With the 2025 NBA playoffs underway and the 14 lottery teams defined, it’s time to analyze how each eliminated team should approach the offseason, including the draft, free agency, and trades.
Which eliminated contenders are one move away from contending for the title? Which of the lottery-bound franchises will secure the top pick and the opportunity to draft Cooper Flagg? How quickly can the rebuilds of teams like the Washington Wizards, Utah Jazz, and Charlotte Hornets progress?
At Alofoke Deportes, we break down potential moves for each franchise, including an analysis of the roster status, finances, front office priorities, extension candidates to watch closely, team needs, and future draft assets.
Key: ETO = Early Termination Option | P = Player Option | R = Restricted | T = Team Option
Jump to a team:
- ATL
- BOS
- BKN
- CHA
- CHI
- CLE
- DAL
- DEN
- DET
- GS
- HOU
- IND
- LAC
- LAL
- MEM
- MIA
- MIL
- MIN
- NO
- NY
- OKC
- ORL
- PHI
- PHX
- POR
- SAC
- SA
- TOR
- UTAH
- WAS
Eliminados en semifinales de conferencia
Golden State Warriors
Record 2024-25: 48-34
Draft elections in June: No. 41 (via MIA)
Free agents: Jonathan Kuminga (R), Gary Payton II, Kevon Looney, Kevin Knox II, Gui Santos (T), Pat Spencer (R), Quinten Post (T), Braxton Key, and Taran Armstrong (R)
Template Status:
Failing to advance past the second round, especially without Stephen Curry, doesn’t change the fact that the Warriors are in a better position than in the first half of this season. To prove this, just look at the 30 games prior to Jimmy Butler’s arrival. The Warriors were 12-18, ranking among the 10 worst in offensive and defensive efficiency.
The improved play since the All-Star break with Butler, along with their first-round victory over the Houston Rockets, serves as a blueprint for Golden State next season. The starting lineup of Curry, Brandin Podziemski, Moses Moody, Butler, and Green went 16-3 in the regular season and was plus-17.9 points per 100 possessions. All five are under contract for next season.
Despite the success in the second half of the season, the roster still needs improvements. The first round against Houston and then Curry’s absence exposed the need for a consistent third scorer. Addressing the lack of size in the frontcourt is also a priority. In the playoffs, Golden State had the third-fewest points per game in the paint. To address both needs, Golden State is expected to be active in free agency and the trade market. The Warriors do not have their own first round pick in June, but they have four first round picks available to move in future trades.
The obstacle could be gathering enough salary to make a substantial trade without including Green. The Warriors’ roster has a very high salary, with Curry, Butler, and Green comprising 85% of their payroll.
Offseason Finances:
The future of restricted free agent Jonathan Kuminga plays a role in the flexibility the Warriors have this offseason. Without Kuminga on the roster, Golden State is $17.5 million below the luxury tax. They are $25.5 and $37.0 million below both thresholds. They are allowed to use their non-taxpayer mid-level exception of $14.1 million, but would not be allowed to exceed the first threshold once the roster is complete.
Main directive priority:
Butler’s transfer opened the window to compete for a championship. “The exciting thing is that Jimmy gives us the opportunity to extend this for a couple of years,” coach Steve Kerr told ESPN in April. The two years Kerr mentioned coincide with the remaining years of the contracts of Butler, Green, and Curry. How the Warriors take advantage of the short term could depend on Jonathan Kuminga.
Kuminga started in 56 games in the last two years, averaging at least 15 points consecutively, but his role was reduced at the end of the season and in the first round of the playoffs. “The lineup with Jimmy, Jonathan, and Draymond doesn’t fit very well, frankly. It just doesn’t,” Kerr told 95.7 The Game in April. The Warriors were minus 28.2 points per 100 possessions when Kuminga, Butler, and Green were together on the court. That lineup improved in the second-round loss against Minnesota. The Warriors were plus 9.4 points when the three were on the court, and Kuminga averaged 20.4 points, with a percentage above 50% in the second round.
The Warriors are expected to offer him a one-year qualifying offer for $7.9 million, which would make him a restricted free agent. What happens could be a waiting game. With Brooklyn as the only team offering a starting salary of $20 million or more (Golden State would have the right to match), the best option could be for both parties to explore a sign-and-trade deal.
Candidate for the extension to follow closely:
How do the template’s timeline, age, and on-court impact come into play when weighing a possible extension for Draymond Green? Green signed a four-year contract in 2023 and is now eligible to add two additional years ($36.3 and $39.2 million, respectively) to his existing contract. Green will turn 37 in the second year of that extension, when Curry and Butler’s contracts expire. The Warriors were plus 6.7 points per 100 possessions when Green was on the court and minus 1.2 without him. He recently finished third in the Defensive Player of the Year voting and will likely see his name on the All-Defensive team for the ninth time in his career.
Other extension candidates: Kevon Looney, Gary Payton II, and Trayce Jackson-Davis
Team Needs:
A mobile rim protector, a consistent third scorer, frontcourt depth, and a defensive-minded backup point guard (especially if they lose Payton in free agency).
Draft assets:
Even after renouncing their 2025 first-round pick in the Butler trade, Golden State still has four first-round picks available to use in a trade. They are allowed to include a maximum of four picks: 2026, 2028, 2030 (if 1-20) and 2032, in a trade. They will send Washington their 2030 pick if it falls outside the top 20. Golden State is also allowed to swap first-round picks in the next seven seasons. The Warriors have one second-round pick available.
Cleveland Cavaliers
Record 2024-25: 64-18
Draft elections in June: No. 49 (via MIL) and No. 58
Free agents: Ty Jerome, Sam Merrill, Tristan Thompson, Javonte Green, Emoni Bates (R) and Chuma Okeke (T) and Luke Travers (R)
Template Status:
During the first seven months of the regular season and two weeks of the playoffs, Cleveland played like the best team in the Eastern Conference. Led by an offense and defense ranked in the top eight in efficiency, Cleveland was only behind Oklahoma City in terms of regular season wins.
Their 64 wins were the third-most in franchise history. The success they had was a product of having the fifth-fewest players missing games due to injury. But as the playoffs continually demonstrate, regular season success often means nothing if you can’t stay healthy, execute late in games, and defend. In the second round, Cleveland had the worst defensive efficiency (the Cavs ranked eighth in the regular season) among the remaining eight playoff teams.
They allowed Indiana to score at least 120 points in three of their four losses. Although we can point out that Darius Garland, De’Andre Hunter, Evan Mobley, and Donovan Mitchell were not 100% healthy at the end of the season, they were still eliminated in the second round. But this offseason is very different from last year’s second-round exit against Boston.
Although Mitchell’s future doesn’t hang over the franchise, finances and the punitive restrictions of the CBA will play a role in how Cleveland adds to its roster in free agency and trades. Future roster construction restrictions are a reason why Cleveland traded Hunter at the deadline. The positive is that the Cavaliers have their top six players under contract for next season and only four vacant roster spots.
Offseason Finances:
The Hunter trade and the extensions of Mitchell and Mobley have placed Cleveland deep into the luxury tax and above both thresholds. The Cavaliers are $30 million above the tax and $13 million above the second threshold. They will pay the largest tax penalty in franchise history, currently projected at $57 million. In addition to the ability to retain their free agents, Cleveland has the second-round exception and the veteran minimum. The Cavaliers cannot add contracts, use more than 100% of the traded player exception, send cash, or sign a player who has been waived and had a pre-existing salary of $14.1 million or more. To close a loophole, the first or second threshold is activated for the next season even if Cleveland violates one of the restrictions before June 30.
Main directive priority:
The current CBA doesn’t eliminate teams that spend a lot from signing their free agents. For example, despite being above the second apron, Cleveland is allowed to sign Jerome. But what the apron and punitive spending rules do is make teams analyze which players are a priority and who is a luxury.
There is no better example than Jerome’s free agency. After playing only two games last season, Jerome finished second in the voting for Sixth Man of the Year. Finally healthy, Jerome played 70 games, averaging career highs in points (12.3), field goal percentage (52%), and three-point percentage (43%). In the regular season, Cleveland was plus 11 points per 100 possessions with Jerome on the court. He would then average 16.2 points in the first round against Miami, but struggled on both sides of the court in the loss to the Pacers. Jerome has early Bird rights, which allows Cleveland to sign him for up to four years (the contract must be a minimum of two seasons) and $64 million.
To illustrate how punitive the luxury tax rules will be next season, a $14.3 million salary in 2025-26 costs Cleveland an additional $80 million in luxury tax penalties. The Cavaliers have the veteran minimum exception available in the likely scenario that the cost of retaining Jerome is too high.
Candidate for extension to follow closely:
The Cavaliers were aggressive last summer, signing Mobley and Mitchell to long-term extensions. This offseason, it could be Garland’s turn. Garland has three years remaining on his contract and is eligible starting July 8 to add two years and $128.4 million. Hobbling through the playoffs due to a left big toe injury, Garland was one of four players this season to average 20 points, five assists and 39% on three-pointers. He led all players in plus-minus in clutch time this season.
Other extension candidates: Merrill (until June 30), Dean Wade, Max Strus, Hunter (from October 1)
Team Needs:
Depth at the base position if Jerome is not re-signed, a big backup capable of playing rotation minutes and former first-round pick Jaylon Tyson develops into a rotation player.
Draft assets:
The Cavaliers are in a unique position because their 2033 first-round pick will likely be frozen after the 2025-26 season concludes. As a result of the second apron penalty, this season could be Cleveland’s last chance to move their 2032 first-round pick. Their 2031 or 2032 first-round picks (but not both) are the only selections they can trade. Cleveland owes Utah or Phoenix an unprotected first-round pick in 2027 and 2029 and Utah or Atlanta have the right to swap first-round picks in 2026 and 2028. They also have four second-round picks available.
Houston Rockets
Record 2024-25: 52-30
Draft picks in June: No. 9 (via PHX), No. 59 (via OKC)
Free agents: Fred VanVleet (T), Steven Adams, Jeff Green, Aaron Holiday (T), Jae’Sean Tate, Jack McVeigh (R) and N’Faly Dante (R)
Template Status:
Losing in the first round as the No. 2 seed should be considered a failure. But a big-picture approach, and considering where Houston was after trading James Harden in 2021, shows how much the Rockets exceeded expectations this season. Seasons of 17, 20, and 22 wins since Harden was traded were replaced by 41 wins a year ago and 52 this season.
The real test now comes with how the Rockets’ management and coaching staff evaluate the roster and then address its deficiencies in the playoffs. That approach should be very different from the regular season, during which Houston rightly adopted a conservative approach to modifying its roster.
“We definitely want this group to be as good as possible this year and then we’ll evaluate things at the end of the year,” general manager Rafael Stone said in December. “But the hope is that this core group can take us where we want to go… from a transactional perspective, we’re largely done.”
The Rockets have a defensive identity under head coach Ime Udoka (they ranked fifth in efficiency this season) and are comfortably positioned to succeed for at least the next few seasons. They will add a top-10 pick from Phoenix to a roster that will return Alperen Sengun, Jabari Smith Jr., Amen Thompson, Tari Eason, Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, Fred VanVleet, and last year’s lottery pick Reed Sheppard. Houston could lose veteran center Steven Adams in free agency.
The question now is whether relying on continuity is enough to compete for a championship?
Offseason Finances:
VanVleet’s $44.9 million team option will play a role in the flexibility the Rockets have this offseason. The Rockets have until June 29 to exercise the option. Considering the first-round pick owed by Phoenix and exercising VanVleet’s option, Houston would be $7.5 million over the luxury tax and right at the first threshold. The Rockets could decline the option and then sign VanVleet to a long-term contract, but for less money.
Houston has some financial flexibility, with $12 million in non-guaranteed contracts (Aaron Holiday and Jock Landale) if VanVleet’s option is exercised. Houston has until June 29 to guarantee Landale’s $8 million contract and exercise Holiday’s $4.9 million team option. Front office priority: Houston’s first-round loss to Golden State should make the franchise internalize two questions.
First, is there confidence that the current roster and the addition of a top-10 pick can develop into something more than a good regular season team? Their leading scorer in the regular season, Jalen Green, averaged six fewer points and shot 37.2% from the field and 31.2% from three in the first round. (He had eight points and five turnovers in the Game 4 loss).
Houston as a team was outscored 22-10 in clutch time during the first three losses after finishing 26-18 in those games, tying Cleveland for the most clutch-time wins in the league.
That leads to the second question: Do the Rockets need an All-NBA caliber player, specifically Kevin Durant of the Suns or even Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Bucks, to take the next step? If they go after a star, the Rockets check three critical boxes:
Draft assets: They have five tradable first-round picks over the next seven years, including the ninth pick in this year’s draft and unprotected first-round picks in 2027 (Phoenix) and 2029 (Phoenix or Dallas). The Rockets can also trade first-round picks in 2028, 2030, and 2032. Controllable contracts: The Rockets have five players (Smith Jr., Eason, Sheppard, Cam Whitmore, and Thompson) on first-round rookie contracts. Notable contracts: Sengun and Green signed rookie extensions last October. The poison pill restriction on their contracts lifts on July 1, making them eligible to be traded. Both players are set to earn $33 million next season. Brooks has two years remaining on his contract ($22.1 million and $20.9 million).
Retaining Adams should also be a priority. The Rockets were at their best in the series against Golden State when Adams was paired with Sengun. Houston was plus-30.7 points per 100 possessions when both players shared the court in the postseason. They were plus-30 in the regular season.
Candidate for extension to follow closely:
For the second consecutive offseason, Houston has two players eligible to sign rookie extensions until October 21. (Last year, it was Sengun and Green and this offseason it’s Smith Jr. and Eason).
Smith Jr. started in 194 games in his first three seasons, but was replaced by Thompson at the end of this season. In the 19 games off the bench, Smith Jr. shot 49.2% from the field and 37.2% on three-pointers and the Rockets were plus 7.9 points per 100 possessions with him on the court, according to Cleaning the Glass. Eason averaged career highs in points (12.0), assists (1.5), steals (1.7), blocks (0.9) and field goal percentage (49%) this season. The Rockets are nearly $80 million below the luxury tax next season and can take a more proactive approach with both players.
Team Needs:
A center, if Adams leaves in free agency. There is also a priority for Sheppard to develop into a rotation player. Sheppard averaged 12.6 minutes this season and struggled with consistency from the perimeter. In three games with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers of the G League, Reed averaged 30.7 points and 8.3 assists per game.
Draft assets:
Houston has eight future first-round picks, five that are interchangeable in the next seven years. The Rockets owe Oklahoma City a top-four protected first-round pick in 2026, but they have their own first-round pick in 2027 (they also have swap rights with Brooklyn that year). The Suns will send Houston their unprotected 2027 first-round pick. The Rockets also have two of the more favorable first-round picks between their own, Dallas, and Phoenix in 2029 and have seven second-round picks available.
LA Clippers
Record 2024-25: 50-32
Draft picks in June: No. 30 (via OKC) and No. 49 (via MIN)
Free agents: James Harden (G), Patty Mills, Ben Simmons, Nicolas Batum (F), Amir Coffey, Trentyn Flowers (R)
Template Status:
Almost a year ago, the Clippers let Paul George go in free agency. The move was criticized because there was nothing to show for George’s departure to Philadelphia and the Clippers were seen as a team that needed to win now, with James Harden and Kawhi Leonard on the roster.
That thought has changed. Although there shouldn’t be moral victories for losing in the first round for a second consecutive postseason, George’s departure gave the Clippers the option to build a deep roster last offseason and continue building this summer.
After spending $370 million in luxury taxes over the previous four seasons, LA is less expensive and better balanced on the court. The Clippers ranked third in defensive efficiency, and their 50 wins were the second most since 2016-17. Twelve players, including their five starters, are under contract (they will also add two draft picks).
The only LA free agents are Mills, Simmons, and Coffey, while Batum and Harden have player options. If Harden becomes a free agent, his next contract will dictate how much spending power the Clippers have in free agency and the team’s options in the trade market.
Offseason Finances:
The Clippers have the flexibility to give Harden a salary increase, use most of their non-taxpayer mid-level exception, and still remain below the luxury tax. Including Harden’s $36.3 million player option and the first-round pick, LA is $12 million below the tax and $20 million below the first threshold. Harden and Batum ($4.9 million) have until June 29 to opt into their contracts for next season.
The Clippers could create financial flexibility with the non-guaranteed contracts of Drew Eubanks ($4.8 million) and Jordan Miller ($2.1 million). In addition to their non-taxpayer mid-level exception, the Clippers have the second round, the veteran minimum, and three trade exceptions ($6.5 million, $4.2 million, and $2.1 million).
Main directive priority:
A commitment in Harden’s contract. There was a continuing theme from team executives after Harden signed a two-year, $70 million contract last July: “Who exactly were the Clippers competing against?”
His $35 million salary proved to be tremendous value. Harden logged the fifth-most minutes of any player this season and appeared in 79 games, the most in a regular season since 2016-17. As a result, he became the only player this season with 1,500 points, 500 assists, 100 steals, and 50 blocks. The positives of the regular season are again overshadowed by postseason inconsistency. In Game 4, Game 5, and Game 7 losses to Denver, Harden scored a total of 33 points.
Considering Harden is ineligible for an extension if he opts into his contract for next season, the likely scenario is to decline the $36.3 million player option and for both parties to draft a new contract. With Leonard under contract for the next two seasons and Harden turning 36 in August, the next contract shouldn’t last longer than two seasons (he can only sign for a maximum of three due to the over-38 rule).
Candidate for extension to follow closely:
There was a point in the season where Norman Powell was on his way to his first All-Star nomination. Before the All-Star break, Powell averaged 24.2 points, 49.6% from the field, and 42.8% from three-pointers. His production fell significantly in the last two months of the season, largely due to a
