There is no time to catch your breath in this league.
The 2024-25 NBA season concluded less than 48 hours ago and already teams are reportedly making blockbuster trades to dramatically shake up their rosters. Technically, they didn’t even wait until the season had ended. The Phoenix Suns reportedly shipped off Kevin Durant to the Houston Rockets hours before the Thunder and Pacers squared off for Game 7.
So with all the excitement of a fresh offseason whirling, let’s take a look at what’s going on around the association.
Celtics trade Jrue Holiday for Anfernee Simons and picks
They can’t keep getting away with it!
With a new ownership group and quite a large payroll, it’s been no secret the Celtics are looking to shed money to get under some aprons. They got that process underway by reportedly sending Jrue Holiday back to the Portland Trail Blazers in exchange for Anfernee Simons and two second-round picks, per ESPN’s Shams Charania.
Holiday was originally rerouted to Boston after he was sent to Portland from the Milwaukee Bucks in the Damian Lillard trade. This time though, it appears the Blazers are ready to compete again and will hold on to Holiday for the time being, according to Jake Fischer.
There was interest in Jrue Holiday from Sacramento, Dallas and others. The plan, for now, is definitely for Portland to keep the veteran point guard, sources say, as the Blazers look to compete in the Western Conference. I've seen some wondering whether or not POR would flip him. https://t.co/uKR3pp01Ww
— Jake Fischer (@JakeLFischer) June 24, 2025
It certainly won’t be comforting to a lot of Sixers fans that despite taking back the older player with more years left on his deal, it was the Blazers who still ended up sending draft capital to the Celtics. Simons only has one year left on his deal, so Boston is taking a bit of a flyer here, but they still got Portland to pay Holiday $37 million dollars in his age 38 season for their troubles.
Pelicans send CJ McCollum, Kelly Olynyk, future second to Wizards for Jordan Poole, Saddiq Bey, No. 40 overall pick
Speaking of trades that are a little bit puzzling. Chris Haynes has reported that New Orleans is sending a package centered around CJ McCollum to take back Jordan Poole from the Washington Wizards.
This seems like a fairly savvy move from the Wizards perspective as they are loading up on expiring contracts like McCollum and Olynyk, while getting off the hook from two more years of Poole. It appears that the Pelicans are interested in taking a swing on Poole and Bey in what appears to an effort to get a younger roster.
The trade swaps guards -- the Wizards shifting from Poole to the veteran in McCollum, who has an expiring contract. Washington now is expected to approach $100 million in projected cap space in 2026. Pelicans move younger, possibly more dynamic with Poole and Bey. https://t.co/5MoDagRyph
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 24, 2025
The Washington Wizards now have $100 million in expiring contracts between Khris Middleton, CJ McCollum, Marcus Smart, and Kelly Olynyk. It seems unlikely any of these players will get bought out. Wizards have avoided buying out veterans in recent years.
— Yossi Gozlan (@yossigozlan.bsky.social) 2025-06-24T19:35:37.837Z
Option season gets underway
Speaking of expiring contracts for the Wizards, several players have already decided on whether to pick up options on their contracts or not ahead of the June 29 deadline. That started with Khris Middleton picking up his $33.3 million dollar player option with Washington next season, according to Charania.
In other expected news, Rockets insider Kelly Iko has reported that Fred Van Vleet has declined his option with the expectation that a new deal will be worked out between the two sides. It’ll certainly be interesting to see what tweaks they can make to their roster with Durant now on board.
The Dallas Mavericks have committed to another one of their big men, according to Marc Stein. They’ve given Daniel Gafford an extension for three years in the ballpark of $54 million dollars. There was a little bit of confusion as Charania said the deal could go up to $60 million, though that is likely covered by incentives. Either way, the backcourt down there remains very crowded as they expect to welcome Cooper Flagg to it.
A few more options have been picked up, but nothing league-shattering so far. Fischer has reported that Jevon Carter will stay with the Chicago Bulls for another season for $6.8 million dollars. Haynes has been told that Sixers legend Matisse Thybulle will return to the Blazers next season for $11.5 million dollars. There are still many moves to come, and Portland doubling down on their defense is only the start.