(This article was published on July 22, and the author is Grant Hughes, a reporter from the open-air stands. The content of the article does not represent the translator's views.)
With the exhaustion of most of the available funds in the 2025 NBA offseason, top free agents have signed new contracts, rookies have also been in place, and the transaction rumors have gradually subsided. It's time to rate offseason operations for each team.
ratings cannot be based solely on whether the team roster is better or worse than a year ago. Each team has different priorities, chips and intentions. These ratings must take these actual situations into account.
We need to go deeper and raise some important questions before making a judgment. What are the priorities of each team? What are the realistic choices to pursue these goals? Then, is the team effective in pursuing these goals: maximizing value, seizing opportunities, clarifying timelines, etc.?
Celtic reconstruction needs to be differentiated from the Rockets' star acquisition, or the Hornets' cautious accumulation of future assets, to conduct different assessments. The offseason has begun for three weeks and most of the major matters have been completed. Let's see how 30 teams have performed so far.
Dallas Mavericks
Although general manager Nico Harrison claims that fans finally saw his blueprint for planning, the Mavericks' good luck in the draft was not widely recognized. Harrison made a highly criticized deal that sparked protests from fans, and then the team lost streak at the end of the season, eventually winning the No. 1 pick with a 1.8% chance and choosing the undisputed No. 1 pick Cooper Flag. This was a totally unexpected good luck.
The Mavericks' other operations show certain skills and plans. Irving returns with a three-year $118 million contract, which is likely to be lower than expected. Exam renewed his contract with basic salary, while Russell signed a two-year $12 million contract.
Gafford's three-year $54 million contract renewal is somewhat unexpected, but it should be possible to trade at neutral or positive value when the Mavericks decide to clean up the frontcourt rotation.
Rating: B
Denver Nuggets
If the Nuggets can successfully sign Bruce Brown and Hardaway Jr. while retaining Michael Porter Jr. and their first-round pick in 2032, they may also get a passing score.
This is the key issue in the Nuggets' offseason operation. The Nuggets exchanged MPJ for Cameron Johnson and attached a draft pick to take advantage of the $17 million saved in the 2025-26 season. Can this further strengthen the lineup? Or did Brown and Hardaway sign up, which means the Nuggets just gave up the last tradeable first-round pick (and unprotected) to save money?
The deal does not create cap space or open any exceptions, so some people will think that the Nuggets are just to save money. But it is also possible that management requires spending control, and the new management (Ben Tengze and Jon Wallace) have made an informed choice under these restrictions.
On paper, the Nuggets are indeed getting stronger, and at least it is possible that Johnson will outperform MPJ in the next few years. However, this frugal approach is still unsatisfactory. Considering Valanciunas' decision to stay in the NBA rather than play overseas, this at least gave the Nuggets a major upgrade in Jokic's substitute center.
Rating: C
Golden State Warriors
Kumingga did not become a highly sought after high-paying star as he wished, which allowed the Warriors to wait and see. Although the Warriors have been criticized for not trading Kumingga for their delay in trading, his potential and athleticism have always been difficult to determine whether he can realize his talent.
For many years, I have been shaking about his career prospects and have never completely convinced any prediction. It is also difficult for the Warriors to make decisions when facing the same uncertainty.
If the Warriors trade Kumingga and finally sign the long-rumored Horford, such an operation can at least get a "B" rating. However, the Warriors did not make any important signings this offseason, so we can only label them as "unfinished".
Also, let's pay tribute to Looney, the three-time champion and locker room pillar. Every Warriors fan will miss him, but no one will be upset about his two-year $16 million contract with the Pelicans.
Rating: Unfinished
Houston Rockets
Rockets are perfect every offseason deal. They exchanged Durant for only Jaylen Green, Dillon, the 10th pick and a few future second round picks, bringing the team the top scoring ability that they lacked last season. Durant could be seen as Green's replacement, while Finney Smith (only two of his four-year contract is fully guaranteed) could be seen as Dillon's replacement.
In addition to that, the Rockets saved a lot of money by refusing to execute Van Vreet's team option and re-signing him on a two-year, $50 million contract. Jabbarry Smith Jr. also continued the Rockets' tradition and signed a rookie contract renewal that was lower than the maximum salary. Capela returns with an annual salary of only $7 million, while Adams renews his contract with a three-year, $39 million friendly contract.
The Rockets are now more profound in lineup, more experience, still full of potential, and have enough future draft capital to make the next major deal. Five-star praise, liked with both hands, impeccable.
Rating: A
Los Angeles Clippers
Powell was almost the All-Star last season, but John Collins's joining brought a power forward to the Clippers (39.9% of three-point shooting last season), the candidate the Clippers lacked last season.
Partnering with free agent Lopez and starting center Zubac, Collins gives the Clippers one of the most powerful inside rotation lineups in the league.
Their backcourt may also require a ball handler, but Harden, who is mainly responsible for ball possession, renewed his contract for two years for $81.5 million after giving up the player option. This is a reasonable price and is the right short-term structure for Harden, as he is still efficient but is already in the late 30s.
Bill will join the Clippers after reaching a buyout agreement with the Suns to replace Powell, who will bring huge value to the Clippers with a two-year $11 million contract. Paul will also join the team of veterans, providing Los Angeles with another option to organize offensively and relieve Harden's pressure.
Rating: A-
Los Angeles Lakers
James failed to obtain a new multi-year contract from the Los Angeles Lakers, so he chose the execution player option and prepared for the free market in 2026.
Meanwhile, key forward Finney Smith left the team and chose to accept the two-year guarantee contract provided by the Rockets instead of any offer from the Lakers. These moves clearly show that the Lakers are reluctant to spend enough money to make this year's team as talented and united as possible. Considering Finney Smith's tacit cooperation with Doncic, his departure is incomprehensible. And the fact that James is about to become a free agent will continue to hang over the team until he switches to other teams.
Smart joined the Lakers after being bought out by the Wizards, but he has been plagued by injuries and has performed poorly in the past two years. While his name sounds loud, it should not be assumed that he can be a high-end rotation player in the Lakers roster, let alone a useful starter.
It makes sense to build a team around Doncic, but there is no guarantee that his next five years will be better than the past five years. And there is no guarantee that the Lakers will find a better player than 40-year-old James to partner with Doncic in the future offseason.
Ayton's joining for $16 million for two years is a good deal, and Laravia is also a good addition. However, the Lakers still seem to be preparing for Doncic in the post-James era, at its peak, but this may never be achieved.
Rating: D
Memphis Grizzlies
The Grizzlies completed a contract renewal with Jaren Jackson Jr. before he was injured, which was a fair deal. Although Jackson will miss some of the new season due to toe surgery, his five-year $205 million contract is worth as much as his free market. If he can be selected into the NBA All-A-League, the contract may be even bigger. The
Bain's trade shocked the team's core roster, but four first-round picks and a first-round swap (plus Pope and Cole Anthony, who have been abandoned) are an undeniable offer for the Grizzlies, especially when Bain was never selected for the All-Star.
Ty Jerome will join the team as the third point guard, and Aldama's three-year $52.5 million contract looks lower than the market price. Cam Spencer is expected to fill the offensive vacancy left by Kennard after he left.
rookie Cedric Coward's performance will be crucial. To get him, the Grizzlies promoted five picks with a first-round pick from the Bain trade.
Rating: B
Minnesota Timberwolves signed a substitute center for $125 million in five years, even if he is one of the best in the league, such a contract has raised questions about the Timberwolves' plans for the near future. The money would be more reasonable if the team intends to start Naz Reid when they no longer have Rudy Gobert at some point.
Last season, when Gobert was on the court and Reed sat on the bench, the Timberwolves had a net efficiency of +6.7, mainly due to their defensive efficiency ranking in the top 91% of the league. When Reed was center and Gobert was not present, the Timberwolves' net efficiency value dropped to +3.4, and their defensive efficiency ranked only in the top 39% of the league.
Gobert is 33 years old and a decline in form is inevitable. But he still won the Defensive Player of the Year in the 2023-24 season and was still selected for the Second Team of the All-Defensive Team last year. The Timberwolves could have chosen to keep Alexander Walker, but their decision to let him go in the free market shows that they are more confident in their backfield depth than the frontcourt. Time will tell if their choice is correct.
Rating: C
New Orleans Pelicans
Pelics gave up the 23rd pick and an unprotected 2026 first-round pick in the draft in exchange for the 13th pick. This extreme high-cost transaction is difficult to understand for a while.
According to previous reporter Shamit Dua, "When a Pelicans executive called the Hawks, the Hawks couldn't believe the chips provided by the other party. The Hawks repeatedly asked to confirm whether this unprotected draft pick was really included in the trade. ... But the Pelicans insisted on the trade, and the Hawks got a good deal."
The Pelicans selected Derek Quinn with the No. 13 draw, and he showed interesting potential in the summer league (Editor's note: Quinn suffered a torn ligament with the left wrist in the summer league. He has successfully undergone repair surgery and will be reviewed in about 12 weeks). But if they were really optimistic about him, they would have chosen him at the 7th pick. Instead, the Pelicans gave up a draft pick that could be the No. 1 pick in the Lotto area (the one with a higher pick in the Pelicans or the Bucks).
The Pelicans also renewed their contract with Herbert Jones for three years, with a contract amount of $68 million, and signed Looney at a higher price than the market price. In addition, they exchanged the expiring CJ McCollum contract for Jordan Poole, whose salary this year is $31.8 million and $34 million in the 2026-27 season.
Even if you agree with these three deals, the Pelicans made on draft night is still a huge mistake, which makes their overall operation only get a failed evaluation..
Rating: F
Oklahoma City Thunder
The Thunder provided maximum salary renewal for three young core players - Alexander, Jaylen Williams and Homegren, with a total value of more than $750 million. This is the price you have to pay to win the championship under the leadership of young core players.
The Thunder will face tough roster decisions when these renewals come into effect, but the upcoming season is not too bad. SGA's new contract will not begin until the 2027-28 season (by that time his annual salary is expected to reach $60.8 million), while the contracts of the two rookies will not take effect until the 2026-27 season. The Thunder left behind the key players they need to compete for the championship, and they have a large number of future draft picks and other affordable contracts (many included team options), which could keep them stable in the core squad for the next five years or more. This was an amazing achievement in the second rich era.
Rating: B
Phoenix Suns
The Suns' operations during the offseason have improved the team's lineup depth. Although it is not a good deal to trade Durant for Dillon, Jaylen Green and Carman Maluarch, three people are not the worst result.
Get Mark Williams through the trade from the Hornets, and the Suns add a potential rotation player, provided he stays healthy. In addition, the Suns also renewed Booker's contract early, which allowed him to stay with the team until the 2027-28 season (then he will be 31). However, this decision seems a bit ridiculous, especially when the team is already spending a lot of money. After the Suns buy out Bills, they will also bear about $19.5 million in dead money in the next five years.
The Sun has limited choices this summer, mainly because of some reckless trades in the past. These new moves may theoretically bring some improvements, but not enough to put the Suns in the top six in the Western Conference. It was a situation that needed a complete rebuild, but the Suns chose not to press that button.
Rating: D-
Portland Trail Blazers
Yang Hansen's outstanding pass and basket protection in the summer league provides a preliminary and reasonable explanation for the Trail Blazers' offseason choice. If the 7-foot-1 center can really become a player like Jokic, then doubts about his 16th pick will disappear.
With Ayton's departure, Yang Hansen will still face fierce competition from Donovan Klingen, Robert Williams and Rees in the center position.
Holiday needs to prove that he is still a high-level starter, defender and leader to prove that the Blazers’ decision to choose him in the offseason is correct. He is older, more costly and less offensive than Anfini Simmons, who left the team.
Last season, the Trail Blazers achieved a record of 23 wins and 18 losses at the end of the season, and most of the time was dominated by young players. After exchanging draft picks for Avdia last year, the Trail Blazers further strengthened the veteran lineup by introducing Holiday. On the one hand, you have to admire their determination to do their best; on the other hand, the Trail Blazers also take risks and hope for their sprint performance at the end of the season.
Let's stay optimistic, assuming Holiday can make the Trail Blazers stronger in the short term, and Yang Hansen joins a potential young core roster to make the team more attractive in the long term.
Rating: B
King of Sacramento
Schroeder's contract was partially guaranteed in the third year, which somewhat reduced the risk of the three-year contract with a total value of up to $44 million. However, it is difficult to see it as a clearly positive addition for a player who is about to turn 32 and has played for nine teams over the past 12 years. The Kings do need a starting point guard, and Schroeder may be their best choice for now.
In addition, the Kings exchanged Valancius for Salic, but eventually got a weaker player and failed to solve the team's lack of a substitute center. Even when it comes to the new signing of Eubanks, he can't fill the vacancy.
The most criticized is that Sacramento re-hired Scott Perry to lead the management. You may remember that he signed Carter, 40, Randolph, 36, and George Hill, 31, in the offseason in 2017, and soon after he switched to the Knicks, leaving the veterans frustrated on a hopeless team.
Rating: D-
San Antonio Spurs
There was a moment when people were excited to imagine that the Spurs introduced a superstar through trade to accelerate the team's rise.
However, rumors about Antetokounmpo or Durant did not come true in the end, and the Spurs could only build around Vinban Yama at a smaller, more cautious pace.
It is natural to choose Dylan Harper in the draft, although Fox and Castle have become regular candidates in the backcourt. This choice should make the Spurs more determined when negotiating the next contract with Fox. With Harper and Castle, there is no need to be too generous to the veteran point guard.
Free player Cornet should bring better performance than the Spurs' substitute center last season, while Olynick obtained through the trade has brought exciting space to the frontcourt.
If Carter Bryant, who was selected at the 14th pick, performs well in the early stages, perhaps the Spurs will reconsider the big deal involving Harrison Barnes, Kelden Johnson and Sohan before the trade deadline.
Rating: B
Utah Jazz
Ice Bailey became the No. 5 show on draft night, which was undoubtedly an adventure. It wasn't clear at first whether he would play for the Jazz, and his performance at Rutgers wasn't convincing, suggesting that his talent might not translate into team success.
Nevertheless, choosing him is still the right decision. The Jazz have been rebuilt for more than three years, but still haven't found a young cornerstone player in the 2025 draft. Although Pele was not efficient on the court and his decisions before the draft were puzzled, he was still the most potential among all the candidates at that time. This risk may be worth it.
The deal to trade Collins for Love, Lee Kyle and a second-round draft pick seems to be not much reward, but it may free up more frontcourt playing time for Filipovsky and Hendrix who returned from injury, thus bringing some value.
However, the deal to send Sexton and a second-round pick to the Hornets in exchange for Nurkic is still confusing. In this deal, the Jazz sent out better players who shouldn't offer any additional compensation.
Rating: C
Original text: Grant Hughes
Compiled by JayChan
source:7m cnsports