NBA's Unheralded Transactions in 2025 Featuring Josh Giddey and Michael Porter Jr.
Chicago Bulls Secure Josh Giddey on Four-Year Shop Deal
The Chicago Bulls have made a significant move in the NBA offseason, signing Josh Giddey to a four-year, $100 million contract. This deal makes Giddey the sixth-highest paid player on the 2026-27 Cleveland Cavaliers or the fifth-highest paid on this year's Miami Heat, Toronto Raptors, New York Knicks, or Minnesota Timberwolves.
Giddey's contract is considered a likely long-term win for the Bulls, as he had the strongest resume of any of the four key restricted free agents whose situations dragged last offseason. The Bulls' endgame was to secure Giddey's name on a long-term deal at a reasonable price.
Meanwhile, the Brooklyn Nets have traded Michael Porter Jr. for Cam Johnson and an unprotected 2032 first-round draft pick from the Denver Nuggets. The Nets acquired the draft pick at a relatively low cost, with the difference in salary between Porter and Johnson being approximately $35 million. The Denver Nuggets' 2032 first-round draft pick is considered a valuable asset due to its unprotected status and the potential rebuilding state of the team by 2032.
Elsewhere, the San Antonio Spurs have wisely targeted a player they knew wouldn't be retained by his original team, the Boston Celtics, and signed Mitchell Kornet to a four-year, $41 million deal using the non-taxpayer midlevel exception. Kornet's contract includes a descending money structure over the four-year deal, with the final year in 2028-29 being $9.35 million. The final two years of Kornet's contract are only partially guaranteed at $2.55 million apiece, with a team option for the final year.
Regardless of where he's being paid, Kornet doesn't need to provide starter-level value; he has to be a plus rotation player, which he's already proved he can do. The details of Kornet's contract and the fit in San Antonio both line up strongly in the Spurs' favor.
The Oklahoma City Thunder have re-signed Jaylin Williams for three years and $25 million, with a team option for 2027-28. This decision was strategic, as it limits their vulnerability to injuries to key players like Chet Holmgren or potential free agency of Isaiah Hartenstein. The Thunder's tax and apron situation will deteriorate significantly a year from now, potentially leading to the decline of a $28.5 million option on Hartenstein or other cuts.
In other news, the Miami Heat acquired OG Anunoby in a trade, turning Kyle Anderson and Kevin Love into a starting-caliber player. Anunoby played at a near All-Star level a year ago with the LA Clippers, but his salary of $20.5 million underpays him for his current production level, even considering potential injuries.
The Dallas Mavericks signed a relatively unnoticed but strategically important four-year extension worth $73.2 million with P.J. Washington in the previous summer, aiming to secure future flexibility and value rather than making blockbuster long-term commitments.
In summary, the NBA offseason has seen several significant moves, with teams making strategic decisions to secure key players and valuable assets for their future. The Bulls, Nets, Spurs, Thunder, Heat, and Mavericks have all made moves that could shape their teams' fortunes in the coming years.
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