Early Trends Across the NBA: Miami’s Revamped Offense, Undrafted Breakouts and the Latest on the Lakers’ Ownership Shift
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NEW YORK – Oct. 31, 2025. Ten days into the 2025-26 schedule, league insiders are already flagging several story lines: a major tactical shift in Miami, fresh success for undrafted guards in Milwaukee and Los Angeles, the record-setting sale of the Lakers and a noticeable bump in leaguewide scoring.
Heat adopt motion system inspired by Memphis
After ranking 21st, 21st and 25th in offensive efficiency the past three seasons, the Miami Heat spent the summer examining ways to jump-start production. Head coach Erik Spoelstra consulted former Memphis Grizzlies assistant Noah LaRoche and installed a free-flowing, motion attack that minimizes pick-and-roll usage. Through the opening stretch, Miami is:
- Running more possessions in transition than any other club
- Using the fewest pick-and-rolls in the league
- Occasionally completing entire quarters without Spoelstra calling a set play
Scouts call the scheme “nonstop” and believe it suits versatile wings such as Jaime Jaquez Jr., who has bounced back from a difficult sophomore season. Center Bam Adebayo, long productive as a roll man and in dribble handoffs, has struggled with his shot but has publicly backed the change. Observers note that a strong coach and a roster without a ball-dominant star are prerequisites for the system’s success—conditions Spoelstra and Miami currently meet.
Undrafted talent keeps Milwaukee and L.A. afloat
The Milwaukee Bucks have gone 11 consecutive drafts without extending a rookie-scale contract, yet they continue to unearth contributors outside the draft:
- AJ Green, undrafted in 2022, signed a four-year, $45 million extension and is averaging 12.0 points on 59% shooting from three.
- Ryan Rollins, a former second-round pick waived by two teams, secured a three-year, $12 million deal in July and is now starting at point guard, highlighted by 25- and 32-point outings in back-to-back wins.
The Los Angeles Lakers share a similar draft-extension drought. Unless the front office exercises Dalton Knecht’s $6.4 million option by midnight Friday, the franchise will reach 20 straight years without re-upping a first-rounder. Yet the Lakers have repeatedly turned to undrafted or reclaimed players, most prominently Austin Reaves. With Luka Doncic and LeBron James sitting Sunday and Monday, Reaves erupted for 51 points against Portland and 40 against Sacramento, performances league executives predict will push his free-agent floor to at least $30 million annually next summer.
Lakers complete record-breaking sale
The NBA’s Board of Governors on Thursday unanimously approved the sale of roughly 50% of the Lakers to an investment group led by Mark Walter’s TWG Global. The deal values the franchise at more than $10 billion and stipulates that Jeanie Buss remains governor for at least five years. Walter already controls about 27% of the team; the Buss family’s stake drops from 66% to roughly 16% after closing.
The transaction arrives as Spectrum SportsNet parent Charter Communications reportedly explores selling the regional network that pays the Lakers an average of $150 million per season through 2032. With cord-cutting threatening local television revenue—money that influences the salary cap—several executives believe the stability of national rights and uncertainty of regional deals factored into the Buss family’s decision to sell.
League monitoring early scoring surge
Offense is up across the board. Teams are averaging 118.0 points—four more than at this point last season and the highest figure through nine days since 1960-61. Contributing factors include:
- Fouls up 3.3 per game
- Free-throw attempts up 2.0 per game
Four players—Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (55), Lauri Markkanen (51), Austin Reaves (51) and Aaron Gordon (50)—have already scored at least 50. The league office is tracking the spike but has no immediate plans to alter rules or points of emphasis.
With tactical experiments, contract deadlines and business moves converging before November, front offices and coaches expect even more volatility as the season progresses.
Source: ESPN
