NBA free agents 2025: Where things stand with seven biggest names - ESPN

As the 2025-26 NBA season draws closer, most of the teams are putting the finishing touches on their rosters. However, a few free agents remain available — some in gridlock over their deals, while others are in limbo regarding which team they'll play for when the season starts.

Jonathan Kuminga, Josh Giddey and Russell Westbrook are among those looking to finalize their futures.

Our NBA insiders break down the seven most important players remaining in free agency, where they stand in their negotiations and how limited cap space is impacting the landscape of the league.

It appears that Westbrook, who spent the first 11 years of his career with the Oklahoma City Thunder, will play for his sixth franchise in seven seasons. He won't be returning to the Denver Nuggets after a roller coaster season in which Westbrook finished seventh in the Sixth Man of the Year voting. The all-time leader in triple-doubles won't continue the trend of storybook homecomings for future Hall of Fame point guards, a la Damian Lillard and Chris Paul. The Thunder will hang Westbrook's No. 0 in the rafters after he retires, but the defending champions don't have room on the roster, much less the rotation, or the desire to tinker with the chemistry from their title run.

League sources consider the Sacramento Kings the most likely destination for Westbrook, who will turn 37 during the first month of the season. If that's the case, Westbrook would likely come off the bench again and share ballhandling duties with free agency addition Dennis Schroder. — Tim MacMahon

Nothing substantial has changed on the Kuminga front in the last two weeks, sources said.

Kuminga recently made a trip to his home country, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and