Early Returns Show Summer Signings Like Giddey, Harden Exceeding Expectations
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November 29, 2025 — With the 2025-26 NBA season still shy of the one-quarter mark, several offseason acquisitions are already delivering more value than their contracts might have suggested.
Only three free agents secured larger fully guaranteed deals this summer than Josh Giddey. The 22-year-old guard signed a four-year, $100 million contract with the Chicago Bulls and is posting numbers that put him squarely in early All-Star conversations. Chicago’s commitment, once viewed as substantial, is quickly looking like a bargain.
Out West, the Los Angeles Clippers made a two-year investment in James Harden worth $39.2 million in the first season. Harden is outperforming even last year’s All-NBA campaign, and the Clippers’ on-court data underscores his impact: the team is being outscored by 13.6 points per 100 possessions when he is not playing.
While Giddey and Harden headline the list of high-priced successes, attention is also turning to five lesser-known free agents who accepted veteran-minimum or near-minimum contracts in July. Their strong starts suggest they could be in line for far more lucrative offers once their current agreements expire.
Source: Hoops Rumors
