The NBA offseason is now underway, and teams are actively working to finalize their rosters for the upcoming 2025-26 season.
Early activity includes the Houston Rockets, who recently completed a major trade for Kevin Durant. They have now secured center Steven Adams with a three-year, $39 million contract extension. This deal follows Adams` impactful performance last season as the primary backup for the Western Conference`s second-seeded team.
With the NBA Draft approaching (June 25-26) and free agency officially starting on June 30, player transactions are expected to increase rapidly. As these deals become official, we will analyze and assign grades to the most significant moves, assessing their implications for the 2025-26 season and beyond.
June 23: Mavericks` Gafford Gets Three-Year Extension
- Agreed to a reported three-year extension with center Daniel Gafford
Grade: Pass (Extensions for non-free agents are graded on a pass/fail basis)
The timing of this extension is particularly noteworthy. Conventional wisdom suggested Gafford might be a trade candidate this summer, given the Mavericks` crowded depth at center with the emerging Dereck Lively II seen as the future starter and starting power forward Anthony Davis also capable and potentially best suited for playing center.
Gafford clearly earned a raise following the best season of his NBA career. He excelled defensively in a platoon role with Lively as Dallas reached the 2024 NBA Finals. Gafford saw significant minutes when Lively was sidelined with a stress fracture in January and during his own knee sprain in February.
Over 11 full games during that period, Gafford averaged 15.0 points on 67% shooting, 10.3 rebounds, and 3.6 blocks. His block rate in that stretch would have challenged Victor Wembanyama (3.8 BPG) for the league lead. While typically an offensive finisher, Gafford even created from the post when the team faced multiple injuries. According to GeniusIQ tracking, his 52 post-ups last season were a career high, although his efficiency on those plays was not particularly strong.
Considering Gafford`s limitations within the Mavericks` system, a trade now could make sense as it might represent the peak of his performance. He will be 27 in October, and while his size is consistent, his effectiveness as an above-the-rim threat may diminish as he approaches his 30s.
Given these factors, it was crucial for Dallas to structure the extension with a maximum 20% raise in 2026-27 (starting salary around $17.3 million) and 5% annual raises, adhering to the rules for extend-and-trade deals. By apparently staying within these limits, the Mavericks retain the option to trade Gafford as soon as the extension is signed, or even beforehand.
Having Gafford under contract for three additional seasons should not negatively impact his trade value. This extension pays him slightly more than the expected 2026-27 non-taxpayer midlevel exception ($15.5 million), a value Gafford has easily surpassed with his performance. From Gafford`s perspective, locking in his deal a year early eliminates injury risk. Thus, this appears to be a win-win outcome.
The next question is which teams might pursue Gafford. He seems like an obvious fit for the Los Angeles Lakers, having shown chemistry running pick-and-rolls with Luka Doncic, though this scenario might provoke unhappy Dallas fans. Gafford would also be a logical target for the guard-heavy Phoenix Suns, although salary matching poses a challenge unless the Suns manage to get under the second apron.
If the New Orleans Pelicans are uncertain about Yves Missi`s readiness to be a starting center, Gafford would represent a significant offensive upgrade. A return to his original team, the Chicago Bulls, and the San Antonio Spurs are also potential wildcard possibilities.
Of course, the Mavericks might ultimately decide to keep Gafford. They spent a significant portion of last season with none of their three starting-caliber centers fully healthy, highlighting the value of positional depth. Finding perimeter help in return from another contending team would be difficult, suggesting a Gafford trade would likely require involvement from at least three teams.
June 14: Rockets, Adams Agree to Three-Year Extension
- Agreed to a reported three-year, $39 million contract with Steven Adams
Grade: B
The 2025 offseason is already underway, even with the NBA Finals still ongoing. While teams cannot negotiate new contracts with their own free agents until after the Finals conclude, they are permitted to sign extensions with eligible players in the final year of their contracts anytime before June 30.
Acquired by the Rockets at the 2024 trade deadline while still recovering from season-ending PCL surgery, Adams initially provided veteran guidance to a young team and served as a backup to All-Star center Alperen Sengun. His role expanded significantly during the playoffs, where lineups featuring both Adams and Sengun surprisingly became crucial to Houston pushing the Golden State Warriors to seven games after trailing 3-1 in the series.
Whether playing alongside Sengun or as the sole center, Adams performed at a level in the playoffs reminiscent of his earlier career. He averaged 1.9 blocks per 36 minutes, exceeding his previous regular-season best (1.7). His 60% shooting was also a notable improvement from his 55% clip during the 2024-25 regular season. My wins above replacement player metric ranked Adams as the team`s fourth-most valuable player in that series, ahead of starters like Dillon Brooks and Jalen Green.
Given that Adams` size and strength, which make him an elite offensive rebounder, are not likely to diminish, the agility he displayed against the Warriors suggests he can remain a valuable player for the Rockets, provided he stays healthy.
Before his PCL injury cost him the 2023 playoffs and the entire 2023-24 season, Adams had been remarkably durable, playing 76 of 82 games in 2021-22. Houston is expected to manage Adams` workload carefully. Although he was cleared to play both games of back-to-back sets midway through last season, the Rockets often rested him for one of the games to aid his recovery.
Bringing Adams back on a contract in the $13 million range, which is slightly less than the $14.1 million non-taxpayer midlevel exception that other teams could realistically offer, would push Houston into the luxury tax if they exercise Fred VanVleet`s $44.9 million team option. Even if the Rockets waive two players with non-guaranteed deals (Jock Landale at $8 million and Nate Williams at the minimum), they would likely exceed the lower luxury tax apron by filling out the rest of the roster in that scenario.
Alternatively, Houston could decline VanVleet`s option and attempt to re-sign him at a lower starting salary on a longer-term contract that guarantees him more money as he reaches age 31. This decision could be influenced by other potential moves the Rockets are considering. Their tax situation makes it improbable that Houston will sign a free agent costing more than the $5.7 million taxpayer midlevel exception, but they could make more significant roster changes via trade.
According to ESPN`s Bobby Marks, Houston has until June 29 to decide on VanVleet`s player option. Barring a major trade, VanVleet is highly likely to return, meaning Adams` new contract allows the Rockets the opportunity to bring back the core group that finished as the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference.
