"I Think This Might Be The Most Craziest Offseason Ever" - Shams Must Know Something If He's Already Laying The Groundwork For Some All Time Chaos Later This Summer

Not to take anything away from the NBA playoffs (which have been incredible), but there is a pretty big sleeping giant that's on the horizon that you could make the case will change the entire landscape of the league for both the immediate and long term. I know the only fanbases who now care about this while the Conference Finals are going on are the fans that have either seen their favorite team miss the playoffs altogether or get eliminated early, it's hard to ignore what's coming.

Don't take my word for it, just listen to Shams

Look, I don't know much, but if Shams is already laying the groundwork for one of the craziest offseasons we've ever had, I can't think that's all just an accident. He's hearing stuff. It might be prayer, it might be early discussions of certain things, but you're kidding yourself if you don't think there's offseason chatter going on right now across the league.

But here's where things get interesting when you really dive into what Shams is suggesting. When you take a look at the free agent class for the Summer of 2025……it kind of stinks. 

Right off the jump, I think it's foolish to think that players like LeBron, FVV, Kyrie Irving,m and James Harden hit the open market. They may turn down their player options, but it would be to sign an extension, not hit free agency. Nobody is paying an aging James Harden more than $35M, Kyrie is out with an ACL, LeBron isn't leaving LA right after they just traded for Luka etc.

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So in terms of "big names", this isn't exactly a huge free agency class. You could even make the case that a batch of the next "tier" of players also most likely aren't hitting the market either. Players like Randle, Myles Turner, Naz Reid etc.

We live in a world where, when it comes to UFAs who hit the open market, you're looking at guys that are more "role players" than stars, or at the very most are secondary stars. Does that feel like the type of market that would give us "one of the craziest offseasons ever"??

Look, I love a good role player as much as anyone and think they're crucial in getting over the hump for a contending team, but I also do not think that's what Shams was implying.

That means the chaos has to come from another path, which is trades. And not just trades, but big name, superstar trades. That's the only thing that could make things the caliber of the offseason that Shams is suggesting, so what exactly does he know?

There was a lot of reporting from him today about the Giannis situation, so maybe it's that. I think we all expect Kevin Durant to finally be moved at this point, so that's a pretty massive domino. Players like Jrue Holiday are someone that a championship-contending team might be in on if they feel like he's the missing piece. Doesn't it feel like teams like DAL or MIN could use some backcourt help?

What's the plan in SAC with their group? Do they try and offload Sabonis and reset? Maybe try and flip DeRozan so they can get expirings back and get out of his deal? 

Do the Rockets go all in and put some of their blue chip talent on the table? Could OKC or the Spurs do the same? 

The one thing you always have to be ready for is the massive trade that nobody at the moment sees coming. We usually get it every offseason, and now with the new CBA rules, I don't think you should rule out big salary players being traded in the offseason if a team is still a ways from contending. The damage that it does to your cap and team building options is too severe.

What's hard is trying to figure out what that move ends up being, at least right now at the end of May. So much can happen between now and the Draft, that it's impossible to predict. What if OKC falters in the Finals, does that change their approach? What if someone makes a god-like offer on Draft night to someone in the high lottery, does that change the offseason approach? This is sort of why I've always wished the NBA held its free agency before the Draft, but unfortunately, that will probably never happen.

All I know is if at the end of May Shams is already telling us this is going to be one of the most insane offseasons ever, then it better fucking deliver. It's already brutal enough being handcuffed to your timeline once free agency rolls around in July, I cannot be doing that and the only big news we get is where Brook Lopez signs or some shit. If you allude to chaos, well then there better be real chaos. That's a Day 1 Rule in my book.