Several big NBA names remain unsigned or in stalled negotiations, including Russell Westbrook, Jonathan Kuminga, Ben Simmons, Al Horford, Cam Thomas, Josh Giddey, and Quentin Grimes, as tight cap space, roster limits, and tough contract standoffs keep free agency moving at a crawl.
The NBA free agency market may be winding down, but some of the most notable names remain in limbo— from future Hall of Famers to rising stars — as contract talks stall, roster spots dry up, and cap space tightens across the league.
Russell Westbrook: 6th Team in 7 Years?
It appears Russell Westbrook will suit up for his sixth franchise in seven seasons. After a roller-coaster year with the Denver Nuggets — where he finished seventh in Sixth Man of the Year voting — the all-time triple-double leader is not expected to return to the defending champions.
Westbrook, who spent his first 11 seasons with the Oklahoma City Thunder, will one day see his No. 0 retired in OKC, but for now, Denver’s title-winning chemistry leaves no room in the rotation.
League sources point to the Sacramento Kings as his most likely landing spot, where he would come off the bench and split ball-handling duties with new signing Dennis Schroder. Westbrook turns 37 in the opening month of the season.
Jonathan Kuminga: Contract Tug-of-War in Golden State
Jonathan Kuminga’s situation remains at a standstill. The 21-year-old forward returned from a trip to the Democratic Republic of the Congo to find no movement on Golden State’s two-year, $45 million offer— a team-friendly deal with a second-year option and waived no-trade protection.
Kuminga has rejected the structure, preferring a long-term commitment as a building block in San Francisco or elsewhere. His camp is holding firm on a three-year, $82 million proposal. The Oct. 1 deadline looms, with even the $7.9 million qualifying offer reportedly more appealing to Kuminga than the current Warriors pitch.
Ben Simmons: Waiting for the Numbers to Work
Ben Simmons is one of nearly 75 players from last season’s rosters still without a deal. His free agency has been squeezed by an influx of rookie contracts — 41 first- and second-round picks signed this summer — and a league-wide lack of open roster spots.
Most teams are capped out or hard-capped, and others like the Lakers cannot add players until mid-January. Until a roster spot opens or an injury changes the calculus, Simmons remains in a holding pattern.
Al Horford: Warriors Connection, Retirement Question
Around the league, Al Horford continues to be linked to the Warriors — but the Kuminga impasse has delayed Golden State’s next moves. The 39-year-old veteran is weighing retirement, yet the Warriors are reportedly operating as if he will join them.
Horford would start at center, reduce Draymond Green’s regular-season workload, and give Golden State a much-needed floor-spacing big. But his age means the Warriors would likely manage his minutes carefully, focusing on having him available for the games that matter most.
Cam Thomas: Scorer in Limbo
Brooklyn Nets guard Cam Thomas, one of the top remaining restricted free agents, could end up playing on his qualifying offer. The 23-year-old averaged 24 points last season, but his market has been hard to define.
If the Nets strike a deal, it may mirror other short-term contracts they’ve handed out this offseason: one-year with a second-year team option, giving Brooklyn flexibility without long-term commitment.
Josh Giddey: Bulls Playing the Waiting Game
Josh Giddey’s negotiations with the Chicago Bulls have dragged on since the spring, but both sides are expected to reach an agreement before training camp. After arriving in a trade for Alex Caruso, Giddey surged in the season’s second half, averaging 21 points, 10 rebounds, and 9 assists after the All-Star break.
The 21-year-old wants around $30 million annually; the Bulls prefer a lower figure, leveraging the league’s restricted free agent market to their advantage.
Quentin Grimes: Stuck in a Crowded Backcourt
Quentin Grimes’ restricted free agency mirrors that of Kuminga, Giddey, and Thomas — limited cap space has left him without serious offers. On the Philadelphia 76ers, he faces a crowded backcourt featuring Tyrese Maxey and recent lottery picks Jared McCain and VJ Edgecombe.
If he accepts the qualifying offer, the Sixers could potentially duck under the luxury tax later in the season, depending on injuries and roster moves.
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