The NBA offseason is in great turmoil: Is there really going to be "the world is in chaos"?

Offs trading waves are coming

When the summer sun just started to spill over the basketball court, the NBA free market has already ignited a raging fire. According to incomplete statistics, more than one-third of teams have made great efforts in the trading market, and it all seems to be just the beginning. ESPN famous reporter Brian Windhorst recently released shocking news: this year's NBA offseason will kick off in advance in an unusual manner. "This summer we will see an unprecedented series of changes, most of which will happen before the draft," Windhorst said. "Usually, we won't be able to witness those shocking deals until the end of June to the beginning of July, but this year is destined to be unique."

Durant's shocking deals

(I) The Rockets' gamble

Among many trades, the most eye-catching thing is the shocking deal between the Suns and the Rockets about Kevin Durant. Late at night on June 23, US media Shams reported that the Suns sent Durant to the Rockets, and the Rockets paid the chips of Jaylen Green, Dillon, the 2025 No. 10 pick and 5 second round picks. For the Rockets, this is undoubtedly a big bet. Last season, the Rockets ranked second in the Western Conference and showed strong strength, but the unexpected loss to the Warriors in the first round of the playoffs made the team management realize that the team needs a superstar who can make the final decision at a critical moment. The arrival of Durant has undoubtedly qualitatively improved the Rockets' strength. His scoring ability is a historical level. He averaged 26.6 points, 6 rebounds, 4.2 assists per game last season, with a shooting percentage of over 50% and a three-point shooting percentage of over 40%. This efficiency is ranked among the top even in the entire league. With Durant, the Rockets will become more unsolvable on the offensive end, and his key ball ability can help the team break the deadlock at a stalemate. Judging from the lineup, the Rockets' new starter is expected to be Van Vleet, Amen Thompson, Durant, Jabary Smith and Shin Kyung. The three are over seven feet tall and have built a rare frontcourt combination in the league. Durant partnered with Smith and Shin Kyung to provide space and rebound guarantees, while Amen and Ethan (substitute)'s defensive strength can reduce Durant's defensive burden and allow him to focus more on offense. The Rockets' long man formation last season gave the Warriors a headache. Now the lineup has been upgraded and the dominance of the penalty area has been further consolidated. At the same time, Amen Thompson's ball-holding propulsion and Shin Kyung's ability to support can also create more opportunities for Durant without the ball, making the Rockets' offense more diversified.

(II) Suns' reconstruction strategy

After the Suns got these chips, they started the road to reconstruction. Although Jaylen Green performed unpredictably on the offensive end, his stability was insufficient and his room for improvement was questioned in the future; Dillon had a tough defense, but his offensive finishing ability was lacking. However, for the Suns who are in the reconstruction period, these young players may be the puzzle of the team's future. The No. 10 pick and 5 second round picks in 2025 also give the Suns more choices in the draft, and can select some potential new stars to enrich the team's future lineup. According to Suns reporter John Gambadoro, the Suns currently have no intention of trading Jaylen Green out. They plan to let Green and Booker partner in the backcourt. This may be a direction for the Suns to rebuild, creating a young and energetic backcourt combination, and then supplemented by draft picks to slowly build the team's future framework. The Suns management also knows that reconstruction is not achieved overnight, it takes time and patience. Through this transaction, they have accumulated a certain amount of capital for the team's future development.

Celtic's smart operation

(I) Holiday's transaction

Celtic's operations in the offseason are also dazzling. They first traded Holiday to the Trail Blazers for Anthony Simmons and 2 second round picks. For the Celtics, this is a deal based on multi-faceted considerations. Last season, the Celtics accidentally lost to the Knicks in the second round of the playoffs, and the team exposed some problems, among which salary pressure is a big problem. Holiday's contract is larger, and through this deal, the Celtics successfully got rid of Holiday's future contract of about $72 million, saving about $40 million in luxury taxes in the 2025-26 season. From a lineup perspective, Holiday is experienced and has excellent defense but is older, while Anthony Simmons is only 26 years old and has great potential. Last season, Simmons averaged 19.3 points, 2.7 rebounds, 4.8 assists per game, and his three-point shooting percentage reached 36.3%. His arrival can inject youthful vitality into the team, and his scoring ability can also make up for the team's shortcomings in certain positions, especially in the addition of offensive firepower points.

For the Trail Blazers, they are in the reconstruction stage, and Holiday's arrival can bring rich experience to the team. Although Holiday is older, his defensive ability and game reading ability are what Trail Blazers young players lack. He can greatly help the team on the defensive end, and at the same time he can play a leading role in the locker room and lead the young players on the team to grow. Moreover, the Trail Blazers had previously had intersections with Holiday and were more familiar with his abilities and style, which also helped him integrate into the team faster. This deal seems simple, but in fact it has a profound impact on the future development of both teams.

(II) Three-party big deal

Immediately afterwards, the Celtics participated in a three-party big deal with the Hawks and the Nets. The Celtics gave Porzingis and a second round pick, and got Nian and 2 second round picks; the Hawks gave Corinth and Nian and got Porzingis; the Nets gave Clarkston and 2 second round picks, and got Collinth and a second round pick. This deal is something that everyone needs for each team. In this deal, the Celtics further optimized the team's salary structure and obtained practical players like Nian. Nian is a small forward with superb shooting skills. Last season, he played for the Cavaliers and the Hawks, playing a total of 79 games, averaging 9.9 points, 3.4 rebounds, shooting 46.1% from the field and 40.6% from three-pointers. His three-point ability can well adapt to the Celtics' offensive system and provide more options for the team's outside offense. Moreover, through trading Porzingis, although the Celtics lost an inside scoring point and basket protector, they also reduced the salary pressure and made room for subsequent operations.

The Hawks got Porzingis, making up for the team's lack of offensive ability in the interior. Porzingis has excellent scoring ability and certain basket protection ability, and his arrival can enhance the Hawks' competitiveness in the interior. Sending Collins away is also an opportunity for the Hawks to adjust their lineup. Collins' development in the Hawks has gradually fallen into a bottleneck. By trading him, the Hawks have obtained players who are more in line with the team's needs.

Nets obtained Collins through this deal, strengthening the team's inside strength. Collins has certain scoring and rebounding abilities, which can provide more support to the Nets' inside. At the same time, the Nets sent Clarkston to a certain extent, optimizing the team's salary structure and lineup configuration. In this series of transactions, the Celtics showed the management's shrewdness. Through clever operations, they not only relieved salary pressure, but also maintained the team's competitiveness to a certain extent, laying the foundation for the team's future development.

Important deals for other teams

In addition to the above major deals, there are many teams in the league that are also actively operating. The Grizzlies trade Desmond Bain to the Magic for Kentavius ​​Caldwell Pope, Cole Anthony, as well as four unprotected first-round picks and one first-round pick swap. For the Grizzlies, this is a future-oriented deal. Although Bain is strong, the team's salary pressure is gradually increasing, and the Trident combination has never made a major breakthrough in the West. Through this deal, the Grizzlies escaped the pressure of long-term large contracts and acquired high-quality draft assets, providing more flexibility for reconstruction. The Magic team is in order to improve their combat effectiveness. Bain's arrival can greatly make up for the team's lack of firepower on the outside, form a good chemical reaction with the young core members of the team, such as Ban Kairo and Sargus, to help the team gain a place in the competition in the Eastern Conference. The Pelicans trades are also frequent. They first made a deal with the Pacers and got the No. 23 pick for this year's draft, which gave the Pelicans more options in the draft to pick potential rookies that match the team's needs. Subsequently, the Pelicans completed a 3-for-3 deal with the Wizards, sending away CJ, Olynick, and a future second-round pick in exchange for Poole, Sadiq Bay and this year's No. 40 pick. The deal further rejuvenates the Pelicans' roster, and the addition of Poole and Sadiq Bay brings youthful vitality and scoring ability to the team. For the Wizards, although the contract is about to expire, his experience can help young players in the team grow. At the same time, the Wizards also free up salary space for the future so that they can have more room for operation in subsequent signings. The Pacers also have their own considerations in the trade. They regained control of their first round picks in 2026 through the trade, which gave the team more flexibility in future draft pick deals. Under the influence of the new labor-capital agreement, the team saved luxury tax by trading this year's first round of picks, and also provided the possibility for future upgrades to the championship lineup or multiple small-scale operations. Having more tradeable first-round picks allows the Pacers to remain competitive in the Eastern Conference, with more capital in making big deals or gradually adjusting their lineup.

State Outlook for Next Season

As these trades are completed, the NBA situation will become confusing next season. After the Rockets got Durant, they undoubtedly became one of the favorites to win the championship. Their lineup depth and star strength have reached a new level, and as long as the team can stay healthy, they will be extremely competitive in the West and the entire league. After a series of operations, although the Celtics lost some players, their salary structure was optimized and the team's flexibility was enhanced. The addition of players such as Anfini Simmons and Nian has made the team's lineup younger, and they are expected to continue to maintain strong competitiveness in the East and strive for the championship. The Grizzlies entered the reconstruction stage after the trade. Although it may be difficult to make too big a breakthrough in the record in the short term, the draft picks and young players in their hands provide unlimited possibilities for the team's future development. After the Magic got Bain, their strength has been significantly improved, and they are expected to stand out in the Eastern Conference competition and become a dark horse. The Pelicans have become younger through trades, and the addition of Poole and Sadiq Bay has given the team more choices on the offensive end, and they will compete fiercely for playoff spots in the West. The Pacers have controlled more first-round picks through trades, laying the foundation for future lineup upgrades, and they will also maintain a certain competitiveness in the East.

Overall, the competition in the NBA league will be more intense next season, and teams are working hard for the championship. These deals not only changed the lineup of each team, but also caused a huge change in the league's structure. Fans are also eager to look forward to the arrival of the new season. We want to see how these new lineups will perform on the field, which team can stand out among the many strong teams and win the championship trophy. Let's wait and see.