Doncic, LeBron and the stars that could sign important contracts

The low season of the NBA is about to begin and there are several stars that could sign Millionaires contracts.

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The transaction season of the NBA has officially arrived, starting with the acquisition of Desmond Bane by the Orlando Magic This week, his first player in an exchange in more than five years. The intrigue generated by this initial exchange will only increase until the start of free agency, on June 30 at 6 pm et.

But it is very possible that most shocking movements occur before, for or shortly after the Draft of June 25 and 26. There is not much salary space available, the traffic is expected to be cleared for the summer of 2026, and the class of free agents has few star players.

Here are five of the most important stories, and 12 impact players, which will mark the low season of 2025.

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Will Giannis stay in Milwaukee?

The possible frenzy that could have surrounded Giannis Antetokounmpo Around the draft it has been silenced. Bucks, for the moment, are committed to maintaining the course and trying to build a competitive team for next season with the hope that Damian Lillard can return for the postseason.

Antetokounmpo, meanwhile, left the country for its low season without showing its cards, which has created a somewhat uncomfortable stagnation between the franchise superstar and its team.

Meanwhile, the Bucks have to negotiate with several free agents, including the pivot Brook Lopez and the Bobby Portis Key Reserve, if it terminates its contract.

There would be interest in Lopez and Portis in other market positions, but the Bucks, with full transfer rights for both, are in a solid position to retain them if they prioritize it. And Milwaukee seems to be ready to do it, believing that Antetokounmpo will stay.

Anyway, the possible suitors of Antetokounmpo, about whom Shams Charania de AM850 informs that he has not yet decided their future, they must decide whether their backs are covered, keeping their gunpowder in case Antetokounmpo decides to request a transfer later in the summer.

Without a doubt, there are precedents for that. Over the years, several important changes were produced long after the draft and free agency, including agreements that changed the panorama, such as those of Kawhi Leonard, Donovan Mitchell, Kyrie Irving, Lillard, Karl-Anthony Towns and Dwight Howardto name just a few.

But there is also the risk of waiting for a derby that may never come to realize.

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The complicated Kevin Durant triangle

When Brian Gregory had his presentation press conference as general manager of the Phoenix Suns Last month, he used the word “alignment” 23 times, emphasizing his plans to be in tune with the directive and his coach.

However, aligning with Durant may not be a priority.

There are three angles that the parties are considering in the transfer negotiations.

It must be an agreement that Suns really wants to close, which is not a small thing for an exorbitantly expensive team, plunged into a network of complicated and punitive transfer rules.

It must be a destination that Durant desires. And finally, there is the question of whether it will sign an extension: it is eligible for two additional years and $ 120 million. If they transfer it to a team that is not on your list, which supposedly includes Miami, Houston and San Antonio, will you be willing to sign?

If you do not undertake to stay in the long term in a place such as Minnesota, would the Wolves be willing to sign it anyway?

The scope and solidity of the offers change significantly depending on whether there is certainty that Durant renews. That could affect the motivation of the Suns to transfer it before the draft.

While it was his plan and his preference to do so, it is not necessarily a reason to accept an agreement with which they are not excited.

So, if this triangle does not conform to the desired alignment and nobody surrenders, would Phoenix withdraw from the transfer market?

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Will the stars be terminated? Will they try to negotiate your teams?

LeBron James It has a $ 53 million player option with a coveted non -transfer clause. James Harden It has a $ 36 million player option and it comes from an All-Star season. Kyrie Irving could miss most of the next season recovering from a breakage of the anterior cross ligament. It has a $ 43 million player option. Julius Randle It has an option as a $ 31 million player and has just had a solid playoff streak with the Wolves.

A year or two ago, it would have been assumed that these players would be automatically rescinded, even a star like Irving, who is dealing with an important injury.

But with (some) teams being more judicious when navigating that banks, those decisions are much less safe.

With the shortage of salary space this summer, it becomes a game of whether the teams want to negotiate against themselves. It is likely that James, Harden and Irving do not go anywhere, and Randle, depending on what happens with Durant, could discover that his best offer also ends up being that of Minnesota.

But their teams know it and could play hard, which could take some players, including those who are not on this list, to simply sign one year contracts.

That is a situation in which Durant could also be found, depending on how his situation develops.

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The fallacy that 15 teams from the West Conference compete for the playoffs

When the Utah Jazz recently appointed Austin Ainge as its new president, he was asked – after three years of varying degrees of Tanking, including a fine of $ 100,000 last season for violating the policy of participation of NBA players with respect to Lauri Markkanen – if the team would fall again in Tanking, he replied simply: “They will not see that this year.”

Well, that’s all.

The Portland Trail Blazers finished the season with a 23-18 record after starting with a record of 13-28, getting contract extensions for coach Chaunley Billups and general manager Joe Cronin. The New Orleans Pelicans had players who lost a total of 208 games, and the San Antonio Spurs had players who lost a total of 385, which leaves them with the expectation of having recovery seasons next year. So, if jazz is also “inside” next season, as much as possible with its current staff, that means that, in theory, the 15 teams of the West Conference are “trying to” win in 2025-26.

This is absurd and is not based on reality.

The Memphis Grizzlies seem to know, since they are the first west team to evaluate the panorama and be pioneers in the exchange. They got a great booty when sending Desmond Bane to Orlando Magic, mainly in exchange for draft selections.

Are all these teams in the West are going to acquire/retain players? By no means. Will other teams join the Grizzlies in an exchange to get rid of talent?

Very likely.

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Free agency as ‘extension agency’

With the changes in the collective agreement, in addition to the lack of space in the salary stop and the presence of renowned free agents, the drama this summer could mainly reside in whether the players renew their contracts with their teams. If they do, great. If not, then rumors about their future will increase.

Here are some players who could sign huge contracts this summer (or not):

Luka Doncic, Los Angeles Lakers: On August 2, he could add four years and $ 229 million to his contract. But it could also (and could be financially smarter) to sign for 165 million dollars for three years with the option of terminating the contract in 2028.

Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets: During the last decade, Jokic has been a dream mega -stress: without stress, with a lot of production, MVP, champion. He has three years left, so there is no real need to renew now, but he could add two. Although the last two seasons ended without a return to the finals and the Nuggets have let go of enough talent, it has not given any sign of dissatisfaction with the team. So there is no reason not to sign for more years, right?

De’aaron Fox, San Antonio Spurs: On August 3, Fox can sign for four years and $ 229 million and, after exchanging three first round selections for him last February, the Spurs are expected to do so.

Devin Booker, Phoenix Suns: The four-time All-Star can add two years and $ 150 million (it is not an errata, they are $ 75 million dollars per season) after July 6, and everything indicates that it will be. In this way, you will have a contract with Phoenix until 2030.

BRING YOUR, ATLANTA HAWKS: You can sign for up to four years and $ 229 million, but after four consecutive years in the Play-In tournament, and with a new directive, it is not certain that the Hawks offer it.

Karl-Anthony Towns, New York Knicks: Towns had an excellent first year in New York, but he has three years left. This is not a referendum, but it could terminate the last year and add three more years and $ 212 million to have a contract for the next five.

Ja Morant, Memphis Grizzlies: The 25 -year base has three years left and could add two more. However, he has averaged only 44 games per season in the last four years due to injuries and suspensions, and the Grizzlies have had a lower performance with him as a star player of the franchise.

Jaren Jackson Jr., Grizzlies: Memphis can use its salary space to renegotiate and extend Jackson’s contract, and the team is trying to do that. He has a favorable contract for the team for $ 23 million.

Tyler Herro, Miami Heat: After its best season, in October it could sign for up to $ 150 million in three years. Herro might not meet the requirements for a contract of that magnitude, depending on who you ask, and there is the possibility that the Heat seeks a lower value contract. He has a year left and, if there is no new contract, his name will be in the rumors of transfer.

Kristaps porzingis, Boston Celtics: Entering the last year of his contract and winning $ 30.7 million, he is in a position to renew. But Celtics are already very expensive and face an uncertain future with the arrival of new owners, and the history of porzingis injuries could complicate the possibility of reaching an acceptable figure.