After the frenetic start to free agency, everything seems to have calmed down, as there are only a few players who have yet to move or resign. In the meantime, let’s break down what every team has done in free agency, and then hand out some grades.
Atlanta Hawks:
Departures:
AJ Griffin (draft pick)
Tyrese Martin (draft pick)
Acquisitions:
Remaining question mark: Will the Hawks trade John Collins? If so, what will they get in return? The Washington Wizards have been in trade rumors for Collins, and they could offer some very solid rotation players to the Hawks.
Overall grade so far: A-
Boston Celtics:
Departures:
Their 2023 first-round pick
Acquisitions:
Remaining question: Will the Celtics sign someone as a backup big man? What’s the replacement plan for Al Horford down the line? This isn’t a question that necessarily needs to be answered this offseason, but it’s something Brad Stevens has to keep in mind over the next few seasons.
Overall grade so far: A
Brooklyn Nets:
Departures:
Acquisitions:
Remaining question: What’s going to happen with Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving? We won’t know for sure until we get a report from Woj, Shams, or Windhorst, but you can read my thoughts on the situation here.
Overall grade so far: B
Why: They haven’t done anything of huge significance yet. They lost Brown, but got Warren. They resigned Patty Mills, Nic Claxton, and Kessler Edwards. Until Durant and Irving are traded (if it happens), then their grade remains neutral.
Charlotte Hornets:
Departures:
Acquisitions:
Mark Williams (draft)
Remaining Question #1: What will happen with the Montrezl Harrell and Miles Bridges? One is an unrestricted free agent, the other is a restricted free agent, and both are in serious legal trouble. It’s clear that’s the reason why neither of these players have signed either with the Hornets or another team.
Remaining Question #2: How will Steve Clifford and LaMelo Ball work out? Plus, with Harrell and Bridges likely leaving the Hornets in one way or another, who’s Ball going to throw alley-oops to?
Overall Grade so far: C-
Chicago Bulls:
Departures:
Acquisitions:
Resigned:
Remaining Question: Will Coby White be traded during the offseason?
Remaining Question Number Two: Will Anthony Davis be traded to the Chicago Bulls in a package surrounding DeMar DeRozan and Nikola Vucevic? Probably not, but it’s still possible, right?
Overall Grade So Far: B+
Cleveland Cavaliers:
Departures:
Acquisitions:
Resigned:
Remaining Question: Where will Colin Sexton end up?
Overall Grade So Far: B
Dallas Mavericks:
Departures:
Acquisitions:
Remaining Questions: None at the moment, aside from how Christian Wood will fit with Luka Doncic.
Overall grade so far: C+
Denver Nuggets:
Departures:
Acquisitions:
Resigned:
Nikola Jokic, for five years and $264 million
Remaining Question: When will Michael Porter, Jr be back from injury, and will he play like he did pre-injury?
Remaining Question #2: Will the Nuggets resign DeMarcus Cousins?
Overall grade so far: B
Detroit Pistons:
Departures:
Acquisitions:
Jaden Ivey (draft)
Jalen Duren (draft)
Remaining Question: Will the team extend an offer to Miles Bridges, despite the legal trouble he’s in?
Overall grade so far: A
Golden State Warriors:
Departures:
Otto Porter, Jr
Acquisitions:
Resigned:
Remaining Question: How will spending less money on its bench to prevent deep salary cap trouble impact the team during the 2022-23 season?
Overall grade so far: C+
Why: The Warriors have a lot of money that they owe to their players, so it makes sense they’re not resigning Payton. However, he was a crucial part of their championship core, and they may find it difficult to win without him.
Houston Rockets:
Departures:
Acquisitions:
Resigned:
Remaining Questions: None
Overall Grade so far: C
Indiana Pacers:
Departures:
Acquisitions:
Remaining Question: Where will Myles Turner land at the end of the summer? It isn’t likely that he’ll remain on Indiana’s roster for the 2022-23 season.
Overall Grade so far: C-
Los Angeles Clippers:
Departures:
Acquisitions:
Resigned:
Remaining Questions: Nothing. All they need is a healthy Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, and the team is set to contend in 2023
Overall Grade so far: B+
Los Angeles Lakers:
Departures:
Acquisitions:
Troy Brown, Jr
Juan Toscano-Anderson
Scottie Pippen, Jr (undrafted)
Shareef O’Neal (undrafted)
Remaining Question #1: What will the Lakers do with Russell Westbrook‘s contract?
Remaining Question #2: Could the Lakers somehow land Kyrie Irving? Again, my answers to both of these questions can be found here.
Overall Grade so far: C
Memphis Grizzlies:
Departures:
Acquisitions:
Resigned:
Remaining Questions: None. The Grizzlies have had a relatively quiet offseason, and it’s clear they don’t need to do much; they were one Ja Morant injury away from the Western Conference Finals. Losing Anderson’s a tough pill to swallow, but the Grizzlies have depth, shooting defense, and the most popular player in the entire NBA.
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Overall grade so far: B-
Miami Heat:
Departures:
Acquisitions:
Resigned:
Remaining Question: Do the Heat have a large enough package to coax a Kevin Durant trade from Brooklyn? It’s been made more difficult by the fact Bam Adebayo can’t be traded unless Ben Simmons is also traded away from the Nets.
Overall Grade so far: C+
Milwaukee Bucks:
Departures:
Acquisitions:
Resigned:
Remaining Questions: None
Overall Grade so far: B+
Minnesota Timberwolves:
Departures:
Acquisitions:
Resigned:
Remaining Question: How will Gobert fit with Towns? Unfortunately, we’ll have to wait until the start of the season to see how this core develops.
Overall grade so far: C (they overpaid way too much for Gobert, but Anderson was a good pickup)
New Orleans Pelicans:
Departures:
Acquisitions:
Dyson Daniels (draft)
Resigned:
Remaining Questions: None
The Pelicans have three unrestricted free agents this year, only one of whom (Tony Snell) is making more than $2 million in salary. The only thing that mattered for this offseason was securing Williamson’s future with the team, and they did that.
Overall Grade so far: B
New York Knicks:
Departures:
Acquisitions:
Resigned:
Remaining Question: Will the Knicks resign Mitchell Robinson, or will a rival swoop in and steal him?
Overall grade so far: B+
Oklahoma City Thunder:
Departures:
Acquisitions:
Chet Holmgren (draft)
Ousmane Dieng (draft)
Jalen Williams (draft)
Jaylin Williams (draft)
Resigned:
Remaining Questions: None
Overall grade so far: B+
Orlando Magic:
Departures:
Acquisitions:
Paolo Banchero (draft)
Caleb Houstan (draft)
Resigned:
Mo Bamba
Remaining Question: How will Banchero fit with the rest of the Magic’s young core?
Overall grade so far: B
Philadelphia 76ers:
Departures:
Acquisitions:
P.J. Tucker
Resigned:
Remaining Question #1: Will James Harden sign a more team-friendly deal to help out Philadelphia, or still try to get the supermax he’s eligible for?
Remaining Question #2: Will Paul Millsap resign with the 76ers?
Overall grade so far: A-
Why: Because Tucker will help out the team that much. If Harden signs the more team friendly deal that Chris Paul took in Phoenix, then their grade goes up to an A.
Phoenix Suns:
Departures:
Acquisitions:
Resigned:
Remaining Question: What’s going to happen with Deandre Ayton? It isn’t likely that he’ll stay with the Suns, and he’s been heavily rumored to be in KD trades. Phoenix is one of Durant’s top choices for a trade, and if the Suns can get Durant without giving away Devin Booker, then it’s a win. However, aside from Durant, there’s also been rumors about a sign and trade to the Pacers for Myles Turner.
What’s going on in Phoenix?
Overall grade so far: TBD
Portland Trail Blazers:
Departures:
Acquisitions:
Gary Payton II
Resigned:
Remaining Question: Can the Trail Blazers push to team up KD with Damian Lillard? It’s unlikely, but whatever they’d need to trade to make that move, they should. Mediocrity isn’t kind to teams in the NBA.
Overall grade so far: B
Sacramento Kings:
Departures:
Acquisitions:
Resigned:
Remaining Question: Will Jeremy Lamb resign?
Overall grade so far: C
San Antonio Spurs:
Departures:
Danilo Gallinari
Acquisitions:
Remaining Question: Will the Spurs’ tanking efforts be worth it and land them Victor Wembanyama?
Overall grade so far: C+
Toronto Raptors:
Departures:
Acquisitions:
Otto Porter, Jr
Resigned:
Remaining Question: Can the Raptors trade for KD?
Overall grade so far: B
Utah Jazz:
Departures:
Acquisitions:
Remaining Question: What other incredible moves will trader Danny Ainge pull off next?
Offseason grade so far: A+
Washington Wizards:
Departures:
Acquisitions:
Resigned:
Remaining Question: What else will the Wizards do to better position themselves to contend while Beal is in his prime?
Remaining Question #2: How good will Johnny Davis be?
Overall grade so far: A-
Let me know if I forgot anyone in the comments below (there are a lot of people), don’t forget to follow the NBA Blog, and as always, have an awesome day!
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