0
0
Read Time:5 Minute, 24 Second
With training camp for the 2026-27 season just weeks away, the 2026 offseason has come to a close. The 2026 offseason would be one of the busiest offseasons in recent memory, with multiple big names moving via free agency and trades. The Philadelphia 76ers would become a potential juggernaut in the East, acquiring 2024 Finals MVP Jaylen Brown and LeBron James in the span of a few weeks, while teams like Minnesota and Toronto would make trades for stars LaMelo Ball and Kawhi Leonard (though the Leonard trade has not been made official as of this writing) to help boost their odds in their respective conferences. While those teams are winners of the offseason, there are losers who have had the worst offseasons imaginable.
Denver Nuggets
In the Western Conference, no contending team had a worse offseason than the Denver Nuggets. For a team with one of, if not the best, players in the world with three-time MVP Nikola Jokic, the Nuggets have failed to build a strong roster around him again. Having won an NBA Championship just three years ago, Denver only feels like a contender because of Nikola Jokic. The biggest loss for Denver this offseason would be guard Peyton Watson, who blossomed during Nikola Jokic’s absence due to injury around the middle of last season. In the sign-and-trade of Watson to Cleveland, Denver would receive a first-round pick in 2031 and a second-round pick in 2032.
Additional departures would see Jonas Valanciunas leave to play overseas and Tim Hardaway Jr. sign with the Miami Heat. Additions and signings would include DeMar DeRozan signing a one-year deal, Marvin Bagley III and Lonnie Walker IV signing short-term deals, re-signing Tyus Jones and Spencer Jones, and signing EuroLeague defensive specialist Alpha Diallo. While most teams near the top of the West made moves to improve, Denver remained stagnant as they’re focused on avoiding the second apron of the NBA salary cap. With Nikola Jokic’s future in Denver in question (even with him saying he wants to play his entire career in Denver), this offseason has been zero help in showing Jokic the team wants to compete for a championship.
Golden State Warriors
While Denver had the worst offseason of any contender in the West, the Golden State Warriors without a doubt had the worst offseason of any team in the NBA. The Golden State Warriors still have Stephen Curry, who, even at the age of 38, is nearing the end of his prime and is still a top-10 player in the league. The big moves for the Warriors were supposed to see the superteam of Stephen Curry, LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and Draymond Green be formed through trades and free agency, but the Warriors would fail to acquire both superstars this summer. Ownership and management would focus more on the future.
Moves would include re-signing Green on a one-year, $27 million deal, re-signing De’Anthony Melton, Al Horford, Gary Payton II, and Kristaps Porzingis, and signing Georges Niang, Brandon Williams, and drafting Yaxel Lendeborg. Star forward Jimmy Butler is not expected to be back until 2027 as he is still recovering from his ACL tear, and Curry does not have much help around him. With the Warriors missing the playoffs completely last season, the final years of Stephen Curry’s career are looking bleak. There are questions about Curry’s future, even though he has said he wants to be a lifer with the Warriors. He was extension-eligible in late August and has not signed a new deal yet. Many believe the Warriors have failed Stephen Curry in one of the worst offseasons possible.
Detroit Pistons
Last season, the Detroit Pistons would win 60 games for the first time since the 2005-06 season. Cade Cunningham would arguably have an MVP-caliber season, and the Pistons would look like a legitimate contender, even with the team being one of the younger teams in the league. After a playoff collapse led by Jalen Duren that saw Cunningham have very little to no help at times, Detroit would follow that up with an offseason that many believe will result in the Pistons having a hard fall in the standings this upcoming season. As of September 9, 2026, Jalen Duren has not agreed to a new deal with the Pistons, believing he should be receiving a max deal despite disappearing in the playoffs. As a restricted free agent, Duren is likely to remain in Detroit, even if it’s on the one-year qualifying offer.
The biggest subtraction for Detroit would be Tobias Harris, who was key in Detroit’s playoff run as a dependable number two option behind Cunningham. Heading to San Antonio, Detroit not only loses his scoring, but more importantly, they lose his veteran presence. Additions would include John Collins signing a three-year deal, acquiring Isaiah Joe in a trade from Oklahoma City, and acquiring Taurean Prince and Gary Harris in a trade with Milwaukee. For Detroit, they have done little to build around Cade Cunningham, who is entering his prime. With this offseason seeing teams around Detroit get significantly better, a significant fall from Detroit is expected.
Los Angeles Clippers
The Los Angeles Clippers would arguably have had a decent offseason up until a week ago. They would sign Rui Hachimura away from the Los Angeles Lakers, draft Keaton Wagler fifth in the 2026 draft, and would land sharpshooter Max Strus from Cleveland in a multi-team trade. They are also likely to acquire Brandon Ingram and Gradey Dick from the Toronto Raptors as part of the Kawhi Leonard trade, although the trade remains in limbo, even with the league’s investigation into Leonard and the Clippers coming to an end.
The Clippers offseason would run into a brick wall following the league’s ruling in the Kawhi Leonard/Clippers investigation. Clippers owner has been banned from team activities for a year, several front office members have been suspended, the team has been fined $30 million, but most important of all, the Clippers lost five first-round draft picks from 2029 to 2033, putting the franchise’s future aspirations into question. It is likely that players like Darius Garland and Rui Hachimura could be potential trade candidates if they could bring back draft capital, but out of the 30 teams in the NBA, the Clippers may have the bleakest future.
Happy
0
0 %
Sad
0
0 %
Excited
0
0 %
Sleepy
0
0 %
Angry
0
0 %
Surprise
0
0 %
Author Profile
Jordan Riha
Post navigation