with the Chicago Bulls. Following his trade to the Chicago Bulls from the Oklahoma City Thunder, the two sides could not come to an agreement on an extension ahead of the 2024-25 season. In 70 games with the Bulls, Giddey would average 14.6 PPG, 8.1 RPG, and 7.2 APG on shooting splits of 46% from the field and a career-high 37% from three. Numerous outlets would report significant differences between the two sides.

Sports Illustrated would report Giddey and the Bulls met during the NBA Summer League, with Giddey wanting closer to $30 million per year and the Bulls offering a contract in the $20 million per year range. There are questions about whether Giddey has the potential to be a starting guard on a team with contention hopes, but the Bulls are in a place where many aren’t sure what direction the team is going in. With very few teams having enough open cap to offer Giddey what he wants, his only options are accepting the offer with the Bulls or accepting the $11.4 million qualifying offer for one season before becoming a free agent in the summer of 2026.

Russell Westbrook

After having a few rough seasons across both Los Angeles teams, Russell Westbrook had a productive season with the Denver Nuggets. In his 17th season, Westbrook would average 13.3 PPG, 6.1 APG, and 4.9 APG across 75 games. He would start over 30 games with the team. Westbrook would be a reliable veteran off for the team coming off the bench but would be a controversial figure on the team towards the end of the season. Westbrook would decline his $3.4 million player option as he heads into his 18th season.

Early reports in the summer would say Westbrook was being eyed by the Euroleague, with Hapoel Tel Aviv wanting to make an offer never seen in the Euroleague before. Westbrook has been linked to several teams across the NBA, including the guard-heavy Sacramento Kings and the New York Knicks. With the former MVP nearing the end of his career, Westbrook could provide a strong veteran presence that several contenders were missing last season.

Quentin Grimes

After spending the first half of the season with the Dallas Mavericks as a role player, Quentin Grimes would show signs of star potential with the Philadelphia 76ers. With the Sixers dealing with numerous injuries and players being out, Grimes would take advantage, averaging 21.9 PPG, 5.2 RPG, and 4.5 APG across 28 games with the team. While reports have noted the two sides are close to coming to terms on a new deal, no deal has been confirmed. With the Sixers having a cap-heavy roster dominated by the salaries of Joel Embiid, Paul George, and Tyrese Maxey, there are obstacles to re-signing Grimes.

In an interview on the PHLY Sixers podcast, Philadelphia 76ers General Manager would mention the difficulty of coming to a new deal with Grimes due to the CBA:

“I think [we’ll] continue to have discussions with his representation. I do think the structure of the rules makes it challenging for all sides. I think that’s pretty evident when you look around the league; everyone is sort of in the same boat. We’ll hopefully continue to work on it. I don’t have much of an update besides that.”

With a guard-heavy roster, Grimes’ future in Philadelphia remains in question.

Jonathan Kuminga

A young forward entering his fifth season, Jonathan Kuminga has not had much luck during his run with the Golden State Warriors. In his fourth season, Kuminga would average 15.3 PPG, 4.6 RPG, and 2.2 APG across 47 games. Kuminga would receive numerous DNPs from head coach Steve Kerr, with it being clear that Kuminga is not a part of the Warriors’ future plans. He would receive some extended play time in the playoffs with the injury to Stephen Curry, but it was not enough to change the Warriors’ perception of Kuminga.

Like Josh Giddey, Kuminga would be a restricted free agent with very few teams being linked to the fourth-year forward. Rumors suggest Kuminga could have been a player of interest for the Chicago Bulls through a potential sign-and-trade, but Josh Giddey’s free agency is something that may have put that on hold if the Bulls are truly interested in him. The latest reports from NBC Sports Bay Area note Kuminga is not accepting the Warriors’ offers and is not in a rush to sign a new deal.

Cam Thomas

Another fourth-year player entering his fifth season, Cam Thomas has had ups and downs during his time in Brooklyn. Last season, Thomas would only play 25 games, dealing with numerous injuries. In those 25 games, Thomas would average career-highs with 24.0 PPG, 3.8 APG, and 3.3 RPG. He would see slight improvements across the board despite his limited time on the court. A restricted free agent, both sides would be happy with a new deal, but neither side is in a hurry to ink a new deal.

With the Nets extending a qualifying offer to Thomas, he is in the same boat as several other restricted free agents this summer. The Nets only have $24 million available in cap space following the trade of Cameron Johnson to the Denver Nuggets for Michael Porter Jr. NBA Insider Jake Fischer would report that there is currently “no market” for Thomas, ultimately leaving him with very few options. He could try to find the best deal available with a team willing to chance on him, or he could bet on himself and take Brooklyn’s $5.99 million qualifying offer to become an unrestricted free agent next summer.