The NBA season is only a few weeks away. Teams have made several major moves during free agency and the off-season.
Several blockbuster trades have also changed the look of the league.
Here, Sports News Blitz writer Lorenzo Gagliotta breaks down the biggest moves ahead of the NBA 2026/27 season.
Free-agency feathers ruffled
Several major NBA stars entered free agency with their contracts ending.
LeBron James, Jonathan Kuminga and Austin Reaves were among the biggest names linked with moves.
James left the Los Angeles Lakers before free agency began. His next destination quickly became a major talking point.
The Miami Heat and Cleveland Cavaliers were among the teams linked with the veteran star.
James eventually announced his move to the Philadelphia 76ers on July 24.
The Sixers had already made a major move for Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown.
James will now play alongside Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey. He will also share the court with young star V.J. Edgecombe.
The move gives Philadelphia another experienced player. The team will now look to compete near the top of the Eastern Conference.
Off-season moves and trades
Teams returned to the drawing board after their respective seasons.
The off-season then created opportunities for several blockbuster trades.
The Hawks got the ball rolling with moves for Oklahoma City Thunder guard Luguentz Dort and Miami Heat forward Andrew Wiggins.
Those moves helped fill the void left by Kuminga’s departure.
Coach Nick Nurse and the 76ers then made another major move. They acquired the multi-faceted Jaylen Brown from division rivals Boston Celtics.
Philadelphia is adding a player who many argue enjoyed the best season of his career.
Brown finished fourth in the league for scoring. He also finished ahead of his new team-mate Tyrese Maxey.
The Miami Heat also made waves in the Eastern Conference.
They finally landed Giannis Antetokounmpo after several seasons of trade speculation.
The 2021 NBA champion and Finals MVP now joins Miami. His departure also pushed the Milwaukee Bucks towards a new era.
The Heat want to contend for the title as soon as possible. They will pair the “Greek Freak” with centre Bam Adebayo.
The Cavaliers also made a quieter move.
Forward Peyton Watson joined Cleveland in a five-team trade.
Watson offers athleticism and scoring ability. He also recorded four 30-point games last season with the Denver Nuggets.
Another major saga involved Kawhi Leonard.
Leonard moved back to the Toronto Raptors after a lengthy delay.
The NBA investigated the Los Angeles Clippers’ salary-cap management during the process. That investigation delayed the initial move.
Leonard now returns to the franchise where he won the NBA championship.
The homecoming has already created plenty of discussion. However, he could fit into an exciting Toronto roster under coach Darko Rajaković.
The Memphis Grizzlies also moved on from Ja Morant.
Morant joined the Portland Trail Blazers as the former All-Star looks for a fresh start.
His injury history remains a concern, though. Fitness and knee problems have limited his ability to play consistently.
Assessing NBA Draft potential
The NBA Draft left many fans wondering whether or not their team had made the right move going forward.
The top three picks could have easily been interchangeable, with each offering a different set of assets, but the Washington Wizards stuck with what was projected by drafting forward AJ Dybantsa from Brigham Young University.
A player that broke BYU’s freshman scoring record, Dybantsa has an incredibly high ceiling as he looks to add his talents to a Wizards team which could challenge in the East with their young squad.
The Utah Jazz drafted Kansas’ Darryn Peterson, whilst the Grizzlies opted for Duke’s Cameron Boozer, son of former Chicago Bull Carlos Boozer.
Thunder general manager Sam Presti sought to add more length to the Thunder roster, drafting NCAA champion from Michigan Adey Mara.
It’s a pick that’s sure to impress the league, with Mara having the potential to further build his physical game and utilise his traits as a big man.
Former Michigan coach Dusty May reunited with ex-player Morez Johnson Jr. at the Dallas Mavericks franchise as they aim to improve on a lacklustre season.
Finally, one pick which could prove a potential steal was the Hornets drafting Texas’ Christian Anderson Jr. – an exciting prospect who adds efficient shooting and vision on the offensive end.
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