2024 NBA offseason: The biggest signings, deals, and other moves
No awards are given for excelling in the NBA offseason.
However, the Philadelphia 76ers signing Paul George, Mikal Bridges being traded to the New York Knicks, Klay Thompson’s exit from Golden State, and the Cleveland Cavaliers extending Donovan Mitchell might influence which team wins the NBA championship in June 2025. The offseason moves, including trades, free agent signings, contract extensions, and draft picks, impact how each of the 30 teams will operate as the 2024-25 season approaches in three months.
Let’s examine each team’s key offseason transactions and what to monitor leading up to training camp in late September.
Jump to a team:
ATL | BOS | BKN | CHA | CHI | CLE
DAL | DEN | DET | GS | HOU | IND
LAC | LAL | MEM | MIA | MIL | MIN
NO | NY | OKC | ORL | PHI | PHX
POR | SAC | SA | TOR | UTA | WAS
**Atlanta Hawks**
– **Offseason player transactions:** Zaccharie Risacher (first round, signed a four-year, $57 million contract), Dyson Daniels (trade), Larry Nance Jr. (trade), EJ Liddell (trade), Cody Zeller (sign-and-trade; three years, $11 million), Vit Krejci (signed a four-year, $10 million contract), Keaton Wallace (two-way)
– **The impact transaction:** The Dejounte Murray trade. This trade ended the backcourt duo of Murray and Trae Young but also helped Atlanta get under the luxury tax and begin rebuilding its draft assets. The Hawks still owe the San Antonio Spurs their own 2025 and 2027 unprotected firsts (the Spurs also have the right to swap firsts in 2026) but now possess a valuable unprotected 2025 Los Angeles Lakers first and the least favorable of New Orleans’ or Milwaukee’s first in 2027.
– **What to watch for:** A Jalen Johnson rookie extension. The Murray trade cleared $114 million in salary, paving the way to sign Johnson long-term. Johnson averaged career highs in points (16.1) and 3-point percentage (35.3%). Since General Manager Landry Fields joined the front office in October 2020, Atlanta has signed a player to a rookie extension each offseason (Young, Kevin Huerter, De’Andre Hunter, and Onyeka Okongwu). Young is eligible until October 21 to sign a three-year, $157 million extension.
– **Latest ESPN Power Rankings:** Hawks at No. 22
**Boston Celtics**
– **Offseason player transactions:** Baylor Scheierman (first round, signed a four-year, $12.8 million contract), Anton Watson (second round), Luke Kornet (signed a one-year, $2.8 million contract), Derrick White (signed a four-year, $126 million extension), Jayson Tatum (signed a five-year, $314 million extension), Neemias Queta (signed a three-year, $7.2 million contract), Xavier Tillman (signed a two-year, $5.8 million contract), Drew Peterson (two-way), JD Davison (two-way), Tristan Enaruna (Exhibit 10)
– **The impact transaction:** The Tatum and White extensions were major moves, but the biggest development might be the upcoming sale of the team’s majority ownership. The new ownership will face significant financial challenges as Boston could exceed $500 million in salary and tax penalties in 2025-26 due to the Tatum and Jaylen Brown supermax contracts, along with the long-term extensions of White and Jrue Holiday.
– **What to watch for:** The Sam Hauser extension. The Celtics have until June 30 to sign the second-year forward to a new contract or risk losing him to free agency. Exercising his $2 million team option this offseason means Hauser could become an unrestricted free agent without an extension. Since the All-Star break, Hauser averaged 11 points and shot 44.4% on 3-pointers, scoring in double figures twice off the bench in the playoffs, including a career-high 17 points in the game-clinching win against the Miami Heat. As a repeater tax team next year, a new contract for Hauser starting at $8 million would add over $60 million in tax penalties.
– **Latest ESPN Power Rankings:** Celtics at No. 1
**Brooklyn Nets**
– **Offseason player transactions:** Bojan Bogdanovic (trade), Nic Claxton (signed a four-year, $100 million contract), Shake Milton (sign-and-trade; signed a three-year, $9 million contract), Trendon Watford (signed a one-year, $2.7 million contract), Ziaire Williams (trade)
– **The impact transaction:** The Nets acquired an impressive haul of draft picks (five first-round picks, including four unprotected) in the Mikal Bridges trade to the Knicks. However, the trade with the Houston Rockets had the biggest impact by allowing Brooklyn to regain control of their 2025 and 2026 firsts, potentially adding high lottery picks in each of the next two seasons.
– **What to watch for:** The futures of Dorian Finney-Smith and Cameron Johnson. Finney-Smith has two years left on his contract but holds a $15.4 million player option for 2025-26. Johnson has three years and $66 million remaining on his deal. One obstacle to trading Johnson is the $4.5 million in unlikely bonuses in his contract, which count toward the apron for any acquiring team.
– **Latest ESPN Power Rankings:** Nets at No. 30
**Charlotte Hornets
– Offseason player transactions:Tidjane Salaun (first round, signed a four-year, $34 million contract), KJ Simpson (second round and two-way), Reggie Jackson (trade), Josh Green (trade), Devonte’ Graham (trade and waived), Miles Bridges (signed a three-year, $75 million contract), Taj Gibson (signed a one-year, $3.3 million contract), Seth Curry (signed a one-year, $3.1 million contract)