Stock Up, Stock Down for All 30 NBA Teams Entering August
For all intents and purposes, the roster-remodeling portion of the 2015 NBA offseason is finished.
A few stragglers are left on the free-agent market, but the monumental shifts to basketball's landscape have already taken place.
Assuming we won't see any more fortune-changing moves, we have all the data needed to assess each club's current situation. It looks great for some, grim for others and similar to last season in a lot of cases.
By examining the potential fit of new additions and cost of roster subtractions, a clear picture is emerging about each team's present outlook.
To be clear, we're only examining the effects this summer will have on the 2015-16 campaign. That's bad news for those who carried a forward-thinking mindset into this offseason but beneficial to the ones who positioned themselves to make a splash next season. It can also help clubs that are primed for internal growth and hurt those that are showing signs of stagnation.
For all the basketball investors out there, the following slides break down why we're feeling bearish, bullish or neutral about every team's stock.
Atlanta Hawks
1 of 30
Notable Newcomers: Tiago Splitter, Tim Hardaway Jr., Justin Holiday
Key Losses: DeMarre Carroll, Pero Antic, John Jenkins
The Atlanta Hawks made the right call by choosing Paul Millsap's unique versatility over DeMarre Carroll's three-and-D skills in free agency. But the team is going to feel Carroll's absence on both sides of the ball.
Thabo Sefolosha is still recovering from a fractured fibula, and he just posted his worst true shooting percentage since 2008-09 (50.6). Kent Bazemore is a pesky defender, but his offensive game is still developing. Tim Hardaway Jr. might become a spot-up shooting specialist. Justin Holiday needs plenty of polish with only 68 career games under his belt.
The Hawks still have one of the best 4-5 tandems in Millsap and Al Horford, and Tiago Splitter adds more size and skill to their interior mix. Kyle Korver has the shooting stroke needed to age well, and Jeff Teague has room to grow off last season's All-Star emergence.
Atlanta isn't necessarily headed for disaster without Carroll, but this team undoubtedly took a step backward when he exited.
Stock Report: ↓
Boston Celtics
2 of 30
Notable Newcomers: Terry Rozier, David Lee, Amir Johnson, R.J. Hunter
Key Losses: Brandon Bass, Luigi Datome, Gerald Wallace
The Boston Celtics used every offseason tool to expand their talent base.
The draft delivered four fresh prospects, a group headlined by explosive scoring guard Terry Rozier. The trade market offered buy-low opportunities for a former All-Star (David Lee) and a once highly touted prospect (Perry Jones III). Glue guy Amir Johnson arrived in free agency.
Boston's asset collection is growing, and another developmental summer could work wonders for Boston's in-house talent.
But this roster feels more like it's treading water than making significant progress. There isn't much shooting between Rozier, Marcus Smart and Avery Bradley. And this defense still looks vulnerable on the interior after finishing last season 28th in defending the rim and failing to add an intimidating paint presence outside of second-rounder Jordan Mickey.
Stock Report: ↔
Brooklyn Nets
3 of 30
Notable Newcomers: Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Andrea Bargnani, Thomas Robinson
Key Losses: Deron Williams, Alan Anderson, Mirza Teletovic
The Brooklyn Nets improved their future by stretching the remainder of Deron Williams' burdensome contract, but the cost-cutting move carries a price.
As disappointing as Williams' four-plus season stay with the Nets was, he was still one of the team's key catalysts. The Nets averaged 104.6 points per 100 possessions when he played in 2014-15, an efficiency mark that would have ranked 11th overall. Without him, Brooklyn managed a meager 98.8 points per 100 possessions, a rate cleared by all but three teams.
The Nets' biggest free-agent signings were their own: Brook Lopez and Thaddeus Young. Neither player was cheap to keep—the pair cost a combined $110 million—and they couldn't prevent the Nets from posting just 38 victories last season.
Brooklyn needed a versatile defensive weapon like Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, but his shooting struggles will be compounded by the departures of Alan Anderson (career 34.6 three-point percentage) and Mirza Teletovic (36.2).
Stock Report: ↓
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Charlotte Hornets
4 of 30
Notable Newcomers: Nicolas Batum, Frank Kaminsky, Spencer Hawes, Jeremy Lin
Key Losses: Noah Vonleh, Lance Stephenson, Gerald Henderson, Bismack Biyombo
It's tempting to view the loss of Lance Stephenson as addition by subtraction because he had such a brutal debut for the Charlotte Hornets (37.6 percent shooting, 17.1 percent from three). But Charlotte moved a 24-year-old with one guaranteed season left on his contract (team option for 2016-17) for a slumping Spencer Hawes, who might have three years left on his deal (player option for 2017-18).
There was a similar give-and-take with most of Charlotte's offseason maneuvers.
The Hornets picked up versatile three-and-D wing Nicolas Batum, but they had to give up promising prospect Noah Vonleh and Gerald Henderson to get him away from the Portland Trail Blazers. Frank Kaminsky's strengths overlap with those of Hawes and Cody Zeller, and Charlotte is going to miss Bismack Biyombo's presence at the defensive end. If Jeremy Lin is an upgrade over Mo Williams, the difference is negligible.
If Batum bounces back from a down year, and Jeremy Lamb claims the prominent rotation role he couldn't land with the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Hornets should field a much more formidable offense. But if their defense suffers an equal level of regression, it's tough to see Charlotte adding much to last season's 33-win total.
Stock Report: ↔
Chicago Bulls
5 of 30
Notable Newcomers: Bobby Portis, Fred Hoiberg
Key Losses: Tom Thibodeau
The Chicago Bulls dramatically altered the coaching message, moving from defense-first drill sergeant Tom Thibodeau to offensive mastermind/players' coach Fred Hoiberg.
Yet, the same broken record that has blared in the Windy City these past few seasons still rings true: The Bulls could be a force if they stay healthy.
Pau Gasol was the team's only starter to crack the 70-game mark last season. Joakim Noah missed 15 games and never looked fully healthy when he did suit up. Derrick Rose sat out 31 contests and had his third knee surgery since 2012.
The Bulls are banking on Hoiberg's fast-paced, spread attack to unlock new levels of success for this core. Otherwise, there aren't any significant changes to this group's makeup. Bobby Portis was a nice get on draft night, but his path to playing time looks cloudy in this crowded frontcourt. Any potential adjustments to this rotation are tied to the development of Nikola Mirotic, Doug McDermott and Tony Snell.
Unless Chicago orchestrates a trade, this team will rely on its experienced, hopefully healthy nucleus to finally break through the league's elite ranks.
Stock Report: ↔
Cleveland Cavaliers
6 of 30
Notable Newcomers: Mo Williams, Richard Jefferson
Key Losses: Shawn Marion, Kendrick Perkins
The Cleveland Cavaliers didn't spend much time looking outside the organization for help this summer. They had (and still have) too much work to do in-house, inking new deals for LeBron James, Kevin Love and Iman Shumpert, with possible contracts still to come for Tristan Thompson, J.R. Smith and Matthew Dellavedova.
That being said, the Cavs did well for themselves when shopping for external talent. Mo Williams provides more offensive protection behind Kyrie Irving than Dellavedova can, and Richard Jefferson brings his career 38 three-point percentage to a team that attempted the second-most triples last season.
But the real fuel behind Cleveland's rising stock comes from inside the organization. The Cavs have continuity now that they didn't before, which could mean better things lie ahead for the James-Love-Irving trio that already outscored opponents by 12.6 points per 100 possessions in 2014-15.
Cleveland hastily assembled its roster last season, made significant trades during the year, lost both Irving and Love to postseason-ending injuries and still fell just two wins shy of the franchise's first NBA title. Now deeper and healthier, the Cavs should be even better this time around.
"They're still the team to beat in the East," Milwaukee Bucks coach Jason Kidd told Northeast Ohio Media Group's Chris Haynes. "They continue to add to their roster, and with good health, it's hard to imagine them not being there when it's all said and done."
Stock Report: ↑
Dallas Mavericks
7 of 30
Notable Newcomers: Wesley Matthews, Deron Williams, Justin Anderson, Zaza Pachulia
Key Losses: Tyson Chandler, Monta Ellis, Rajon Rondo, Al-Farouq Aminu
It's impossible to tell how good the Dallas Mavericks could have been had DeAndre Jordan not backed out of his verbal agreement to join them, but it feels safe to say they would have been much better off than they are now.
Dirk Nowitzki, 37 years old and entering his 18th NBA season, is the most stable presence they have.
Wesley Matthews is recovering from a torn Achilles, an injury that hasn't been historically kind to big-league ballers. Chandler Parsons may not be ready for training camp after undergoing surgery on his right knee. Deron Williams is coming off a season that saw his player efficiency rating dip lower than it's been since his rookie year (15.7).
The Mavs appear to have a steal in Justin Anderson, the 21st overall pick. And they only had to part with a future second-round pick to get Zaza Pachulia away from the Milwaukee Bucks.
But their big free-agent plans fell woefully short of their desired goals again.
Stock Report: ↓
Denver Nuggets
8 of 30
Notable Newcomers: Emmanuel Mudiay, Nikola Jokic, Nick Johnson
Key Losses: Ty Lawson
The Denver Nuggets did the right thing by cutting ties with troubled point guard Ty Lawson and freeing up major minutes for prized rookie Emmanuel Mudiay. But it's going to take some time for Denver to start reaping the rewards for its changing of the guard.
Lawson led the team in points (15.2 per game) and assists (9.6) last season. His burst worked well in Denver's altitude, and he could wear out opponents when the Nuggets were at their run-and-gun best.
He's not an ideal No. 1 option, but he's better equipped for the job than the players Denver will try to turn to next season.
Mudiay's ceiling is sky-high, but the 19-year-old's need for seasoning became apparent during his rocky run in the Las Vegas Summer League (12.0 points on 38.5 percent shooting, 5.0 turnovers per game). Danilo Gallinari, Wilson Chandler and Kenneth Faried are complementary pieces.
Offensive consistency could be an issue, and defensive-minded coach Mike Malone faces an uphill battle to solve that problem.
Stock Report: ↓
Detroit Pistons
9 of 30
Notable Newcomers: Stanley Johnson, Ersan Ilyasova, Marcus Morris
Key Losses: Greg Monroe, Caron Butler
The Detroit Pistons had to find better options at small forward and more three-point shooting this summer. They might have scratched both of those itches.
Stanley Johnson, the eighth overall pick, showed enough at the Orlando Summer League to secure the top spot on NBA.com's Scott Howard-Cooper's rookie rankings. The 19-year-old is loaded with two-way potential, and if he needs a little time to find his footing, Marcus Morris is capable of serving as a placeholder with the starters.
Stretch forward Ersan Ilyasova could be an intriguing weapon in Stan Van Gundy's offense. Ilyasova just completed the best per-36-minute scoring season of his seven-year career (18.3) while shooting 47.2 percent from the field and 38.9 percent from downtown.
But the Pistons are moving forward without the steady play of Greg Monroe, and it's hard to tell where they'll turn for reliable offense. Andre Drummond has never averaged more than 13.8 points per game, and Reggie Jackson is only a career 43.2 percent shooter from the field. Unless that pair makes significant strides, Detroit could find its summer activity only produced lateral movement.
Stock Report: ↔
Golden State Warriors
10 of 30
Notable Newcomers: Kevon Looney, Gerald Wallace
Key Losses: David Lee, Justin Holiday
The Golden State Warriors were understandably quiet this summer. After snapping a 40-year championship drought, setting a franchise record with 67 victories and becoming only the eighth team in NBA history with a double-digit point differential (plus-10.1), the Dubs opted against significant boat-rocking of any kind.
They found a new home for David Lee (and, more importantly, his $15.4 million salary), lost sparingly used reserve Justin Holiday and decided Kevon Looney's versatility outweighed his health risks on draft night.
But all of their key contributors are back, and given the age of this core, most have substantial room for improvement. MVP Stephen Curry is only 27, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green are both 25, and Harrison Barnes just celebrated his 23rd birthday in May.
Even if Curry has reached his peak, he's several years away from being threatened by Father Time. Thompson, Green and Barnes, meanwhile, should all have their best basketball ahead of them. If that sounds terrifying, that's because it is. In nearly 1,300 minutes together last season, that quartet obliterated opponents by 18.8 points per 100 possessions.
Stock Report: ↑
Houston Rockets
11 of 30
Notable Newcomers: Ty Lawson, Sam Dekker, Montrezl Harrell, Marcus Thornton
Key Losses: Josh Smith, Kostas Papanikolaou, Pablo Prigioni
The Houston Rockets built a winning formula around James Harden's elite offensive skills, but their need for a secondary playmaker was painfully obvious. When The Beard took a break last season, Houston's offensive efficiency sank by an astounding 14.0 points per 100 possessions.
After a quiet start to free agency, the Rockets finally addressed that need in a big way by prying Ty Lawson out of Denver. With the scoring punch to prevent defenses from overloading on Harden and Dwight Howard, plus the passing chops to make those stars even more effective, Lawson gives Houston the scoring point guard it's been missing.
With hard-nosed defender Patrick Beverley still manning the position as well, the Rockets have a lethal offense-defense tandem to throw at opponents. And remember, they won 56 games and reached the Western Conference Finals last year without Lawson and with Beverley on the shelf for the duration of their playoff run.
Sam Dekker gives Houston another lanky athlete on the perimeter, and Marcus Thornton adds to its collection of three-point threats. As well as Josh Smith played after coming to Space City in December, Terrence Jones and Donatas Motiejunas should easily cover his absence.
Stock Report: ↑
Indiana Pacers
12 of 30
Notable Newcomers: Monta Ellis, Myles Turner, Jordan Hill, Chase Budinger
Key Losses: Roy Hibbert, David West, C.J. Watson, Luis Scola
The best thing to come out of this summer for the Indiana Pacers is the rest and recovery time afforded to Paul George. The two-time All-Star made just six appearances late last season, after sitting out most of the campaign with a compound fracture in his right leg.
In 2013-14, George was voted to the All-Defensive first team and was one of only six players to average at least 21 points, six rebounds and three assists.
It's hard to overstate the importance of George's return. It's even more difficult to project how the Pacers' dramatic shift from a defense-first team anchored by Roy Hibbert and David West to an offense-focused group featuring the likes of Monta Ellis, Myles Turner and Jordan Hill will play out.
"The Pacers might be next season's biggest mystery after a curious offseason," wrote ESPN Insider Kevin Pelton. "The Pacers should be better offensively. The question is whether they can maintain any semblance of their once-elite defense without much in the way of rim protection."
Stock Report: ↔
Los Angeles Clippers
13 of 30
Notable Newcomers: Paul Pierce, Lance Stephenson, Josh Smith
Key Losses: Matt Barnes, Spencer Hawes
The Los Angeles Clippers found themselves teetering on the brink of disaster when it looked like DeAndre Jordan was going to bolt for Dallas. Not only would they have missed his explosiveness, rim protection, rebounding and screen-setting, but they also lacked viable methods to replace him.
But Jordan, of course, opted to stay and helped keep the Clippers in the championship race as a result. They have arguably the best point guard-big man combo in Chris Paul and Blake Griffin, plus a lights-out shooter in J.J. Redick and an incendiary scorer in sixth man Jamal Crawford.
Rather than rest on their laurels, though, the Clippers used this summer to bolster a bench that was problematically thin last season. L.A.'s reserves managed just 29.7 points per night (tied for 23rd, via HoopsStats.com), and Crawford provided 15.8 of those on his own.
The Clippers now have serviceable backups at all five positions—Crawford, Lance Stephenson, Austin Rivers and Pablo Prigioni in the backcourt, with Josh Smith, Wesley Johnson, Cole Aldrich and Branden Dawson up front. New starter Paul Pierce, who won a title with Clippers head coach Doc Rivers when both were in Boston, gives this team leadership, championship experience and another crunch-time scorer.
Stock Report: ↑
Los Angeles Lakers
14 of 30
Notable Newcomers: D'Angelo Russell, Roy Hibbert, Lou Williams
Key Losses: Jordan Hill, Ed Davis, Jeremy Lin
This probably wasn't the offseason haul most Los Angeles Lakers fans were hoping for, but it did deliver pieces who can improve the team's present and brighten its future.
The Lakers didn't have much room to backtrack from last season's 21-win debacle, and getting a healthy Kobe Bryant back might have been enough to improve that total (provided the injury bug doesn't strike again). Add in a full offseason of development for Julius Randle (who lost all but 14 minutes of his rookie campaign to a broken leg) and Jordan Clarkson, and the Lakers were set to make internal strides.
Outside of landing crafty scoring guard D'Angelo Russell with the No. 2 pick, their external moves weren't flashy. But the additions were quietly effective.
Roy Hibbert remains one of the league's best rim protectors, and the Lakers desperately needed an anchor for their 29th-ranked defense. Lou Williams gives this backcourt another scoring option, more creativity and a fairly reliable three-point stroke (career 34.1 percent). Veteran Brandon Bass and rookie Larry Nance Jr. add some blue-collar grit to the frontcourt.
Player development should be the Lakers' focus next season, but they'll still be more competitive than they were on their last go-round.
Stock Report: ↑
Memphis Grizzlies
15 of 30
Notable Newcomers: Brandan Wright, Matt Barnes, Jarell Martin
Key Losses: Kosta Koufos, Jon Leuer, Nick Calathes
The Memphis Grizzlies' main summer objective was locking up two-way focal point Marc Gasol. They checked that item off their to-do list with a five-year, $110 million deal.
That ensured Memphis would retain the same Gasol-Zach Randolph-Mike Conley core that has orchestrated three consecutive 50-win seasons. The Grizzlies also still have their mobile stone wall Tony Allen, underrated three-and-D swingman Courtney Lee and scoring forward Jeff Green.
The Grizzlies' infrastructure is among the league's strongest, but it doesn't have much upward mobility. The minor moves they made this summer don't move the needle either direction.
Brandan Wright's mobility and length will allow him to share the floor with both Randolph and Gasol, but the reserves are going to miss Kosta Koufos' skills. Matt Barnes adds to the grit-and-grind crew's toughness, but he's one of many role players on the team's wings. Rookie Jarell Martin might struggle to find consistent playing time with the talent already in front of him.
Stock Report: ↔
Miami Heat
16 of 30
Notable Newcomers: Justise Winslow, Amar'e Stoudemire, Gerald Green
Key Losses: None
The Miami Heat re-signed the players they needed to (Dwyane Wade, Goran Dragic) and put some needed distance between their guys and the injury bug that ripped the team apart last season.
If that was all they managed to do, their forecast would have looked bright already. While Miami doesn't have a track record to fall back on, a starting five of Dragic, Wade, Luol Deng, Chris Bosh and Hassan Whiteside looks powerful on paper.
And it's grown more intriguing as Miami has surrounded that quintet with some of the summer's best bargains: getting rookie Justise Winslow 10th overall and signing established veterans Amar'e Stoudemire and Gerald Green on minimum contracts.
The Heat still have to prove this formula works when it's put into practice, but they've already done enough to capture the attention of LeBron James.
"I think Miami is doing some great things," James said during an appearance on Bleacher Report Radio. "They're going to be a contender."
Stock Report: ↑
Milwaukee Bucks
17 of 30
Notable Newcomers: Greg Monroe, Rashad Vaughn, Greivis Vasquez
Key Losses: Ersan Ilyasova, Jared Dudley, Zaza Pachulia
The Milwaukee Bucks reeled off 41 wins and captured the East's sixth overall seed last season on the strength of their second-ranked defense. But they weren't going to climb any higher if they couldn't fix their 25th-ranked offense.
If their point production doesn't improve, it won't be due to a lack of trying.
They gave Greg Monroe $50 million to bring his smooth post scoring and deft elbow passing to Milwaukee. They spent the 17th selection on Rashad Vaughn, an upside-rich 18-year-old who went for 17.8 points per night during his lone season at UNLV. They parted with two picks (including a 2017 first-rounder) to get Greivis Vasquez's scoring, distributing and shooting skills from the Toronto Raptors.
Perhaps most importantly, Milwaukee is also getting a healthy Jabari Parker back. Last summer's second overall pick hit the ground running before a torn ACL prematurely ended his campaign.
Bucks coach Jason Kidd will have to figure out how to make all these pieces mesh, as this offense could be dangerously short on outside shooting. But the Bucks have enough size to once again rank among the league's defensive leaders, and their attack looks improved on paper.
Stock Report: ↑
Minnesota Timberwolves
18 of 30
Notable Newcomers: Karl-Anthony Towns, Nemanja Bjelica, Tyus Jones
Key Losses: Gary Neal, Chase Budinger
Looking down a long-term lens, the Minnesota Timberwolves have a future as bright as any team.
They have netted a potential superstar in each of the past two seasons: reigning Rookie of the Year Andrew Wiggins and this year's top selection, Karl-Anthony Towns. They have one of the league's most exciting young players in sophomore combo guard Zach LaVine. And they have additional prospects on the perimeter (Tyus Jones, Shabazz Muhammad) and underneath (Gorgui Dieng, Adreian Payne).
Wiggins developed at a rapid rate during his debut campaign, pouring in 20.0 points per game after the All-Star break. Towns flashed some absurdly advanced skills for a 19-year-old at the Las Vegas Summer League. LaVine highlighted his offensive ceiling with 10 outings of 20-plus points, and Muhammad gave some unexpected lifts with his scoring (13.5 points per game) and shooting (39.2 three-point percentage).
This summer, the Timberpups have ample opportunity to soak in all the wisdom Kevin Garnett has to offer. And their frontcourt has a new versatile offensive weapon in Nemanja Bjelica, a 27-year-old 2010 draft pick who won the Euroleague MVP award last season.
The Timberwolves could be years away from realizing their incredible potential, but they should clear last season's league-worst 16 wins with ease.
Stock Report: ↑
New Orleans Pelicans
19 of 30
Notable Newcomers: Alonzo Gee, Kendrick Perkins
Key Losses: Jimmer Fredette
No matter what the New Orleans Pelicans did this summer, their present and future was going to be tied to Anthony Davis' growth.
He's 22 years old and already on an extremely short list of the league's top talents. His 30.8 player efficiency rating last season is the highest the NBA has ever seen from a player not named Wilt Chamberlain, Michael Jordan or LeBron James. Davis also paced all players with 2.9 blocks per game, ranked fourth with 24.4 points and tied for eighth with 10.2 rebounds.
If you're handing over your franchise keys to anyone, he's as worthy a recipient as you'll find.
But the Pelicans don't have much outside his potential to raise their ceiling next season. This core, which hasn't been healthy in either of its two seasons together, is virtually all back for a third try. There's hope that new head coach Alvin Gentry could ignite this offense, but the spacing could be clunky after re-signing both Omer Asik and Alexis Ajinca and bringing in Kendrick Perkins.
Davis' presence alone gives some reason for hope, but this roster lacks excitement around him.
Stock Report: ↔
New York Knicks
20 of 30
Notable Newcomers: Kristaps Porzingis, Robin Lopez, Arron Afflalo, Jerian Grant
Key Losses: Tim Hardaway Jr., Andrea Bargnani, Shane Larkin, Jason Smith
If the New York Knicks had any irreplaceable parts on last season's 17-win team, they weren't any of the players who bolted from the Big Apple this summer. Even though the 'Bockers failed to land a big fish, they built a Plan B that allowed them to upgrade their on-hand talent substantially.
The only potential difference-maker among their additions is Kristaps Porzingis, a 19-year-old 7-footer who is overloaded with potential but needs time to develop both his body and game. But Robin Lopez is a reliable two-way center who will never get outworked. Arron Afflalo is a solid scorer, shooter and defender. Jerian Grant is a 6'5" point guard, natural playmaker and instinctive defender.
The Knicks aren't leaving this summer with established stars, but they're coming out of it with better players than the ones who moved on. And they're getting back a healthy Carmelo Anthony, who has the fourth-highest career scoring average among active players (25.2 points per game).
As they discovered this offseason, they need a better on-court product to attract premier free agents. These additions should help them climb the standings and form a better sales pitch to future targets in the process.
Stock Report: ↑
Oklahoma City Thunder
21 of 30
Notable Newcomers: Cameron Payne, Billy Donovan
Key Losses: Jeremy Lamb, Perry Jones III
If Kevin Durant is healthy, the Oklahoma City Thunder are going to reclaim their place among the NBA's elites.
That's a big "if" considering he missed 55 games and underwent three surgeries because of a nagging foot injury. But he told reporters at summer league that it's "looking like" he's on track to be cleared for an August return, via ESPN.com's Royce Young.
During a healthy 2013-14 season, Durant captured the fourth scoring crown of his career (32.0 points per game), led the league in PER (29.8) and win shares (19.2) and took home the MVP award.
That's the player OKC is (hopefully) getting back, and it's pairing him with the best version of Russell Westbrook we've seen. Last season, the hyper-explosive point guard joined Michael Jordan as the only players to ever average at least 28 points, eight assists, seven rebounds and two steals.
OKC's stock is soaring based on that pair alone. Add in Billy Donovan's coaching mind and an overstocked supporting cast, and this could be the best Thunder team yet.
Stock Report: ↑
Orlando Magic
22 of 30
Notable Newcomers: Mario Hezonja, C.J. Watson, Jason Smith
Key Losses: Kyle O'Quinn, Maurice Harkless, Ben Gordon
The Orlando Magic feel like they're ready to leap into playoff contention. That's one of the biggest reasons they handed their coaching reins over to Scott Skiles, though his defensive background surely also factored in as the Magic ranked 25th in defensive efficiency last season.
Orlando's ceiling is difficult to place, because this roster, while deep, has its share of redundancies and question marks. Spacing could be hard to find if Victor Oladipo and Elfrid Payton can't shore up their outside shots. The Magic have to win defensive battles at the point of attack, because Nikola Vucevic doesn't provide protection on the back line.
All of that said, Orlando is well-stocked with young talent at every position.
The Magic have enough athleticism and versatility to harass teams defensively. Their offense could attack in waves if they can squeeze enough shooting out of Tobias Harris, Evan Fournier, Aaron Gordon and rookie Mario Hezonja.
This might not be a playoff team quite yet, but it should not be a 25-win group again.
Stock Report: ↑
Philadelphia 76ers
23 of 30
Notable Newcomers: Jahlil Okafor, Nik Stauskas, Jason Thompson, Carl Landry
Key Losses: Thomas Robinson
The Philadelphia 76ers have made a few ripples, but they're still in the water-treading phase of general manager Sam Hinkie's patient rebuilding process.
If the additions and subtractions above were all that came out of this summer, you could label this as progress. However, Joel Embiid's ongoing foot problems are the biggest story of Philly's offseason. The No. 3 pick from last year's draft is likely to miss a second-straight season to the injury.
He's not the Sixers' only asset, but he's arguably the most attractive one. Nerlens Noel is a strong defensive player but limited offensively; Jahlil Okafor is the opposite. A healthy Embiid could potentially protect the rim, score in the post and light the lamp from three, but his abilities are obviously useless if he can't make it onto the court.
Okafor could be this team's No. 1 option out of the gate, but the Sixers need much more shooting than they had last season to keep defenses from overloading on him. Former lottery pick Nik Stauskas might help, but only if he plays like he did during the second half of his rookie year (42.1 three-point percentage after the All-Star break) and not the first (26.1).
Stock Report: ↔
Phoenix Suns
24 of 30
Notable Newcomers: Tyson Chandler, Devin Booker, Mirza Teletovic, Sonny Weems
Key Losses: Gerald Green, Brandan Wright, Marcus Morris
The Phoenix Suns finished second in the LaMarcus Aldridge sweepstakes, which means...unfortunately nothing. There's no award for almost landing an elite player, and they still find themselves without a star.
But even though they missed a potential home run signing, they still had a couple of extra-base hits.
They placed a $70 million bet on Brandon Knight's upside, which seems reasonable both in this market and with his track record (17.5 points, 5.1 assists per game over the past two seasons). While they may ultimately regret giving 32-year-old Tyson Chandler a four-year, $52 million deal, he will provide some immediate relief as a top-shelf rim protector and championship-experienced locker-room leader.
Coach Jeff Hornacek should be able to build a potent offense around the Knight-Eric Bledsoe backcourt and this group's growing collection of three-point snipers. Devin Booker, an 18-year-old rookie, is already a legitimate long-range threat, and veterans Mirza Teletovic and Sonny Weems should both help stretch opposing defenses thin.
If the Suns can avoid friction with Markieff Morris after dealing his twin brother, Marcus, to Detroit, they'll have a nice young nucleus. If not, they can use him as a trade chip to strengthen themselves that way.
Stock Report: ↑
Portland Trail Blazers
25 of 30
Notable Newcomers: Noah Vonleh, Mason Plumlee, Gerald Henderson, Al-Farouq Aminu
Key Losses: LaMarcus Aldridge, Wesley Matthews, Nicolas Batum, Robin Lopez
Find the closest comfortable chair, Portland Trail Blazers fans. It will take some time to recover from this season's mass exodus out of the Northwest.
The Blazers lost four starters and sixth man Arron Afflalo from last season's 51-win team. They also wisely locked up 25-year-old All-Star point guard Damian Lillard on a five-year, $120 million extension, but they made almost all of their other moves with a forward focus.
They collected a handful of lottery tickets, and those gambles could pay off down the line. Noah Vonleh, a lanky 19-year-old power forward, is loaded with potential and could become a scoring threat from the post and the perimeter. Springy center Mason Plumlee should pair well with Lillard and C.J. McCollum as a pick-and-roll screener. Both Gerald Henderson and Al-Farouq Aminu are versatile defenders.
But the Blazers went from a borderline contender to a likely lottery team in the span of one summer.
Stock Report: ↓
Sacramento Kings
26 of 30
Notable Newcomers: Rajon Rondo, Willie Cauley-Stein, Kosta Koufos, Marco Belinelli
Key Losses: Nik Stauskas, Derrick Williams, Jason Thompson, Carl Landry
The smartest move of the Sacramento Kings' summer is the one they didn't make: trading away All-Star center DeMarcus Cousins. Even with his tenuous relationship with head coach George Karl, the supremely skilled 6'11", 270-pound big man is a centerpiece worth keeping.
As for their second-smartest move, that's to be determined.
Rajon Rondo could be motivated by his one-year "prove it" contract, or he might flame out as quickly as he did in Dallas. Rookie Willie Cauley-Stein brings a welcome jolt of interior defense, and Kosta Koufos gives the Kings another scoring option on the low block. But with Cousins already manning one frontcourt post, the freshman and the veteran will battle each other for minutes.
The Kings gave up 2014 lottery pick Nik Stauskas painfully early into his career and paid a premium to do it: a future first-round pick and the rights to swap two other firsts. Sacramento created cap space in the deal, but it couldn't find high-level players to sign with it (provided Rondo doesn't recover from two down years and morph back into his old All-Star form).
Sacramento has more on-paper talent than it did last season, but this won't be an easy puzzle for Karl to solve.
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San Antonio Spurs
27 of 30
Notable Newcomers: LaMarcus Aldridge, David West, Jimmer Fredette
Key Losses: Tiago Splitter, Cory Joseph, Marco Belinelli, Aron Baynes
The San Antonio Spurs slayed free agency. They grabbed the only All-Star from last season to change teams (LaMarcus Aldridge), tied up a centerpiece for the next five years (Kawhi Leonard), kept a premier three-and-D player on the wing (Danny Green) and snagged a proven frontcourt piece at a deeply discounted price (David West).
At this rate, we might as well assume that Jimmer Fredette is about to become the dominant offensive force he was back at BYU.
The Spurs return their top six rotation players from last season's 55-win team (in terms of average minutes), and they add a 20-point, 10-rebound machine in Aldridge (22.5 and 10.1 the past three seasons combined). An Aldridge-Duncan-West-Boris Diaw frontcourt is as skilled as any, and the Spurs have at least two solid options at all three perimeter spots.
There's no reason to believe San Antonio's unprecedented run of success is slowing down anytime soon.
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Toronto Raptors
28 of 30
Notable Newcomers: DeMarre Carroll, Cory Joseph, Bismack Biyombo, Delon Wright
Key Losses: Lou Williams, Amir Johnson, Greivis Vasquez, Tyler Hansbrough
There was no mystery about the Toronto Raptors' offseason priorities. Fixing their 23rd-ranked defense was the motivation behind almost all of their roster moves.
DeMarre Carroll was their prized pull in free agency; he's a selfless offensive player who plays with enough intensity to successfully carry the "Junkyard Dog" nickname. Defense put Carroll on Toronto's radar, but his fit at the opposite end looks just as snug.
"This 28-year-old forward is a tremendous third or fourth option, and that's exactly the role he should fill north of the border," wrote Bleacher Report's Adam Fromal. "Instead of falling behind Al Horford, Paul Millsap and Jeff Teague in the pecking order, he'll cede touches to Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan while maximizing the ones that he does receive."
The Raptors parted ways with defensive liabilities Lou Williams and Greivis Vasquez while picking up a pair of young backcourt defenders in the draft (Delon Wright, Norman Powell) and a third in free agency (Cory Joseph). Toronto also bolstered its rim protection and rebounding by signing Bismack Biyombo.
If these moves don't elevate Toronto into title contention, they at least push this team ahead of where it was last season.
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Utah Jazz
29 of 30
Notable Newcomers: Trey Lyles, Raul Neto, Tibor Pleiss
Key Losses: Jeremy Evans
Tomorrow keeps looking better for the Utah Jazz, and today already carries significant promise.
The Jazz unleashed a lanky defensive monster late last season following the trade of Enes Kanter and promotion of Rudy Gobert. Utah surrendered just 94.8 points per 100 possessions after the All-Star break—for context, the Warriors led the league with a 98.2 defensive efficiency rating—and closed the campaign with as many wins in its final 29 games as it had during its first 53 (19).
The Jazz have big bodies at the rim in Gobert (7'2") and Derrick Favors (6'10"), size on the perimeter (Gordon Hayward and Rodney Hood, both 6'8") and tremendous length at point guard (6'6" Dante Exum). All of those players are under the age of 26, so internal growth should be expected. And this quintet is starting with a solid base, having outscored opponents by 10.8 points per 100 possessions last season.
Utah continued adding pieces this summer. Stretch forward Trey Lyles landed in Salt Lake City as the 12th overall pick, and former "stash" prospects Raul Neto (acquired from Atlanta during the 2013 draft) and Tibor Pleiss (traded from OKC in the Kanter deal) both arrived stateside.
As crowded as next season's Western Conference playoff race appears, don't be surprised to see the up-and-coming Jazz emerge as a trendy sleeper pick.
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Washington Wizards
30 of 30
Notable Newcomers: Kelly Oubre, Jared Dudley, Alan Anderson
Key Losses: Paul Pierce
The Washington Wizards discovered a winning formula last postseason, but can it work without Paul Pierce's clutch shot-making and floor-spacing ability?
The Wizards should expect bigger and better things out of both John Wall and Bradley Beal, which is saying quite a bit since they combined for 32.9 points, 13.1 assists and 8.4 rebounds per game last season. But they could face massive amounts of defensive pressure if no one takes control of Pierce's vacated spot.
Jared Dudley can defend either forward position and knock down triples (career 39.6 three-point percentage), but the 30-year-old will be sidelined for three to four months by back surgery. Alan Anderson can man the 3, but he doesn't have Pierce's size or shooting touch. Kelly Oubre is an intriguing project but a project nonetheless.
Starting bigs Marcin Gortat and Nene are both on the wrong side of 30, and neither helps spread the floor for Wall and Beal to attack off the bounce. Drew Gooden can open things up a bit, but the Wizards only gave him 16.9 minutes per night last season.
The Wizards guards will keep them near the front of the Eastern Conference race, but they'll need more help to elevate this group above its current level.
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Unless otherwise noted, statistics used courtesy of Basketball-Reference.com and NBA.com.
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.jpg?w=600 "Offseason Moves for Every Team 👉")