Now What? 2025 Off-Season Predictions

[NYG]

Based on the past week... what are your 2025 Off-Season Predictions?




Is this about right?

Atlanta Hawks: Trae and this regime seem okay with internal development and growth. Unless Trae changes his mind then probably minor moves to solidify the roster.

Boston Celtics: If they fall short, I could see them getting off of Jrue and/or KP's salary and retooling around Tatum and Brown to get back to the championship with a more affordable roster.

Brooklyn Nets: Possibly the only team with any significant cap space. With such a weak free agent class, I could see them using it to facilitate trades as the apron restrictions on teams become harder to navigate.

Charlotte Hornets: Probably rebuilding, but probably not ready to move LaMelo. LaMelo clearly doesn't interfere with their ability to land top 10 picks, they aren't going to sign anyone better with the cap space and he can sell some tickets for ownership in the meantime. I bet they find other ways to try to land picks/assets if possible.

Chicago Bulls: After a disappointing season, they probably look to shop Patrick Williams, Nikola Vucevic and Coby White again in the off-season to relieve cap flexibility moving forward and continue to rebuild.

Cleveland Cavaliers: Even if they have a level of disappointment such as getting bounced Round 1 in the post-season, I don't see the Cavs blowing anything up just yet. They probably try to get some cheap vets for depth, but otherwise run it back one more year.

Dallas Mavericks: The Mavericks are all in on right now with Kyrie and AD. There really isn't any cap space options for Kyrie to go Kyrie and opt out so I see the Mavs trying to find the best 3rd guy to bring in for the 2025-26 season.

Denver Nuggets: If they have a disappointing off-season, I could see them exploring what distant picks and Michael Porter Jr. gets them. I don't see them forcing anything though and being okay making fringe moves if it's all they can swing.

Detroit Pistons: The Pistons probably continue to build around their young core by adding more youthful pieces through the draft, free agency and trade. I bet they mostly run it back and hope their players take significant steps forward in the off-season.

Golden State Warriors: I'm assuming they would give Butler/Draymond/Steph a full training camp together before making any bigger moves. They probably try to find shooting and height to put around their veteran trio.

Houston Rockets: Unless the right young star comes along (Giannis, LaMelo, Trae, etc.) then I don't see them blowing up this young core. They could make a few smaller moves to get veterans around the young guys, but they have done a good job of doing that already. I put Houston's off-season as very boring or possibly landing the biggest star on the market without much grey area.

Indiana Pacers: There's some big contracts starting to kick in/upcoming so I could see Indiana trying to work through becoming financially flexible without significantly downgrading the roster on the court. I don't see them making any blockbusters, but they would start looking to move on from anyone that hasn't been paid/extended yet.

Los Angeles Clippers: Kawhi Leonard probably doesn't want to leave LA and his trade value isn't equal to what he brings to the Clippers when healthy. I could see Ballmer being hesitant to make this team expensive again, but I don't see a full rebuild just yet either.

Los Angeles Lakers: The Lakers probably try making some upgrades for LeBron's retirement tour with Luka, but probably don't want to clog up their 2026 cap space as that's their best opportunity to get a second young star to pair with Luka moving forward.

Memphis Grizzlies: I could see the Grizzlies mostly running it back and relying on development to get better. Their trio of Ja/Bane/JJJ is the foundation and they have drafted well enough to create depth around them so they probably continue to operate with that approach.

Miami Heat: Like the Lakers, the Heat probably explore 2026 free agency if they can make moves in the off-season to further open up space. Rozier probably gets shopped and they may try landing a star via trade such as Durant, but I don't see them trading any core pieces unless it's a star quality return.

Milwaukee Bucks: I could see the Giannis heat growing if they lose in the first round of the playoffs. More likely, they fire Doc Rivers and continue to find creative ways to build around Giannis, but I get the sense he wants to win more and he might want out if he feels he can't do that in Milwaukee.

Minnesota Timberwolves: Maybe Randle and/or McDaniels get sent out for better roster balance if they are ousted early, but other than that they are likely limited to smaller moves to build around Gobert/Edwards. I could see both McDaniels and Randle moving out if they could get a lot of useful pieces in return.

New Orleans Pelicans: Here is a team I could see going full rebuild. I could see them talking themselves into better health, but even then it feels like there's a ceiling to this roster. Zion, McCollum and Dejounte could all be traded for picks/young players/cap relief as the Pelicans completely tear it down once again.

New York Knicks: Similiar to the Timberwolves, the Knicks are kind of stuck in their means of upgrading the roster. They probably try to make smaller moves for depth as Towns and Bridges this past off-season were the bigger trades they have been looking to make.

Oklahoma City Thunder: Even if the Thunder disappoint in the playoffs, they're so young/deep that they mostly run it back. They don't have the salary matching ability for anything significant, but they seem due to cash in at least some of their picks for some kind of upgrade if they don't have success this post-season.

Orlando Magic: Assets, salary matching capability, young talented roster and... a management philosophy to take it slow and not make any culture/locker room disrupting moves. I see them trying to add some useful veterans, but otherwise running it back regardless of how the rest of the year plays out.

Philadelphia 76ers: This is somewhere I see going either way. The 76ers could keep growing and give Maxey/Embiid/George one more run at it before pivoting or... just pivoting this off-season and cashing in on Embiid and George from a desperate team and rebuilding around Maxey.

Phoenix Suns: Durant seems to have a sour taste in his mouth from the deadline combined with Phoenix having backed themselves into a corner. Booker seems okay there for now, but things change fast in the NBA. I could see them being forced to trade both Durant and Booker this off-season, but surely Durant is set to go.

Portland Trail Blazers: Much of the same here. Probably looking for a good market for their vets and rebuilding around their young guys. I'm not sure there's a big market for their vets, but they likely continue to at least explore it and see if they can land an asset or young guy.

Sacramento Kings: The biggest question here is if they continue with the current regime or hire new management. Under the current regime, I could see them continuing with the team they currently have and seeing if it could gel into something solid. Under new management, I could see LaVine be re-routed, DeRozan getting sent out for best offer and possibly shopping Sabonis if it nets a high ceiling return.

San Antonio Spurs: I could see the Spurs being ready to go from young interesting team to legitimate contender this off-season and try to find their third piece to join Wemby and Fox. They have assets and matching salary to land a legit stud, but I'm not sure which available player would be the best fit for their timeline.

Toronto Raptors: Probably just growing their current core. Maybe they shop Barrett and Poeltl to gain some cap flexibility if Ingram lands a big deal there, but otherwise they probably aren't ready to buy a star and already made their rebuilding moves with Anunoby and Siakam so they continue to grow internally.

Utah Jazz: I could see this being an active off-season in Utah. They probably know how far behind the pack they are in the West so I could see them pivot to a complete teardown where they end up with better cap flexibility/assets/young players including Sexton and Markkanen.

Washington Wizards: They're still a bit away from being a playoff team so they probably continue to try to add assets and young talent, but there isn't much left to sell off for them that has positive value. They could mostly remain status quo and the NBA Draft/Draft Lottery is probably the biggest part of their off-season.

[R-DAWG]

Kevin Durant rumors will start to dominate the headlines once PHX loses in the playoffs

[NYG]

Kevin Durant rumors will start to dominate the headlines once PHX loses in the playoffs

Trae Young talk could get real too

Boston could make a surprising cap saving move with a busted playoff run?

LaMelo? Zion? Embiid/PG? Is a disappointing playoff for the Bucks enough to make Giannis real?

[LarsV8]

All eyes on Giannis, Trae and Phoenix.

[Apz]

Hard to say before we see how po goes. Kyrie might opt opt from mavs, unless they get him a max. He took less last time, cant see jim do ot again after what nico did. Lebron might actually opt opt too take less if he want to win. Who kniws what luka do

[SD2042]

Keep eyes on PHX, ATL, CHI, potentially MIL

[SlimShady83]

All eyes on Giannis, Trae and Phoenix.

Not sure about this one ... But In the off season ... Trae wants out

Straight up ... Trae Young for D.Liilard, Hawks get some sort of draft capital back.

Trae/Giannis combo

[MartinsIzAfraud]

Orlando FO once again needs another year to watch a team shoot 20% from 3 and 35% from the floor.

[dms269]

All eyes on Giannis, Trae and Phoenix.

Not sure about this one ... But In the off season ... Trae wants out

Straight up ... Trae Young for D.Liilard, Hawks get some sort of draft capital back.

Trae/Giannis combo

Knowing how the Hawks have operated recently, they would probably ask for like 5 2nds.

Sent from my SM-G975U using RealGM mobile app

[Duffman100]

Raptors likely need to shed salary. RJ is the most
likely player to be dealt.

[YayBasketball]

Hornets will trade for Zion for marketing and the potential to jump start their rebuild to win more.

[MasterIchiro]

Hornets will trade for Zion for marketing and the potential to jump start their rebuild to win more.

Hornets just unloaded a center who missed all last season, with lingering questions about his availability, conditioning, and longevity.

Zion is the type of risk Hornets just reduced.

[jjohns828]

Orlando FO once again needs another year to watch a team shoot 20% from 3 and 35% from the floor.

Well you know with the injuries this year they need another year to properly assess the current roster. Otherwise how can they truly know whether internal development has fixed the issue they've had for multiple seasons.

[jayjaysee]

Kevin Durant rumors will start to dominate the headlines once PHX loses in the playoffs

Trae Young talk could get real too

Boston could make a surprising cap saving move with a busted playoff run?

LaMelo? Zion? Embiid/PG? Is a disappointing playoff for the Bucks enough to make Giannis real?

I don’t think Giannis is leaving Milwaukee. Their ownership is willing to spend and he will get a massive contract and then maybe there’s noise about him wanting out when he’s 34ish if the team doesn’t retool well.

Will see if Kuz has any winning basketball in him back in a good situation. Will see what they do what that is proven to be not the case..

[Astaluego]

KD to the Mavs for the rookie chosen in the draft/Lively/PJ/Marshall/Klay to a 3 team and 2 FRP (Lakers29 + Mavs 31 or 32)...
or the Wolves...
Suns
In: McDaniels/Randle/Dillingham/Middleton
Wolves
In:KD
WIZARDS
In:Beal+Picks

Trae Young will be traded, I would bet on NOP... depending on how they do in the Draft

I think the Kings will try to establish themselves by sending some moving parts and some of the draft capital acquired from the Fox trade for someone like OG or Siakam (depending on who is available).

Grizzlies or Pacer consolidating prospects in Cam Johnson ..Whoever loses the Cam draw...could get PGeorge

Spurs make another move...they will call the Jazz for Markkanen...

Beal will return to the WIZARDS.. Beal+FRP for Middleton+Filling

something related to Randle...??Randle to Jazz for J.Collins or something like that...or maybe something with Bulls

[daoneandonly]

My last post as a disgruntled ex about my former team; hopefully Dallas relocates to LV and/or fires Nico Harrison

[pipfan]

Hopefully, the Bulls move White/Vuc, tank the year and go for a top 5 2026 pick-plus unlimited 2026 cap space

[penbeast0]

My last post as a disgruntled ex about my former team; hopefully Dallas relocates to LV and/or fires Nico Harrison

We welcome you to Wizards fandom where 40+ years of mediocrity and losing has FINALLY turned to a true tank and we have accepted the inevitable miserable awful play that goes with starting 3 teenagers in a grown man's league.

[daoneandonly]

My last post as a disgruntled ex about my former team; hopefully Dallas relocates to LV and/or fires Nico Harrison

We welcome you to Wizards fandom where 40+ years of mediocrity and losing has FINALLY turned to a true tank and we have accepted the inevitable miserable awful play that goes with starting 3 teenagers in a grown man's league.

Ha appreciate it. I do like me some Bub, and think they pulled off some really nice deals yesterday. It will be nice to once again follow March Madness since I now have a team that takes the draft seriously.

[facothomas22]

Kevin Durant request a trade after the Suns lose in the play -in or the 1st round of the playoffs. Devin Booker may also be on the trading block.

Lebron leaves the Lakers and take a pay cut to join the Cavaliers,Mavericks, or the Warriors.

The Mavericks try to go all in and get surround AD/Kyrie with the best team possible. Maybe this is when Kevin Durant come into play?

Trae Young request a trade from the Hawks.

The Spurs end getting a top 8 pick in the draft. I would view them as darkhorse in the Cooper Flagg/Ace Bailey sweeptakes.

The Warriors use their remaining assets to surround Stephen Curry/Jimmy Butler with a better team or bring in a younger star.

The Clippers,Spurs,Grizzlies,Cavaliers,Magic,Heat,Thunder,Nuggets,76ers, etc clear out as much salary as possible with some teams being willing to pay a 1st round pick in order so to put themselves in the best position possible to sign Luka Doncic in the 2026 off season.

The 76ers may move towards a rebuild/major retool direction if they don't feel Joel Emiid health will be getting much better going forward.

The Bulls maybe willing to start a full rebuild by trading Coby White for significant draft comepsation

The trade Market for Cam Johnson is drier than expected with many teams looking to clear cap space, which could put the Nets in a tough position.

A lot of decent players are forced to take payouts in Free Agency.

Giannis could silently request a trade depending on the Bucks season.