Fresh Starts & Farewells: Shocking Moves This NBA Offseason
- Evette Velasquez
- Aug 7
- 4 min read
From blockbuster trades to free agency signings, the NBA offseason has been booked and busy. The NBA will look very different next season, and I’m here to tell you all about it. Continue reading to find out where your favorite stars landed.
Kevin Durant to the Rockets
Kevin Durant is headed to Houston in a trade that shook up the whole NBA. The Suns traded Durant for Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, a first-round pick, and five second-round picks. But the Suns and Rockets weren’t the only ones involved. It was a historic 7-team trade with the Nets, Warriors, Hawks, Lakers, and Timberwolves also having a say in it. It took a lot to move Durant, but Houston believes he’s the missing piece. I mean, he is a 2x champion, 15x all-star, 2x finals MVP, and 1x MVP. This seems like a good trade to me, as Durant knows what it’s like to win and is a prolific scorer. Houston had a good record last season, but just couldn’t finish. They struggled offensively, and half of the reason was that Jalen Green was inconsistent during the playoffs. Green was once referred to as the face of Houston, but now he’s just a part of the Suns’ rebuild. The Rockets won this trade and are only going up from here.
Desmond Bane to the Magic
Desmond Bane was traded to the Orlando Magic for Cole Anthony, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, and four first-round picks. This is a great pick up for the Magic as they’ve had first-round exits for a few years now. Last season, Orlando was great defensively but struggled on the offensive end and desperately needed a three-point shooter. Their answer: Demond Bane. Bane averaged 19 ppg and shot 39% from the three. Bane’s shooting is what the Magic needs and shows why he’s the perfect fit. Not only that, but Bane can also play defense, which makes up for the loss of Anthony and Caldwell-Pope. Many believe that the Magic gave up too much for Bane, but that’s not the case. The Grizzlies ended up sending Anthony to the Bucks, and they’re also open to trading KCP. This means that the Grizzlies just wanted the draft picks, which didn’t serve the Magic because they have a win-now mentality. The Magic won this trade, and the new addition of Bane will make them championship contenders.
Kristaps Porziņģis to the Hawks
Kristaps Porziņģis is officially a Hawk in what was a 3-team trade. In return, the Celtics got Georges Niang and a second-round pick, while the Nets got Terance Mann and Drake Powell. Porziņģis is a problem when healthy and will pair well with Trae Young. He’s a great defender and can help out with scoring when needed. He played a pivotal role in the Celtics' championship run and is not done yet. This trade just makes sense. With Tatum sidelined, the Celtics aren’t going anywhere anytime soon, so they had no use for Porziņģis. The Hawks won this trade since they gave up role players that could easily be replaced. Porziņģis hopes to bring Atlanta back into the conversation, and with the East wide open, he just might do so.
Norman Powell to the Heat
Norman Powell was also a part of a 3-team trade. The Clippers traded Powell to the Heat and got John Collins from the Jazz in return. The Heat sent Kyle Anderson, Kevin Love, and a second-round pick to the Jazz. Norman Powell is coming off his best season yet and has clearly still got it. The former champion averaged almost 22 ppg last season and will make up for the loss of Jimmy Butler. He will be a great asset to Miami and hopefully bring them out of the play-in. This came as a surprise to many because Powell was playing at an elite level and had so much more to prove. This was a good trade for all three teams involved and will hopefully improve their standings next season.
Myles Turner to the Bucks
Myles Turner unexpectedly signed with the Bucks, and it left many questioning why. Turner just made it to the finals and was a crucial part of the Pacers' rebuild. He was the longest-tenured Pacer and even opened up about it during the Eastern Conference Finals Championship Ceremony. He thanked the fans and the organization for believing in him and keeping him on the team. Everyone thought he’d be a Pacer for life, but ultimately that wasn’t the case. Without fans even knowing that it was his farewell speech, he headed off to Milwaukee. But if we’re being honest, Turner wasn’t much of a factor in the Pacers’ playoff run and was often inconsistent. So maybe this is good news for the Pacers, and now they can add a younger player to their team.
Chris Paul & Damian Lillard Return Home
Chris Paul is returning to the Los Angeles Clippers and has expressed that it was an easy decision. Paul played with the Clippers from 2011 to 2017 and considers it home. The 12-time all-star has yet to win a championship, and many believe this is his last chance to do so. The Clippers aren’t too far off, so that’s certainly a possibility. Damian Lillard is also rejoining his former team, the Portland Trail Blazers. But this didn’t happen in the way you’d expect. The Bucks waived Lillard due to his Achilles injury and the need for space for Myles Turner. So, Lillard went with what he knew best and returned home to Portland. Although Lillard won’t play until the 2026-2027 season, at least he’s back where it all started.
Many things happened this NBA offseason, and it’s not over yet. What move surprised you the most?
Comments