The 2025 NBA Finals are in full swing between the Indiana Pacers and Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder, but it surely’s already the offseason for the opposite 28 groups within the league. ESPN insider Shams Charania has predicted this would be the “craziest” summer time of participant motion ever, and the rumor mill is heating up with the draft and free company each simply weeks away.
The primary-round of the 2025 NBA Draft will happen on Wednesday, June 25, with the second spherical following the following day. NBA free company will unofficially get underway on July 1 when talks can open between gamers and groups. Free company offers gained’t be official till July 6. Whereas this can be a weaker crop of free brokers on the prime of the category, there’s some intrigue round younger restricted free brokers Josh Giddey and Jonathan Kuminga.
Listed below are the newest NBA rumors concerning the draft and free company popping out over the weekend.
Kevin Durant’s suitors are lining up
The worst stored secret within the NBA is that Kevin Durant goes to be traded within the offseason. We named six groups who really feel like a pure commerce associate for the Phoenix Suns on this deal earlier this 12 months. It feels seemingly a Durant deal will get performed quickly, and two groups are already rising as common commerce candidates.
Lengthy-time Phoenix Suns reporter John Gambadoro reported that Durant talked about the Spurs to a buddy as a potential touchdown spot. “I do know someone who has been with Kevin Durant lately. And Kevin Durant and this individual talked concerning the Spurs.”
The Toronto Raptors are one other group being talked about for Durant. ESPN’s Brian Windhorst reported Toronto is desirous about making an enormous commerce this summer time earlier this week. NBA insiders Marc Stein and Jake Fischer named the Raptors as a Durant suitor, saying that Toronto has a a lot simpler pathway to touchdown KD than it does buying and selling for Giannis Antetokounmpo.
The Houston Rockets are one other logical Durant suitor, however there are conflicting stories on talks between the groups lately. There have been some whispers that the Suns desire a lottery decide within the 2025 draft in a possible Durant deal. Given Phoenix’s apparent bias for Michigan State alums, would they attempt to goal level guard Jase Richardson?
Now that the Suns have employed a head coach and GM, count on Durant commerce talks to go rapidly. The one factor holding them up will be the standing of the one participant doubtlessly accessible this summer time who is best than KD.
Giannis Antetokounmpo leaning in direction of staying with Bucks?
Will Giannis Antetokounmpo request a commerce away from the Milwaukee Bucks this summer time? The NBA has been hanging on that query from the second Damian Lillard tore his Achilles within the first spherical of the 2025 playoffs. There’s no viable pathway to rivalry for the Bucks subsequent season with out Lillard, and the group wasn’t notably near contending even with him. Milwaukee has no future draft capital or wage cap flexibility to enhance the group within the close to or medium-term. Given Antetokounmpo’s frequent feedback about desirous to win a number of championships in his profession, it positive appears like this a superb time for him to maneuver on from the Bucks.
Not so quick. Based on NBA insider Jake Fischer, there’s “not a whole lot of perception proper now” that Giannis will really request a commerce. Possibly Antetokounmpo believes the East can be open subsequent 12 months after Jayson Tatum’s Achilles tear doomed the Boston Celtics’ rivalry probabilities. Antetokounmpo and his spouse additionally welcomed their fourth child final month, so this won’t be one of the best time for a change of surroundings.
Lastly, there was additionally a report that the Knicks are anticipated to make an enormous provide for Giannis. Sadly for them, the Knicks already traded a Giannis bundle for Mikal Bridges final summer time. New York simply has nothing to commerce when it comes to future picks, and it positive doesn’t seem to be the Bucks will need Karl-Anthony Cities or Bridges again.
Antetokounmpo actually ought to request a commerce from Milwaukee this summer time if his greatest precedence if profitable one other championship whereas he’s nonetheless in his prime (he’ll flip 31 years outdated in Dec.). Giannis has at all times appeared glad in Milwaukee, although, the place he’s had the entire group catered round him. It’s completely tremendous if he doesn’t need to depart that but.
Cavs making Darius Garland doubtlessly accessible in commerce?
The Cavs’ gained 64 video games this season, the second-most within the NBA behind the Thunder. That solely made their second spherical playoff exit by the hands of the Indiana Pacers more durable to swallow. The Cavs have a couple of notable free brokers this summer time (Ty Jerome, De’Andre Hunter, Sam Merrill) that they’ll have hassle maintaining with a large payroll and potential second apron crunch coming. Cleveland governor Dan Gilbert has at all times spent some huge cash to area a aggressive group, and getting the Cavs to take the following step goes to require not simply cash, but additionally creativity from the entrance workplace.
May the Cavs transfer off one among their ‘core 4’? ESPN’s Brian Windhorst named 25-year-old All-Star level guard Darius Garland as a participant the Cavs may doubtlessly transfer this season.
“I believe there’s some perception that Darius Garland is perhaps accessible below the suitable circumstances… I believe the Cavs are listening and open minded,” – @WindhorstESPN.
Would you be open to the Cavs buying and selling Darius Garland? pic.twitter.com/KM0eJQ7jIT
— ESPN Cleveland (@ESPNCleveland) June 5, 2025
Garland is admittedly, actually good, and his foot damage was an enormous purpose why Cleveland flamed out early within the playoffs. If Cleveland actually does commerce Garland, count on one other good younger participant and a draft decide to return again.
The Cavs are going to be in an amazing spot within the East subsequent 12 months regardless. Cleveland joins the Pacers and New York Knicks because the early front-runners within the convention with Boston anticipated to have a down 12 months due to Tatum’s damage. The East is broad open, and this summer time is the perfect time for Cleveland to make a push to get even higher.
