Mike Dunleavy told reporters on Monday about the Warriors’ offseason plans as the 2025 NBA Draft nears, and the general manager let it be known that merely attempting to bring one or some of the league’s biggest names to San Francisco will be quite challenging because of Golden State’s financial situation.
“Only because just of our salary structure and the way it works with the amount of money you can use underneath the second apron,” Dunleavy said. “That probably restricts it more than anything for us in terms of pursuing the best roster we can.
“I think we’ll look at stuff. We’ll look at players that we really like that may — we’ve just got to be — it’s just almost impossible for us to add players in the salary range of guys we were looking at last summer since we’ve added Jimmy.”
The Warriors are pretty handcuffed when it comes to pursuing stars.
Entering the 2025-26 NBA season, Golden State has $139.63 million, or 90.2 percent of the salary cap, committed to stars Steph Curry, Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green alone. And that’s before calculating a possible contract extension with restricted free agent Jonathan Kuminga.
Though the limitations won’t stop Dunleavy and the Warriors from searching. A trademark of the Curry era, Golden State always finds itself tied to the NBA’s brightest stars, whether on the free-agent market or through trade rumors.
“That would be the only limiter,” Dunleavy said about Golden State’s hands being tied after acquiring Butler. “But in terms of finding talent, improving this team, we’re going to look under every rock to try and do that.”
The Warriors’ best option might just be to re-sign Kuminga, as his development paired with improved chemistry probably is the most affordable “upgrade.”
But if there’s one thing Golden State’s vintage free-agent acquisition of Kevin Durant taught Dub Nation and the league, it’s that the Warriors shouldn’t ever be counted out in bids for top players.
SAN FRANCISCO – Now that the 2024-25 NBA season officially has come to a close with the Oklahoma City Thunder being crowned champions, everybody’s full attention can turn to the buzz around the draft, free agency and trade rumors.
The first round of the NBA draft takes place Wednesday, followed by the second round on Thursday. The Warriors own just one pick at No. 41 overall this year, and it’s highly unlikely they jump into the first round.
For the Warriors, the offseason is centered around their top pick from four years ago, an enigma of a player that has the fan base pulling one way or the other in a never-ending game of tug o’ war.
Jonathan Kuminga’s restricted free agency will be fascinating to watch. The sides couldn’t agree on a rookie extension last offseason, and now the player and team find themselves at a crossroads of trying to figure out what’s next.
Stay alert. Turn your notifications on. Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy also wants an answer without further delay.
“I think we’re in a good spot with it, honestly,” Dunleavy said Monday at Chase Center. “We have the ability to bring him back. He’s restricted. I think there will be good dialogue. I’d like to figure something out sooner than later. That would be great.”
"I think we're in a good spot with it."
Mike Dunleavy weighs in on Jonathan Kuminga's impending restricted free agency pic.twitter.com/DuTgCHFjJR
“I also acknowledge, with restricted free agency, these things can drag out a little bit and take some time,” Dunleavy continued. “I think we feel pretty comfortable with who JK is as a player and what he can do for our organization. … It’s a main priority going into free agency.”
Free agency doesn’t officially begin until July 6 at 9:01 a.m. PT. However, teams can start negotiating with free agents on June 30, one week from now, at 3 p.m. PT.
Since Kuminga is a restricted free agent, the Warriors can match the terms of any offer he agrees to with another team. They don’t want to lose Kuminga for nothing. They won’t.
Executing a sign-and-trade is an option, and Dunleavy already has shown his creativity as a dealmaker in his tenure as GM. Remember, Klay Thompson didn’t sign with the Dallas Mavericks last offseason. He technically was traded to them by the Warriors as part of a historic six-team sign-and-trade.
The Warriors don’t want to wait this out. Kuminga and his camp likely don’t either. Coming to a resolution in the somewhat immediate future will be best for both parties, Dunleavy believes.
“I think just clarity,” Dunleavy explained. “Roster clarity in terms of what else we need to add in free agency, also what we have to spend in terms of minimums, exceptions, those different types of things. I think the sooner the better for everyone. His sake, too, I believe.
“But like I said, restricted free agency can be a little different, so we may have to be patient.”
Patience might have run out for both Kuminga and the Warriors. There have been times when he has been talked about like the next young star who holds the keys to Golden State raising another banner. There have been stretches where Kuminga is an easy 20-point scorer that nobody can contain.
There also have been longer stretches where it seems like Kuminga forgets who Steph Curry is, and coach Steve Kerr forgets Kuminga is still on the roster. Kuminga didn’t fit alongside Jimmy Butler, and then averaged 24.3 points in the final four playoff games when Curry was sidelined from a strained hamstring.
The Warriors also didn’t win any of those games, and Kuminga was given three DNPs in the Warriors’ first five playoff games.
While the NBA season officially ended Sunday night, the offseason began about 10 hours before the Thunder celebrated their championship when former Warriors star Kevin Durant was traded by the Phoenix Suns to the Houston Rockets. A handful of teams could see Kuminga as a younger fallback option now that Durant has his newest home.
The Brooklyn Nets are known to have ample salary cap space, and Kuminga’s age, as someone who doesn’t turn 23 years old until October, fits their timeline. The Chicago Bulls have shown interest in the past, and Kuminga’s best skills as one of the game’s top athletes are in alignment with how the Bulls play best.
Whatever the Warriors do next outside of their second-round draft pick, everything ends and begins by having the best feel of Kuminga’s market. Dunleavy didn’t mince his words; he didn’t hide from the questions. The Warriors have to finally put an end to the will-they-or-won’t-they of Kuminga.
But any team that finds itself over the luxury tax (and over the first or second apron) needs to watch how it spends money, and that objective isn’t just limited to trades and free agency. It’s a key part of the NBA Draft process, too.
First-round picks are more expensive and their salaries have more guarantees than players taken in the second round. How much of a difference can that make?
Our Celtics insider Chris Forsberg explains.
“Why are second-round picks so valuable to teams like the Celtics that linger above the luxury tax line? First-round picks in the NBA Draft have a predetermined salary slot over four seasons,” Forsberg said, as seen in the video player above.
“And if the Celtics were to utilize the No. 28 pick in this year’s draft, that player would earn as much as $2.8 million in Year 1 and escalate to $5.5 million in Year 4. But second-round picks can now be signed to similar-length deals starting at minimum salaries. They don’t escalate as quickly, and they do not have to be guaranteed for all of the years.
“For teams watching their spending, the difference between picking at spot 30 and 31 can be quite stark. So don’t be surprised if the Celtics consider moving their first-round pick and focus on making selections in Round 2.”
Bob Donnan-Imagn Images
Duke forward Sion James (14) could be a good 3-and-D option for the Celtics in the second round.
The No. 32 pick is very valuable because it allows the Celtics to take a player with first-round caliber talent, but they don’t have to sign him to a more expensive first-round pick contract.
The increased value of second-round picks is why we see more of them in trades. Teams want these picks.
For example, Kevin Durant was traded from the Phoenix Suns to the Houston Rockets on Sunday in a blockbuster deal. Part of the return package for the Suns was five second-round picks. We didn’t see so many second-rounders get dealt five or 10 years ago. But in today’s NBA, they are valuable.
And it makes sense, too. If you look at recent drafts, there’s almost always a couple good players who fall to the second round. Here are some of the best examples:
2020 draft: Xavier Tillman Sr., Isaiah Joe, Tre Jones, Sam Merrill
2021 draft: Herb Jones, Ayo Dosunmu, Neemias Queta, Aaron Wiggns
2022 draft: Andrew Nembhard, Max Christie, Jaden Hardy
2023 draft: GG Jackson II, Toumani Camara
2024 draft: Kyle Filipowski, Jaylen Wells, Quinten Post
If the Celtics are on the clock at No. 28 Wednesday night and the player(s) they like might still be available a few picks later in the second round, it would make sense to trade down and acquire the player while reducing the cost of his deal.
It’s a risk, of course. The player might get drafted before Boston goes back on the clock.
But with the current collective bargaining agreement and based on how the luxury tax now works, these are the kinds of decisions teams need to think more about. Saving a couple million dollars can actually have massive implications, especially for teams that are very close to the first or second apron lines.
For the second consecutive year, the Warriors aren’t scheduled to select a player in the NBA draft’s first round. But could that change?
General manager Mike Dunleavy envisions Golden State exploring all trade opportunities during the 2025 NBA Draft on Wednesday — including moving up into the first round. He believes some possibilities, however, are more likely than others.
“As far as trade, we’ll look at stuff,” Dunleavy told reporters during his pre-draft availability on Monday. “I think most likely in the second round, it’s probably looking at moving up or back within that round. Is there a possibility we could move into the first round? Sure. I wouldn’t put it at highly likely, but you never know.
“On draft night, you get calls, you explore things, you look at stuff, and we’ll continue to do that.”
The Warriors traded their 2025 first-round pick to the Miami Heat in February as part of the Jimmy Butler deal, receiving a 2025 second-round pick in the return package. Miami will pick at No. 20 on Wednesday, while Golden State’s second-rounder is at No. 41.
And while the Warriors certainly are no stranger to making big moves under Dunleavy, with Butler and a six-team sign-and-trade deal that included Klay Thompson and the Dallas Mavericks last summer, the GM explained Golden State could wait until after the draft is over to strike.
“Yeah, I think there’s a lot of different ways we can go,” Dunleavy said. “We’ve got some free agents that are priorities. We’ve got to handle that. But some of that stuff may lead into trades and other things. Obviously, we got wound up into a big deal last summer, multi-team trade. Anytime you get into the free agent stuff and you start looking at exceptions and cap space, it lends itself to we’ll be opportunistic.
“I think with our cap and strategy group, those guys are really good. It’s hard to say, though, now honestly as far as what’s out there and what could happen. But we’ll definitely be in the mix. I think we’ve shown a history of doing that.”
Sunday night’s game averaged 16.53 million on ABC and ESPN+ according to preliminary ratings data from Nielsen. The audience peaked at 19.28 million during the second half (9:45-10 p.m. EDT).
It is the first time since Toronto wrapped up its title in Game 6 against Golden State in 2019 (18.34 million) that the finals have had an audience over 16 million. The last Game 7, when Cleveland beat Golden State in 2016, averaged 31.02 million.
The seven-game series averaged 10.27 million, down from the 11.31 million average for Boston’s victory over Dallas in five games last year.
The seven games were the most-watched television broadcasts since the first week of May.
ESPN and ABC averaged 6.12 million for the 34 games they carried during the playoffs, a 10% increase over last year.
Oklahoma City Thunder players celebrate the franchise’s first title since their move from Seattle. Photograph: Nate Billings/AP
These were supposed to be the boring finals, a contest between two small-city teams with none of the media pull of Boston or New York or even Denver for that matter, featuring the (allegedly) most overrated guard in the NBA, no personalities, relentless fouling, and a Canadian MVP whose ascendancy seemed to indicate nothing more than the terminal decline of America as a stable of elite basketballing talent. Instead we were treated to the most thrilling and unpredictable finals since LeBron James came through with his famous rejection in 2016 – a bustling, punishing, seven-game exhibition of physical basketball whose outcome was genuinely unclear until the final quarter of the season. Denigrated and dismissed by a basketballing commentariat who’ve spent much of this season ruing the modern NBA’s dearth of charisma, Oklahoma City and Indiana played as if stung by the laugh lines, launching from both ends of the court with a kind of mad, symphonic intensity.
If the finals of the past few years were about punctuating a dynasty (Golden State in 2022), letting Nikola Jokić be Nikola Jokić (Denver in 2023), and mastering a technocratic synthesis of all the elements of the modern game (the Celtics last season), this was a victory built on turnovers, flops, dives, steals, slingshot passes, and snap threes from distance. It was grubby at times, but it was all the more beautiful for its lunging desperation. At the end of it all, the team with the best regular-season record and the best player in the league emerged victorious. In years to come this stat line alone may confer a sheen of inevitability over the season. But Oklahoma City’s victory in Sunday night’s decider – like these finals and the playoffs generally – was anything but predictable. Even after star guard Tyrese Haliburton, who played through the finals with a calf strain, exited the court with a ripped achilles late in the first quarter, the Pacers would not give up.
By the time the triumphant Thunder players made it to the trophy podium, they seemed so drained by their accomplishment they didn’t know how to behave. With an average age of 25.6, these are the youngest NBA champions in almost half a century – and at the moment of climax it’s fair to say their inexperience finally showed. “It’s your time guys, celebrate,” presenter Lisa Salter encouraged them as the TV formalities concluded. Draped in confetti, SGA, J Dub and the rest proceeded to do nothing, milling around the Larry O’Brien trophy like interns at their first summer networking event awkwardly circling the buffet. Never has a champion NBA team so comprehensively rebuked its cultural critics on the court while confirming the basic accuracy of their critique off it.
With their love of group interviews, relentless positivity, and unfortunate penchant for barking, this vintage of the Oklahoma City Thunder often seems more like an a cappella troupe than a basketball team, a band of barber shop Harlem Globetrotters ready to pop up on the campus of our collective psyche at any moment and begin a relentless assault of harmonization and good vibes. Head coach Mark Daigneault is fond of describing them as an “uncommon” team – but what may be most uncommon about them is how supremely, relatably dorky they are. In a world of professional trolls, red-pilled everything and constant worry about the state of Young Men Today, there’s something vaguely refreshing about a group of perky young dudes who carry themselves with the amiable, well mannered aspect of a wealth management professional talking you through reallocation options for your 401k. It also helps, of course, that they are very good at basketball – and these finals have offered a stunning, all-court demonstration of their versatility across the boards.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is, of course, the supernova, a player so richly accomplished – and syllabic – that at the underripe age of 26, he’s already earned the right, like MJ, CP3 and KD before him, to be known by his initials. SGA put together 15 30-point performances throughout this playoff run, a total exceeded during a single postseason by only Michael Jordan in 1992 and Hakeem Olajuwon in 1995. After Sunday night’s game, he is also the first player in 25 years to scoop all three of the regular season MVP award, the finals MVP gong, and the season scoring title. Not since Shaquille O’Neal was getting around the court in shorts big enough to dress a king bed has there been a player as dominant across all the major awards categories over a single season.
SGA’s rise is all the more improbable when you consider his relative softness from three point range, which is – or so the last decade would have us think – the route to glory in today’s NBA. Where other greats of the modern game dominate through power, speed, or precision, SGA’s great skill is variation: variation of pace in the paint, variation of the shooting angles he creates for himself, variation of the heights from which he detonates his lethal mid-range game. He’s as comfortable unleashing one inch off the floor as he is stepping back to gain elevation over an isolated marker, and with the ankle elasticity of prime Gaël Monfils his joints allow him to turn even the most improbable looks into routine buckets. The freakish and frankly slightly scary vision of Gilgeous-Alexander’s calves operating at 45 degrees to his feet has become a constant of these finals; at other times he’s shown his uncommon comfort with a game played at waist height, tucked in on himself, headband showing like a set of antlers, fending forward with a hyper-extended leg then snapping back to reel off another unsplashily effective jumper.
This is a player so rich in mobility, so relentlessly and inventively productive, that it’s almost boring to catalogue his routes to the basket. One incredible sequence during a critical stretch of the fourth quarter in Game 5, right as the Pacers were threatening another madcap comeback, saw Gilgeous-Alexander steal the ball off a wayward Andrew Nembhard pass, vacuum up the court, assess two defenders, launch himself short of them, hang for what seemed like five seconds, then extend his left arm forward like a human selfie stick to sink the bucket of the glass, drawing a foul in the process. Poison at one end and caviar at the other: this is the Shai Gilgeous-Alexander guarantee, the recipe that allows him to cook so ferociously every time he steps on the court.
Each member of the Thunder supporting cast brings their own presents to the party: Chet Holmgren, the “unicorn” big that the Thunder nabbed with the second overall draft pick in 2022, offers a windmilling protection under the rim far more robust than his rope-like physique might suggest; Jalen Williams, at 24, has shown signs that he could match or even one day exceed SGA’s prodigious offensive stats; Alex Caruso plays the old hand (he’s 31, but that’s positively ancient by the standards of this team), calming the kids or jamming the opposition’s spokes as the occasion demands; Lu Dort, a four-fingered Florentine steak of a man, has the name of a 1980s action movie villain and the brawn to match. For all the individuality of these weapons, however, this is very much a team built in SGA’s image, all stretching and running. Relentless movement, positional interchanges, defense wielded as an offensive weapon, offense that flows seamlessly into defense, limbs that bend like liquid … Had I not already gone for an aquatic metaphor, it would be tempting to describe this as a cappella basketball – but even then the imagery doesn’t quite work, because the Thunder operate at a different level, exploding the rigidity of fixed harmonic divisions. No one in this team ever holds the same line; basses, tenors, and counter-tenors all merge, sharing each other’s music. When one Gilgeous is put down, an Alexander pops up; you might get past Jalen Williams, but then you have to deal with Jaylin Williams.
Thirteen years ago the Thunder made it to the finals with their magical trio of Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, and James Harden. The rebuild since that near-champion team broke up has been long, and at various points – especially three years ago, when Oklahoma City finished the regular season with just 24 wins – it looked like it might all come to nothing. Now the reward for general manager Sam Presti’s patience is a young team of champions who stand a good chance of finally breaking the post-Warriors NBA’s cycle of parity. This Thunder roster looks likely to stay intact for the next few seasons – and who, legitimately, will stand in their way of a second ring? The Celtics’ hopes of another title to complement last year’s depend on Jayson Tatum’s achilles; the Jokić-led Nuggets look a few players short of a champion roster; Ant’s Timberwolves aren’t ready; the Lakers have prime Luka but an aging LeBron, plus a looming change of ownership to contend with. Perhaps the Thunder’s stiffest challengers next year will be the ones they’ve just faced.
A word, then, for the fallen. In their strutlessness, commitment, and lack of ego, this Indiana team resemble nothing so much as their vanquisher last night. As they put together their historic run to the finals – the franchise’s first in 25 years – they took on the air of a team of destiny, an ensemble for whom no deficit was too great and no amount of time to reverse it too small. For a brief moment last night, as 6ft 1in point guard TJ McConnell, asked to step up in place of the injured Haliburton, repeatedly blew past Holmgren, a man one foot his superior, and conjured a string of evading layups high off the glass, it seemed like the masters of the comeback were about to pull off their greatest heist yet. Instead the Thunder gradually reasserted control, Holmgren rediscovered the gift of his wing span, and as the final quarter began the fans at Paycom Center got the celebrations under way.
In years to come the defining image of the night – and of this season – may not be of Gilgeous-Alexander accepting the finals MVP award with a rueful grin, or of Caruso pumping the home crowd when victory was all but assured. Instead it will be of a stricken Haliburton thumping the court in distress toward the end of the first quarter as he understood that his achilles, like his participation in the title decider, was done. The exit of the Pacers star, who started these playoffs saddled with the tag of the NBA’s most overrated player and ends them widely hailed as arguably the most clutch player that basketball has seen since Kobe Bryant, robbed the spectacle of some of its tension, however valiant the Tyrese-eless Pacers’ resistance remained in the face of looming defeat. But their miraculous run to the finals will not be forgotten soon: the Thunder may have had the most complete season, but no team in this year’s NBA has produced better quarters than Indiana. Haliburton will be back, maybe even before the end of next season – and the Pacers will be restless to complete the last step of the journey begun with last season’s eastern conference finals appearance and this year’s advance to the big dance.
Polite, young, considerate, and barkingly competitive on the court, these two teams seem set to define professional basketball for the next decade. The NBA has officially entered its nice guy era – and if it goes on to produce more postseasons as absorbing as this year’s, all the grumbles about the league’s lack of personalities and swagger, all the agita about the end of basketballing cool and American MVPs and Anthony Edwards being the sport’s only hope will, one imagines, fairly quickly fade into history.
Haliburton had suffered a calf injury in Game 5 of the NBA Finals but played in the Pacers’ Game 6 win in Indiana on Thursday. He opened Game 7 with nine points on three 3-pointers in the first seven minutes before falling to the floor with a leg injury. He was helped off the court and later ruled out for the rest of the decisive Game 7, which the Thunder went on to win 103-91.
The Pacers initially ruled it a “right lower leg injury,” but the diagnosis of a torn Achilles was the expected result.
Haliburton is one of several NBA stars to suffer a torn Achilles in the 2025 playoffs. Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum sustained one in the second round against the New York Knicks, while Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard sustained one in the first round against the Pacers.
It can take more than a full year for a player to recover from a torn Achilles, putting Haliburton’s status for the 2025-26 season in jeopardy.
Haliburton’s injury drew immediate comparisons to Kevin Durant, who tore his Achilles in the 2019 NBA Finals with the Golden State Warriors after dealing with a calf injury of his own. Durant missed the entire 2019-20 NBA season and returned to the floor to start the 2020-21 campaign with the Brooklyn Nets, ultimately waiting 18 months between games.
Haliburton had suffered a calf injury in Game 5 of the NBA Finals but played in the Pacers’ Game 6 win in Indiana on Thursday. He opened Game 7 with nine points on three 3-pointers in the first seven minutes before falling to the floor with a leg injury. He was helped off the court and later ruled out for the rest of the decisive Game 7, which the Thunder went on to win 103-91.
The Pacers initially ruled it a “right lower leg injury,” but the diagnosis of a torn Achilles was the expected result.
Haliburton is one of several NBA stars to suffer a torn Achilles in the 2025 playoffs. Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum sustained one in the second round against the New York Knicks, while Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard sustained one in the first round against the Pacers.
It can take more than a full year for a player to recover from a torn Achilles, putting Haliburton’s status for the 2025-26 season in jeopardy.
Haliburton’s injury drew immediate comparisons to Kevin Durant, who tore his Achilles in the 2019 NBA Finals with the Golden State Warriors after dealing with a calf injury of his own. Durant missed the entire 2019-20 NBA season and returned to the floor to start the 2020-21 campaign with the Brooklyn Nets, ultimately waiting 18 months between games.
The Boston Celtics are a fascinating team to watch as the offseason ramps up following Sunday night’s conclusion of the NBA Finals.
The Celtics potentially could trade a player or two to try to shed salary and get under the second apron of the luxury tax. They also are an intriguing team ahead of the 2025 NBA Draft, which begins Wednesday in Brooklyn.
If the Celtics keep the pick, taking the best player available would be the smartest strategy. Sure, it would help Boston if it added some frontcourt depth, especially with veteran centers Al Horford and Luke Kornet set to become unrestricted free agents this summer. Kristaps Porzingis is also entering the final year of his contract.
Adding a wing player, specifically a 3-and-D type, would make a lot of sense, too. Jayson Tatum will miss significant time recovering from Achilles surgery. Sam Hauser could potentially be on the trade block if Boston wants to shed salary. Therefore, adding some outside shooting would help the offense a lot.
The important thing for the Celtics is to get a player who can contribute right away. They are limited, due to the second apron, in how they can add talent to the roster. This makes finding young, talented, cost-controlled players through the draft even more critical.
The Celtics have found some good players late in the first round in recent drafts, most notably Robert Williams (No. 27, 2018) and Payton Pritchard (No. 26, 2020). They need to strike gold again in 2025.
Which specific players would be a good fit for the Celtics in the first round? Here are some predictions from recent expert mock drafts (with the author’s explanation/analysis, if provided).
“Raynaud has played himself into late first-round consideration alongside a somewhat short list of centers, which also includes Ryan Kalkbrenner and Yanic Konan Niederhauser. He is broadly viewed as having the most untapped upside of that trio, due to his flashes of offensive skill and more developed capacity to space the floor. His showing at the draft combine helped to reaffirm that, and the fact he only picked up basketball full-time as a high school senior coupled with strong intangibles has helped his stock.
“The Celtics are expected to be active this offseason, with a prerogative to trim payroll and Jayson Tatum out for an extended period of time. Those factors enable them to go most any direction with this pick and at No. 32, with the focus on cultivating long-term roster quality more so than addressing short-term needs this late in the draft. Raynaud would provide a viable depth option up front as he continues to develop.”
“Thiero is a slasher with a jacked frame and an explosive first step, but he has severe limitations on offense as a shooter. If he’s able to figure out the shot, then his length and versatility would make him a classic 3-and-D role player. The Celtics have had good success at improving shooters, so he’d be a fair bet at this spot, considering his other strengths are tailor-made for their system.”
“Kalkbrenner averaged 19 points and nine rebounds this year and has consistently been one of the best defensive players in the country over the last four years, winning the Big East’s Defensive Player of the Year award in each season. With the Celtics looking to make trades to get them below the second apron, Kristaps Porziņģis is viewed as potentially expendable; Kalkbrenner would be a strong replacement with his ability to step away and shoot as well as protect the rim.”
“Penda has an NBA-ready body, which would help the Celtics as they navigate what could be a transition year with Jayson Tatum expected to miss significant time and a trade or two possibly forthcoming. With great footwork and touch around the basket, Penda has a relentless motor and can be a wrecking ball (in good and bad ways) on both ends of the floor. His mechanics also suggest that he could become a better shooter than the percentages indicate.”
The NBA Finals concluded Sunday night with the Oklahoma City Thunder defeating the Indiana Pacers in Game 7 to secure their first championship, and now all 30 teams will immediately shift to a marquee offseason event: The 2025 NBA Draft.
The draft begins Wednesday night in Brooklyn with the first round at 8 p.m. ET, then the second round will take place Thursday night at 8 p.m. ET.
The 2025 draft class is considered by most experts to be pretty strong, especially in the lottery. The No. 1 pick is widely expected to be Duke star Cooper Flagg, who has all the makings of a generational star. But he’s not the only highly-rated prospect in this group.
The Boston Celtics have the No. 28 pick in the first round and the second pick (No. 32 overall) in the second round. It’s very important for the Celtics to get at least one decent player from this class, given the fact that they are among the few teams in the second apron of the luxury tax.
Looking for a deep dive on the 2025 draft class and which players the Celtics might target? We’ve got you covered.
Here’s a roundup of NBC Sports Boston’s NBA Draft-related content from Insider Chris Forsberg and our entire team.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander capped a dominant season as he led the Oklahoma City Thunder to the NBA Championship after beating the Indiana Pacers in game seven of the play-off finals.
The Canadian, 26, scored 29 points and had 12 assists in their 103-91 success over the Indiana Pacers in Oklahoma to clinch the series 4-3 - the first time since 2016 that the finals had gone to a deciding seventh game.
He was named the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player (MVP) to add to his NBA regular season MVP award and scoring title, just the fourth player and the first since Shaquille O'Neal to achieve the rare treble in one season.
It is the Thunder's first title since the franchise moved to Oklahoma City from Seattle in 2008 after Seattle won the 1979 crown.
The Pacers lost key player Tyrese Haliburton to a leg injury just seven minutes into the contest when he slipped and fell while driving towards the basket, but still held a narrow 48-47 lead at half-time.
However, the Thunder, who with an average age of 25.6 are the youngest side to win an NBA Finals title since the Portland Trail Blazers in 1977, out-scored them 34-20 in the third quarter and pushed the lead out to as many as 22 points (90-68) in the fourth.
"It doesn't feel real, so many hours, so many moments, so many emotions, so many nights of disbelief," said Gilgeous-Alexander.
"It's crazy to know that we're all here. But this group worked for it, this group put in the hours and we deserved this."
"Our togetherness on and off the court, like how much fun we have, it made it so much easier. It made it feel like we were just kids playing basketball. It was so fun.
"We have a lot to grow, individually and as a group. I'm excited for the future of this team. This is a great start. I'm really excited for this team."
Gilgeous-Alexander made his NBA debut with the LA Clippers in 2018 [Getty Images]
The Thunder completed a franchise record 68-win season, just four years after they recorded only 22 victories across a Covid-shortened 2020-21 campaign, their first under coach Mark Daigneault, who took over in November 2020.
"They behave like champions, they compete like champions," said the 40-year-old, who has overseen a dramatic change of fortunes which saw the Thunder break through last season with a play-off appearance.
"They root for each others' success, which is rare in professional sports. I've said it many times and I'll say it one more time - this is an uncommon team and now they're champions.
"The whole run I've tried to help the guys just be who we are, and all we needed is to be who we are."
Agony for Haliburton
Point guard Haliburton screamed in pain as he fell to the ground injured [Getty Images]
The exit of Haliburton, who had scored three three-pointers in the first five minutes of the game, was a cruel blow for the Pacers.
The 25-year-old point guard had suffered a right calf strain in Game 5 which he had been playing through, but he screamed with pain as he fell to the ground and had to be helped off court.
"What happened with Tyrese, all of our hearts dropped," Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said, adding that Haliburton was in the locker room at half-time "and he was very much a part of a group that believed that they could do this".
Carlisle added: "He will be back. I don't have any medical information about what may or may not have happened. But he'll be back in time."
The Oklahoma City Thunder did something only the Warriors and two other NBA teams have done before.
By winning Game 7 of the NBA Finals against the Indiana Pacers on Sunday at Paycom Center, Oklahoma City notched its 84th win (playoffs and regular season combined) of the 2024-25 season, something only three other teams, including Golden State in 2016, have done.
The four teams to win 84+ games (regular season and playoffs combined) in a single season:
However, the Thunder’s 84th win came with a championship, while the Warriors lost to the Cleveland Cavaliers in seven games nine years ago after winning 73 games during the regular season, the most in NBA history.
After that heartbreaking 2016 Finals loss, though, Golden State once again climbed the NBA mountaintop and won the championship again in 2017. And again in 2018. And again in 2022.
Maybe a similar dynastic run is in store for the Thunder?
Haliburton had suffered a calf injury in Game 5 of the NBA Finals but played in the Pacers’ Game 6 win in Indiana on Thursday. He opened Game 7 with nine points on three 3-pointers in the first seven minutes before falling to the floor with a leg injury. He was helped off the court and later ruled out for the rest of the decisive Game 7, which the Thunder went on to win 103-91.
The Pacers initially ruled it a “right lower leg injury,” but the diagnosis of a torn Achilles was the expected result.
Haliburton is one of several NBA stars to suffer a torn Achilles in the 2025 playoffs. Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum sustained one in the second round against the New York Knicks, while Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard sustained one in the first round against the Pacers.
It can take more than a full year for a player to recover from a torn Achilles, putting Haliburton’s status for the 2025-26 season in jeopardy.
Haliburton’s injury drew immediate comparisons to Kevin Durant, who tore his Achilles in the 2019 NBA Finals with the Golden State Warriors after dealing with a calf injury of his own. Durant missed the entire 2019-20 NBA season and returned to the floor to start the 2020-21 campaign with the Brooklyn Nets, ultimately waiting 18 months between games.
The Boston Celtics’ 370-day reign as NBA champions ended Sunday. But even before the Oklahoma City Thunder outlasted the Indiana Pacers in Game 7 of the 2025 Finals, the NBA delivered an absolutely head-spinning final day that will have lasting repercussions on the league as a whole.
How did the NBA’s wild day impact the Celtics? Let’s digest it all:
East feels even more wide open
You can’t help but feel for the Pacers. Not only did they endure a stomach punch of a Game 7 loss to the Thunder — a close game that got ripped open in the second half as Indy struggled with ball security in Haliburton’s absence — but the injury to their star guard now complicates their path to getting back to the championship stage.
In the span of less than two months, Haliburton, Jayson Tatum, and Damian Lillard all suffered Achilles injuries. The Pacers, Bucks, and Celtics have represented the Eastern Conference in four of the last five NBA Finals. If the conference felt wide open before Game 7, it feels especially outstretched as we wait for the league calendar to officially flip.
Every single playoff qualifier in the East last season should feel like it can win the conference next season. Some of that confidence will hinge on how rosters shake out this summer, but even the trio of teams that lost their stars to Achilles injuries can still compete given the state of the conference.
The Magic already loaded up with the addition of Desmond Bane. The Pistons still have room for a big swing. The Cavaliers are smarting from an early exit after dominating the conference. The Knicks still need a coach but are coming off the deep trek to the East Finals.
The East could be a lot of fun next season despite some star absences.
Another shoe to drop in Durant trade?
The Rockets acquired 15-time All-Star Kevin Durant from the Phoenix Suns in exchange for Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, the No. 10 pick in this year’s NBA Draft, and five second-round picks.
On one hand, it’s a solid haul for a soon-to-be 37-year-old player who hasn’t been out of the second round of the playoffs since Golden State won back-to-back titles in 2018 and 2019. But Houston maintained much of its core and is positioned to build off last year’s No. 2 finish in the West.
The big takeaways from a Celtics perspective:
Durant stayed out West, a relief in case a long-shot suitor like the Pistons or Raptors had emerged.
The Suns still must decide if Green is a part of their future, and there could be further wheeling and dealing as part of this swap that won’t be finalized until the new league year on July 6. The Celtics have motivation to try to offload money if they can wiggle into other teams’ dealings (though there are no obvious pathways in this current deal).
Chasing the Thunder
The Thunder are NBA champions. Massachusetts can take a small piece of the credit given all the local ties to the Thunder brain trust in general manager Sam Presti (Concord), assistant GM Rob Hennigan (Worcester), and head coach Mark Daigneault (Leominster).
The bigger concern for the Celtics, and the rest of the NBA, is how OKC is set up for a sustained run as a title threat. As teams scramble to cut money and get their finances in order, the Thunder have the assets and financial flexibility to continue adding to their title squad. Or they can just ride it out with the current core, which should only get better with time.
Of course, the last couple months have proven that injuries are the ultimate wild card to any NBA season. No year goes exactly to script. The Celtics were supposed to be on the title stage at the end of the 2024-25 season, but things changed in a hurry.
Still, as teams start building their rosters for the new season, all moves are pondered against the backdrop of how teams can compete with the Thunder moving forward.
OKLAHOMA CITY — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander understood the assignment of Game 7.
"Those are the minutes, those are the moments when the best players, the biggest stars, the superstars, Hall of Fame players, make their name. I want to have that name, I want to have those titles attached to my name," he said.
Haliburton excelled under the brightest of lights: 29 points and a career-playoff-high 12 assists in Game 7, leading the Thunder to a 103-91 win and the team’s first championship in the city. He controlled and orchestrated the game in a masterclass performance, and with that, he was the unanimous NBA Finals MVP.
SGA = NBA FINALS MVP
⛈️ 30.3 PPG ⛈️ 4.6 RPG ⛈️ 5.6 APG ⛈️ 1.9 SPG ⛈️ 1.6 BPG@shaiglalex's special 7-game series lifts the Thunder to their first title in the OKC era! pic.twitter.com/kuMT7qxvdY
Gilgeous-Alexander's list of accomplishments in these Finals and throughout this season is historic:
• He is only the fifth player with 25+ points, 5+ rebounds and 10+ assists in Game 7 of the NBA Finals (Jerry West, Walt Frazier, James Worthy and LeBron James). • First player to be named the regular-season regular season MVP and Finals MVP in the same season since LeBron James in 2012-13. • First player to earn regular-season MVP and win the NBA championship in the same season since Stephen Curry in 2014-15. • First player to win the NBA scoring title and the NBA championship in the same season since Shaquille O'Neal in 1999-00. • Fourth player to win the NBA scoring title and be named the regular-season MVP and the Finals MVP in the same season (Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Michael Jordan — four times — and Shaquille O'Neal).
"Yeah, it's hard to believe that I'm part of that group. It's hard to even fathom that I'm that type of basketball player sometimes," Gilgeous-Alexander said. "As a kid, you dream. Every kid dreams. But you don't ever really know if it's going to come true. I'm just glad and happy that my dreams have been able to come true. That's a "thank you" to everyone that's been in my corner that helped me get there."
His teammates were in awe.
"At the end of the day that's going to go down in history as one of the greatest seasons that's ever been had by a player," Chet Holmgren said. "It's amazing to be a part of that, to witness somebody going through it, succeeding in so many different ways He really makes it a joy to be around. It's never about him. It's always about us. It's always about winning. His talent shines through all of that. We saw that all year. He's a hell of a basketball player, but he's an even better person."
"I think he has a unique mindset. I think he gives us a lot of confidence," Isaiah Hartenstein said of SGA. "Like we say all season, he's always zero and zero. I don't think he ever gets too high, too low. A great leader on and off the court. He also puts the work in. If you see him on a daily basis, the work he puts in on and off the court, the way he leads. I've been with a lot of players, a lot of superstars, but just how ego-less he is really makes him special."
That 0-0 always mindset — which his teammates tease him about at times — has carried him to one of the great individual seasons in NBA history. And it earned him the NBA Finals MVP and a ring.
Bob Donnan-Imagn Images
