With the 2025 NBA offseason looming closer, teams are scrambling to determine the best approaches they should take. Eyeing the next season with fierce resolve and hard-nosed pragmatism, the Charlotte Hornets hope to end a playoff dry spell that has plagued the franchise since 2016. The Dallas Mavericks and Milwaukee Bucks are experiencing enough tumultuousness to warrant complete overhauls of their rosters. With numerous teams looking to improve their standings and build for the future, this offseason promises to be pivotal for several franchises.
The Hornets have made it clear that their primary goal for the 2024-25 season is to end their playoff drought. Their performance on the field has been dismal for several seasons, and management is on a severe hot seat to make some transformative moves. The franchise hopes to capitalize on their young talent and potential trades to enhance their competitiveness in the Eastern Conference.
The Mavericks have suffered through a snake-bitten season, featuring 47 different starting lineups. That will leave them tied with the fourth-most starting lineups ever used by any team. This is a statistic that has been saved further back than the 1970-71 season. Their full 2023 performance has been blunted by inconsistency, with it extremely important for them to lock down stability and success in the future.
Milwaukee Bucks Face Challenges
The Milwaukee Bucks have gone from a lovable underdog story to a bona fide postseason disappointment, having lost in the first round three straight years. With just 48 wins this season—their lowest total since the 2017-18 season—the clock is ticking, and management has some very difficult choices to make in the near future.
Key injuries hurt the team, with Giannis Antetokounmpo gone for long stretches of both 2023 and 2024. On top of that, Damian Lillard sustained a blood clot, which was later joined by a torn Achilles, worsening their playoff hopes even more. The Bucks are hoping for a healthy return next season. They have to learn how to best deploy their few key players and deal with injury concerns.
“This is not a final product. We’ll continue to look for opportunities to improve our team,” – Arturas Karnisovas
The Bucks are keen on maintaining their championship window but will need to navigate these challenges carefully to build a more resilient roster.
Teams Stockpiling Future Assets
Whether by design or through luck, a number of teams are positioning themselves for future success with stockpiles of draft picks and financial flexibility. The Atlanta Hawks are even better equipped with six second-rounders and swap rights with three different teams in future drafts. This strategy would be a smart investment as they attempt to improve their roster in the years to come.
The Washington Wizards are projected to have a top-four first-round pick along with a mid-20s selection for the second straight year. Such assets can offer opportunities to draft promising young talent or make trades that would better the team’s long-term prospects.
The Miami Heat owning all or some of a dozen first-round picks from 2026 through 2032 represents an investment in future success. They still stay under the second apron, which gives them the ability to re-sign restricted free agent Davion Mitchell and keeps their roster flexibility intact.
“Our growth is going to come from developing our talent base so that we can win more games now and in the future,” – Justin Zanik
While this keen emphasis on developing a winning culture might’ve initially set these franchises back, it has provided a long term fortune and success in a more competitive league.
Key Contracts and Negotiations
Contract negotiations will have a huge impact on rosters this offseason. Additionally, Luka Doncic will become eligible for a four-year, $229 million extension on August 2. Though not the most glamorous, this decision will have a huge impact on where the Mavericks go in the future.
Duncan Robinson has an Early Termination Option (ETO) in his deal. This grants him an extreme amount of leverage as he weighs his future with the Miami Heat.
The Memphis Grizzlies find themselves in an unusual and fortuitous position. They can negotiate 35% of cap in year one, but unlike the NBA they have to frontload any deal over five years. This provides them with a lot of wiggle room as they try to figure out how best to build around their core assets.
“It’s still the awesome responsibility to try to take this franchise and maximize the window that we have now,” – Bobby Horstedt
As teams head into this pivotal offseason, teams will have decisions to make between looking to satisfy short-term pain or planting seeds for long-term growth.
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