In addition to sharing the latest updates on Nets guard Cam Thomas, NBA insider Jake Fischer checked in on the other three most notable remaining restricted free agents during his Bleacher Report live stream on Thursday, discussing Bulls guard Josh Giddey, Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga, and Sixers guard Quentin Grimes.
Fischer stated that he doesn’t expect there to be resolution on either Giddey or Grimes this month (YouTube link) and expressed a belief that Grimes, Kuminga, and Thomas will eventually agree to short-term deals with their respective teams rather than long-term contracts (YouTube link).
While that leaves Giddey as the most likely player of the quartet to work out a longer-term agreement, Fischer added that he thinks Giddey’s dynamic with the Bulls is the “most strained” of the bunch right now, due to how the negotiations have played out so far (YouTube link).
Here’s more from Fischer:
- Before Marcus Smart agreed to a buyout with Washington and signed with the Lakers, the Wizards had “a ton” of trade discussions about the former Defensive Player of the Year, per Fischer (YouTube link). The Bucks, Hawks, and Heat were among the teams that spoke to the Wizards about possible deals involving Smart, according to Fischer, who says that Washington and Miami talked at one point about a trade that would’ve included Terry Rozier.
- Responding to a question about the possibility of the Bulls trading Nikola Vucevic, Fischer stressed that there isn’t much of a market for the veteran center (YouTube link). “I think at this juncture, we’re probably more likely to see a Nikola Vucevic buyout mid-season than we are to see a trade,” Fischer said. “Depending on how the market unfolds, depending on how injuries develop. There just really hasn’t been much of a Nikola Vucevic trade market in a while.”
- Fischer views the Timberwolves as perhaps the most logical landing spot for free agent guard Malcolm Brogdon (YouTube link). Fischer acknowledges that that Minnesota wants to give youngsters Rob Dillingham and Terrence Shannon Jr. more opportunities to establish themselves as rotation players, but notes that the team could use another veteran option to complement Mike Conley, who will turn 38 in October. “I think Minnesota still stands as a really good situation for Malcolm Brogdon and one that he’s been monitoring, one that the Wolves have checked in on,” Fischer said. “I’m not making a prediction, but I think that’s a good situation for Malcolm Brogdon.”
Giddey’s relationship with the Bulls is the most strained. Huh. Go figure. They just threw money at a guy that sucks. So yeah by all means stiff the guy who can play. Look just trade Coby White for Kaminga, Or better yet trade Coby White for something the Warriors DO WANT and make it work. It would take people with imagination though. That’s definitely lacking.
Why trade Coby White? Is it unlikely that he’ll sign an extension?
I’m looking at it this way: The Bulls have Huerter, Okoro and Dalen Terry here for SG and maybe Essengue. You have Matas, Smith and Collins for PF. You are stuck with Vuj, Smith, Collins and The 2nd rounder for C’s. Tre Jones, Giddey and Jevon Carter who nobody wants so he’s here anyway at PG. The trade bait you have is Ayo and White whose value will never be higher than it is now. They have a chance to clear the books and add a piece in Kuminga to go with Matas and Essengue and maybe you have the start of something. They should have plenty of Cap Space and if they do it right some nice draft picks. But they won’t. They’re dumb. That would be the smart play. Matas , Phillips , Huerter , Essengue for SF. Mix and match. White won’t get you a Championship. I think we all see that.
I think you left out Williams.. but anyway, I kind of look at the Bulls now as being led by White. If I’m them, it’s imperative that they re-sign him. I mean, as a Nets fan I definitely have an eye on him. He would be one of the top guys I’m trying to acquire if he won’t re-sign with the Bulls.
I look at the Bulls assuming Giddey signs as:
Giddey, White, Huerter, Matas, Vuc
Tre, Ayo, Okoro, Williams, Collins
Yuki, Terry, Essengue, Smith, Lachlan
I think the ones they would consider the most expendable are Huerter and Ayo. And obvsly they would love to dump Williams if they could. I look at Coby White as a core player there.. if he isn’t, I would be all over him.
No I didn’t. I said they threw a bunch of money at a guy who sucks. Oh you mean as a player? No that was intentional. He’s worthless.
Ah yeah at the top. I still don’t follow your view on Coby, but ok.
That was a lot for my eyes but Kuminga won’t win you a championship either. I’d rather keep White over Kuminga all things considered.
10 guards and no PF’s won’t win you one either.
White’s a better player than Kuminga.
The Bulls seem to be wanting to have cheap young talent that they underpay to have huge cap space both next year and the year after to try to get either Giannis or the Joker if they become available.
They’re a bigger market, but I don’t think either will want to go to Chicago with the ness they have been for a while now.
I was just in Chicago for a week. No mess. Really great city, clean and safe. You might watch too much FoxNews.
Well first I was taking about the mess the Bulls have been for a long time now.
However, since you want to get into the city, let’s do that. Chicago’s per capita homicide rate was 21.9 per 100,000 in 2024, and that was actually a low compared to the last 10 years when the it has fluctuated between 23 and 29.7 per 100,000.
Btw, I consume a large varied news sources and abhor the far left as much as far right. I look at raw data, not what some talking heads on both sides are trying to sell their poorly informed public.
By comparison NYC homicide rate rate was 4.7 (about one-fifth of NYC’s), and that rate has been about the same for a couple of decades now. Los Angeles per capita homicide rate was 8.4 per 100,000, but should start coming down now that the far left District Attorney was booted out of office at the end of last year. But even then LA’s homicide rate was about a third of Chicago’s.
So, your anecdotal review is meaningless. There are actual stats out there that let us know how cities compare as far as crime and all kinds of data.
Hah, strange you took it like that.
Is Giddey for Kuminga feasible? Help me out chat
No
Money wise it is but the Warriors say he’s not a fit for them. But if push comes to shove maybe they take him and move him themselves. Warriors want a C and don’t want Vujevic.