Get ready for a wild NBA offseason: 10 teams to wa...

The 2026 NBA offseason has the opportunity to provide plenty of fireworks. There's the possibility that Giannis Antetokounmpo could finally be traded. Plus, there are the ripple effects of the San Antonio Spurs storming through the Western Conference and the shift toward building a young, exciting team that should only keep getting better. Similarly, the Eastern Conference is looking up at the New York Knicks, who should have their entire core group back after making the NBA Finals for the first time in more than a quarter century. And then there's LeBron James, whose free agency status could allow him to change teams for the first time since 2018 -- if the 41-year-old chooses to continue playing at all. With the NBA Finals coming to a close over the next week or so, let's look ahead at the 10 most interesting offseason teams and why they will dictate how the summer winds up shaking out. Jump to a team: Celtics | Cavaliers | Nuggets Pistons | Clippers | Lakers | Heat Bucks | Timberwolves | Thunder Bontemps: Last summer, Boston entered the offseason with a projected payroll and luxury tax bill north of $500 million but managed to get below the luxury tax by February's trade deadline without giving up a first-round pick. Boston went on to win 56 games and claim the second seed in the East -- a bonus with Jayson Tatum sitting out most of the regular season because of a torn Achilles tendon. But this summer presents a different set of challenges. After losing to the Philadelphia 76ers in the first round of the playoffs by blowing a 3-1 series lead, Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens talked openly about Boston's 3-11 record against the top five teams in the NBA last season. It's a sign that the Celtics need more talent, especially after losing Jrue Holiday, Kristaps Porzingis, Al Horford and Luke Kornet in the 2025 offseason with no replacements. Another glaring issue for the Celtics is their lack of tradable salary to bring in talent, bringing us to the Jaylen Brown situation. Marks: Brown has three seasons remaining on his supermax contract and the ability to tack on two more starting on July 26. The extension would pay him an average of $71 million and start in 2029-30. If he waits until next offseason, Brown could add one more season and $79 million. That is a lot of money for a player who will be 34 in 2031-32. Stevens not only talked about the Celtics' poor record against the top teams but also addressed the lack of paint presence that plagued them in the Philadelphia series. "One of the things that we've got to figure out is how to have more of an impact at the rim, and I think we do need to add to our team to do that," he said. Unless Boston makes a trade, Neemias Queta's next contract could play a role in how the Celtics address the lack of paint presence. The Celtics can decline Queta's $2.7 million team option and sign him to a long-term contract. The more sensible route is to exercise the option and extend Queta starting in 2027-28. This would allow the Celtics to use most of their $15 million non-tax midlevel exception for a center in free agency. Bontemps: Picking up Queta's options would also keep Boston under the luxury tax for next season. Though it's not an immediate concern, it would allow the Celtics to fully reset their repeater tax clock and increase their spending for the 2027-28 season. Considering Payton Pritchard will soon be due a raise on his bargain contract, and the Tatum and Brown contracts will account for well north of 60% of the cap over the next few seasons, being strategic about when and where Boston ramps up its spending matters quite a bit. Marks: The potential free agency of James Harden and extension talks with Donovan Mitchell are the focus this summer. Harden signed a two-year, $81.5 million contract last offseason with the Clippers in a deal that has a player option to allow the guard and Cleveland to negotiate a longer contract with potentially less money if he becomes a free agent. For example, a two-year, $56 million contract that starts at $28 million puts Cleveland under the second apron even after their roster is filled out. Mitchell went on record about his desire to remain in Cleveland if winning continues. "I love Cleveland. I've said it before: I want to play here for as long as I can," Mitchell told The Athletic. "And the goal is to win -- as long as we're continuing to win at the highest level." Mitchell has two years left on his contract and, starting July 7, is eligible to sign a four-year, $272 million extension. The $60.6 million salary in 2027-28 would replace the $50.1 million player option. Mitchell would earn $75.2 million at age 34 in 2030-31. If Mitchell waits until the 2027 offseason, he would be allowed to sign a five-year, $352 million contract with Cleveland, with the caveat that he would be playing out the following season on an expiring contract. Bontemps: Since Harden was acquired from the Clippers in

Get ready for a wild NBA offseason: 10 teams to wa...

Key takeaways

More in sports