As the 2025-26 NBA season approaches, most teams are in the final stages of completing their rosters. However, several prominent free agents remain unsigned. Some are locked in complex contract negotiations, while others face uncertainty about where they will play once the season tips off.
Jonathan Kuminga, Josh Giddey, and Russell Westbrook are among the notable names still looking to finalize their professional futures.
Our NBA insiders provide an in-depth analysis of the seven most impactful players still in free agency, examining their current negotiation standings and how the league`s limited cap space is influencing their situations.
Russell Westbrook
It appears Russell Westbrook is set to join his sixth NBA franchise in seven seasons, following his long tenure with the Oklahoma City Thunder. A return to the Denver Nuggets is not on the cards after a tumultuous season where he finished seventh in the Sixth Man of the Year voting. Despite being the all-time leader in triple-doubles, Westbrook will not follow the path of other future Hall of Fame point guards, like Damian Lillard and Chris Paul, returning to a former team for a storybook ending. While the Thunder will undoubtedly retire his No. 0 jersey, the reigning champions have neither the roster space nor the desire to disrupt the chemistry that led to their title run.
League sources indicate the Sacramento Kings are the most probable destination for Westbrook, who will turn 37 early in the upcoming season. If he signs with the Kings, Westbrook would likely once again come off the bench, sharing ball-handling duties with recently acquired free agent Dennis Schroder.
Jonathan Kuminga
Sources reveal that Jonathan Kuminga`s contract situation has seen no significant developments over the past two weeks. Kuminga recently visited his home country, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and has since returned to Miami for offseason workouts, maintaining his stance on the Golden State Warriors` two-year, $45 million offer.
The Warriors initially presented this deal to Kuminga`s representatives as a potentially tradeable contract, aiming to satisfy both parties` long-term interests once he becomes eligible for trade again in January. This is why Golden State included a team option for the second season and requested Kuminga waive his inherent no-trade clause.
However, Kuminga has consistently rejected this proposal. Sources confirm he is unwilling to accept such a team-friendly deal, and the prospect of making himself more easily tradable mid-season is unappealing. This summer, Kuminga`s primary goal was to secure a contract that would demonstrate a long-term commitment to him as a foundational piece, whether with the Warriors or another team. His representatives counter-offered a three-year, $82 million deal, which the Warriors declined. As of this past weekend, no progress towards a compromise had been made.
Therefore, the situation remains unchanged from ten days prior. The Warriors have not increased their offer, and Kuminga has indicated to those close to him that accepting the $7.9 million qualifying offer is more attractive than Golden State`s current proposition. A resolution must be found before the October 1 deadline.
Ben Simmons
Ben Simmons finds himself in a tight spot regarding his future.
He is among nearly 75 players who concluded the regular season on an NBA roster but are currently without a team for the upcoming season.
The main reason for this predicament?
It largely stems from the 41 players drafted who signed first- and second-round contracts, effectively displacing veterans like Simmons from rosters for the next season.
Furthermore, most teams, with the exception of Golden State, have already finalized their rosters or are unable to sign additional players due to salary cap restrictions (the apron). For example, the Lakers have an open roster spot but are prohibited from signing a player until January 18.
Out of the 442 players currently under contract for next season, 393 have guaranteed contracts, averaging 13.1 guaranteed deals per team.
Al Horford
Industry observers continue to anticipate Al Horford will ultimately sign with the Warriors once the free agency landscape settles. The ongoing situation with Jonathan Kuminga, however, continues to delay Golden State`s other dealings, leaving Horford in a state of anticipation.
Despite the wait, Horford is comfortable. Sources indicate that retirement remains an option, though the Warriors appear to be proceeding with the assumption that he is a definite part of their plans for the next season.
Horford would likely step in as the presumptive starting center, which would help alleviate the regular-season workload on Draymond Green – a key priority for the team. Horford’s passing and defensive capabilities integrate well with the Warriors’ system, and his ability to shoot from the center position fills a long-standing void for the team.
At 39 years old, Horford has not been playing in both games of back-to-backs. The Warriors understand they cannot rely on him for 25 minutes every night. However, the goal is to have him on the court when it matters most, creating space for various five-man lineups, which would particularly benefit a downhill player like Kuminga.
Cam Thomas
Among the four prominent restricted free agents this summer, Cam Thomas is the most likely to play next season on his qualifying offer.
The 23-year-old scoring guard`s market value has been challenging to determine since he was drafted late in the first round in 2022. He averaged 24 points last season, but the types of offers he is receiving remain unclear, which is also affecting fellow restricted free agents Kuminga, Grimes, and Giddey this summer.
If a deal is struck with Brooklyn, its structure is anticipated to resemble those the Nets previously signed with center Day`Ron Sharpe and forward Ziaire Williams earlier this offseason: one-year agreements with team options for the second year.
Josh Giddey
Contract negotiations between Josh Giddey and the Chicago Bulls have extended over several months, yet both parties are highly likely to reach an agreement before the end of the summer. Giddey remains integral to the team`s long-term strategy, having been acquired from the Thunder for Alex Caruso last summer. After a slow start, Giddey demonstrated his effectiveness as a primary initiator in the second half of the season, averaging 21 points, 10 rebounds, and 9 assists post-All-Star break.
Giddey has been seeking an annual deal in the range of $30 million, a price the team has not yet agreed to. With limited cap space available across the league, particularly for restricted free agents, the Bulls have benefited from their patience in holding out for a more team-friendly contract.
Quentin Grimes
Quentin Grimes finds himself in a similar predicament to Kuminga in Golden State, Giddey in Chicago, and Thomas in Brooklyn. He is a talented player who should be attracting offers, but as a restricted free agent with very few teams possessing available cap space, his negotiation position is challenging.
Furthermore, Grimes would face stiff competition for playing time on the Philadelphia 76ers roster. The team`s two most recent first-round picks – Jared McCain, who was a leading Rookie of the Year candidate last season before his season-ending meniscus surgery, and VJ Edgecombe, this year`s third overall pick – both play the same position. The 76ers are also building their future around another guard, Tyrese Maxey.
Compounding the situation is the uncertainty surrounding the health of Joel Embiid and Paul George. If Grimes accepts the qualifying offer from Philadelphia – rather than the team signing him to a long-term, eight-figure annual contract – the 76ers could begin the season a few million dollars into the luxury tax. This strategy would allow them to potentially dip back under the tax threshold if the season unfolds as it did last year.
