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 have to a contender is the Lakers, that's not really anything to brag about.
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