2024-25 NBA Finals: Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Philadelphia 76ers.
Given the way free agency is playing out and the changing dynamics of a league where six different teams have won the title in the last six seasons, this is likely a playoff game like any other.
Now, will the title be won by the Thunder-76ers in 2025? The competition will be played over 82 regular-season games and two months of playoffs – and of course, trades and injuries change the landscape.
But in the early days of free agency, the Thunder and Sixers have made moves that put them in excellent positions for this season.
Thunder-Sixers Finals? The Boston Celtics, New York Knicks, Dallas Mavericks, Denver Nuggets and Minnesota Timberwolves are among the teams that will try to prevent that from happening.
Here are the winners and losers from the first days of free agency:
NBA Free Agency Winners
The Philadelphia 76ers
In a win-now move, the 76ers wanted a quality wing and a long-term deal for restricted free agent and All-Star guard Tyrese Maxey. They got that and more in a free agency period they had targeted as the right time to make big moves. The Sixers added All-Star forward Paul George, who had a stellar 2023-24 season, and agreed to a long-term extension with the 23-year-old Maxey. With All-Star and 2022-23 MVP Joel Embiid, the Sixers have arguably the best guard-wing-center trio in the league. They brought back Kelly Oubre, added depth at center with Andre Drummond and depth at guard with Eric Gordon. Plus, they have five tradeable first-round picks if the right opportunity presents itself.
MORE:LeBron James agrees to two-year deal to stay with Lakers and team up with son, Bronny
NOTICE:Yes, Bronny James benefits from nepotism. So what?
NOTICE:Bronny James must earn his place on the Lakers, but no one should question his heart
Oklahoma City Thunder
In 2021-22, the Thunder won 24 games. Last season, they won 57 and are well-prepared for the present and future with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams. They acquired Alex Caruso and added Isaiah Hartenstein in free agency. Both additions fit the Thunder’s philosophy of hard work and professionalism without sacrificing financial flexibility or disrupting the development of its three young stars. And the Thunder still have a wealth of draft capital. They are in position to be one of the best teams in the West for at least the rest of this decade. Adding a title is part of the mission.
Orlando Magic
The Magic are on the rise in the East. How high can they go? We’re about to find out. They landed one of the best free agents available, signing point guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope from Denver. He brings the Magic championship experience (titles with the Los Angeles Lakers and Nuggets) and a two-way player who provides the shooting the Magic need. He’s shooting 40.6 percent from 3-point range in 2023-24. The veteran is a remarkable story. The Pistons waived his rights in 2017 and his career was in jeopardy. He’s become a valuable player, and Caldwell-Pope and his agent, Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul, have negotiated $150 million contracts over the past few years.
∎The USA TODAY app takes you to the heart of the news, fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio stories, e-newspaper and more.
The New York Knicks
The Knicks added Mikal Bridges via trade and re-signed OG Anunoby to a roster that also includes Jalen Brunson, Julius Randle, Josh Hart, Donte DiVincenzo and Mitchell Robinson. They are better equipped to compete with Boston for the top spot in the Eastern Conference, and the Knicks will have an improved defense. Will they have enough offensive creators?
Boston Celtics
The status quo is rarely good enough. Unless you’re the Celtics, who won the 2024 title with 64 regular-season wins and a 16-3 playoff record. They extended the contracts of Derrick White and Jayson Tatum (a record deal), and secured their starting five of White, Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday for at least the next two seasons. No title is guaranteed, but the Celtics are well-positioned to be in the conversation, even with a massive payroll that will pay those five players nearly $200 million starting in the 2025-26 season. Tatum and Brown, the NBA Finals MVP, will improve, too.
Victor Wembanyama
Wembanyama, the 2023-24 Rookie of the Year, will continue to develop and, in 2024-25, he will have the bonus of playing alongside future Hall of Fame point guard Chris Paul, who signed a one-year, $11 million contract to play for the Spurs. Wembanyama will learn from Paul, accelerating his progression. The Spurs may not be contenders next season, but they are headed in the right direction and it won’t be long before they are near the top of the West. Or before Wembanyama is in All-NBA First Team territory.
Eastern Conference
The East is getting better. Maybe not as much as the West (1-10), but certainly better. The Knicks, Magic, 76ers, Cleveland Cavaliers, Milwaukee Bucks, and Indiana Pacers (remember, they reached the conference finals) should be better, and the Celtics aren’t ready to go any further. Even if they don’t match or surpass last season’s win total, the confidence they gained from winning the title more than makes up for a few more regular-season losses, so they’re set for a long playoff run. And can the Miami Heat get back to the top of the conference? Will there be a surprise team? Either way, the East has made progress, and the champion resides in the conference.
To note: Dallas Mavericks (acquired Klay Thompson), Cleveland Cavaliers (extended Donovan Mitchell), Dejounte Murray (traded from Atlanta to New Orleans)
NBA Free Agency Losers
Golden State Warriors
The dynasty that won four titles in eight seasons with Steph Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green is over. Thompson left the Warriors for the Dallas Mavericks. While this is good for the Warriors in the long run and Thompson in the short run, it is still a despair for the Warriors. All things must come to an end, and unhappy endings are part of history.
The Los Angeles Clippers
The Clippers retained James Harden and still have Kawhi Leonard, but it’s hard to see how the Clippers improved after losing Paul George to the 76ers when they were a 51-win team. They’re moving into a new $2 billion arena, the Intuit Dome, and Inglewood, and owner Steve Ballmer would rather have a team that can compete for a title. Looking at the landscape of the West, the Clippers aren’t a top-five team.
Denver Nuggets
A year ago, the Nuggets were in celebration mode, having won the franchise’s first title. The hangover comes fast and hard. Denver lost Bruce Brown after the championship season and lost Kentavious Caldwell-Pope after a 57-win season this year. The Nuggets understood they wanted to maintain some financial flexibility, but two key players from a championship team are gone, and they have yet to find equivalent replacements while other teams in the West have improved. Championship windows open slowly and close quickly.
Phoenix Suns
The Suns were 49-33 and fifth in the West and were swept by Minnesota in the first round of the playoffs. Two (Kevin Durant, Bradley Beal) of their three core players (the other being Devin Booker) are in their 30s, and it’s hard to see what the Suns did to make them better, hard to see a path to improvement, and hard to see the Suns as better than the fifth best team.
Milwaukee Bucks
The Bucks don’t have the ability to make significant roster changes without a major trade. They have committed $151.4 million in salary to Giannis Antetokounmpo, Damian Lillard, Khris Middleton and Brook Lopez for 2024-25. Looking around the East, the Bucks see teams improving and possibly overtaking them in the standings. It’s Boston, Philly, New York in that order with Cleveland and Orlando moving up. Like Denver, do the Bucks see the championship window closing?
Incomplete
Los Angeles Lakers
The Lakers and LeBron James have agreed to a two-year, $104 million deal. That’s a good start, but the Lakers still need to improve their roster. D’Angelo Russell exercised his player option for 2024-25, so for now, the Lakers have essentially the same team they had last year (save for selecting Dalton Knecht and Bronny James) and haven’t made the roster moves that would elevate them to the West after losing to Denver in the first round in April. At least not yet. Let’s give the Lakers a minute in free agency and until July to see what they can do on the trade market.
Follow NBA reporter Jeff Zillgitt on social media @JeffZillgitt