Kevin Durant has been traded to Houston. The New York Knicks are in search of a new coach. Cooper Flagg is poised to be the number one pick in the draft. Expansion plans will likely make significant moves in the coming weeks. The Los Angeles Lakers have recently changed ownership.
The NBA offseason is officially underway, having been in motion for several weeks now.
Tuesday saw a parade in Oklahoma City for the newly crowned champion Thunder, while across other NBA cities, movements are expected in their quest to catch up with the champions.
“These are complex equations,” Golden State coach Steve Kerr noted, highlighting that the Warriors began their summer preparations over a month ago. “Looking around the league, teams that have mortgaged their future are finding themselves in precarious situations.”
Outside of Oklahoma City, expected to return nearly their entire lineup, led by MVPs and champions, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander just completed one of the greatest individual seasons ever. Many questions loom.
Among them:
– Will the Spurs get Victor Wembanyama back to full strength after missing the last two months of the regular season due to a deep vein thrombosis in one of his shoulders? (The answer is believed to be positive.)
– Boston, Milwaukee, Eastern Conference champion Indiana, with Jason Tatum, Damien Lillard, and Tyrese Haliburton; how will they fare with potential Achilles injuries affecting their seasons? (The outlook isn’t very promising.)
– Who will the New York Knicks appoint to replace the recently fired Tom Thibodeau? (The answer is uncertain, especially since many teams shy away from hiring under contract coaches.)
The injury situations affecting the Celtics, Bucks, and Pacers lead some to speculate that the Eastern Conference could see a more open race in 2025-26. Earlier this month, Orlando made a significant trade for Desmond Bain in Memphis to team up with Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner, even accepting the ramifications of the luxury tax for a chance to win now.
“We’re stepping on the gas pedal here,” said Magic President Jeff Weltman. “As I’ve always mentioned, that train is approaching for everyone. We probably skipped some stops. I hope our team’s financial planning supports where we aim to go.”
Houston finished 16 games behind Oklahoma City in the Western Conference but secured the second seed in playoffs. The Rockets seek to bridge that gap with Durant, one of the league’s premier scorers.
“I’m now part of the Houston Rockets, and I’m looking forward to it,” Durant remarked during an interview at Fanatics Fest, where he was on stage when the trade news broke. “It’s been a wild few weeks, but I’m relieved it’s all settled.”
This trade could be the most significant in the NBA since the Lakers acquired Luka Doncic earlier this year, with the Dallas Mavericks moving him in the process. They won the draft lottery and secured the rights to Flagg.
The upcoming draft will see Flagg likely become LeBron James’ first pick, echoing a similar moment 22 years ago. LeBron is expected to exercise his player option for the next season with the Lakers, pointing to a 23rd season in the NBA.
“At this stage in my career, thoughts of the end naturally arise,” James shared with The Associated Press last week while promoting his partnership with Amazon. “You wonder: will it be this year, or next? Such reflections linger in your mind on this journey. However, I’m not attached to a specific timeline; I’m gauging how my body and family respond.”
Last week, the Lakers finalized a deal with Mark Walter as the new majority owner, concluding a 46-year control by the Buss family. Sales discussions for the Minnesota Timberwolves (expected to finalize soon, with Mark Lohr and Alex Rodriguez agreeing) and the Celtics are in progress. Conversations will likely arise at next month’s governor’s meeting in Las Vegas, where there is anticipation for the NBA to begin discussions about potential expansion.
“Discussing potential expansion will certainly be on the agenda,” Commissioner Adam Silver stated. “We already have a committee focused on this, and it seems there will be discussions with a direction for continued exploration.”
Free agency will officially commence on June 30th, with the Utah and California summer leagues kicking off a few days later. Any team participating in the Las Vegas NBA Summer League will likely see Flagg debuting as a Mavericks player starting July 10th.
It’s the offseason; expect meaningful actions in the following weeks.
“There will be some adjustments away from the game,” remarked Warriors guard Stephen Curry. “And we are gearing up for another great phase.”
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AP NBA: https://apnews.com/nba
Source: apnews.com