We’re only a couple of days into free agency, but we’ve already been shocked by a couple of big trades — Kawhi Leonard headed to Toronto, Jaylen Brown to Philadelphia — and a rash of signings. Go back to the NBA Draft and the moves then, including Giannis Antetokounmpo traded to Miami, and we have another roller coaster of an NBA offseason.
It’s never too early to assign grades on how teams have done so far, so let’s do it. (Note: These grades are based on what teams have done as of the early evening of July 2).
Philadelphia 76ers: A+
Major offseason moves: Traded for Jaylen Brown, sending out Paul George to Boston in that deal. The 76ers lost Quentin Grimes (Lakers) and Kelly Oubre Jr. (Pacers) in free agency. Signed Dean Wade (four years, $39 million), Anfernee Simons (two years, $12.3 million) and Ariel Hukporti (one year, $3.4 million), and drafted Labaron Philon (No. 22).
Mike Gansey might win executive of the year for this summer’s work. Philadelphia launched itself into contender status by trading for an All-NBA player in his prime in Brown and giving up Paul George, who is a rotation player at this point in his career and on an expensive contract. Adding Dean Wade fills a need for perimeter defense, and Philon could be the steal of the draft, falling that far.
Boston Celtics: D
Major offseason moves: Traded Jaylen Brown for Paul George (and picks), signed Mitchell Robinson (three years, $47 million), Mike Conley Jr. (one year, $3.8 million), Ron Harper Jr. (three years, $9 million), drafted Chris Cenac (No. 27), Dillon Mitchell (No. 40)
Boston did some good things this offseason, like signing Mitchell Robinson at center. I like selecting Chris Cenac at that point in the draft, he’s a project, but 27th is a good spot to roll the dice. But the Jaylen Brown trade... Why did they feel they needed to do that? The logic is baffling. Making your team actively worse while your best player (Jayson Tatum) is in his prime, all while taking on George’s contract — considered one of the worst in the league — drops this grade way down.
Los Angeles Lakers: A
Major offseason moves: LeBron James exits (along with Luke Kennard, Marcus Smart and Jaxson Hayes), traded for center Walker Kessler (from Jazz), re-signed Austin Reaves (four years, $184.8 million), as free agents signed Sandro Mamukelashvili (four year, $52 million), Quentin Grimes (four years, $60 million), Collin Sexton (two years, $19 million), drafted Cameron Carr (No. 24).
The Lakers artfully completed a massive retooling of the roster, getting players who better fit around Luka Doncic, highlighted by convincing Utah to trade Walker Kessler when nobody thought the Jazz would let their big center go. They had to re-sign Austin Reaves and did (at a higher price than they would have preferred but that is the free market). It was best to part ways with LeBron, and they did. Also, Cameron Carr could be one of the steals of this draft. This was about as good a summer as the Lakers could have hoped for.
Miami Heat: B+
Major offseason moves: Traded for Giannis Antetokounmpo (and Bobby Portis) but had to give up a fair amount of depth to do it, including Tyler Herro, Kel’el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Kasparas Jakucionis (all traded to the Bucks). The Bucks signed Tim Hardaway Jr. (one year, $6.5 million), and re-signed Andrew Wiggins (two years, $34 million) and Simone Fontecchio (one year, 2.6 million). Norman Powell left in free agency. Drafted Ryan Conwell (No. 37)
Miami got the biggest prize in NBA free agency, the two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, but had to give up a lot of depth to get there. Miami becomes relevant with this move and moves closer to contention, but they have work to do to fully round out the roster, and they are not done on that front.
Minnesota Timberwolves: B
Major offseason move: Traded for LaMelo Ball and Josh Green (from Hornets), as well as Mouhamadou Gueye (from Bulls), but they sent out Naz Reid (to Hornets) and Julius Randle (to Nets), plus they let Mike Conley walk. They re-signed Ayo Dosunmu (five years, $112 million), Bones Hyland (one year, $2.9 million), and Jaylen Clark (three years, $10 million). They also drafted Isaiah Evans (No. 33), and Trey Kaufman-Renn (No. 59)
Minnesota looked at the Thunder and Spurs and realized it needed to take a big swing — LaMelo Ball is a monster swing. So much potential, but injury and defensive questions. He and Anthony Edwards instantly become must-watch every night. This team will be entertaining, but losing Randle and Reid leaves a hole at the four (there is time to fill that). Still, better to take the big swing rather than just keep doing the same thing and hoping the outcome changes.
Charlotte Hornets: B
Major offseason moves: Traded away LaMelo Ball/Josh Green for Naz Reid (from Timberwolves), plus traded away Miles Bridges for Grayson Allen and Royce O’Neale (from Suns). Signed Coby White (three years, $74 million), drafted Hannes Steinbach (No. 14), Christian Anderson (No. 18)
Hornet fans may not love their team selling high on LaMelo Ball, but building something more stable around Kon Knueppel and Brandon Miller is a smart move, and signing Coby White makes sure the drop-off this season isn’t that steep. That said, this team likely isn’t as good, which is disappointing because it was so much fun to watch last season.
Memphis Grizzlies: A-
Major offseason moves: Drafted Cameron Boozer (No. 3), Karim López (No. 21), Richie Saunders (No. 32). Traded away Ja Morant (to Portland) and Santi Aldama (to Dallas), but traded for Isaiah Stewart (from Detroit), Jerami Grant and Kris Murray (from Portland in the Morant deal), and AJ Johnson (from Mavericks).
Memphis completed its pivot away from the Ja Morant/Jaren Jackson Jr. era beautifully. They drafted well, not just the more obvious pick of Boozer, but also getting Lopez and Saunders. Landing Isaiah Stewart in a trade boosts an already strong front line (and gives them a backup to Zach Edey). I hate to see Aldama go, but you can’t fault this Grizzlies offseason.
Milwaukee Bucks: B
Major offseason moves: Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis are out, in their place are Tyler Herro, Kel’el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Kasparas Jakucionis (all from Heat). Drafted Brayden Burries (No. 10) and Nate Ament (No. 13), and they re-signed Ousmane Dieng (three years, $17.5 million).
It was time to part ways with Antetokounmpo, and while we can argue that they should have done this a year earlier and gotten more, this was a respectable haul. There are more moves to come, and it’s just the start of a rebuild, but Burries can help with that.
LA Clippers: B
Major offseason moves: Traded away Kawhi Leonard for Brandon Ingram and Gradey Dick (from Toronto), drafted Keaton Wagler (No. 5) and Baba Miller (No. 36), re-signed Kobe Sanders (four years, $11.3 million).
The Clippers completed their pivot away from the Kawhi Leonard/Paul George era, which is a win in and of itself. They have enough talent on the roster that they will be respectable next season, with Darius Garland and Keaton Wagler as the backcourt of the future. Ingram raises the floor and helps win games.
Toronto Raptors: A-
Major offseason moves: Traded for Kawhi Leonard, at the price of Brandon Ingram and Gradey Dick. They re-signed Alijah Martin (two years, $4.5 million) but lost Sandro Mamukelashvili in free agency (Lakers). Drafted Allen Graves (No. 19), Jaden Bradley (No. 50).
Toronto took a big swing, trading for Kawhi Leonard, who forms one of the best forward combos in the league with Scottie Barnes. This is going to be a good defensive team with those two on the perimeter. It’s a roll of the dice on Leonard staying healthy, but Toronto was just kind of stuck and this is the kind of bold move they needed. The only reason they get a slight knock on their grade is that they will miss Mamukelashvili and what he brings.
Portland Trail Blazers: B+
Major offseason moves: Traded for Ja Morant, sending out Jerami Grant and Kris Murray to the Grizzlies. Re-signed Robert Williams III (three years, $44 million), signed Branden Carlson (one year, $2.4 million).
I like the roll of the dice on Morant. It’s not cheap (two years, $87 million still on his contract), and scouts speaking to NBC Sports say he has lost a step, but put him next to Damian Lillard with Jrue Holiday behind them (or start three guards), and it’s worth the roll of the dice. I love the hiring of Micah Nori as coach, but I hate the owner-friendly contract he was forced to sign.
Utah Jazz: B
Major offseason moves: Traded Walker Kessler to the Lakers, drafted Darryn Peterson (No. 2), re-signed Jusuf Nurkic (two years, $22 million), and signed Jaxson Hayes (two years, $12 million).
The Jazz nailed the Peterson draft pick, and he, along with Keyonte George, is poised to form a dominating backcourt for years to come. Jazz fans (and I) understand intellectually why the front office made the Kessler trade, that was too big a haul to pass up for a player who has to prove himself (he has the potential, but health is a concern). Still, trading away Kessler stings. That said, Utah has a team its fans can get behind next season.
Chicago Bulls: A-
Major offseason moves: Signed Norman Powell (two years, $45 million), traded for Nic Claxton (from Brooklyn), drafted Caleb Wilson (No. 4), Dailyn Swain (No. 15)
How high you grade the Bulls’ offseason really comes down to whether you believe Caleb Wilson can reach his ceiling in a few years. Hiring Tiago Splitter away from Portland is a strong move that can help Wilson get there (Splitter did well developing guys like Deni Avdija and Scoot Henderson last year). I want to believe. In the short term, Porter and Claxton raise the floor for this team around Josh Giddey.
New York Knicks: B
Major offseason moves: Re-signed Landry Shamet (four years, $24 million), Jose Alvarado (three years, $14.5 million), and Mo Diawara (three years, $10 million), but lost Mitchell Robinson (Boston) and Ariel Hukporti (76ers) in free agency. Drafted Jack Kayil (No. 39), Tyler Nickel (No. 47).
The defending champions understandably just want to run it back, but with owner James Dolan saying the team could not cross into the second apron, it was going to be impossible, and Mitchell Robinson ended up being the guy without a chair when the music stopped. New York is working to fill that hole, but they got Alvarado and Shamet back, and this team still looks like the class of the East.
Atlanta Hawks: B
Major offseason moves: Re-signed CJ McCollum (one year, $21 million) and Jock Landale (one year, $14 million), drafted Kingston Flemings (No. 8), Zuby Ejiofor (No. 23), Henri Veesaar (No. 52), traded for Aaron Wiggins (from Thunder), Devin Carter (from Kings).
Atlanta liked what it saw after the Trae Young trade last February, so they are largely running it back, including re-signing McCollum to a good one-year deal. What you think of Atlanta’s offseason really comes down to what you think of drafting Kingston Flemmings, who could be a steal at No. 8, but I need to be convinced. Bonus points, though, for working with Henri Veesaar’s agent to get a first-round talent to fall to them at 52, then signing him to a four-year deal.
Washington Wizards: B-
Major offseason moves: Drafted AJ Dybantsa (No. 1), Felix Okpara (No. 46), and signed Trae Young (four years, $212 million).
Love the Dybantsa pick, and he fits perfectly between Trae Young and the front line of Alex Sarr and Anthony Davis. They also had to extend Young, but the knock on this grade is because of that price — Washington dramatically overpaid. Young had no trade market at the deadline, and they gave him $50+ million a year? Did Washington miss when it had the Bradley Beal contract as an anchor?
Detroit Pistons: C- (so far)
Major offseason moves: Detroit lost Tobias Harris in free agency and traded away Isaiah Stewart, then signed veteran John Collins (three years, $51 million) to replace Isaiah Stewart. They traded for sharpshooter Isaiah Joe (from Thunder) and re-signed another Kevin Huerter (three years, $27 million). They drafted Ebuka Okorie (No. 17), Ugonna Onyenso (No. 53)
We could (and maybe should) give the Pistons an incomplete so far because Jalen Duren’s restricted free agency looms, and despite all the saber-rattling, the sides will find a deal. Eventually. That said, the real need this offseason was to find a secondary playmaker and scorer to put next to Cade Cunningham and that hasn’t happened. Right now, this team is a little worse than it was at the start of the offseason (and re-signing Duren doesn’t really change that).
Oklahoma City Thunder: B
Major offseason moves: Re-signed Isaiah Hartenstein (three years, $75.5 million), Kenrich Williams (one year, $5 million), not returning are Isaiah Joe (traded to Pistons) and Aaron Wiggins (traded to Hawks). Drafted Aday Mara (No. 12), Bennett Stirtz (No. 16).
Oklahoma City realized in the playoffs, particularly the Western Conference Finals, that they need size to deal with Victor Wembanyama. So, they re-signed Hartenstein and Williams and drafted Mara. The tax aprons are coming for them as the max deals for Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams kick in, but only losing Joe and Wiggins so far is not too steep a price to pay.
Denver Nuggets: INC
Major offseason moves: Lost Tim Hardaway in free agency, signed Marvin Bagley III (one year, $3.5 million), re-signed Tyus Jones (one year, minimum), drafted Trevon Brazile (No. 35), Bryce Hopkins (No. 49)
This remains incomplete until the Peyton Watson situation is resolved (and they potentially make other trades to clear out cap space for him. Losing Tim Hardaway Jr. sucks, and Bagley becomes the latest guy trying to change the dynamic when Nikola Jokic is off the court.
Dallas Mavericks: B-
Major offseason moves: Hired coach Dusty May, traded for Santi Aldama (from Grizzlies), drafted Morez Johnson Jr. (No. 9), Sergio De Larrea (No. 25).
Whether Dusty May can transition to coaching in the NBA remains TBD, but adding Morez Johnson Jr. to play forward opposite Cooper Flagg is a nice pickup, as is the trade for Aldama. Nothing dramatic, but solid moves.
Golden State Warriors: B
Major offseason moves: They brought back Kristaps Porzingis (two years, $40 million), Al Horford (two years, $14 million) and De’Anthony Melton (two years, $11 million), and they drafted Yaxel Lendeborg (No. 11), Lajae Jones (No. 54)
Lendeborg was a perfect draft pick for this team, he fills a need and he will bring some youth and athleticism to the table. Aside from that, the Warriors look like they are running it back and waiting for Jimmy Butler to get healthy (and hoping Stephen Curry stays healthy).
Phoenix Suns: B
Major offseason moves: Re-signed Collin Gillespie (four years, $48 million), Jordan Goodwin (three years, $19 million) and Mark Williams (three years, $38 million), signed free agent Luke Kennard (two years, $13 million), traded for Miles Bridges but gave up Grayson Allen and Royce O’Neale to Charlotte to get him. Drafted Koa Peat (No. 30).
Keeping Gillespie was a must, and Phoenix did a good job both keeping and loading up on shooting, plus Bridges adds some needed athleticism. I like the upside of drafting Koa Peat at 30, but he’s a project at this point. This was a solid offseason for Phoenix.
Brooklyn Nets: B
Major offseason moves: Traded for Julius Randle (from Minnesota), drafted Mikel Brown Jr. (No. 6), Joshua Jefferson (No. 28), signed Moe Wagner (two years, $19 million), Keon Ellis (two years, $18 million), Day’Ron Sharpe (two years, $20 million), Josh Minott (two years, $9 million).
They may miss Nic Claxton at center, but they picked up a floor raiser in Julius Randle, and I love the pick of Mikel Brown, who should thrive with the space and pace of the NBA. It’s going to be a process rebuilding in Brooklyn, but Brown is a good start.
Sacramento Kings: B-
Major offseason moves: Drafted Darius Acuff (No. 7), as well as Alex Karaban (No. 29) and Emanuel Sharp (No. 45, signed for three years, $6.5 million), re-signed Precious Achiuwa (two years, $11.5 million), traded away Devin Carter (Hawks).
Sacramento got its guy in the draft in Acuff, someone who should both put up points and be a guy the fan base can rally around. That’s a good pick. This grade would have been much lower without it, because DeMar DeRozan, Domantas Sabonis and Zach LaVine are still on the roster for some reason. It’s time to find trades, even if they’re not perfect. It’s time to move on.
San Antonio Spurs: A-
Major offseason moves: Re-signed Julian Champagnie (three years, $45 million) and Harrison Barnes (one year, $8 million), then signed Tobias Harris (two years, $31 million). They drafted Jayden Quaintance (No. 20), Tarris Reed (No. 26), Ja’Kobi Gillespie (No. 42), and Maliq Brown (No. 44).
I like San Antonio’s offseason. Part of that is I like the signing of Tobias Harris to take over at the four — he is a good role player who can catch-and-shoot corner 3s and put the ball on the floor when needed, he’s a good veteran fit for them at a position of need. They had to re-sign Champagnie and did, and they went and drafted a bunch of big men to see if one of them could be the regular Wembanyama backup long term.
Cleveland Cavaliers: C-
Major offseason moves: Lost Dean Wade in free agency, re-signed Thomas Bryant (one year, $3.5 million), drafted Meleek Thomas (No. 34).
The grade here probably should be “incomplete” as there is more to do. That said, the loss of Wade is not ideal.
New Orleans Pelicans: D
Major offseason move: Signed DeAndre Jordan (one year, $3.9 million), drafted Jaron Pierre Jr. (No. 58)
Joe Dumars, you do realize this team won just 26 games last season, right? Dumars has treated this roster like subbing in Jamahl Mosley at coach is going to change everything and turn this into a playoff team. Sure. Other teams are calling about Trey Murphy III and Herb Jones, but the asking price is so high that those teams are walking away. It looks like a 26-win team is going to run it back.
Indiana Pacers: C+
Major offseason moves: Signed free agent Kelly Oubre Jr. (two years, $17 million), drafted Braden Smith (No. 38)
The Pacers have largely been quiet this offseason, although adding the athletic Oubre Jr. is a fantastic fit. The Pacers made their move at the trade deadline, getting Ivica Zubac at the five, and with a healthy Tyrese Haliburton, they should be back battling at the top of the East.
Houston Rockets: C+
Major offseason moves: Signed Marcus Smart (two years, $13 million) and Bogdan Bogdanovic (one year, 3.9 million), re-signed Tari Eason (five years, $81.5 million), drafted Bruce Thornton (No. 31).
The Marcus Smart signing was a good one and a perfect fit, and re-signing Eason was a must but they did it at a good price. Still, basically, the Rockets have shown they are just going to run it back and expect better with Fred VanVleet healthy and at the point.
Orlando Magic: B
Major offseason moves: Lost Moe Wagner in free agency, signed Nikola Vucevic (one year, $3.9 million). Re-signed Jevon Carter (one year, $3.5 million).
The big move of the offseason was hiring Sean Sweeney as their new head coach. The front office had said from the start the plan was to bring in a new coach, let guys like Franz Wagner and Paolo Banchero get healthy, then run it back and give this core one more shot. With that, they have been quiet this offseason, but they get a good grade because I love the Sweeney hire.
