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2025 NBA Free Agency Fever

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The 2025 NBA free agency has transformed the league's landscape with several blockbuster moves that could determine the next championship contenders. Seven teams stand out with strategic acquisitions that might reshape their futures, from Kevin Durant joining the Rockets to Desmond Bain strengthening the Magic's already promising young core.

• Magic acquire Desmond Bane, creating a potential top-10 starting lineup with Jalen Suggs, Bane, Franz Wagner, Paolo Banchero, and Wendell Carter Jr
• Kevin Durant's move to the Rockets instantly transforms them into championship contenders with a core including Amen Thompson, Alpren Sengun, and Jabari Smith Jr
• Portland brings back Damian Lillard, creating an ideal mentorship situation for Scoot Henderson alongside Jrue Holiday
• Lakers reshape their roster with DeAndre Ayton and Marcus Smart, while Austin Reaves bets on himself by declining his player option
• Bruce Brown returns to the Nuggets alongside new additions Cam Johnson and Jonas Valanciunas, creating more lineup flexibility and championship potential for Nikola Jokic

Which team made the best moves? Which player faces the most pressure next season? Which team disappointed you most with their free agency signings? Please make sure to like, subscribe, comment, and tell anyone who's anyone about the show.


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Speaker 1:

What's up everybody. It's your favorite show's favorite show. Get a Bucket. I'm your host, trey, and, as usual, I hope you're all having a wonderful, wonderful day.

Speaker 1:

Today we're going to talk about the 2025 NBA free agency period. Well, at least give you some updates, but before we do that, please make sure to hit that like and subscribe button. Comment, tell anyone who's anyone about the show, trying to get the ratings up a little bit. You know just a couple of updates, and I'm going to focus on seven teams. That's right, seven teams, ladies and gentlemen. So, I mean, you know, free agency period? Huh, first team looks like we might as well talk about the Memphis Grizzlies. I think they acquired Desmond Bain, and that looks pretty interesting to me. I don't know about you. It seems pretty interesting to me, though, a reason why Well, let's look here. Now we got Jalen Suggs, desmond Bain, franz Wagner, paolo Bancaro and Wendell Carter Jr. That's a solid starting five. My question, ladies and gentlemen yeah, what does that starting lineup rank in the NBA? Yeah, what does that starting lineup rank in the NBA? Could that be top five? Could that be top 10? I'm sure top 10, like. Could that be top five, though, like that's gonna be my question where does that starting lineup ranker? That's pretty smooth, that's pretty solid and there's a lot of expectations, especially when you acquire Desmond Bain but also Tyus Jones too. Tyus Jones can help lead that second unit or be a floor general. So I mean, the Magic have done a lot this season.

Speaker 1:

What is a successful four-year stint for them? Because that's how long Desmond Baines' acquisition period is for, that's how long his contract is on the Magic. He was brought in for shooting, scoring, playmaking and defense. He's an all-star caliber player. See, they got to make the playoffs. Barring injuries, they have to make the playoffs. On top of that, you got to get to the second round at least twice. At least twice. I'm going to say three times, but at least twice. Next season, definite second round, because the East is wide open.

Speaker 1:

Hell, we could realistically talk about the magic in the NBA finals. What if they go up against the Houston Rockets? That'd be pretty funny when Paolo says hey, kd, you should have came to the magic. What if their magic win? Hey, kd, you should have came to the Magic. That's going to pop back up, I promise you. So again, yeah, this Magic squad, they could be interesting. And Desmond Bain, are you a second or third option. Over four years, you get to prove whether you're a second or third option. I think you could be second Comfortable at three at the third option, but that's what we got to find out. Also, is Paolo Bancaro top 10, ladies and gentlemen, are we finally there? So, again, the Memphis Grizzlies acquiring Desmond Bain Pretty important. Also, they got rid of KCP's contract and he didn't pan out that well, so it was really a good move for them across the board. Let's move up, shall we? Oh, we're talking about.

Speaker 1:

It looks like the Rockets trying to acquire Kevin Durant. I feel it, I feel it. I feel it. I feel like they do eventually, don't they Dang? Kd wanted to go to the knicks. That's a little tough to hear, though, okay, pat content going. Their sons trade five-time all-star kevin durant how about that? So they trade my mans eventually. So he's currently on the houston rockets.

Speaker 1:

Now, ladies and gentlemen, when we're bringing up this Houston Rockets team right again, kevin Durant is currently on the squad. Ladies and gentlemen, we are here like that moment is here now AD. Unfortunately, with that, that makes the Rockets a title contender and that puts pressure on you to deliver, because you do have pieces. You have all-star caliber players. You have good veterans. You got young guns who can get a bucket. You got defense around you. You got lanky players. They need a star. That's what we're going to see. Is KD still him? Remember he was on the Nets and we were talking about, oh, he could have beat Giannis and won that 2021 championship. That is true. And we were talking about, oh, he could have beat Giannis and won that 2021 championship. That is true. I genuinely believe that the Nets KD was robbed by the NBA on a couple occasions. We'll talk about that story for another day.

Speaker 1:

Redemption with this Rockets team, because you also have players like Amin Thompson. Like ladies and gentlemen, I think Amin should be their point guard. Personally, fred can easily come off the bench. For me, hell, but because of the team too, yeah, they could actually keep Fred in the shooting guard spot. Have Amin run the one. It's just on the depth chart. You got Fred as the point guard. He can guard the guards. Amin can guard whomever he wants to. Now you got Jabari Smith. You re-signed him for five years. That's great.

Speaker 1:

How does Jabari pan out ultimately? Can we get Jabari as a third option? Keep in mind we already got Armin Thompson and Alperin Sengun to be the second and third option. So does Jabari need to be a third option? That's the question mark. But I think he has third option capabilities, ladies and gentlemen. So with that, I need to see Jabari be their rim protector, because I'm not expecting Alper and Sengun to do it. Kd can, but I mean he's supposed to be your star, your scorer, so let's not make him be the interior presence, even though he is 7'0", but I think Jabari Smith Jr can. 6'11", mobile, good defensive player. I like him. Jabari, this is time to showcase your ability. I'm not feeling.

Speaker 1:

The only thing that I don't like about the Rockets right now is they let go of Cam Whitmore For like two second rounders. That was piss poor. I think you're going to miss out on Cam. Cam gave 10 points in like 16, 17 minutes over his career. Not a lot of players are doing that. He's a good athlete. You need the defense and scoring production. I think you should have kept Cam Whitmore personally. But you know, maybe I'm wrong, but overall the Rockets do have a wonderful selection, ladies and gentlemen. So again, I said this before I'm wrong, but overall the Rockets do have a wonderful selection, ladies and gentlemen. So again, I said this before, I'm going to say it again Contenders, yes, sirree Bob, they most definitely are.

Speaker 1:

Now let's go ahead and scroll on up. Now I'm not going to talk about the Wizards, you know they're cool, but all right. Blazers getting rid of Drew, going to Portland Trail Blazers, all right. So, ladies and gentlemen, I'll say this this one's kind of interesting Because with this, this does bring up the Portland Trail Blazers and we got to talk about them spinning the block with Dane time. Damian Lillard back on the Blazers huh, now, keep in mind he's not on this depth chart currently, but reason why he'll be out all, not all, next season. So there's no point in having him up here. Although you're good, you could have had him up here somewhere. Damn, even fifth option at this point.

Speaker 1:

But this, this blazer squad, ladies and gentlemen, it's kind of interesting. I'm curious how damian lillard and Drew Holiday groom Scoot Henderson Like. If Scoot Henderson learns from them, boys, he has the stature of a Drew Holiday and I think he can develop the game of Damian Lillard. He has the mindset of a Dame. I don't think he's scared. So because of that, portland Trailblazers might have a point guard for their future that I might like.

Speaker 1:

Shane Sharp I'm a fan of too Good athlete. They just got to figure out how to get the rest of their team intact. I think they have two solid pieces. Donovan Klingin I'm curious about. Jeremy Grant might get traded. Denny Evita has some promise. Jeremy Grant might get traded. Denny Evita has some promise. It's looking a little interesting for the Portland Trailblazers, I will say that. But I mean they got Dame time back, so that is cool. But yeah, it is interesting to see how that's going to mesh well, but I'm curious how Dame's going to play for the Portland Trailblazers. I really truly am.

Speaker 1:

Now, let's go ahead and keep scrolling back up, though, because I do want to keep going. Okay, they're picking up 11. Okay, all right, cj, they're trading him to the Washington Wizards. We know that we're not going to talk about them too much. Kp is going. Christoph Porzingis is going to the Hawks All right. Ky going to the Hawks, all right.

Speaker 1:

Kyrie Irving declined his player option to sign a three-year, 119 mil with the Mavs. Like I'm just, mavs is tough, bro, rockets again. Fred Van Fleet two-year, 50 mil Took a pay cut. Shout out to him. Unlike Bronk, forward Collins is exercising his player option, so he back on jazz. I hear it Spurs Knicks playing. Okay, no, no, I ain't trying to do that, dak, we ain't got nothing else. Nothing else has been interesting for real. Oh, no, not talking about them. Okay.

Speaker 1:

Now this here, ladies and gentlemen, is kind of interesting because Austin Reeves Austin Reeves, ladies and gentlemen turned down his player option, which I think a lot of people were wondering why would you turn it down? And I'm going to say this it's actually smart on his behalf. Reason why when you're on this squad, okay, like we have a good selection right now, my Lakers have a good selection. As you all see, I'm a Laker fan, right? Austin Reeves turning down that option means he's betting on himself. That means the pressure's on himself. So I'm assuming he's going to play well next season, fingers crossed.

Speaker 1:

Reason why he was our third option last year. It didn't really work out too well when the pressure was on him at the third option, kind of dipped a little bit. So we end up bringing in DeAndre Ayton. Now, deandre Ayton, I hear y'all Y'all might not think he that good. He cool, though he gives you a casual 18 and 12. A casual 18 and 12. I'll take that Like we call him. I've heard him be called lackluster, not the guy, all that stuff. I hear you. As a third option, he has shown me he can get me 18 and 12. Pairing that with Luka and Braun, I think we have our big three. Now Rui, that'll be cool. Hopefully he works out.

Speaker 1:

But what I'm biggest, what I'm most focused on, is whether or not this was a smart decision by us in signing marcus smart. But more specifically, I think we should actually make marcus smart part of the starting unit and have austin reese come off the bench. I think there should be perimeter defense surrounding luca. Austin reese doesn't fit that bill, but marcus smart does. And if you're talking about austin reese being the star, that he is okay, well, if surrounding Luka, austin Reeves doesn't fit that bill, but Marcus Smart does, and if you're talking about Austin Reeves being the star, that he is okay, if you really believe that, let him come off the bench.

Speaker 1:

Then and kill the second unit. Help, keep us in the game. You can have him finish the game if you like. That's cool. I'm just saying, ladies and gentlemen, I think we have something here If Luka Doncic is in shape and if LeBron really has a chip on his shoulder or if he's just going to be on some BS, then we need to trade buddy.

Speaker 1:

But our signings of DeAndre Ayton, all right. I'm cool with Marcus Smart. I'm cool with Jake LaRavia. You got to knock down shots. You have to be a damn near an elite shooter for us. If not, bro, like I don't know what to tell you, like it really it's really going to be lackluster for us to really have you on the squad. It really truly is. So again, I'm really hoping that Jake can pan out, but if not, it's okay, because guess what? Dalton Connect Austin Reeves off the bench as a duo. I kind of like that.

Speaker 1:

So again, my Lakers, we look an eye with a couple of signings. It just depends on how we actually do if we have a chip on our shoulder across the board. But if so, then I actually do like us as contenders, shoulder across the board. If so, then I actually do like us as contenders. If not, it's going to be another drama-filled season. But chip on his shoulder, austin Reeves turns down a four-year contract. He can get more. He can also get less, and this ain't. No, this is a pretty penny. Like y'all remember, dennis Rutter turning out that contract, now devin booker is getting a con. All right, let's just focus right here, because d book getting that contract.

Speaker 1:

That was wild. Like where, where is that up here? That's got to be up here somewhere. Please tell me that's up here somewhere. Oh my god, yeah, but Braun keeping his contract. You better play well.

Speaker 1:

Um, julius Randle tends to sign three-year one-mill. That's cool, uh-uh, no, no, not there. Where is it? Oh my gosh, that is crazy. Um, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, it's a lot of signings. No, no, no, no, it's a lot of signings. Though, damn, that's kind of wild. Yeah, they was active, okay, okay, okay, okay, okay, interesting. Oh, you know what. Here's what we're going to do, ladies and gentlemen. We're going to focus on the Denver Nuggets right now because Bruce Brown re-signing with them. Ladies and gentlemen, we're going to focus on the Denver Nuggets right now Because Bruce Brown re-signing with them. That's kind of tough. Y'all see, he was on the championship squad in 2023.

Speaker 1:

They did make some big acquisitions. If y'all noticing Michael Porter Jr's name is no longer here, cam Johnson is Not the biggest fan of UNC Tar Heels, but I will admit. But he can hoop, he can score a little bit and he can defend. So because of that, I do think he pairs well with Jokic. I don't think he has another. Jokic does not have an all, he has another. Jokic does not have an all-star. Again, that is something that you lose with MPJ. I think MPJ gives you more all-star caliber play, cam Johnson going to give you elite level-ish defense plus a three. He's a three-D wing. So because of that, I get it, get it right. But here's the big sign literally jonas valentunas actually able to play with nicola yoki. He can actually play on the floor with yoki or give him backup minutes.

Speaker 1:

The biggest reason why this is key aaron gordon is not is no longer their backup center. I was thinking they may need to flip AG because he doesn't need to keep serving the backup center. He can be the backup center, but on this team I don't think he needs to be their backup center anymore. So I'm so happy that they get Jonas Valanciunas. Then you have a big lineup paired with Nikola Jokic. You have people who can space the floor and defend. So now Jamal Murray you can put him on the weaker offensive player and he can be okay. Or, if they get switched on to him, it's okay because you have other defenders to help out the bench.

Speaker 1:

I do like Jalen Pickett, Scrappy guard, stocky, good athleticism, let's see what he can do. Julian Strother plays well. I think it's a nice solid combo guard who again pairs well with Jokic. Decent defender, that works, but getting Bruce Brown back tremendous. Also signing Tim Hardaway Jr.

Speaker 1:

Ladies and gentlemen, I think the Nuggets are actually they might have something here in the mix. They genuinely might, because this is starting to look like a championship caliber roster, like when I got Tim Hardaway coming off the third depth chart, like that's an eye with me that says they got depth, which is something that Nikola Jokic needs, and they finally have it. So again, this signing of Bruce Brown. It's a one-year rental, that's what it sound like, but that's okay, because it seemed like they trying to go all in and and keep in mind too, if they win another championship, if the Denver Nuggets win another championship, I genuinely believe Jokic stays there for the rest of his career. You got two championships, bro, you cool man. He good One. I can see why you leave Two. He don't give me, like the, the vibes that he's gonna not run away but run away. I genuinely don't think so. So again, they can sneak away one more championship, ladies and gentlemen, they might be all right, but I mean bruce brown, but I mean Bruce Brown, big sign. But, ladies and gentlemen, I mean that does conclude the updates thus far. We'll go more into it again.

Speaker 1:

I had to skim through a lot of those right there, but I just wanted to talk about those teams right quick, because again, ladies and gentlemen, those were pretty interesting signings. So now I got a question well damn, what's going to happen? Well, one, I guess during the rest of the offseason, but two, when the NBA season actually starts back up. It's making me look forward to seeing the NBA season pop back up again, which I'm always sad when the offseason happens, as I also am happy as the offseason happens, because again, you're seeing new possibilities form up. But you also know, too damn, the season just ended. But again, ladies and gentlemen, that looks like about all the time we have.

Speaker 1:

So I greatly appreciate you all for listening. And which side and I'm curious, which team did the best that I've talked about thus far which player do you think has the most pressure coming up in this season thus far that I've talked about? And then, which team are you most disappointed in in terms of free agent signing so far. I'm curious your thoughts, but definitely please make sure to like, subscribe, comment, tell anyone who's anyone about the show. My name is Trey. I'm the host of Get a Bucket. Hope you all are having a good one, take care.