The Five Worst NBA Offseason Moves of 2025
As we step into the heart of the NBA offseason, the excitement is palpable, with teams gearing up for new strategies and player acquisitions. Yet, amidst the buzz, several teams made moves that many fans and analysts viewed as puzzling, to say the least. Today, let’s examine the five worst offseason moves that left us scratching our heads, focusing on how the Bucks, Suns, Pelicans, and Blazers navigated this year’s free agency with questionable decisions.
1. Bucks Say Goodbye to Dame
In a surprising twist, the Milwaukee Bucks decided to part ways with star guard Damian Lillard and instead acquired Myles Turner. General Manager Jon Horst seems committed to keeping Giannis Antetokounmpo happy and ensuring the team remains competitive. Trading for Jrue Holiday in 2020 had initially paid off, leading to a championship. Yet, the decision to swap Lillard for Turner raised eyebrows.
After investing significantly in Lillard, including a 2029 first-round pick, the Bucks opted for a hefty contract with Turner—$107 million over four years. To make space for his salary, they decided to pay Lillard $113 million over the next five years to not play for them. This strategy, often dubbed as “waive-and-stretch,” feels like a financial juggling act that many fans found alarming.
Myles Turner is a solid player and can complement Giannis, but many analysts feel he isn’t the game-changing presence Milwaukee desperately needs. With several strong teams in the Eastern Conference, including Cleveland and Philadelphia, the Bucks might find themselves struggling for a playoff position, despite their expensive moves.
2. Suns Let Beal Go for … Who Exactly?
The Suns shocked everyone by waving Bradley Beal, paying him $100 million over five years to play for the Clippers instead. The primary motivation behind this move seems to be financial relief: the Suns saved around $200 million in luxury tax payments. However, this raises serious questions about their roster.
With Beal’s exit, they’re left with limited assets to build upon and an extended contract for Devin Booker worth $145 million. It’s puzzling why the Suns decided to commit so much money to a player when they’re clearly entering a rebuilding phase. The trade for Beal had been a huge gamble, and now, they’re paying the price in more ways than one.
3. Pelicans Bet Big on Queen
The New Orleans Pelicans decided to trade up in the draft to grab Derik Queen, a move that raised eyebrows (and blood pressure) among fans and analysts alike. They traded an unprotected first-round pick in 2026 to the Atlanta Hawks, which could come back to haunt them. The Hawks might end up with a valuable pick, especially considering the Pelicans’ recent struggles.
Queen might prove to be a solid player, but taking such a big gamble with an unprotected pick feels reckless. Given the uncertainty around Zion Williamson’s future and the overall trajectory of the franchise, this trade appears risky—especially when they could have placed some protections on that draft pick.
4. Pelicans Add Poole to Their Roster
Following this draft blunder, the Pelicans made another head-scratching move by trading for Jordan Poole, sending CJ McCollum and Kelly Olynyk to the Wizards. While Poole has shown promise, he arrives with a contract that could hurt New Orleans’ flexibility moving forward, and it’s not clear he’ll be the difference-maker they need.
The Pelicans are not the Warriors, and adding Poole—who has shown inconsistency—might not lead them to the promised land. The reality is that they have committed to a player that is costly, further complicating their ability to make smart moves in the future.
5. Blazers Splash Big for Holiday
The Portland Trail Blazers brought in Jrue Holiday, clearly valuing his experience and championship pedigree. However, at 35, he’s not the dynamic player he once was, and the Blazers’ aim to be competitive in the playoffs appears misguided.
With Damian Lillard available, one has to wonder if signing Holiday was the correct choice. Portraying Holiday merely as a mentor is expensive, considering they’ve committed over $100 million to him over the next three seasons. The Blazers might find themselves stuck in mediocrity, unable to fully capitalize on their young talent like Scoot Henderson.
Conclusion
This offseason, teams like the Bucks, Suns, Pelicans, and Blazers have made questionable decisions that could have long-lasting impacts on their futures. The NBA is unpredictable, and while there’s still time for adjustments, these moves need re-evaluation. Will the teams rectify their approach and steer towards success? Only time will tell.
#NBA2025 #Bucks #Suns #Pelicans #Blazers #NBAOffseason #PoorMoves #BasketballAnalysis #NBAFans