NBA Free Agency 2025 Looks Like a Whole Lot of Nothing

It may surprise you to learn that the first documented use of “staycation” dates not to this millennium, but to the middle of the last one.

With the NBA on the cusp of existence, 1944 brought life to a concept that figures to surface quite often as league free agency looms.

Yeah, it’s still early to predict, with conference semifinal series in full swing and teams unable to begin negotiating with free agents until June 30 — one week before they can sign them.

Considering the projected lack of salary-cap space in various markets, though, big splashes seem unlikely at this sitting — unless a star fancies cannonballing back into his own pool to celebrate re-signing.

Look for LeBron James to headline a list of stars who stay put. James carries a $52.6 million player option and can enter free agency, but why should he bother? Los Angeles acquired its next superstar, Luka Doncic, through an in-season trade with the Dallas Mavericks, offering a prime running mate as the 40-year-old James aims to recharge for another run at one last Larry O’Brien Trophy.

While James lauds his Northeastern Ohio heritage, he surely has shown a penchant for giving a de facto hometown discount to the Lakers, who desperately need to add to their core and depth after a first-round playoff loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves.

L.A.’s other franchise, the Clippers, has a high-profile star with a player option coming off a first-round postseason exit, too. James Harden’s figure is $36.3 million, and he certainly has cause to decline after helping buoy L.A. with Kawhi Leonard recuperating from a knee injury to begin the season.

But seeking bigger bucks with a sixth NBA team would be unwise compared to getting more money to remain with the Clippers. Leonard is under contract for two more seasons, and the franchise has flexibility to add talent even if Harden, an L.A. native, cashes in on a hometown payout.

Josh Giddey can’t qualify for a “hometown” anything unless the NBA expands to Melbourne, Australia.

At any rate, the 22-year-old guard shined in his first year with the Chicago Bulls following a trade from Oklahoma City last offseason. His versatile floor game and budding leadership helped the Bulls win 17 of 27 after the All-Star break.

That cemented a third straight appearance in the Eastern Conference play-in tournament — an event many have labeled NBA purgatory. But with Giddey in tow at point guard alongside playmaker Coby White, the team would have an impressive core on which to build.

While the Gotham glitz and friendly cap space the Brooklyn Nets have to offer will entice Giddey, expect him to remain in Chicago. The Bulls can match any offer to Giddey and would be foolish to bypass that right.

Another ballhandler who shouldn’t go anywhere — Houston’s Fred VanVleet — may still see his player option declined before ultimately agreeing to a long-term deal for less money.

VanVleet helped a young, partly unproven roster jell into the second-seeded team in the Western Conference.

There’s a lot for the Rockets to like, despite a seven-game, first-round loss.

So it should go with free agency at large. The grass isn’t always greener, and in this projected NBA cap climate, the megadeals might not be, either.

For James, Harden, Giddey, VanVleet and others, there’s truly no shame in running it back.