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Hindustan Times
4 days ago
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
NBA offseason's 6 defining moments and trades that could impact 2025 season
The NBA offseason has always been an unpredictable time. From the New York Knicks-Minnesota Timberwolves exchange on the eve of media day to Damian Lillard being traded to the Milwaukee Bucks just before training camp, the time is bound to be full of shocks and jolts. Former Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant gestures during the second half of an NBA basketball game on March 9(AP) Carrying on the spirit, here are the top six moves that happened this offseason, as ranked by SB Nation: The Hawks' draft trade back with the Pelicans Kristaps Porzingis, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, and Luke Kennard, who didn't the Hawks pick up this offseason? A perfect complement to their Jalen Johnson-Trae Young duo, landing the New Orleans Pelicans' unprotected 2026 first-round pick was just the cherry on top of a pile of cake. And all of this came at the cost of trading down 10 spots for this season. With a solid big three in their pocket, the Hawks could well win a playoff series or two while they're at it. The Magic's Desmond Bane trade In need of reforming their weak shooting, the Magic made the wise decision of picking Desmond Bane, a shooter known for his ability to defend, in exchange for four first-round picks, including the Suns' 2026 pick, to Memphis. With Paul Banchero and Franz Wagner already in their pocket, the team now has a strong chance at the least. The Nuggets' Cam Johnson trade The Denver Nuggets scored an ace by trading an unprotected 2032 first-round pick and Michael Porter Jr. to the Brooklyn Nets for Cam Johnson. A tall shooter with a lack of any serious injuries, Johnson was one of the league's most efficient players last season. In addition, they also traded for Jonas Valanciunas to back up Jokic, signed a knockdown shooter in Tim Hardaway Jr., and brought back the glue guy from their 2023 championship run in Bruce Brown. This move might just put a title win on the map for the Nuggets. The Rockets' Kevin Durant trade Already ranked as the No. 2 seed in the West last season thanks to a strong and young defense core, the Houston Rockets were now in desperate need of building up their shooting abilities. Enter Kevin Durant. For an incredibly reasonable agreement, Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, and the No. 10 pick were traded to the Phoenix Suns in exchange for Durant, who will fill the gaps to make the Rockets a championship-ready team. The Thunder's Chet Holmgren extension Following their recent title win, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams both managed to secure highly lucrative contract extension deals from the Oklahoma City Thunder. Chet Holmgren's max extension, however, is a straight 25 percent of the salary cap deal, implying that he won't get a raise if he makes All-NBA or wins Defensive Player of the Year next season, as reported by SB Nation. In addition, the team will also manage to avoid paying luxury tax and attached aprons for a few more years. The Clippers' depth moves Over the summer, Brook Lopez, Bradley Beal, Chris Paul, and John Collins were added to the Clippers' roster with Kawhi Leonard, James Harden, and Ivica Zubac still forming the core of the team. What was once viewed as a huge mistake in letting veteran Paul George walk away in free agency last year has now proved to be a calculated decision to pick depth over aging players. As a result, the team managed to win 50 games and competed against the Nuggets during Game 7 of the first-round this past season. By Stuti Gupta
Forbes
22-07-2025
- Sport
- Forbes
The Orlando Magic Have Nailed Their Offseason So Far
ORLANDO, FLORIDA - NOVEMBER 21: Paolo Banchero #5 of the Orlando Magic dunks the ball against the ... More Toronto Raptors during the first quarter of the In-Season NBA Tournament game at Amway Center on November 21, 2023 in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by) As the Orlando Magic exited the 2024-2025 season, they found themselves stuck. They lacked depth at the guard position, and were badly in need of outside shooting, to the point where they simply couldn't move forward before those issues had been resolved. As they now exit the 2025 offseason, the Magic find themselves having checked off most items on their list, having attacked this summer with a level of aggressiveness rarely seen from this organization. Expensive, but necessary The Magic went hard after Desmond Bane of the Memphis Grizzlies, and had to relinquish a package that included four first-round picks, and a first-round pick swap to get him. One of those picks were, presumably, payment for Memphis taking on the contract of Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, who the Magic signed last offseason to a ridiculously large three-year deal worth $66 million. The arrival of Bane has given Orlando an All-Star caliber guard, who can initiate the offense, take a high volume of three-pointers, is a strong defender, and a guy who will punish teams for double-teaming Paolo Banchero or Franz Wagner. Bane immediately becomes Orlando's primary guard, which is good news for Jalen Suggs who can now become even more opportunistic within his shot-selection, allowing the 6'4 combo guard to focus on efficiency, and preserving energy for the defensive side of the ball, where he is nothing short of elite. Adding depth The Magic weren't done with just the Bane acquisition. They picked Jase Richardson, the sharp-shooting guard out of Michigan State, in the first round, and later signed Tyus Jones to a one-year deal worth $7 million. Richardson, another high-volume three-point shooter, is small but very capable of playing off the ball. He isn't a playmaker, at least not in the traditional sense, but he will be able to play off of players such as Bane, Banchero, Wagner, and even Suggs, by just presenting himself as spot-up option. As for Jones, he offers stability. Full stop. Not only has he hit 41.4% of his three-pointers of his last two seasons (657 total attempts), but he also offers playmaking, defensive intensity, and he rarely turns the ball over. The Magic now enter the 2025-2026 season with a guard rotation of Suggs, Bane, Jones, Richardson, and Anthony Black, the 6'7 combo guard who is entering his third season. That's a substantial upgrade from last season. While it can be argued that the Magic aren't quite done - as they still need a starting caliber center - this is certainly a major step in the right direction. Unless noted otherwise, all stats via PBPStats, Cleaning the Glass or Basketball-Reference. All salary information via Spotrac. All odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook.
Newsweek
18-07-2025
- Sport
- Newsweek
Best NBA Win Total Over/Under Bets For 2025-26, Part II: Eastern Conference
Paolo Banchero and the Magic could be contenders in the East in 2025-26 after addressing last year's shooting struggles by landing Desmond Bane. Paolo Banchero and the Magic could be contenders in the East in 2025-26 after addressing last year's shooting struggles by landing Desmond Bane. Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. After diving into the best 2025-26 win total bets in the Western Conference last week, today we're tackling what could be a wide-open Eastern Conference. In the wake of late-season Achilles injuries to Bucks guard Damian Lillard, Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton and Celtics forward Jayson Tatum, oddsmakers expect big seasons from last year's 1-seed, Cleveland, and reigning Eastern Conference runner-up New York. The pecking order after those two teams is expected to feature Orlando -- which we'll have plenty to say about below -- and play-in fixture Atlanta. '25-26 NBA Eastern Conference Win Total Odds DraftKings FanDuel Cavaliers 55.5 (o-115; u-105) 56.5 (o-102; u-130) Knicks 51.5 (o-120; u+100) 52.5 (o-122; u-108) Magic 51.5 (o-110; u-110) 50.5 (o-120; u-110) Hawks 46.5 (o-120; u+100) 47.5 (o-102; u-130) Bucks 44.5 (o+100; u-120) 44.5 (o-102; u-130) Pistons 45.5 (o-105; u-115) 45.5 (o-114; u-114) Celtics 44.5 (o+100; u-125) 43.5 (o-125; u-106) 76ers 43.5 (o-100; u-110) 41.5 (o-130; u-102) Pacers 38.5 (o-110; u-110) 38.5 (o-118; u-112) Heat 37.5 (o-105; u-115) 38.5 (o-104; u-128) Raptors 35.5 (o-110; u-110) 37.5 (o-112; u-118) Bulls 32.5 (o-110; u-110) 32.5 (o-108; u-122) Hornets 24.5 (o-115; u-105) 25.5 (o-106; u-125) Nets 21.5 (o+100; u-120) 20.5 (+102; u-136) Wizards 20.5 (o-115; u-105) 20.5 (o-130; u-102) Best 2025-26 Eastern Conference Win Total Bets Below are our three favorite 2025-26 NBA Eastern Conference over/under win total bets. Orlando Magic Over 51.5 Wins (-120 at FanDuel) Just about every pundit loves the Magic's chances of taking a step forward after their blockbuster trade for former Grizzlies sharpshooter Desmond Bane, who has made 41 percent of his career 3-point attempts on heavy volume (career 3PA per game: 6.3). Bane -- who is also a solid ball handler and plus defender -- is much more than just an excellent shooter, though. His seemingly perfect fit with the Magic -- who suffered from poor spacing due to their league-worst 31.8 percent 3-point shooting in 2024-25 -- is the biggest reason Orlando has been widely praised for giving up four unprotected first-round draft picks, a first-round pick swap, Cole Anthony and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope for a player who has never been an All-Star. If the much-needed addition of Bane goes anywhere near as well as expected and Paolo Banchero (46 starts in 2024-25), Franz Wagner (60 starts in '24-25) and/or PG Jalen Suggs (35 starts) can stay healthy*, the Magic could push Cleveleand and New York for the top seed in the East. For now, there are too many "ifs" to take Orlando to win the East, but a 52-win season in a manageable conference should be well within reach. Charlotte Hornets Over 24.5 (-115 at DraftKings) The Hornets have won just 27 games or fewer in four of the last six seasons, and there are major questions at center, where the current options are second-round rookie Ryan Kalkbrenner, fourth-year journeyman Moussa Diabate and 35-year-old Mason Plumlee. With that in mind, Charlotte is understandably expected to once again be one of the worst teams in the East -- and we haven't even gotten into whether the Hornets can count on LaMelo Ball to stay healthy. I'm nevertheless convinced there's major upside for this team. Last year, Charlotte was not only missing its top two players -- Ball and Brandon Miller -- for most of the year due to injury, but it also got just 13 games out of Tre Mann and 16 from Grant Williams. While the 23-year-old Ball has only enjoyed one healthy season in the league, Miller played 74 games as a rookie and was good for 34 minutes a night before a wrist injury derailed Year 2 after 27 games. But the biggest reason I'm bullish on the Hornets is the underrated offseason they've enjoyed under EVP of Basketball Operations Jeff Peterson. Charlotte got a ton of love for taking two quality shooters in Kon Knueppel and Liam McNeeley in the first round of the draft, and Kalkbrenner was a solid second-round pickup. The Hornets also have a handful of solid scoring threats on the perimeter after acquiring Collin Sexton from the Jazz, renewing Mann's contract and adding two proven vets in Plumlee and Spencer Dinwiddie. There's enough here -- especially if Diabate and Kalkbrenner prove at least serviceable at the 5 -- for the Hornets to grind their way to at least 25 wins even if Ball once again misses long stretches. And if (yes, it's a big if) the 2021-22 All-Star manages to stay healthy, the Hornets' first 40-win season since '21-22 is a realistic possibility. Detroit Pistons Over 45.5 Wins (-105 at DraftKings) After taking a massive leap from 14-68 in 2023-24 to 44-38 in 2024-25, could All-Star Cade Cunningham and the Pistons take another step forward in 2025-26? Personally, I'm bullish on one of the best young guards in the league leading a team that pushed the Knicks in the first round of the playoffs to another big season. The case for the Pistons in '25-26 starts with the dangerous combo of 23-year-old Cunningham and center Jalen Duren (21) continuing to improve in Year 5 for the former and Year 4 for the latter. The Pistons could also get a boost from the return of Jaden Ivey, who missed over 50 games in 2024-25, but was shooting over 40 percent from 3 through 30 games last year. Between Cunningham, Duren, lockdown defender Ausar Thompson, Ivey and 2024 No. 5 overall pick Ron Holland, the Pistons should have more than enough to offset the offseason losses of Malik Beasley, Tim Hardaway Jr. and Dennis Schroder. That's especially true if free agent acquisition Duncan Robinson, a career 39.7 3-point shooter, can replace Beasley's lights-out shooting. Newsweek may earn an affiliate commission if you sign up through the links in this article. See the sportsbook operator's terms and conditions for important details. Sports betting operators have no influence over newsroom coverage.
Yahoo
17-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Magic Guard 'Excited' to Play With Newly Formed Team
Magic Guard 'Excited' to Play With Newly Formed Team originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Orlando Magic had the ideal opportunity to upgrade their squad by making the necessary adjustments during the NBA free agency period. The biggest move they made this offseason was trading for shooting guard Desmond Bane. It was an upgrade from Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, who struggled in his lone season with the Magic. The organization also added Tyus Jones, who signed a one-year, $7 million contract. With his addition, they addressed their backcourt concern after Cole Anthony was part of the Bane deal with the Memphis Grizzlies. Orlando secured their future after signing Paolo Banchero to a five-year extension and Moe Wagner to a one-year deal. The moves they made hint at a possible chance for the team to contend for a championship. On Wednesday, 24-year-old guard Jalen Suggs watched his team take on the Brooklyn Nets for the Summer League, where Orlando suffered a 94-90 loss. After the moves from the Magic's front office, Suggs was asked about his thoughts on the new-look team. "The sky's the limit," Suggs added. "I think obviously everybody's mindset is going on winning the championship. You hate to see guys go down, but there's opportunity in the east, and I think everyone recognizes it. So everybody's prepping for it. We're all on the same page and very excited to start the year. Brings a different energy." The Magic showed potential last season and made the playoffs for the second consecutive year. Unfortunately for Suggs and his team, they were eliminated in the first round by the Boston Celtics. But the Magic are optimistic following their strong summer. Additionally, Suggs will likely return to the lineup after being ruled out for the rest of the 2024-25 season. He underwent a successful arthroscopic surgery to address his left ankle. The 6-foot-5 guard appeared in 35 games last season, averaging 16.2 points, four rebounds and 3.7 story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 17, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
16-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Memphis Grizzlies' Ja Morant breaks silence on Desmond Bane trade, new roster additions
LAS VEGAS — Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant made a day trip to Las Vegas on July 12, supporting his teammates during NBA summer league action. Morant, seated courtside, took in the game against the Portland Trail Blazers at the Thomas & Mack Center. Advertisement For Morant, going to summer league was about making a statement. Memphis is building around him and co-star Jaren Jackson Jr., and Morant's appearance is a sign of him understanding his role. "It's different from on TV," Morant said. "Obviously, I know me being here in person means a lot not only to these guys but to the organization as well. For me to be the leader of this team, I felt like it was very important." Ja Morant 'shocked' by Desmond Bane trade A lot has changed since Morant last spoke publicly about the Grizzlies. Trades and roster moves have shifted the outlook. The most notable change was Desmond Bane being traded to the Orlando Magic. Advertisement "I was shocked, personally," Morant said. "I got the message from Des. To see it all over the internet, I thought the (expletive) was fake, honestly. "It's best for both sides. Des is going to a very talented Orlando team. I feel like he's the piece that they've been missing." Ja Morant talks Cedric Coward GG JACKSON: How Memphis Grizzlies coach Tuomas Iisalo is unlocking a new level for GG Jackson's game One of the players the Grizzlies eventually acquired using an asset from the Bane trade was Cedric Coward, who they took in the first round of the 2025 NBA Draft. Coward is expected to take pressure off Morant and Jackson with his defensive skill set and ability to shoot the ball. Advertisement "It's exciting," Morant said. "I'm just ready to see him hit the floor." Jaren Jackson Jr. The bigger Grizzlies move of the offseason was agreeing to a contract extension with Jackson. Along with Morant, Jackson has been a core member of the Grizzlies. Morant is one of the Grizzlies players who has challenged Jackson the most to reach his potential, often reminding him how hard it is for opponents to guard him. Now, Jackson will be rewarded with a new five-year deal. "He deserves it," Morant said. "That's the heart of Memphis, the heart of this team. I feel like he deserves it. I thought it would have been way more, honestly. I don't understand the cap stuff." Advertisement GG Jackson seeks Ja Morant advice GG Jackson, who has been one of the best Grizzlies players during summer league, is bonded with Morant not only as teammates, but also through their South Carolina ties. During the Grizzlies' summer league games in Salt Lake City, Jackson reached out to Morant to see if he was taking in the action. Morant reminded Jackson that he needs to stay aggressive. But there's another area Morant wants to see build in Jackson, and that's his leadership. "It's time for him to grow in that aspect of his game," Morant said. "It's the perfect situation, being a third-year guy on this team and guys looking to do what you do." Advertisement Morant likes new additions Memphis added veteran guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope in the Bane trade, someone Morant has competed against for years. "I felt like for us, having him be that vet around is definitely big-time for us," Morant said. "Everybody know what he does on the defensive end. For our young guys who are trying to push themselves to be that guy as well, they got a perfect vet to learn from." The Grizzlies also dipped into the free agency pool, adding Ty Jerome. That is a move Morant also approved of. "Definitely another solid guard for us," Morant said. "Everybody seen what he done for a great Cleveland team this year. I honestly felt like he was a big piece of that team. To have him, we adding another ballhandler that can not only create for himself but for everybody else." Advertisement Damichael Cole is the Memphis Grizzlies beat writer for The Commercial Appeal. Contact Damichael at Follow Damichael on X, formerly known as Twitter, @DamichaelC. This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Memphis Grizzlies' Ja Morant talks Desmond Bane trade, roster changes
