The biggest winner of the 2025 NBA Draft
Winner Brian Kalbroski says that smart trades and bold picks helped the Suns, Grizzly and Hawks steal the spotlight on draft night.
Perhaps on the first day of NBA free agency, there was no movement to change the franchise on the massive scale that fans were used to, but there was a clear case of open market capitalised teams.
Similarly, there were cases of teams who took on a poor, and surprisingly quiet approach to the sudden availability of players.
Since the 2023 collective bargaining agreement was signed, a common theme appears to be fearing punitive first and second dimension sanctions.
There was a window to negotiate the contract on Monday, June 30th at 6pm (6pm), and a massive amount of transactions took place, but the transaction cannot be officially signed until July 6th.
The early winners and losers from day one of NBA free agency are:
winner
Houston Rockets
This is a clear signal that Houston is all-in in the recognized championship window. Kevin Durant’s deal is one thing, but remains offensive, with Dorian Finney Smith and center Clint Capella suddenly earning a roster with size, length and speed on the wings, a successful recipe for the modern NBA.
Already a great defensive team, Houston is a nightmare if a stop is needed and must obtain a specialized lineup on the floor.
Denver Nuggets
When the Nuggets won the NBA Finals two years ago, their depth was a key asset. Flips the 2032 unprotected first round for Michael Porter Jr. and much cheaper Cameron Johnson.
Atlanta Hawks
A very good week for new general manager Onsi Saleh. After a good landing in the draft with a discount on Kristaps Porziņģis, Saleh continued to remake the Hawks as a contender for Wide-Open East. Atlanta reportedly added a shooting at Luke Kennard and wing defense to Nickaire Alexander Walker. When paired with Steal Machine Dyson Daniels, it’s a defensive backcourt that should cause problems for the rest of the meeting.
Cashed player
There will be players like center Luke Cornett (4 years, $41 million for the Spurs), Nickaire Alexander Walker (4 years, $62 million for sign-and-trade with the Hawks), guard Ty Jerome (3 years, $2.8 million for the Grizzlies), and forward center Santi Aldama (3 years, $525 million).
Grizzlies reportedly landed a five-year maximum extension worth $248 million, so they throw Jaren Jackson Jr. ahead of Grizzlies.
loser
The middle class of the Western Conference
It’s bad enough that the West has to compete with the younger powers in the NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder. But now, with rockets all-in and nuggets improving, the conference’s top teams could be building a big gap in the western middle class.
The Lakers finished third and are focused on the future. The Clippers finished fifth and reportedly added Brooke Lopez (2 years, $18 million), but is that enough? The Timberwolves reportedly lost defensive wing Nikkeil Alexander Walker in sign and trade.
Salary Cap Hungry League Middle Class
In the punitive first and second post-second eras, NBA free agencies may not have the exact same heat as they once were. Teams like the Celtics had to split the roster to remove their pay in order to avoid expensive sanctions caused by overcoming certain pay markers.
It is reportedly acquired cross sections of veterans like Jordan Clarkson (Jaz) and Cole Anthony (Grizzlies). It also led veterans such as security guards Ty Jones and Gary Trent Jr. to come across a market that was depressed for fear of sneaking up on the luxury tax. The Net is the only team to participate in free agency with critical cap space, so other teams seem to be moderate in the contracts offered, using it as leverage.
Los Angeles Lakers
LeBron James’ agent Rich Paul said the statement released when James chose it as the $52.6 million player option appears to have made Lakers fans uneasy. It hints at what the Lakers were building in the post-James era, signaling perhaps some reconstructions to come. But losing the three-winged Dorian Finney Smith, the player Los Angeles, who was acquired in trade in late December, isn’t a questionable roster management.
LA reportedly added Jake Laravia forward, but that’s not inspiring at all.
Milwaukee Bucks
Everyone is looking at Giannis Antetocomo after ESPN reported that they will closely monitor Milwaukee’s movements during the NBA draft. Antetokounmpo has been reportedly wanted to win, and although he has Gary Trent Jr., Kevin Porter Jr. and Taurean Prince, it is unclear whether losing Brook Lopez is enough to keep him happy.
Miami Heat
They finished 10th in the East but secured the seed for No. 8 in tournament play… and then cleaned up in the first round in a historic way, with the final two games being cleaned up by a total of 92 points. President Pat Reilly said at a season-ending press conference on May 9th, “something has to change,” and Miami said “probably won’t run away from it.”
So far, the opposite seems true. Terry Rozier and Andrew Wiggins are a pair of overwhelming and expensive players who continue to stay on the roster. Duncan Robinson is an undrafted player who was instantly shining and reportedly exerted an early end option to reduce the burden on the cap. If the fever works on a modified long-term contract with Robinson, it will inform more of the status quo.
As of now, the only player in the book for next season that wasn’t with the team last year is Kasparas Jakučionis, the 20th overall overall.
