Grades for NBA Offseason Trades and 2026 Free Agency Signings
The NBA offseason never slows down.
Between blockbuster trades, franchise-altering free-agent signings and under-the-radar bargains, every move has the potential to reshape the league's hierarchy.
We're grading the biggest trades and free-agent deals of the summer, as teams build for the 2026-27 season.
Grizzlies Trade Ja Morant to Trail Blazers
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Grizzlies Receive: Jerami Grant and Kris Murray
Trail Blazers Receive: Ja Morant
The writing has been on the wall with the Memphis Grizzlies and Ja Morant for years. And on Monday, news finally broke on the deal that ended Memphis' Ja era.
He's headed to the Portland Trail Blazers. It's certainly an interesting destination, given the presence of Damian Lillard, Jrue Holiday and Scoot Henderson on the roster, but this is a price that's just too good to give up.
Jerami Grant seems even less integral to Portland's future than Ja did to Memphis'. And Kris Murray is a soon-to-be-26-year-old forward with a career three-point percentage of just 25.9.
With all due respect to Grant and Murray, Portland is essentially getting Morant for free.
And while there's a pretty serious logjam in the backcourt now, at least in theory, Holiday and Henderson are big and physical enough to play some 2.
For Memphis, it certainly would've been nice to get any draft capital (even a second-rounder) or a slightly more promising or younger prospect, but some reporting suggested the Grizzlies might've had to attach a pick to Morant to get out from under his deal.
He's set to make $42.2 million next season and $44.9 million in 2027-28, and not being on the hook for that obviously opens up a ton of flexibility for Memphis.
The Grizzlies can now focus on the next era, with a strong foundation of Cameron Boozer, Cedric Coward and Zach Edey.
Grizzlies Grade: B
Trail Blazers Grade: B+
Bucks Trade Giannis Antetokounmpo To Heat
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Heat Receive: Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis
Bucks Receive: Tyler Herro, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kel'el Ware, Kasparas Jakučionis, three first-round picks, one first-round pick swap and one second-round pick
There are plenty of winners and losers from the Bucks' and Heat's mega-swap that sent Giannis to Miami, but this move is not without its risks.
Giannis could be post-prime; he's often injured and his game isn't a perfect fit next to Bam Adebayo's (at least on offense).
But as a pure talent play, even with all Miami gave up, this is understandable. The Heat now have a player who's still one of the 3-5 best in the world when he's healthy.
And the Bucks can finally start their long overdue rebuild with a solid haul.
Heat Grade: B+
Bucks Grade: A-
Clippers Trade Kawhi Leonard to Raptors
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Raptors receive: Kawhi Leonard
Clippers receive: Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, 2 first-round picks, 1 pick swap and 2 second-rounders
With all due respect to Brandon Ingram and Gradey Dick, this deal doesn't have much to do with the players going to L.A.
The downside for the Raptors on this deal has the potential to be massive. Leonard could miss significant chunks of the season, Toronto could flame out early and he could leave in free agency. In that case, the team will have surrendered multiple picks and a once-promising shooter, essentially, for nothing.
But this also took the Raptors from a scrappy, middle-of-the-East non-contender to a bona fide title threat. The "league is wide open" card has two sides. It also means Toronto might now have enough talent for another magical run.
And while the number of draft picks sounds high, replacing Ingram's minutes with Leonard's is a massive upgrade. It's not hard to see this developing in much the same way the last Kawhi-to-the-Raptors deal did.
Raptors Grade: B+
Clippers Grade: B+
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Timberwolves Trade Julius Randle To Nets
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Nets Receive: Julius Randle and the No. 28 pick
Timberwolves Receive: No. 33 pick
Bulls Receive: Nic Claxton
This is a fascinating deal for everyone involved.
With the new anti-tanking measures put in place by Adam Silver, there isn't much incentive left for losing, so the Brooklyn Nets and Chicago Bulls both getting rotation-level big men for free makes sense.
Brooklyn, specifically, gets a former All-Star whose driving game should complement Michael Porter Jr.'s shooting well.
And for the Timberwolves, getting out of the rest of Randle's contract is a major financial win.
Nets Grade: A-
Bulls Grade: B
Timberwolves Grade: B
Hornets Trade LaMelo Ball To Timberwolves
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Timberwolves receive: LaMelo Ball, Josh Green
Hornets receive: Naz Reid, 2033 first-round pick (unprotected), three first-round pick swaps in 2028, 2029 and 2030, and three second-round picks in 2029, 2032 and 2033.
The Timberwolves undoubtedly got the best player in this deal (plus Josh Green, who could be a nice addition to the depth).
Ball was 12th in the league in EPM last season, tied with Cade Cunningham and ahead of Anthony Edwards. He's one of the best and most audacious creators in the NBA.
If you look at this through the "Timberwolves swapped Julius Randle for LaMelo Ball" prism (which might be unavoidable when those two trades are combined), this is an obvious win.
But there are very real risks here.
Beyond all the games Ball has missed over the course of his career (probably the biggest concern), he's very much a ball-in-hand guard. Edwards is too. There will absolutely be an adjustment period for both.
In the long run, assuming Ball can stay relatively healthy, it could be a good thing. More catch-and-shoot opportunities could help Edwards' efficiency. Ditto for Ball, but it'll take some time to find the right balance.
Hornets Grade: B+
Timberwolves Grade: B-
Hornets Trade Miles Bridges To Phoenix Suns
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Suns receive: Miles Bridges, 2029 first-round pick, 2027 second-round pick
Hornets receive: Grayson Allen, Royce O'Neale, 2033 first-round pick
From a very simple "who got the best player in the deal" perspective, you can talk yourself into this move for the Suns.
Bridges is probably more talented individually than either of Allen or O'Neale. Over his last four campaigns, he's averaged 19.1 points, 6.9 rebounds and 3.5 assists. He's one of the league's more exciting at-the-rim threats. And at least in theory, he has the size and athleticism to be a switchable defender.
But he's almost certainly going to have to be even better than he's been in those recent campaigns to make this deal age well for Phoenix.
Hornets Grade: A
Suns Grade: C-
Kristaps Porziņģis Signs Extension with Warriors
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Contract Extension: 2 years, $40 million
In an NBA that includes Joel Embiid and Ja Morant, Kristaps Porziņģis might be the single biggest availability concern in the league.
Years of mixed messaging on long-term illness and averaging fewer than 50 appearances per season, at the very least, puts him in that conversation.
But when he's available, KP's unique combination of size, outside shooting and rim protection make him incredibly effective. And he brings a dynamic to the Stephen Curry-era Golden State Warriors that they've never really had.
And the front office looks ready to bank on the optimistic outlook, as it just gave him a two-year deal for $40 million (with the second season being a player option).
In today's NBA, that's really not much for a starting center (the salary cap in 2026-27 is $165 million), though it does come with the risk of costing more per game played than most other big men's deals.
And, it may make it tougher to sign LeBron James (assuming Golden State's serious about doing that). According to Charania and Bobby Marks, this deal may eat into the amount of money Golden State can offer as a mid-level exception.
Warriors Grade: C+
Andrew Wiggins Signs Extension with Heat
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Contract Extension: 2 years, $34 million
Andrew Wiggins is not only picking up his player option to stay with the Miami Heat, but also extending his contract to stay with the franchise according to Jake Fischer of The Stein Line and Bleacher Report.
Wiggins is picking up his $30.2 million player option and also signing a two-year, $34 million extension, bringing his total contract value to $64.2 million over the next three years.
Expected to be the starting small forward alongside a frontcourt that now features Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo, Wiggins averaged 15.4 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.1 steals last season while shooting 41.4 percent from three.
It's not surprising to see Wiggins stay in Miami or sign an extension, although this makes it less likely for the Heat to keep Norman Powell, an unrestricted free agent.
Miami is hard capped at the first apron following the trade for Antetokounmpo, a line they currently sit just $20.5 million below with six roster spots left to fill. Powell was an All-Star last year, averaging 21.7 points in his first season in Miami and could command well north of $20.5 million by himself.
It would have made more sense to convince Wiggins to opt out and sign a new three-year, $64 million deal starting around $20 million, giving the Heat more space under the first apron to re-sign Powell.
The overall value for Wiggins is good, but the structuring of this money will sting if Powell ends up leaving in free agency.
Heat Grade: B-
Robert Williams Re-Signs with Trail Blazers
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Contract: 3 years, $44 million
The Portland Trail Blazers looked at their 2026-27 backcourt of Ja Morant and 36-year-old Damian Lillard coming off a torn Achilles and decided interior defense was probably important.
As a result, Robert Williams III has agreed to a three-year, $44 million contract extension to stay with the franchise, per ESPN's Shams Charania.
Williams is one of the NBA's best rim protectors when healthy, yet has played just 85 total games in three seasons in Portland. He did appear in 59 last season, averaging 6.7 points, 7.0 rebounds and 1.5 blocks in 17.1 minutes as the backup to Donovan Clingan. Williams even started sprinkling in some three-point shooting for the first time in his career, making 9-of-23 attempts (39.1 percent).
A three-year deal probably signals that last year's first-round pick, Yang Hansen, won't be ready to play meaningful NBA minutes anytime soon.
If Williams can stay reasonably healthy, this contract is fine, especially if the 28-year-old can continue to develop his outside shooting. This is still a hefty amount of money to pay a backup center, however, as Clingan looks like he's cemented as the future of the franchise at the position.
Blazers Grade: B-
Thomas Bryant Re-Signs with Cleveland
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Contract: 1 year
Bryant, 28, was the primary backup to Jarrett Allen last season, averaging 6.2 points and 3.4 rebounds in 12.2 minutes while shooting 50.6 percent overall and 35.9 percent from three. Given Allen's non-shooting and Evan Mobley's shaky three-point accuracy, the Cavs valued Bryant's floor-spacing ability in their frontcourt.
Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but Bryant is likely signing the same veteran minimum deal he did a year ago after waiting all of summer 2025 without a deal. He eventually signed with the Cavs on September 25th, just before training camp.
Allen could be a key trade piece this summer if Cleveland wants to keep their core of Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley and James Harden, so the signing of Bryant helps with the depth at center.
This isn't getting the Cavs any closer to a title, but it's more than fine at the veteran minimum.
Cavs Grade: B
Kings Trade Devin Carter to Hawks
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The Sacramento Kings are trading guard Devin Carter and a future second-round pick to the Atlanta Hawks, per ESPN's Shams Charania. The Stein Line and Bleacher Report's Jake Fischer notes that the pick is a 2033 second-rounder.
Carter was the No. 13 overall pick in the 2024 draft, yet has battled injuries and playing for the Kings the past two seasons. He gets a fresh start in Atlanta, a franchise that's actively collecting guards following the Trae Young trade earlier this year.
The Hawks now have CJ McCollum, Dyson Daniels, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, No. 8 overall pick Kingston Flemings, Aaron Wiggins and Buddy Hield in their backcourt, so it's hard to see where Carter fits in. Still, taking him on for nothing and getting a future pick is smart business.
In 12 starts this season, Carter averaged 14.5 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.3 steals and shot 33.3 percent from deep in 29.0 minutes. He has good defensive potential and registered positive swing ratings in both professional seasons.
This was a salary dump by the Kings to try and get out of the second apron following Zach LaVine picking up his $49 million player option.
Darius Acuff, you're our only hope.
Kings Grade: D
Hawks Grade: B
Landry Shamet Re-Signs with Knicks
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Contract: 4 years, $24 million
Landry Shamet has been one of the cooler stories in the league over the last couple years. He just went from fringe NBA player scratching and clawing for his career, to meaningful contributor on a championship team to playing on a multi-year deal.
The average annual salary on this new contract ($6 million) is a small fraction of the 2026-27 cap ($165 million), and Shamet's contributions (assuming they continue around the same level) will make him more than worth it.
This postseason (which ended with a championship), he shot 47.5 percent from deep.
Knicks Grade: A
Jock Landale Re-Signs with Hawks
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Contract: 1 year, $14 million
At first glance, $14 million for one year of Jock Landale sounds like a lot. And it probably is. Prior to his 2025-26 mini breakout, he had career averages of 5.4 points and 3.3 rebounds.
But 2025-26, when he put up 10.6 points and 5.7 rebounds in 22.1 minutes, while shooting 38.3 percent from three, is nothing to sneeze at.
And for a team with an inconsistent-shooting forward running the show in Jalen Johnson, having a reliable floor spacer logging minutes at the 5 makes sense.
So yes, there's probably a little understandable sticker shock here, but it's still less than 10 percent of the salary cap for a good fit, and it's for only one year.
Grade: B
Julian Champagnie Re-Signs with Spurs
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Contract: 3 years, $45 million
Midway through the 2025-26 campaign, Julian Champagnie claimed a full-time starting role for the San Antonio Spurs. And the team's second-half takeoff coincided pretty closely with the move.
Champagnie was also instrumental in San Antonio making it all the way to the Finals.
In the playoffs, he averaged 11.2 points, 5.7 rebounds, 2.7 threes and 1.3 steals in 30.7 minutes, while shooting 39.6 percent from deep.
And now, he's been rewarded with a solid multi-year contract that pays him like a high-end reserve (which also makes the contract pretty solid on the team side too).
Spurs Grade: A
Jusuf Nurkić Re-Signs with Jazz
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Contract: 2 years, $22 million
Unless they're bracing for bad news on Walker Kessler's restricted free agency, this is one is a bit of a head-scratcher.
The Utah Jazz already have Jaren Jackson Jr., Lauri Markkanen and Kessler (assuming he's re-signed). Kyle Filipowski has probably earned an extended look this season. And drafting Darryn Peterson could push some wings like Ace Bailey and Brice Sensabaugh into more forward minutes.
So keeping Jusuf Nurkić in that mix is a little odd.
Still, there's a chance Nurkić is fine with being more of a veteran presence on the bench than an actual contributor. This salary will be less than seven percent of the cap. And if he just has a couple good weeks at some point in the season, there may be a chance Utah could move him before the deadline.
Just in terms of asset management, it's a move you can wrap your head around, even if you're a little nervous about Nurkić taking minutes from younger options.
Jazz Grade: C+
Kevin Huerter Re-Signs with Pistons
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Contract: 3 years, $27 million
Kevin Huerter averaged 8.6 points and shot 29.4 percent from three after he was traded to the Detroit Pistons last season, but the team must not have seen that as a tryout, because they're bringing him back anyway.
If Huerter can hit threes at the rate he did a few years ago (he made 38.7 percent of his attempts from 2021-22 through 2023-24), while also providing some playmaking in a pinch, he'll be well worth this pretty small deal.
His annual salary will only be around five percent of the cap, and Detroit needs as much shooting as it can pack in lineups around Cade Cunningham and Jalen Duren:
Pistons Grade: B+
Ousmane Dieng Re-Signs with Bucks
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Contract: 3 years, $17.5 million
Ousmane Dieng showed some real promise for the Milwaukee Bucks down the stretch of this season, and the organization is rewarding him for it now.
When the Bucks declined his team option a few days ago, it seemed like they might move on from him, but it turned out to be the first step in securing him to a longer-term deal.
And it's not hard to see why.
Dieng is still young (he just turned 23), stands 6'9" and averaged 11.0 points after being traded to Milwaukee.
Grade: B+
Harrison Barnes Re-Signs with Spurs
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Contract: 1 year, $8 million
Harrison Barnes was replaced in the San Antonio Spurs' starting five by the younger Julian Champagnie, but he still provided plenty of leadership and experience.
And if he enters the season knowing he's a backup, he may be better prepared to impact games from that role than he was in 2025-26.
At 34, Barnes isn't as versatile defensively as he once was, but he still has the size to defend a variety of reserve forwards. And he's a career 38.5 percent three-point shooter.
Keeping all of that for the second unit should almost certainly be worth less than five percent of the cap.
Spurs Grade: B+
Simone Fontecchio Re-Signs with Heat
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Contract: 1-year minimum
Building back depth is perhaps the most important part of the Miami Heat's offseason after giving up so much in the trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Heat is capped at the first apron as well, so there's limited spending power.
Bringing Simone Fontecchio back, presumably on a veteran minimum deal, is a no-brainer.
The 30-year-old brings size and shooting on the wing and should continue to secure a place in Miami's rotation. In 70 games last season, Fontecchio averaged 8.5 points and 3.0 rebounds across 16.8 minutes while hitting 37.5 percent of his threes.
The veteran forward should get even more open looks now when Antetokounmpo inevitably draws double teams and connected on 48.1 percent of his "wide open" (six feet or more between the nearest defender) shot attempts last season.
Heat Grade: B
Precious Achiuwa Re-Signs with Kings
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Contract: 2 years, $11.5 million
Precious Achiuwa had what was almost certainly his best season in 2025-26, when he averaged career highs in points (10.1) and rebounds (6.7).
And now he's cashing in with a multi-year deal that will keep him with the Sacramento Kings.
His numbers don't jump off the screen, and he's pretty inefficient relative to his positional peers, but the average salary is low enough that it's not worth fussing over.
Grade: B-
DeAndre Jordan Re-Signs with Pelicans
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Contract: 1 year, minimum
Quick announcements of a DeAndre Jordan signing have become something of a free-agency tradition, even if the big man is on the verge of his 38th birthday.
Jordan may not be able to provide the same on-court impact he once did, but he's still a good leader and brings plenty of experience to a team that needs it.
At the veteran minimum, even if Jordan plays fewer than the 199 minutes he logged in 2025-26, this is a fine investment.
Grade: B+
Tim Hardaway Jr. Signs with Heat
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Contract: 1 year, $6.5 million
The Miami Heat's top priority in free agency was abundantly clear the moment they traded for Giannis Antetokounmpo. Having him and Bam Adebayo meant they'd need shooting everywhere else.
And now, they've found some in free agency.
Tim Hardaway Jr. was a Sixth Man of the Year candidate last season, averaged 13.5 points and shot 40.7 percent from deep.
If he shoots it like that for Miami, he'll be well worth $6.5 million for one year.
Grade: A
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