From LeBron to Giannis: Grading every NBA team’s offseason moves so far

NBA Draft picks are taking the court in Las Vegas Summer League, and for the most part, most of the impact free agents have found their next home. But there’s still one LeBron James-sized domino to fall, and that could impact the outlook for a few teams.

Has your favorite team gotten the help it needed in the draft and free agency? The Athletic asked its NBA staff for their assessments of summer transactions, from the draft to free agency to coaching hires. Here are the grades our writers assigned for the work done so far.

Atlanta Hawks: B

It’s been a relatively quiet offseason, as the Hawks aren’t drinking the “we beat the Knicks twice” Kool-Aid and understand they’re still a work in progress. Notably, Atlanta drafted a true point guard in Kingston Flemings, filling an organizational need with the best player available with the eighth pick. Trading for Aaron Wiggins was a great way to use a trade exception to get free (and needed) wing depth, while one-year deals for CJ McCollum and Jock Landale keep things stable without overcommitting. Still to be determined: the fates of Buddy Hield and Jonathan Kuminga. — John Hollinger

Boston Celtics: C-

Credit Brad Stevens for the guts to make a big move. Still, after the best season of Jaylen Brown’s career, the Celtics’ return for him was puzzling. They also filled a major hole with the Mitchell Robinson acquisition and added a trusted pro in Mike Conley, but Boston’s future will hinge on whether Stevens made the right call on the Brown trade — and on what moves come next. — Jay King

Brooklyn Nets: B

The Nets did well to professionalize their team this offseason. Julius Randle is a capable and productive forward who can assume lead playmaking duties, and with Michael Porter Jr, the Nets now have two legit 20-point scorers. They’re still light everywhere, but they shouldn’t be the easy choice for the league’s worst record team next year. We’ll see if Mikel Brown Jr. was the right choice at No. 6 in the draft, but at least Brooklyn added potential high-level young talent to its core. — Mike Vorkunov

Charlotte Hornets: B+

Despite being the story of the second half in the NBA, the Hornets didn’t fall for their own hype. They traded away arguably their best player for Naz Reid, an unprotected 2033 first-rounder and three pick swaps. The Hornets then re-signed Coby White to shore up the guard position and traded Miles Bridges for another unprotected first and two bench players who should be rotation help. Charlotte should enter the season deeper than it ended the last one after adding two top-20 draft picks. The Hornets certainly miss Ball, who was supremely important if you look at the on/off splits, but White should mitigate the pain. Charlotte now has a trove of draft assets that rivals any team and can make them a player if any star hits the market, or just to take big swings. But this offseason oriented the Hornets around Kon Knueppel and Brandon Miller and moved on from Ball and Bridges. — Mike Vorkunov

Chicago Bulls: B

The new Bulls’ regime tipped off its rebuild by making the obvious choice in selecting Caleb Wilson with the No. 4 pick in the draft and filled out their desired template by selecting Dailyn Swain at No. 15. No complaints with the first round. They didn’t eat bad contracts and net future assets like some hoped, but instead used their abundant cap space to facilitate flexible contracts with archetypes (Norman Powell, Nic Claxton, Zach Collins) that should also theoretically help the development of the rebuild in the short term. Not an immaculate offseason, but it’s deserving of an exhale considering the last regime. — Joel Lorenzi

Cleveland Cavaliers: Incomplete

If they end up getting LeBron James in free agency, it’s an A-minus, even if there isn’t an easy fit on the roster for him. If LeBron goes elsewhere, we’re looking at a D+ for a grade. The Cavs are trying to get under the aprons the best they can, but getting better doesn’t happen without LeBron. — Zach Harper

Dallas Mavericks: A

The Mavericks hired Masai Ujiri to run their front office in May and brought on Dusty May as their coach in June. Those were big decisions, which I think Dallas got right. I’m optimistic about May’s chances of transitioning from college to the NBA. The Mavericks also added two big men — Morez Johnson Jr. and Santi Aldama — with very different skill sets. Johnson has the chance to be a defensive monster, and Aldama is a proven stretch 7-footer. It would have been nice to see Dallas do more to upgrade its backcourt, but I think the Mavericks are moving in the right direction. — Christian Clark

Denver Nuggets: D-

If they end up keeping Peyton Watson, it’ll probably be a C. But this team is replacing Jonas Valančiūnas with Marvin Bagley III, and the Nuggets don’t have a replacement for Tim Hardaway Jr. For now, they’re back to having depth issues. — Zach Harper

Detroit Pistons: B-

The Pistons are no strangers to marginal improvements around their roster, and this offseason is shaping up to be similar. Signing power forward John Collins was Detroit’s biggest move yet, but they traded Isaiah Stewart and Caris LeVert and lost starter Tobias Harris to free agency. Acquiring Isaiah Joe will undoubtedly help with shooting. But unless the Pistons are betting on internal growth of Ausar Thompson and Daniss Jenkins, coupled with Ebuka Okorie, there will certainly still be a need for another ballhandler who can create for himself and others. — Hunter Patterson

Golden State Warriors: C

It’s basically the same team right now as the team that finished 37-45 last year aside from rookie Yaxel Lendeborg. Fans are frustrated, but the reality for Warriors GM Mike Dunleavy is that he remains confident that this team can be better than what it showed last season as it waits for Jimmy Butler and Moses Moody to return. There’s still a chance LeBron appears and that would change the tenor of the summer, but Warriors fans should expect more of what they saw last season with this aging core. — Nick Friedell

Houston Rockets: B+

Houston has been very efficient with new deals. Getting Marcus Smart on a two-year, $13 million contract and Bogdan Bogdanović on a one-year, veteran’s minimum contract helped solidify the Rockets’ bench. Even with some shooting inconsistencies, Smart should be an excellent fit for Houston’s rugged, defensive-first mindset. Tari Eason’s five-year, $81.5 million contract was easily one of the best deals handed out this summer. Getting a top-tier wing defender in his mid-20s on a contract that pays him about $16 million per year is a flat-out bargain. The only thing that stops me from giving the Rockets an A is that they had to salary-dump Dorian Finney-Smith and the $13.3 million he’s owed this season, just one year after handing him a four-year, $53 million contract last summer. The three second-round picks Houston sent to Charlotte were a reasonable price. But it’s bad business to have to actively get out of a contract so soon after handing it out. — William Guillory

Indiana Pacers: C-

Aside from a healthy Tyrese Haliburton returning, the Pacers haven’t done much to improve this summer. The biggest reason for that is losing out on drafting fifth overall because of the Ivica Zubac trade with the Clippers. Getting Braden Smith in the second round can help the guard rotation, and Kelly Oubre Jr. is a sound free-agent acquisition, but Haliburton getting off the injury report is the biggest thing holding this grade at below average. — Shakeia Taylor

LA Clippers: C-

The Clippers don’t have any All-NBA players when you account for last season’s James Harden trade and the Kawhi Leonard deal — that is, if the NBA gets around to concluding the Aspiration investigation and the agreed-upon trade with the Raptors goes through. The Clippers also don’t have 2025 All-Defensive selection Ivica Zubac, who was traded midseason. The draft capital is nice, with the first and likely highest pick coming back used last month on Keaton Wagler, and the Clippers at least have some All-Star-ish players to build an offense around in Darius Garland and (maybe) Brandon Ingram. Rui Hachimura is a cost-effective replacement for the more explosive John Collins. There’s more work to be done, and it surrounds the restricted free agency of Bennedict Mathurin and possible upgrades or alternatives in his slot if he is not retained. — Law Murray

Los Angeles Lakers: B

The Lakers get high marks for choosing a definitive direction. They got the center, they got younger and they got deeper. These were goals. But these decisions were all costly. The Lakers were aggressive spenders (long contracts with player options), and they fired off nearly all of their draft capital. Oh, and they lost LeBron James. — Dan Woike

Memphis Grizzlies: B-

Trading Ja Morant for nothing may have been necessary, but it’s still an organizational L. Otherwise, the Grizzlies have done a good job of resetting for what’s next. Drafting Cameron Boozer was huge, trading down to get extra draft capital and still nabbing Karim Lopez was crafty, and cashing in their Santi Aldama stock to turn him into Isaiah Stewart (and more picks) covers them for Zach Edey’s injury issues. I can’t get excited about Quentin Post, and they still need to trim the roster to 15 (a Kentavious Caldwell-Pope buyout is one possibility), but it’s been a solid summer. — John Hollinger

Miami Heat: A-

Trading for one of the five best players in the world without giving up your best player is an undeniably great move. There are concerns about Giannis Antetokounmpo’s health and longevity moving forward, but he is always productive and efficient when healthy and serves as a massive upgrade to Miami’s contending status. There is still work to do throughout the rest of the roster, but the Heat are in a much better place now with Antetokounmpo. — Eric Nehm

Milwaukee Bucks: C

Trading away a two-time NBA MVP is not the way to win an offseason, even if Giannis Antetokounmpo’s representatives forced the issue by saying he would not sign another extension in Milwaukee. In the end, the Bucks were able to get a large package of players and picks that will serve as a strong foundation for the future, and the trade could age even better if the young players develop well. While the trade and early moves in free agency could have resulted in a slightly higher grade, the Bucks have to be dinged for the puzzling Gary Trent Jr. contract. — Eric Nehm

Minnesota Timberwolves: B

The Timberwolves knew they needed to make significant roster changes after taking a step back last season. They certainly did. The Wolves sent Julius Randle to Brooklyn, then traded fan favorite Naz Reid and draft compensation to Charlotte for LaMelo Ball. The move can be viewed as a risk because Ball has dealt with injury issues and never won at a high level. But there is no denying his talent, and he plays the position that is most important to helping take the pressure off Anthony Edwards, who was deluged by double-teams in the playoffs. Now the Wolves have an exciting young backcourt to pair with Jaden McDaniels and Rudy Gobert up front. They also re-signed Ayo Dosunmu to a five-year, $112 million deal and brought back Jaylen Clark. The main thing that keeps it from being an A offseason is their lack of a true power forward. If LeBron James shocks the world and picks Minnesota? Give the Wolves an A-plus. — Jon Krawczynski

Naz Reid was a fan favorite in Minnesota. (Scott Wachter / Imagn Images)

New Orleans Pelicans: Incomplete

It’s difficult to grade what the Pelicans have done this summer because, well, they haven’t done anything. The only transaction New Orleans has pulled off since the start of free agency is bringing back locker-room leader DeAndre Jordan on a one-year veteran’s minimum. Although Jordan is clearly past his prime as an on-court contributor, his presence in the locker room was incredibly important for some of the young players on the Pels’ roster. Much of the basketball world has been anticipating a New Orleans trade involving sharpshooting wing Trey Murphy III, but the Pels front office has stood strong on its high asking price. While some may criticize this decision, I say holding on to a player with Murphy’s value when he still has three years left on his contract is the only sensible decision to make. But New Orleans clearly has a lot of work to do. Running it back with the same roster that won 26 games last year seems unfeasible. — William Guillory

New York Knicks: B

While I mostly agree with not going into the second apron because of a backup center, Mitchell Robinson isn’t your average backup — he’s one of the best offensive rebounders ever. Robinson, who signed with the Celtics because owner James Dolan didn’t want to go into the second apron, provides a service very few ever have, and it was monumental to the Knicks’ success over the last two years. Other than that, the Knicks did well bringing back Landry Shamet, Jose Alvarado and Mohamed Diawara on team-friendly deals. Adding Andre Drummond is as close to a Robinson replacement as one can reasonably get. Still, though, after the first title in 53 years, the Knicks deserved to run it back. — James Edwards III

Oklahoma City Thunder: B-

It would not be the offseason if the Thunder did not add any first-round picks. This time, they brought in two: Aday Mara and Bennett Stirtz. They made an intuitive choice, declining Isaiah Hartenstein’s team option and re-upping him on a long-term contract with a slightly lower 2026-27 salary. But they also suffered the same fate as plenty of teams with high payrolls. They lost a couple of capable rotation players, Isaiah Joe and Aaron Wiggins, casualties of an expensive roster. — Fred Katz

Orlando Magic: D

No one doubts that Sean Sweeney has a bright basketball mind, but no one can really know how well a first-time NBA head coach will fill the role until he actually is in the job. Having said that, this grade isn’t about the Sweeney hire. It’s that the Magic haven’t addressed their biggest problems: a lack of 3-point shooting and the lack of a point guard they can trust in a playoff series. Signing center Nikola Vučević to a one-year deal should help the floor spacing, but he’s going to come off the bench. Guard Anthony Black, about to enter his fourth season, needs to take a step. Jeff Weltman warned that the team’s payroll commitments would limit roster upgrades, and his warning was prophetic. If Orlando is going to make a jump, it’ll have to come through better coaching (not a certainty), fewer injuries (not a certainty) and internal development (not a certainty). — Josh Robbins

Philadelphia 76ers: A+

New president of basketball operations Mike Gansey came in and promptly turned Paul George’s contract into Jaylen Brown. His signings of Anfernee Simons and Dean Wade were sneaky-good fits on a roster that last season lacked both wing-level defense and scoring punch off the bench. Getting Caleb Love on a two-way deal is going to prove to be a steal. Love is good enough to help during the regular season. The Sixers have a real chance to be a top-four team in the Eastern Conference. That could not be said of them heading into the offseason. — Tony Jones

Phoenix Suns: B

GM Brian Gregory did what fans should expect — he improved the team. He re-signed Collin Gillespie, Jordan Goodwin and big man Mark Williams. Gillespie last season was among the league’s more improved guards, and only those who watch Phoenix regularly can appreciate the Goodwin deal (three years, $19 million). Gregory bolstered the frontcourt with the trade for Miles Bridges (although including a 2033 unprotected first-round draft pick may sting later) and signed a shooter in Luke Kennard. Provided they stay healthy, the Suns could jump a couple of spots in the West. Only thing left to do: Explain to fans how Bridges, who in 2022 pleaded no contest to a felony domestic violence charge, fits into the culture you have talked about so often. Not everyone is happy. — Doug Haller

Portland Trail Blazers: C

The Blazers landed a big name (Ja Morant), secured a valuable center (Robert Williams III) and added depth at center (Brandon Carlson) but did nothing to address their shooting woes. There is still time to use their non-taxpayer midlevel exception ($15.5 million) and biannual exception ($5.5 million), and if they do, there are two obvious needs: depth at power forward and more shooting. — Jason Quick

Ja Morant is teaming up with Damian Lillard in Portland. (Brian Westerholt / Imagn Images)

Sacramento Kings: C

There’s little the Kings could do this offseason. They have one of the highest payrolls but one of the worst teams in the league. Zach LaVine opting in for his $49 million salary for next season was expected. DeMar DeRozan was waived, and the team traded Devin Carter to help alleviate the financial constrictions, but it’s only a start. The biggest win of the offseason was Darius Acuff Jr. being available with the seventh pick in the draft. But resetting the Kings’ roster for the future is a multi-offseason project. — Jason Jones

San Antonio Spurs: B+

San Antonio held everything together after its finals run came up short. The Spurs locked up Julian Champagnie for $15 million a year, signed Tobias Harris to their midlevel exception, kept veteran leader Harrison Barnes and drafted big-man depth to replace the veterans at the end of the bench. Taking a big swing on 18-year-old defensive ace Jayden Quaintance, then drafting 22-year-old bruiser Tarris Reed Jr. was a good draft strategy that should yield at least one rotation player long term. Victor Wembanyama will likely agree to a supermax extension soon, though they still need to bring in more guard depth if they aren’t going to retain Jordan McLaughlin and could use another knockdown shooter or physical big at the four. They did a good job of getting their new deals in at numbers that maintain trade value. — Jared Weiss

Toronto Raptors: Incomplete

The Kawhi Leonard trade, assuming it eventually goes through, is obviously the headliner. It is a high-ceiling play for an acceptable cost. If the trade doesn’t go through, the Raptors will certainly rue accepting the opportunity cost of throwing their lot in with Leonard, someone they knew was being investigated by the league, although the NBA deserves more of the blame there.

With or without Leonard, the Raptors remain small. In a league in which size once again seems crucial, the Raptors have Jakob Poeltl, who missed much of last year with a back injury, and then several small-ball options. First-round pick Allen Graves and minimum signing Kyle Anderson aren’t changing that reality. — Eric Koreen

Utah Jazz: B+

Losing Walker Kessler will hurt, but the Jazz softened the blow of trading him to the Lakers by getting a great return for him. Still, this has been a great offseason in Utah because Darryn Peterson looks every bit the potential superstar the Jazz hope he is. Adding him to the lineup will make the Jazz one of the best offensive teams in basketball. Their offseason is pretty much set. Now, it’s on to the regular season, where the Jazz will be trying to win for the first time in a long time. — Tony Jones

Washington Wizards: A-

The Wizards won the draft lottery and then selected AJ Dybantsa. For a team that desperately needed a cornerstone-level player, that’s the most significant offseason happening that the Wizards could have hoped for. The team also added Deandre Ayton in a trade to fill in the top backup big-man role, and that move should help the team’s defensive rebounding and offer some protection if, or when, Alex Sarr and Anthony Davis encounter injury issues. Adding Ayton is a reclamation project in a somewhat similar vein to last offseason’s trade to add Cam Whitmore, a move that hasn’t worked out so far. — Josh Robbins