This offseason has been one of the craziest since LeBron went home in 2016. From the draft in June to the blockbuster trades over the summer, there was constant action. Can the Knicks go back-to-back? Is Philly officially a contender? And who’s already looking ahead to the 2027 draft? One thing’s certain: the season can’t come soon enough.

Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis to the Miami Heat for Tyler Herro, Kel’el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kasparas Jakucionis, 3 first-round picks (including No. 13), 1 pick swap, and 1 second-rounder

Breaking it down:

After years of rumors circulating through the NBA, Giannis has finally got his move. The Bucks look committed to the rebuild after a slow downhill slide following their mountaintop in 2021. In exchange for their franchise icon, they get all-star Tyler Herro, as well as young talents like Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kel’el Ware, and Kasparas Jakucionis, on top of 3 first-round picks and a second-round pick. On the flip side, this instantly makes the Heat a contender for the East. The front-court of Giannis and Bam is one of the most lethal two-way duos in the entire league. Right now, they join the long list of improved teams in the Eastern Conference, adding to the narrative that the East has finally caught up to the West. It’s gonna be a dog fight in the Eastern Conference this season, and I am excited to watch it unfold.

Jaylen Brown to the Philadelphia 76ers for Paul George, two first-round picks, and two second-round picks

Breaking it down:

This was unexpected. Jaylen Brown is heading to the Birthplace of America. This was clearly a desperation move for the Celtics. Jaylen Brown wanted out, and the rest of the league wasn’t ready to take on that ego. That was until the 76ers came along. It seems the Avengers are being built in Philly, and Jaylen Brown’s addition was a huge part of that. The 76ers go from becoming a play-in team to straight-up title favorites. That’s the definition of unexpected. Looking from Boston’s point of view, it’s clear the package for JB was not enough to match his talents. An aged Paul George with not much left in the tank and a measly package of picks. Yikes. It’s looking bleak in Boston.

LaMelo Ball and Josh Green to the Minnesota Timberwolves for Naz Reid, a 2033 unprotected first-round pick, three first-round pick swaps (2028, 2029, 2030), and three second-round picks (2029, 2032, 2033)

Breaking it down:

The Timberwolves are officially one of the most exciting teams in the NBA. Flashy point guard Lamelo Ball is teaming up with the exciting young slasher in Anthony Edwards. Losing Naz Reid was a big blow, especially for the fans in Minnesota, but they should be happy with the return. This makes them contenders for the warzone that is the Western Conference, but doesn’t quite give them the push to be considered title favorites. This is a confusing move from the Hornets. They looked the best they had in years in the second half of last season with the hot shooting trio of Lamelo, Brandon Miller, and rookie Kon Knueppel, but they now seemed to be moving to long-term championship contention. You do you, Charlotte.

Other Notable Trades:

2 years, $8 million. Player option in year 2.

The biggest deal of the NBA offseason was another free-agency fiasco with the King. LeBron took his time choosing his team, slowly narrowing down the options until we were left with the 4 most likely candidates: the Cavs, the Warriors, the Heat, and the 76ers. He chose the latter. This was the final piece of the puzzle for Philadelphia, which now has one of the best starting lineups in the LeBron era. Maxey, Edgecombe, Brown, LeBron, and Embiid. Wow, just Wow. Although recent news revealed that LeBron’s first choice was to end his career in New York, after winning the championship, he said, “It wouldn’t feel right” to join a team that has just won the championship. The internet would not let him forget it. Some people are saying to give them the championship already, but first, we have to see how all these egos mesh and, most importantly, whether they can stay healthy.

5 years, $252 million. Player option in year 5.

One of the most important things that happened this offseason was buried under the LeBron noise. Wemby just took $50 million less than he was entitled to — he could have signed for $303 million on the supermax but chose $252 million specifically to give San Antonio the cap flexibility to build around him. At 22, leading the NBA in blocks for three straight seasons, a unanimous Defensive Player of the Year, and with an NBA Finals appearance, he is the most important player in the league right now, and he’s locked in San Antonio for the foreseeable future. The Spurs lost to the Knicks this June, but it’s clear that Wemby wants revenge.

Rookie of the Year: Cameron Boozer

My pick for ROY comes down to who is the most NBA ready. And for me, that was just Boozer. He has all the fundamentals nailed down, and he is going to an environment in Memphis where he is the franchise player.

Defensive Player of the Year: Victor Wembanyama

Move on.

Most Improved Player: Brandon Miller

The number 2 overall pick in 2023 has all the tools to make an All-Star or even All-NBA leap this year. With Lamelo gone, he is the primary scorer, and we’ve seen glimpses of what he can do when he stays healthy. Big season for Brandon Miller incoming.

MVP: Victor Wembanyama

Is this the year Wemby gets over the hump? I think so. Wemby finished second last year, and it is clear that voters are hesitant to give SGA the MVP 3 times in a row. Voter fatigue has been a clear factor in recent years, affecting LeBron and, more recently, Jokic. Additionally, Wemby is the league’s most talented player and has all the tools to win the award.

Best Record: San Antonio Spurs

They have the best roster in the league, they have the best player in the league, and the Western Conference has gotten a lot easier. Who’s to say the Spurs can’t break 65 wins?

NBA Champion: Philadelphia 76ers

It would be easy to choose the Spurs to win, but I feel something special brewing in Philadelphia. Quite frankly, come playoff time, if they can stay healthy, I don’t see anyone taking them down. Give me the 76ers over the Spurs in 7. Lebron gets a perfect goodbye.