Around the NBA, there are several factors at work.
- Not as much cap space as last season leads to more negotiation and consideration
- Lower than expected cap rise may have adjusted plans and perceptions
- Lessons from last season’s spending bonanza could be taking hold in some cases
- Fewer players were lining up for this offseason, so less potential for actual movement (for example, Durant is not really on the market this season, though he is technically signing a new contract this season)
The general phenomenon is annoying to some fans and many writers, but a lack of action is not necessarily a lack of activity; it could just be that is takes more time to convert action to results this offseason.