2026 NBA Offseason Grade (Southeast Division)

ATLANTA HAWKS: C-

The Hawks were the feel-good team of the East last season, holding the sole distinction of being the only squad to win two games against the Knicks in the postseason.  Even though no one was really expecting them to win the series, the energy was really positive - right up until Game 6, when dudes got their asses bust so thoroughly that it's amazing they didn't break out in tears on court.  Even the braintrust and owners shoulda been crying about that shit.

Usually, when you have a promising team lose like that, the offseason goal is to prepare themselves to face the same nemesis the next year.  And that's where Atlanta has totally failed.  What they needed to counteract a squad like NYK is size.  Yet by the looks of things, there isn't a single notable big on the entire roster.  I understand why maybe they didn't want to hold onto Kuminga or Risacher.  But damn, what was the backup plan while sacrificing that height?

The Hawks are also one of those teams who, unfortunately for them, are still stuck in the smallball era.  Their biggest offseason acquisition was Lu Dort, i.e. one of the many OKC players who got nephewed by Wemby.  Logic would dictate that his perimeter defense will help a bit against a wing-heavy team like NYK.  But as other squads in the conference have bulked up, you know, it's doesn't really look like Atlanta took a step forward.

CHARLOTTE HORNETS: A

I really like what the Hornets have done this offseason, moving past the streetball era.  When the best scorer on the roster gets ignored during the postseason, something has to change.

By the looks of things, the moves they've made, most notably getting rid of LaMelo Ball and taking in Naz Reid - hasn't really impressed pundits.  But the way I see it, that was borderline perfect, with dudes like Knueppel and Miller on the roster, deserving more shine than a player like Ball would allot.  All this team needs is the right kind of player(s) to run point, i.e. dudes that won't chuck, which now they apparently have.  They may not be contenders yet but are on the right path and should at least make the playoffs proper(?).

MIAMI HEAT: A-

The acquisition of Giannis felt really good for about two days, until Normal Powell decided to bounce, after Miami had already parted ways with Herro and Jacquez.  That shit sucked the air out of me for a moment.

But at the same time, it's like no excuses because, oh sh*t, Giannis and Bam are on the same team, buttressed by Wiggins, now giving the Heat the best frontcourt in the league, over Philly, OKC, NYK or whoever.  Or, something like that.  No other contender with a big frontcourt is better suited to defend both the post and the perimeter.

The rest of the roster may leave something to be desired, but it isn't that bad.  The acquisition of an inspired Klay Thompson will likely prove huge in some cases, and don't forget he and Wiggins were championship teammates in the past.  And the best thing about it is, if any braintrust can make it work, it's Miami, though you would imagine they may pickup another notable G during the season.

ORLANDO MAGIC: B

Okay, so when dudes went out an acquired Desmond Bane, even though they needed a big more, the logic was that the following season, i.e. this offseason, they would upgrade the frontcourt.  And well, if you consider Vucevic a difference maker, I mean he has averaged a double-double cumulatively throughout his career, though, as with his recent stint in Boston, it isn't likely he's going to be getting a lot of touches surrounded by the Magic's chucks.

Indeed, after committing to Bane, it's like they no longer even had the dough to chase a more noteworthy big.  But again, it ain't like Vucevic is a bum, as much as it was the Celtics not really valuing his presence.

Also, remember last season, the Magic took the Pistons to seven games, if I remember correctly, even though Franz Wagner was injured, and imo they would have won the series if he wasn't.  So I mean yeah, progress has been achieved, I guess, though the downside is that the braintrust, by committing so much money to Franz, having forced themselves into a position that their fate more or less lies in his iffy health.

WASHINGTON WIZARDS: A

This isn't purely an offseason grade but considering all the moves the Wizards have made since February.  Not only do they now, all of a sudden, have the best mix of young and veteran stars in the league.  But also, more than anything, the roster is actually compatible, with a number of options that can be mixed and matched, if the coaching staff is worth its salt.

Last season, too much of the onus was put on young, unproven players.  This coming season, opponents are going to have a hard time keeping up with them, while simultaneously counteracting the vets.  Dudes have like 10 rotation-worthy players, which is something most teams cannot boast of at all.

The only thing that can fuck it up - and why I didn't want to rush to give dudes an A+ - is (#1) if AD goes diva and demands a trade and (#2) if Trae Young chucks, as is tradition.  Young has averaged nearly 9 assists throughout his career but is still deemed as someone who doesn't pass the ball enough.  And as for AD, you know, as a 7-footer, he doesn't like to play inside.  But with Sarr and Ayton also on the roster, I guess we can just finally love Anthony for who he is, tho pairing those types is probably going to leave something to be desired in terms of perimeter defense.

CONCLUSION

In any event, you have to give it to the Wizards for recognizing that we're no longer in the smallball era.  There's other teams in the Southeast who, by the looks of things, it's going to take them awhile to really catch on. 

The Heat may appear as the only true contenders in the division, but don't sleep on the Magic, if healthy, despite their lack of depth.  The Wizards are also the sleeper team of the entire Eastern Conference - remember you heard it here first.  The Southeast may have only one A-list franchise, but I'm looking forward to at least 4 out of these 5 squads making the playoffs.

2026 Elimination Ruminations: Celtics, Magic, Raptors

BOSTON CELTICS (3-4)

This was a really odd season in Boston.  The Celtics, without Tatum, were supposed to tank or at least be mediocre but instead, as happens sometimes (reference the 1993 Bulls), retained their championship pedigree even without the face of the franchise.  Then Jayson returned sooner than expected.  In hindsight, even though he regained form quickly, that was mistake number one.  The way dudes were playing, you shoulda let them finish the season out as is.  You see how they almost beat the Sixers, at full strength, in Game 7 without Tatum.

And while we're crying over spilt milk, let it also be known that I'm strong advocate of continuity.  Age factors, salaries, injuries, etc., you don't breakup a proven championship-level team prematurely, just because the star of the show is unable to play or whatever, taking for granted that your braintrust will promptly recuperate.  That's akin to quitting, besides betraying fans, and it's like the whole conclusive lesson of The Last Dance.  I'm not saying that still having Holiday, Porzingis and Horford around would have made a difference. But we'll never know, will we?

You can't tell a team that it's better to just play a season out without a star if he misses important segments and then suddenly at the last second, emerges playable.  Squads like the Sixers and Pistons also took such risks, and for them it paid off.

Embiid, hobbled he may be, emerged as the x-factor against Boston.  So I guess the ultimate lesson in all this, as has been the case for seasons (even when they did recently win a championship), is please Celtics, try to acquire a consistent, playable, above-average big.  Why they decided not to play Vucevic in Game 7, who knows?  And I'm not taking anything away from Queta, who's an overachiever.  But it's time to start taking the paint seriously again.  You can't have like rookies and shit running all roughshod over you during the playoffs.

ORLANDO MAGIC (3-4)

I'm not convinced that the Pistons are the better team.  Deeper, yes.  But what I rather believe is that if Franz Wagner remained playable, the Magic would have took it in five or six.  There really isn't much reason, based on this series, to believe otherwise.

Maxing Wagner out was a controversial decision, one of the main reasons (besides the fact he isn't a superstar) being his unpredictable health.  Health-wise, he's like a typical European in the NBA - an exceptional offensive force, but you wouldn't want to overplay (or overpay) him.

I'm also having a hard time understanding Orlando's fascination with Wendell Carter Jr.  I've been saying for year and years, even back when the Warriors were still formidable and everyone was still on this smallball shit, that the Magic needed to upgrade in the post.

Instead, they went out and acquired Bane.  I'm not going lie - that move panned out a lot better than I expected, if you consider barely making the playoffs and taking the number-one seed to seven games in the First Round an accomplishment.  Now, Orlando is just a couple of moves away for real.  They need to add a big who's actually effective and figure out a way to mitigate offensive deficiencies during those inevitable times when Franz can't play.

And ideally, they won't lose anyone in the process of rectifying those woes, as what ultimately did the Magic in against Detroit, more than anything, was lack of depth.  About midway through Game 6, dudes just ran out of steam and never fully regained it, outside of Banchero and his skinnier, less-talented yet still effective clone, Anthony Black.  Games 6 and 7, you could see Orlando came out hot (as usual).  The Pistons really couldn't do shit about it, but the Magic couldn't maintain the pace.

And by the way, whatever happened to Jonathan Isaac?  Remember that dude, a defensive specialist?  If he wasn't all banged up, the Magic would've won.

TORONTO RAPTORS (3-4)

As usual, despite their winning ways, the Cavs have failed to instill confidence in their fans.  They're one of the top 5, if not top 3, deepest teams in the NBA.  Yet they struggled to best an opponent with two of its starters missing the entire series.

Let's not forget that besides Ingram, who's a reigning All-Star, Quickley also isn't playable.  So instead, we have dudes starting who I never heard of before, like this cat Shead, proving heroes against one of the most-talented rosters in the league.  This series had sort of that Minnesota vs. Denver quality to it.

Right before Game 7, I stumbled across a video arguing that the Beard is 'the worst-performing superstar in NBA history'.  Until watching that clip, I didn't really know it was that bad.  In Game 7, if you look at the box score, he didn't really fare well at all, as the only reason he got near 20 pts was due to freethrows.

I know this isn't supposed to be about Cleveland, but in hindsight, that Harden trade looks sorta like one step forward, two steps backwards.  I won't go as far as to say that Mitchell is better at the point.  Harden is a lot better at getting his teammates involved.  But like his cohort, Donovan needs, indeed deserves the ball in his hand.  And that's the dilemma - having two deserving, ball dominant points (similar to when Garland was around) - on top of James' tendency to fizzle out.

That said, out of all the teams eliminated in the First Round, I would say that Toronto is the one that least needs a major roster change (outside of maybe acquiring a Giannis or something like that).  Their team is set, but damn those injuries, especially when it comes to the likes of Ingram. 

NBA Power Stinkings (December 2025, Part 2)

Sorry it took so long to get this second part off.  I was thining that maybe the teams on the lower half of the Power Stinking spectrum shouldnt even be mentioned, since technically they don't stink(?).  But none of us can see the future, and some of these better squad will inevitably fall off as the season wears on.

So that's the theme for today, not focusing on why these teams are good but rather postulating how they may most likely fail.

15. CLEVELAND CAVALIERS (14-11)

NBC recently pointed out how the Cavs aren't doing as well as they did last (regular) season, but that may be a good thing.  No use having the best record just to flunk in the First Round.  The better turnaround is to underperform in the regualr season but then represent in the postseason.  Unforutnately though, except for that 2016 championship, that Cavs aren't known for pulling off miracles.

It amazes me how much this roster seems to depend on Darius Garland.  But the bigger issue, I would agree, is the apparent lack of development in Evan Mobley.  Like I have yet to read anything positive about him this seaosn.  And I know he isn't a bad player, being a double-double machine, defensive force and all.  But Cleveland isn't likely going anywhere special unless he develops into the Kareem I predicted him to be.

14. ATLANTA HAWKS (14-11)

Add Trae Young to the ever growing unexpectedly-suddenly-expendable superstar list.  And the thing about these scenarios, as I continually point out in this blog, is it being kinda hard to shop a max player whom even his own team doesn't want(?) anymore.  I mean, it ain't like dude is KD.

Jalen Johnson has been the talk of the town when it comes to a star who's emerged out of nowhere.  Like I never even really heard of dude before.  But suddenly he's the man and proving, as a single player, to be what Atlanta hoped for when they paired Young with Murray a couple of seasons ago.

The rest of the roster is cool and play well as a unit, but there really isn't anyone else to fear to per se.  So it's safe to say that the Hawks will rise and fall with Johnson.

And as for Trae, bringing him back at this point and trying to reincorporate him, imo, is a no-no, unless he's able to relegate himself to the 2 and play off the ball (which is unlikely) or unless Johnson gets hurt.  They can offload him for a couple of complimentary players, save money and still progress in terms of on-court production.

13. MIAMI HEAT (14-11)

The Heat are a team that are known to overachieve in the postseason regularly.  Their achievements may not be miraculous per se, not in the Haliburton sense - rather being more attributable to good organization - but you get what I mean.  Meanwhile, they have a roster that's more or less built for the modern NBA.

But depending on what team you face, being undersized isn't always a good thing.  So yeah, it does kinda concern me that they don't seem to have anything like a traditional four whom they trust with big minutes.

The bigger concern though may be their lack of depth at the point.  I don't even know who's behind Mitchell on the depth chart.  Okay, I just googled it - Jahmir Johnson.  No disrespect, but TF is that?

12. TORONTO RAPTORS (15-11)

Let me be frank and say that I have a hard time believing in the Raptors.  What I do believe in, however, is pressure defense.

I've been waiting a long time for some braintrust to develop an effective way to defend againt the incessant three-point chucking that has become the norm.  And the answer may have been there all along, you know, fullcourt D type shit.

And you have to give it to Toronto's coaches for actually convincing dudes to play hard.  It probably wouldn't work if, you know, they had a diva or two on the roster.  I guess that's the advantage of not having even a single player who's like overly popular.

I don't really know enough about the Raptors to predict what may go wrong, and I like rooting for underdogs anyway.  That said, I have yet to hear anyone mention them as contenders.  And even then, if you really want to excel in media-driven professional sports, it helps to have a superstar.

11. PHOENIX SUNS (14-10)

I firmly agree with the other pundits who assert that the Suns have thus far been the surprise team, in a way, of the season.  Players like Booker, Brooks and even Williams are far from slouches.  But still, I don't think any of us was expecting this squad to actually be formidable.  And it's kinda scary, sorta in that Pacers-from-last-postseason kinda way.  Like if a team with an inferior roster starts beating better-built squads, then the sky's the limit.

The worst thing that can happen to Phoenix is reality catching up with them, like it has with the Bulls.  You pull a Buster Douglas, beating teams that you aren't supposed to but then, after knocking out Tyson, are like 'wait aminute. I'm fodder, not a champion'.

This is actually a feel-good story, considering how much this franchise recently suffered with their quote/unquote Big 3.  And if they sustain this, I think it's safe to say that Suns are just one compatible (disgruntled) star away from being contenders, if they can get someone like that without giving up any key pieces.    

10. SAN ANTONIO SPURS (16-7)

The NBA is a superstar-driven league, but there's obviously something going on these days that we're all missing.  When the next big thing goes down, on a team who's roster has only one other proven star, yet the team performs better without him, like that kinda shit is becoming increasingly common.  But the good thing about Wemby is that at least he's too young and popular for the Spurs to consider trading or benching, even if they are arguably better without him.

The Spurs biggest drawback, come postseason time, would likely be lack of experience.  Fox has been in the league for almost a decade but only has seven playoff games under his belt.  Barnes has championship experience from his days with the Dubs, but that was a long time ago and since then, he's been stuck on teams like the Blazers.  Oh yeah, Olynyk has been around the block a few times also, but neither he or Barnes, though made men(?), are like central pieces on this roster(?).

The Spurs are young, and in today's NBA, youth is an advantage more than its ever been.  But remember, OKC is out there also.

9. ORLANDO MAGIC (15-10)

I've been consistently dogging the Bane trade for months but am now eating my words a bit.  The thing is though, the Magic have been an upper-mid level Eastern Conference team for a couple of seasons now.  So it's not like them having a winning record or holding down a 3rd or 4th seed is anything new during the Banchero era.

What is becoming increasinly obvious is that this team is better with Banchero or Wagner but not both healthy at the same time.  Interestingly, if one of them has to go and the decision was made based on on-court success rather than popularity, it would have to be Paolo, not Franz.  Apparently that's a decison this braintrust has to eventually face, and hopefully they'll do the professional rather than trendy thing.

That said, Desmond is now proving his worth.  And since we already know this team can function without its biggest star, he may now be more valuable to Orlando's success than Banchero.

8. MINNESOTA TIMEBERWOLVES (15-9)

Eventually, you have to give props where props are due.  Not every great team is going to win a championship.  Malone + Stockton never won a ring, nor has the Lob City Clippers.  But still, we appreciate them for putting on good shows, which is what entertainment is all about.

That's how I feel about the Timberwolves.  On paper, this year's roster is worst than last season.  But here they are, once again in the mix.  And all things considered, there's no reason not to belive that they can't make the WCF (and lose) yet again.  This is one of the teams that should seriously be looking for an upgrade, if finances, in any way, allow.

We already know what the T-wolves can and can do with Edwards as the undisputed alpha.  So now it's time to give Randle, a perenially-underrated player, his chance to lead.

Anthony came into the league with Jordan-like potential, but I think his ceiling has already been more or less reached.  Julius is the x-factor, and if he goes down, I think then it'd be safe to write this team off.

7. BOSTON CELTICS (15-9)

I'm a big Jaylen Brown fan.  He's a victim of colorism, always being considered a second fiddle to Tatum, despite the fact they're at least equally as good.  Jayson, make no mistake, is a phenom.  But if you were to force me, I would even argue that Jaylen is the all-around better player, an MVP type, and I'm glad he's finally getting a chance to prove that over an extended period (though not glad that Tatum is hurt).

The Celtics' roster, as a whole, isn't anyting to write home about.  All things considered, I think it's safe to say they've definitely downgraded, intentionally, from last season.

But they do have the advantage of playing for an organization with a winning culture, which, dear reader, does make a difference.  But that said, if Brown were to also go down, like if they're still able to win without them then consider Boston contenders.

6. NEW YORK KNICKS (17-7)

The Knicks are defintely at the top of my list of teams who, regardless of how good the roster may be, I have a hard time envisioning as champions.  That said, in terms of all-around talent, their starting five has to be the best in the league.  Also, they're in the East, and all of their main conference rivals have (more) serious injury issues (for now).  So as I said from the onset of this sesaon, there's no reason they shouldn't at least make the Finals.  And them versus the Thunder would be like the ultimate young squad vs. vets type of scenario.

When teams are top heavy like this, it's usually the bench that suffers, and so it is with NYK.  But in terms of what can go wrong, based on this team's recent history it would have to be injuries.

In the grand scheme of the 2025-26 Knicks, the Pistons have to be the biggest pain in the ass.  If not for Detroit, they'd be able to comfortably play the load management game and still secure the number one seed.  Bur being in this type of race means that dudes have to continue to play hard, thus increasing the liklihood of injuries.

5. DENVER NUGGETS (17-6)

The Nuggets are a team that're playing exactly to expectations, which in their case is a good thing.  They have a perennial MVP C and build around him smartly rather than making rash or trendy decisions.

It looks like Sacramento are on the verge of tanking, so I hope Denver will bring Westbrook back and give him a more solid chance to win a ring.

With that in mind, I'd still argue that the biggest potential drawback for this squad, if they once again face a team like OKC in the postseason, is lack of energy.  Denver would be an exceptional 1990s' team, back in the days when everyone was playing halfcourt.  But in the here and now, with dudes literally running themselves ragged, speed matters more than ever.

So the biggest potential drawback for this team is failure to adjust.  Again, we as fans appreciate all great squads.  But for the Nuggets to go deep into the playoffs to once again get knocked out by what will likely be a younger, faster team means that they didn't properly adjust between this season and last.

4. HOUSTON ROCKETS

The Rockets are good but, based on their record, clearly not invincible.  The liklihood is that they'll become better as the season wears on.  Imagine if Fred Van Vleet were actually healthy?  Then, they'd have to worry less about injuries, which is kinda ironic since, you know, he's injured. You don't really feel it right now, but maybe his absence will become more pronounced come postseason.

That said, it's been awhile since I've seen dudes play.  Maybe it's KD fatigue?  I don't know.  But it's hard for me to predict what can go wrong outside of injuries, which is a very common concern these days, unless of course Houston runs into Steph "the Rocket Lander" Curry come postseason.  Then, we'll really get a chance to ascertain if the Durant addition was worth it.

3. LOS ANGELES LAKERS (17-6)

I had to rank LAL lower on the power stinkings, even though they may not actually be better than Denver, because unlike the Nuggets, this team has thus far exceeded expectations.  I don't even believe the dicriders were expecting them to get off to this sound of a start or for Austin Reaves to suddenly start looking like a lock allstar.

When Lebron made a game-winning pass to a (much less-popular teammate) rather than using to opprotunity to try to perpetuate his double-digit winning streak, that was some super symbolic shit.  LBJ was never a chuck per se, but he is one of those Kobesque, obsessed-with-winning types who never seemed overly confident in his teammates, even eventually turning his back on a non-injured, semi-prime D-Wade.

So as I argued before, I dont think his newfound humbleness is based on age per se, you know, 'I'm getting old, so let me have more confidence in my younger teammates'.  Rather, Lebron has recognized that for the first time ever, he has a teammate whose hands down better, than being Doncic.  Yes, King James being nearly 20 years older than Luka does factor into that dynamic, but you get what I mean.

L.A.'s roster isn't perfect, but at the same time, you know what I mean?  NBA basketball is a team, not individual, sport.  And if dudes increasingly learn how to play together, besides having at least two exceptional scorers (not including Lebron), you know what I'm saying?  They have a number of quality role players.  (Whatever happened to Gabe Vincent?)

The downside is both Luka and Austin being white, and no, I'm not making that observation as a racist.  What I'm saying is that, when playoffs time comes around, players accordingly become more physical, and refs increasingly embrace physicality.  Take last postseason for instance.  Meanwhile, relatively speaking white players, including Doncic and Reaves based on previous observations, don't respond particularly well to overly-aggressive defenders.

So that's something to lookout for.  Lebron has reportedly committed to LAL to the end of this season.  And that's a good thing, because once whitey and them start getting tossed around, they're going to need the ironman more than ever.

2. DETROIT PISTONS

It looks like there may be a ECF this coming postseason featuring the Knicks v. Pistons, who btw had a really exciting First Round matchup last playoffs.  Detroit's performance isn't surprising per se, not to the people who believed in Cunningham and the young core.  The Pistons have played the game right, complementing promising youth with quality veteran role players who aren't divas and whose playing styles don't stunt the development of up-and-comers.

Detroit has admirable depth, but lose Cunningham or Duran, the head or the tail so to speak, and the ship likely falls apart.  That's a scary thought in today's NBA, as no team would ideally be built in such a way that a single player would knock them out of the race.

1. OKC THUNDER (23-1)

I was looking for a reason, any reason, not to do the obvious and put the Thunder at the bottom of the Power Stinkings.  But damn, 23 and 1?!  What are they going to do, lose only three or four games for the entire season?

Jalen Wiliams doesn't start the season, but still they win games.  Then SGA goes down, but still, they win games.  If they keep winning like this, the Thunder can then increasingly embark on load management yet still claim the regular season record for wins.

The reason this team looks invincible is that they don't have any superduperstars per se.  SGA, MVP he may be, isn't a Durant or Lebron or Steph.  This isn't a superteam in the traditional sense of the word, i.e. having three players who are proven perennial allstars.  They're just well built and, oh shit, moderately priced.  So the sky's the limit.  Combine their talent and athleticism with their champoinship confidence, and these dudes may be able to win it all even if SGA is hurt.

2024-2025 Offseason Grades (Southeast Division)

ATLANTA HAWKS: F

The Hawks arguably have the most ass-backwards braintrust in the NBA.  Hard to believe that just three or four seasons ago, they were supposed to be the hot, up-and-coming young team in the East.

At the heart of the problem is the fact that Trae Young is not a franchise player, i.e. not being good enough to rationalize actually building a team around.  That's not insult, since 99% of the players in the league aren't of such caliber.  But in order to be a franchise cornerstone, you have to either be exceptional on both offense and defense or, if not much of a defensive player, then out of this world offensively.  Trae has his moments on offense, but he doesn't have the consistency of a Steph, Luka or even a Dame.  The NBA really promoted him around the time he first came into the league.  But it's like the Hawks' braintrust still has yet to realize that he isn't 'the one'.

When they acquired Dejounte Murray a couple of offseasons ago, that was a masterful move.  The compatibility of him and Young was always a question.  But then it was like if you get rid of one or the other, at least you could flip that player for a compatible all-star or a couple of above-average players, with at least one indisputable starter.

What does Atlanta do instead?  They trade Murray for a crop of role players, most notably Larry Nance Jr..  More importantly, I guess in the grand scheme of things, they got a couple of future first-rounders.  And you know, I'm not dissing Larry, Cody or any of the other guys they just scored.  But it's like here and now, role players aren't really the Hawks' problem.  And since they basically lost as many rotation players (if not more) than they've gained over the past couple of years, it's not like the team has gotten any deeper.

The icing on the cake is them choosing Zaccharie Risacher with the no. 1 pick.  I can't see the future and am not going to play myself by saying anything negative about Risacher as a player.  But you know, if you're going to lose, lose big.

No one was expecting a lot of this draft, so if you still opt to keep the number one pick, at least try to choose someone who can make the immediate impact this team needs.  You know what I'm saying?  Pick an Anthony Bennett or some shit.  Swing and miss instead of hoping that the pitcher walks you.

No one wants to hear that 'he may be a future role player' type shit.  If that's the case, that Atlanta has decided to draft a future role player (with the number one pick!), then maybe they should just engage in an outright rebuild and finally let Trae go to an organization that has like a better sense of direction.  And yes, I'm about to beat a dead horse - if they were going to prioritize keeping Young over everyone else, then they never should have traded John Collins, since he played alongside Trae just as good, if not better, than any other player on the roster.

Maybe in the future this will all make sense.  But for now I wouldn't want to be a Hawks' fan, looking forward to another season of  the team being led by Young - who will likely spend considerable time on the injured list - backed by an ever-rotating yet never-actually-improving cast of players.  For instance, might as well move on from De'Andre Hunter already.  Also, since he is a no. 1 pick, let Zaccharie start, even if he is a scrub or whatever.  The Hawks may surprise the world and actually be a winning team.  But if not, then at least try to be exciting and watch-worthy.

CHARLOTTE HORNETS: D

The problem I have with the Hornets is the same as it's been for the past two, three or maybe even four years already.  They're banking on LaMelo Ball, even though he has proven unbankable.

I don't like speaking bad about players' health.  There's few things as frustrating as witnessing a player or team unable to realize its potential due to injury issues.  I would like nothing more than to see Ball + Bridges actually make it to the playoffs.  But, it is what it is.  I don't have a crystal ball saying 'LaMelo will spend significant time on the injury list this coming season'.  But history has proven that's most likely the case.

The issue with these types of players aren't their on-court health per se.  Logic would dictate that yes, it's better to have a player like Ball on your team than not to have him.

The bigger issue is that - oh shit - he's making $200+ mil.  That's money that can be devoted to another superstar or two or even three other really good players who will be healthy enough to participate and make an impact over the long run.

That said, the roster of this team isn't half bad.  Miles Bridges is just as good as any other PF in the East who isn't a reigning all-star.  As for this dude KJ Thompson they just drafted, I didn't hear anything about him from the summer leagues.  But considering that he is a PG, he's probably going to be given ample run.  And that's what the Hornets need to do, have a sans-Ball contingency plan, i.e. being prepared to make the playoffs even if LaMelo potentially misses the entire season.

MIAMI HEAT: D+

The Heat tend to be one of the more-coveted free agent destinations.  So it's kinda surprising that their biggest (and only) acquisition this past summer, outside of the draft, has been Alec Burks.  It's also kinda painful to see Caleb Martin bounce, but he obviously already reached his Miami-based peak a couple of seasons ago.

As for their draft picks, the Heat's first-rounder, Kel'el Ware, represented in Summer League.  That's not surprising, as by this point people actually expect Miami's braintrust to overachieve with whatever hand their dealt.

And for the most part, this remains an impressive roster.  The Heat seem to be loaded at the G and wings while lacking depth upfront, but if Kel'el really does make an immediate impact, I may be wrong.  Also, these kind of lineups with focus more on speed, versatility and shooting are sorta common these days, especially in the East.  And if healthy, i.e. with Butler and Rozier, the Heat's roster is arguably just as impressive at the 1-3 as the Knicks, Sixers and Celtics.

So it's kinda hard to give them an offseason grade.  There's this old saying that if it ain't broke, don't fix it.  Whether or not Miami is 'broken' is a matter of perspective.  But given that they did have injury issues last postseason, you would at least think they would have gone wild and try to secure at least a borderline star, to mitigate the potential absence of Jimmy or whoever.  But for all we know, if given playing time, Ware may be in the ROY hunt.  Heat rookies are often given a chance, out of the gate, to prove themselves.  So out of all the teams on this list, I wouldn't be surprised if I graded the Heat's offseason to low.

ORLANDO MAGIC: B

I pride myself on not allowing the mainstream media dictate how I feel about teams, but in this case I relented.  That is to say, to be totally honest, I don't really see what the big deal is about Orlando acquiring KCP.  And the reason I say that is because, based on what I seen during the playoffs, their shortcomings weren't in the areas of three-point shooting and perimeter defense, which are his specialties.  Rather, what they seemed to lack was an interior presence, both offensively and defensively.  So I guess the trend of underestimating the need for bigmen continues.  But that said, I gave the Magic a B because the way everyone else is raving about the addition of KCP, then I have to assume that maybe there's something I'm missing.

One of the reasons I was tempted to give Orlando a lower grade is because I can't quite grasp how their braintrust concluded that Franz Wagner is a max player.  It has been pointed out that the only other players of his draft class who scored max extensions, like himself, have been Cade Cunningham and Scottie Barnes.  Those two may be overrated also, but at least they're unanimously considered to be franchise players, as their respective rosters currently stand.  Meanwhile, Wagner isn't even the alpha on his team.  But, you know, when you're dealing with money and those kinds of things, you know what I'm saying?

Meanwhile Markelle Fultz, who was a starter for the Magic last season - their best in years - remains in free agent limbo.  I guess the idea, if Orlando doesn't re-sign him, is to have KCP more or less fill his role.

If no other team picks up Markelle, it'll be sorta like the merciful end to his confusing career, the conclusion which I guess he didn't have the wherewithal to bring about himself.  But that said, I don't really see why the Magic wouldn't re-sign him, unless it's because of monetary issues, such as making up for overpaying Wagner.  And personally, given this current roster, I'd be surprised if Orlando makes it any further next season than they did last.

WASHINGTON WIZARDS: B+

Since writing my last post, Tyus Jones decided to sign with the Suns, which can prove big for Phoenix, if they decide to play the right way.  But that's a story for another day.  Washington meanwhile took that loss.  But they did sign Malcolm Brogdon, who could start in Jones's place and of course is one of the best shooters in the league.

Out of all garbage teams, the Wizards arguably have the most impressive roster.  On the low, Jones aside, they had a pretty impressive offseason.  Besides Brogdon they also scored Jonas Valanciunas, a starting-level European center, who are like the best types these days.  They also picked up Saddiq Bey who, from what I gathered, seemed to be a pretty good fit in Atlanta.  On top of that, they got Alex Sarr in the draft.  He had a really rough Summer League.  But at least, by the looks of things, if Sarr is a bust, the Wizards won't catch the type of flack that the Hawks will if Risacher proves the same.

Meanwhile, Washington still has Kyle Kuzma and, dare I say it, Jordan Poole.  I'm looking forward to Jordan reclaiming his mojo and having a bounce-back season.  Whether or not that's actually possible, without big brother Steph around, remains to be seen.  But at least I take satisfaction in believing that the Warriors must now regret letting him go like that.

CONCLUSION

Of out of the five teams in the Southwest, the biggest addition this offseason is considered to have been the Magic acquiring Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, an above-average role player.  Meanwhile, the Wizards scored two or maybe even three of such individuals.  But those moves flew under the radar, since no one is really expecting them to win.

Then, even with the number one pick in the draft, the Hawks look not only as if they failed to improve but may have even gotten worse.  So it's easy to conclude that, on the surface, this division has been the most underwhelming of the 2024 offseason.  And whereas Orlando did make a little bit noise last postseason, Miami, if healthy, remains the team to beat.   However, if Poole rediscovers his shot or the Wizards are somehow able to mesh otherwise, look out for Washington.