The NBA's current collective bargaining agreement, which took effect in 2023, has substantially reduced player movement in free agency. Just 35 free agents signed with new teams this summer, while 75 percent of players under contract remain on the same roster as last season.

Of the 433 total players currently under contract across the league, 273 were on their team's roster last season, 44 free agents were re-signed by their existing teams, and 41 players changed teams via trade, six more than the number who signed with new teams in free agency.

Two primary factors are driving the shift. First, a wave of contract extensions under the current CBA has left most teams without meaningful salary cap space, with only the Brooklyn Nets, Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers having room to operate in free agency this summer.

Second, extension rules that allow players to secure more guaranteed money and additional years compared to waiting for free agency have shifted player priorities toward security. Donovan Mitchell, for example, chose to sign a four-year, $272 million extension with the Cleveland Cavaliers rather than wait until next summer for a potential five-year, $353 million deal in free agency. Since the current CBA began in July 2023, 104 players have signed extensions worth a combined $13 billion, compared to 124 players signing extensions totaling less than $11 billion under the previous agreement from 2017 to 2023.

Early data suggests some potential change ahead. Through the first month of this offseason, only five players have signed veteran extensions and just one, Victor Wembanyama, has signed a rookie extension, both well below the recent three-year averages of 23.3 veteran extensions and 11.3 rookie extensions annually.

Teams anticipating cap constraints have also grown more proactive in acquiring pending free agents via trade ahead of the deadline. The Charlotte Hornets and Minnesota Timberwolves acquired Coby White and Ayo Dosunmu, respectively, in February trades that included each player's Bird rights, allowing both teams to re-sign them even while over the salary cap. Dosunmu signed a five-year, $112 million deal, while White agreed to a three-year, $74 million contract.

NBA commissioner Adam Silver addressed the league's intent behind these rules during 2025 summer league.

"We are trying to give incumbent teams an advantage to draft, develop and keep players," said Silver. "Doesn't mean there's no free agency, but in many cases, you have situations where players are electing to stay in those markets. So I don't necessarily think that's a bad thing."

While the CBA has limited traditional free agency, it has correspondingly increased teams' reliance on trades to reshape rosters. Notable players moved this offseason include Giannis Antetokounmpo, LaMelo Ball, Jaylen Brown, Paul George, Miles Bridges and Ja Morant.

A separate agreed-upon trade sending Kawhi Leonard to the Toronto Raptors remains on hold pending the NBA's investigation into potential salary cap circumvention by the Los Angeles Clippers.