NBA Editorials Articles - Page 5

On paper, the Indiana Pacers enter the 2025-26 coming off the most successful two-year stretch in franchise history. They have had two straight Eastern Conference Finals trips and a Finals berth in 2024. However, the present looks murkier than the recent past. Tyrese Haliburton, the franchise’s engine, tore his Achilles in Game 7 of the […]

The Cleveland Cavaliers will enter the new season off the back of a historic campaign that saw them finish first in the East with a 64-18 record. The fact that it all came to an end due in the conference semifinals means that their talented core still have questions to answer, and fans will be […]

The Chicago Bulls have been running on the treadmill of mediocrity for years. They have been too competitive to bottom out for a top lottery pick, yet not good enough to genuinely contend in the East. This awkward middle ground has bred an uneasy mix of roster stagnation and missed opportunities. As the 2025-26 NBA […]

As crazy as it may sound, the calendar has turned over from July to August, and the Philadelphia 76ers’ roster still isn’t technically complete. Now granted, that is largely a matter of semantics, as eventually, Quentin Grimes will be locked away on a new contract, be that something long-term or the dreaded qualifying offer. But […]

While the Miami Heat traded for Norman Powell from the Los Angeles Clippers earlier in the offseason, there is a possibility that the team isn’t done finalizing the roster, which could lead into the actual season and the trade deadline. As the Heat face other dilemmas this upcoming season, there is still a chance that […]

The Detroit Pistons had a solid season, making the 2025 NBA Playoffs. Now, they look forward to another season and a step up. There could be several Pistons trade candidates, depending on where the team is at midseason. Additionally, it could be a popular Pistons guard who sees himself on the trading block. Detroit has […]

The Dallas Mavericks had a horrible season, making the play-in despite numerous injuries and issues. While many blamed Nico Harrison, there is a lot more to go around. Now, the team hopes for better results and health. Even with that in mind, there may still be some Mavericks trade candidates if things don’t go well. […]

The Los Angeles Lakers are preparing for the 2025-26 season. However, it is never too early to speculate about Lakers trade candidates, especially if the season does not go as well as they want. Life is always full of drama, as the arena formerly known as the Staples Center. By the time February rolls around, […]

Winning the NBA MVP is a great way to cement a player’s legacy. It’s an award usually given to the best-performing player of the regular season. As a result, it’s arguably the most prestigious individual award a star can attain, at least for the regular season. Throughout the years, most NBA MVP winners are future […]

Heading into the 2025 NBA offseason, the Charlotte Hornets had a clear objective: surround their young core with enough talent and stability to finally crawl out of the Eastern Conference’s basement. After years of missed opportunities, injuries, and roster imbalances, the front office took decisive action. Their biggest move came early, a trade with the […]

Few franchises in the Western Conference have transformed their image as dramatically as the Minnesota Timberwolves. Once synonymous with mediocrity, the Wolves have now strung together back-to-back Western Conference Finals appearances and established themselves as a genuine championship contender. The days of “plucky underdog” narratives are over; this is a franchise operating with championship expectations. […]

The Denver Nuggets have been playing the long game for years, and for the most part, it’s paying off this offseason. Even though they fell in the second round of the 2025 NBA Playoffs, Denver took the eventual champion Oklahoma City Thunder to a grueling seven-game battle. That exit wasn’t a failure; it was a […]

After years of injury setbacks, questionable roster building, and a turbulent front-office overhaul, the New Orleans Pelicans have entered the 2025–26 season with both urgency and uncertainty. The appointment of Joe Dumars as President of Basketball Operations and Troy Weaver as General Manager signaled a willingness to make aggressive moves. But the aggressive win-now tone […]

The Toronto Raptors are talented enough to sniff the play-in, yet far from the inner circle of contenders. The front office has been aggressive in securing talent, but not necessarily in building a long-term plan. This is a team that feels stuck in basketball purgatory. They have paid premium prices for “good” without knowing how […]

The New York Knicks enter the 2025-26 NBA season in a peculiar position. They are close enough to contend for a championship, yet still a few moves away from being the team to beat in the Eastern Conference. This is not a franchise content with treading water. In a market where expectations are amplified and […]

Jonathan Kuminga isn’t the only restricted free agent being held up in negotiations this offseason, as Josh Giddey and the Chicago Bulls have yet to find common ground on a new contract. The main difference between Giddey’s situation and that of Kuminga with the Golden State Warriors is that all signs point to the 22-year-old […]

The standoff between Jonathan Kuminga and the Golden State Warriors has been the main talking point of the NBA offseason and free agency. Since no team in the league has cap space other than the Brooklyn Nets, and with Kuminga being a restricted free agent, his market has been extremely limited to this point. While […]

The New York Knicks made some additions in the 2025 offseason. They signed dynamic guard Jordan Clarkson, as well as burly big man Guerschon Yabusele. And they also locked up Mikal Bridges to a long-term extension and added new head coach Mike Brown. One move that understandably flew under the radar was the drafting of […]

Typically, winning an NBA championship means going through 82 games in the regular season before engaging in four best-of-seven series. As a result, coming away with a ring is one of the most elusive feats for any team. But due to unforeseen circumstances and external forces, the playing field has been altered on several occasions. […]

Nikola Jokic is arguably the best big man in the NBA, especially after Jokic won three NBA MVPs. He’s also a major reason as to why the Denver Nuggets are a legitimate threat in the league. Jokic dominates not with his athletic gifts. But instead, the Serbian star leans on his high IQ and ability […]

Fresh off a turbulent summer that saw them flip key veterans after losing Jayson Tatum to a torn Achilles, the Boston Celtics are expected to continue making financially driven moves. The front office has found the moves to tuck themselves below the second apron, but will be expected back on the chopping board when it […]

The Golden State Warriors have only one thing in mind heading into the 2025-26 season: to win a title. While things haven’t exactly been moving for the Warriors this offseason, with the Jonathan Kuminga situation putting a pause on their dealings in free agency. In fact, the long rumored Al Horford signing hasn’t been finalized […]

Philadelphia 76ers star Tyrese Maxey had a career year during his 2024-25 campaign, but his team struggled to put together wins on a consistent basis. Maxey has been hard at work this offseason improving his game, which included workouts with Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James. Maxey, who will be entering his sixth season in […]

No matter how you view his career, there is no denying that Russell Westbrook was one of the most impactful and influential players of his prime era. Although he may not have won a championship, Westbrook helped redefine the point guard position, and the 2016-17 NBA MVP will forever go down as the triple-double king. […]

The Phoenix Suns have once again dramatically retooled their roster. In a blockbuster summer that featured the departure of Kevin Durant, the team returned key assets in Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, and Mark Williams, while adding exciting young prospects like Khaman Maluach, Rasheer Fleming, and Koby Brea in the 2025 NBA Draft. With Devin Booker […]

The Brooklyn Nets have officially turned the page on the superteam era this offseason. With no more Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, or James Harden drama to navigate, the franchise is fully embracing a new identity, one focused on young talent development and long-term flexibility. Led by a mix of promising rookies, breakout candidates, and veteran […]

The Portland Trail Blazers are finally moving forward, at least on paper. After four consecutive seasons without a playoff appearance, they’ve pivoted toward a new identity that blends the promise of youth with the leadership of veterans. The return of Damian Lillard, the acquisition of Jrue Holiday, and the selection of Chinese phenom Yang Hansen […]

The Cleveland Cavaliers enter the 2025-26 NBA season with arguably the most pressure of any team in the Eastern Conference. Despite finishing first in the East last season and boasting an All-Star-laden core, the Cavs once again fell short in the playoffs. And now, with their payroll ballooning beyond the second apron, the NBA’s harshest […]

The Dallas Mavericks emerged from the 2025 NBA offseason with bold intentions. After a season marred by injuries and an early exit in the Play-In Tournament, the front office pushed to reshape the roster into one capable of contending in a crowded Western Conference. On paper, they accomplished quite a bit. Dallas landed the No. […]

For years now, the Sacramento Kings have flirted with upward mobility. Ever since their surprising 2022–23 playoff appearance snapped a 16-year drought, the franchise has hovered somewhere between promising and perplexing. And as the dust settles on the 2025 NBA offseason, new general manager Scott Perry finds himself sitting on a roster riddled with mismatched […]

The Boston Celtics have kept busy this summer, moving around multiple key pieces in order to circumvent the second apron. And although Massachusetts native Georges Niang was hoping to prove himself in Boston, the forward was dealt to the Utah Jazz before he had a chance, departing on Tuesday afternoon as part of a salary-dumping […]

There have been many instances in the long history of the NBA that can be considered where-were-you-when-it-happened moments: Julius Erving’s reverse layup against the Los Angeles Lakers, Michael Jordan’s series-clinching shot versus the Utah Jazz in the 1998 NBA Finals, Kobe Bryant’s 81-point masterpiece against the Toronto Raptors, and the Miami Heat’s release of their […]

All eyes are on Luka Doncic and the Los Angeles Lakers as we near the beginning of the 2025-26 NBA season. Complete with a new offseason look and a legend like LeBron James seeking another title, the Lakers will be must-watch television as they tip-off the newest season. Doncic will be sporting his latest signature […]

Only one team has yet to make any moves this NBA offseason. That would be the Golden State Warriors as a result of their ongoing stalemate with restricted free agent Jonathan Kuminga. Little progress has been made between the two parties since the summer began, as the organization and player have been moving in two […]

Winning a ring is a good way to cement a legacy or to place yourself among the basketball greats. However, the NBA championship is usually an elusive feat to many players, including legends. As a result, the path towards one usually requires all the stars to align. But as the saying goes, “never say never.” […]

The Cleveland Cavaliers will be a team to watch once again in the Eastern Conference following their disappointing playoff exit after finishing with 64 wins. The addition of Donovan Mitchell has made all the difference and if the Cavaliers continue to build around the star during his prime, they should remain contenders for years to […]

Minnesota Timberwolves’ franchise star Anthony Edwards has big plans for the upcoming NBA season as he tries to lead his team to a first championship ring. Edwards has quickly grown into a face of the league and he’s undoubtedly the foremost poster child for Adidas Basketball. Building upon one of the most successful debut sneaker […]

The Philadelphia 76ers went through one of their tougher seasons in recent history, going 24-58 in the regular season, and missing the playoffs by a wide margin. Tyrese Maxey only played 52 games in what he called one of the most difficult seasons of his career. With a fresh start entering the 2025-26 season, Maxey […]

Philadelphia 76ers star Tyrese Maxey and New Balance officially launched the “Hero Pack,” on Thursday, July 31st. Inspired by his love for superheroes and comic books, Maxey customized the Hesi Low V2’s, New Balance’s basketball shoe, and the 1906R’s, New Balance’s lifestyle shoe, with his own design and colorway. Tyrese Maxey spoke exclusively with ClutchPoints […]