When a player on an expiring contract is eligible for restricted free agency, his qualifying offer depends partly on whether he meets the “starter criteria.”
This means either playing at least 2,000 minutes or starting 41 games in the previous season – or averaging those numbers over the past two seasons.
For top-14 draft picks, failing to meet the criteria lowers their qualifying offer, while players drafted 10th or later (or undrafted) can increase theirs by meeting the threshold.
While this often has little impact on high-value free agents, it can significantly affect mid-tier players.
So far, only Bulls guard Josh Giddey has met the criteria, securing an $11.14M qualifying offer instead of $7.98M. Jonathan Kuminga will fall short, dropping his offer to $7.98M, but Davion Mitchell and Ziaire Williams are still on track to qualify.
Nets guard Cam Thomas also has a chance to increase his offer if he starts 14 more games.
Other potential restricted free agents, including Tre Mann, Isaiah Jackson, Quentin Grimes, Day’Ron Sharpe, Santi Aldama, and Jabari Walker, will retain their standard qualifying offers based on draft position.
Josh Giddey Is Only 2025 RFA To Meet Starter Criteria So Far https://t.co/2ql1iiqVv6 pic.twitter.com/PImef6Q9fV
— Hoops Rumors (@HoopsRumors) February 25, 2025
