Headline: 2025 NBA Free Agency Buzz: Key Player Decisions and What’s Next for Free Agents

•Acquire the NBA App•2025 Free Agent Overview

As free agency is set to officially commence at 6 p.m. ET on Monday, players and teams have had to make critical choices regarding contract options, qualifying offers, and deals that were either partially or non-guaranteed. Here’s the breakdown of who’s remaining and who might be on the move.

**Player Options**

Several players had the ability to decide on their final contract year. Opting in means they stay for another season; opting out qualifies them as free agents.

**Opted In (secured for one additional year)**

– Jevon Carter (CHI)
– John Collins (UTA)
– Pat Connaughton (MIL)
– Andre Drummond (PHI)
– LeBron James (LAL)
– Khris Middleton (WAS)
– Kelly Oubre Jr. (PHI)
– Dwight Powell (DAL)
– Dario Šarić (DEN)
– Matisse Thybulle (POR)

**Opted Out (free agents)**

– Nicolas Batum (LAC)
– Dorian Finney-Smith (LAL)
– Eric Gordon (PHI)
– James Harden (LAC)
– Kyrie Irving (DAL)
– Kevin Porter Jr. (MIL)
– Bobby Portis (MIL)
– Julius Randle (MIN)
– Naz Reid (MIN)
– Russell Westbrook (DEN)

**Early-Termination Option**

An early-termination option functions like a player option; however, when exercised, it results in the player becoming a free agent. Currently, there are few early-termination options available.

**Exercised (now a free agent)**

– Duncan Robinson (MIA)

**Team Options**

The decision rests with the team in this instance. If the team exercises the option, the player remains under contract for another year; if not, they become a free agent.

**Exercised (under contract for another year)**

– Tony Bradley (IND)
– JD Davison (BOS)
– Keon Ellis (SAC)
– Jordan Goodwin (LAL)
– Ariel Hukporti (NYK)
– Keon Johnson (BKN)
– Keshad Johnson (MIA)
– Isaac Jones (SAC)
– Tyrese Martin (BKN)
– Vasilije Micić (PHX -> CHA)
– Quinten Post (GSW)
– Rayan Rupert (POR)
– Gui Santos (GSW)
– Drew Timme (BKN)
– Jalen Wilson (BKN)

**Additional Note:** Micić is reportedly on the move back to Charlotte. The Suns needed to exercise his team option for that to occur.

**Declined (free agents)**

– Dominick Barlow (ATL)**
– Brandon Boston (NOP)
– Jared Butler (PHI)
– Justin Edwards (PHI)*
– Luka Garza (MIN)
– Gary Harris (ORL)
– Aaron Holiday (HOU)
– Caleb Houstan (ORL)**
– Cory Joseph (ORL)
– Josh Minott (MIN)**
– Ajay Mitchell (OKC)*
– Chuma Okeke (CLE)
– Elfrid Payton (NOP)
– P.J. Tucker (NYK)
– Fred VanVleet (HOU)
– Moritz Wagner (ORL)
– Lonnie Walker IV (PHI)

* = Although the Sixers and Thunder did not exercise team options for Edwards and Mitchell, respectively, they provided qualifying offers (see below), making them restricted free agents.

** = Barlow, Houstan, and Minott had the potential for restricted free agency, but since their teams declined their options and chose not to extend qualifying offers, they are now unrestricted free agents.

**Additional note:** Jaylin Williams (OKC) had a team option, but the Thunder signed him to a contract extension on Sunday.

**Qualifying Offers**

Former 2021 Draft selections Josh Giddey (right) and Cam Thomas received qualifying offers from their respective teams.

Certain players qualified for restricted free agency. This group includes 2021 first-round draft picks with their third and fourth-year options activated, as well as other players who have played for three seasons or fewer in the league.

Restricted free agency allows a team to match any offer the player receives from another franchise. However, to retain that right, the team must have issued a qualifying offer by Sunday. Players not receiving a qualifying offer become unrestricted free agents.

The qualifying offer is binding as a one-year contract. If the player accepts, they are under contract for the upcoming season. They can also sign an offer sheet from another team, which their current team can match, or negotiate a new multi-year deal. Additionally, teams have the option to withdraw the qualifying offer at any time (the following list is accurate as of June 29).

**Issued (restricted free agents)**

– Santi Aldama (MEM)
– Josh Giddey (CHI)
– Quentin Grimes (PHI)
– Isaiah Jackson (IND)
– Jonathan Kuminga (GSW)
– Davion Mitchell (MIA)
– Ryan Rollins (MIL)
– Cam Thomas (BKN)

**Not Issued (unrestricted free agents)**

– Tre Mann (CHA)
– Day’Ron Sharpe (BKN)
– Pat Spencer (GSW)
– Jabari Walker (POR)
– Ziaire Williams (BKN)

**Two-Way Free Agents**

This past season marks the eighth year of two-way players who can transition between NBA rosters and the NBA G League. Some two-way players remain under contract for the upcoming season. Those who aren’t can be restricted free agents if they have been on the NBA team’s active or inactive roster for 15 days or more in the regular season, have played fewer than three years in the league, and have received qualifying offers.

Here’s a comprehensive list of two-way free agents…

**Restricted**

– Taran Armstrong (GSW)
– Branden Carlson (OKC)
– Isaiah Crawford (SAC)
– N’Faly Dante (HOU)
– Jesse Edwards (MIN)
– Tyson Etienne (BKN)
– Trentyn Flowers (LAC)
– Enrique Freeman (IND)
– Collin Gillespie (PHX)
– Harrison Ingram (SAS)
– Quenton Jackson (IND)
– Daniss Jenkins (DET)
– Spencer Jones (DEN)
– Christian Koloko (LAL)
– Mac McClung (ORL)
– Kevin McCullar Jr. (NYK)
– Emanuel Miller (CHI)
– Riley Minix (SAS)
– Tristen Newton (MIN)
– Dru Smith (MIA)
– Cam Spencer (MEM)
– Jacob Toppin (ATL)
– Luke Travers (CLE)
– Oscar Tshiebwe (UTA)
– Tristan Vukcevic (WAS)
– Keaton Wallace (ATL)

**Unrestricted**

– Trey Alexander (DEN)
– Emoni Bates (CLE)
– MarJon Beauchamp (NYK)
– Reece Beekman (BKN)
– Jalen Bridges (PHX)
– Keion Brooks Jr. (NOP)
– Jamal Cain (NOP)
– Josh Christopher (MIA)
– Jeff Dowtin Jr. (PHI)
– Alex Ducas (OKC)
– David Duke Jr. (SAS)
– Kessler Edwards (DAL)
– Adam Flagler (OKC)
– PJ Hall (DEN)
– Jalen Hood-Schifino (PHI)
– Bones Hyland (MIN)
– Kai Jones (DAL)
– Mason Jones (SAC)
– Yuki Kawamura (MEM)
– E.J. Liddell (CHI)
– Bryce McGowens (POR)
– Jack McVeigh (HOU)
– Justin Minaya (POR)
– Wendell Moore Jr. (CHA)
– Drew Peterson (BOS)
– Micah Potter (UTA)
– Trevelin Queen (ORL)
– Isaiah Stevens (MIA)
– JT Thor (WAS)
– Stanley Umude (MIL)
– TyTy Washington Jr. (PHX)
– Anton Watson (NYK)