Former Kia MVP Russell Westbrook declined his option for the 2025-26 season and will be an unrestricted free agent.
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Before free agency officially tips off at 6 p.m. ET on Monday, players and teams had to make decisions on contract options, qualifying offers, and contracts that were either partially or non-guaranteed. Here’s the lowdown on who’s staying and who could be going.
Player options
These players had an option in the final year of their contract. If they exercised it, they were in for one more year. If they declined it, they’re free agents.
Exercised (under contract for one more 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)
Declined (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 is basically the same as a player option, except that when it’s exercised, the player becomes a free agent. There aren’t many early-termination options these days.
Exercised (free agent)
Duncan Robinson (MIA)
Team options
Wariors youngsters Quinten Post (left) and Gui Santos had their options exercised for the 2025-26 season.
Here, the decision lies with the team. If they exercised the team option, they keep the player for another year. If they declined it, they allowed him to become a free agent.
Exercised (under contract for one more 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 being traded back to Charlotte. The Suns had to exercise his team option for that to happen.
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)
* = Though the Sixers and Thunder declined the team options on Edwards and Mitchell, respectively, they issued them qualifying offers (see below), so they’re restricted free agents.
** = Barlow, Houstan and Minott were also eligible for restricted free agency, but in addition to declining their team options, their teams chose not to extend them qualifying offers. So they’re 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 picks Josh Giddey (right) and Cam Thomas received qualifying offers from their teams.
Some players were eligible for restricted free agency. This group includes 2021 first-round Draft picks who had their third and fourth-year options picked up and just completed their rookie contract, as well as other players who have played three or fewer seasons in the league.
Restricted free agency allows the team to match any offer the player receives from another team. But in order to have that right, the team must have issued the player a qualifying offer by Sunday. If a qualifying offer wasn’t issued, that player is an unrestricted free agent instead.
The qualifying offer is binding as a one-year contract. If the player signs it, he’s under contract for next season. He could also sign an offer sheet from another team (which his team would have the ability to match), and he and his team could agree on a new, multi-year contract. The team also can rescind the qualifying offer going forward (the list below is 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 was the eighth with two-way players who can go between the NBA roster and the NBA G League. Some two-way players are still under contract for next season. Those that aren’t can be restricted free agents if they were on the NBA team’s active or inactive list for 15 or more days of the regular season, if (like non-two-way free agents) they’ve played less than three years in the league, and if they were issued qualifying offers.
Here’s a rundown 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)
