2025 NBA offseason buzz: Middleton sticks with rebuilding Wizards
For 28 NBA groups, the offseason has begun, and with that comes drama and buzz concerning the futures of the perfect free-agents and potential commerce targets.
We have got you coated monitoring all of the rumors from in and across the league:
June 23
Middleton stays with Wizards
Khris Middleton has picked up his $33.3 million participant possibility with the Washington Wizards for the 2025-26 season, in keeping with ESPN. The three-time NBA All-Star was traded to D.C. forward of the NBA commerce deadline by the MIlwaukee Bucks. The 33-year-old wing has been coping with ankle accidents and solely made 37 appearances final season for each groups. Middleton helped the Bucks win the 2019 NBA Finals.
June 22
Durant to Rockets in megatrade
Kevin Durant will be part of the Houston Rockets in a blockbuster commerce that may see him depart the Phoenix Suns, ESPN reported Sunday.
In return, the Suns will reportedly obtain veteran guards Jalen Inexperienced and Dillon Brooks. They’re going to additionally obtain six draft picks, together with the No. 10 general choose within the 2025 NBA Draft. The opposite 5 picks are second-round picks.
Durant, who will probably be 37 firstly of subsequent season, is coming into the ultimate season of a four-year, $194.2 million deal.
June 19
Rockets lengthen head coach Ime Udoka
Houston signed Udoka to a “long-term” extension that makes him one of many highest-paid head coaches within the NBA, in keeping with ESPN. Earlier this month, the Rockets denied the New York Knicks permission to talk with Udoka about their head-coaching emptiness after they fired Tom Thibodeau. In Udoka’s second season as head coach, the Rockets went 52-30, claiming the No. 2 seed within the Western Convention earlier than dropping to the Golden State Warriors within the first spherical of the playoffs. Houston is a mixed 93-71 underneath Udoka, who was beforehand the pinnacle coach of the Boston Celtics within the 2021-22 NBA season, with Boston reaching the NBA Finals.
June 17
Suns asking for the second choose, Stephon Fortress
Kevin Durant has, reportedly, made it clear that the San Antonio Spurs are his precedence vacation spot. However, he might not get his approach as a result of the Phoenix Suns’ asking value of the Spurs is steep. The Suns, reportedly, need the “second choose (within the 2025 NBA Draft) and/or Stephon Fortress.” The Spurs would like to retain each these property in any commerce for Durant.
June 16
Knicks not occupied with buying Kevin Durant
The Kevin Durant vacation spot rumors have been working rampant and the New York Knicks have remained a mainstay in that dialog. They’ve the property to accumulate the two-time NBA Champion, and he is expressed an curiosity in touchdown there. Nonetheless, the Knicks, reportedly, do not share that need:
“KD wished the New York Knicks. He wished to go there. The Knicks have no real interest in bringing him in.”
June 15
The primary main commerce of the NBA offseason has been agreed to. The Magic have acquired Bane from the Grizzlies for guards Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Cole Anthony, together with 4 unprotected first-round picks and a first-round choose swap, ESPN reported. The picks Memphis is receiving are the No. 16 choose within the 2025 NBA Draft, the Phoenix Suns‘ 2026 first-round choose in 2026, Orlando’s 2028 unprotected first-round choose and Orlando’s 2030 first-round choose. The choose swap is a frivolously protected first-round choose in 2029, in keeping with ESPN.
Bane, who’ll flip 27 later in June, has been an enormous cause why the Grizzlies have made the playoffs in three of the final 4 seasons. The 2020 first-round choose has averaged 20.2 factors per sport in that stretch, together with 19.2 factors per sport this previous season. He is additionally been among the many sport’s prime 3-point shooters over that point, making 40.7% of his makes an attempt from deep for the reason that begin of the 2021-22 season.
The Magic will hope that Bane will present the required scoring and capturing the group wants alongside rising star wings Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner. Whereas each gamers averaged over 24 factors per sport in 2024-25, they each shot 32% or decrease from 3-point vary, which is taken into account properly under common. Orlando’s offense wasn’t nice because of this, rating twenty seventh in offensive score (108.9) en path to a 41-41 common season. The Magic obtained the No. 7 seed within the East by the play-in event, however misplaced to the Boston Celtics in 5 video games within the first spherical.
As for the Grizzlies, the commerce marks the primary massive shake-up to their core lately. Memphis earned the No. 2 seed within the Western Convention within the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons. Nonetheless, it by no means made it previous the second spherical of the playoffs in both season. It missed the playoffs in 2023-24 as Ja Morant missed many of the yr because of accidents and a suspension. It obtained the No. 8 seed within the Western Convention this previous season, getting swept by the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder within the first spherical of the playoffs. The Grizzlies fired head coach Taylor Jenkins simply weeks earlier than the beginning of the playoffs.
June 14
Kevin Durant‘s most popular locations revealed
The disgruntled Suns star prefers to be traded to the Houston Rockets or the San Antonio Spurs, in keeping with a report from The Athletic. The Spurs and Houston Rockets have beforehand been linked to Durant, along with the Miami Warmth, Minnesota Timberwolves and New York Knicks.
The 11-time All-NBA honoree, who will probably be 37 firstly of the 2025-26 NBA season, is coming into the ultimate season of a four-year, $194.2 million deal. Final season, Durant averaged 26.6 factors per sport, whereas capturing 52.7/43.0/83.9. He was restricted to 62 video games because of calf and ankle accidents.
It turned clear towards the top of the 2025 NBA common season that Kevin Durant’s time in Phoenix would come to an finish with the shut of the common season. The Suns have reportedly positioned a unfastened deadline on when they are going to transfer Durant. The Suns are aiming to commerce Durant earlier than the NBA Draft on June 25.
Houston signed Adams to a three-year, $39 million extension, ESPN reported. Adams, who will probably be 32 firstly of subsequent season, averaged 3.9 factors and 5.6 rebounds per sport this yr in his first wholesome season with the Rockets.
June 13
Knicks set to interview teaching candidates
New York will interview Taylor Jenkins and Mike Brown for its head-coaching emptiness subsequent week, per The Athletic. Each coaches had been fired by their respective groups through the common season; Jenkins was fired by the Grizzlies, and Brown was fired by the Sacramento Kings. Throughout Jenkins’ six seasons because the Grizzlies’ head coach, the group went a mixed 250-214, making the playoffs 4 occasions, counting this season. Ought to he be employed by New York, it will be Jenkins’ second NBA head-coaching stint.
Throughout Brown’s three seasons because the Kings’ head coach, the group went a mixed 107-88, profitable 46-plus video games in every of the primary two seasons, with the franchise making the playoffs for the primary time in 17 years in Brown’s first season on the job (2022-23 season). Ought to he be employed by New York, it might be Brown’s fifth NBA head-coaching stint.
New York’s request to interview Dallas Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd about its vacant head-coaching place was rejected, ESPN reported on June 11. The Knicks additionally had been denied permission to talk with Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch and Rockets head coach Ime Udoka, SNY reported. New York fired Tom Thibodeau after dropping to the Indiana Pacers within the Jap Convention Finals.
Russell Westbrook to say no possibility, turn out to be free agent
Westbrook will decline his $3.4 million participant possibility with the Denver Nuggets for the 2025-2026 season, per ESPN. Westbrook is recovering from hand surgical procedure to restore a number of fractures sustained through the season, however up to now these forms of accidents have price him 14 and 12 video games in a season, respectively, so the expectation is that he’d be able to go properly earlier than coaching camp within the fall. The veteran guard averaged 13.3 factors and 6.1 assists whereas capturing almost 52% on 2-point makes an attempt in 75 video games for the Nuggets.
June 12
Spurs, 76ers discussing first-round choose swap
Per a number of studies, Philadelphia has mentioned transferring up within the draft from No. 3 to No. 2 with San Antonio. The Spurs have already got a full backcourt — which is the place the presumed second-overall choice, Rutgers‘ Dylan Harper, would find yourself — whereas the Sixers need to add to their very own backcourt that already contains Tyrese Maxey. Whether or not the Spurs would really search for a deal that might internet them some extra draft property to make up for the hole between the second and third picks is unknown, however the two groups have a minimum of mentioned the swap.
June 11
Warmth and Tyler Herro working towards extension
The Warmth and Herro appear to be on the identical web page as the 2 sides work towards an extension. Herro is coming into the penultimate yr of his prior deal, during which he is set to be paid $31 million in 2025-26 and $33 million in 2026-27. The extension he and the Warmth are eyeing is reportedly a three-year deal, price $149.7 million ($49.9 million AAV). The potential elevate is warranted for Herro, who’s coming off a 2024-25 season during which he posted career-bests in factors (23.9 per sport) and assists (5.5) and earned his first All-Star nod.
June 2
Raptors eyeing offseason shake-up — is Giannis Antetokounmpo on the desk?
After three consecutive playoff-less seasons, Toronto is trying to make modifications. On Sunday, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst reported on “The Hoop Collective” that the Raptors will attempt to purchase a “massive fish” this offseason. There are a number of massive fish that might be out there — Durant, who’s expressed a need to depart Phoenix — involves thoughts. The Raptors, although, might additionally attempt to lure Antetokounmpo, which might be like reeling in an awesome white shark.
Toronto has amassed gamers with the salaries wanted to construct a bundle for a transfer like this — buying and selling for and increasing Brandon Ingram, RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley. Realistically, if Antetokounmpo is on the desk, no person ought to be off limits for Toronto, together with younger star Scottie Barnes. It could make sense for Antetokounmpo, too, as a result of, whereas he hasn’t formally requested to be traded away from Milwaukee, he is expressed a need to remain in a a lot weaker Jap Convention. Based on an ESPN report from Might, the two-time MVP mentioned he is “open-minded about exploring whether or not his finest long-term match is remaining in Milwaukee or taking part in elsewhere.”
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