With the NBA Finals set to tip off on June 5, 28 teams have already gone into full offseason mode and begun to plan their moves for the 2025 NBA Draft and free agency on July 6.
Even the best teams have holes they can fill and positions they can shore up — or, in the case of several expensive rosters, have impending decisions to make that will determine what they need to add to their roster.
With that in mind, here’s our breakdown of every team in the league and the position they need to spend most of their attention on this upcoming offseason.
Atlanta Hawks: Point Guard
The Hawks have All-Star point guard Trae Young signed for one more season before he has a player option worth $48.9 million in 2026-27. Despite that, they still need a backup point guard, as they often operated without one this past season.
Whether that’s a rookie with the potential to take over the job once Young’s contract expires or a veteran who can come in for a year or two and contribute right away off the bench, the Hawks need to find a solution.
Boston Celtics: Center
Realistically, the Celtics’ team needs will come more into focus once they decide who will depart the team amid their expected salary cap cleanse this offseason. Above the second apron for the second consecutive season, Boston’s decision-makers will face many questions, but none more glaring than at the center position.
Starter Kristaps Porzingis is on the books for $30.7 million in 2025-26 after a mysterious illness sidelined him for several months and reemerged in the playoffs, where he was essentially a non-factor.
Al Horford, 39, has mulled retirement for the past couple of seasons and will need to be replaced soon. Backup big man Luke Kornet is an unrestricted free agent and may be too pricey for the Celtics to re-sign after outperforming his veteran’s minimum contract this season.
It’s clear that they need to get younger and cheaper at the center position, but considering how many ways Boston can either blow up the roster or try to keep it together, it remains to be seen how they’ll make it happen.
Brooklyn Nets: Point Guard
The Nets’ franchise is in a precarious position. They struggled last season, but not enough, as they won 26 games and took an unfortunate fall in the draft lottery, landing the eighth overall pick. They lack an identity, with several high-level role players in Cameron Johnson and Nic Claxton, but without a star creator to bring it all together.
That’s exactly the type of player they need, whether in the draft or through free agency, where they have over $50 million to spend in cap space. The Brooklyn fanbase needs a lead ball-handler to get excited about, and the offseason to make that happen is here.
Charlotte Hornets: Shooting Guard
As a rebuilding team, the Hornets have a strong base of young players in their starting lineup. The point guard is 2022 All-Star LaMelo Ball, while Miles Bridges and Brandon Miller operate as small forwards and forwards, respectively, and Mark Williams holds down the center position.
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What they’re missing is a young two-guard to complete the lineup. Lucky for them, they’re in a prime position to fill that need with the No. 4 pick in the 2025 Draft, as Baylor Bears shooting guard V.J. Edgecombe is widely expected to be the pick. It’s a wise selection talent-wise, and he just happens to fit right in with what Charlotte is building.
Chicago Bulls: Center
Starting center Nikola Vucevic is fine, as he averaged 18.5 points and 10.1 rebounds per game this season. But he puts a serious cap on a team’s chances of competing at a high level, as he’s simply not a good defender. He doesn’t move his feet well or pose much, if any threat as a shot-blocker. He also isn’t a picture-perfect fit with point guard Josh Giddey, who would excel more with a pick-and-roll partner who can finish lobs above the rim.
Though it may be difficult considering Vucevic isn’t necessarily a hot name across the league, they should not hesitate to decide if Chicago can dump him elsewhere. Once that’s done, they should target exactly the archetype that Giddey — presumably the long-term lead guard — could excel alongside.
Cleveland Cavaliers: Small Forward
The Cavaliers don’t have many precise needs with four All-Star caliber players in the starting lineup, but they could improve on the wing. Max Strus filled that role last season and was a good floor-spacer, but in order for Cleveland to make a real step forward, they need a difference-maker at that spot.
They traded for Hawks forward De’Andre Hunter at the trade deadline, and while he provided more three-point shooting, his—and Strus’—defense just isn’t good enough. This may simply mean adding a wing scorer who can create his shot that comes off the bench, something their bench unit sorely needed at times this season.
But something needs to happen, or else the Cavaliers once again could be headed for a successful regular season only to flame out in the playoffs.
Dallas Mavericks: Point Guard
It wouldn’t make sense if you saw this six months ago. At that time, superstar Luka Doncic was the lead guard alongside All-Star guard Kyrie Irving. But with the surprising trade of Doncic to the Lakers and Irving’s Achilles tear just over a month later, the point guard position is a glaring need.
In a perfect world, they could acquire a starting-level guard to run the show for the stacked frontcourt of Anthony Davis, DeAndre Lively II, and eventual No. 1-overall pick Cooper Flagg. While that is a slight possibility, the reality may be that backup guard Spencer Dinwiddie slides into the starting lineup while Dallas signs or drafts a point guard to bring off the bench.
Once one of the strongest positions in the league, the Mavericks now face major questions at arguably the game’s most crucial position.
Denver Nuggets: Shooting Guard
With Nikola Jokic on the roster and his supercomputer-like IQ and passing ability, you’d think the Nuggets would get many open three-pointers up off his passes. You’d be wrong. This season, Denver ranked last in attempted threes and 28th in three-pointers made — and they were still among the top offenses in the league, simply because Jokic is one of the greatest players in league history.
That lack of three-point shooting proved a math problem in their second-round series loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder. Heading into next season, the Nuggets’ top priority has to be adding shooting on the wing. If they can do so, their offensive numbers will soar.
Detroit Pistons: Shooting Guard
The Pistons finally seemed to unlock point guard Cade Cunningham’s full potential, as he put together his first All-Star and Third Team All-NBA season in his fourth year in the league. Much of that had to do with the shooting around him — namely, Malik Beasley and Tim Hardaway Jr.
Both are free agents this summer, and Detroit should re-sign both as its top priority. The blueprint has been laid on which type of players accentuate Cunningham. They just have to get those deals done.
Golden State Warriors: Center
Stephen Curry has yet to play with a high-level stretch big man in his career, a surprising anecdote given how the NBA has evolved. But as he enters his age-37 season, it’s even more important for Golden State to make a run at a center who can shoot the ball and further open up opportunities for Curry.
Even if they add a center who runs the floor and rebounds, it’d be a step up from Kevon Looney, who’s a terrific rebounder but is outmatched athletically.
Houston Rockets: Shooting Guard
It was no secret that the Rockets’ eventual downfall this season would be due to their lack of offensive production in the starting lineup and off the bench. This showed up in Game 7 of their first-round series against Golden State, as they mustered up just 89 points—their third sub-100-point performance of the series.
Jalen Green averaged 21.0 points per game as the starting shooting guard, but inefficiency matched with inconsistency is not a good recipe for winning in the postseason. Adding a spark-plug offensive creator to come off the bench or, in a perfect world, an efficient scorer and creator in the starting lineup would raise the Rockets’ ceiling.
Indiana Pacers: Center
Considering the strength of the Pacers’ centers during their NBA Finals run, this may seem questionable, but let me explain. Starting center Myles Turner is an unrestricted free agent this summer, as are Bhomas Bryant and the injured Isaiah Jackson, who’ve served as the backup for the past couple of seasons but suffered an Achilles tear in November.
Third-string center Tony Bradley signed with Indiana late in the season and has a team option for next season.
With five centers suiting up for them this season—James Wiseman appeared in a game as well—potentially none will be back next season. The top priority should be resigning Turner, as the Finals run couldn’t have happened without his shooting and shot-blocking ability. But given his high price point, Indiana has to pivot quickly if that’s not a reality or risk getting left behind.
Los Angeles Clippers: Point Guard
The Clippers don’t have any clear and immediate needs within their starting lineup, but with point guard James Harden entering his age-36 season, they’ll need to plan for when he retires, stumbles, or is ineffective.
The ideal situation is that they nab a young guard in the draft (they hold the 30th and 51st picks in 2025) and groom him to be the replacement once Harden isn’t the guy anymore in a couple of seasons.
Los Angeles Lakers: Center
This one’s clear. With Anthony Davis’s departure in the Luka Doncic trade, the Lakers were left with Jaxson Hayes as the starting center. He quickly fell out of the rotation in the playoffs, leaving LeBron James as the team’s de facto big man—not a winning combination, as they fell in five games in the first round to the supersized Minnesota Timberwolves.
A solid big man added to the roster would be nice, but more importantly, one who can finish above the rim in the pick-and-roll — a specialty off Doncic’s passes — and protect the rim at the other end. If they can do that, the sky is the limit for this roster featuring Doncic, James, and Austin Reaves surrounded by solid role players.
Memphis Grizzlies: Small Forward
The Grizzlies face an intriguing offseason. They’ll have a new coach next year and are questioned about whether their big three (Ja Morant, Desmond Bane, and Jaren Jackson Jr.) can win together.
They need to figure out a solution at small forward to tie the backcourt and frontcourt together. Whether that’s in-house, as 6’9″ forward G.G. Jackson showed potential during his rookie season but slumped in his second year, or through free agency is something they’ll have to answer this summer.
Miami Heat: Point Guard
Acquiring Terry Rozier at the 2024 trade deadline to fill this spot has not worked out, as he’s played inefficient basketball and faced off-court concerns. The addition of Davion Mitchell at the 2025 deadline provided a spark, and he’s a resign candidate, but didn’t necessarily clear up long-term concerns at the position.
Shooting guard Tyler Herro operated as the team’s lead ball-handler last season and was named to his first All-Star team, but the Heat struggled altogether, registering just 37 wins and getting swept in the first round. Adding an accomplished point guard to take some pressure off Herro would be ideal, much less a creator who can score on his own
Milwaukee Bucks: Point Guard
With Damian Lillard set to miss most, if not all, of the 2025-26 season to a torn Achilles, the Bucks will almost certainly add a ball-handler this summer. Backup point guard Kevin Porter Jr. played well after being acquired at midseason, but he’s probably not the top option and could be resigned to serve in a backup role once again.
Entering the summer with Giannis Antetokounmpo open to his future wherever that may be, Milwaukee’s ability to add a high-level lead guard — or not — could influence whether the two-time MVP decides to force his way out.
Minnesota Timberwolves: Point Guard
Starting point guard Mike Conley Jr. will be 38 years old for most of next season and has already shown significant signs of decline, averaging career lows in points and minutes. Rookie Rob Dillingham is waiting after being selected eighth overall in 2024, but he’s more of a scoring guard off the bench than a player who sets up the offense.
With Anthony Edwards and, if resigned, Julius Randle leading the offense next season, a player who can right the ship and take pressure off both would give huge relief to the team.
New Orleans Pelicans: Center
While Yves Missi performed admirably well during his rookie season and surprised with his maturity on the floor at just 20 years old, depth at center has to be a priority entering the summer in New Orleans.
The front office faces decisions about whether or not to move on from several veterans on bloated contracts (Zion Williamson, Dejounte Murray, and C.J. McCollum), making the center position a bit lower on the list of needs. But if the team truly wants to contend for the playoffs, they have to address that position behind the young Missi.
New York Knicks: Center
The Knicks don’t need much this offseason other than finding a new head coach and establishing continuity with their big four of Jalen Brunson, Mikal Bridges, O.G. Anunoby, and Karl-Anthony Towns.
But a position that could be a problem shortly is center, where Mitchell Robinson has excelled when healthy. The problem is that he hasn’t played a full 82-game regular season in his entire career and played just 17 games in 2024-25 due to an ankle injury at the beginning of the season. Adding another center for depth is a necessity, as the new coach for the Knicks is likely to spread out the minutes more than the departed Tom Thibodeau.
Oklahoma City Thunder: Point Guard
Another team without a clear offseason need, the Thunder could add a veteran point guard who can help take some of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s ball-handling responsibilities off the floor and run the offense when he’s not on it.
But then again, 2024 No. 12 pick Nikola Topic played point guard overseas and, despite missing his entire rookie season with a partially torn ACL, figures into Oklahoma City’s plans. While he would assume the role of bench ball-handler, the Thunder may feel more comfortable signing a veteran for cheap.
Orlando Magic: Point Guard
Considering journeyman point guard Cory Joseph started all five games in the Magic’s first-round series against the Celtics, the point guard position simply has to be the first thing the franchise addresses this offseason.
Though Joseph started partly due to an injury to Jalen Suggs, the Magic didn’t have many better options on the roster. With forwards Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner coming into their own as All-Star caliber players, the time is now to find a playable point guard who can create for them while stretching the defense with his three-point shot.
Philadelphia 76ers: Power Forward
Heading into next season, the 76ers view themselves as a contending team with Tyrese Maxey, Jared McCain, Paul George, and Joel Embiid penciled into the starting lineup.
They need to potentially add or figure out the power forward position between George and Embiid. Do they resign the hefty Guerschon Yabusele, who had a nice rebound season after playing in Europe? Or do they go small and put Kelly Oubre Jr. into the lineup? Or look elsewhere in free agency? They’ll have to do something, as there’s immense pressure on this team to perform in 2026.
Phoenix Suns: Point Guard
This was seen as the Suns’ most significant need going into last offseason. They signed Tyus Jones, who started 58 of his 81 games played and had a solid season, yet didn’t impact the team’s dysfunctional dynamic.
Phoenix just needs a cultural reset, which could be aided by the voice of a veteran guard who can also run the show on the floor. He doesn’t need to score, as two-guard Devin Booker does, but he needs to be mature and have a respected voice.
Portland Trail Blazers: Power Forward
The Trail Blazers enter the summer in an interesting position as they challenged for the Play-In Tournament late last season but also seem to be in a rebuilding mindset. They have several rebuilding pieces, but where they’re lacking is next to 7’2″ center Donovan Clingan.
With the 11th pick in the draft, they’re in prime position to select a power forward such as Derik Queen or Collin Murray-Boyles — the former being a more offensive-minded option and the latter excelling defensively. Whichever way they want to go, it’d be wise to fill that fourth spot from a long-term point of view.
Sacramento Kings: Point Guard
In February, the Kings traded away their only credible point guard when they sent former All-Star Da’Aaron Fox to the San Antonio Spurs. For the rest of the season, which included a Play-In Tournament push, a mix of Malik Monk, rookie Devin Carter, and DeMar DeRozan pieced it together to get the ball up the court and set up the offense.
Surprisingly, the results weren’t entirely awful, as they compiled a 19-18 record after Fox’s departure. But heading into next season, there needs to be a new solution. It’ll likely have to be through free agency, as the Kings lost their lottery pick from a previous trade.
San Antonio Spurs: Power Forward
Jeremy Sochan and superstar center Victor Wembanyama aren’t the answer here, as the 2022 No. 9 pick has failed to develop a reliable outside shot.
The Spurs need a strong, powerful four who can rebound the ball at a high level while also being athletic enough defensively to stay in front of his man. Add that he can space the floor proficiently, and you’ve got a perfect sidekick for Wembanyama down low, something San Antonio needs to find as he’s ready to win.
Toronto Raptors: Center
When the Raptors re-signed starting center Jakob Poeltl to a four-year, $78 million contract in 2023, many questioned it. It remains a question, as Poeltl is a solid player but simply doesn’t fit beside the athleticism of the players Toronto has placed beside him. He’s far from a good rim protector, averaging just 1.2 blocks per game last season.
For the Raptors to become a playoff-contending team that can do real damage once they get there, they need a replacement for Poeltl. His lack of lateral speed, above-the-rim ability, and athleticism put a major cap on Toronto as a team.
Utah Jazz: Point Guard
The Jazz have tried to nab a young point guard in recent drafts — with mixed success. Keyonte George inspired hope during his rookie season but was benched for Isaiah Collier during his second season after turnover and efficiency issues. While Collier finished his rookie season in 2024-25, dishing out an average of 6.3 assists per game, his outside jumper was essentially non-existent.
From the outside looking in, Utah doesn’t appear to have the point guard of the future on this roster. That’s an issue for a rebuilding team, as young guards take time to develop. They have the fifth pick in the 2025 draft and should use it on a guard who can hitch their wagon to as a franchise building block.
Washington Wizards: Point Guard
Like the Jazz, the Wizards are a rebuilding team without a young point guard who has separated from the pack. Last year’s 14th pick, Bub Carrington, showed potential but may be best as a combo guard instead of a point guard.
They hold the sixth pick in a draft with many talented guards. If they don’t draft a guard, it may be questioned for tears to come.
