2026 NBA Offseason Grade (Pacific Division)

GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS: C

Some people say that the Warriors had the worst offseason of any fan favorite, but I don't wholly feel that way.  They're not lying when they say that if Butler is healthy, he would make a huge difference.  If he returns in form, that should instantly thrust the Warriors up to the same consideration of at least the Rockets.  This is the most 'what if they were healthy' team in the league.  Remember that Porzingis is an all-time injury great.

Their rookie, Yaxel Lendenborg, won the most notable summer league.  Those kinds of accomplishments don't really tend to make a difference in the long run, but better some good news than none.

The above grade does not take into consideration that the Dubs (if they're still called that) quote/unquote 'missed out on Lebron James'.  The "C" represents the fact that they're already a good team (on paper), who have decided to stand pat.  But they need miracles of sports science type shit.

LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS: B

All things considered, the Clippers should dedicate at least one entire season to testing Kawhi as the undisputed alpha.  In a way, it's like he was never truly had that position in his entire career.  The sad thing though, if they are forced down that route, is that the braintrust didn't use this offseason to specifically build a team around him.

One thing you have to respect about this franchise is that they never tank.  Even when it looked like Leonard was leaving, they were dedicated to competing in the present.  The roster may be mediocre and nonprogressive, but they aren't approaching the season like pushovers.

LOS ANGELES LAKERS: B+

In terms of roster additions, the Lakers' offseason hasn't been inspiring at all.  I'd rather pair Jaxson Hayes with Luka than Walker Kessler.  But they did the best they could, I guess.

But if they had known, for an entire year and a half, that the plan was for Lebron, their best all-around player, to leave town, why weren't they better prepared?  'Oh, but we did prepare. We've been working on the Walker Kessler deal for the last 18 months'.  That sounds like an executive who wants to be replaced by AI.

But this is what I want you to also to keep in mind.  During the Trump era, the Lakers have now become the whitest team in the NBA, besides establishing a familial relationship with the White House.  You do the math.

They still need to work on star power though, which makes keeping Bronny around, despite whatever, more logical.  And if they get to flunking again, the 'Re-Trade Luka Movement' is going to start soon.

PHOENIX SUNS: C

Miles Bridges is a fine addition who should make this team more entertaining, but he doesn't solve their problem of too much iso.  Replacing Chris Paul with KD fuked Phoenix up in more ways than one because now, they don't even know how to play team basketball anymore.  But even if they did, with this roster it wouldn't make a whole world of difference.

Ideally, an organization would be one that players want to play for, even if you don't bribe (i.e. overpay) them.  That's what the Suns lack.  They have the best graphic designs in the league and something like a winning history but can never establish themselves like the big dogs, the types of franchises that old, valuable vets believe they can win a championship with.

SACRAMENTO KINGS: C-

The Kings are easily the most obscure franchise in the NBA.  They're so bad that even lineups that look almost perfect on paper end up falling to the bottom of the standings.

It's so bad that now the keys of the car are being handed to a #5 draft pick even though, you know, guys like Sabonis - arguably the best pure PF in the league - are still around.  And I'm like, don't put too much pressure on the kid.  In order to turn this sh*tshow around, he'd have to be an all-time great.  Lebron could come to this team, and they'd still suck.

CONCLUSION

There doesn't appear to be much noteworthy going on here.  The Pacific boasts an admirable level of celebrity.  But I mean, if the closest you appear to having a contender is the Lakers, that's not really anything to brag about.

2026 NBA Offseason Grades (Central Division)

CHICAGO BULLS: B+

You have to give it to the Bulls that, at least they're trying, and we have to presume that the additions of Powell, Claxton and Caleb Wilson will make this team better.  It's possible that they may even be entertaining, as the roster looks really fast on paper and have some good athletes.

The goal, I would presume, is to at least make the playoffs.  And even though the conference has gotten deeper, like if they can't even do that, then maybe it's time to start striving for a young A-lister to bring in.

CLEVELAND CAVALIERS: B-

More than any team this offseason, I would say the Cavs took one step forward, two steps backwards.  And somehow, saying that doesn't feel surprising.

The addition of Watson is cool, I guess, maybe.  But now, Cleveland has gone from being one of the deepest rosters to having more, perhaps even too much, talent concentrated at the top.

And the bigger concern is still compatibility.  I was saying before that these starters need a 3 like Josh Hart.  And since then, Dillon Brooks also came to mind (i.e. if he didn't chuck as much).  But Peyton Watson?  He's a shooter and a board crasher.  The more the merrier, I guess.  But the goal should have been the type of glue man who could mitigate Harden's overdribbling, and Spider being forced to the 2, even though he'd probably be better at the 1.  Oh sh*t - the word Ben Simmons almost came out my mouth.

I think the Cavs are the only team who have three long, skinny dudes starting.  I don't know if they're officially the tallest frontline.  But either way, that's a sound piece of wembyproofing.

But again, the problem is, damn.  I don't even wanna talk about Cleveland anymore.  Ultimately, someone on the bench must have an amazing season

DETROIT PISTONS: C

Taking for granted that Duren is going to stick around (at least another year), the Pistons offseason hasn't been that bad because, to reiterate, Collins isn't a slouch.

I also wish Harris had stuck around, at least for another season.  So all those years as a pariah and then finally, this postseason, you redeem yourself.  I think it would have been better if he stayed on the team where the redemption took place.

The bigger pain, though, is the departure of Isaiah Stewart, who felt a true Piston.  The braintrust did a pretty good job of keeping the core together, up until now.  Remember that just two seasons ago, they had one of the worst records - in history.  In a span of just a year, that same core was then able to earn the number one seed.  I'm not quite sure why you would want to devalue an accomplishment like that.

Also, let's be frank.  Detroit's record was a lot better last season than in 2024-25.  But in 2024-25, they were more intimidating.  And who did they most notably lose after that season?

When you talk about a secondary scorer to play alongside Cade, Malik Beasley isn't the type to come to mind.  But maybe the moral of the story is that the Pistons don't even need another A-lister.  Detroit isn't tall, but they have one of the best frontlines.  The lingering issue though is lack of intimidating wings.

Silver and co., you know what I'm saying?  Cut your boy some slack.  If he's eventually found guilty or whatever, he's going to need the dough to payoff penalties anyway.

INDIANA PACERS: D

As it currently stands, I'm angrier with this braintrust than any other.  No, they didn't gut the roster last season.  But at the same time, they should have done everything possible to keep it intact (i.e. retaining Turner and/or Mathurin).

First, they would've won more games.  And what exactly was the purpose of (intentionally) losing last season?  All you were able to get is a second rounder.  And there's no way the team would have been that bad if Myles had stayed around. Suck, maybe, but not bottom of the barrel.

If Haliburton is able to come back and reclaims his "Steph of the East" magic, okay.  If not, then yeah, you know what I mean?  Let the other dudes learn to survive without him, and no, not in that getting-run-off-the-court-every-other-night type of way.  The 2024-25 Pacers were the greatest Cinderella story of the last 20 years, despite not winning it all. So even if the star player goes down, why would the braintrust want to reaccustom them to losing?

MILWAUKEE BUCKS: D

This D feels a little low, but then again yeah, if you lose Giannis, you know?  And it ain't even about what they could've got in return.  Even if they did bring back another superstar, he wouldn't have been homegrown and someone who already led the city to a championship, nor is any player actually more dominant.  This one was going to hurt no matter what, and the Bucks were able to come out of it respectfully.

And I'm kinda excited for their future, almost to the point of maybe even watching them again, sometimes.  Herro is set to enjoy an undisputed alpha level of freedom and may be the only white American player to lead a team.  Also, we now get a chance to see if Kel'el is truly a starter.

Fun Fact: Kyle Kuzma is still on this team, lol.

Also, Myles Turner is lingering around.  Please, find a way to get dude back to Indy and fast track the rebuild.

CONCLUSION

This division is unique, in that it's supposed to have two contenders, as well as possibly a third, if Haliburton returns in form.  But it damn sure doesn't feel that way, as if the Central is truly formidable.  The Cavs aren't afraid to take big swings, but they swing so hard that they miss the ball.  The Pistons are still bickering with who is considered to be their second-best player, besides losing who was arguably their emotional leader.  And the Pacers were so bad last season that now it feels like they're re-starting from scratch.  But there's no way that all three of them can disappoint, right?

2026 NBA Offseason Grades: Northwest Division

DENVER NUGGETS: B

The Nuggets have acquired the services of DeMar DeRozan, which is a quality pickup.  I would even argue that he's an upgrade over Watson, even though they're different types of players.  DeMar is more resilient and proven.

But it looks like, based on preliminary suggestions, that they may actually bench him on behalf of Christian Braun.  If that's true, that means both Westbrook and DeRozan, i.e. one lock and one probable future HoFer, would have been benched in favor of Braun.  Please, someone make sense of that to me.

I think Lonnie Walker IV was also a solid acquisition.  But unless you're a fan of nostalgia, I really don't see any need to get excited about Denver from the jump though, with DeMar, it is possible they'll overachieve.

The bench, regardless if he or Christian leads the second unit, is nothing to write home about.  But I guess, all things considered, the braintrust did the best they could.  Losing Watson kinda sucks, but not really, after it was revealed, reading in between the lines, that he wasn't overly committed to the organization.

MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES: A

It remains to be seen if the Wolves have gotten better.  Kuminga for Reid and Ball for Conley + Randle are like equal tradeoffs on paper.  But I agree with other pundits that it was better for Minny to do something (drastic) rather than standing pat.  Looking at the signs last postseason, you don't want to risk a situation where Edwards may decide to force his way out.  And things have definitely improved in that, besides Philly (and San Antonion, I guess), so long as they're healthy, the T-Wolves are the only other team that's must-watch, win or lose.  Building that kind of roster, without Lebron or Wemby, is something to be applauded.

OKC THUNDER: A-

The NBA is more injury prone than ever, and likewise having insurance (i.e. a deep roster) is also more ideal than ever.  But I like the fact that the Thunder have trimmed down, because even though all those moving pieces were intimidating, they weren't as good as a lot of people thought.

That championship they won, it's arguable they wouldn't have (despite homecourt advantage) if Haliburton didn't get hurt.  And last season, deep roster and all, they lost in the WCF anyway.  Yes, I know Williams was hurt (and they rushed him back) and one of those redundant yet effective wing dudes was also injured.  But not being able to survive a couple of injuries defeats the purpose of being that deep to begin with.  And also, as fans, we could use more Alex Caruso and Jared McCain.

But I guess the one downside is people now believing that Holmgren is overrated, yet OKC failed to acquire any additional, notable bigs to back him up.  I don't necessarily feel that way.  I believe Chet is so tall that Wemby is the first time he ever faced anyone whose actually taller.  He lost his biggest advantage, so it's a learning curve.  Dude may have that Ryan Reynolds' head, but he's still a child.

PORTLAND TRAILBLAZERS: A-

I like the fact that Portland acquired Morant and also that they've retained the services of Scoot, for what it's worth.  This is a deep and formidable, albeit undersized, G core, especially if Lillard returns anywhere near his previous, perennial-allstar form.  It's also balanced, like you have two elders and then two younger bucks.  They could be a surprise team.  But at the same time, it doesn't necessarily appear as if they're vying for a championship.  Or let's say that, if they are expecting to win it all, then the onus has once again been placed on Damian, despite his age and injury history.

UTAH JAZZ: C

Last season, the Jazz were being advertised as a team who, despite sucking since the departure of Spider + Gobert, would finally have their shit together this coming season, or in the very least a frontline to look forward to in Markannen + Jackson Jr. + Kessler, buttressed by a young, promising G core.  And just like that, with the departure of Walker, the vision has evaporated.

Meanwhile, I'm looking at the roster like okay, a lot of these younger dudes I don't really know.  But it's like, who cares?  Has progress been achieved, as envisioned in February?  I'm surprised a braintrust led by Danny Ainge is mired in mediocrity like this.  Maybe he shoulda stayed in Boston.

CONCLUSION

A couple of teams in this division, i.e. Minnesota and Portland, have made powermoves as compared to last season's rosters.  And since the conference has gotten weaker in general, a sleeper or two will inevitably emerge out West.  But none in this division have clearly upgraded besides, fingers crossed, the Blazers.  And the only indisputable contender, as it currently stands, is of course OKC.