A month after 2025 NBA draft, some of the biggest steps of summer have already been revealed.
From Cooper Flag And Dylan Harper Being selected on top of the draft Dallas Maverrix And San antonio spursRespectively, superstar players like Kevin Duunt, Desmond Bain, Crystaps porzingis, Jrue holiday And Miles Turner Changing teams through trade and free agency, this is an event in the association in a few weeks.
But this does not mean Everything were determined. So, keeping this in mind, there is a look at some biggest unresolved expansion and the decisions of the banned free agency of 2025 Offsen, which starts with a superstar extension candidate on the biggest platform of the league:
Desire Luca donic Sign an extension in August?
Of course, the biggest story hanging above the league is the date of August 2. When the doon, who arrived in Los Angeles in one of the most stunning trades in the history of NBA about six months ago, can sign an extension to remain a lake in the next summer.
If Donic is not to be expanded, he can become an unrestricted free agent in next July – which will immediately make him the most influential player to hit the open market. Qui leonard In 2019. Lams, naturally, would not want to repeat the situation when Leonard left Toronto rapter – To win MVP in the final and join Toronto in their only NBA Championship- La clippers,
How can a donic condition play? If he chooses to sign an extension, he will be eligible for a contract of four years, $ 222 million that will tie him from Laks by the end of the decade.
But the best financial passage for Donic would be to sign a short-term deal-perhaps an expansion of three years, $ 160 million with a player option for the 2028-29 season. Signing for two more years, Donic can potentially sign a deal for 35% of the salary cap in 2028-a deal, which can be, five years, $ 369 million contracts at that time.
And for any lax fans about the level of donic investment in Los Angeles, just take a look Marcus smart Said how he is signing with franchise.
“When you find a man like Luka Calling … then check on you, try to see where you are, to see if you want to join something that he is trying to cook here,” Smart said this week“To say for him that he could actually use my help, it meant a lot.”
What is further for restricted free agents?
One reason in the last two years has signed a stalled extension by 25 players, including 11 in 2024: restricted free agency is not a place.
Why it is Josh Giddi, Quentin Grims, Jonathan Kuminga And Cam thomas Continue sitting in a holding pattern.
All four players have been affected by the lack of cap space in the league. No team (other than any team Brooklyn NetsNon-tax is more than $ 14.1 million of Non-Tax Midlevel exception to spend with the former team of Thomas). This has left this quarter of restricted free agents with an option: compromise or wait on their next contract.
Kuminga’s options are limited by overall expenses and lack of reality Golden State Warriors If it is sign-end-traded, it can be hard-cap at the first-April. Warriors are currently below $ 25 million from the first apron and have taken a seat for the free agency until Kuminga’s position is resolved. He currently has six open roster spots.
Grims is in a similar position. The best available shooting guard continues to continue without home Philadelphia 76ers‘finance. Although he has signed minimum to this offsen (Trenden watford, Eric gordon, Kyle Lori And Justin Edwards), Philadelphia has used a $ 5.7 million tax molewell exception due to other apron concerns. If Philadelphia used the exception, it would be a hard cap in the second apron itself. Without the team, the team is below $ 19.5 million.
If no compromise is made, the decline is to sign a one -year qualifying offer. Giddey ($ 11.1 million), grimes ($ 8.5 million), Kuminga ($ 8 million) and Thomas ($ 6 million) have their contracts to sign their contracts till 1 October. If they do not, the contract is no longer valid (until it is extended), and each player remains a restricted free agent.
There is a two -edged sword to sign a qualifying offer. While they will be an unrestricted free agent in Offsen of 2026, each player loses bird rights for a new team during the season. (Last time a player signed a qualifying offer Miles bridges In 2023.)
What are other major experienced extension decisions?
Donic position attracts attention, but is far from the only legend facing the possibility of expanding in this summer.
The biggest name included in the expansion discussion is Durant, which was traded Houston Rockets After spending the last 2½ years with last month Phoenix SunThe duperant can sign a two -year extension for a maximum of $ 118 million. If Durant does not agree to one, he, like a donic, can become an unrestricted free agent in the next summer.
There are two other notable point guards to monitor the expansion discussion. The first is Deeron fox – Like Donic, teams were replaced in February when they were traded Sakramanto kings To the spurs. Like Donic, Fox will become eligible for four years, expanding $ 222 million on 3 August. then there is Atlanta Hawks star Tri youngOne who has one year left for a year before he can become a free agent. (He has a $ 48.9 million player option for the 2026-27 season.)
Atlanta has an excellent heat And the next season is the opportunity of top-four seeds at the Eastern Conference. But is there an expansion with the youth that makes sense? Hawks have been smart in spreading around their future financial commitments and perhaps since the Hall of Famer, the best player of the franchise also wants to do the same with Young. Dominic wilkins,
Other interesting players include to see Mickle bridgesWhich is left a year on its contract, and Carl-Athony TownThose who have two, and can be extended by new York Knicksthe same goes for PJ Washington In Dallas, which could sign a four -year deal of up to $ 89 million. Tyler HeroThose who have two years left on their contract are eligible to expand with Miami Heat It starts from 1 October. Running camera of Portland Trail Blazers There is also a candidate, although extending it will make it more difficult for blazors to create a significant cap room in the next summer. There is another low price extension to see Milwuki‘S AJ GreenAs General Manager John Horst publicly spoke publicly to make a deal to keep the guard in a uniform of one rupee.
What are the crooks extension to see?
So far, four players from 2022 drafts – Paolo bachero, Chet holmagrain, Jabri Smith JuniorAnd Jalen Williams -The extension has been signed for a long time. In the next few months, the focus will move to the remaining 17 extension-qualified players of that class.
But if the last two years are an indicator, expect a quiet August and September.
Out of the 25 players, who signed a stalled extension in the last two Offsheson, 16 were signed in October, with 14 coming just before the regular season begins. As an Eastern conference executive told ESPN, “The combination of players faced a time limit and the greed for guaranteed money usually leads to an agreement.”
There are many interesting names for monitoring with hooks guard Dyson daniel, Denver Nagets guard Christian BraunRocket ahead Tari Ison, Indiana Pacers guard Benedict MaithurinSun center Mark WilliamsTrail blazers guard Shaden sharpKings forward Keagan dead And Utah jazz Center Walker Caller,
Nugets Trading Michael Porter JRAnd Indiana re -signed Miles Turner has opened financial flexibility to sign Braun and Mathurin for long -term deals.
Pacers have been aggressive in signing their own players to expand in the last two sessions, but have done so within the budget. Tieres haliburton, Andrew Nebhard, Aeron nemith And TJ McConal New contracts are signed. Heliberton is the only player of four with an early salary of over $ 20 million.
Major giants are available late in free agency every year, and this time is no exception. Like players Ben seamans, Malcolm Brogadon, Chris Boucher And Gary Pater II Be aware. But the largest name is Westbrook, a former MVP.
After spending his first 11 seasons with Thunder, Westbrook has now played on five teams in the last six sessions: Rockets, Washington wizardsLakes, clippers and most recent nuggets. And, after getting out of his player option for the next season, the hope was that Westbrook would have a team so far.
Westbrook remains a talented and productive player, even arrives on his 37th birthday, assisting 13.3 points, 4.9 rebounds and 6.1 in about 28 minutes in the previous season. But play on the ball as a shooter and make his struggles a strange fit on the most roosters as a shooter. The next season is difficult to imagine Westbrook from the NBA roster, and a lot of giants signed minimum deals in August. But as long as the Future Hall of Famer is not land somewhere, the league must be watching.
