Now What? 2025 Off-Season Predictions

[NYG]

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.

[NYG]

Going through the above... five names stand out

Lauri Markkanen
Joel Embiid
Kevin Durant
Giannis Antetokounmpo
Zion Williamson

Lesser likely names that are big...

Trae Young
LaMelo Ball
Devin Booker

As for the buyers on these players... I say the Bulls, Mavericks, Nuggets, Pistons, Warriors, Rockets, Heat, Timberwolves, Kings and Spurs are the most likely.

[Slim Charless]

Going through the above... five names stand out

Lauri Markkanen
Joel Embiid
Kevin Durant
Giannis Antetokounmpo
Zion Williamson

Lesser likely names that are big...

Trae Young
LaMelo Ball
Devin Booker

As for the buyers on these players... I say the Bulls, Mavericks, Nuggets, Pistons, Warriors, Rockets, Heat, Timberwolves, Kings and Spurs are the most likely.

I'd add the Magic as buyers too. That team seems in dire need of more offensive minded players from the perimeter. Thunder as well mostly cause they cant pay everyone and if they dont win, they'll make a consolidation trade.

Not sure what the Warriors or Nuggets have left to sell as far buying the above players as all of them will have heavy asking prices-even Zion.

Other than that, I agree on the other things, good work. Lots of effort put into this i can see.

[brackdan70]

Jrue or KP probably get traded if Boston doesn't get to the Finals, right?

Even if they do, that luxury tax bill is pretty ominous. I think Jrue would be the one they shop, but might be harder to move. KP coves off the books after next year.
I could see them biting the bullet for one more year, but it seems more likely they try to aggressively reduce that tax bill…win or lose.