NBA player market has changed again.
In the past few years, each team has engaged in an arms race around shooter groups, high-quality 3D players, and ball-holding developers. A major change in the offseason in 2025 is that each team is in the inside line and is crazily stocking up centers (or inside lines that take all the four and five positions). A few years ago, centers were still a vulnerable group in the free market, and it was normal for substitute centers to get basic salary. This year, some teams even had the annual salary of third centers higher than the luxury tax middle class special case.
The offseason arms race has basically been settled. If you look at the inside configuration of the 30 teams, you can clearly see that the championship team will use a lot of salary space to the inside. Regardless of the compatibility and whether the type homogeneity is serious, you will first build up the body shape advantages; the three teams with the least investment in the inside configuration include the Celtics and the Pacers, and the two teams withdrew from the competition for the new season due to the serious injury of the star.
The Lakers are an exception. The Purple and Gold Army invested $21.4 million in the inside and the sixth lowest in the league, but this is mainly because Ayton bought out the contract and the Lakers only received $8.1 million later, and the contract has a certain cost-effectiveness. The Clippers' trade for Powell to Collins provides the Lakers with an idea, and the Lakers may consider using Reeves as the main bargaining chip to upgrade the No. 5 position.
From the 2018-19 season to the 2023-24 season, Antetokounmpo, Jokic and Embiid divided 6 MVP trophys, and the super insiders began to end the small ball era. In the beginning, each team signed inside the goal to store a meat shield and passively deal with the super inside. Now each team is "focused on me". The role of the center is not limited to the meat shield. Many teams play tricks and turn the center into an important strategic weapon. The most typical one is the Rockets last season. Uduka's use of the double towers has become a scientific research specimen for some teams.
is not just the Rockets. When all the players were healthy, the Thunder insisted on the double tower combination of Haltenstein and Homgren most of the time. In the finals, Degnot once abandoned his martial arts and abandoned the double tower, causing the Thunder to fall into danger. Later, he corrected the mistake and let Haltenstein return to the starting lineup and win the championship with a thrilling victory. The Knicks' Eastern Conference Finals changed the team, allowing Mitchell Robinson to replace Hart into the starting lineup and teamed up with Towns to play in the double tower. The Nuggets, Clippers and Warriors were eliminated in the playoffs partly because of insufficient depth in the inside and the lack of reliable substitutes behind the main center.
During the offseason, teams that pursue the new season are all upgrading to the inside.
Thunder, Cavaliers, Knicks, Timberwolves, and Rockets are "strengthen". The Thunder got Sauber through the draft and stocked up 4 players of different styles in the interior. The Knicks introduced Abuselle, and the French Bears played center in the 76ers last season. The Cavaliers have Mobri and Allen, and have a choice to introduce Little Nans at a minimum salary. The Timberwolves renewed Reed and won Berlange through the draft. The Rockets renewed their contract with Adams and introduced Capela, including Shin Kyung and Jabbarri Smith Jr., the Rockets can set up various types of twin towers or even three towers.
The Clippers, Hawks, Spurs, and Lakers are "strengthening the weak ring". The Clippers lack a substitute center behind Zubac, and Lopez joins the team to solve the problem. The Clippers lack a high-quality fourth position that can play in the center of the small ball, and this need will be solved after the Collins is exchanged. The Eagles exchanged for Porzingis and Okonwu to join forces. The Spurs first signed Cornett and then replaced Olynick, two centers with different styles assisted Wenban Yama. The Lakers signed Ayton to upgrade to the starting No. 5 position, Hayes served as a substitute, and Kleb, who was in the contract year, may be used as a meat ticket to match his salary for transactions. The Nuggets are a variable in this level. Sophomore Holmes made a comeback to improve the depth of the No. 5 position, but Valanciunas has not yet confirmed to stay in the NBA.
The Suns, Bucks, Trail Blazers, and Pelicans belong to the "reorganized inside". The Suns exchanged for Mark Williams, and got MaluAchi through the draft. Currently, there are 4 centers in the interior. The Bucks cut Lillard into installments to make room, and then signed Miles Turner to replace Lopez, renewed Portis, and signed Himes. The Trail Blazers selected Hansen Yang and then gave up Ayton. There are still three players in the center, and Robert Williams may be sent away in the future. The Pelicans got Quinn through the draft and then signed Looney. In addition to Missy, the Pelicans stockpiled three centers.
In the new season, there are three teams with annual salary of more than $70 million in the No. 5 position, namely the Grizzlies, Mavericks and the Knicks. The Knights, 76ers and Timberwolves spent $60 million. If Valanciunas confirms to join the Nuggets, the Nuggets will also join the $60 million tier. The Thunder, Rockets, and Clippers are all in the $50 million range. Seven of these 10 teams come from the West. Perhaps except for the Grizzlies, the other nine teams will shout slogans for championships in the new season. The three teams with the least investment are the Pacers, Celtics and Hornets. All three teams sold their starting centers during the offseason and filled the gap with centers at the base salary level.
How the Lakers and Warriors will follow the trend next is curious.
The Warriors are currently stuck in the contract negotiations for restricted free agent Kumingga. Not only has they failed to sign Horford so far, but they have also lost Looney. The Warriors have Post and TJD at the fifth position, but Draymond Green is the core center of the Warriors, and the Warriors have always had high flaws. Although the Warriors invested $30.07 million in the No. 5 position, Green himself accounted for $25.89 million.
The Lakers introduced Ayton and signed back to Hayes with a good cost-effectiveness, but in the context of the hot center market, the Lakers' fifth position configuration is different from other championship teams in terms of functional type and depth. Compared with strong teams such as the Thunder, Clippers, and Knicks, the Lakers lack the space-type No. 5 position is obvious, unless you treat the so-called "space-type center" Kleber, who averages 2 points per game as a dish.
For a period of time, defenders who can hold the ball and score are popular, and resources are facing reallocation this year. After sending Bain away, the Grizzlies invested $77.56 million in the league the most, and the Clippers sent Powell away to strengthen the inside. Considering that the Lakers have Doncic, James, and Reeves, the ball-holding resources are somewhat overflowing, and there are major flaws in the defensive end and No. 5 position, Pelinka needs to consider whether to send Reeves away.
According to the current situation, the Lakers will most likely bring Reeves into the new season. First, see how the five-position configuration of Ayton + Hayes is, how much combat effectiveness is in the current competitive environment, and then decide whether to upgrade to the inside with Reeves.
Authentic, Reeves is younger than Powell, and his contract is more cost-effective than Bain. In addition, Reeves is a player trained by the Lakers himself, so it is understandable that the Lakers will play Reeves as a treasure. But it should be the highest point of Reeves' transaction value at present, and Reeves will face new contract negotiations in the future. At some point, the Lakers may have to give up for the overall benefit of the team.
bóng đá wap