The NBA offseason is officially here following the Oklahoma City Thunder's title victory and the conclusion of the 2025 NBA Draft. Free agency, starting at 6 p.m. ET on Monday, is expected to look different, with many star players opting for extensions with their current teams rather than testing the market. The Brooklyn Nets stand as the only team with maximum cap space, foreshadowing a summer filled with mid-level maneuvers rather than blockbuster signings.

Expect significant offseason moves, especially as teams like the Lakers and Knicks wrestle with potential trades. LeBron James has opted into a lucrative contract with Los Angeles but is closely monitoring roster changes as he seeks another championship run. Meanwhile, the Knicks may look to move Mikal Bridges to avoid an expensive extension. The Kings are also poised for action, with speculations swirling around a trade involving DeMar DeRozan or Zach LaVine.

The New York Knicks have made a bold move by trading for Mikal Bridges, sacrificing multiple first-round picks and players to secure his talents. After a mixed first season, Bridges is poised to be a significant part of the Knicks' push in a weakened Eastern Conference, given injury concerns to major competitors like Jayson Tatum and Damian Lillard. As Bridges approaches a critical decision point in his career, speculation looms about his potential contract extension, with predictions that he may opt for free agency in search of a more lucrative deal.

The New York Knicks will be sidelined in the upcoming 2025 NBA Draft, as they lack both a first-round and second-round pick. This situation arose from strategic trades and a tampering investigation. Specifically, the Knicks traded their first-round pick to the Brooklyn Nets last July during the Mikal Bridges trade. Additionally, they forfeited their second-round pick due to a tampering charge related to Jalen Brunson's signing. However, the Knicks did acquire the 50th overall pick from the Memphis Grizzlies, which came to them via the Boston Celtics and Oklahoma City Thunder.

The NBA Draft buzz intensifies as teams prepare for potential trades and player movements ahead of the June 25 event. The Boston Celtics are fielding trade offers for key players like Jaylen Brown and Derrick White, with sources indicating they have set a high asking price. Meanwhile, the Philadelphia 76ers are reportedly looking to trade Paul George along with the No. 3 pick, as he struggled with injuries last season. The New York Knicks could move Mikal Bridges and Mitchell Robinson, while the Sacramento Kings are exploring trades for DeMar DeRozan and Domantas Sabonis.

The 2025 NBA Draft is set to kick off with the Dallas Mavericks expected to select Duke standout Cooper Flagg as the overall first pick. Flagg, widely considered the consensus top prospect, will lead a draft class that only features 59 selections due to a sanction imposed on the New York Knicks for tampering violations involving Jalen Brunson.

The Knicks' tampering allegations stem from their recruitment of Brunson before free agency in 2022, which ultimately led to the NBA revoking their second-round pick for the upcoming draft. Despite this loss, Brunson has significantly elevated the Knicks' performance, averaging 26.4 points and 6.7 assists, and helping the team reach the Eastern Conference finals last season.