Headline: Unseen Impact: 5 Subtle Moves from the 2025 NBA Offseason That Could Shake Up the League

The 2025 NBA offseason has seen a flurry of significant transactions, highlighted by Kevin Durant’s move to Houston as part of the league’s inaugural seven-team trade, alongside Desmond Bane heading to Orlando and Cam Johnson moving to Denver. However, in addition to these high-profile trades, there are always under-the-radar moves that can have a considerable impact.

Let’s explore five offseason transactions that may have flown under your radar.

In addition to extending their star, Paolo Banchero, and bringing in Bane, the Magic have also secured a reliable pass-first point guard in Jones. This addition aims to revitalize an Orlando offense that finished 28th in scoring (105.4 points) and dead last in assists (23.0) last season. A seasoned veteran embarking on his fifth team, Jones averaged 10.2 points, 5.3 assists, and 1.1 turnovers while shooting 41.4% from beyond the arc last season with Phoenix. His assist-to-turnover ratio of 4.71 placed him second only to Indiana’s Tyrese Haliburton among 278 players utilizing over 2,000 possessions. His steady presence at the point guard position is expected to generate easier scoring opportunities for Banchero, Bane, Franz Wagner, and the rest of the squad.

While the Lakers lost 3-and-D wing Dorian Finney-Smith to free agency with his signing in Houston, the acquisition of LaRavia provides an opportunity to recapture much of that production at a more manageable cost with a younger talent. LaRavia is a versatile defender capable of matching up against 4s due to his strength, while also being agile enough to keep pace with 3s. He is coming off a breakout season as a 3-point shooter, having improved his accuracy from 33.8% and 34.0% in his first two seasons to 42.3% (60-for-142) last year with the Kings. Now teaming up with Luka Dončić and LeBron James, he is likely to find himself with numerous open 3-point opportunities, shooting an impressive 45.5% (46-for-101) on wide-open attempts last season.

Following their run in the 2025 Finals, the Pacers parted ways with Myles Turner after he signed with the rival Bucks in free agency. To address this gap, Indiana brought in Huff from Memphis, exchanging two future second-round draft picks. This was a modest cost for a promising young player who has shown potential as a stretch five. Huff is coming off his finest NBA season, averaging 6.9 points, 2.0 rebounds, 1.3 made 3-pointers, and 0.9 blocks in just 11.7 minutes per game. He shot 81-of-200 (40.5%) from long range, just one shot shy of qualifying for the league’s leading 3-point percentage (had he qualified, he would have ranked tied for 34th). Defensively, he serves as a reliable rim protector, allowing a 54.5% conversion rate on attempts within six feet (ranking 23rd among 209 players who defended at least 200 such shots).

The Spurs quickly added Kornet, finalizing a four-year contract with the former Celtics backup center just hours into free agency. This acquisition provides a reliable backup for Victor Wembanyama and opens the possibility of a Twin Towers lineup, featuring the 7-foot-1 Kornet alongside Wembanyama, who stands 7-foot-3. While Wembanyama is known for his versatility, Kornet brings a more traditional center presence. Offensively, a mere four of his 187 baskets last season came from beyond the paint, as he shot an impressive 66.8% from the field. Additionally, Kornet excels as a screener, averaging 2.3 screen assists in just 18.6 minutes, which should benefit the Spurs’ backcourt duo of De’Aaron Fox and Stephon Castle. On defense, Kornet allowed only 50.5% on shots attempted within six feet, ranking 5th in the league, with Wembanyama closely following at 50.8%.

With the departure of Ty Jerome in free agency, Cleveland found itself in need of bolstering their backcourt bench. They acquired Ball from Chicago in exchange for Isaac Okoro. After two seasons sidelined due to a left knee injury requiring multiple surgeries, Ball returned last year to showcase glimpses of his playmaking, shooting, and defensive prowess. Over 35 games, he averaged 7.6 points, 3.4 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 1.9 made 3-pointers, and 1.3 steals in 22.2 minutes per game, before unfortunately missing the final two months of the season due to a sprained wrist. Ball’s comeback after being inactive for over 1,000 days was a significant achievement, and now he has the chance to further develop his game as part of a title contender.