NBA
Latest NBA Trade News: Grades for Each Western Conference Team
Image source: Marius Christensen
The offseason has been quite strange this year. It’s surprising to see many big names and restricted free agents still in the market as we approach September. If there’s anything we’ve learned over the years, it’s that moves around this time tend to change the scope of the new season in many ways.
While it remains unclear whether or not these names will get picked up, we decided to grade each Western Conference team based on how they’ve fared so far in the offseason.
Dallas Mavericks
Grade: C
Although the Mavericks traded for Christian Woods, they had to lose Jalen Brunson, a well-proven veteran, to the Grizzlies. Woods is a solid signing, no doubt, and could add some spice to the Mavs frontcourt, but it’s quite unclear what he’s capable of bringing into the team come postseason.
Would he blend well with some of the Mavs other big men, Javele McGee and Maxi Kleber? Are the Mavs even planning to fit McGee and Woods into the starting lineup?
Yes, any team that boasts a certain Luka Dončić is expected to make a deep run in the playoffs, but can we be so sure that these pieces will work together? We just have to sit back and watch.
The Mavs are, for sure, looking to improve from last year’s thrilling run to the Western Conference finals, so we expected a very busy offseason from them.
Denver Nuggets
Grade: B
If nobody else is going to say it, we will. Denver’s acquisition of Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Bruce Brown would go down as two of the most clever moves this offseason when it’s all said and done.
The Nuggets needed wings who could run back on defense, and they got exactly that in KCP and Brown. Both players will not only strengthen Denver’s defense but could also add some spice to an offense that already boasts league MVP Nikola Jokic and a fresh-out-of-injury Jamal Murray. Of course, trading Monte Morris is not without significance, but Murray’s return could ease any worries if he can at least replicate his 2020 Bubble form.
The Nuggets should’ve scored an ‘A,’ but picking DeAndre Jordan doesn’t seem like the best of moves if we’re keeping it a buck. Jordan hasn’t been effective as a role player in recent years, and we can’t guarantee that his time in Denver will be any different.
Golden State Warriors
Grade: C
The Dubs will not be going into the 2022/23 season with the same team that won them their seventh championship. Steve Kerr will be without Gary Payton II and Otto Porter Jr., but the Warriors organization has successfully replaced both pieces with veterans Donte DiVincenzo and JaMychal Green, which is pretty much a good move.
When it comes to rebounds, both DiVincenzo and Green would further reinforce a Warriors squad that can already count on youngins in Moses Moody, Jonathan Kuminga, Andrew Wiggins, and James Wiseman. Of course, their star trio of Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green, together with splash kid Jordan Poole and Kevon Looney put them in a good position to repeat as champions, but the Dubs will miss GPII and Porter Jr.
Houston Rockets
Grade: B
The Rockets played chess and not checkers during the 2022 NBA Draft. With the third pick in the draft, they landed Jabari Smith Jr., who was everybody’s first-overall. Let’s be honest with ourselves; you had to be psychic to see that one coming.
Houston also landed two more first-round picks in the draft and shipped off some of their vets, Christian Woods and John Wall, which gives us an idea of the franchise’s plans; open up more time for its young core.
Los Angeles Clippers
Grade: B
The Clipper’s assignment was simple: bring back all the players together. And they did that successfully.
LA has been able to build an incredibly talented and deep roster, perfect for playoff basketball. So as long as Kawhi Leonard and Paul George remain healthy, the Clips will give every team a run for their money.
They currently have the best NBA finals odds among Western Conference teams for a reason, according to FanDuel. With the acquisition of John Wall from Houston, Tyronn Lue’s Clippers now have the type of ball handler that has been missing in the KPG era and could possibly win it all.
Los Angeles Lakers
Grade: D
The Lakers franchise is definitely hoping to put a woeful 2021/22 season behind them after failing to make the playoffs. So far, the purple and gold have done a great job by ditching some of last season’s older veterans and acquiring younger players, like Thomas Bryant, Lonnie Walker IV, and Juan Toscano-Anderson. Yet, LA doesn’t feel like a team with championship caliber.
Parting ways with Frank Vogel and hiring Darvin Ham, a member of the Bucks championship team coaching staff, seems like a brilliant idea. But as long as LA has Russell Westbrook on its roster, it’s hard to see them compete for an 18th championship, talk less of lifting the Larry O’Brien trophy.
Now, let’s get this clear; we’re not among those who believe Russ is done for good; the triple-double king can still hoop. But it’s pretty much clear that he doesn’t fit well into a system that’s built around Lebron James and Anthony Davis.
The Lakers are still without solid two-way wings, and signing Loonie Walker seems a bit meh, given there were more rounded wings available on the market. We also weren’t able to see Lebron, AD, and Westbrook play together for most of last season due to injuries, so it remains unclear if they can make it work. At the end of the day, the best news for LA going into the new season is Lebron James’ contract extension, which could keep them at the Crypto.com arena till 2025.
Would a healthy AD, a less-of-the-ball handling-duties Russ, and last season’s Lebron make the Lakers a contender? It’s hard to tell at this point.
Memphis Grizzlies
Grade: C
Before the wild Memphis fans start wailing, Ja Morant’s long-term extension is a win for the Grizzlies franchise. However, shipping off some important role players in Kyle Anderson and De’Anthony Melton for unproven draft picks doesn’t seem like the best strategy for any team looking to contend for a title.
The loss of Anderson could particularly hurt the Grizzlies. Jaren Jackson Jr. has been sidelined until at least the start of next year after successful foot surgery (the timeline is four to six months, as earlier announced on the Grizzlies Communications Department’s official Twitter handle in June). It’s not an entirely bad offseason for Memphis, but it might be a rollercoaster ride if things don’t go as planned.
Minnesota Timberwolves
Grade: C
Acquiring Rudy Gobert from Utah Jazz might be a good or bad one, depending on which side of the coin you choose to look at. We’ll say “Hats off” to the Wolves for thinking it’s a good idea; however, it’s hard to envisage how Gobert and Karl-Anthony Towns will work together, but it will be interesting to see.
In other news, the Kyle Anderson and Austin Rivers trade sounds like a bright idea and could serve as a plus in the playoffs. Nevertheless, we choose to reserve our judgment until we see this team play.
New Orleans Pelicans
Grade: A
The Pelicans are the biggest winners in the West and arguably throughout the entire league. They have one of the most exciting rosters, and if healthy, we see them making a deep run in the playoffs.
Tying Zion Williamson to a long-term contract is a big win for NOLA. In the past, we’ve seen big stars like Anthony Davis ask out of New Orleans, but getting the slightest of commitment from Williamson sure sounds like a massive achievement. A healthy Zion plus an already exciting roster spells good times for the Pelicans.
Oklahoma City Thunder
Grade: Unsure
One of the biggest talks of the offseason is whether or not No. 2 overall pick Chet Holmgren will be able to cope with the intensity of the league. Could he be OKC’s next Kevin Durant, or is he going to end up as a draft bust? We’re not sure how it’s going to pan out, but it’ll be fascinating to see him morph into a professional basketball player.
OKC also re-signed Lu Dort, which is a good thing. We know they got a solid guard in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, but it doesn’t look like these offseason moves will be enough to take them to the playoffs.
If anything, the post-Westbrook era hasn’t been the best of times. And for a franchise that has sought irrelevance for the last couple of years in hopes of landing first-round draft picks, OKC fans shouldn’t get excited just yet.
Phoenix Suns
Grade: D
Aside from bringing back DeAndre Ayton, the Suns have done little to improve the same roster that got hammered in the second round of last season’s playoffs. Yes, Ayton got what he wanted, but it’s clear that his future with the franchise is quite shaky.
From one angle, it makes a lot of sense not to make any serious changes to a 64-win team. However, the team needs much better role facilitators, especially since a chunk of its game is centered around a 38-year-old Chris Paul. Monty Williams’ team will also need some extra help on perimeter defense.
Phoenix was able to keep their core for another season, which is a good thing, but the Ayton situation may ruffle the team’s chemistry.
Portland Trail Blazers
Grade B
The Blazers may not be among the favorites, but we’ve got to give them credit for bringing in players like Jerami Grant and GPII. Grant is a solid two-way player, one that the Damian Lillard era has been craving for, while GPII is fresh off a championship team and could contribute immensely in defense.
Rip City extended Lillard and Anfernee Simmons, and landing Shaedon Sharpe in the draft looks to be an exciting one. If all goes well, we may see the Blazers in the playoffs this season.
Sacramento Kings
Grade: B
The Kings are renowned for being one of the worst franchises when it comes to making the right decisions, but history may not be repeating itself this time. Picking Kevin Huerter and Malik Monk appears to be a smart move, and these two could add some juice to a team that already boasts De’Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis.
Selecting Keegan Murray over Jaden Ivey in the 2022 Draft drew lots of criticism from fans and analysts, but we don’t know how things will eventually turn out. In the meantime, we’ve got to raise our thumbs to Sacramento’s summer moves.
San Antonio Spurs
Grade: Unsure
Should Spurs fans be happy that the franchise has chosen the path to a full-blown rebuild? Maybe. San Antonio made it clear by trading Dejounte Murray to the Atlanta Hawks to free up more cap space. However, Gregg Popovich’s 27th year as head coach may end up being a long one for Spurs fans to watch.
It appears that the Spurs are thinking long-term and plan to take the Tim Duncan approach by tanking for a 2023 No. 1 overall draft pick. According to an article published by the Bleacher Report, San Antonio may be headed for a 16-win season, the fewest in franchise history and four wins less than they recorded in 1996-97 (the season before selecting Duncan No. 1 overall).
While it’s good for the future, it hurts to see the final years of Popovich’s coaching career being wasted. Of course, we’ll be keeping an eye on some of the Spurs’ exciting young core; Keldon Johnson, Devin Vassell, and Jeremy Sochan.
Utah Jazz
Grade: B
The Jazz decided to blow up the Rudy Gobert-Donovan Mitchell duo by trading Gobert to the Timberwolves for a staggering amount of future draft picks in return, which is pretty smart of them to do. Utah received guards Malik Beasley and Patrick Beverley, forwards Leandro Bolmaro and Jarred Vanderbilt, Walker Kessler (the No. 22 pick in the 2022 Draft from the Auburn Tigers), and five future draft picks. Now, that’s more than enough capital to build for the future.
With the Mitchell trade rumors flying around, Utah could potentially have even more draft capital for a rebuild. The future seems very bright for the Jazz franchise.
Jessica Martinez is an author at Sportish, a publication dedicated to sports news and analysis. She covers various topics related to sports and provides insightful commentary on the latest developments in the world of sports.