BREAKING NEWS: Sh0cking NBA trade moves – LeBron James hints at future, shaking up the entire league!

The upcoming NBA free-agency frenzy won’t feature teams hosting elaborate pitch meetings for star players. Nor will it entail teams going on a spending spree.

With supermax extension eligibility, most top NBA players decide their future before the last year of their contract. Amid league-imposed spending restrictions, most NBA teams plan to make cost-cutting moves.

Nonetheless, NBA executives anticipate this week will mark the beginning of a transaction-heavy offseason.

Teams are allowed to begin negotiating with impending free agents beginning Monday at 6 p.m. ET. Players can officially sign contracts with new teams beginning Sunday, July 6, at 12:01 p.m. ET.

Amid all of the uncertainty, below are five bold predictions on how some major decisions will play out.

Milwaukee Bucks will trade Giannis Antetokounmpo

Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo passes the ball as Indiana Pacers forward Pascal Siakam defends during their playoff game at Fiserv Forum on April 27.

Benny Sieu-Imagn Images

I’m aware that Antetokounmpo has never asked the Bucks to trade him. I understand the Bucks have been adamant they would never do it, anyway. And why wouldn’t they think that way? Antetokounmpo still plays like an MVP candidate. He remains a box office draw. The Eastern Conference landscape is wide open.

Both parties will soon conclude, however, this isn’t sustainable. Damian Lillard isn’t expected to return next season after rupturing his left Achilles tendon. The Bucks have a bloated payroll. They have endured three consecutive first-round playoff exits. May as well secure whatever short- and long-term assets they can during a busy offseason.

So where will the Bucks trade Antetokounmpo? The Houston Rockets already made their big move to acquire Kevin Durant. The Lakers don’t have the interest or assets to acquire a third star. Other teams will shed costs. That’s why it appears likely this deal will involve three teams to spread out the assets. The San Antonio Spurs have stayed beholden to maintaining their young roster, but they can still pull off a deal with multiple teams involved. Stay tuned.

LeBron James will sign a one-plus one deal

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James controls the ball as Minnesota Timberwolves guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker defends during their playoff game at Crypto.com Arena on April 30.

Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

James will end his storied NBA career with the Lakers. “That’s the plan. I would love for it to end here,” James said when he turned 40 on Dec. 30. Nothing has changed that plan. Not the Lakers’ first-round playoff exit. Not the Lakers’ ownership change, either. If anything, James’ odds in retiring as a Laker only improved following the Luka Dončić trade. Likewise, the ownership change will enable the organization to spend more on support staff.

The only question: how many years will James play? I don’t think James will announce when he will retire simply because he doesn’t know when he wants it to end. Therefore, James will opt out of his $52.6 million player option. He will then sign a one-plus-one deal so he has time before committing beyond the 2025-26 campaign.

Don’t expect James to take a discount. Nor should he. Even a billionaire needs to maximize his earnings if he wants to become part of an ownership group someday. So the Lakers likely won’t have much room to upgrade their roster, anyway. Just like last season, expect James to wait to agree on the dollar figure until the Lakers finalize the rest of their roster so they have some flexibility.

Jonathan Kuminga will leave Warriors via sign and trade

Golden State Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga dribbles the ball during his team’s playoff game against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center on May 8.

Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images

No more staying patient with Kuminga’s development. No more staying patient with his fluid playing time, either. Kuminga and the Warriors will mutually end their partnership following four seasons filled with intrigue about his athleticism, frustration about his inconsistency and scrutiny about whether they’re developing him properly.

Instead of giving Kuminga a qualifying offer to make him an unrestricted free agent, the Warriors will entertain sign-and-trade deals. The Athletic reported that both the Heat and Kings are suitors. But the Warriors should see if the Celtics will include Derrick White in a deal. Andrew Wiggins became a key piece in the Warriors’ 2022 NBA title run, but he has become inconsistent again. Hence, the Warriors dealt him to Miami to acquire Jimmy Butler.

White embodies the perfect role player on a championship team for his adaptability and hustle. White also would make life easier for Stephen Curry, Draymond Green and Butler with his rim protection, defensive versatility and respectable outside shot.

Timberwolves can’t keep all of their free agents

Minnesota Timberwolves forward Julius Randle drives with the ball as Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kenrich Williams defends during their playoff game at Target Center on May 24.

Bruce Kluckhohn-Imagn Images

The Wolves would love to keep Julius Randle, Naz Reid and Nickeil Alexander-Walker. It appears those players would love to stay, too.

But all parties also will need to prioritize business concerns. Randle ($31 million) and Reid ($15 million) may want to decline player options in hopes of securing long-term deals. Alexander-Walker, who only earned $4.3 million last season, surely will attract free-agent interest.

Tim Connelly, the Wolves’ president of basketball operations, has said he wants to keep all three players. Randle has become a more refined playmaker. Reid has stayed valuable as both a reserve and starter. Alexander-Walker has thrived as a two-way wing.

But after dealing Karl-Anthony Towns last summer partly for cost-cutting reasons, Minnesota still wants to stay out of the second apron to avoid roster-building restrictions. That makes it likely the Wolves can only keep two out of three. So which ones?

The Wolves likely would prefer Randle for obvious reasons. He’s the team’s second-best player behind Anthony Edwards, and Minnesota traded Towns last season partly to retrieve Randle. How this plays out, however, mostly depends on the open market. That can then determine if Minnesota has any room to convince players to accept a relative discount to ensure continuity.

Pacers will hold onto Myles Turner

Indiana Pacers center Myles Turner reacts during Game 6 of the 2025 NBA Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on June 19.

Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images

Despite hearing his name in constant trade rumors through his 10 seasons with Indiana, Turner likely will want to stay. Despite seeing Turner play inconsistently in the NBA Finals, the Pacers likely will want to keep him.

Though Turner will become an unrestricted free agent, he enters a market with many teams lacking cap space. The Pacers also won’t find better centers available. Therefore, both the Pacers and Turner will make the pragmatic decision to prolong their partnership at least for a little bit longer. Besides, Turner has become a dependable rim protector, scorer and rebounder as the Pacers’ longest-tenured player.