Grading Every Team's 2026 NBA Offseason After LeBron James Signs With Philadelphia 76ers
There are a few stragglers still out there. Restricted free agents Peyton Watson and Jalen Duren haven't signed. A few teams have roster spots to fill. But now that LeBron James has made his decision to sign with the Philadelphia 76ers, the 2026 NBA offseason is pretty much in the books.
And that means it's time to assess everyone's moves (or lack thereof) on the classic A-F grading scale.
We'll consider each team's resources headed into the offseason, the direction they should've been aiming and what they actually did. Numbers are a big part of the evaluation, but subjectivity will be a huge factor, too. When you're projecting, it has to be.
And with all of the above thrown into the rubric, the following letter grades came out.
Atlanta Hawks: B
1 of 30
In: Devin Carter, Luguentz Dort, Ryan Nembhard, Aaron Wiggins
Out: Zaccharie Risacher
Rookies: Kingston Flemings, Zuby Ejiofor, Henri Veesaar
There's no question the Atlanta Hawks got better in the short term.
Luguentz Dort's defense was a little less consistent than it was a few years ago, but he's only 27. His game will also make him a natural fit in gritty lineups with Dyson Daniels and Nickeil Alexander-Walker. Aaron Wiggins fits the mold too, and he's probably the more reliable three-point shooter too.
Those additions, in concert with the incoming rookies, should help the Hawks pick up on the momentum they ended 2025-26 with.
But Atlanta also gave up on Zaccharie Risacher this summer, after using the first overall pick on him just two years ago. And it was the team that had to give up draft assets to get him.
The Hawks obviously didn't believe in his future, but giving up on a 6'8" 21-year-old with three-and-D potential for an offensively limited wing (Dort), a likely career backup (Ryan Nembhard) and multiple second-round picks is a move loaded with "come back to haunt you" potential.
Boston Celtics: B
2 of 30
In: Mike Conley, Paul George, Mitchell Robinson
Out: Jaylen Brown, Nikola VuÄeviÄ
Rookies: Chris Cenac Jr., Dillon Mitchell
You aren't likely to see the Boston Celtics threatening for an A anywhere else, but the Jaylen Brown trade was never as bad as everyone made it out to be. Getting multiple first-rounders and a big contract that's a year shorter than Brown's, while also reorienting for life in the second apron era, was a fine piece of business.
It's not ideal to give up a 29-year-old perennial All-Star and Finals MVP for an oft-injured 36-year-old, but this was a move that sets Boston up for a better future without really sacrificing the present.
The Celtics just won 56 games without Jayson Tatum for most of the season, and he's now coming back to fill Brown's role with most of the supporting cast that was around him.
In fact, it's probably a little better now, since Boston also replaced Nikola VuÄeviÄ with one of the best offensive rebounders of all time.
With Tatum, the Celtics' infrastructure, Paul George's shooting and Mitchell Robinson, this team is almost certainly going to clear 50 wins again.
Brooklyn Nets: B+
3 of 30
In:Ā Keon Ellis, Julius Randle, Moritz Wagner
Out:Ā Ziaire Williams, Nic Claxton
Rookies:Ā Mikel Brown Jr., Joshua Jefferson, Tyler Bilodeau
The Brooklyn Nets will almost certainly be more competitive this season.
The incentive to tank is basically gone, Julius Randle is an innings-eater who'll put up good regular-season numbers and his slashing fits well with Michael Porter Jr.'s shooting.
That and a little development from Egor DĆ«min might even have Brooklyn in the mix for a play-in spot.
But the biggest swing player from this summer is undoubtedly incoming rookie Mikel Brown Jr. If he becomes the kind of volume-scoring combo guard Brooklyn believes he can be, it could have a dynamic, sort of inverted backcourt that gets the points from the point guard-sized player and the assists from the wing-sized one (DĆ«min).
Charlotte Hornets: B
4 of 30
In:Ā Grayson Allen, Dorian Finney-Smith, Royce O'Neale, Naz Reid
Out:Ā LaMelo Ball, Miles Bridges, Josh Green
Rookies:Ā Hannes Steinbach, Christian Anderson
They weren't talked about as much as the team they sent their star to, but the Charlotte Hornets had one of the most fascinating offseasons in the NBA.
After finishing 2025-26 on a 28-10 run, the Hornets sort of bet that it was a bit of a fluke and traded the playmaker largely responsible for it.
That, of course, was LaMelo Ball. And while that move likely lowers Charlotte's short-term ceiling, it was tough for the Hornets to pass on a first-round pick, three first-round pick swaps and three second-round picks for a player who's notoriously struggled to be available.
The easier trade to sell was the Miles Bridges deal that came a little later. Neither Grayson Allen nor Royce O'Neale are as good as Bridges individually, but they're exactly the kind of hard-playing, sweet-shooting role players Charlotte should be interested in deploying around Kon Knueppel and Brandon Miller.
Those two (and maybe Coby White, to a lesser extent) are clearly the Hornets' future. This offseason signaled that, and it should give them a chance to shine next season and beyond.
Yes, there's some risk in selling high on last season's team, but the remaining core still has tons of potential.
Chicago Bulls: A-
5 of 30
In:Ā Nic Claxton, Norman Powell
Out:Ā Anfernee Simons, Mouhamadou Gueye, Collin Sexton
Rookies:Ā Caleb Wilson, Dailyn Swain
It may seem sort of unfair to everyone else in this exercise to give the Chicago Bulls an A in large part due to something they lucked into, but this grading scale isn't infallible.
After landing a potential face-of-the-franchise-level talent in Caleb Wilson, there really wasn't much else Chicago had to do to ace the test.
But the Bulls went for some extra credit anyway. In this new lottery landscape, when there are few (if any) incentives to tank, it made sense for Chicago to add some veteran talent to Wilson, Matas Buzelis and Josh Giddey. And Nic Claxton and Norman Powell, both of whom were signed (or acquired) for decent value, will make the team more competitive.
Cleveland Cavaliers: D+
6 of 30
In:Ā š¤·āāļø
Out:Ā Larry Nance Jr., Keon Ellis, Dean Wade
Rookies:Ā Meleek Thomas
We'll operate under the assumption that the Cleveland Cavaliers re-sign James Harden to a reasonable deal, but even in that case, it's hard to sell this offseason as a win.
The Cavs had three potential rotation players walk out the door. And their main target in free agency, LeBron James, chose someone else.
Cleveland may have made the conference finals, but they were trounced there. And following that up with a half-step back looks bad.
There is a bright side, though. Incoming rookie Meleek Thomas, who the Cavs grabbed in the second round, just averaged 27.2 in 29.0 minutes in summer league.
He looks like a potential contributor as early as this season, and getting that out of a second-rounder could make this summer look a lot better in hindsight.
Dallas Mavericks: A+
7 of 30
In:Ā Santi Aldama, Tarik BiberoviÄ, Zaccharie Risacher, Marcus Sasser
Out:Ā Marvin Bagley, AJ Johnson, Khris Middleton, Ryan Nembhard
Rookies:Ā Morez Johnson, Sergio de Larrea, Tobi Lawal, Vsevolod Ishchenko
This is exactly the kind of summer the Dallas Mavericks should've had ahead of Cooper Flagg's second season.
They added loads of length, shooting and potential without giving up much value in free agency and trades.
And while it already looks a little dicey to have taken Morez Johnson before Brayden Burries, Dallas can reasonably say it needed size and defense more than playmaking. And it may have gotten the steal in the draft in playmaker Sergio de Larrea late in the first round.
With this infusion of talent, a second-year leap from Flagg and the return of Kyrie Irving, the Mavs could be back in the playoffs as early as this season.
Denver Nuggets: D+
8 of 30
In:Ā Marvin Bagley III
Out:Ā Tim Hardaway Jr.
Rookies:Ā Trevon Brazile, Bryce Hopkins
The Denver Nuggets may have never received serious consideration from LeBron James, but after being named as a suitor early in free agency, missing out on him still hurts.
After he chose the Philadelphia 76ers, it became painfully clear that Denver hadn't done much of anything with a summer following a massively disappointing first-round exit.
Even if the Nuggets do manage to re-sign restricted free agent Peyton Watson, they'll still be short on athleticism and second-unit playmaking.
And while Marvin Bagley III is an underrated addition who'll help the frontcourt and Trevon Brazile looks like he may be able to provide a little explosiveness off the bench, they're not enough to push Denver back to the top tier of title contenders.
Detroit Pistons: A-
9 of 30
In:Ā John Collins, Gary Harris, Isaiah Joe, Taurean Prince
Out:Ā Tobias Harris, Caris LeVert, Marcus Sasser, Isaiah Stewart
Rookies:Ā Ebuka Okorie, Ugonna Onyenso
They haven't meaningfully replaced Isaiah Stewart or re-signed Jalen Duren, but assuming the latter happens, Paul Reed can pick up most of the slack on the backup 5 minutes.
And beyond that, Detroit had a very strong offseason.
John Collins can't defend as many positions as Tobias Harris, but he's a much more dynamic play finisher and an underrated three-point shooter. And the outside shooting of Isaiah Joe, Taurean Prince and Gary Harris should be put to use by Cade Cunningham.
The Pistons didn't land a superstar this offseason, but they just won 60 games and may enter 2026-27 with a marginally better roster.
Golden State Warriors: F
10 of 30
In:Ā š¤·āāļø
Out:Ā Quinten Post
Rookies:Ā Yaxel Lendeborg, Lajae Jones
After seemingly putting all of their offseason eggs in the LeBron James basket, his decision to join the Philadelphia 76ers has left the Golden State Warriors with a legitimately disastrous offseason.
Stephen Curry is heading into his age-38 season. We're in July, and the Warriors have just 10 players under contract. Two of them (Jimmy Butler and Moses Moody) may be out for the entire season. One (Kristaps PorziÅÄ£is) may be the single biggest injury/availability risk in the league. Al Horford is 40.
The only meaningful move Golden State can really make now would be to overpay Draymond Green to come back to help them scratch and claw for a play-in spot.
Right now, even finishing that high feels like a risky bet. And the only thing that might eventually save this offseason is Yaxel Lendeborg wildly outperforming expectations and becoming a bona fide star.
Houston Rockets: A-
11 of 30
In:Ā Bogdan BogdanoviÄ, Marcus Smart
Out:Ā Dorian Finney-Smith, Josh Okogie
Rookies:Ā Bruce Thornton
It was a quiet offseason for the Houston Rockets, but they almost certainly got better. And quiet improvement beats an awful lot of the other possibilities that come from NBA summers.
Bogdan BogdanoviÄ, though he's nearing the end of his career, is a good shooter and savvy playmaker who could help expedite Reed Sheppard's development. And Marcus Smart provides a lot of the defense that Dorian Finney-Smith and Josh Okogie did, while also being able to create a bit on the other end.
Those slight upgrades, plus the return of Fred VanVleet and internal development from Sheppard, Amen Thompson, Jabari Smith Jr. and Alperen ÅengĆ¼n could give Kevin Durant one last shot at a title.
Indiana Pacers: A-
12 of 30
In:Ā Larry Nance Jr., Kelly Oubre Jr.
Out:Ā Kam Jones, Micah Potter
Rookies:Ā Braden Smith
Even with the sting of losing a coin flip and the No. 5 pick to the Los Angeles Clippers, it's tough to imagine the Indiana Pacers not taking a massive step forward in 2026-27.
Tyrese Haliburton will be back. Andrew Nembhard and Aaron Nesmith will presumably enjoy better health. Ivica Zubac will be around for an entire season. And Pascal Siakam is still around.
Adding a pair of solid veterans to come off the bench behind them in Larry Nance and Kelly Oubre should do a lot for the second unit.
And the Pacers could go right back to playing perhaps the league's biggest spoilers.
Los Angeles Clippers: Incomplete
13 of 30
In:Ā Rui Hachimura, Gradey Dick (trade on hold), Brandon Ingram (trade on hold)
Out:Ā Bogdan BogdanoviÄ, John Collins, Kawhi Leonard (trade on hold)
Rookies:Ā Keaton Wagler, Baba Miller, Nick Martinelli, Narcisse Ngoy
It's impossible to evaluate the Los Angeles Clippers' offseason before we know whether the previously agreed-upon Kawhi Leonard deal goes through.
If it does, the Clippers will have pretty aggressively steered into a rebuild, which is probably the right call at this point and would deserve a passing grade.
If it doesn't, that would probably mean the Clippers and/or Kawhi have been hit with fairly severe league penalties. And that outcome would probably require an entirely different exercise.
Los Angeles Lakers: C+
14 of 30
In:Ā Matisse Thybulle, Ziaire Williams, Quentin Grimes, Jaden Hardy, Walker Kessler, Kevon Looney, Sandro Mamukelashvili, Collin Sexton
Out:Ā Rui Hachimura, Deandre Ayton, Jaxson Hayes, LeBron James, Luke Kennard, Marcus Smart
Rookies:Ā Cameron Carr
Well, the Los Angeles Lakers certainly did a lot of stuff.
Most of last season's rotation is gone. And it's hard to say the new one fits Luka DonÄiÄ and Austin Reaves (who re-signed for four years and $184.8 million) dramatically better than the last one that helped the Lakers win 53 games.
The biggest get in the bunch is Walker Kessler, but the Lakers paid a genuinely absurd price to get him. Four years and $129.5 million for an oft-injured big man with career averages of 9.5 points, 9.3 rebounds and 2.4 blocks is startling enough on its own, but L.A. also surrendered two first-round picks and two first-round pick swaps in a sign-and-trade for Kessler.
Still, though each individual move can be nitpicked, and an overhaul of this magnitude comes with a lot of risk, it's not that hard to envision the best possible outcome from this offseason.
Luka's playmaking could absolutely turn Kessler into a star, and he's already one of the league's best rim protectors. Quentin Grimes and Collin Sexton will both provide some offensive punch and defensive effort. Sandro Mamukelashvili was one of the most underrated offensive players in the NBA last season.
Any team built around Luka and Reaves is likely to struggle on defense, but this one has a chance to put up a ton of points. And another season with 50-plus wins is very much in play.
Memphis Grizzlies: A-
15 of 30
In:Ā Jerami Grant, AJ Johnson, Kris Murray, Quinten Post, D'Angelo Russell, Isaiah Stewart
Out:Ā Santi Aldama, Ja Morant
Rookies:Ā Cameron Boozer, Karim LĆ³pez, Richie Saunders
The Ja Morant era is officially over, and the roster left in his wake is shockingly deep.
Cameron Boozer is ready to contribute to winning basketball right away. And if Zach Edey, Ty Jerome and Cedric Coward can all stay healthy around him, this team has a chance to be a lot more competitive than people realize.
Add to that the fact that Jerami Grant and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope could stir up some trade value in the next few months, and this has a chance to be one of the quickest, most effective rebuilds we've seen in a while.
Miami Heat: A-
16 of 30
In:Ā Giannis Antetokounmpo, Tim Hardaway Jr., Bobby Portis
Out:Ā Tyler Herro, Kasparas JakuÄionis, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Norman Powell, Kel'el Ware
Rookies:Ā Ryan Conwell
The Giannis Antetokounmpo trade didn't get as much buzz as several other moves this offseason, perhaps because all of that buzz had been spent speculating about a move for the last couple years.
But whether the move got its proper due or not, Giannis was the best individual player who changed teams this offseason. And the Miami Heat were on the receiving end of that change.
They now have perhaps the most talented frontcourt in the league with Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo. Yes, there will be some growing pains and spacing will be a concern, but their defense should be nightmarish, and they'll physically overwhelm a lot of opponents on the other end.
Miami sacrificed a lot of depth to pull this move off, but they did a good job to replace some of it with the shooting that Tim Hardaway Jr. and Bobby Portis provide.
Had they been able to successfully woo LeBron James back to South Beach, this grade would've been even higher. His playmaking could've helped everything mesh.
But even without him, this was pretty clearly one of the better offseasons in the NBA.
Milwaukee Bucks: B
17 of 30
In:Ā Tyler Herro, Kasparas JakuÄionis, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Caris LeVert, Kel'el Ware
Out:Ā Giannis Antetokounmpo, Gary Harris, Bobby Portis, Taurean Prince
Rookies:Ā Brayden Burries, Nate Ament, Malique Lewis
A small-market team waiting too long to trade its homegrown superstar is a tale as old as time. Had the Milwaukee Bucks bitten the bullet a year or so earlier, they would've gotten more assets and wouldn't have had to pull last summer's absurd move to waive-and-stretch Damian Lillard and sign Myles Turner.
But there's no use in Milwaukee trying to change the past. Given the circumstance it was in, it got a solid trade package that includes young (and young-ish) players, three first-round picks, a first-round pick swap and a second-round pick.
The Bucks may not be done either. Turner didn't do his trade value any favors last season, but if he plays well in 2026-27, the team might get something more for his three-and-D game.
Perhaps more important than all of that, though, is the fact that Dallas opting for size in the draft meant Milwaukee got in on the point guard sweepstakes from its top 10. And if summer league was any indication, they got a good one.
Brayden Burries looks like a wise-beyond-his-years playmaker who'll be manipulating defenses out of the pick-and-roll right away. His ceiling could completely change the trajectory of this rebuild.
Minnesota Timberwolves: B+
18 of 30
In:Ā LaMelo Ball, Josh Green, Trey Lyles
Out:Ā Kyle Anderson, Mike Conley, Julius Randle, Naz Reid
Rookies:Ā Isaiah Evans, Trey Kaufman-Renn
The LaMelo Ball trade is undoubtedly a gamble for the Minnesota Timberwolves. He's barely averaged 50 appearances per season during his career, and taking the ball out of Anthony Edwards' hands might limit his production a bit.
Giving up the amount of depth it did, plus a first-round pick, three first-round pick swaps and three second-round picks, makes the gamble even greater.
But Ball is the best individual player of everyone listed above. And while his presence may reduce Edwards' usage a bit, it could also juice his efficiency. Ball's playmaking is going to make all the Timberwolves' lives easier. He commands more attention from beyond the three-point line than Julius Randle did too.
Yes, it would've been nice to add LeBron James to the mix. And yes, it would've been nice to get Ball for a little less. But in terms of total raw talent, Minnesota was in the black this summer.
New Orleans Pelicans: F
19 of 30
In:Ā š¤·āāļø
Out:Ā Kevon Looney
Rookies:Ā Jaron Pierre Jr.
Are we sure the New Orleans Pelicans know the offseason started? Has anyone checked in on Joe Dumars, Troy Weaver and company?
The only real news out of New Orleans so far was the two-year deal it gave 38-year-old DeAndre Jordan, and the mistake it made in giving it. Had the Pelicans signed Jordan to a one-year veteran minimum, the league would've partially reimbursed it. Because it was two years, it won't.
Jordan played 199 minutes last season, for a team that went 26-56, and the transaction on him (which was a blunder) is all New Orleans has done (beyond letting Kevon Looney walk).
At least in theory, you can see how Dejounte Murray, Herb Jones, Trey Murphy, Zion Williamson and Derik Queen will fit together. But that theory has rarely been seen in practice or won many basketball games.
New York Knicks: C-
20 of 30
In:Ā Andre Drummond
Out:Ā Ariel Hukporti, Mitchell Robinson
Rookies:Ā Jack Kayil, Tyler Nickel
The New York Knicks did well to re-sign Landry Shamet, Jose Alvarado and Jordan Clarkson to team-friendly deals, but going into your first offseason as reigning champions with a mandate to stay under the second apron feels cheap.
And that mandate ultimately cost the Knicks their most important reserve.
Mitchell Robinson, despite missing 22 games, was sixth on the team in 2025-26 wins over replacement player. He's one of the best offensive rebounders of all time. And he's a solid rim protector too.
Andre Drummond is a passable replacement, but he's at least a little worse at just about everything and is four years older than Robinson.
New York still has one of the best starting fives in the NBA. The entire unit is coming back, and it'll have them in the mix for another Finals appearance. The added flexibility that comes from staying under the second apron could eventually prove useful, too. But in the short term, it's impossible to ignore the Knicks got a little worse.
Oklahoma City Thunder: B
21 of 30
In:Ā š¤·āāļø
Out:Ā Branden Carlson, Luguentz Dort, Isaiah Joe, Aaron Wiggins
Rookies:Ā Aday Mara, Bennett Stirtz, Otega Oweh
Sam Presti may be annoyed with ownership's desire to stay under the second apron (hence, his public comments that this summer's trades were financially motivated), but a summer like this one was inevitable.
With Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams all on massive deals, Cason Wallace's extension coming up and several more players looking for their second NBA contract, OKC was going to have to make some tough decisions.
This offseason, they made them and are still primed to contend for a title.
They got another pile of second-round picks in separate trades involving Lu Dort, Isaiah Joe and Aaron Wiggins. And there are now more minutes available for Cason Wallace, Nikola TopiÄ, Jared McCain, Ajay Mitchell and the incoming rookies (a group that includes Thomas Sorber, since he missed all of last season).
Orlando Magic: C
22 of 30
In:Ā Nikola VuÄeviÄ
Out:Ā Moritz Wagner
Rookies:Ā Izaiyah Nelson
The Orlando Magic fell short of expectations last season and have one of the most expensive teams in the league for this one.
They might reasonably believe they can go toe to toe with anyone in the East if they can stay healthy, but at this point, it's probably fair to call Franz Wagner and Jalen Suggs pretty significant health risks.
Orlando also could have used an infusion of shooting this offseason to create a little more space around Wagner and Paolo Banchero, and soon-to-be-36-year-old Nikola VuÄeviÄ isn't the most inspiring addition on that front.
Philadelphia 76ers: A
23 of 30
In:Ā Anfernee Simons, Jaylen Brown, Ariel Hukporti, LeBron James, Dean Wade
Out:Ā Paul George, Quentin Grimes, Kelly Oubre Jr., Andre Drummond
Rookies:Ā Labaron Philon Jr.
There's a pessimistic view of the Philadelphia 76ers' offseason that isn't completely out of line.
The amount of usage taken up by Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, LeBron James and Jaylen Brown is massive. There are serious health and age concerns with both Embiid and James. Defense when those two are on the floor could be porous too.
But Embiid's contract runs through 2028-29. With his injury history, finding a trade for him would've been near impossible. And while the series of moves they made this summer were costly (the Brown trade involved two first-round picks) and not without risk, they certainly increased Philly's chances of contending during Embiid's deal.
It'll absolutely take time to adjust. Several players (maybe even all of them) are going to have to make some sacrifices. And there's a very real chance one or both of Embiid and LeBron aren't available for a deep playoff run.
But Philly has at least given itself a chance to win it all after starting the summer as a likely play-in team. Concerns and all, that's a big win.
Phoenix Suns: B+
24 of 30
In:Ā Miles Bridges, Luke Kennard
Out:Ā Grayson Allen, Royce O'Neale
Rookies:Ā Koa Peat
The Phoenix Suns were one of the best stories of the 2025-26 campaign. Crushing expectations often fosters likability. And they re-signed Collin Gillespie, Jordan Goodwin and Mark Williams, all of whom contributed to their success, to good-value deals.
But they're not going to catch anyone off guard this season. And though they weren't stars, losing Grayson Allen and Royce O'Neale could hurt. Those two were tied for third on the team in 2025-26 wins over replacement player.
Phoenix was also minus-8.2 points per 100 possessions when that duo was on the floor, though. And it's not hard to read swapping them out for Miles Bridges and Luke Kennard as a raw talent upgrade.
The Suns didn't make the kind of splash that might've earned them an A, but there's a decent chance they now have a better roster around Devin Booker.
Portland Trail Blazers: A
25 of 30
In:Ā Branden Carlson, Ja Morant, Micah Potter
Out:Ā Matisse Thybulle, Jerami Grant, Kris Murray
Rookies:Ā š¤·āāļø
The Portland Trail Blazers were already going to be one of the more intriguing teams in the league with Damian Lillard coming back from injury.
They're one of the few organizations that could've done almost nothing and easily justify it. They just made the playoffs, and there's reason to believe all of Deni Avdija, Donovan Clingan and Toumani Camara could be better and will benefit from playing with Lillard.
But Portland didn't sit still. They picked up Ja Morant as a salary dump. And though the last few years cratered his trade value, Morant will still be just 27 years old when the season starts. It's too early to give up on his slashing, which could go a long way toward pulling defenders away from Lillard and Avdija on the outside.
Sacramento Kings: B-
26 of 30
In:Ā š¤·āāļø
Out:Ā Devin Carter, DeMar DeRozan
Rookies:Ā Darius Acuff Jr., Alex Karaban, Emanuel Sharp
Finding trades for DeMar DeRozan, Zach LaVine and Domantas Sabonis would've earned the Sacramento Kings more points, but there simply may not be any suitors for any of them. So Sacramento had to settle on releasing DeRozan and keeping the other two.
Ideally, one or both will play well enough between now and February for Sacramento to squeeze a little value out of them in deadline deals.
And even with relatively little action on the roster this summer, the Kings pass for simply lucking into Darius Acuff Jr. with the seventh overall pick.
His defense and shot selection appeared to need plenty of work at summer league, but he has star and lead playmaker potential. For a team without any other top-flight prospects, Acuff's scoring and passing will generate a lot of hope this season.
San Antonio Spurs: B+
27 of 30
In:Ā Tobias Harris
Out:Ā š¤·āāļø
Rookies:Ā Jayden Quaintance, Tarris Reed Jr., Ja'Kobi Gillespie, Maliq Brown
Fresh off a Finals run with three players on rookie contracts (Victor Wembanyama, Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper), the San Antonio Spurs didn't need to do anything dramatic this offseason.
Internal development alone should keep this team in the title mix for the foreseeable future.
But San Antonio isn't relying entirely on that. Tobias Harris will add plenty of experience and leadership, plus a little shooting and multipositional defense.
He's obviously not a huge name, but again, the Spurs didn't need that right now.
Toronto Raptors: Incomplete
28 of 30
In:Ā Kyle Anderson, Kawhi Leonard (trade on hold)
Out:Ā Gradey Dick, Brandon Ingram, Sandro Mamukelashvili
Rookies:Ā Allen Graves, Jaden Bradley
The analysis here has to be similar to what was said about the Los Angeles Clippers, but the Toronto Raptors' stakes aren't quite as serious.
Toronto isn't currently in line for any league penalties, and if the Kawhi Leonard trade is voided, the organization would simply revert to the same encouraging timeline it was on without the deal.
No, the Raptors probably wouldn't be title contenders without Leonard, but they still boast a lot of potential with Scottie Barnes and Collin Murray-Boyles. And they just picked up one of the most interesting late first-rounders in this draft.
After an analytically friendly freshman campaign, Allen Graves just averaged 16.8 points, 6.8 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 2.2 steals and 1.0 blocks, while hitting half his three-point attempts, at summer league.
Utah Jazz: A
29 of 30
In:Ā Jaxson Hayes, Josh Okogie
Out:Ā Walker Kessler
Rookies:Ā Darryn Peterson
The Utah Jazz may have preferred to have Walker Kessler's size, rebounding and rim protection for their turn toward competitiveness, but the Los Angeles Lakers made an offer they simply couldn't refuse.
And even without Kessler, a frontcourt with Lauri Markkanen, Jaren Jackson Jr., Jusuf NurkiÄ and Kyle Filipowski is strong. Continued development from the rest of the roster, which includes Keyonte George and Ace Bailey, should help Utah win a lot more games.
But the real potential for a leap comes from incoming rookie Darryn Peterson, who looked ready to return to primary playmaking at summer league.
Across five games in Salt Lake City and Las Vegas, and in just 27.9 minutes, Peterson averaged 23.0 points, 5.2 assists, 1.2 blocks and 1.0 steals.
His shots weren't falling as consistently as he would've liked, but Peterson looked like perhaps the most natural scorer of anyone in Vegas. And playing with the vets will take some pressure off him.
Washington Wizards: B+
30 of 30
In:Ā Deandre Ayton, Khris Middleton
Out:Ā Jaden Hardy, D'Angelo Russell
Rookies:Ā AJ Dybantsa, Felix Okpara
Fans and analysts all over the internet expressed loads of trepidation over Trae Young's four-year, $212.8 million deal. With his lack of size and defense, there's a chance that ages terribly.
But even if a lot of the nitpicking of Young's game is fair, it's worth remembering that his teams have consistently been better when he plays, especially on the offensive end. And with the Washington Wizards, a pair of No. 1 overall picks, Anthony Davis and AJ Dybantsa, will be on the other end of his playmaking.
That, a little more development from Will Riley and Alex Sarr and the addition of some veteran leadership from Khris Middleton should have the Wizards in the mix for at least a play-in spot.
If Dybantsa's McGrady-esque combination of size, scoring and playmaking is more ready for primetime than we realize, Washington might even be able to contend for a top-six finish.
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