August and September are typically the quietest months of the NBA offseason. After the Draft in June, the initial free agency rush, and the Summer League in July, news tends to slow down, with nondescript signings and international play dominating most of the headlines.
However, this offseason has ushered in a new wave of notable storylines—most prominently, the drama surrounding restricted free agents. Brooklyn Nets’ Cam Thomas, Golden State Warriors’ Jonathan Kuminga, Philadelphia 76ers’ Quinten Grimes, and, of course, Chicago Bulls’ Josh Giddey all went back and forth with their teams over long-term contract negotiations.
Thomas was the first of the four marquee names to re-sign, opting to take his one-year, $5.