Playoff outcomes suggest the NBA could see a summer of big moves

Golden State has decisions to make now. Big decisions. Phoenix does, too. And Dallas. And Milwaukee. And Portland. And more.

It’s the best time of year in the NBA — with the playoff field getting down to its final four on Sunday.

It’ll be followed by the co-best time of year in the NBA — July, when free agency time means some teams are going to wildly change.

The Warriors’ reign as NBA champions ended Friday night with a loss to the Los Angeles Lakers, and it served as a reminder that nobody — not even a team with four titles in nine years — can escape the need to make changes. And if the enormous-spending Warriors need changing, then a whole lot of other teams do as well.

“I still feel like this team has championship potential,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. “We didn’t get there this year but it’s not like this is the end of the road. But the organization has some decisions to make and we’ll eventually get to that point.”

They’re not alone.

Consider: Milwaukee had the best record in the NBA this season, the No. 1 overall seed and home-court advantage throughout the entirety of the playoffs. The Bucks won only one playoff game, wound up firing coach Mike Budenholzer and surely will consider how much deeper they want to get into the luxury tax – while also making sure they do enough to give Giannis Antetokounmpo more title chances.

“I believe we will have a very attractive position,” Bucks general manager Jon Horst said. “We have the best player in the world. We have a championship culture and organization. We have great facilities. I think we have great respect around the league. So, I think we’ll have a lot options.”

Expect a lot of comments like that in the coming days and weeks.