The Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder received their first championship on Sunday evening, beating the Indiana Pacers in Sport 7 of the NBA Finals to turn into the seventh straight new titleholder in a record-setting period of parity within the league.
Solely time will inform if that milestone quantity will stretch to eight subsequent yr or if OKC is about to turn into the league’s subsequent dynastic pressure. What is for certain is that the Thunder’s victory formally places a bow on the 2024-25 NBA season. Consequently, the chase to catch the champs is formally on.
To arrange what portends to be an enormous offseason within the NBA, we took a holistic have a look at the place all 30 groups stand of their pursuit of a crown and the largest questions every faces this summer time.
To take action, we divided the 30 franchises into 10 tiers. We began with the true title contenders and ended with the groups dealing with what the Thunder themselves confronted simply 4 years in the past: the throes of a full rebuild.
(Word: Groups are organized alphabetically inside every tier, and the projected wage cap area for every comes through ESPN’s Bobby Marks.)
True NBA title contender
Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder (68-14)
Complete gamers underneath contract: 15
Projected wage cap area: None
Complete tradable picks: 10 first-round picks, 17 second-round picks
Oklahoma Metropolis has a humiliation of riches. Not solely did the Thunder simply win their first title with a roster that includes no gamers older than 31 and solely two older than 27. Additionally they have 15 gamers underneath contract, with two extra first-round picks coming on this yr’s draft, that means they should create some roster room this summer time. In the meantime, Oklahoma Metropolis secured the Larry O’Brien Trophy with out paying the luxurious tax, and it will not be paying the tax subsequent yr, both. It will enable the Thunder to sock away financial savings for the long run because the roster begins to get costly this summer time, when Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren are eligible for rookie extensions and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander can agree to an enormous future supermax extension.
It pays to be within the East
Cleveland Cavaliers (64-18)
Complete gamers underneath contract: 10
Projected wage cap area: None
Complete tradable picks: 1 first-round decide, 4 second-round picks
The Cavaliers had a terrific common season with the second-highest win whole in franchise historical past, earlier than falling flat of their Jap Convention semifinal loss to the Pacers. However whereas the Cavaliers had some points uncovered in that collection, there aren’t quite a lot of avenues for them to be addressed, given Cleveland has a call to make on Ty Jerome, who’s going to get a big increase from the $2.5 million he made this season. (The identical goes for Sam Merrill and his $2.1 million.) However except the Cavaliers make trades, they’re going to be largely operating it again.
New York Knicks (51-31)
Complete gamers underneath contract: 10
Projected wage cap area: None
Complete tradable picks: 1 first-round decide, 7 second-round picks
The Knicks made their first main transfer of the summer time once they selected to dismiss coach Tom Thibodeau after reaching the Jap Convention finals for the primary time in 25 years. Discovering a brand new voice within the locker room comes with determining what the Knicks will do to attempt to increase the roster. With some inventive accounting, New York ought to be capable to use the $5.6 million taxpayer’s midlevel exception and keep beneath the second apron. Can they land a difference-maker with it? And might the Knicks add extra depth past their prime seven, with the intense lights of New York, a contending workforce and enjoying time to supply gamers on minimal offers? Or will they attempt to do one thing larger and transfer gamers from that prime seven to swing for an even bigger fish? There’s additionally a possible Mikal Bridges extension to think about. Shifting on from Thibodeau exhibits New York is not happy with simply being good; the Knicks have made it clear that solely a 2026 Finals berth might be deemed successful subsequent season.
Better of the remainder within the West
Denver Nuggets (50-32)
Complete gamers underneath contract: 11
Projected wage cap area: None
Complete tradable picks: 1 first-round decide, 1 second-round decide
If not for a wild fourth quarter from Thunder guard Luguentz Dort in Sport 5 of the convention semifinals, maybe Denver can be celebrating a second title in three years. As an alternative, the Nuggets are reeling from a second straight seven-game exit within the second spherical. The primary order of enterprise might be figuring out who will lead the entrance workplace after formally retaining David Adelman as coach. Whomever Denver hires as normal supervisor will face roster choices instantly. First, Denver has to see if it will probably get Christian Braun, one of many higher younger guards within the league, signed to a contract extension. Past that, the Nuggets might be hoping to improve their roster, with restricted belongings, to attempt to chase down OKC atop the West.
Houston Rockets (52-30)
Complete gamers underneath contract: 11
Projected wage cap area: None
Complete tradable picks: 4 first-round picks, 2 second-round picks
After an amazing season that noticed the Rockets end second within the convention and lose in seven hard-fought video games to the Warriors through the first spherical, it turned clear Houston wanted to improve its offense. How about touchdown Kevin Durant? That was precisely what the Rockets did hours earlier than Sunday’s Sport 7, including the long run Corridor of Famer in alternate for Jalen Inexperienced, Dillon Brooks and the No. 10 decide on this yr’s draft. That can enable the Rockets to stay an possibility if one other star turns into out there later this offseason or subsequent yr. And whereas Fred VanVleet has a $44 million workforce possibility for subsequent season, count on him to stay in Houston both on that deal or a brand new one.
Minnesota Timberwolves (49-33)
Complete gamers underneath contract: 8
Projected wage cap area: None
Complete tradable picks: no first-round picks, 4 second-round picks
Coming off back-to-back convention finals appearances is justifiable trigger for celebration within the Twin Cities. However as Marc Lore and Alex Rodriguez totally take over as house owners this summer time, there are a number of huge choices forward. Will Tim Connelly, who can decide out of his contract, stay in control of the franchise shifting ahead? What’s going to occur with pending unrestricted free brokers Julius Randle and Naz Reid — each of whom have participant choices for subsequent season — and Nickeil Alexander-Walker? Connelly expressed optimism that each one three can be again throughout his end-of-season media session, and Minnesota cannot afford to take any steps backward within the West.
Elite contenders with harm woes
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Rick Carlisle on Hali: ‘He might be again’
Rick Carlisle provides an replace on Tyrese Haliburton’s harm and assures that “he might be again.”
Boston Celtics (61-21)
Complete gamers underneath contract: 11
Projected wage cap area: None
Complete tradable picks: 2 first-round picks, 5 second-round picks
Few offseasons in NBA historical past have been extra fascinating than what’s awaiting the Celtics. Due to Jayson Tatum’s left Achilles tear, a workforce that has dominated the East for the higher a part of a decade now has large questions as new proprietor Invoice Chisholm will get set to take over the workforce this summer time. There have been doubts even earlier than Tatum’s harm that Boston would have the primary $500 million roster in NBA historical past. It is unattainable to see that occuring now. How Boston approaches this summer time might be a very powerful determination any workforce within the league makes, by way of the ripple results that call might trigger. Then there’s the way forward for franchise stalwart and future Corridor of Famer Al Horford. Within the wake of Tatum’s harm, might Horford select to play elsewhere? If he does, his stretch-big skillset would match with any contending workforce, and he has proven he is nonetheless a extremely efficient participant even at 39 years previous.
Indiana Pacers (50-32)
Complete gamers underneath contract: 10
Projected wage cap area: None
Complete tradable picks: 4 first-round picks, 8 second-round picks
After their gorgeous run to the NBA Finals, and to inside a number of pictures of the franchise’s first championship, the main focus shifts to Tyrese Haliburton’s restoration from the correct Achilles harm he suffered early in Sport 7. Indiana has proved its resiliency in these playoffs, but when Haliburton is out for all of subsequent season, it is onerous to see the Pacers replicating this yr’s run. Within the meantime, additionally they need to resolve what to do about Myles Turner, one of the best out there free agent middle and an important a part of Indiana’s five-out offense. The Pacers are anticipated to re-sign Turner; the query is whether or not the Pacers will go into the luxurious tax to take action.
Milwaukee Bucks (48-34)
Complete gamers underneath contract: 7
Projected wage cap area: None
Complete tradable picks: 1 first-round decide, 2 second-round picks
Just like the Celtics, the Bucks have a call that would trigger ripple results all through the league: What does Giannis Antetokounmpo’s future in Milwaukee appear to be? After 12 seasons with the franchise, there are actual questions on how aggressive the Bucks could be subsequent season following Damian Lillard’s left Achilles tear. The expectation is that the Bucks want to get out of the luxurious tax after paying a whole bunch of tens of millions in recent times, that means franchise stalwart and unrestricted free agent Brook Lopez might be priced out of a return.
Growing older star energy
Golden State Warriors (48-34)
Complete gamers underneath contract: 9
Projected wage cap area: None
Complete tradable picks: 4 first-round picks, 1 second-round decide
After touchdown Jimmy Butler III on the commerce deadline, Golden State managed to win a playoff spherical earlier than Stephen Curry obtained damage and the Timberwolves shortly dispatched the Warriors in 5 video games in Spherical 2. Now, the main focus shifts to what seemingly might be yet one more eventful summer time within the Bay Space, starting with the tough negotiations with restricted free agent ahead Jonathan Kuminga. Golden State seemingly will both convey him again on a brand new deal or signal and commerce him so as to add reinforcements to the roster. Every path has a differing degree of complexity. Regardless, the Warriors might want to discover methods to enhance the roster to maintain up within the very troublesome West.
LA Clippers (50-32)
Complete gamers underneath contract: 10
Projected wage cap area: None
Complete tradable picks: 2 first-round picks, 4 second-round picks
The Clippers outperformed this season, ending fifth within the West and pushing the Nuggets to seven video games in an exciting first-round collection. LA’s prime priorities? Checking out the way forward for James Harden, who has a $36.3 million participant possibility, and deciding whether or not to increase Norman Powell, who’s coming off one of the best season of his profession. (Powell has a $20.4 million expiring contract in 2025-26.) The Clippers additionally might have a lot of the full midlevel exception out there or they may use that wage flexibility to make strikes through commerce.
Los Angeles Lakers (50-32)
Complete gamers underneath contract: 10
Projected wage cap area: None
Complete tradable picks: 1 first-round decide, 1 second-round decide
Summer time is rarely boring for the Lakers, and this yr is not any completely different. Not solely did the Lakers simply promote for a file $10 billion, however the franchise is ready on one other free company determination from LeBron James. Now 40, he can decide into his $52.6 million participant possibility for subsequent season with an extension, decide in with out an extension or decide out and signal a brand new contract. (Ahead Dorian Finney-Smith faces the identical three decisions along with his personal $15.3 million possibility.) Luka Doncic, in the meantime, might select to signal an extension or depart the Lakers in limbo till subsequent summer time. Austin Reaves can conform to an extension off his $13.9 million contract. And at last: After declining to finish the Mark Williams commerce in February, can the Lakers get a rim-running middle for Doncic?
Rising younger groups with upside
Detroit Pistons (44-38)
Complete gamers underneath contract: 10
Projected wage cap area: None (almost definitely)
Complete tradable picks: 4 first-round picks, 13 second-round picks
The Pistons, who received a playoff sport for the primary time since 2008, have two very completely different paths they will take. Assuming they re-sign unrestricted free brokers Tim Hardaway Jr., Malik Beasley and Dennis Schroder, they’re going to function as an over-the-tax workforce and attempt to add to their roster with the total midlevel exception or through commerce this summer time. The opposite alternative? Let these gamers go, clear cap area and go after a free agent — probably a floor-spacing huge to create extra room for All-NBA guard Cade Cunningham to function. Both method, after normal supervisor Trajan Langdon spent his first season in cost constructing a strong ecosystem round Cunningham — serving to to launch him to a different degree as a participant — count on that to be the guideline of Detroit’s summer time.
Orlando Magic (41-41)
Complete gamers underneath contract: 14
Projected wage cap area: None
Complete tradable picks: 1 first-round decide, 11 second-round picks
After years of inactivity underneath president of basketball operations Jeff Weltman, Orlando pushed in all of its chips by sending 4 first-round picks plus a swap to Memphis in final week’s gorgeous commerce for guard Desmond Bane. Bane, a terrific shooter who can also create for himself and others and is not a defensive legal responsibility, is a dream match for a Magic roster desperately in want of offense after rating final in 3-point capturing this season. Bane boosts Orlando with out the workforce sacrificing its defensive id, and he’ll slot proper in alongside Jalen Suggs, Paolo Banchero (up for a max extension this summer time) and Franz Wagner as Orlando’s core shifting ahead. Trades akin to this, nevertheless, are solely made should you imagine it makes you a real contender to achieve the NBA Finals. Given Orlando hasn’t received a playoff collection since 2010, that is a lofty bar to clear.
San Antonio Spurs (34-48)
Complete gamers underneath contract: 10
Projected wage cap area: None
Complete tradable picks: 3 first-round picks, 15 second-round picks
Having traded for De’Aaron Fox in February then touchdown the second decide on this week’s NBA draft, San Antonio might be entrance and middle in any dialogue of stars altering groups this summer time to probably pair with rising famous person Victor Wembanyama, whom the Spurs imagine might be wholesome to begin the season after having this marketing campaign minimize brief resulting from a deep vein thrombosis prognosis. The opposite query in San Antonio: What does Chris Paul do after a really profitable first season with the Spurs?
Will the true workforce please arise?
Dallas Mavericks (39-43)
Complete gamers underneath contract: 13
Projected wage cap area: None
Complete tradable picks: 3 first-round picks, 2 second-round picks
What a wild trip in Dallas. The Mavericks shocked the league by buying and selling Luka Doncic in February, solely to shock it once more by leaping from eleventh to first within the draft lottery final month to safe the correct to draft one other phenom in Cooper Flagg. With Flagg set to anchor the franchise for the subsequent decade, the Mavs have to determine what to do with Kyrie Irving, who will miss at the very least nearly all of subsequent season with a torn left ACL and has a $42.9 million participant possibility on the books. Whereas Irving is predicted to be again, Dallas desperately wants some extra ballhandling, particularly whereas he is out.
Memphis Grizzlies (48-34)
Complete gamers underneath contract: 11
Projected wage cap area: Fluid
Complete tradable picks: 7 first-round picks, 6 second-round picks
After a disappointing last few months of the season, culminating in firing coach Taylor Jenkins and getting swept out of the playoffs by the Thunder, the primary order of enterprise in Memphis is determining whether or not Jaren Jackson Jr. can safe a brand new extension. Jackson is on an expiring $23.4 million deal, one far beneath his present worth, that means Memphis might want to renegotiate and lengthen the previous Defensive Participant of the 12 months to get a deal performed. That is why the Grizzlies moved on from Marcus Good through the season. And Memphis has hoped to get Jackson locked up. Assuming the Grizzlies do, additionally they have to determine the way forward for restricted free agent Santi Aldama and guard Luke Kennard.
Philadelphia 76ers (24-58)
Complete gamers underneath contract: 9
Projected wage cap area: None
Complete tradable picks: 3 first-round picks, 7 second-round picks
Any predictions for Philadelphia hinge on Joel Embiid’s well being, which stays very a lot an open query. Philly might be hoping it will probably get one thing near full energy from Embiid subsequent season, in addition to a greater model of Paul George and an able-bodied Jared McCain, after the rookie standout was shut down with a left meniscus harm in December. The 76ers loved begin to their offseason by leaping to 3rd within the lottery and thus retaining their top-six protected decide.
Caught in purgatory
Atlanta Hawks (40-42)
Complete gamers underneath contract: 11
Projected wage cap area: None
Complete tradable picks: 3 first-round picks, 6 second-round picks
After firing GM Landry Fields in April and selling Onsi Saleh to run basketball operations, the primary query for proprietor Tony Ressler and the Hawks is whether or not they will rent a president of basketball operations over Saleh. (Ressler has made it clear — a yr after hiring Saleh away from Golden State — that Saleh might be an enormous a part of the group going ahead.) As soon as that is settled, a pivotal offseason awaits the Hawks, starting with a call on franchise participant Trae Younger. With one yr left on his deal earlier than a participant possibility for the 2026-27 season, will Atlanta lock him up long run or probably look to maneuver on? Past that, there’s an enchanting extension dialogue forward for guard Dyson Daniels, who received the Most Improved Participant Award after coming over within the Dejounte Murray commerce final summer time. The Hawks even have choices on unrestricted free brokers Caris LeVert and Larry Nance Jr.
Chicago Bulls (39-43)
Complete gamers underneath contract: 12
Projected wage cap area: None
Complete tradable picks: 5 first-round picks, 5 second-round picks
There is no such thing as a workforce extra caught than the Bulls, who enter the summer time with their roster largely underneath contract however with some vital choices to make — starting with restricted free agent Josh Giddey, whom they acquired for Alex Caruso final summer time. Giddey goes to count on an enormous payday. Are the Bulls prepared to offer him one? Coby White has outplayed his contract to the purpose the place an extension off his $12.9 million feels unlikely to get performed. Consequently, does that make him a commerce candidate? The Bulls presently have nearly no cash on the books for the 2026-27 season, however a Giddey extension would shortly change that.
Miami Warmth (37-45)
Complete gamers underneath contract: 12
Projected wage cap area: None
Complete tradable picks: 2 first-round picks, 1 second-round decide
With the Butler saga formally behind them, the query dealing with Miami is: What’s going to it take for the Warmth to regain their standing as a top-tier workforce within the East after floating round within the play-in? Rookie Kel’el Ware had a powerful season, and he, Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo give the Warmth some younger constructing blocks shifting ahead. However how Miami improves is not clear. There is a determination to be made on Duncan Robinson, who has $9.8 million of his $19.8 million expiring contract assured till early July. And the Warmth additionally might protect what might be a ton of cap area for the summer time of 2026, when a extra lively free agent crop might be out there.
New Orleans Pelicans (21-61)
Complete gamers underneath contract: 13
Projected wage cap area: None
Complete tradable picks: 5 first-round picks, 4 second-round picks
New lead govt Joe Dumars has some work to do that summer time. The Pelicans seemingly might be with out Dejounte Murray for all of subsequent season after he tore his proper Achilles tendon, that means the expectation might be for this workforce to once more be deep within the lottery. With Zion Williamson representing the workforce on the lottery, what does that portend for his future in New Orleans? He has three extra years on his contract. Does New Orleans maintain attempting to construct round this present younger core of Williamson, Murray, Trey Murphy III and Herbert Jones or start shifting in one other path?
Phoenix Suns (36-46)
Complete gamers underneath contract: 11
Projected wage cap area: None
Complete tradable picks: 2 first-round picks, 7 second-round picks
The primary transfer of the Suns’ new period, directed by lead govt Brian Gregory and coach Jordan Ott, was to ship Kevin Durant to the Rockets within the hours main as much as Sport 7 of the NBA Finals. Whereas Houston obtained again Jalen Inexperienced, Dillon Brooks and the tenth decide in Wednesday’s NBA draft, the deal will not be official till July 6. By then, count on the Suns to look loads completely different than at the moment. Devin Booker goes to get an enormous two-year extension subsequent month, however the Suns are anticipated to be aggressive in attempting to retool the roster round him, sources mentioned, and attempt to get Phoenix again into the playoff combine. That will not be simple: The skillsets of Inexperienced, Booker and Bradley Beal — who nonetheless has his no-trade clause — all overlap, and there are restricted mechanisms for the Suns (who stay wildly costly) to enhance.
Sacramento Kings (40-42)
Total gamers underneath contract: 10
Projected wage cap area: None
Complete tradable picks: 6 first-round picks, 3 second-round picks
New lead govt Scott Perry takes over an unbalanced Kings roster. Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan and Malik Monk all have overlapping talent units, and the De’Aaron Fox commerce left the workforce with out an apparent level guard possibility on the roster. Perry has an intriguing determination to make on Keon Ellis, who has a $2.3 million workforce possibility and has changed into a pleasant developmental story as a 3-and-D guard, a necessity for a roster devoid of many defensive choices. However the Fox transfer felt like the primary of a two-step course of; and whereas Perry did not make that first transfer, it is going to be as much as him to make the second.
Toronto Raptors (30-52)
Complete gamers underneath contract: 13
Projected wage cap area: None
Complete tradable picks: 4 first-round picks, 6 second-round picks
President of basketball operations Masai Ujiri declared Toronto would not be rebuilding without end, and the Raptors have caught to that imaginative and prescient, shortly overhauling the roster in 18 months. Now, they’re bumping up in opposition to the luxurious tax and are going to need to make some fascinating choices this summer time after buying and selling for Brandon Ingram and signing him to a contract extension in February. Due to a left ankle sprain that saved him out the rest of the marketing campaign, we by no means noticed what this Raptors group appeared like collectively after the commerce.
Rebuilding groups with expertise
Charlotte Hornets (19-63)
Complete gamers underneath contract: 12
Projected wage cap area: None
Complete tradable picks: 7 first-round picks, 11 second-round picks
The Hornets had designs on leaping up within the lottery and getting both Cooper Flagg or Dylan Harper within the draft however as a substitute fell to seventh. And after Mark Williams was traded to Los Angeles — then wasn’t — again in February, these might be very fascinating extension negotiations. So long as the franchise stays close to the underside of the East standings, there’ll at the very least be a query as to Charlotte’s long-term path, and what meaning for star guard LaMelo Ball. And veterans Miles Bridges ($25 million this yr, $22.8 million subsequent yr) and Jusuf Nurkic (expiring $19.3 million) is also probably traded. Additionally they need to decide on restricted free agent Tre Mann after he missed a lot of the season with a again harm.
Portland Path Blazers (36-46)
Complete gamers underneath contract: 13
Projected wage cap area: None
Complete tradable picks: 3 first-round picks, 5 second-round picks
There’s loads occurring in Portland. The workforce is now up on the market, and after a robust near the season, each normal supervisor Joe Cronin and coach Chauncey Billups got contract extensions. However the place does Portland go from right here? Anfernee Simons is on an expiring contract; does he get an extension, or does he probably get dealt? What about Deandre Ayton, who’s on a $35 million expiring contract of his personal and stays an obstacle to giving final yr’s seventh general decide, Donovan Clingan, a full runway because the workforce’s beginning middle?
Sitting at Step 1
Brooklyn Nets (26-56)
Complete gamers underneath contract: 10
Projected wage cap area: $40-60 million
Complete tradable picks: 9 first-round picks, 15 second-round picks
The Nets, like a number of different groups, hoped for lottery luck. As an alternative, they moved again two spots to eighth. They enter the summer time with probably the most cap area within the league however with little of worth to spend it on. Additionally they have a ton of picks, but it surely makes extra sense for this workforce to wrestle another season and use its draft decide (the rights to which it reacquired from Houston within the Mikal Bridges commerce final yr). Nonetheless, the Nets might select to make use of their cap area to hurry up the rebuild this summer time, they may use it to permit groups to save cash and get much more belongings, or some mixture of the 2. There’s additionally the potential for shifting their two veterans underneath contract, Nic Claxton and Cameron Johnson.
Utah Jazz (17-65)
Complete gamers underneath contract: 14
Projected wage cap area: None
Complete tradable picks: 7 first-round picks, 7 second-round picks
After locking up coach Will Hardy to a long-term contract extension and hiring Austin Ainge away from the Boston Celtics to be the workforce’s president of basketball operations, Utah’s management is ready for years to come back. Now comes the onerous half: starting to construct out this roster out to the purpose the place it will probably contend within the ruthless Western Convention. Step 1 in that plan? Deciding what to do with Lauri Markkanen. After final yr’s tank for Flagg failed, might Markkanen be probably traded so as to add extra belongings and align the workforce round its younger gamers — together with the fifth decide on this yr’s draft — going ahead? Veterans John Collins, Collin Sexton and Jordan Clarkson even have a mixed $60 million in expiring offers that might be utilized in a wide range of methods.
Washington Wizards (18-64)
Complete gamers underneath contract: 13
Projected wage cap area: None
Complete tradable picks: 6 first-round picks, 14 second-round picks
One more workforce that struck out within the lottery, Washington can at the very least level to younger gamers akin to Bilal Coulibaly, Alex Sarr, Bub Carrington and Kyshawn George getting helpful expertise as a part of Washington’s season among the many dregs of the league. However do not count on a wildly completely different playbook in D.C. this season, because the younger guys will proceed to play loads, veterans akin to Marcus Good and his expiring $21 million might be probably used to convey again extra belongings in offers and the Wizards will once more seemingly stay within the hunt for one of many league’s three worst data.
