'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
The NBA offseason is in full swing and teams are already beginning to make improvements to their roster. With the upcoming draft and free agency window, those looking to make a big splash in the market are posturing around the biggest stars that could be made available. These include Kyle Lowry, Damian Lillard and Bradley Beal.
Whether they have the capabilities to make significant adjustments or not, there are several teams who have to do better next year and will have to find a way to do so. This article will run down five NBA franchises who can be expected to be heavily involved in transfer news in the offseason in the hope of keeping their biggest stars happy.
5 NBA teams set to have a huge offseason
#5 Chicago Bulls
The Chicago Bulls took their first step toward keeping Zach LaVine in the long-run when they acquired center Nikola Vucevic at the March trade deadline. However, combining the two NBA All-Stars didn't have the desired effect the Bulls were looking for and they ended the season 11th in the East.
Therefore, improving the roster is essential in the offseason, particularly with the injury to promising young point guard Coby White. What's more, the Bulls are set to have a ton of roster spots available. Despite this, bringing in the kind of talent to help them return to the playoffs is going to be a difficult task for VP Arturas Karnisovas. The team doesn't have a first-round pick in this year's NBA Draft, nor does it have the kind of necessary cap space to bring in a suitable replacement for White.
They will more than likely have to lose the likes of Lauri Markkanen, possibly in a sign-and-trade, and veterans Tomas Satoransky and Thaddeus Young. If they choose to stay over the cap, they will only have their midlevel exception to work with ($9.5m) which could be enough to lure Derrick Rose back.
#4 Miami Heat
Going from the NBA Finals to being swept in the first round of the playoffs this year was a dramatic fall from grace for the Miami Heat. Form, injuries and confidence all played a factor in their disappointing campaign. Realistically, though, their roster simply wasn't good enough.
Luckily for the Heat fanbase, they are set to have a reasonable amount of cap space (>$20m) and have assets to use in a trade for a third star. Ideally, they would like to pursue either Kyle Lowry or Bradley Beal in a blockbuster trade that would likely involve Tyler Herro, Duncan Robinson and some draft picks going the other way.
The Heat scored less than 100 points per game in the playoffs and ranked 25th in the NBA for points scored in the regular season. They need scoring depth, but most importantly they need a star who can help them win now and who can consistently score close to 20 points a night.
#3 Dallas Mavericks
While the Dallas Mavericks are not under as much pressure as others, they have considerable projected cap space and have a superstar who won't hang around waiting for the team to become good enough to challenge for an NBA title.
The benefit for the Mavs front office is the fact that Luka Doncic intends on signing an extension this summer. If he does so, he can net $70m more than if he waited until his restricted free agency to move. However, it is who they surround the Slovenian with that is the problem going forward for Dallas. Due to their flexibility in the offseason, they have already been linked with all the biggest stars in the NBA. Who wouldn't want to play with potentially the next best player in the league?
Bradley Beal, Damian Lillard and Kyle Lowry are all attainable targets and would all improve the Mavs' hopes of a deeper postseason run dramatically. They also have Tim Hardaway Jr.'s contract to consider, which is currently being tagged as a priority after his NBA playoff performances.
#2 Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics have a huge offseason ahead of them if they want to keep pace with the Eastern Conference's top three sides. With NBA All-Stars Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, the franchise knows they potentially have a short window in which to succeed before one, if not both, becomes agitated.
Finishing seventh after reaching the NBA Finals in 2020 was simply not good enough and while injuries got in the way of their continuity, the C's had glaring areas for improvement. For one, they need a consistent big man who can challenge the likes of Joel Embiid and Giannis Antetokounmpo in any potential future NBA playoff series. They also require scoring depth, particularly having already traded Kemba Walker this summer and with the potential of losing Evan Fournier in free agency too.
However, achieving all of this is easier said than done. The Boston Celtics lost Walker's oversized contract and brought back Al Horford with his oversized contract. However, in the process, they did save $9m.
Nevertheless, it will be difficult to know what to do in the offseason for new President Brad Stevens. Will they continue to save for the 2022 NBA free agency window or will they re-sign Fournier and use their mid-level exception to bring in another player?
#1 New Orleans Pelicans
The New Orleans Pelicans wasted no time in their offseason endeavors. On Monday, they were able to offload Eric Bledsoe's contract and their unwanted lottery pick for Memphis Grizzlies center Jonas Valancuinas. The Lithuanian will replace Steven Adams, who was also involved in the trade, and will hope to be a better fit alongside franchise star Zion Williamson.
On paper, the deal looks to benefit the Pels. They gained a superior scorer and rebounder while giving up a few unnecessary assets. However, this won't be it for the Pelicans this summer. If they want to keep Williamson happy after suggestions that his family members wanted him out of New Orleans, they need to show they are making a concerted effort to push for the NBA playoffs.
