NBA Swing: Four Questions for the 2025 Offseason

Read Time:5 Minute, 4 Second

Game 4 of the NBA Finals has passed, and the end of the 2024-25 season is upon us. The offseason will begin in the next couple of weeks with the 2025 NBA Draft taking place in late June and 2025 free agency beginning on June 30th.

What role will the NBA Finals play in the offseason?

Last night, the Oklahoma City Thunder evened the Finals at 2 apiece. If the Thunder were to lose in the NBA Finals against the Pacers, it would be one of the most shocking NBA Finals results of all time. Having been the front runner to win the championship going back to the preseason, making it all the way to the finals to lose would be a surprise. Would losing in the Finals push the Thunder to finally use their treasure trove of assets to acquire another superstar to pair next to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander? Rumblings around the league suggested the Thunder could be a contender for a player like Giannis Antetokounmpo with all their assets.

Could the Thunder make a shocking trade and reunite with former Thunder superstar Kevin Durant to give him one last chance to win a championship? A veteran presence like Durant would not only give the Thunder another scorer, but another veteran with championship experience. On the other end, could the Indiana Pacers persuade a superstar to come play alongside Tyrese Haliburton and Pascal Siakam? With the Pacers set to be just a little bit over the 2025-26 salary cap of $154 million, Indiana could be a surprise contender for another star following the great playoff run they’ve had.

Does Boston cave to the cap?

Heading into the 2025-26 season, the Boston Celtics are set to have the highest salary at $227.7 million. At nearly $20 million over the second apron, the Celtics are facing a huge tax bill and are very limited in what they can do. At the same time, Boston has several problems heading into next season. Jayson Tatum is expected to miss most of the season due to the Achilles injury he suffered in the second round of the second round of the playoffs. There is no telling how Tatum will look when he comes back. Reports this week came out that Jaylen Brown would have a knee surgery and is looking at a return around training camp.

With reports saying the Celtics could be looking to move on from multiple players including Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday, in addition to the team receiving calls for Jaylen Brown and Derrick White, Boston could make multiple moves as many don’t expect them to be championship contenders until Jayson Tatum returns As new ownership takes over and looks to reduce costs, a big offseason could be expected for the Boston Celtics.

How does LeBron’s decision affect the Lakers’ championship hopes?

The 2025-26 season is set to be LeBron James’ 23rd season in the league. Before he steps foot on the court for his 23rd season, he has a decision to make that not only affects his future but the future of the Los Angeles Lakers. The 40-year-old superstar has a $50.6 million player option for the 2025-26 season that many expect him to opt into. If he opts into his player option, the Lakers are projected to be right around the first apron of the salary cap, limiting the moves they can make.

This past season, the Lakers finished as the third seed with the superstar duo of LeBron James and Luka Doncic. Missing a big man would be the Lakers’ downfall, with the team losing to the sixth-seeded Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round in just five games. While James has taken a small discount before, many speculate he won’t take a discount again. With James nearing the end of his career, the question being asked is if he wants to win another championship or if he wants another big paycheck before he calls it a career, even if that means sacrificing a championship opportunity.

Will any big dominoes fall, or is it all talk?

With many teams in their postseason, stars from across the league have been in trade rumors. While players like Kevin Durant are nearly guaranteed to be traded this offseason, many stars have been in rumors for years and haven’t been traded. In Phoenix, Devin Booker has been considered a player who could be on the move, given the failings in Phoenix and the fact that they cannot trade Bradley Beal. Booker has been linked to the Houston Rockets this season, with the Rockets having several picks belonging to the Suns.

In Utah, Lauri Markkanen is a name that has been in rumors as well. Being linked to teams like the Golden State Warriors in the 2024 offseason, Markkanen would sign an extension that would make him unavailable to trade during the 2024-25 season. Now nearing the 2025 offseason, Markkanen could be available to trade for this summer. On the Bill Simmons Podcast, Simmons would note that those around the league feel Markkanen “isn’t not available.” He has once again been linked to the Warriors, as well as being linked to the Philadelphia 76ers.

The biggest domino that could fall would be Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo. After another disappointing season, there are questions about Giannis’ future with the team. Damian Lillard is likely to miss the entire 2025-26 season due to an Achilles injury, while the Bucks have very little in terms of trade and draft assets. While recent reports suggest Antetokounmpo is unlikely to request a trade this offseason, he has been linked to numerous teams. Notable teams include the Houston Rockets, Golden State Warriors, and San Antonio Spurs.

While many insiders expect this offseason to be full of movement, it’s possible there could be very little to no significant movement this summer. Given the impact of the new CBA, it’s expected that some movement could be on the way.