NBA Off-Seasons Ranked

https://theathletic.com/4769198/2023/08/24/nba-offseason-moves-grizzlies-spurs-wembanyama/?source=freedailyemail&campaign=601983



NBA’s best offseason moves by team: Top 10, from Grizzlies to Spurs


David Aldridge
Aug 24, 2023


Ask Philly.

Every summer, I make it clear that ranking a team in the top 10 in its offseason moves is not a guarantor or prediction that it will have a successful campaign the following season or is destined for an NBA Finals run. As such, I offer this year’s Exhibit A: the 2022-23 Philadelphia 76ers, to whom I gave the top offseason grade — for the second time in three seasons. I loved the Sixers’ acquisitions of P.J. Tucker and De’Anthony Melton and Danuel House. I thought they’d make a difference in playoff games, when the pressure was greatest and the stakes the highest. I couldn’t imagine defenses being able to keep all of Tucker, Melton and House from hitting killer 3s when opponents would have to collapse on Joel Embiid, or when James Harden yo-yoed his way into the paint and drew weakside helpers.

And then … yeah.

So, again: Don’t gloat if you see your squad ranked here; don’t pout if you don’t. This is guesswork, not rocket science. What I will lean into is my belief that the teams listed here did the best work this offseason in improving their squads, maxing out on their available resources. Only one of the 10 listed, for example, made a free-agent signing at significant (for the NBA) dollars. The rest used exceptions, renegotiations and trades to do their quality work. And, yes: There’s no “work” to be done if you just happened to get the right ping-pong combination in a year that there just happened to be a foundational, generational 7-foot-4 prospect who was draft eligible. Sometimes, it’s just your lucky day.

Still, that’s one day. Ask Philly how it went afterward.

In case you missed it, in the first piece of this year’s series, I explained what you need to know about these rankings and the methodology behind them. Now, let’s dive into teams in the top 10.

Salary numbers, with a couple of exceptions, come from Spotrac, which stays on top of this stuff as well as anyone east of Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report. Draft pick details from both Spotrac and Real GM.


10. Memphis Grizzlies

2022-23 record: 51-31; lost in first round

Added: G Marcus Smart (acquired from Boston); G Derrick Rose (two years, $6.5M); G Josh Christopher (acquired from Houston); F Isaiah Todd (acquired from Phoenix); G Vanja Marinković (acquired from Clippers); F G.G. Jackson (second round, 45th pick overall); F Tarik Biberovic (second round, 56th pick overall); 2024 first-round pick swap (acquired from Phoenix); 2030 first-round pick swap (acquired from Phoenix)
Lost: F Dillon Brooks (traded to Houston); G Tyus Jones (traded to Washington); G Marcus Sasser (draft rights traded to Detroit); 2o24 first-round pick (traded to Boston); 2025, 2028 and 2029 second-round picks (traded to Phoenix)
Retained: C/F Xavier Tillman ($1.9M team option)
Extended: F Desmond Bane (five years, $205.9M)
Returning from injury: F Brandon Clarke (Achilles tear); C Steven Adams (right PCL strain); G Luke Kennard (left shoulder injury)
Returning from suspension: G Ja Morant (suspended first 25 games of 2023-24 season)

The skinny: With Morant on the shelf until at least early December, the Grizzlies had a need and addressed it by getting Smart. They weren’t going to be able to pay Jones, a free agent next summer, so they included him in the three-team deal with Boston and Washington. Brooks, of course, had been a dead man walking in Memphis for some time, so his departure is best for all involved. Smart is out of central casting for Grit-N-Grind 2.0, and, when Morant comes back, Taylor Jenkins will have some real lineup flexibility. Getting Bane inked long term was essential to keeping the Grizz on the contender track. If Adams and Kennard are back full strength for the start of the season (Clarke, who got hurt in March, won’t be), Memphis should be able to hold the fort until Morant’s return.


9. Houston Rockets

2022-23 record: 22-60; did not make playoffs

Added: G Fred VanVleet (three years, $128.5M); F Dillon Brooks (acquired via sign-and-trade with Memphis after signing four-year, $80M deal with Grizzlies); C Jock Landale (four years, $32M); Jeff Green (two years, $16M); G Aaron Holiday (one year, $2.35M); F Alpha Kaba (acquired from Atlanta); G Amen Thompson (first round, fourth pick overall); F Cam Whitmore (first round, 20th pick overall); two future second-round picks (acquired from Clippers); G Trevor Hudgins (two-way); F Darius Days (two-way); hired coach Ime Udoka
Lost: F Kenyon Martin Jr. (traded to Clippers); G Josh Christopher (traded to Memphis); F Usman Garuba (traded to Atlanta); G TyTy Washington (traded to Atlanta); G Daishen Nix (waived); fired coach Stephen Silas
Retained: None
Extended: None
Returning from injury: F Jae’Sean Tate (knee)

The skinny: The Rockets definitely ripped up their former “culture,” such as it was, by bringing in Udoka, VanVleet and Brooks — a new triumvirate to help their young guys with the whole leadership and defense thing. You can argue they paid too much for FVV and Brooks, but Tilman Fertitta and GM Rafael Stone are no shrinking violets; they wanted to make a big splash, and they did. The Rockets get a top-10 ranking here for crushing the draft as well. Thompson is a legit major talent, and getting Whitmore that late in the first after his precipitous fall could wind up being a ridiculous value. (I said “could” be; there’s usually a reason why guys drop on draft night.) At the least, Thompson and VanVleet will make Jalen Green and Kevin Porter Jr. fight for their minutes and give Udoka some interesting options to pair with Jabari Smith and/or Alperen Şengün. One caveat: Brooks is an elite defender, to be sure, but not only did he struggle to shoot it from deep in Memphis (34.2 percent in six seasons) — with better talent around him than there will be in Houston — he wasn’t so hot on 2s either (45.9 percent).

What are Rockets getting in Fred VanVleet? A savvy veteran or player past his prime?


8. Sacramento Kings

2022-23 record: 48-34; lost in first round

Added: F Sasha Vezenkov (three years, $19.9M); C Nerlens Noel (one year, $3.2M); F Chris Duarte (acquired from Indiana); G Colby Jones (draft rights acquired from Charlotte); F Jalen Slawson (second round, 54th pick overall); F Keon Ellis (two-way)
Lost: C Richaun Holmes (traded to Dallas); F Olivier-Maxence Prosper (draft rights traded to Dallas); F Jordan Walsh (draft rights traded to Boston); G P.J. Dozier (waived); 2028 (via Dallas) and 2030 second-round picks (traded to Indiana)
Retained: F Harrison Barnes (three years, $54M); C Alex Len (one year, $3.2M); F Trey Lyles (two years, $16M); F Kessler Edwards (team picked up $1.9M option for 2023-24)
Extended: C Domantas Sabonis (five years, $217M, renegotiation-and-extension)
Returning from injury: Sabonis (fractured thumb)

The skinny: Solid work from GM Monte McNair and company, taking the savings from moving Holmes and the draft rights to Prosper to be able to comfortably re-sign Barnes and finally bring aboard Vezenkov, the EuroLeague MVP this past season with Olympiacos. I also like taking low-cost fliers on Noel and Duarte — the latter fell out of favor in Indy but is way too young to give up on. I’m not as sanguine on the renegotiation/extension amount for Sabonis. I get wanting to keep continuity for a team that finally ended the Kings’ postseason drought, but sometimes you can fall a little too in love with your own guys. Sabonis is an All-Star, to be sure, and a leader. But, as our John Hollinger pointed out, who were the Kings going to really be negotiating against next summer, when Sabonis would have been a free agent?


7. Dallas Mavericks

2022-23 record: 38-44; did not make playoffs

Added: F Grant Williams (via sign-and-trade with Boston for three years, $54M); C Richaun Holmes (acquired from Sacramento); G Seth Curry (two years, $9.2M); G Dante Exum (one year, $2.7M); C Dereck Lively II (draft rights acquired from Oklahoma City); F Olivier-Maxence Prosper (draft rights acquired from Sacramento); G Mike Miles (two-way); G A.J. Lawson (two-way); G Taze Moore (Exhibit 10)
Lost: F Dāvis Bertāns (traded to Oklahoma City); F Reggie Bullock (traded to San Antonio); G Justin Holiday (signed with Denver); 2030 first-round pick swap (San Antonio); 2024, 2028 second-round picks (traded to Boston)
Retained: G Kyrie Irving (three years, $126M); C Dwight Powell (three years, $12M)
Extended: None
Returning from injury: None

The skinny: I guess the Mavs were right to make sure they kept their first-round pick. Considering how their front office was excoriated (and, by the league, fined) for being all-in on the end-of-season tankage, they get kudos for improving their roster with somewhat limited pieces. With the 10th pick in hand, they moved back two spots on draft night in a trade with OKC, got the guy they wanted anyway in Lively and were able to both shed a bad contract (Bertāns) and get a juicy traded player exception in the process. They then used the TPE to maneuver into a deal with Sacramento for Holmes. Holmes/Lively should be a two-way upgrade in the middle. They then added one of the top free agents available this summer in Williams, brought Curry back on a very modest deal and never appeared headed in re-signing Irving or Powell. Dallas is deeper and more versatile going forward.


6. Los Angeles Lakers

2022-23 record: 43-39; lost in West finals

Added: G Gabe Vincent (three years, $33M); F Taurean Prince (one year, $4.5M); C/F Jaxson Hayes (two years, $4.6M); F Cam Reddish (two years, $4.6M); G Jalen Hood-Schifino (first round, 17th pick overall); F Maxwell Lewis (draft rights acquired from Denver); C Colin Castleton (two-way); F D’Moi Hodge (tw0-way); F Alex Fudge (two-way)
Lost: G Dennis Schröder (signed with Toronto); F Troy Brown Jr. (signed with Minnesota); C Mo Bamba (waived); G Shaquille Harrison (waived); F Cole Swider (waived); G Mojave King (draft rights traded to Indiana)
Retained: G Austin Reaves (four years, $56M); F Rui Hachimura (three years, $51M); G D’Angelo Russell (two years, $37M)
Extended: F/C Anthony Davis (three years, $177M)
Returning from injury: None

The skinny: Rob Pelinka continues a strong rebound after a couple of disastrous summers. The coup this offseason was unmooring Vincent from Miami. He feels like a perfect temperamental/skill fit for LeBron and AD — though we will have to see if Vincent’s severe uptick in production during his star turn in the playoffs is a precursor of future use throughout an entire season. At minimum, he replaces Schröder without much fuss. Prince is an under-the-radar gem. And keeping all of Reaves, Hachimura and Russell in the fold without any significant future financial burdening was strong work. Keeping continuity with a core that had a strong end of season and playoff run keeps the Lakers in the title contender mix.

The meteoric rise and new-found fame of Austin Reaves


5. Indiana Pacers

2022-23 record: 35-47; did not make playoffs

Added: F Bruce Brown (two years, $45M); F Obi Toppin (acquired from New York); F Jarace Walker (draft rights acquired from Washington); G Ben Sheppard (first round, 26th pick overall); G Mojave King (draft rights acquired from Lakers); G Isaiah Wong (second round, 55th pick overall); F Kendall Brown (two-way); 2024 first-round pick (acquired from Detroit); two 2028 second-round picks (acquired from Washington); 2028 second-round pick (acquired from Sacramento via Dallas); 2030 second-round pick (acquired from Sacramento)
Lost: F Chris Duarte (traded to Sacramento); F Julian Strawther (draft rights traded to Denver); G Jalen Pickett (draft rights acquired from Denver); 2028 second-round pick (traded to New York); 2029 second-round pick (traded to New York)
Retained: F Kendall Brown (two-way)
Extended: G Tyrese Haliburton (five years, $205.9M)
Returning from injury: Brown (right tibia surgery)

The skinny: Did they overpay for Brown? Yes. But, how else do teams like the Pacers secure premium free agents? Brown’s deal is lucrative, but it’s also short. Toppin is certainly worth taking a look at for the cost of two second-rounders. Indiana also parlayed Washington’s desire to grab Bilal Coulibaly before the Spurs or someone else jumped ahead of Indy to add a couple of future seconds while still getting Walker, who is from the hard-nosed Kelvin Sampson Finishing School at Houston. Sheppard and Wong each had a lot of supporters before the draft, too. The biggest move, though, was getting Haliburton’s John Hancock on a max extension. Indiana obviously made the 23-year-old feel like a centerpiece who was comfortable tying his future to the franchise. Nicely done.


4. Boston Celtics

2022-23 record: 57-25; lost in East finals

Added: F Kristaps Porziņģis (acquired from Washington); F Oshae Brissett (two years, $4.6M); G Dalano Blanton (two years, $4.2M); F Jordan Walsh (draft rights acquired from Sacramento); G JD Davison (two-way); G Jay Scrubb (two-way); 2024 first-round pick (acquired from Memphis); 2027 second-round pick (acquired from Atlanta); 2024, 2028 second-round picks (acquired from Dallas)
Lost: G Marcus Smart (traded to Memphis); F Grant Williams (traded to Dallas) F Danilo Gallinari (traded to Washington); F/C Mike Muscala (traded to Washington); F Julian Phillips (draft rights traded to Chicago); C Mouhamed Gueye (draft rights traded to Atlanta)
Retained: None
Extended: F Jaylen Brown (five years, $288M)
Returning from injury: G Malcolm Brogdon (elbow)

The skinny: We’re bullish on Porziņģis here. He knows where he can get his shots, is a tough cover and shot the deep ball very comfortably last season (38.5 percent). Now, teams do attack him in pick-and-rolls, and he got in foul trouble a lot last season. But as a third option on offense? On a much, much better defensive team? Who is underrated as a rim defender? Sign us up, even as KP’s injury history (this time, plantar fasciitis in his right foot) pops up again. And getting Brown locked in alongside Jayson Tatum surely matters greatly. However, losing both Smart and Williams is a lot of defense, toughness and culture leaving town, and Brogdon can’t be feeling too great knowing the C’s dealt him to the Clippers in the first iteration of the trade that brought Porziņģis from Washington. It will take this new group a while to come together, but it’s not a surprise Brad Stevens opted for major roster realignment after another playoff disappointment.

Celtics roster check: What do they have? What do they need?


3. Phoenix Suns

2022-23 record: 45-37; lost in second round

Added: G Bradley Beal (acquired from Washington); G Jordan Goodwin (acquired from Washington); G Eric Gordon (two years, $6.5M); F Yuta Watanabe (two years, $5M); F Keita Bates-Diop (two years, $5M); F/C Bol Bol (one year, $2.17M); C Chimezie Metu (one year, $2.3M); F Toumani Camara (second round, 52nd pick overall); G Saben Lee (two-way); 2024 second-round pick (acquired from San Antonio); 2024, 2026, 2028 second-round picks (acquired from Orlando); 2025, 2028, 2029 second-round picks (acquired from Memphis); hired coach Frank Vogel
Lost: G Chris Paul (traded to Washington); G Landry Shamet (traded to Washington); G Cameron Payne (traded to San Antonio); F Isaiah Todd (traded to Memphis); C Jock Landale (signed with Houston); 2026 first-round pick (traded to Orlando); 2024, 2026, 2028, 2030 first-round pick swaps (traded to Washington); 2024, 2030 first-round pick swaps (traded to Memphis); 2024, 2025, 2026, 2027, 2028, 2030 second-round picks (traded to Washington); fired coach Monty Williams
Retained: C Drew Eubanks (two years, $5M); G Damion Lee (two years, $5.3M); G Josh Okogie (two years, $5.7M); F Ish Wainright (Suns exercised $1.93M option for 2023-24)
Extended: None
Returning from injury: None

The skinny: Phoenix looked like a franchise that needed a shake-up, and GM James Jones delivered. Beal was the headline pickup and will slide into the complementary role offensively alongside Kevin Durant and Devin Booker that’s probably his best spot; that trio should be insanely productive. But the Suns’ best work was parlaying minimum salaries and less-than-midlevel slots into what should be a very solid bench. I especially like getting Watanabe from the Nets and Bates-Diop from the Spurs. I’m not sure firing Williams was the right answer, but two straight awful playoff flameouts gave Mat Ishbia a reason to make a change. No doubt, though: The Suns are hella small now aside from Deandre Ayton and Bol. And Beal, while willing to pass as a lead guard, was often sped up into turnovers and bad decisions when he had those responsibilities in Washington the last couple of seasons.


2. Cleveland Cavaliers

2022-23 record: 51-31; lost in first round

Added: F Max Strus (acquired from Miami via four-year, $63M sign-and-trade); F Georges Niang (three years, $26M); G Ty Jerome (two years, $4.6M); C Damian Jones (acquired from Utah); F Emoni Bates (second round, 49th pick overall)
Lost: F Cedi Osman (traded to San Antonio); F Lamar Stevens (traded to San Antonio); 2026 second-round pick (traded to Miami); 2030 second-round pick (traded to San Antonio)
Retained: F Isaiah Mobley (two-way)
Extended: F Caris LeVert (two years, $32M)
Returning from injury: None

The skinny: Quality work by GM Koby Altman and crew, zeroing in on exactly what plagued their team in its first-round loss to New York — horrendous shooting (32.7 percent) from deep — and adding two quality marksmen in Strus and Niang at very decent market values. Strus in particular should provide player movement regardless of how well he’s shooting, a necessity in a half-court offense that bogged down into awful possessions against New York, leaving Donovan Mitchell or Darius Garland to try and create against a walled-up defense. Yes, Cleveland’s frontcourt got bludgeoned on the glass by the Knicks. But good on the Cavs as well for not having a recency bias reaction to Jarrett Allen’s poor series. Neither he nor Evan Mobley played well against the Knicks, but both deserve another postseason opportunity to show what they learned from the experience.


1. San Antonio Spurs

2022-23 record: 22-60; did not make playoffs

Added: F Reggie Bullock (acquired from Dallas); F Cedi Osman (acquired from Cleveland); G Cameron Payne (acquired from Phoenix); F/C Victor Wembanyama (first round, first pick overall); G Sidy Cissoko (second round, 44th pick overall); G Sir’Jabari Rice (two-way); F Dominick Barlow (two-way); 2030 first-round pick swap (acquired from Dallas); 2026 second-round pick (acquired from Miami); 2028 second-round pick (acquired from Utah); 2028 second-round pick (acquired from Minnesota); 2030 second-round pick (acquired from Cleveland)
Lost: F Lamar Stevens (waived); F Leonard Miller (draft rights traded to Minnesota); 2025 second-round pick (traded to Dallas); 2027 second-round pick (traded to Miami)
Retained: G Tre Jones (two years, $20M); C Sandro Mamukelashvili (one year, $2M); F Julian Champagnie (four years, $12M)
Extended: None
Returning from injury: F/C Zach Collins (finger surgery)

The skinny: You can overthink this some years — not this time. There’s never been an NBA prospect like the French teenage phenom. Thus, it’s hard to argue there’s any team that had a better offseason. And the Spurs also added further around the margins by getting into the deal with Cleveland and Miami that sent Max Strus to the Cavs, adding Osman. Cissoko is a big, physical guard with upside. Bullock adds class and a career 38.4 percent mark on 3s to the locker room. But it’s all about Wembanyama’s development from here on. He and his team will be moving into the franchise’s new $500 million practice facility this fall. There’s fresh buzz about a potential downtown arena. Gregg Popovich has a fat new contract. The sky, which Wemby can’t touch even at 7-4 but is closer to than almost all other Earthlings, is the limit.


Bob


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