5 Biggest Storylines Heading into NBA Offseason

An exciting NBA season has come to a close, and that means every team is back at square one heading into the offseason.

Elite players will change teams either through trade or free agency, and teams will make plenty of brilliant  and idiotic moves.

Some big names are up for grabs in free agency, including Steve Nash and potentially Deron Williams. Other players, such as Tim Duncan, are on the downside of their career and may be looking into retirement.

Finally, some players will change hands through trades, with Luol Deng being perhaps the most hotly discussed trade-bait.

This year's NBA offseason should be exciting and constantly newsworthy. Here are five stories to watch as it unfolds.

Will Luol Deng Be Traded?

The Chicago Bulls are not hiding their intentions regarding Luol Deng—they are looking into trading him.

According to the Chicago Tribune, the Bulls are in discussions with multiple lottery teams, hoping to trade Deng for a high draft pick and a player or two. 

This would allow the Bulls to acquire a player to grow with Derrick Rose at the top of the draft while clearing out some cap space.

One potential trade partner would be the Portland Trail Blazers, who hold the sixth pick in the draft. 

The Chicago Sun-Times reports that the Bulls have interest in former-Trail Blazers guard Brandon Roy, if Roy is willing to come out of retirement. Dealing with the Trail Blazers would also put UNC star Harrison Barnes in play for the draft.

The Bulls very well could keep Deng, who is a defensive lynch-pin for the team. 

Realistically, the Bulls would probably be best served keeping Deng, but they should continue to explore options to see if they can get a chance to improve their team.

Regardless of what ends up happening, Deng is probably the biggest name mentioned in trade rumors, so this is a story that bears watching.

What Will Charlotte Do with the Second Pick?

That the New Orleans Hornets will select Anthony Davis with the first pick in the NBA draft is a foregone conclusion at this point.

The Charlotte Bobcat's will ultimately decide the flow of this draft, as they could go one of several directions with that top pick.

The top-three prospects for the Bobcats are Thomas Robinson, Bradley Beal and Harrison Barnes. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and Andre Drummond are both also options, albeit less likely ones.

Another scenario has the Bobcats trading down, acquiring an extra pick and still picking early enough to grab one of the top prospects.

What the Bobcats will do is anyone's guess right now, but their pick will decide the direction of the draft and bears intense focus until the night of the draft.

Will Tim Duncan Return for Another Season?

Tim Duncan knows that he will retire a San Antonio Spur, but the question remains when that will be.

Duncan's contract expires July 1, and he has to decide whether he's willing to take a pay-cut to endure an 82-game grind.

At his current level of production and minutes, Duncan can't really justify being one of the top-paid players in the NBA. Duncan would never try to earn more than he's worth, but he can't be excited about the prospect of making significantly less money this season.

Count on Duncan being back for another season, but the terms of his contract will be worth looking out for.

Where Will Deron Williams End Up?

At this point, Deron Williams picking up his player option to play for the Brooklyn Nets next season would be a major upset.

That means that Williams will likely be moving on to a more likely championship contender, and that means that some team will be getting a lot better at the point.

Williams has been linked to multiple teams, but according to ESPN, only the Nets and the Dallas Mavericks are serious options.

While Williams has enjoyed his time in the New York area, a return to his old home in Dallas is appealing for him, as well as his belief that Dallas is close to championship contention.

If Williams does sign with the Mavericks, they must be considered a top-tier title contender, while re-signing with the Nets would give them at least some hope for the future.

Where Will Steve Nash Sign?

Steve Nash may no longer be the same caliber player as Deron Williams, but he is much more of a wildcard this offseason. His ultimate destination could be just about anywhere, making Nash the story to watch.

ESPN lists the Mavericks, Nets, New York Knicks and Miami Heat as options for the point guard, and Nash was also linked to the Orlando Magic during the past season.

Whichever team misses out on Williams between the Nets and the Mavericks would really fight to acquire Nash, but with so many likely bidders, a team will likely have to overpay to get him.

The Mavericks are already an old team, with an aging, yet still productive, point guard in Jason Kidd. A return to his old stomping grounds could be attractive for Nash, however.

The Nets, meanwhile, would desperately need point guard help if Williams moves on, but they are not a championship contender.

The Knicks would make sense, as Nash could help develop Jeremy Lin while providing a steady hand at the point, but they, too, are unlikely to contend for a title.

Finally, playing for the Heat would have to be attractive for Nash, as he would have a chance to play with the best players in the world and contend for a title. Would Nash be willing to accept a smaller role to play with the Heat?

Wherever Nash ends up, his signing will be a huge coup for his future team, and it will likely be the biggest story during this offseason.