There are shoes yet to drop. Big ones.
So goes the unending NBA offseason. This year, the issue is the plight of the restricted free agent, whose originating team has the right to match any offer made to him by another team. Yet, the issue this summer is not the threat of some team dropping an offer sheet on the four RFAs of note still unsigned as of Aug. 19 — Golden State’s Jonathan Kuminga, Chicago’s Josh Giddey, Philadelphia’s Quentin Grimes and Brooklyn’s Cam Thomas. No team other than the Nets has cap space, leaving each player in the quartet in limbo. Their current teams have no incentive to offer a dime more than they currently have, knowing no one has the ability to go after them. But, their stasis, particularly Kuminga’s, has frozen other potential moves around the league that should happen once it is clear Kuminga is either staying in the Bay or moving on.
But, we can’t wait forever. So, we’re doing the best we can with the annual bottom-to-top rankings of each team’s offseason. Keep in mind: some teams last played in mid-April. The Thunder and Pacers last played in mid-June. This is in no way linear. Teams have different priorities, depending on their rosters, their coaches, their owners, their fan bases. The Cavaliers, Knicks, Clippers and Wolves are in championship mode; the Wizards, Nets and Jazz … are not. So grading each offseason requires understanding where each team is entering the summer, and how they attacked their weaknesses.
The rankings are based on one question: How much better is a team going into next season than it was at the end of last season? And that means assessing how much a team improved, either via trades, free agency, the draft or some other way. Boston blew up its championship team; it is not as good going into 2025-26 as it was a year ago. The Knicks dismissed their successful coach, Tom Thibodeau. The Rockets went all-in on a title run by getting Kevin Durant.
You don’t grade these on a curve; they’re all on different plot points. But I have to put them in some order, so I did.
But there are those who refuse to understand the assignment, so further detailing follows.
What to know about these rankings
As this just covers the offseason, here’s what these rankings are not: A predicted order of finish for next season.
These are not “power rankings” as you have come to understand them. For example, I am not saying the Hawks are “better” than the Thunder now, just because they had a better offseason. On the last day of OKC’s season, the Thunder won the NBA title. On the last day of Atlanta’s season, the Hawks lost in the Play-In to Miami. The Hawks are not as good as the Thunder; they have further to go. But they did good things this offseason to start to close that gap. So, I give them credit in these from-the-end-of-their-season-to-now rankings.
This paragraph is for the “Rich Ls” of the world — who, invariably, leave a version of the following in the comments every year, after reading the rankings and completely ignoring the context of the exercise: “Hawks bettor (sic) than the Thunder, lol. Your (sic) an idiot.”
(I very well may be an idiot, but not because of this.)
Accordingly, as I say every year:
• If your team is ranked in the top 10, it doesn’t mean I love your team.
• If your team is ranked in the bottom 10, it doesn’t mean I hate your team.
There’s just one question: Is the team better now than at the end of last season? The ranking reflects the belief on whether, and how much, that is so. (For example, I liked certain guys who were in the draft more than others, so if your team took them, I probably weighed it more positively. I really liked Cedric Coward this year. So the team that got Coward gets bumped up a little more. The same goes for vets whose presence on teams almost always leads to more winning basketball plays on the floor on a given night; aka the Alex Caruso Wave.)
Also:
• This isn’t science. It’s an educated guess. Additions have to make sense, both on the court and on the books, for their new teams to be graded higher. In the modern NBA, enhancing a franchise’s analytics department, or its medical, or opening a new practice facility and/or building, are all pluses, both in terms of their actual impact and as a sign to players and fans that ownership is willing to spend at the level required to be competitive.
• Teams that are judicious and smart about their cap space, exceptions and the like get major props here. There’s more than one way to skin a cat. You can use existing space to bring in multiple good-if-not-great players, or put everything into a single difference maker. But it’s graded on a curve here if it costs you a key member of your current rotation.
• Rebuilding teams have different priorities from teams in the midst of making a championship run. So a team at the bottom of the actual NBA standings can nonetheless get a good grade here if it used its cap space well and made smart draft picks. Teams that fixed obvious roster weaknesses also get credit, while teams that ignored or didn’t address clear deficiencies probably get dinged a little.
• A contending team that continues to go deep into the luxury/repeater/second apron — which most teams try to avoid — should be commended for continuing to try to win at the highest level, and is so here. But, I also take into account that getting below the second apron and its myriad penalties is now a necessary objective for teams. So a team such as Boston, which chose to do that now rather than wait, gets dinged solely after trading Kristaps Porziņģis and Jrue Holiday, but not completely; while the deals will hurt them in the short term, they may also allow them to keep at least a chunk of their previous core, which is probably the best you can do in this system. It’s complicated.
Also, “brain drain” is important: good teams lose front office people and coaches more rapidly than mediocre ones. It’s hard to consistently keep replacing solid people who understand your organization’s culture and have the respect and trust of your players.
• Injuries matter, of course. Ask the 76ers. A team without a key member of its rotation at the start of the season because of a long-term injury rehab loses ground in these rankings to a team getting a superstar or key player back.
• Continuity matters here as well. The more successful teams usually not only identify a core group of players but also keep them together. (See: Boston.) It may also make more sense for other teams to keep their financial powder dry for another day.
Three days, three sets of rankings, from 30-21, 20-11 and 10-1.
So, here we go.
Salary numbers, with a couple of exceptions, come from Spotrac, which stays on top of this stuff as well as anyone east of Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report. And the great Mark Deeks, for reasons known only to him, created an exhaustive list of 2025 two-way and Exhibit 10 post-draft signings, from which I have borrowed copiously. Draft pick details are from both Spotrac and RealGM.
Inc. Golden State Warriors
2024-25 record: 48-34; lost in Western Conference semifinals to the Minnesota Timberwolves, 4-1
Added: F Alex Toohey (draft rights acquired from Suns); G Will Richard (draft rights acquired from Grizzlies); F Jackson Rowe (two-way); G Chance McMillan (Exhibit 10); G L.J. Cryer (Exhibit 10)
Lost: C Kevon Looney (signed with Pelicans); G Koby Brea (draft rights traded to Phoenix)
Retained: None
Extended: F Gui Santos (club exercised $2.2M option for 2025-26); C Quentin Post (club exercised $1.95M option for 2025-26)
Returning from injury: G Stephen Curry (hamstring); G Brandin Podziemski (core muscle surgery/left wrist debridement); G Moses Moody (right thumb surgery)
The skinny: I hate giving out incompletes, but until Jonathan Kuminga’s status is resolved one way or another, it’s impossible to judge Golden State’s offseason. If Kuminga departs, the Warriors will certainly then go get Al Horford and/or De’Anthony Melton and Gary Payton II, who have to wait for Kuminga’s denouement before signing with the Dubs — and the grade will rise.
29. Boston Celtics
2024-25 record: 61-21; lost in Eastern Conference semifinals to the New York Knicks, 4-2
Added: G Anfernee Simons (acquired from Trail Blazers); F RJ Luis (acquired from Jazz); C Chris Boucher (one year, $3.3M); C Luka Garza (two years, $5.2M); F Josh Minott (two years, $4.9M); G Hugo Gonzalez (first round, 28th pick); F/C Amari Williams (draft rights acquired from Magic); G Max Shulga (draft rights acquired from Magic; two-way); G Hayden Gray (Exhibit 10); 2026 second-round pick (acquired from Magic); 2027 second-round pick (acquired from Magic); 2031 second-round pick (acquired from Hawks)
Lost: G Jrue Holiday (traded to Trail Blazers); C Kristaps Porziņģis (traded to Hawks); F Georges Niang (traded to Jazz); F Luke Kornet (signed with Spurs); G J.D. Davison (waived); F Noah Penda (draft rights traded to Magic); F Miles Norris (waived); 2026 second-round pick (traded to Hawks); 2027 second-round pick (traded to Jazz); 2031 second-round pick (traded to Jazz)
Retained: None
Extended: None
Returning from injury: F Jaylen Brown (right knee arthroscopic debridement)
The skinny: The second apron ran like a scythe through the Celtics’ dreams of an extended run atop the East. While Boston awaits Jayson Tatum’s return, likely for the 2026-27 season, it will have to figure out who will ride with Tatum, Brown and (presumably) Derrick White going forward. Is Simons part of the retooling, or will he be flipped for more payers and picks? Garza isn’t without offensive talent, but he’s a couple of steps down, obviously, from KP. Gonzalez projects as a solid if not spectacular wing. It’s going to be bleak in Beantown for a minute.
28. Indiana Pacers
2024-25 record: 50-32; lost in NBA Finals to Oklahoma City Thunder, 4-3
Added: C Jay Huff (acquired from Grizzlies); G Kam Jones (draft rights acquired from Spurs); G Taelon Peter (second round, 54th pick; two-way); G Quenton Jackson (two-way); G R.J. Felton (Exhibit 10); G Steven Ashworth (Exhibit 10); C Samson Johnson (Exhibit 10); 2026 first-round pick (own, previously via Pelicans).
Lost: C Myles Turner (signed with Bucks); 2029 second-round pick (traded to Grizzlies); 2030 second-round pick (traded to Spurs); 2031 second-pick swap with Grizzlies; 2025 first-round pick (traded to Pelicans); G Mojave King (draft rights traded to Pelicans)
Retained: C James Wiseman (two years, $5.6M); C Tony Bradley (picked up $2.94M team option for 2025-26); F Isaiah Jackson (three years, $21M)
Extended: None
Returning from injury: Isaiah Jackson (torn right achilles); F Jarace Walker (right ankle sprain); Wiseman (torn left achilles)
The skinny: The Pacers did everything a mid-market team has to do to build a title contender — methodically, carefully, sticking with their coach and management team, waiting for the right moment to strike with a bold move – and had it pay off. But Indy got hit with a two-by-four with Tyrese Haliburton’s horrific Achilles tear in the first quarter of Game 7 of the finals. That uncertainty shook ownership’s commitment to do whatever it took to keep Turner; without Haliburton, who’s likely to miss most if not all of the 2025-26 season, the Pacers have little chance of competing at the top of the East. So going deep into the luxury tax no longer made sense. Just a brutal turn.
27. Toronto Raptors
2024-25 record: 30-52; did not make playoffs
Added: C Sandro Mamukelashvili (two years, $5.5M); F Colin Murray-Boyles (first round, ninth pick); G Alijah Martin (second round, 39th pick; two-way); G Chucky Hepburn (two-way); C Ulrich Chomche (two-way); C Olivier Sarr (Exhibit 10); F David Roddy (Exhibit 10); C Clifford Omoruyi (Exhibit 10); F Tyson Degenhart (Exhibit 10)
Lost: F/C Chris Boucher (signed with Celtics); F Colin Castleton (waived); G Jared Rhoden (waived); fired team president Masai Ujiri
Retained: G Garrett Temple (one year, $3.6M), F Jamison Battle (converted two-way)
Extended: C Jakob Poeltl (four years, $104M); GM Bobby Webster
Returning from injury: G/F Brandon Ingram (sprained left ankle); G Gradey Dick (hyperextended right knee)
The skinny: Toronto made the decision to basically run it back at last season’s trade deadline, after acquiring Brandon Ingram from the Pelicans and immediately extending him. I guess you can argue that getting Ingram essentially was an offseason move, since he didn’t play a minute for Toronto after coming over. He’ll definitely help. But there wasn’t very much else that happened in the offseason after Toronto took defensive stalwarts Murray-Boyles and Martin in the draft. Ujiri was uniquely talented at culture-setting and re-shaping Toronto as an NBA destination during his time as the team’s top executive. He’ll be hard to replace.
26. New Orleans Pelicans
2024-25 record: 21-61; did not make playoffs
Added: C Kevon Looney (two years, $16M): G Jordan Poole (acquired from Wizards); F Saddiq Bey (acquired from Wizards); G Jeremiah Fears (first round, seventh pick); F/C Derik Queen (draft rights acquired from Hawks); F Micah Peavy (draft rights acquired from Wizards); G Trey Alexander (two-way); G Bryce McGowens (two-way); C Hunter Dickinson (two-way); G Jaden Springer (Exhibit 9); Mojave King (draft rights acquired from Pacers); hired president of basketball operations Joe Dumars; hired senior vice president of basketball operations Troy Weaver
Lost: G C.J. McCollum (traded to Wizards); F/C Kelly Olynyk (traded to Wizards); F Asa Newell (draft rights traded to Hawks); G Elfrid Payton (club declined 2025-26 option); G Brandon Boston Jr. (club declined 2025-26 option); G Lester Quiñones (waived); G Antonio Reeves (waived); 2026 first-round pick (traded to Hawks); fired general manager David Griffin
Retained: None
Extended: F Herb Jones (three years, $67.5M)
Returning from injury: F Zion Williamson (lower back bone contusion); F Trey Murphy III (torn right labrum); F Herb Jones (right rotator cuff surgery); Queen (left scapholunate ligament surgery)
The skinny: Yes, it was a mistake to move the 2026 first to Atlanta without protections. But, my god, you’d think the Pelicans burned down Canal Street. There is a lot of smarminess within a lot of NBA front offices. It manifests itself in how universally snarky the commentary has been about the Hawks-Pels deal — falling on a continuum between “Dumars and Weaver are idiots” and “Dumars and Weaver are really idiots.” Meanwhile, most of these supposed geniuses’ teams fail, year after year. The Pelicans may well fail, too. But, Fears and Queen have talent, Looney has championship DNA and Poole was better last year. Maybe we could let an actual season unfold before passing judgment.
25. Phoenix Suns
2024-25 record: 36-46; did not make playoffs
Added: G Jalen Green (acquired from Rockets); F Dillon Brooks (acquired from Rockets); C Mark Williams (acquired from Hornets); F Nigel Hayes-Davis (one year, $2M); G Jordan Goodwin (claimed off waivers); C Khaman Maluach (draft rights acquired from Rockets); F/C Rasheer Fleming (draft rights acquired from Timberwolves); G Koby Brea (draft rights acquired from Warriors; two-way); F Isaiah Livers (two-way); F CJ Huntley (two-way); G Jared Butler (Exhibit 9); 2029 second-round pick (acquired from Hornets); 2026 second-round pick (acquired from Rockets); hired general manager Brian Gregory; hired coach Jordan Ott
Lost: F Kevin Durant (traded to Rockets); G Bradley Beal (buyout via stretch provision); F David Roddy (traded to Hawks); G Tyus Jones (signed with Magic); C Mason Plumlee (signed with Hornets); G Vasilije Micić (traded to Hornets); F Cody Martin (waived); F Daeqwon Plowden (waived); F Liam McNeeley (draft rights traded to Charlotte); F Alex Toohey (draft rights traded to Warriors); 2029 first-round pick (traded to Hornets); 2026 second-round pick (traded to Timberwolves); 2032 second-round pick (traded to Timberwolves); 2025 second-round pick (traded to Warriors); fired coach Mike Budenholzer.
Retained: G Collin Gillespie (one year, $2.05M)
Extended: G Devin Booker (two years, $133.2M)
Returning from injury: None
The skinny: Gregory — a Sparty guy, naturally — didn’t do a bad job out of the gate as the new GM. The Suns aren’t “good” in the sense that they’re now a contender, but they should at least be competitive most nights for Ott. The return for Durant was fair, considering Phoenix had very little leverage, and stretching Beal gets the Suns out of apron hell. They were nimble in moving up to get Fleming, who had first-round grades from lots of teams. Green, Fleming, Williams and Maluach are good beginnings for whatever comes next in the Valley to surround Booker through the rest of his prime, a welcome departure from the three superstars approach.
24. Los Angeles Lakers
2024-25 record: 50-32; lost in Western Conference first round to the Minnesota Timberwolves, 4-1
Added: C Deandre Ayton (two years, $16.6M); G Marcus Smart (two years, $10.5M); F Jake LaRavia (two years, $12M); F Adou Thiero (draft rights acquired from Nets); G Chris Mañon (two-way); G Augustas Marčiulionis (Exhibit 10); G RJ Davis (Exhibit 10); F/C Eric Dixon (Exhibit 10); F Arthur Kaluma (Exhibit 10); controlling interest in franchise sold to Mark Walter
Lost: F Dorian Finney-Smith (signed with Rockets); G Jordan Goodwin (waived); G Shake Milton (waived); C Trey Jemison III (waived); Lachlan Olbrich (draft rights traded to Bulls)
Retained: F LeBron James (exercised player option for 2025-26); C Jaxson Hayes (one year, $3.45M); C Christian Kokolo (two-way)
Extended: F Luka Dončić (three years, $160.8M)
Returning from injury: James (left MCL sprain); Austin Reaves (left toe sprain)
The skinny: The Buss Family, God love ’em, ran the Lakers like a business, not a plaything/tax write-off. Walter’s largesse won’t be as industry-jarring in the NBA as it is in Major League Baseball, but if Walter’s spending on the Dodgers is any guide, the Lakers will get closer to the industry standard off the court under the new ownership. We’ll see if Ayton can still be a major difference maker after flaming out in Phoenix and Portland. Similarly, Smart isn’t what he was in Boston, but many advanced stats show he’s still one of the better defensive guards in the league – and he’s better defensively than anyone else L.A. can roll out. Losing DFS, though, is a blow.
23. Miami Heat
2024-25 record: 37-45; lost in Eastern Conference first round to the Cleveland Cavaliers, 4-0
Added: F Norman Powell (acquired from Clippers); G Dru Smith (three years, $7.9M) G Kasparas Jakučionis (first round, 20th pick); F Simone Fontecchio (acquired from Pistons); C Vladislav Goldin (two-way); F Myron Gardner (two-way); G Steve Settle III (Exhibit 10); Ethan Thompson (Exhibit 10); 2027 second-round pick (acquired from Clippers)
Lost: G Duncan Robinson (to Pistons via sign-and-trade); F Kevin Love (traded to Jazz); F Kyle Anderson (traded to Jazz); F Haywood Highsmith (traded to Nets); 2032 second-round pick (traded to Nets)
Retained: G Davion Mitchell (two years, $24M); F Keshad Johnson (picked up $1.9M team option for 2025-26)
Extended: None
Returning from injury: G Terry Rozier (left ankle sprain)
The skinny: Powell is a solid, slightly under-the-radar vet pickup who’ll fit right in at a relatively low cost, now ($20.4 million) and in the near future. The Heat had to do something; Miami couldn’t run it back with the previous core that finished eight games below .500 and got swept by Cleveland in the first round. Jakučionis fell to 20 for some reason, and he’ll contribute right away. So should Fontecchio. But Miami doesn’t have many more assets left to try and take the kind of huge offseason swings we’ve associated with Pat Riley’s stewardship.
22. Brooklyn Nets
2024-25 record: 26-56; did not make playoffs
Added: F Michael Porter, Jr. (acquired from Nuggets); G Terance Mann (acquired from Hawks); F Haywood Highsmith (acquired from Heat); G Ricky Council IV (one year); G Egor Demin (first round, eighth pick); G Nolan Traoré (first round, 19th pick); G Ben Saraf (first round, 26th pick); F Danny Wolf (first round, 27th pick); F Drake Powell (draft rights acquired from Atlanta); G Tyson Etienne (two-way); F/C Grant Nelson (Exhibit 10); 2032 first-round pick (acquired from Nuggets); 2026 second-round pick (acquired from Suns); 2030 second-round pick (acquired from Suns); 2032 second-round pick (acquired from Heat)
Lost: F Cam Johnson (traded to Nuggets); F Trendon Watford (signed with 76ers); F Kendall Brown (waived); F Adou Theiro (draft rights traded to Lakers); Maxwell Lewis (waived)
Retained: C Day’Ron Sharpe (two years, $12M); F Ziaire Williams (two years, $12M); G Keon Johnson (picked up $2.35M team option for 2025-26); F Jalen Wilson (picked up $2.2M team option for 2025-26); G/F Tyrese Martin (picked up $2.2M team option for 2025-26); F Drew Timme (picked up $1.96M team option for 2025-26); (G Tosan Evbuomwan (two-way)
Extended: None
Returning from injury: F Noah Clowney (right ankle sprain), Porter Jr. (shoulder sprain)
The skinny: Someone has to score on bad teams, so Porter Jr. will have the green light from jump while he’s at Barclays Center. It feels like the Nets sold a little low on Johnson, though I get speculating on that ’32 first becoming a golden ticket. And while each of the five players Brooklyn got in the draft have solid skills, particularly Demin and Saraf, there’s no way the Nets planned to use all of their ’25 firsts. I’m pretty sure they hoped to use them to move up into the top five and get a real difference-maker who could accelerate the rebuild. That was a missed opportunity. Another tank season looms, with the stakes now even higher to get a top-four pick in 2026.
21. Detroit Pistons
2024-25 record: 44-38; lost in Eastern Conference first round to the New York Knicks, 4-2
Added: G Caris LeVert (two years, $28.9M); G Duncan Robinson (three years, $48M via sign and trade with Heat); F Javonte Green (one year, $2.87M); G Colby Jones (two-way); Chaz Lanier (second round, 37th pick); F Dawson Garcia (Exhibit 10); 2026 second-round pick (acquired from Kings)
Lost: G Dennis Schröder (signed with Kings); G Tim Hardaway, Jr. (signed with Nuggets); F Simone Fontecchio (traded to Miami); G Ron Harper Jr. (waived); 2029 second-round pick (traded to Kings)
Retained: C Paul Reed (two years, $10.9M); G Daniss Jenkins (two-way); F Tolu Smith III (two-way)
Extended: None
Returning from injury: G Jaden Ivey (broken left fibula); F Isaiah Stewart (right knee inflammation)
The skinny: Detroit did OK, considering the circumstances. But the likelihood of losing Malik Beasley off a sensational season (16.3 points per game off the bench on 42 percent from 3) to a gambling investigation was a big blow. He was a big part of the Pistons’ resurgence last season. So, too, was losing Schröder, who was excellent in Detroit. LeVert and Robinson plug right into those spots, though, with Ivey returning as well, so Cade Cunningham will still have targets to whom he can spray the ball. Lanier’s shooting prowess can get him into the rotation quickly, too. Stewart, and his physicality, returns after missing most of Detroit’s first-round series against the Knicks.
(Illustration: Demetrius Robinson / The Athletic; Photos: Adam Pantozzi / NBAE, Alex Slitz, Harry How / Getty Images)