RealGM Basketball Wiretap

16 August 2025

• Nine Teams Could Have Significant Cap Space During 2026 NBA Offseason

  There are nine teams who project to have significant cap space during the 2026 offseason. Cap space will be more readily available next offseason than it was in 2025 after a 10 percent increase in the cap for this season and a projected seven percent increase for 2026-27, combined with fewer veteran extensions this year.

  The Brooklyn Nets, Charlotte Hornets, Chicago Bulls, Detroit Pistons, Los Angeles Clippers, Los Angeles Lakers, Portland Trail Blazers, Utah Jazz and Washington Wizards.

  There were only three teams with salary cap space in 2025 in the Nets, Memphis Grizzlies and Milwaukee Bucks. The Nets used their cap space to take on Michael Porter Jr. via trade, while the Grizzlies used theirs to sign a renegotiate-and-extend contract with Jaren Jackson Jr. The Bucks unexpectedly created cap space by using the stretch-and-waive on Damian Lillard to sign Myles Turner.

  From 2013-14 to 2019-20, the league went through a period with an average of 17 teams per year with cap space. Since then, the average has decreased to 5.1 teams.

  The 2026 free agent class is expected to include Trae Young and LeBron James.

• Bulls Anchored To $20M Per Year For Josh Giddey

  Restricted free agent Josh Giddey and the Chicago Bulls remain apart in negotiations on a new deal. Giddey is seeking a contract that averages $30 million per season. The Bulls haven't moved past deals that average $20 million per season.

  Chicago's initial offer to Giddey was for $80 million over four years. The Bulls remain anchored to that $20 million average annual figure.

  Rival NBA teams have had interest in Giddey, but only the Brooklyn Nets currently have the cap space to make him a significant offer. Other teams have interest in sign-and-trade deals, but the Bulls have been reluctant to engage in those trade talks. Other NBA teams have indicated that it's difficult to talk trades with Chicago, because it's unclear if the Bulls are looking to move veteran players or to add to their team.

• Warriors Interested In Potential Sign-And-Trade Deal Involving Josh Giddey, Jonathan Kuminga

  The Golden State Warriors are interested in a potential sign-and-trade deal involving Josh Giddey and Jonathan Kuminga, sources told Jake Fischer.

  "I can report that there have been multiple teams who have reached out to Josh Giddey's representation about having interest in Josh Giddey. Golden State is one of them.

  "Golden State would be interested depending how the machinations go in some type of Josh Giddey-Jonathan Kuminga sign-and-trade, to my understanding," said Fischer.

  The Warriors' interest in Giddey goes back to the 2021 draft.

  "The Warriors were prepared on draft night, way back when in 2021, for Jonathan Kuminga to go #6 to Oklahoma City. And they were ready to take Josh Giddey #7," added Fischer.

  Giddey and Kuminga are both in negotiation stalemates with their respective teams. The Bulls are currently offering Giddey a deal around $20 million per year, with Giddey looking for $30 million per season.

  Kuminga, who continues to decline the Warriors' two-year, $45 million offer, is expected to be with the team for the start of training camp.

  Fischer then states that a roadblock for any team to acquire Giddey is a reluctance to reach out to the Bulls as they have been telling rivals that they want to keep the guard.

  "There is not a lot of enthusiasm from these rival teams about calling the Bulls front office and working out a sign-and-trade," said Fischer.

• Bulls To Bring Back Black Uniforms With Red Pinstripes

  The Chicago Bulls are bringing back their black uniforms with red pinstripes that originated during the Michael Jordan era after his return from baseball. The Bulls wore the uniforms initially during the 1995-96 season.

  Chicago also donned the look during the 1996-97, 2007-08 and 2012-13 seasons, but hasn't worn the design since 2013.

  Chicago will wear the uniforms during select Statement Edition game nights in the upcoming season.

• Josh Giddey, Bulls Approximately $10M Per Year Apart On Negotiations

  Josh Giddey and the Chicago Bulls remain in a stalemate in his restricted free agency. Giddey could ultimately take the $11 million qualifying offer and then become an unrestricted free agent next offseason when more teams have cap space and he is no longer hindered by match rights.

  The Bulls are approximately $8 million to $10 million per year apart in negotiations. Giddey entered training camp looking for a contract worth $30 million per season, similar to what Jalen Suggs signed for with the Orlando Magic.

  After the break, Giddey averaged 21.2 points, 10.7 rebounds and 9.3 assists, shot 45.7% from long range and improved defensively.

  "I think from the 50 games at the start of the season, it was two completely different players, and not only talking statistically,'' Giddey said. ''It was a confidence level, aggression level, effort level. You asked me to sell myself, I'd say the second half of the year is the player who I am. The first half was a completely different guy. Confidence was down, aggression down. Probably was down trying to fit in too much."

  Last offseason, the Bulls signed Patrick Williams to a five-year, $90 million contract before he could test the market. The contract almost instantly became one of the most problematic in the NBA.

  "It's a negotiation," a source with the Bulls said.

• Billy Donovan, Bulls Agree To Multiyear extension

  Billy Donovan and the Chicago Bulls have agreed to a multiyear contract extension. A deal had been expected for several weeks as Donovan's future came into focus amid interest from the New York Knicks.

  Donovan and the Bulls began negotiations at the end of their season with a deal being finalized this week.

  The Bulls have reached the play-in tournament in each of the past three seasons. Chicago has reached the playoffs just once during Donovan's five-year tenure.

  Donovan left the Oklahoma City Thunder to become head coach of the Bulls in 2020.

• Yuki Kawamura, Bulls Agree To Two-Way Deal

  Yuki Kawamura and the Chicago Bulls have agreed to a Two-Way deal.

  Kawamura appeared in 22 games last season with the Memphis Grizzlies, averaging 1.6 points and 0.9 assists in 4.2 minutes.

  Kawamura also appeared in 31 G League games, averaging 12.7 points, 3.0 rebounds and 8.4 assists in 31.7 minutes.

• Josh Giddey Expected To Re-Sign With Bulls

  Josh Giddey and the Chicago Bulls are expected to agree on a new contract, sources told Jamal Collier of ESPN.

  The two sides are reportedly in a "stalemate," with Giddey looking for a deal in the range of $30 million a season.

  It has been reported that it is unlikely Giddey re-signs for that amount.

  With the market for restricted free agents drying up, the Bulls are looking for a more team-friendly deal.

  Giddey recently had lunch with Billy Donovan in Las Vegas.

  The Bulls have also been linked with Jonathan Kuminga.

• Josh Giddey Unlikely To Get $30M Per Year From Bulls

  Josh Giddey has found restricted free agency to be a slow-moving process. Giddey and the Chicago Bulls are expected to reach an agreement on a new deal, but there's been no real movement as of yet.

  Giddey has reportedly been seeking a new contract that averages $30 million per season. The Bulls know that the market for restricted free agents has basically dried up, so they are slow-playing things with their young playmaker. Chicago also isn't likely to go to $30 million per season in a new deal for Giddey.

  As a restricted free agent, the options for Giddey are limited. He can wait for a new long-term deal with the Bulls. Or Giddey can sign his $11 million qualifying offer. That would put him on a one-year deal with Chicago, after which Giddey would be an unrestricted free agent in 2026. If Giddey signs the qualifying offer, he'd also have a one-year no-trade clause, because he would lose his Bird rights if traded while on that deal.

• Josh Giddey Dug In On $30M Per Year Contract

  The Chicago Bulls and restricted free agent Josh Giddey continue to have good dialogue on a new contract. However, Giddey has not moved off his desire for a contract that averages $30 million per year.

  Giddey wants to be in the same range contract that Jalen Suggs signed with the Orlando Magic or Jalen Johnson signed with the Atlanta Hawks last offseason. The Magic frontloaded Suggs' deal, while Johnson's deal came in at a flat $30 million per season.

  Giddey put together one of his best all-around seasons with the Bulls last year. The 6-foot-8 guard/forward averaged 14.6 points, 8.1 rebounds, 7.2 assists and 1.2 steals per game. Giddey also improved as a shooter, hitting 37.8% of his four three-point attempts per game.