2026 NBA Offseason Grades (Southwest Division)

DALLAS MAVERICKS: B+

I think the Mavs have done a decent job beginning to quote/unquote build a team "around" Cooper Flagg.  The additions of Saldama and Risacher are noteworthy, even if not game changing, as this team now has more tall, skinny, rotation-worthy dudes than they even had in the Luka days.

As for Flagg, I'm still not 100% convinced of his greatness.  There are a number of rookies from last season who, if given the keys to car, I'm sure could have averaged just as many points.  But he's also a formidable rebounder, obviously.  And furthermore, it's more than apparent that the NBA actually wants him to succeed.  It kinda reminds me of how the Pelicans got Zion Williamson after AD bounced.  But even better, Cooper doesn't look like the perennially-injured type (fingers crossed).

Also, I doubt if he's going to be able to establish himself as an undisputed alpha with Kyrie around.  An undisputed alpha is someone who's inarguably better than his teammates, which isn't the case when comparing Cooper to Irving, unless the latter ends up (re-)injured which, all things considered, is bound to happen sooner or later. 

But in the meantime, that's actually my favorite move, or lack thereof, concerning Dallas's offseason, that they opted to keep "Fievel" around.  And whereas it doesn't look like they'll be reaching the Finals again anytime soon, I would say there's no more hope for the future, with this roster, than when Doncic was around.

HOUSTON ROCKETS: B+

Make no mistake about it - the Rockets are contenders.  I'm surprised by how much pundits are sleeping on this team.

But while on the subject, let me get this off my chest, why I don't think they'll actually win it all.  It's my belief - pure conjecture conspiracy-theory type shit - that the NBA doesn't want KD to win another championship, at least not as an alpha but maybe, you know what I'm saying, later in his career when he's more like a role player.

All the Rockets have to do is figure out how to play together with all of their pieces healthy, because there's only one ball to go around.  They had another quality offseason, adding Bogdanovic and Smart.  Injuries aside, they're just as deep, if not deeper, than San Antonio and OKC.

This is what I was talking about, the difference between a team like the Rockets and, say, the Suns.  Houston hasn't won a championship in over 30 years, but still, it's like dudes actually want to play for them, or something like that.

But that said, it eventually reaches a point that if you keep fielding superior rosters yet getting bounced in the 1st Round type shit, like it ain't a good look at all.  And if this team does flunk yet again which - they probably will, considering that the powers-that-be don't appear to be on their side - then what's next for KD?

MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES: B

The Grizzlies' lineup reminds me of that of the Heat - a noteworthy frontcourt, but something to be desired in the back.  And as for their frontcourt, as sizable as it may be, it's not actually intimidating, at least not yet.

Also, speaking of players the powers-that-be may not be too fond of - anyone remember Carlos Boozer?  You know, the guy who stabbed Cleveland (and by extension Lebron) in the back?  I'm just saying that, yeah.  I do find a bit odd that his son isn't getting more press, considering he was like the top-ranked college player or whatever.

What Memphis definitely loss of late, especially with the departure of Morant, is star power.  So unless they get to winning, which isn't particularly likely, at least not immediately, no one is really going to give AF about this squad.

But of course, none of us can see the future.  And you have to give to the Grizzlies for at least respectably rebounding from, just a few short years ago, being the top young up-and-coming team in the league, to losing all of the stars from that roster, to now being engaged in a noteworthy rebuild. 

NEW ORLEANS PELICANS: B

I had a wise dude once tell me that 'people are always looking for external solutions to internal problems'.  And on that note, unlike most pundits, I agree with Dumars and co. opting to basically stand pat.

A couple of short years ago, the Pelicans entered the season with the most talented starting five in the league - Williamson + McCollum + Murray + Ingram + whoever they used for that final spot - probably Trey Murphy III, whose been a coveted player for years - besides boasting a deep bench.  Yet somehow, they still managed to finish at the bottom of the standings.  Granted, that lineup may have had compatibility issues.  But still, it's been pretty obvious, at least to me, that this organization's problem hasn't been lack of talent.

Zion's health of course deserves some of the blame.  But since he's been hobbled from day one, the braintrust should've found a way to at least try to compensate by now.  And as far as standing pat is concerned, if there's anything to criticize, it's their questionable (and expensive) commitment to Williamson.

Let dudes focus on at least trying to stay healthy and making the playoffs type shit.  Then, we can take it from there.  Rushing out and trading Murphy, for whoever, isn't likely the solution unless the objective is to rebuild.  And giving that New Orleans now has quite a few old dawgs on the roster, that doesn't seem like a viable option.

SAN ANTONIO SPURS: B+

As it currently stands, I agree with analysts who argue that the Spurs are the favorites entering next season because, unlike their main competitors (i.e. the Knicks and Thunder), at least they've upgraded.  

Tobias Harris may not have been the player they needed per se, given that his skillset/style is similar to Champagnie.  But the more the merrier, I guess.  And his presence will make it easier if the Spurs decided to move De'Aaron Fox to the bench, which is something I sorta advocate, especially come the postseason.

Tobias has his moments on occasion, but conventionally speaking, he isn't a gamechanger.  However, you have to give it to San Antonio for at least getting deeper.  They acquired a quality, starter-worthy rotation player while not losing anyone of note, at least not as far as I can see

CONCLUSION

The Southwest has two contenders, and it amazes how few pundits seem to be able to recognize that even if, at the end of the day, there's only one Wemby.  But ultimately, the division is balanced by a couple of bottom-feeders.  And in the middle lies the Mavs, who may also prove garbage but at least, unlike the Grizzlies and Pelicans, have more of a foreseeable future.  And as far as offseason moves in general, Southwest teams didn't really do much but still come out looking wiser than perhaps any other division.

Jalen Brunson: The One That Got Away

I'll be honest and say that when the Mavs traded Doncic for Davis, yes, I was a bit surprised, but I wasn't one of those kinds of people who couldn't see the logic in the decision.  There were financial factors involved, i.e. do you want to supermax a player who you know isn't likely to lead you to a championship?  And you know, it's sorta like damned if you do, damned if you don't.  Luka was the face of the franchise, and you don't want to alienate your fanbase.  But at the same time, with a superstar like that, if you don't win a championship eventually, those same fans will diss you.

In hindsight, I would say the biggest mistake Dallas made wasn't trading Doncic in and of itself but rather trading one perennially-injured allstar for another, even older perennially-injured allstar.  Also, having Anthony around never panned out as idealized because, excuse my expression, he plays like a bum.

It was blaringly obvious that the Mavs needed an interior presence more than anything.  Remember, we're now in the Wemby Era.  But there goes Anthony, executing crossovers and jacking up three-pointers, as if he isn't 7-feet tall and shit.

But now, let's go back even further to the 2022 Playoffs.  And if you dig back through this blog, this is something I pointed out at that time.

During that postseason, the Mavs were playing better with Brunson and without Luka than they were playing with Luka and without Brunson or with both of them in the lineup.  These kinds of things, they aren't easy to explain logically because of course, Doncic was putting up better stats, perhaps more than anyone else in the entire playoffs.  But he was also of course regularly injured.  Yet the Mavs, depsite being underdogs without him, led by Jalen were pulling off upsets.  And once Luka did return like fulltime, that chemistry or magic was destroyed.

Again, this isn't something I can fully explain, how the team seemed to play better without Doncic, considering that Brunson is an even bigger chuck.  But I would say that maybe, the other Mavs players were able to fukwit him more because, not trying to sound racist or anything, but he plays more of a Black brand of basketball.

Also, back then Luka appeared sorta despondent towards his teammates.  Thankfully, that problem appears to have been solved, as he seems to be a lot more connected and supportive on the Lakers.

Now we can say that, no matter how much money Dallas offered, Brunson was going to bounce anyway, to be with his dad in NY.  If the Mavs' braintrust had inside knowledge of something like that, that they didn't even have a chance, then that would explain why they didn't really try to keep him.

Indeed, the general thinking at the time was, who would pay a king's ransom for Jalen and in the process risk losing Luka?  In other words, no one was even imagining that Brunson may be the better player.  Well, that is to say no one but me.

IS BRUNSON BETTER THAN DONCIC?

So recently I was watching this video about 'who turned out to be best player in each NBA draft', and when the presenter got around to 2018, I was sure he was going to crown Luka.  Remember that both Ayton and Bagley were selected before Doncic, and even the Hawks had a chance to land him but rather opted for Trae Young.  Those decisions have gone down as some of the biggest mishaps in recent draft history.

But who the presenter actually chose - who I had totally forgotten about - is SGA.  And I mean, he's right, now looking back from the future.

I'd still contend that Doncic is the most naturally-talented player in the NBA.  But all of the things people were predicting or hoping for Luka - MVPs and championships and shit like that - it's rather been Shai who's taken them home.  Yet and still, I wouldn't go as far as to say that SGA is the better individual player(?).

And that, dear reader, is the dilemma or confusion surrounding Doncic.  Dude commonly averages close to 10apg, so you can't turnaround and be like he doesn't get his teammates involved.  But it's just like, well, I don't think there's any team in the NBA - including the Lakers, marketing aside - who would rather have Luka than Brunson at this point.  None of them, except arguably the Knicks, could see this coming.

SHOUTOUT TO THE KNICKS

One of the reasons I'm calling this the Wemby Era, even if the Spurs don't win the championship, is because once dude fleshes out and like puts on more muscle, man, he's going to be an even bigger problem than he is now.  But as it currently stands, Victor's biggest weakness is his lightassednees.  It appears, at times, that the Thunder tried to exploit that, but they don't really have the personnel to do so, especially with Williams hurt

The Knicks, however, have the personnel.  They have the best all-around wing core in the league, and they are clearly physically stronger than the Spurs.  NYK's starting five is so stacked that Mikal Bridges is like the third or fourth option or some shit.

And the way I see it, going back to Brunson vs. Luka but also with Bridges vs. Durant, that's the biggest challenge of being an NBA braintrust, as far as roster decisions are concerned.  You're forced to constantly deal with this dilemma of having to choose between what the fans want, i.e. marketability, versus actually winning.  But of course, we don't have that problem at NBA Inception.  Here, we can tell the truth.

So if you dig back, you'll see that when the Suns traded KD for Bridges, I was like why?  Kevin is and by the looks of things always will be more popular.  But, as I argued back then, Bridges is the better all-around player.

CONCLUSION

In a perfect world, all braintrusts would be incepted, and every team would consequently be a contender(?).  But in the real world, you know, niggas be doing some dumb shit.  Like if the Lakers were going to trade AD - remember, this is a franchise that always had like the best C in the league and won accordingly.  So if you're going to trade AD, why for Luka anyway?  That was a Hollywood-inspired decision.  So anytime a superstar is involved in a transaction the question must be asked - is this decision based more on popularity or competitiveness?  The Rockets going after KD, was that more about popularity or competitiveness?  Could they have made wiser decisions in pursuit of the Larry O'Brien?  And on the flip side of the coin, what about players who are devalued because they aren't popular?

2026 Elimination Ruminations: Rockets, Sixers

HOUSTON ROCKET (2-4)

Somehow, I totally forgot to write about the Rockets when they got eliminated a week ago.  So I'm sitting here watching Thunder vs. Lakers and wondering how a team as mediocre as LAL made it all the way to the Second Round, how they're absolutely no match for their opponent.  And that's when I remembered the Rockets.

The Lakers, as far as I know, are the luckiest team in NBA history.  They exceeded most peoples' expectations this past season, but once Luka went down, I think everyone knew that was pretty much it. 

But let's say, if I were writing like a movie script for the 2026 NBA Playoffs that I wanted to make money yet also be believable, even if I knew LAL wouldn't make it to the end, I wouldn't want them getting eliminated in the First Round.  In other words, they really got lucky with that Durant injury, that seemingly popped out of nowhere and kept him out the entire round.

I won't go as far as saying that adding Durant but losing Fred "Care Bear" VanVleet (to injury) is one step forward, two steps backward.  But it doesn't make much difference anyway when both of them can't play.  So it's like this postseason's iteration of the Rockets was actually worst than the team they fielded last year with no Kevin, but at least then they had Fred. 

Without doing any actual research, I think it's safe to presume that Durant and VanVleet are the oldest players on the roster.  Dudes like Sengun, Thompson and even Smith Jr. are like from whole 'nother generation as far as the NBA is concerned.  That's something to consider, going into next year, that both of the scorers this team depends on were injured and unable to help the team this postseason, and generally speaking, age doesn't go in reverse.

So yes, I do advocate Houston going out and looking for younger scorers rather than continuing to depend on the elders.  You know, do the age-appropriate thing.  No one wants to see yet another First Round exit.  But since they're already contracted, I doubt if Kevin or Fred are going anywhere.

When making such gambles, putting your championship hopes on an aged Durant for instance, you have to have that dogged, Sixers' mentality of 'if only they're all healthy, then we'll win'.  Oh well.

By the time all is said and done, the Rockets' insistence on fielding these old dudes may result in the younger ones, who actually want to win or when they start demanding more money, bouncing.  I've been advocating for years that a superstar vet like KD needs to go to a young, up-and-coming team instead of always chasing an instant championship, but it wasn't supposed to look like this.  If you look back, I'm sure I even said he should go to the Pistons.  But this is what happens when there's too much reliance on a superstar which these days, even with younger ones is not ideal.

PHILADELPHIA 76ERS (4-7)

The good news is that the Sixers' big 3 was actually healthy for the majority of the postseason.  The bad news is it not really mattering, arguably being a detriment even, when 'healthy', in this context, is a slow Joel Embiid whose defensive presence is, I would argue, even more of a nonfactor than Lebron's has become.

Lebron's defensive decline is attributable to mileage + age.  The cause of Joel's is mileage + injuries.  Age, I would argue, can be counteracted more consistently than injury.

So the first question is, why do the Sixers insist on starting and giving major minutes to a hobbled C?  Part of it, as with James, lies in the fact that Embiid is still one of the best players on the team.

But that said, these failures have been going on for years already.  Dig through the blog if you want.  The signs that Philly needs to move on from Joel have been there for a minute.  It's not like a revelation and shit.

Dude didn't start playing basketball 'til he was 16 yet has made more money, in like just a decade, than most people with jobs they hate make in their entire lives.  Dude got a (questionable) MVP Award and an Olympic gold medal, you know, when he played for a stacked Team USA instead of a disadvantaged African squad.  So what else does he want?

If the answer is a championship, then the Sixers' braintrust, as outstanding as they are at times, needs to do better.  For instance, even though he has his moments, it's still not abundantly clear why they signed Paul George for $50+mil/year(!).

PG13 is an exceptional scorer, but he's no spring chicken either, and there's a lot of younger guys who can more or less score just as well (even if not as entertaining in doing so) and are less expensive.  One name that comes to mind off the top of my head is his former teammate, Normal Powell.

So what I foresee with Philly is sorta the same as Houston, though the latter is in a better position, as the former needs to embark on a mini rebuild.  The Rockets have a core of young players, so all they need to do is make a couple of adjustments.  The Sixers meanwhile, their core for the most part, looking to the future, only inarguably consists of Maxey and Edgecombe, which is a helluva combination.  But now, they need to put the types of players around that can complement such an undersized backcourt.  They need some of those strong, versatile, Knicks-like wings - I'm thinking someone like Scottie Barnes, but I know he isn't available.  And if Draymond is forced to move or whatever, he can probably help them a bit also.

If I Could Send One Player to Any Team (Southwest Division)

DALLAS MAVERICKS (39-43) - RUSSELL WESTBROOK

There was recently an article up about Westbrook still not being signed, even though next season is about to begin type shit.  It does seem sorta weird, and I've been arguing for years that "the ScapeGOAT" is the victim of a conspiracy.  But in more recent times, I'm really starting to think, you know what I'm saying?  Like the Thunder didn't just win a championship with wildness, more with athleticism + consistency.

Meanwhile, the Mavs are woefully thin at the point, especially if you're one of those people who believe D'Angelo Russell is washed.  I don't, nor do I advocate forcing Cooper Flagg to play point.

I remember what Jason Kidd did with Giannis, how he taught him how to dribble and in the process transformed him to into "Juggernaut GLP".  But trying to force Flagg to play point would be like a waste of height, like how they did with Zion.

HOUSTON ROCKETS (52-30) - BEN SIMMONS

This may seem like a strange selection.  But Fred Van Vleet, despite being short with a big head, is not someone I would classify as a traditional point.

I've been sleeping on Fred his entire career, up until last season's playoffs whereas, even though the Rockets may have disappointed, Van Vleet proved to be one of the most lethal scorers in the NBA.  It's like he caught the spirit of Dame or some shit - so much so that I questioned if adding a super-scorer like KD was overkill.

I would also argue that questionable foul Amen Thompson performed on Jimmy Butler turned Playoff karma against Houston.  So imagine KD and Van Vleet on the wings, with Simmons as the facilitator.  Besides having a non-scoring G facilitator that can do other things to help even out the mix, the Rockets could also use a little bit of tenderness.

MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES (48-34) - RUSSELL WESTBROOK

As of late, mainstream writers have been more or less calling Westbrook old.  But based on the eye test, he remains one of the most athletic NBAers.  So I'm imagining him coming off the bench behind Morant who, according to Steph, is the most-athletic player.  It'd also be the first time in Ja's career that he's playing alongside another superstar, even if it's one who's 'not on his timeline'.

NEW ORLEANS PELICANS (21-61) - GARY PAYTON JR.

Let me be the first to say, I believe in these Pelicans.  You heard it here first.  New Orleans has an outstanding braintrust when it comes to amassing top-heavy talent.  The bigger issue has been compatibility, specifically around Zion Williamson.  But for some reason I can't quite explain, I'm expecting him and Poole to match marvelously.  That reads like a decision the braintrust actually thought out rather than just being like 'oh shit, such-and-such is available'.

The Pelicans' depth, I mean I don't know a bunch about a lot of these dudes, but it doesn't appear particularly inspiring.  So the temptation is to go with the best player available.  But for an organization that isn't adept at meshing talent, bringing the ScapeGOAT in wouldn't be ideal.

I'm going to go with Gary Payton Jr. because first of all, him and Poole kinda blew up together.  Second, he's the type of player that could thrive in any system, as his style is naturally complementary and more importantly impactual.

At least, that's what I think.  I was really looking forward to "the Mitten" showing that he could replicate his effectiveness with another organization, but that didn't happen.  Maybe he's just that good (and healthy) on the Dubs type shit.  So then the question is, why haven't they re-signed him?  If you claim you don't have enough shooting - even with Steph, out of every player in NBA history, on your roster - then try to beat teams another way, like defense.

SAN ANTONIO SPURS (34-48) - TRISTAN THOMPSON

Ron Harper was one of the most underrated players of the 1990s.  He's only 6'6" but could do like everything.  He was at times unstoppable, but "the Braincase" never achieved ubiquitious stardom.

So I'm totally expecting his son, if he has the same body-type and skillset, coming in and dominating, as he, based on his father's experience, already knows what time it is.  Remember that a star NBA player has never had a star son.  It's rather those types who've produced the next generation of superstars.

So there's no need to push Westbrook on this one.  Nor I won't go with any PG at all as, if Dylan Harper actually does pan out, the Spurs may have the deepest point core in the league.  Who foresaw that?

So being compelled to go with a big, I decided Tristan Thompson, even though he really ain't worth a damn on the court these days.  Why?  Because first of all, he's a veteran with championship experience, who would be on a squad where the second-oldest (notable) player is De'Aaron Fox, better all-around though one whose greatest accomplishments are like sympathy All-Star nods.

Second, it's very much possible that San Antonio, if Harper does represent, will be one of the most-popular teams next season.  So adding an A-list media personality to the mix, with Thompson being better-known than even Wemby, wouldn't hurt in that regard.  You'd be hard-pressed to get notable production out of the ol' chap, but maybe someone will throw a sex toy when he's on the court or some shit, you know, something viral, like dude getting somebody pregnant, hashtag Spurs.

CONCLUSION

If Westbrook's career has truly reached the point where being benched behind the likes of Christian Braun during crunchtime in the Playoffs is the new norm, then yes, he should just retire.

Trade Talk: KD vs. Brooks, Green, etc.

This seems like a pretty square trade, though all things considered, I wouldn't be surprised if the Suns ultimately come out looking better than Houston.  Ideally, KD would solve the scoring issues within the Rockets' roster, which the world witnessed this past postseason.  Meanwhile, the Suns put themselves in a position to move forward post-Durant without being stuck in limbo or under pressure to win immediately.  They may be garbage next season, but they're not going to trash(?).  But if you were to force me, I would say in the grand scheme of things Phoenix got the best of the deal - even if not by a wide margin - for two main reasons:

KD IN PHOENIX HAS BEEN A DISASTER SINCE DAY ONE

This is the fault of the Suns' braintrust more so than Durant.  You have to remember that they had a really good team before bringing KD in, a good team in the OKC Thunder sense - well-rounded, balanced, with size and depth, not overstacked at a particular position and complete with an MVP candidate (that being CP3).  Remember that squad, pre-KD, actually made it to the Finals.

That compatibility was in large part due to the presence of CP3, perhaps the last true PG allowed to operate in the NBA.  When Phoenix acquired KD, Paul instantly became redundant.  Why?  Because even with all-time great PGs by his side, like Kyrie for instance, Kevin still insists on running point, at least based on what I've seen.

KD is kinda like an Allen Iverson.  If you have someone like him at the center of your offense, the other four guys should more or less be supporting players.  You know, it's kinda hard to get mad at KD for hogging the ball.  That's something Phoenix should have understood before not only putting him next to Booker but going even further to acquire Beal - all three of whom are used to being primary, allstar-level scorers and furthermore wings.

KD wasn't so much of a detrimental chuck when he won those championships with the Dubs, but they had already established themselves as champs beforehand, besides having Draymond "the Equalizer" Green.  Like why was Draymond compelled to bark on him like that to begin with?

ANOTHER FAN FAVORITE BETRAYED

The Rockets, going back decades, have always had what may be considered an above-average braintrust.  But remember that up until like last season, they spent some years in the garbage zone.  They had these promising players like Green, Porter Jr., Smith Jr. and even Sengun but couldn't make it work.  Then, came Dillon Brooks.

Players like Brooks and Draymond are, imo, the most valuable in the NBA in terms of their uniqueness.  There's a number of guys out there that can put up triple-doubles.  Lebron rarely plays defense, to the detriment of his team even, but because he can score, rebound and assist, you know, put up stats, you have pundits declaring him one of the players in the NBA.  But off the top of my head, I can only think of three players in the entire league who have displayed the ability to regularly galvanize an entire team with their defensive tenacity, with none of the triple-double guys being amongst them.

I'll admit that, against the Warriors this past postseason, Brooks looked like a nonfactor.  After watching the highlights, I even had to resort to box scores to make sure he played.  I thought dude was injured or some shit.  And it also seemed that Draymond took his heart and in doing so, definitively changed the tide of the series in the Dubs' favor.  You know, I talk shit, you talk shit, but at the end of the day only the one who wins is going to be justified.  Brooks is like a Draymond without a Steph.

I probably would have been more inclined to trade Fred VanVleet for KD, maybe.  Fred carried the team offensively during Round 1, and you would think Houston would reward him by letting him shoulder more of that responsibility throughout.  It's almost like acquiring Durant is a roundabout way of saying they don't believe in VanVleet, because it's difficult to see their styles meshing.  I'm expecting that now, maybe Fred will play more off the ball, like a 2.

As for Jalen Green, yeah, he more or less had to go.  Up until recently, he was arguably the star of the team, yet dude deadass got benched during crunchtime vs. the Dubs.  There's really no need keeping him around under those circumstances, you know, if he isn't developing, and I don't quite see how he's going to fit next to Booker either (presumably, he'll be coming off the bench).

Hopefully Jalen will wind up in Milwaukee, like Kevin.  That roster, with those old dogs upfront (i.e. if they keep Brooks), is better suited to accommodate young, erratic shooters.  With Dame hurt they need that kinda energy, though in a more constructive way.

Maybe the Bucks will end up with Booker instead?  But I can imagine both Porter Jr. and Green running wild next to Giannis, who more-fundamental style would be able to mitigate some of their shortcomings.  If Milwaukee is going to retain Giannis, all things considered (i.e. an injured Dame being on the books), they need to start thinking a little outside of the box.

SHOUTOUT TO JABARI SMITH JR.(?)

Reportedly, the one player Houston was most keen on trading for Durant was Jabari Smith.  You often hear pundits pointing out how beneficial it is for bigs to develop jumpers.  But what I've been pointing out, for years now, is that in doing so many of them neglect their main advantage, which is their size.

There are some exceptional shooting Cs, but generally speaking Gs remain better at the job.  If you allow dudes to take the easy way out, you know, hoisting up threes instead of posting up or driving, most of them will do it, even the biggest man on the court.

So what I'm envisioning is something like KD chuckin' as usual, and Jabari, instead of waiting under the basket for a rebound, rather opting to linger somewhere behind the three-point line, hoping for a pass.  Indeed, he's the one player on the roster who truly becomes expendable with the presence of Durant, because they have similar builds and to some extent playing styles, tho KD being like 1000x more effective.

It's rare that three-pointers get blocked anyway.  So you don't need to always have your tallest dude at the three-point line.  But I have to imagine that Smith, once again given his height (and agility), must also have some perimeter D value.

WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE? (PHOENIX SUNS)

Speaking of above-average braintrusts, as noted the Suns have made their mistakes in recent years, but they're also known for perennially fielding competitive rosters, if nothing else at least on paper.  To be totally honest, I thought Beal + Booker + Durant + Nurkic, especially once they added Jones to the mix, was going to be akin to a contender.  Things didn't work out like, I would speculate, off the top of my head, the reason being that if you have three high-scoring wings, then you'd have to have a respectable pass-first PG to complement them, you know, distribute the ball, make sure everyone gets their shots, etc.

The thing tho is that in today's NBA, there really isn't anything like "a respectably pass-first PG" since every Tom, Dick and Harry wants to run point or chuck up threes at will.  And the coaches may sit around like 'yeah, our team prefer freestyle basketball', but at the end of the day, the players probably don't give two fucks what they have to say anyway.  It's like everyone is an Iverson these days.

Speaking of which, I'm now starting to feel sorry for Thibs.  I criticized him a lot in the past, but at least he, unless most of his peers, had a palpable coaching presence.  And it's also now blatantly obvious that whoever NYK replaces Thibs with isn't going to be nearly as good as he is.  You know what I mean?  AI coach.

Going back to the Suns, their current roster isn't half bad.  They'd definitely be a playoff team in the East.  Btu what I'm foreseeing is at some point, you know what I'm saying?

Booker is like their Kobe, the star they drafted who, even after a decade, is still with the team that picked him.  That kinda shit is a lot more common these days then some people realize.  But ultimately, they should have never disbanded the aforementioned squad from a couple of seasons ago.  Sometimes, you only get one chance type shit.

Alongside the likes of Ayton, CP3 and Bridges, Booker had a clearly-defined role that like didn't overlap any of his teammates.  He was unanimously the 2-guard, the go-to scorer.  Now, you have guys like Beal and Green alongside him.  I'm not saying any of them are higher in the pecking order than Devin.  But once again looking at OKC for instance, you see the value of having players who complement each other, rather than their skillsets overlapping.

That said, like Memphis and Houston before them, I do expect Phoenix to find value in Dillon Brooks.  He's the type of player that virtually any squad can use.  When you're in a field where dudes make million of dollars whether they win or lose, some extra fire is a good thing.  I'm even hoping to one day see Dillon next to Draymond, as a mentee, eventually becoming his Warriors' replacement once Green retires.  Draymond needs to stop scaring away potential teammates.  The Suns gave up a player who's cancerous in the locker room sense and replaced him with someone who's known to like uplift entire squads though, like Draymond, Dillon could also benefit sometimes from less aggressiveness.

CONCLUSION

The Rockets needed additional scoring this past offseason, the key word in that sentence being past, because you can't take for granted say, for instance, that if they make the Playoffs next season (which they probably will), they'd once again face the Dubs.  Fukaround and they find themselves against a team like the Thunder or Nuggets, and you find yourself asking would Brooks more beneficial in that scenario than KD?

As for the Suns, I would argue they got the better of this trade because, you know, they really-really needed to break up that Big 3, even if Durant hadn't request a trade.  Houston needed more scoring power, but did they really need that much more?  They probably could have packaged Green and Smith and got he type of scorer they needed, alongside VanVleet and Sengun, instead of, you know, going after one of the best in history.  But I can understand, to some extent, why they wanted to get rid of Brooks, once again considering this past postseason.  But how instrumental was he (and Green) to them finishing in 2nd place to begin with?

2024-2025 NBA Preseason Grades (Southwest Division)

DALLAS MAVERICKS: C

It was cool seeing the Mavs make it to the big dance last season because when they're up against most squads, they're were the most-entertaining team in the league.  That shit didn't work against Boston tho.  So they were certain issues that Dallas needed to mitigate to take themselves to that next level.

At the top of the list was finding a solution Doncic's endurance issues, how, during the Finals for instance, he eventually ran out of steam against a team that actually knows how to play effective perimeter defense over extended periods.  And I'm not overly confident that the addition of Klay or the re-addition of Dinwiddie is going to solve that problem.  

I may be wrong.  If Dinwiddie is doing his thing, the coaching staff could then use the opportunity to give Doncic longer rests.  Someone like Thompson, if his shot was on, would have definitely helped Dallas in the Finals, but not likely to the point where they could have beat the Celtics.

It's also painful, from a Mavs' fan perspective, to watch Jones Jr. go.  When Dallas was able to play above the rim (i.e. against their conference rivals in the playoffs) they were virtually unbeatable, and Derrick was a big part of that dynamic.  It's always hurtful when the pairing of a superstar PG who is an exceptional passer coupled with an amazing dunker is broken up.  But maybe Jones will be able to build up a similar rapport with the Beard.

During this offseason Dallas, by the looks of things, failed to upgrade in a manner that could potentially topple Boston.  The Celtics specialty is perimeter defense, and the Mavericks, in their wisdom, most notably decided to go out and add perimeter players.  With Lively gone and basically being replaced with a couple of Gs, good ones though not allstars, there's no way Dallas can be as entertaining as they were last season.

HOUSTON ROCKETS: C

The Rockets have sorta developed this losing culture, but at least a couple of seasons ago they were a good watch, regardless of who they played against.  Nowadays?  Like I don't even know.  It's sorta like, in a way, the air of excitement got sucked out of this team in a way.

From a competitive standpoint, Fred VanVleet was a fine addition.  I wouldn't be surprised if Houston missing the playoffs was some sort of higher-up decision.  But the thing is that - this is my argument.  If you have a team that's young and exciting, even if they lose, keep it like that.  F*ck is a timeline anyway?  'We're going to play it smart, devalue some of our young assets and rather prioritize the addition of quality veterans who can help us win now.'  Help you win what, Houston?

The last thing any braintrust wants is having to decide whether to play vets or developing players.  If you have young players with allstar potential, then ideally they're playing behind veterans who are maybe on the verge of winning a championship.  All things considered, such does not appear to be the case with the Rockets.

Going back to last offseason, Brooks was a good addition for what they were trying to build.  Defensive players like him, who can galvanize an entire team, are priceless.  But as for Fred, he may have to go - and not in exchange for a present player(s) unless he fits the timeline of the rest of the roster, someone to make up for the departure of KPJ.

MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES: F

What really broke my heart with the Grizzlies wasn't so much that Ja Morant-gun shit but him getting seriously injured like immediately upon returning.  I hope said "injury" was just an excuse for the braintrust to shut him down during what they already perceived as a lost season.  But if not, smh.

Just a couple seasons ago, Memphis was poised to be the next big thing in the Western Conference, nah, the entire NBA.  Instead, OKC managed to steal their thunder.  And I'm not overly confident that the Grizzlies are going to be able to reclaim it, with their most-noteworthy transaction this offseason actually being the loss of Ziaire Williams.  This is after they already lost Xavier Tillman, who went on to immediately win a championship, earlier in the season.

Aging + lack of roster retention usually does not equal progression.  I still believe that Morant may be a second coming of Jordan.  But maybe he needs to work harder in terms of not putting the organization in a position whereas, I don't even know how to put it.

NEW ORLEANS PELICANS: B-

Entering into this season, if Brandon Ingram sticks around, I think it's safe to say that on paper the Pelicans have the best starting five in the league.  But of course, us mature NBA analysts know that talent doesn't always equal success.  And that's esp true on a team like NOP, where you have star players with overlapping skillsets, coupled with a style of play that is more or less positionless.

I don't necessary see why the Pelicans - or even the Hawks before them - would, given their rosters, bother to acquire the services of Dejounte Murray, unless they intend to actually use him as a (starting) PG.  It's the same like when ATL acquired him a couple of offseasons ago - okay, now how is the roster going to be structured?  Where does Murray fit in alongside the other team's scorers - two, if not all three of whom are iso-oriented?

And then, who are they planning to take back for Ingram anyway?  I'm not in favor of breaking up this roster, but it's going to take a helluva coach to make it work.

If this were a team during the 1990s, when players knew how to stay in their lane so to speak, it would be like yeah, they're contenders.  But in today's NBA, when most coaches are more or tokens, I mean I don't even know off the top of my head who's coaching NOP.  But I don't remember it being a name like, you know what I'm saying?

SAN ANTONIO SPURS: A

I was really impressed with the Spurs' offseason because first of all, they were able to make their moves quickly.  Secondly, they're staying in their lane.  Wemby is already one of the best players in NBA, but it's not like 'hey, let's go overboard and try to win now'.  But at the same time, it isn't like 'let's surround our star with a team that doesn't know how to win'.  You know what I mean?  Like moderation type shit, going out and getting a couple of older players that makes the team more, not less, must watch.

If I could give out a "Offseason Player of the Year" award, that'd go to CP3.  I've been saying for years that how some older star players need to learn how to team up with their younger counterparts, playing for up-and-coming teams instead of chasing instant championships - a strategy that doesn't work most of the time anyway.

I also approve of the addition of Harrison Barnes, the type of player who not only contributes but also seems to bring a sense of stability and order to any system.  This should be more exciting than last season, so long as the Spurs don't suffer any major injuries.  And who knows?  With another star or two and a well-rounded bench, there you go, contender time.  Maybe "the Neck" will walk away with a ring after all.

CONCLUSION

If not for the Spurs and Pelicans, the Southwest would have a had a painfully boring offseason.  This current Spurs' roster, under Popovich, could prove viably competitive, playoff-worthy even.  As for New Orleans, even though they have a helluva roster, the excitement isn't quite there because it'll take a basketball mastermind, the type of which isn't like readily available, to make all those high-grade pieces work in tandem.

Don't Go Chasing Waterfalls (Harden and Lillard)

One thing I give the Houston Rockets credit for is not giving into the temptation to chase James Harden like that.  I would say that they had a decent offseason maybe, though it kinda sucks that they traded KJ Martin, and I also doubt how effective Fred VanVleet will be in terms of actually running point alongside all those young, chuckin' gunners.  But those are analyses for another day.

Sometimes, it's hard to figure out exactly what these superstars want.  When the Sixers traded for Harden a couple of years ago, I thought that was a big mistake.  My argument was that the Beard chucks too much to benefit the other players in Philly.  Instead he turned around and, what, led the league in assists?  And the Sixers came within a game of making it to the ECF.

Philly remains, as they have been for so many years now, contenders.  And even though the road hasn't been perfect (why did they trade Thybulle again?), that's a standard to build on, not destroy.  The Lakers made it all the way to the WCF, but no one in their right mind was calling them contenders.  Meanwhile Philly failed to make ECF, but they're still more highly regarded than LAL.

So if you know the Beard is going to be around for at least two more years, you can really start to think about adding more players to complement this core.  Truth be told, I wouldn't mind Tyrese Maxey finally becoming the alpha G of this team either.  I'm sure he could've made the allstar team, like Tyrese Haliburton, if he actually had the opportunity like that, i.e. being handed the keys to the car.

When I first started writing this article a couple of weeks ago, my question was that now that the Rockets didn't want him back, what other team did Harden intend to go to?  That question has since been answered, as he reportedly wants to go to the Clippers, and the Clippers only.  That trade would sorta makes sense from Philly's perspective because LAC always seems to have more quality players than they can actually use, so the Sixers would at least get two rotational pieces back (that they may not actually need anyway).  Also, whereas Harden + Kawhi + PG13 may read like overkill on paper, that trio would kinda makes sense, because you can always count on at least one of them being on the injured list during critical junctures.

But damn, don't the Clippers already have enough guards?  That's a problem a lot of teams are looking to have this coming season - a whole lotta backcourt presence though not enough frontcourt.  Also, I think it's safe to say that the Clippers are like never going to win a championship.  A month or two from now, when the season is about to begin, of course I'm going to rank them amongst the top contenders "if healthy".  But damn, now that the Nuggets have finally won a championship, LAC can be considered the unluckiest team when it comes to injuries in the NBA.

A SIMILAR SITUATION FOR LILLARD

One big difference between the Damian Lillard's and James Harden's situation is that unlike the Sixers, the Trailblazers haven't looked like true contenders for a long, long time.  And no one, including Dame obviously, is expecting them to win a championship anytime soon.  And I actually support the idea of Lillard going to the Heat.  But if not Miami, then where else?

There are some other squads I can think of where I believe Dame would be an excellent fit, such as the Bucks.  I also advocated the Sixers trading for him back when all that Ben Simmons' drama was going on.  But if a trade like that does proceed to go down, as in Lillard going to a contender, obviously it's not going to be anytime soon.  But at least, as generally understood, the Heat want Damian also.  In fact they already let a couple of quality players walk, reportedly in anticipation of being able to afford Dame, and if that doesn't work out then it's like they lost continuity and above-average role players for nothing.

And that's one of the dilemma with these stars player, that they get paid so much that it becomes nigh impossible to trade them.  Or let's say that if you're making $40+ million a year, like Lillard is, then why on earth are you demanding a trade to begin with?  You know what I'm saying?  Like you're making $40 million, fuk else do you want?  A trophy?

And to illustrate why I believe Dame should be grateful and keep his ass put (also a trade with Miami can be worked out), take the case of the late, great Kobe Bryant.  During the last few years of his career, after the failed Nash + Howard + Black Mamba experiment, the Lakers were absolutely awful.  Kobe, one of the greatest players in NBA history not only in terms of talent but also winningness, was stuck on a team basically filled with young, developing players and scabs.

By contrast, at leas the Blazers are competitive in Lillard's latter NBA years.  In fact, they may even be just one right piece away from contending, though if they did find that right player, they probably couldn't afford to pay him to begin with.

CONCLUSION

All of this player movement in the NBA is both exciting and debilitating at the same time.  It's exciting because we get to see many of our favorite players play alongside more of our favorite players, like a videogame or some shit.  But it's debilitating because in a way, it's making the league less entertaining.

Back in the old days, when a certain team came to town you knew who and what you were going to get.  I don't think anyone outside of Utah really expected the Jazz to ever beat the Bulls.  But you had to appreciate teams like the Malone + Stockton Jazz because, whether or not they ever won a championship, you knew that year after year they were going to contend.

That's how it is when you're able to actually build and maintain a roster.  You can have a really good team that never takes home the Larry O'Brien, but you appreciate that they're good and therefore entertaining.  If a particular team goes on to become a dynasty still they need quality competition, or else it becomes boring.

Nowadays if dudes don't win a championship they start whining, desert the squad they already committed to, thus making it less competitive in the process, and then going to another team with no guarantee that squad will even contend.  It's sorta like, say, what Kawhi did to the Raptors.  If he had stayed, Toronto would be must-watch to this day.  But instead, it's like now both they and the Clippers are unappealing at times.

What If... Draymond Really Did Leave the Warriors?

As an employee, I know how it feels to be a Draymond Green.  Your performance in integral to the success of the team but, being one of less-popular stars, you don't get adequate credit, especially when it comes to number-crunching time.  Massa comes and tell you 'we can't pay you as much as you're actually worth, in the name of keeping the team  competitive', and you're like 'okay, do what you gotta do.'  And instead the organization being appreciative by pledging to make you right, their disposition appears more like 'you'd even be lucky if we offer you a better contract in the future.'

Draymond has lost a step or two, both physically and mentally, as to be expected of someone his age who has been competing at the highest levels of basketball his entire adult life.  In the past every time I tried to picture him on another team, I couldn't.  But then lately I've been like, wait a minute.  At 33 years old, he's still in the DPOY conversation.  The NBA right now is full of guys who can score their asses off but can't defend at the same level.  And it's also chock full of teams that don't have anyone on their roster with the brains and/or voice to actually implement offensive strategies.

Draymond, perhaps moreso than any other player in the NBA, is able to influence games with his tongue and theatrics.  Also, his main offensive contributions comes in the form of passing and setting screens, again, probably better than any other NBAer - and there are so many teams that can use those skillsets.  Steph and Klay are of course amazing shooters, with Curry especially being able to score sometimes with two defenders in his face.  But their percentages have been assisted throughout the years by Green's presence.

So, is it really true that he wouldn't be able to fit in elsewhere?  Is Green really that expendable that Golden State would be willing to pay stars that came to the team after him more?  Steph himself disagrees with that practice.

If PJ Tucker, who about to 38 years, is considered such an important cog in the Sixers' wheel, then how much more valuable is Draymond to GSW?  What would happen if you send Draymond to a team full of quality chucks like the Rockets, to help free up shooters and organize their offense?  How would Draymond fare playing alongside Damian Lillard, who's a de facto Splash Brother?  How would the Suns look with Draymond, now that they've given up Mikal Bridges (and Jae Crowder)?

CONCLUSION

These are the kinds of questions you have to ask yourself.  You have teams with all the firepower in the world, like the Mavericks, who can't go nowhere because of an inability to defend.  That's because defending on a noteworthy level is not easy and takes a lot of continuous effort.  There are superstars in the NBA who have managed to go their whole careers without being that committed to defense.  No one is afraid of Steph + Klay on the defensive end, and it isn't always about effort but also defensive talent (or awareness, as the videogames call it).

So it'll be interesting to see if the Warriors continue to devalue Draymond.  If so, I hope another worthy team out there who values his skillset would be willing to offer him a max contract - if even possible considering the new CBA - and poach him away.  And if it's a situation where the Warriors can't pay him the max even if they wanted to, I think it would still be interesting to maybe see him go to the Rockets for instance.  Force Andrew Wiggins or Jonathan Kuminga to modify their games more to focus on passing and setting rightful screens, and then maybe the Warriors will begin to realize how Green is arguably their most-valuable all-around player.

NBA Postseason Power Stinkings (Southwest Division)

I figured that I need to get these postseason "Power Stinkings" over and done with, since the NBA preseason is about to start.  Many analysts like to argue that the preseason is inconsequential, but I beg to differ, because it's during the preseason where teams with new pieces get to first see which lineups are compatible, and vice versa.  For example, I'm sure I mentioned around this same time last year that the Lakers going winless during the 2021-22 preseason was quite telling.  So what that means is that I can't do my true, final predictions for the upcoming season until post-preseason, hopefully, if like I have the time to write an article that long.

But until then, I can still blab about how franchises look as we currently speak.  And these are the Power Stinkings, meaning that we're not going to start this list off with the Grizzlies but rather the...

1.  CHARLOTTE HORNETS

Fullcourt basketball is largely a test of endurance, and that's especially true when you're playing over an 82 game season.  So at the beginning of last season the Hornets - young, dumb and full of cum - looked like a team on the rise.  Then as those long months progressed, they were exposed.  And now Miles Bridges, who I personally feel is their best player, well, it doesn't look like he'll be suiting up anytime soon.  In fact I personally believe that one of the reasons the Hornets fell off last season is because after the All-Star break, Bridges seemed more disinterested, probably because he got snubbed or whatever.

The Hornets also didn't re-sign Montrezl Harris, which would have really made sense esp now that Bridges ain't around.  So, I guess it's back to putting our faith in Gordon Hayward.

2.  HOUSTON ROCKETS

I don't particularly believe in youth movements, though they may be necessary at times.  Or let me say that youth movements only tend to be successful when you're dealing with teams that have really wise braintrusts, which are so few that you can like count them on one hand, and then most of those already have established rosters.  So the Rockets may be exciting to watch, but I have yet to come across anyone predicting that they'll even make the upcoming playoffs.

But another thing about these young, energetic squads is that if somehow they are able to get their shit together and overachieve, then watch out, because those wise, established rosters are usually filled with vets who may lack the energy to be chasing young dudes around for 48 minutes every night.

3.  SAN ANTONIO SPURS

It pains me that I was even tempted to put the Spurs, as in the team with the highest winning percentage in NBA history, at the top of this list.  Coming into this season, they have perhaps the most mediocre roster in the Association.  But this is the Spurs, and Gregg Popovich is still around, so you have to give them the benefit of the doubt, that they may end up with a better records than the Hornets or Rockets.  And you know, the Spurs are such a proven organization that for whatever reason they're never mentioned in tanking conversations, even though it's kinda obvious that's what they're doing.  And if Popovich is able to stick around until they get a new crop high draft picks, then it's like look out.

2.  DALLAS MAVERICKS

I'm almost tempted to say that the Mavericks took one step forward but two steps backwards in acquiring Christian Wood yet losing Jalen Brunson, but JaVale McGee ain't no slouch either.  My biggest issue with the Mavs is that Luka, as great of a player as he may be, seems sorta like a despondent superstar, i.e. one who doesn't bring out the best in his teammates and may even have the opposite effect.  But he's like the most naturally-talented basketball player in the world, so once again it is up to Cuban and them to construct a roster around him that works.  And if Doncic stays healthy, it is possible that this team will be better than last season, though it's really hard to imagine them once again making it to the WCF.

1.  MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES

The problem with the Grizzlies is that besides losing key role players in Kyle Anderson and De'Anthony Melton, it doesn't look like they got anything in return, unless Danny Green proves healthy enough to remain on the court.  So it's like Memphis didn't upgrade and may have even degraded.  The good news though is that they have the best young core in the West.  So what I'm presuming is that the braintrust is like okay, all of these guys, including Ja Morant, will be better this season than they were last, and that's what they're banking on.  Like, there's only so much talent floating around the NBA anyway.  But there's still a few quality vets in free agency, as I can really see DeMarcus Cousins as part of this roster.

CONCLUSION

The Southwest Division was one of the more intriguing last season, but it may not be that way this time around.  While other teams were out upgrading, the likes of the Hornets, Spurs, Grizzlies and Mavs were either standing pat or losing key players.  It speaks volumes to conclude that the Rockets may have had the best offseason in Southwest Division, but we have to see how things play out in Dallas especially, as now Doncic truly has the type of supporting cast that not only compliments his style but also shouldn't step on his toes too much.

Mavs Acquire Christian Wood (Wow)

Christian Wood is a player whose career trajectory perplexes me.  A couple of years ago, when he was on the Pistons, Wood was being touted as the premiere young bigman in the league.  Then he went to the Rockets, I forget exactly how or why, but I think it had something to do with the Pistons being garbage.  This was around the same time that the Beard was leaving, but I remember being so impressed by this move on the part of Rockets that I even advocated Harden sticking around to see how things played out.

Since then, like I don't really know what happened.  I saw Wood play a couple of times, and he looks just as good as advertised, just a bit skinny.  I also know he spent a lot of time injured in Houston, and I even think they benched him for a while in the name of playing younger players, even though Christian is still kinda NBA young himself.

One article I came across is arguing that it's good the Rockets got rid of him, because he's a defensive liability.  Well then he shouldn't really have a problem on the Mavericks, a team that doesn't really seem to care about interior defense anyway.

Earlier, I advocated them going after DeAndre Ayton.  Maybe they'll still go pursue him or another traditional big, as Ayton could like play the 5, and Wood the 4.  But that isn't very likely because again, the Mavs' roster is about as anti-big as you can get.  In fact they basically traded their two backup centers, Marquese Chriss and Boban Marjanovic, for Wood, and it wouldn't be overly surprising if Houston ended up waiving them both (though Chriss looks like he may be a good fit).

Second is that, by the looks of things, most of the Mavs available dough this offseason is going to be dedicated to locking down Jalen Brunson.  It looks like NYK is ready to pay Brunson $25mil a year (!), which sounds like a very Knicks' thing to do.  I personally am not convinced that Brunson is worth that money, but if anyone should give it to him it should be the Mavs, as he's already proven an ability to represent in their uniform.

So what we may be looking at is something like Wood playing the 4, and Powell the 5.  And that isn't a terribly bad idea considering the success Dallas has already had with small lineups.

CONCLUSION

One thing I learned it not to doubt Jason Kidd and them.  Kidd is building a contender based on his own vision, and he isn't rushing to do so.  He's from the age of NBA history where players understood that Rome wasn't built in a day.

So it's like Wood is an exciting addition, one that should make the Mavs better and more must-watch.  Acquiring him is a step in the right direction, especially if he's healthy and they can retain him.  Because then Dallas can take it's time in finding another big to complement their roster, one who's formidable defensively, unless, as it more appears Jason is trying to do, their goal is to just run the other team out of the building.