The 2025 NBA offseason has officially begun following the Thunder’s Finals triumph over the Pacers after seven grueling games, and the other teams have already been busy making moves.
The Magic were the first to make a big splash this summer, trading for Desmond Bane in exchange for Cole Anthony, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, four first-round picks, and a 2029 first-round pick swap with the Grizzlies. A few days later, the Rockets and Celtics followed suit, as these two teams try to improve their NBA 2025 odds of competing at a high level next term.
On the other hand, Tyrese Haliburton sent a heartfelt message to Indiana fans from his hospital bed after losing to Oklahoma City yesterday. The two-time NBA All-Star, unfortunately, became the latest to sustain a torn right Achilles in the postseason.
Read more to learn about the latest NBA 2025 updates, courtesy of SBOTOP.
Rockets win the Durant sweepstakes
The Rockets made it clear that they’re in it to win it next season. After giving head coach Ime Udoka and center Steven Adams new extensions last week, Houston acquired Kevin Durant from the Suns in exchange for Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, the 10th overall pick of tomorrow’s NBA Draft, and five second-round picks. Before this shocking development, many thought Durant would end up in San Antonio to join forces with De’Aaron Fox and Victor Wembanyama.
Durant is coming off yet another efficient campaign, averaging 26.6 points, 6.0 rebounds, 4.2 assists, and 1.2 blocks per game on 53/43/84 shooting splits across 62 games during the Suns’ forgettable 2024-25 campaign, where they failed to qualify for the playoffs. Since the 2021 NBA Finals, Phoenix haven’t had much success in the postseason, so they decided to rebuild. The only drawback for the Suns is that they are overstocked at the shooting guard position, with Green joining Devin Booker, Bradley Beal, and Grayson Allen on the depth chart.
As for Houston, getting a proven bucket-getter and former Finals MVP is never a bad idea. However, Durant will turn 37 this September and has been dogged by injuries lately. After this, the Rockets also have to decide on a new deal with Fred VanVleet, who has a $44.9 million option that the team can trigger.
Celtics trade Holiday for financial relief
Jrue Holiday became the first domino to fall in the Celtics’ salary-shedding project this summer, as Boston traded him back to the Blazers after acquiring him from there last offseason. In return, the Celtics will get Anfernee Simons and two second-round picks. Simons joins the Celtics on an expiring contract, while Holiday is owed around $72 million in 2026-27 and 2027-28. This move saves the Celtics $40 million in luxury tax payments next season.
Holiday, an integral cog on the Celtics’ championship team in 2023-24, averaged 11.1 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and 1.1 steals on 44.3 percent shooting from the field across 62 regular season appearances. A two-time NBA champion and a three-time NBA All-Defensive First Team member, Holiday, 35, will help Portland’s improving defense, and he could be a valuable mentor for Scoot Henderson.
Simons is also fresh from a productive 2024-25 season, averaging 19.3 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 4.8 assists on 42.6 percent shooting from the field across 70 regular season appearances. A career 38.1 percent three-point shooter, the 26-year-old should fit in seamlessly to Joe Mazzulla’s three-point-heavy offense.
With Jayson Tatum on the sidelines, Simons should see an increased role alongside Jaylen Brown, Derrick White, Payton Pritchard, and Kristaps Porzingis while getting a chance to compete in the playoffs.
Haliburton breaks silence after devastating injury
As mentioned, Tyrese Haliburton suffered a torn right Achilles during Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals, joining Jayson Tatum and Damian Lillard in the medical room for the same injury. And the eerie part is that the three of them wear No. 0 while playing in the Eastern Conference.
Haliburton started Game 7 on fire, hitting three of his first four three-point attempts. However, his Achilles blew out on a drive with 5:03 left in the first period, changing the complexion of the game. The Pacers did all they could to win for their fallen star, but ultimately came up short. The Thunder won 103-91, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was crowned Finals MVP.
“I don’t ‘have to’ go through this, I get to go through this,” Haliburton wrote in a statement. “I’m grateful for the road that lies ahead. Watch how I come back from this. So, give me some time, I’ll dust myself off and get right back to being the best version of Tyrese Haliburton.”
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