{"id":27448,"date":"2025-07-28T12:28:17","date_gmt":"2025-07-28T12:28:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/27448\/"},"modified":"2025-07-28T12:28:17","modified_gmt":"2025-07-28T12:28:17","slug":"nba-offseason-grades-how-every-team-fared-before-2025-26-season","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/27448\/","title":{"rendered":"NBA offseason grades: How every team fared before 2025-26 season"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/1753705688_826_pelton_kevin.png&#038;h=80&#038;w=80&#038;scale=crop.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"40\" height=\"40\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Kevin PeltonJul 28, 2025, 10:00 PM<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"icon-font-after icon-close-solid-after\" href=\"#\">Close<\/a> Co-author, Pro Basketball Prospectus series<br \/>\n Formerly a consultant with the Indiana Pacers<br \/>\n Developed WARP rating and <a href=\"http:\/\/www.espn.com\/nba\/story\/_\/id\/9797404\/explaining-schoene-projection-system\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">SCHOENE system<\/a><\/p>\n<p>With the bulk of the NBA&#8217;s offseason moves complete, it&#8217;s time to evaluate how teams did.<\/p>\n<p>As ESPN&#8217;s Tim Bontemps and Bobby Marks laid out last week, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com.au\/nba\/story\/_\/id\/45813852\/nba-free-agency-unresolved-storylines-kuminga-giddey-luka-extension\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">there are a handful of storylines to watch the rest of the summer<\/a>, including the restricted free agents locked in apparent standoffs with their current teams and potential extensions. It&#8217;s also possible we could get a surprise trade.<\/p>\n<p>Barring that, most of the moves that will affect the 2025-26 season have already been made, with virtually all the top unrestricted free agents having already signed contracts, and blockbuster deals have turned the <a data-clubhouse-guid=\"78113ad4-1ac7-0c04-dada-388a6ff4e15e\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com.au\/nba\/team\/_\/name\/hou\/houston-rockets\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Houston Rockets<\/a> and <a data-clubhouse-guid=\"74c23102-8c27-c8e6-ec1b-8a8fd4d42554\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com.au\/nba\/team\/_\/name\/orl\/orlando-magic\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Orlando Magic<\/a> into contenders in their respective conferences.<\/p>\n<p>My grades aren&#8217;t just about how much teams improved or declined, but more on how well they used the tools at their disposal, with a focus on free agency and trades because the outcome of the draft is more difficult to predict. Although most teams end up in the fat part of the curve centered on the &#8220;B&#8221; range, I did award two A&#8217;s &#8212; and one F, involving teams on opposite sides of the summer&#8217;s most lopsided trade.<\/p>\n<p>Teams are listed in alphabetical order. <\/p>\n<p align=\"center\">Jump to a team:<br \/><a href=\"#atl\">ATL<\/a> | <a href=\"#bos\">BOS<\/a> | <a href=\"#bkn\">BKN<\/a> | <a href=\"#cha\">CHA<\/a> | <a href=\"#chi\">CHI<\/a> | <a href=\"#cle\">CLE<\/a><br \/><a href=\"#dal\">DAL<\/a> | <a href=\"#den\">DEN<\/a> | <a href=\"#det\">DET<\/a> | <a href=\"#gs\">GS<\/a> | <a href=\"#hou\">HOU<\/a> | <a href=\"#ind\">IND<\/a><br \/><a href=\"#lac\">LAC<\/a> | <a href=\"#lal\">LAL<\/a> | <a href=\"#mem\">MEM<\/a> | <a href=\"#mia\">MIA<\/a> | <a href=\"#mil\">MIL<\/a> | <a href=\"#min\">MIN<\/a><br \/><a href=\"#no\">NO<\/a> | <a href=\"#nyk\">NY<\/a> | <a href=\"#okc\">OKC<\/a> | <a href=\"#orl\">ORL<\/a> | <a href=\"#phi\">PHI<\/a> | <a href=\"#phx\">PHX<\/a><br \/><a href=\"#por\">POR<\/a> | <a href=\"#sac\">SAC<\/a> | <a href=\"#sa\">SA<\/a> | <a href=\"#tor\">TOR<\/a> | <a href=\"#utah\">UTA<\/a> | <a href=\"#was\">WAS<\/a><\/p>\n<p align=\"center\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/1752936309_868_greyline.png\" width=\"100%\"\/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" class=\"floatleft\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/1753705689_782_atl.png&#038;h=110&#038;w=110.png\" width=\"31\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Grade: A<\/p>\n<p>The Hawks vaulted themselves into the ranks of legit East threats by nabbing one of the top free agents to change teams (former <a data-clubhouse-guid=\"13f727cb-254d-b484-a337-93fcc0047add\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com.au\/nba\/team\/_\/name\/min\/minnesota-timberwolves\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Minnesota Timberwolves<\/a> guard <a data-player-guid=\"a67ef214-b56f-ca43-1558-7b2d13432f63\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/nba\/player\/_\/id\/4278039\/nickeil-alexander-walker\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Nickeil Alexander-Walker<\/a>) and adding <a data-player-guid=\"a1f467e2-5304-c8c1-db23-80fe313c3d7c\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/nba\/player\/_\/id\/3102531\/kristaps-porzingis\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Kristaps Porzingis<\/a> to give them more size up front. Yet, the real coup was adding the better of 2026 first-round picks from the <a data-clubhouse-guid=\"f59bbabc-eedb-9ad2-c5dd-9bcd9f450a2f\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com.au\/nba\/team\/_\/name\/mil\/milwaukee-bucks\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Milwaukee Bucks<\/a> and <a data-clubhouse-guid=\"9461f397-7882-94c0-c18c-e89bdc9e570e\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com.au\/nba\/team\/_\/name\/no\/new-orleans-pelicans\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">New Orleans Pelicans<\/a> on draft night to move down 10 spots from No. 13 to No. 23.<\/p>\n<p>Even if Atlanta remains stuck in the play-in, potentially adding another lottery pick to a core that includes 2024 No. 1 pick <a data-player-guid=\"d9a14bbd-d184-3703-86ba-f0c17b732ab4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/nba\/player\/_\/id\/5211175\/zaccharie-risacher\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Zaccharie Risacher<\/a> is a franchise-changing opportunity for a Hawks team that swapped its own pick to the <a data-clubhouse-guid=\"8aef8547-32f5-0943-a1de-e734567674cc\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com.au\/nba\/team\/_\/name\/sa\/san-antonio-spurs\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">San Antonio Spurs<\/a> in the <a data-player-guid=\"069547d0-66e5-79d2-06ac-195011e77472\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/nba\/player\/_\/id\/3907497\/dejounte-murray\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Dejounte Murray<\/a> trade.<\/p>\n<p><img class=\" lazyload lazyload\"\/>play<\/p>\n<p>1:10<\/p>\n<p>Stephen A.: Celtics should find out if Jaylen Brown is a legit No. 1 option<\/p>\n<p class=\"contentItem__subhead\">Stephen A. Smith explains why the Celtics should take a chance on their current roster and see if Jaylen Brown can be a true No. 1 option with Jayson Tatum sidelined.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" class=\"floatleft\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/1753705689_665_bos.png&#038;h=110&#038;w=110.png\" width=\"31\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Grade: C<\/p>\n<p>The upside is the Celtics managed to balance their books without giving up any future first-round picks, getting under the second apron with a plausible path to avoiding the tax altogether in a gap year following <a data-player-guid=\"ed3343b0-2ffa-f6b4-e422-3a1920938c81\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/nba\/player\/_\/id\/4065648\/jayson-tatum\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Jayson Tatum<\/a>&#8216;s Achilles rupture. The downside is Boston shed a massive amount of talent, including everyone taller than 6-foot-8 who played at least 13 minutes in the 2025 playoffs. The Celtics will be challenged to replenish their frontcourt depth and, crucially, the versatility lost with <a data-player-guid=\"b79dd16a-5d4b-d704-9b0c-eaa9ec3df217\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/nba\/player\/_\/id\/3213\/al-horford\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Al Horford<\/a> and Kristaps Porzingis.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" class=\"floatleft\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/1753705690_561_bkn.png&#038;h=110&#038;w=110.png\" width=\"31\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Grade:  C-<\/p>\n<p>Given the Nets&#8217; commanding position as the only team with more than $30 million in cap space this summer, their return has been underwhelming. Brooklyn did net a 2032 unprotected first-rounder from Denver and can hope to rehabilitate <a data-player-guid=\"84f89e6d-8dd8-5b8b-bfe7-83ba59ee5121\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/nba\/player\/_\/id\/4278104\/michael-porter-jr\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Michael Porter Jr<\/a>.&#8217;s value. The Nets also landed the No. 22 pick with <a data-player-guid=\"14bc202c-2458-6189-f964-32085299060a\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/nba\/player\/_\/id\/3907823\/terance-mann\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Terance Mann<\/a> prior to the draft, but keeping all five first-round picks and using them largely on players whose games don&#8217;t seem complementary was confusing. Brooklyn still can create $20-plus million in cap space, and we&#8217;ll see whether additional deals materialize before training camp.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" class=\"floatleft\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/1753705690_343_cha.png&#038;h=110&#038;w=110.png\" width=\"31\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Grade:  B-<\/p>\n<p>The Hornets should be more competitive in 2025-26 after finding playmakers to supplement <a data-player-guid=\"ffef74e7-7cb4-3cb6-8fc3-4f01ac97fd39\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/nba\/player\/_\/id\/4432816\/lamelo-ball\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">LaMelo Ball<\/a>. Charlotte&#8217;s offense collapsed without Ball last season, which doesn&#8217;t figure to continue with the additions of veterans <a data-player-guid=\"d161d7b2-bf15-4c50-b638-0c8d8754efe4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/nba\/player\/_\/id\/2580782\/spencer-dinwiddie\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Spencer Dinwiddie<\/a> and <a data-player-guid=\"2a6515dd-6770-7eac-2141-de08448a6905\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/nba\/player\/_\/id\/4277811\/collin-sexton\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Collin Sexton<\/a> and the return of <a data-player-guid=\"9c80056b-c667-30bd-89d0-d905425b1d1c\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/nba\/player\/_\/id\/4432819\/tre-mann\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Tre Mann<\/a>. And No. 4 pick <a data-player-guid=\"d706a855-1bca-34f6-9dd7-6684dd22c3ee\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/nba\/player\/_\/id\/5061575\/kon-knueppel\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Kon Knueppel<\/a>, MVP of the summer league championship game, should help the Hornets&#8217; shooting immediately.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" class=\"floatleft\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/1753705690_226_chi.png&#038;h=110&#038;w=110.png\" width=\"31\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Grade: C-<\/p>\n<p>I liked the Bulls bringing back <a data-player-guid=\"98f3f8f5-c8df-8c65-7de5-524a78fff469\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/nba\/player\/_\/id\/4395626\/tre-jones\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Tre Jones<\/a> on a three-year, $24 million contract with a team option on the final season. Chicago could also get more out of wing <a data-player-guid=\"7bcc7c59-2e9a-3729-b929-9f3c20682cd8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/nba\/player\/_\/id\/4432822\/isaac-okoro\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Isaac Okoro<\/a> after getting him from Cleveland for Ball. Still, the Bulls shouldn&#8217;t be content with largely staying the course after three consecutive play-in losses. And although I&#8217;m high on No. 12 pick <a data-player-guid=\"13c2a19f-d803-32b5-a344-cf07dc594665\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/nba\/player\/_\/id\/5242496\/noa-essengue\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Noa Essengue<\/a>, Chicago would have been better off making the same draft-night deal Atlanta did with New Orleans.<\/p>\n<p>2025 NBA Offseason<img decoding=\"async\" data-lazyload=\"true\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/1753705692_760_nba_10-people-offseason_16x9.jpg\" class=\"round lazyload\"\/><\/p>\n<p>NBA free agency is in full swing, and ESPN experts are breaking down the biggest signings and trades.<\/p>\n<p>\u2022 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/nba\/story\/_\/id\/45637126\/nba-free-agent-rankings-cp3-kuminga-ayton-horford-new-top-10\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">New free agent rankings: Pelton&#8217;s top 10<\/a><br \/>\u2022 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/nba\/story\/_\/id\/45506849\/nba-free-agency-2025-latest-signings-news-buzz-trades-reports\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Latest news and buzz<\/a> | <a href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/nba\/story\/_\/id\/45531560\/nba-trade-tracker-details-every-deal-2025-offseason\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Details for every trade<\/a><br \/>\u2022 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/nba\/story\/_\/id\/45519132\/nba-free-agency-2025-reaction-grades-biggest-signings\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Pelton&#8217;s grades: Free agent deals<\/a> | <a href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/nba\/story\/_\/id\/45518013\/nba-trade-grades-2025-26-breaking-most-impactful-offseason-deals\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Trades<\/a><br \/>\u2022 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/nba\/story\/_\/id\/45612093\/nba-free-agency-2025-hearing-lakers-knicks-18-other-nba-teams\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">NBA insiders: Rumblings across the league<\/a><br \/>\u2022 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/nba\/story\/_\/id\/45605321\/nba-free-agency-2025-how-all-30-teams-ace-their-offseason\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Marks: How 30 teams ace the offseason<\/a><br \/>\u2022 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/nba\/story\/_\/id\/45599900\/nba-free-agency-2025-cap-space-best-fits-all-30-teams\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Salary cap space, best FA fits for every team<\/a><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" class=\"floatleft\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/1753705692_424_cle.png&#038;h=110&#038;w=110.png\" width=\"31\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Grade: B<\/p>\n<p>We&#8217;ll see how much the Cavaliers get from <a data-player-guid=\"63605956-6a4c-d187-5e83-4f0e5c740a28\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/nba\/player\/_\/id\/4066421\/lonzo-ball\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Lonzo Ball<\/a>, limited to 35 games last season by wrist injuries after two and a half years off the court due to his left knee. Ball was a low-cost pickup for Cleveland to help replace <a data-player-guid=\"c3105754-89ce-5055-3b1b-61c45e7ce40a\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/nba\/player\/_\/id\/4065733\/ty-jerome\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Ty Jerome<\/a>, lost to help manage the Cavaliers&#8217; sizeable tax bill. So too was bringing back <a data-player-guid=\"7b17f7ab-c0f8-db07-d3d5-05a434b053e2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/nba\/player\/_\/id\/2580365\/larry-nance-jr\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Larry Nance Jr<\/a>. as a third center. Despite the loss of Jerome, Cleveland looks like the favorite to win the East.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" class=\"floatleft\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/1753705692_740_dal.png&#038;h=110&#038;w=110.png\" width=\"31\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Grade: B-<\/p>\n<p>Dallas doesn&#8217;t get credit for picking <a data-player-guid=\"6cf6ea11-b3e4-35fd-bb91-f9f6caf6e2c8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/nba\/player\/_\/id\/5041939\/cooper-flagg\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Cooper Flagg<\/a>, a move any team would have made after winning the lottery. The Mavericks did well in landing <a data-player-guid=\"155978bc-3f36-925f-c5b2-b0f15c5a2a13\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/nba\/player\/_\/id\/3136776\/dangelo-russell\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">D&#8217;Angelo Russell<\/a>, armed only with their taxpayer midlevel in free agency after agreeing to a new contract with a smaller starting salary for injured point guard <a data-player-guid=\"4fb2e3fc-ad79-d9bc-ddd9-bbb09f29ead3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/nba\/player\/_\/id\/6442\/kyrie-irving\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Kyrie Irving<\/a>. But Dallas still has a surplus in its frontcourt, having opted not to make any trades involving veteran players thus far. That likely pushes Flagg and <a data-player-guid=\"a2ef18dc-dcba-f71b-e39c-e794921f8193\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/nba\/player\/_\/id\/4278078\/pj-washington\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">P.J. Washington<\/a> Jr. to perimeter roles.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" class=\"floatleft\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/1753705693_784_den.png&#038;h=110&#038;w=110.png\" width=\"31\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Grade: A-<\/p>\n<p>After the dust cleared, Denver&#8217;s offseason resulted in the strongest Nuggets team on paper since they won the 2023 title, highlighted by swapping Michael Porter Jr. for <a data-player-guid=\"52d9a7a4-0bee-a926-a5fd-f2ecb96eaa95\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/nba\/player\/_\/id\/3138196\/cameron-johnson\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Cameron Johnson<\/a> at the cost of a valuable 2032 unprotected first-rounder. The payroll flexibility the deal created helped the Nuggets heist <a data-player-guid=\"585a3d05-447b-8a2f-bfed-56049d1c04ba\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/nba\/player\/_\/id\/6477\/jonas-valanciunas\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Jonas Valanciunas<\/a> from the Kings, shedding little-used <a data-player-guid=\"ec510d5f-3cb7-033b-ef46-6f3f331f0710\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/nba\/player\/_\/id\/3032978\/dario-saric\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Dario Saric<\/a>. And Denver beefed up its perimeter depth by signing <a href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/nba\/player\/_\/id\/4065670\/bruce-brown\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Bruce Brown<\/a> and <a data-player-guid=\"4ea7a8ea-43eb-1036-2128-c745eca4a55f\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/nba\/player\/_\/id\/2528210\/tim-hardaway-jr\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Tim Hardaway Jr<\/a>. to minimum contracts.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" class=\"floatleft\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/1753705693_665_det.png&#038;h=110&#038;w=110.png\" width=\"31\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Grade:  C<\/p>\n<p>The Pistons&#8217; offseason changed dramatically when ESPN&#8217;s Shams Charania reported that guard <a data-player-guid=\"4e963496-bb60-2e6e-6db0-b0b2da819023\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/nba\/player\/_\/id\/3907822\/malik-beasley\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Malik Beasley<\/a> was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com.au\/nba\/story\/_\/id\/45608949\/sources-pistons-malik-beasley-subject-federal-gambling-probe\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">under investigation by federal authorities in connection with a gambling probe<\/a>. After All-Star <a data-player-guid=\"c28c6569-86f0-3c1e-bcab-b946fbc06ff6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/nba\/player\/_\/id\/4432166\/cade-cunningham\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Cade Cunningham<\/a>, Beasley might have been Detroit&#8217;s second-best player last season, and the late pivot limited the Pistons&#8217; options to replace him in free agency. They landed <a data-player-guid=\"36432468-246f-8e5e-4079-cf34dafef796\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/nba\/player\/_\/id\/3157465\/duncan-robinson\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Duncan Robinson<\/a> to supply the shooting Beasley provided and <a data-player-guid=\"32ca28ec-abc2-6b16-452f-ede2deec2b30\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/nba\/player\/_\/id\/2991043\/caris-levert\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Caris LeVert<\/a> for shot creation off the bench, but the result is likely a weaker Detroit second unit.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" class=\"floatleft\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/1753705693_374_gs.png&#038;h=110&#038;w=110.png\" width=\"31\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Grade:  Incomplete<\/p>\n<p>Having merely added a pair of picks in the 50s (<a data-player-guid=\"8d914de2-a6fa-3fd7-a7e2-604ae25a0519\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/nba\/player\/_\/id\/4897262\/will-richard\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Will Richard<\/a> and <a data-player-guid=\"6ebb4482-7faa-3203-b8ec-e055b8c8b49d\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/nba\/player\/_\/id\/5170949\/alex-toohey\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Alex Toohey<\/a>), the Warriors are impossible to evaluate until they figure out the status of restricted free agent <a data-player-guid=\"fa4aeb82-1488-3163-b374-4e0cdd9cb23a\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/nba\/player\/_\/id\/4433247\/jonathan-kuminga\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Jonathan Kuminga<\/a>. If Golden State indeed signs veteran center <a href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/nba\/player\/_\/id\/3213\/al-horford\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Al Horford<\/a> and brings back guard <a data-player-guid=\"4701e165-6b05-a4be-91d4-1f97ca5baafc\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/nba\/player\/_\/id\/4066436\/deanthony-melton\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">De&#8217;Anthony Melton<\/a>, as ESPN&#8217;s Anthony Slater <a href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com.au\/nba\/story\/_\/id\/45816235\/jonathan-kuminga-no-rush-accept-warriors-contract-offers\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">reported is possible<\/a>, that would be a solid summer to build on last season&#8217;s strong finish after the Jimmy Butler trade. For now, all of that remains on hold.<\/p>\n<p><img class=\" lazyload lazyload\"\/>play<\/p>\n<p>1:40<\/p>\n<p>Will the Rockets be the best team KD&#8217;s played for?<\/p>\n<p class=\"contentItem__subhead\">Ramona Shelburne and Tim Bontemps break down why the Rockets are the best fit for Kevin Durant.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" class=\"floatleft\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/1753705693_945_hou.png&#038;h=110&#038;w=110.png\" width=\"31\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Grade:  A<\/p>\n<p>No team did more to improve its chances at the 2026 title than the Rockets, who added two-time Finals MVP <a data-player-guid=\"dc324fde-eee8-98e2-09ac-d31d8ad9909e\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/nba\/player\/_\/id\/3202\/kevin-durant\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Kevin Durant<\/a> without sacrificing depth in the process. Give Houston credit for pouncing at a reasonable trade for Durant, then using a team-friendly contract for <a data-player-guid=\"6c6e5179-fc67-908e-bc50-0a5580d64159\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/nba\/player\/_\/id\/2991230\/fred-vanvleet\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Fred VanVleet<\/a> (two years, $50 million) to access the non-taxpayer midlevel exception. That allowed the Rockets to add proven 3-and-D wing <a data-player-guid=\"e05f4c3a-a0a6-e87f-d752-a5c092b7f474\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/nba\/player\/_\/id\/2578185\/dorian-finney-smith\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Dorian Finney-Smith<\/a> to help replace departed <a data-player-guid=\"653c07b5-8537-14ac-f4c6-b4e37919aca0\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/nba\/player\/_\/id\/3155526\/dillon-brooks\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Dillon Brooks<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" class=\"floatleft\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/1753705693_985_ind.png&#038;h=110&#038;w=110.png\" width=\"31\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Grade: D<\/p>\n<p>It&#8217;s possible we&#8217;ll look back and think the Pacers were better off not paying <a data-player-guid=\"a61d70b4-d544-33c8-3eb9-aa6e5074f97e\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/nba\/player\/_\/id\/3133628\/myles-turner\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Myles Turner<\/a> through his mid-30s, but there are no banners for fiscal responsibility and Indiana lost a key piece to a starting five that relied more on fit than sheer talent. The Pacers have no clear replacement for Turner. Although I liked taking a flyer on <a data-player-guid=\"5fd0e0b4-c4dc-833b-47a0-1227d6dc2da4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/nba\/player\/_\/id\/4065731\/jay-huff\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Jay Huff<\/a>, who has a similar skill set, expecting him to start after falling out of Memphis&#8217; playoff rotation is unrealistic. Indiana&#8217;s other traditional centers &#8212; <a data-player-guid=\"78cd79a1-db81-4a11-9177-c0b340ccf5a3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/nba\/player\/_\/id\/4065673\/tony-bradley\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Tony Bradley<\/a>, <a data-player-guid=\"4df234c9-e02d-3a02-8e36-9955ff214fa1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/nba\/player\/_\/id\/4432170\/isaiah-jackson\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Isaiah Jackson<\/a> and <a data-player-guid=\"78395694-832b-3357-8773-a07cc3ce782f\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/nba\/player\/_\/id\/4432808\/james-wiseman\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">James Wiseman<\/a> &#8212; are also career backups.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" class=\"floatleft\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/1753705693_466_lac.png&#038;h=110&#038;w=110.png\" width=\"31\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Grade:  B+<\/p>\n<p>There are concerns about the Clippers&#8217; age after adding veterans <a data-player-guid=\"63c7648a-60ba-c799-d355-f7f1d43f3a55\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/nba\/player\/_\/id\/2779\/chris-paul\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Chris Paul<\/a> (40), <a data-player-guid=\"3496fbc1-fa88-c332-7f91-f015006e0c8b\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/nba\/player\/_\/id\/3448\/brook-lopez\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Brook Lopez<\/a> (37) and <a data-player-guid=\"fb35d5ac-5dde-c5ee-98f3-c348c244c0ae\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/nba\/player\/_\/id\/6580\/bradley-beal\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Bradley Beal<\/a> (32). For the Clippers to land all three armed only with the non-taxpayer midlevel exception, however, is a win. The Clippers bolstered their depth in the short term and added size with a trade for <a data-player-guid=\"796e45a0-b375-dfdf-c240-b7550add4966\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/nba\/player\/_\/id\/3908845\/john-collins\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">John Collins<\/a> while keeping an eye on cap space possibilities as soon as next summer, with 2027 a more likely target to retool the roster with younger talent.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" class=\"floatleft\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/1753705694_895_lal.png&#038;h=110&#038;w=110.png\" width=\"31\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Grade:  B<\/p>\n<p>Breaking News from Shams Charania<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/contributor\/shams-charania\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" class=\"floatright\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/charania_shams.png\" width=\"40%\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Download the ESPN app and enable <a href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/contributor\/shams-charania\" target=\"new\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Shams Charania&#8217;s news alerts<\/a> to receive push notifications for the latest updates first. Opt in by tapping the alerts bell in the top right corner. For more information, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/espn\/story\/_\/id\/43511398\/introducing-espn-reporter-breaking-news-alerts-faq-fans\" target=\"new\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">click here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The Lakers are an interesting contrast to their crosstown rivals&#8217; offseason. Building around 26-year-old <a data-player-guid=\"583794eb-0f38-9bbd-3e25-9dd33b7f83b8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/nba\/player\/_\/id\/3945274\/luka-doncic\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Luka Doncic<\/a>, the Lakers added <a data-player-guid=\"a2ffece1-7bf0-3c54-aa59-b150b6ecd315\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/nba\/player\/_\/id\/4592691\/jake-laravia\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Jake LaRavia<\/a>, 23, the youngest unrestricted free agent to change teams for more than the minimum, plus <a data-player-guid=\"9af41ea8-a24c-025f-a63f-8263fbf0ca66\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/nba\/player\/_\/id\/4278129\/deandre-ayton\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Deandre Ayton<\/a>, who recently turned 27. <a data-player-guid=\"f5096a5b-cbc5-1d7f-d406-56c623c434e5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/nba\/player\/_\/id\/2990992\/marcus-smart\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Marcus Smart<\/a>, 31, is the Lakers&#8217; oldest newcomer. The Lakers&#8217; additions weren&#8217;t as effective last season as the Clippers&#8217;, but the new Lakers stand a better chance of being long-term contributors.<\/p>\n<p>The biggest question about the Lakers&#8217; offseason is what that approach means for 40-year-old superstar <a data-player-guid=\"1f6592b3-ff53-d321-8dc5-6038d48c1786\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/nba\/player\/_\/id\/1966\/lebron-james\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">LeBron James<\/a>. However, James has little leverage after exercising his player option. It&#8217;s more important for the Lakers to persuade Doncic to sign an extension when he becomes eligible this weekend.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" class=\"floatleft\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/1753705695_994_mem.png&#038;h=110&#038;w=110.png\" width=\"31\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Grade:  B<\/p>\n<p>The Grizzlies might take a step back in a loaded West after trading starting guard <a data-player-guid=\"10c8715d-6e1c-40de-59cb-625bf16ebbc7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/nba\/player\/_\/id\/4066320\/desmond-bane\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Desmond Bane<\/a>, but long term, Memphis was wise to get four first-round picks in return, including a coveted 2026 pick most likely from the <a data-clubhouse-guid=\"c6eade89-5971-0e84-8ccb-cd91482b2b50\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com.au\/nba\/team\/_\/name\/phx\/phoenix-suns\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Phoenix Suns<\/a>. Adding Jerome on a value contract helps replace Bane&#8217;s shooting and shot creation, and the Grizzlies were able to sign <a data-player-guid=\"dbe0e9e5-0046-c414-000b-f4e629b08f5d\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/nba\/player\/_\/id\/4277961\/jaren-jackson-jr\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Jaren Jackson Jr<\/a>. to an extension that pays him less than he could have made next summer as an unrestricted free agent.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" class=\"floatleft\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/1753705695_541_mia.png&#038;h=110&#038;w=110.png\" width=\"31\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Grade:  B+<\/p>\n<p>It was an opportunistic offseason for the Heat, who took advantage of the money saved by swapping Duncan Robinson for <a data-player-guid=\"a0409737-c86c-eca9-747b-d24b9a421c32\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/nba\/player\/_\/id\/3899664\/simone-fontecchio\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Simone Fontecchio<\/a> to convert players on the fringes of their rotation into <a data-player-guid=\"4941d040-1812-cbb0-27bf-598cd624bc84\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/nba\/player\/_\/id\/2595516\/norman-powell\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Norman Powell<\/a>, who scored 21.8 points per game for the Clippers last season. Powell helps replace some of the scoring lost with Jimmy Butler&#8217;s February departure and keeps Miami&#8217;s books clear &#8212; for now &#8212; as the team eyes 2027 cap space.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" class=\"floatleft\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/1753705695_246_mil.png&#038;h=110&#038;w=110.png\" width=\"31\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Grade: C+<\/p>\n<p>No, the Bucks stretching <a data-player-guid=\"c6bdd0b0-2176-2089-9b41-1ca3540f64f4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/nba\/player\/_\/id\/6606\/damian-lillard\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Damian Lillard<\/a>&#8216;s salary over the next five years to create cap room and sign Myles Turner away from the Pacers &#8212; the top player to change teams in free agency &#8212; isn&#8217;t likely to result in Milwaukee contending. But it at least gives the Bucks a chance this season, with a power vacuum in the East due to injuries and <a data-player-guid=\"00985054-c4b3-4247-e825-ddf062d457c3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/nba\/player\/_\/id\/3032977\/giannis-antetokounmpo\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Giannis Antetokounmpo<\/a> still playing at a top-five level. Milwaukee did creative work to bring back the rest of last season&#8217;s core, albeit at the cost of handing out player options like party favors. A whopping five Bucks got 2026-27 options, which could complicate next summer&#8217;s roster building.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" class=\"floatleft\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/1753705695_7_min.png&#038;h=110&#038;w=110.png\" width=\"31\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Grade: B-<\/p>\n<p>After trading Towns, the Timberwolves were able to manage their payroll to bring back the bulk of the team that has reached the past two conference finals. A new contract for <a data-player-guid=\"cea0d1d3-6353-87c8-929e-c556ae36dc41\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/nba\/player\/_\/id\/3064514\/julius-randle\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Julius Randle<\/a> pays him and <a data-player-guid=\"a74f6353-1678-ff6e-cab1-ed9cf5300189\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/nba\/player\/_\/id\/3934673\/donte-divincenzo\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Donte DiVincenzo<\/a> a combined $43 million, far less than the $53 million Towns will make. Minnesota did have to let Alexander-Walker leave via sign-and-trade, opting instead to prioritize 2023-24 Sixth Man Award winner <a data-player-guid=\"f8d497e7-586c-2aa7-4da1-3af638ca26e1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/nba\/player\/_\/id\/4396971\/naz-reid\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Naz Reid<\/a>. Reid&#8217;s five-year, $125 million contract could be an overpay if he is unable to grow beyond a bench role.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" class=\"floatleft\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/1753705695_140_no.png&#038;h=110&#038;w=110.png\" width=\"31\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Grade:  F<\/p>\n<p>The Hawks-Pelicans draft-night swap was seemingly the most lopsided transaction of the summer. It could pay off for New Orleans, but it was far too risky to be sensible &#8212; particularly in the context of the Pelicans&#8217; other moves. New Orleans is betting on Jordan Poole being a playoff-caliber starting point guard and has overloaded its depth chart at center by drafting <a data-player-guid=\"0e7f21a8-df8c-3ace-8cf6-c7ff07c756fa\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/nba\/player\/_\/id\/4869780\/derik-queen\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Derik Queen<\/a> and signing veteran <a data-player-guid=\"10a8e77b-8773-24c6-9966-f0c4618caad6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/nba\/player\/_\/id\/3155535\/kevon-looney\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Kevon Looney<\/a>. Just three West teams have longer <a href=\"https:\/\/espnbet.com\/sport\/basketball\/organization\/united-states\/competition\/nba\/section\/futures\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">odds of winning the conference at ESPN BET<\/a>, and the Pelicans traded away their safety net now that they no longer control their 2026 first-round pick.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" class=\"floatleft\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/ny.png&#038;h=110&#038;w=110.png\" width=\"31\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Grade: B<\/p>\n<p>After adding <a data-player-guid=\"cb79ebc7-b282-8247-5296-7b803d2cbc9e\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/nba\/player\/_\/id\/3147657\/mikal-bridges\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Mikal Bridges<\/a> and <a data-player-guid=\"12998df5-b137-fe32-8e90-f3844e8d8ee6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/nba\/player\/_\/id\/3136195\/karl-anthony-towns\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Karl-Anthony Towns<\/a> last offseason, the Knicks had limited room to maneuver this summer. Getting <a data-player-guid=\"7c8ab472-985f-cf0c-8b1c-d1d051907cff\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/nba\/player\/_\/id\/4017844\/guerschon-yabusele\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Guerschon Yabusele<\/a> to take ever so slightly less than the entirety of their taxpayer midlevel exception allowed New York to upgrade its second-unit frontcourt and still fill out its bench with veterans minimum contracts. One of those veterans, <a data-player-guid=\"e50b7c1f-0792-372f-d2b9-ce80188f029f\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/nba\/player\/_\/id\/2528426\/jordan-clarkson\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Jordan Clarkson<\/a> &#8212; signed after reaching a buyout with the <a data-clubhouse-guid=\"77cea2fb-1388-b7c8-d171-2e72b3aecbfb\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com.au\/nba\/team\/_\/name\/utah\/utah-jazz\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Utah Jazz<\/a> &#8212; gives the Knicks more athleticism off the bench than unsigned backup guards <a data-player-guid=\"973fd440-1804-fd3b-a70b-7a5be2996764\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/nba\/player\/_\/id\/3064230\/cameron-payne\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Cameron Payne<\/a> and <a data-player-guid=\"69fd7509-a4ad-0c68-9252-49708020e668\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/nba\/player\/_\/id\/3914044\/landry-shamet\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Landry Shamet<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" class=\"floatleft\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/1753705696_340_okc.png&#038;h=110&#038;w=110.png\" width=\"31\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Grade:  B+<\/p>\n<p>The defending champs return every player who saw at least 50 minutes of action during the 2025 playoffs, so the real work for the Thunder front office was securing long-term extensions for stars <a data-player-guid=\"4dcec409-3ff9-2881-2bc3-b4289ce6c36d\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/nba\/player\/_\/id\/4278073\/shai-gilgeous-alexander\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Shai Gilgeous-Alexander<\/a>, <a data-player-guid=\"d28316e9-20cc-3cb2-b5d7-afdb6418315b\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/nba\/player\/_\/id\/4433255\/chet-holmgren\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Chet Holmgren<\/a> and <a data-player-guid=\"2381f346-9247-3ba1-b632-fcef378a2799\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/nba\/player\/_\/id\/4593803\/jalen-williams\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Jalen Williams<\/a>. A supermax deal for Gilgeous-Alexander and max deals for Holmgren and Williams will force tough choices for Oklahoma City, but the Thunder did well to sign Holmgren to a deal locked in at 25% of the 2026-27 cap and avoid giving Williams a player option on his extension.<\/p>\n<p><img class=\" lazyload lazyload\" data-image-container=\".inline-photo\" height=\"320\" width=\"570\"\/>(Photo by Bart Young\/NBAE via Getty Images)<img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" class=\"floatleft\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/1753705696_571_orl.png&#038;h=110&#038;w=110.png\" width=\"31\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Grade:  B<\/p>\n<p>Dealing for Bane looks better for Orlando in the wake of the East opening up. The Magic have a realistic chance to claim home-court advantage in the first round for the first time since 2011. Orlando getting backup point guard <a data-player-guid=\"c4cddbcc-957d-6182-fa33-66d045c64fc6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/nba\/player\/_\/id\/3135046\/tyus-jones\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Tyus Jones<\/a> on a one-year, $7 million deal was also a nice add. The Magic will have far more backcourt cover after going 21-26 in the 47 games starter <a data-player-guid=\"bd1767da-2774-3ec3-9c48-f443f0777bf6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/nba\/player\/_\/id\/4432165\/jalen-suggs\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Jalen Suggs<\/a> missed last season.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" class=\"floatleft\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/1753705696_425_phi.png&#038;h=110&#038;w=110.png\" width=\"31\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Grade:  C<\/p>\n<p>After last summer was highlighted by signing nine-time All-Star <a data-player-guid=\"d7e5e918-d53f-018e-9d15-f9005b2390ad\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/nba\/player\/_\/id\/4251\/paul-george\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Paul George<\/a> &#8212; an addition that went south &#8212; perhaps a quiet offseason is for the best. Still, it&#8217;s surprising Philadelphia is bringing back 10 players from last season&#8217;s roster, with restricted free agent <a data-player-guid=\"dbe4d07d-9166-07d7-19f0-52cc771d179d\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/nba\/player\/_\/id\/4397014\/quentin-grimes\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Quentin Grimes<\/a> likely to bring that total to 11. The 76ers are counting on better health and improved frontcourt depth rather than making significant changes to the roster.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" class=\"floatleft\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/1753705696_457_phx.png&#038;h=110&#038;w=110.png\" width=\"31\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Grade: C+<\/p>\n<p>Like Milwaukee, Phoenix put a massive amount of dead salary on its books with a buyout for the final two years of Bradley Beal&#8217;s contract. After dealing Kevin Durant, the Suns can&#8217;t realistically contend. Even making the playoffs will be a stretch in the West. But they have flipped their roster in a younger direction with three 2025 draft picks &#8212; having started the summer with none &#8212; and 23-year-old center <a data-player-guid=\"93b211a2-3229-3b90-8529-f7f39ce5374d\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/nba\/player\/_\/id\/4701232\/mark-williams\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Mark Williams<\/a>, acquired via trade.<\/p>\n<p><img class=\" lazyload lazyload\"\/>play<\/p>\n<p>1:23<\/p>\n<p>Does Damian Lillard&#8217;s return change Blazers&#8217; outlook this season?<\/p>\n<p class=\"contentItem__subhead\">Brian Windhorst doesn&#8217;t see the Portland Trail Blazers making the playoffs this season despite their offseason moves.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" class=\"floatleft\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/1753705696_976_por.png&#038;h=110&#038;w=110.png\" width=\"31\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Grade: C<\/p>\n<p>It was an eventful summer for the Blazers, who dealt for <a data-player-guid=\"6694d3e6-7257-f217-35dc-f6911488b9f1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/nba\/player\/_\/id\/3995\/jrue-holiday\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Jrue Holiday<\/a>, made the draft&#8217;s most interesting pick in Chinese center <a href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/nba\/player\/_\/id\/5217746\/yang-hansen\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Yang Hansen<\/a> and reunited with franchise icon Damian Lillard. Adding two veteran All-Star guards could crowd Portland&#8217;s backcourt when Lillard returns from an Achilles rupture, likely in 2026-27. And the Blazers still haven&#8217;t found a new home for forward <a data-player-guid=\"dc6db1ba-dc61-8a7e-647a-83c10bb9f76f\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/nba\/player\/_\/id\/2991070\/jerami-grant\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Jerami Grant<\/a>, who was surpassed in the rotation last season by younger <a data-player-guid=\"c025f56a-78ee-3e47-be5a-f962c1b58ffb\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/nba\/player\/_\/id\/4683021\/deni-avdija\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Deni Avdija<\/a> and <a data-player-guid=\"29bc5947-de2e-3a0a-abe0-05de2767e34a\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/nba\/player\/_\/id\/4431736\/toumani-camara\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Toumani Camara<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" class=\"floatleft\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/1753705696_554_sac.png&#038;h=110&#038;w=110.png\" width=\"31\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Grade:  D+<\/p>\n<p>A curious offseason didn&#8217;t seem to move the Kings closer to a playoff return. Prioritizing point guard after trading <a data-player-guid=\"5f18d1cf-1c2e-3601-a04e-1a3fc84d8ef1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/nba\/player\/_\/id\/4066259\/deaaron-fox\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">De&#8217;Aaron Fox<\/a> in February was reasonable, but Sacramento gave <a data-player-guid=\"ed50e972-a95d-6b5c-3fcd-0d75616d1159\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/nba\/player\/_\/id\/3032979\/dennis-schroder\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Dennis Schroder<\/a> a three-year, $45 million deal that might not age well given Schroder&#8217;s reliance on quickness. That deal forced the Kings to swap Jonas Valanciunas for Dario Saric, who barely played last season, to stay out of the luxury tax. Sacramento might have been better off targeting a point guard on a cheaper deal, such as Tre Jones, or letting Valanciunas leave for a reported offer from Greek power Olympiacos and getting out of his deal altogether.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" class=\"floatleft\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/1753705697_209_sa.png&#038;h=110&#038;w=110.png\" width=\"31\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Grade: B<\/p>\n<p>The Spurs don&#8217;t get bonus points for jumping up to No. 2 in the lottery and drafting Rutgers guard <a data-player-guid=\"d8fd1989-052d-3e45-91f2-6fda54fa5c8e\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/nba\/player\/_\/id\/5037871\/dylan-harper\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Dylan Harper<\/a>. However, San Antonio did do well upgrading its frontcourt with veterans <a data-player-guid=\"7a7e5cbb-0808-0a11-08e4-5b50144abcb9\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/nba\/player\/_\/id\/3064560\/luke-kornet\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Luke Kornet<\/a> and <a data-player-guid=\"9cfc539e-c2ed-ba99-1e28-ae92154bf09b\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/nba\/player\/_\/id\/2489663\/kelly-olynyk\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Kelly Olynyk<\/a>. With a training camp to integrate De&#8217;Aaron Fox and <a data-player-guid=\"0e8844b2-d923-3926-82d2-f19a29d69490\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/nba\/player\/_\/id\/5104157\/victor-wembanyama\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Victor Wembanyama<\/a>&#8216;s rapid growth, the Spurs should improve this season and still have the draft picks to make another big swing to build out their core.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" class=\"floatleft\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/1753705697_836_tor.png&#038;h=110&#038;w=110.png\" width=\"31\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Grade:  C-<\/p>\n<p>A deadline deal for <a data-player-guid=\"735792ca-bca3-6bab-e2ed-68f39ccc7270\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/nba\/player\/_\/id\/3913176\/brandon-ingram\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Brandon Ingram<\/a> turned out to be Toronto&#8217;s big offseason move. Given how little cap space was available, Ingram was wise to lock in a three-year, $120 million deal after the trade. Over the tax line, the Raptors merely swapped out unsigned <a data-player-guid=\"843d6489-a236-c54a-38db-617c74ded459\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/nba\/player\/_\/id\/3948153\/chris-boucher\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Chris Boucher<\/a> for <a data-player-guid=\"e9df9e2a-50ac-901b-9090-1201532b81e8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/nba\/player\/_\/id\/4278580\/sandro-mamukelashvili\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Sandro Mamukelashvili<\/a> and drafted <a data-player-guid=\"8cca71b9-6ade-316f-9b13-a2486e0dbd46\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/nba\/player\/_\/id\/5093267\/collin-murray-boyles\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Collin Murray-Boyles<\/a> at No. 9. The result is a roster that still doesn&#8217;t look like a top-six team in the East with limited financial flexibility, particularly after a rich extension for center <a data-player-guid=\"a5b22bdb-e9e3-f482-72f9-06db2e339aff\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/nba\/player\/_\/id\/3134908\/jakob-poeltl\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Jakob Poeltl<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" class=\"floatleft\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/1753705697_416_utah.png&#038;h=110&#038;w=110.png\" width=\"31\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Grade:  C<\/p>\n<p>After hiring Austin Ainge as president of basketball operations, the Jazz firmly picked a direction. Utah sent out veterans Clarkson, Collins and Sexton, meaning they&#8217;ll no longer appear on lengthy injury reports to create playing time for Utah&#8217;s young talent. The Jazz likely waited too long to move on from Clarkson and Sexton, forcing Utah to give up a second-round pick in the process. Still ahead: a key decision on center <a data-player-guid=\"a362b0ba-25ef-3ceb-9dd3-039b3d8aa4aa\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/nba\/player\/_\/id\/4433136\/walker-kessler\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Walker Kessler<\/a>, who&#8217;s eligible for a rookie extension through October.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" class=\"floatleft\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/1753705697_936_was.png&#038;h=110&#038;w=110.png\" width=\"31\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Grade:  B<\/p>\n<p>A series of trades cleaned up Washington&#8217;s books for massive cap space in summer 2026 while also taking low-cost fliers on recent first-round picks. Including this year&#8217;s picks <a data-player-guid=\"432b4847-f726-3711-898d-9e507c8f5bf2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/nba\/player\/_\/id\/5238230\/tre-johnson\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Tre Johnson<\/a> and <a data-player-guid=\"dbc88312-f9a8-3d47-9bfa-dc54b447b95b\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/nba\/player\/_\/id\/5144126\/will-riley\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Will Riley<\/a>, the Wizards now have an incredible 10 players drafted in the first round since 2023. <a data-player-guid=\"bbbd3317-3baa-ab71-f8b5-50c5fa97fc24\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/nba\/player\/_\/id\/4280151\/corey-kispert\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Corey Kispert<\/a> is the only veteran Washington has under contract for 2026-27, meaning the Wizards could have $80 million in cap space after trading <a data-player-guid=\"4b0492b5-a52f-267f-e840-98ef6d2e2bdf\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/nba\/player\/_\/id\/4277956\/jordan-poole\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Jordan Poole<\/a> for <a data-player-guid=\"650bab3d-b658-cba4-a596-044c1e1fa8c0\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/nba\/player\/_\/id\/2490149\/cj-mccollum\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">CJ McCollum<\/a>&#8216;s expiring contract.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Kevin PeltonJul 28, 2025, 10:00 PM Close Co-author, Pro Basketball Prospectus series Formerly a consultant with the Indiana&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":27449,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[557],"tags":[64,63,590,85],"class_list":["post-27448","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-nba","tag-au","tag-australia","tag-nba","tag-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27448","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=27448"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27448\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/27449"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27448"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27448"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27448"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}