LeBron, Luka and Beal, oh my! Five under-the-radar NBA offseason storylines 

This year's NBA offseason was predicted to be the "craziest ever," but the hype hasn't come to pass. A little over two weeks into free agency, nearly every team is capped out, leaving several players in limbo and others to weigh their options carefully. 

Furthermore, teams such as the Los Angeles Lakers and Golden State Warriors appear to be in a wait-and-see mode, and in no rush to fill multiple open roster spots. 

Amid the quiet offseason, a few moves are brewing beneath the surface that could shake up the league quickly. 

Will a LeBron James trade really happen?

For the first time in his career, James is not the focal point of his franchise. All indications suggest that the Lakers are pivoting to the Luka Doncic era, the first sign of which came when they didn't offer a contract extension to James this offseason, per an ESPN report. 

Shortly after James exercised his $52.6M player option, his agent, Rich Paul, issued a statement that hinted at his client being open to a trade. In subsequent interviews, Paul has maintained that James is focused on competing for a title, further fueling the trade buzz. 

James has a no-trade clause and can direct where he wants to play his 23rd season.

Restricted free agency

Jonathan Kuminga (Warriors), Josh Giddey (Chicago Bulls), Quentin Grimes (Philadelphia 76ers), Cam Thomas (Brooklyn Nets) are among the high-profile restricted free agents still to be locked into extensions. 

All four players have been tendered qualifying offers, but remain far apart in negotiations on new deals. In any other offseason, they would have likely received lucrative offer sheets from suitors. Kuminga's new contract is the most pivotal one as Golden State's entire offseason hinges on it. 

The Warriors have reportedly explored sign-and-trade deals for the fifth-year forward, but have yet to see a deal they liked. 

The Luka Doncic extension

On Aug. 2, the Lakers can sign their Slovenian superstar to a contract extension. 

Doncic can either ink a four-year deal worth $229M, a three-year deal worth $165M or wait until 2026 and sign a five-year, $295M contract as a free agent. ESPN's Bobby Marks expects him to take the short-term deal, as that would allow the star guard to sign a significantly bigger deal in 2028. 

If Doncic doesn't sign an extension, unrest could arise within the Lakers, per insiders, as such a move could lead to his departure next summer.

Which contender gets Bradley Beal?

It's widely expected that the Phoenix Suns and Beal will agree to a buyout, allowing the three-time All-Star to join a title contender on a vet-minimum deal. While Beal was a shell of his All-Star self in Phoenix, he could thrive in a different situation as a sparkplug off the bench or even as a third scoring option. 

The Lakers, Los Angeles Clippers, Milwaukee Bucks and Minnesota Timberwolves are reportedly the most aggressive suitors for his services. Each of those teams could benefit from his scoring prowess, specifically the Timberwolves, who need help at the guard spot. 

FS1's Jason McIntyre predicts the Lakers will win it all if they can nab Beal.

A trio of future HOFers still available

Chris Paul, Russell Westbrook and Al Horford are among the future Hall of Famers on the NBA free agency market. 

While Paul has hinted that the 2025-26 season will be his last, Horford has reportedly not ruled out retirement after his highly productive years in Boston. The Clippers and Suns are reportedly interested in a reunion with Paul, while the Warriors have been the most active in pursuing Horford. As for Westbrook, the former MVP is reportedly exploring his options and remains undecided about his next team. 

All three players can undoubtedly help a title contender with their mere presence, even if they don't provide high-quality minutes every night.