The green and white confetti has been swept from the parquet floor, the champagne bottles have been popped, and the duck boats rolled around Boston to cap a memorable season for the Celtics. However, the attention quickly turns to the NBA draft and free agency which begins this weekend as teams plot how to prevent the Celtics from repeating as Champions. In this article, we will discuss the four biggest news since Boston won the championship in the TD Garden.
1. Knicks Blockbuster Trade with the Nets- The New York Knicks season ended in disappointment with a Game 7 second-round exit at home to the Indiana Pacers. The Knicks suffered many injuries throughout the regular season and postseason that prevented the team from maximizing their potential. The big question was whether the Knicks would run it back or get even better to challenge the Celtics in the East. On Tuesday, the world found out the Knicks chose the latter option by acquiring Mikal Bridges from their cross-town rivals, the Brooklyn Nets. The package included unprotected first-round picks in 2025, 2027, 2029, and 2031 along with a protected 2025 first-round pick from the Bucks, an unprotected 2028 first-round swap, and a 2025 second-round pick. The Knicks will be sending Bojan Bogdanovic to match salaries in the transaction. The acquisition of Bridges makes the Knicks serious contenders for the title because it addresses the need for 2-way wing depth and scoring to take pressure off Jalen Brunson. Also, the chemistry among the squad will be solidified with the addition of another former Villanova Wild Cat in Bridges. The pressure is on the Knicks for the next two years to maximize the opportunity to win a championship because Brunson and Bridges will command bigger salaries and affect their ability to keep a deep team. Also, the Knicks did sacrifice the future by trading their picks, and it feels that next season will be championship or bust.
2. Pascal Siakam Signs Extension-the Indiana Pacers made an unlikely run to the Eastern Conference Finals and lost to the Boston Celtics. However, most fans were surprised that Indiana emerged as a force in the 2023-2024 season. A major part of the team’s success was the acquisition of Pascal Siakam at the trade deadline. Siakam averaged 21.7 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 4.3 assists last season and was dominant in their playoff run. Siakam was rewarded with a 4-year extension worth 189.5 million dollars. It means the Pacers solidified the duo of Tyrese Haliburton, and the Cameroon big man will make this offense difficult to stop with more chemistry. Also, Siakam brings championship experience with his vital contribution toward winning the 2019 banner for the Toronto Raptors. The Pacers showed a lack of experience in their matchup against the Celtics, and their defeat will make them even more dangerous next season.
3. Los Angeles Lakers hire JJ Reddick- the Lakers were displeased with what transpired on June 17, 2024, in Boston. The Celtics winning the title means they are now the franchise with the most NBA Championships, and the Lakers falling to second place. The franchise decided to part ways with Dervin Ham after losing in the first round to the Denver Nuggets in 5 games. The Lakers had an unsuccessful widely publicized pursuit of University of Connecticut Head Coach, Dan Hurley. After Hurley decided to remain in Storrs and pursue a three-peat, the Lakers pivoted in hiring former player and analyst J.J. Reddick. Reddick is regarded as a highly intelligent basketball mind and built a rapport with Lebron James on the podcast, Mind the Game. It remains to be seen whether Reddick will fare in Los Angeles as a rookie Head Coach without any experience on the sidelines.
4. Oklahoma City and Chicago Bulls Trade-the Oklahoma City Thunder had a remarkable season by climbing into the number one seed in the Western Conference. Despite the doubt over the credibility, the Thunder swept the New Orleans Pelicans in the first round and fell to the Mavericks in a hard-fought six games in the second round. In the Mavericks series, the Thunder benched Josh Giddey, who failed to impact the game as a starter. At 21 years old, Giddey averaged 12.3 pts, 6.4 rebounds, and 4.8 assists, and was not satisfied with being relegated to a bench role. Reports indicate that he requested a trade. Thunder’s General Manager, Sam Presti went on to find a trade partner in the Chicago Bulls to acquire Alex Caruso. Caruso is seen as the veteran 3-and-D presence that will galvanize a culture of star-studded offense with a defensive backbone. This trade appears to be a win-win for both teams, and it will be interesting to see if it brings the Thunder closer to their first title.