ESPN’s Bobby Marks believes Immanuel Quickley’s five-year, $162 million contract with the Raptors “screwed up” the market for players like Josh Giddey and Cam Thomas, making negotiations tougher across the league.
Josh Giddey contract standoff with the Chicago Bulls has become one of the more complicated restricted free agency situations of the offseason—and according to ESPN’s Bobby Marks, the Toronto Raptors may be partly to blame.
Cam Thomas
Cam Thomas
Position: SG
Age: 23
Height: 196 cm
Weight: 95 kg
Birth place: Japan
Giddey is reportedly seeking a deal in the range of $30–32 million per year, similar to the five-year, $150 million extension Jalen Suggs received from the Orlando Magic. However, it’s another deal that’s causing ripple effects across the market.
“The Immanuel Quickley contract, that five for $150 [million], in bonuses it almost gets to $160 [million], has totally screwed up restricted free agents,” Marks said.
“Because that's where agents are looking at like the benchmark. Certainly, Josh Giddey's like, 'I want that contract.' That number has screwed up a lot of things.”
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Giddey isn’t alone. Players like Cam Thomas, Quentin Grimes, and Jonathan Kuminga are also stuck in similar situations, with their teams unwilling to offer the type of money that’s become expected for young guards.
“It's a rich contract. I don't think Toronto got enough heat for that number because Immanuel Quickley is not a $32, $33 million guy,” Marks added.
The Bulls, who traded for Giddey earlier this offseason, are reportedly offering something closer to $20 million annually.
After overpaying Patrick Williams under similar circumstances last summer, Chicago is reluctant to outbid itself again—especially given how little leverage restricted free agents have had this offseason.
There’s growing speculation that Giddey, like others in his position, may ultimately accept the one-year qualifying offer and test unrestricted free agency next summer, when teams can’t match offers and players hold more leverage.
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