Timing is everything in the NBA. Players want to have a career year in the last year of a contract so that they can get paid (see: every contract year player ever). Teams want bad contracts to come off the books right when a prime target free agent is available (looks at Golden State). And organizations want to keep their championship window open for as long as possible and hope to get lucky enough for their opponents to lose two of their All-Stars in the Finals (*cough Toronto cough*).
Timing is just as important for teams when it comes to regular season games.