Why these 4 very good NBA players remain unsigned
Players have signed, the dust has settled and teams are headed toward a few quiet weeks of summer vacation. Yet, there are four very solid players — forward Jonathan Kuminga (Warriors) and guards Josh Giddey (Bulls), Cam Thomas (Nets) and Quentin Grimes (76ers) — who are each still without contracts.
Kuminga, Giddey, Thomas and Grimes were ranked seventh, ninth, 11th and 15th, respectively, in USA TODAY Sports' original ranking of Top 25 players available this cycle.
So, why are they still available?
Well, for one, each is a restricted free agent, meaning that their most recent team can match any offer sheet the player would sign with any other franchise. But there are several other market factors impacting their status.
Here's an explainer on why these talented restricted free agents remain unsigned:
What's the difficulty with restricted free agency?
Restricted free agency is a lever that limits a player's self-determination in free agency. In an ideal scenario on the player side, the player can seek his so-called market value in negotiations with other teams — often using potential suitors as leverage plays to get the most recent team to pay up. If a team declines to match the offer sheet, then the player will join the other franchise courting him.
But this was always going to be a tough offseason for players looking to get paid.
In simplest terms, there was not a lot of available cap space, as teams increasingly look to avoid luxury taxes and dipping into the punitive apron triggers. And because teams who were active in the opening days of free agency seemingly wanted to avoid the uncertainty of extending an offer sheet to a player who might not ultimately be available, the market shifted toward unrestricted free agents.
The issue of available salary cap space is magnified even further, now that teams mostly have their rosters set, leaving very little budget for these talented players. That depressed market, therefore, gives the most recent teams a massive advantage in negotiations.
In essence, the teams with the rights to these restricted free agents are negotiating only against themselves, meaning they have increased leverage, and no real urgency to offer massive contracts — at least in the short term.
The player, however, also has the option to accept his team's qualifying offer, thus playing out the final season of his rookie contract. Then, at the conclusion of the 2025-26 season, the player would become an unrestricted free agent. This would give the player the option to take a short-term loss — playing under a contract that is well below market value — to later enter the market unencumbered, just one year later.
Jonathan Kuminga
Still only 22 years old, Kuminga has had an uneven career with the Warriors, since the team selected him seventh overall in the 2021 NBA Draft. Kuminga flashed potential in the 2023-24 season as a versatile wing scorer who could slash and get to the rim, but he ultimately lost his spot in the rotation last season, particularly when Golden State traded for Jimmy Butler. Kuminga averaged 15.3 points per game last season — which was down from 16.1 the year previous — but the decline in his efficiency and shooting percentage (45.4%, down from his career-high 52.9% in 2023-24) is most concerning.
The case for Golden State to re-sign Kuminga: He's an athletic player with tons of potential, and the Warriors will need his youth to maximize what the team has left with Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green each in their mid-30s.
The case against: Although their working relationship appears to be on solid footing, Steve Kerr has, at times, seemingly lacked trust in Kuminga, particularly to close out games. Although Kuminga has flashed potential, he remains somewhat unproven, so justifying a lucrative deal may be challenging.
Josh Giddey
Giddey is approaching triple-double territory for a season. In 2024-25 — his fourth season in the NBA and first with the Bulls — the 6-8 guard averaged 14.6 points, 8.1 rebounds, 7.2 assists and shot 46.5% from the field and 37.8% on 3-pointers. In the final 15 games of the season, Giddey averaged 20.3 points, 10.4 rebounds and 9.7 assists.
The case for Chicago to re-sign Giddey: It's difficult to find that kind of production, and that's why Giddey is seeking a lucrative long-term contract. He's just 22 years old and is the kind of player who can help win games with his scoring, passing and rebounding. The Bulls also gave up Alex Caruso to acquire Giddey.
The case against: Patrick Williams' five-year, $90 million deal stings, and Chicago's hesitancy to give Giddey a big contract stems from the front office's decision on Williams' deal. There are optics involved, and the Bulls' front office needs the appearance of 'winning' a negotiation — or at least not looking like they screwed up.
Cam Thomas
Thomas can score. He averaged 24 points on 43.8% shooting from the field and 34.9% on 3s in 2024-25 — though he played in just 25 games due to a hamstring injury. The season before, he played in 66 games and averaged 22.5 points with similar shooting percentages (44.2%, 36.4%).
The case for Brooklyn to re-sign Thomas: On a rebuilding and mostly young team with a payroll that is manageable, Thomas is a proven scorer, and he could be valuable as a player in a trade at a later date.
The case against: NBA analyst Zach Lowe on his podcast said the consensus on Thomas was that he is an 'empty calories ball hog.' Thomas objected, saying 'This is most likely the same consensus (from) teams who can't guard me and send double teams from jump ball.' Is Thomas a starter who can do more than get buckets on a quality team or a scoring spark off the bench? The answer isn't clear.
Quentin Grimes
Grimes just turned 25 and proved he can be a reliable scorer in the 28 games he played with Philadelphia, after the Sixers acquired him ahead of the February trading deadline. Grimes scored 21.9 points per game with Philly, adding 5.2 rebounds and 4.5 assists. Granted, the 76ers were plagued with injuries and Grimes had an elevated role, but Grimes more than answered the call and is looking to cash in on that performance.
The case for Philadelphia to re-sign Grimes: The 76ers battled injury issues last season, and there's no guarantee that this roster, with Paul George and Joel Embiid potentially still facing lingering issues, won't face similar issues in 2025-26.
The case against: The Sixers have two of the worst contracts in the NBA in Paul George and Joel Embiid, so paying Grimes presents its own challenges. Plus, with Tyrese Maxey, second-year Jared McCain and rookie No. 3 overall selection VJ Edgecombe, the 76ers are already loaded at guard.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NBA restricted free agency: Why are these 4 players still unsigned?
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
2 hours ago
- USA Today
JJ Redick identified two NBA players Bronny James could emulate
Over the last handful of months, there has been a growing hope that Bronny James can eventually become a legitimate rotation player in the NBA. He put up strong numbers during this past G League regular season, and he played very solid basketball during the Las Vegas summer league this month. There is a continuing debate about what type of player James will be if and when he makes it in the NBA. He has been projected as an undersized shooting guard or even a 3-and-D player, and many feel his defense is his strong suit. But the 6-foot-3 20-year-old has also shown the ability to attack in transition and create for himself off the dribble. Los Angeles Lakers coach JJ Redick came up with two possible players whom James could possibly emulate moving forward, according to an ESPN article. "Redick points to the 6-2, 205-pound Davion Mitchell of the Miami Heat or his friend and former teammate, the 6-1, 190-pound T.J. McConnell of the Indiana Pacers, as examples of the type of game changer James can become," wrote Dave McMenamin. Mitchell has become not just a strong defender but also a potent 3-point shooter over the last couple of years. During the 2024-25 season, he averaged 7.9 points and 4.9 assists a game and made 39.8% of his 3-point attempts. Many basketball fans are likely familiar with McConnell after the Pacers' run to Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals. He has been a spark plug off the bench, and there were times in the championship series where he was arguably more impactful than Tyrese Haliburton. McConnell has often been a good 3-point shooter, although he struggled in that department during the 2024-25 regular season. His ability to attack off the dribble and penetrate helped Indiana maintain an up-tempo pace throughout the season until it gave out in the final game of the finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Some are predicting that James will crack the Lakers' rotation this coming season. That would be welcome news, especially given the Lakers' lack of serviceable backcourt depth.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Zach Lowe picks his most intriguing player heading into next season: "He's going to be really, really good, really, really soon"
Zach Lowe picks his most intriguing player heading into next season: "He's going to be really, really good, really, really soon" originally appeared on Basketball Network. Back in his days as an NBA writer, Zach Lowe used to highlight the most intriguing players — no rookies or sophomores allowed — before each season. This segment was recently revived in podcast form. Joined by journalist Howard Beck, both the guest and the host named six players who fit the criteria. Leading Lowe's list was Ausar Thompson, soon entering his third season in the league. Playoff debut against the Knicks Thompson, the Detroit Pistons' fifth overall pick in 2023, got his first real taste of playoff basketball last season — an invaluable experience for any player. Growth only comes from being exposed to high-pressure moments, which Detroit faced plenty of against the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference First Round. Although the team from "Motor City" fell in six games, Lowe believes Thompson and the team benefited from the "physicality and intensity" of that series. Playing over 22 minutes per game against the Knicks, Ausar made a noticeable impact, especially with his ability to grab boards. "He's an insane offensive rebounder," Zach said. "In the playoffs, he averaged nearly one and a half free throws per 36 minutes." The stats back it up: the Pistons' young forward, blessed with a seven-foot wingspan, grabbed three offensive rebounds in both Game 2 and Game 6. Lowe also called the former Pine Crest high school player "an absolute force of nature attacking the rim." While his scoring numbers don't fully reflect his impact — Thompson averaged just 11.5 points against New York and can sometimes struggle offensively — it's encouraging to see him play fearlessly, something that has held many players — former All-Star Ben Simmons being one example — is set to break out What sets Ausar apart isn't just his rebounding or aggression at the rim. Zach also highlighted his skill as a "great cutter," a perfect fit for Detroit's offense. Lowe explains that when point guard Cade Cunningham draws double teams, he can quickly swing the ball to center Jalen Duren, whose passing vision creates scoring chances by hitting Thompson on his cuts to the basket. The 48-year-old added that even when Cunningham initiates the offense, Thompson's screens create space and mismatches, using his physicality to battle bigger forwards while still having the edge on most guards. Even if defenders then sag off Thompson because of his dismal three-point shooting — he's not even hitting 20 percent from deep — Lowe says Detroit can still weaponize him through handoffs to shooters coming off screens, like Duncan Robinson. Ultimately, Lowe called Thompson "an incredibly exciting player," noting that his defense is already his biggest strength — and still getting better. "He's just going to be a monster on defense across every position," said the veteran NBA analyst, who believes the sky's the limit for Ausar. "With a season under his belt, a playoff run under his belt — I'm not saying All-Star or anything, that's still a ways off considering he's mostly a garbage man on offense — but he's going to be really, really good, really, really soon," Lowe remarked. Pistons fans will start finding out how soon that prediction plays out — or doesn't — on October 21, 2025, which is opening night of the new NBA story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jul 30, 2025, where it first appeared.
USA Today
3 hours ago
- USA Today
Lakers jersey history No. 1 — Joe Smith
Through the 2024-25 season, the Los Angeles Lakers have had a total of 506 players suit up for them, going back to their days in Minneapolis. Some were forgettable, some were serviceable, some were good and a select few were flat-out legendary. As the Lakers approach their 80th season of existence (they were founded back in 1946 as the Detroit Gems in the National Basketball League), LeBron Wire is taking a look at each player who has worn their jersey, whether it has been a purple and gold one or the ones they donned back in the Midwest during their early years. Here, we take a look at Joe Smith, a big man who played in the NBA for 16 seasons. Smith was a star at the University of Maryland, where he averaged 20.2 points and 10.7 rebounds a game over two seasons. He was named the AP Player of the Year and the Naismith College Player of the Year in 1995 before the Golden State Warriors made him the No. 1 overall pick in that year's NBA draft. He averaged 15.3 points, 8.7 rebounds and 1.6 blocks a game during the 1995-96 season and was named to the All-Rookie First Team. During the following season, he posted 18.7 points and 8.5 rebounds per game. However, that would be the apex of Smith's productivity in the NBA. In the years to come, he would bounce around from team to team, and by the late 2000s, he had become a definite journeyman. Early in the 2010-11 season, the Lakers participated in a three-team trade where they sent out guard Sasha Vujacic and a 2011 first-round pick and received Smith, along with two future second-round picks and a big man named Sergei Lishouk. Smith appeared in 12 games for Los Angeles and had a total of six points on 2-of-12 field-goal shooting, 18 rebounds, four blocks and three assists in 44 minutes. He got 11 minutes of playing time in five playoff games that year but didn't score a single point. That would turn out to be the end of Smith's NBA career.
