NBA Free Agency Update: Key Players Without Contracts
As the start of the 2025-26 NBA season approaches, teams are finalizing their lineups, but several key free agents remain without contracts. Among these players are Jonathan Kuminga, Josh Giddey, and seasoned veteran Russell Westbrook, each navigating uncertainties related to their futures. Our NBA insiders assess the situation of these significant free agents and the financial constraints shaping their potential moves within the league.
Russell Westbrook’s Future
Westbrook, an all-time leader in triple-doubles, is anticipated to join his sixth team in seven seasons following a tumultuous year with the Denver Nuggets, where he finished seventh in the Sixth Man of the Year voting. Despite his storied career, it appears he won’t return to the Nuggets, as the franchise wishes to maintain stability after their recent championship.
Sources suggest that the Sacramento Kings might be the most plausible next stop for Westbrook, who will celebrate his 37th birthday early in the season. In a likely role off the bench, he could share ballhandling responsibilities with newcomer Dennis Schroder.
Jonathan Kuminga’s Stagnant Situation
Meanwhile, Jonathan Kuminga’s free agency situation remains stagnant, with little development noted in recent weeks. After a visit to his homeland, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, he has returned to Miami, maintaining his stance on the Golden State Warriors’ two-year, $45 million offer, which he feels lacks a commitment to his future with the franchise.
His agents proposed a more lucrative three-year contract worth $82 million, but the Warriors have shown no intention of shifting their position. As the deadline approaches, Kuminga has indicated that he might prefer the $7.9 million qualifying offer to the current deal being presented.
