NBA offseason grades: Did the Lakers pass or fail this summer? Report cards for all 15 teams in the West
We gave you our Eastern Conference offseason report card.So, it is time to hand out grades in the West, where no single team earned an A or F. That fact reflects how little movement of consequence occurred in the conference.While NBA icons LeBron James and (we presume) Kawhi Leonard are headed East, LaMelo Ball and (we think) Brandon Ingram are the stars bound for the opposite direction, and neither moves the needle much for his new team. Same goes for Ja Morant, who was traded from the Memphis Grizzlies to the Portland Trail Blazers.Morant and Ball may raise the ceilings for the Blazers and Minnesota Timberwolves, respectively, but they also lower their floors. In all likelihood, neither Portland nor Minnesota is any closer to contention than it was without doing a thing, so each of those teams earned a C, because we grade around the curve of: Did you get better?Teams are also graded on asset management. Regardless of how we feel about the present state of a roster, did the franchise take steps this summer to build toward a better future? Here's looking at you, Los Angeles Lakers, who spent big, both in salary and draft picks, locking themselves into a team that is still not a contender?But before we give too much away, our Western Conference offseason report card (Dillon Marshall/Yahoo Sports Illustration)Dallas Mavericks2025-26:26-562026-27 wins O/U:34.5Key additions:Santi Aldama Zaccharie Risacher Marcus Sasser Morez Johnson Jr. Sergio de LarreaKey subtractions:Khris Middleton D'Angelo Russell Ryan Nembhard Dwight Powell Brandon WilliamsThe Cooper Flagg era is upon us, and it will continue apace in his second season with a presumably healthy Kyrie Irving in place of Ryan Nembhard at the point guard position a pretty massive upgrade. That was the roster already in place a mismatch of timelines (Flagg is 19; Irving is 34), but a combination of brilliant offensive players.Around them, in the aftermath of the Luka Doni trade, which was followed by the Anthony Davis trade both made under the previous regime new lead executive Masai Ujiri opted for incremental upgrades. Santi Aldama is one of the league's more underrated floor-spacing forwards, while Zaccharie Risacher and Marcus Sasser are former first-round picks who are worth a look working alongside brilliant playmakers.Oh, and Morez Johnson Jr. another top-10 pick, another winner joins the rotation, along with his college coach, University of Michigan's Dusty May. The pair won the 2026 NCAA national title together and generates even more creativity for the roster.Grade: BDenver Nuggets2025-26:54-282026-27 wins O/U:49.5Key additions:Marvin Bagley III Trevon BrazileKey subtractions:Jonas Valaninas Tim Hardaway Jr.Denver's entire offseason hinges on the restricted free agency of Peyton Watson. Keep him at the price he could command elsewhere, and it may send ownership into a spending stratosphere with which it is not comfortable. Lose him, though, and the championship window that has been open for some time could be shut for good.It's not that Watson is great. He's very good. And the Nuggets need as many good players as they can get. They have Nikola Joki, Jamal Murray, Aaron Gordon, Cam Johnson and Christian Braun a lineup that outscored opponents by 14.7 points per 100 meaningful possessions last season, according to Cleaning the Glass but that group (without the injured Watson) also just lost in the first round of the playoffs.Granted, Gordon was hobbled, but that is becoming a habit, and the Nuggets need Watson for security. They have lost Jonas Valaninas and Tim Hardaway Jr. from a bench that was already thin, replacing them with Marvin Bagley III and Trevon Brazile. It's not the most inspiring offseason, at least until we learn of a contract for Watson.Grade: DGolden State Warriors2025-26:37-452026-27 wins O/U:40.5Key additions:Yaxel LendeborgKey subtractions:Quinten PostIt seemed for a moment, as Draymond Green also waited in the wings as an unrestricted free agent, that LeBron James might join Stephen Curry's Warriors. It did not happen, and that robbed them of an opportunity to be special once again.They did retain Green, Al Horford and Kristaps Porziis, who, when paired with Curry and eventually a healthy Jimmy Butler, form one of the league's oldest lineups. It could be really fun on a lot of nights, like it was when they ousted the Los Angeles Clippers in last season's play-in tournament, but on others it could be equally painful.They let restricted free agent Quinten Post walk to the Memphis Grizzlies on a three-year, $30 million contract, so much of their offseason depends on the development of 23-year-old rookie Yaxel Lendeborg another Michigan product, another winner. He could be helpful at some points, but at what point? In time to save the twilight of Curry's career?Grade: CHouston Rockets2025-26:52-302026-27 wins O/U:47.5Key additions:Marcus Smart Bogdan Bogdanovi Bruce ThorntonKey subtractions:Josh Okogie Dorian Finney-Smith Aaron HolidayThe Rockets lost in fairly embarrassing fashion in the first round of the playoffs to a Los Angeles Lakers team that was largely missing Luka Doni and Austin Reaves. Yes, Kevin Durant was injured, and that matters, but they did drop a six-game series to a 41-year-old LeBron, and ownership opted to run it back with last year's vision.Retaining Ime Udoka as head coach, lead executive Rafael Stone chose to tinker around the edges of his roster, adding Marcus Smart, Bogdan Bogdanovi and Bruce Thornton (the first overall pick of the second round in this past June's draft) to replace the outgoing trio of Josh Okogie, Dorian Finney-Smith and Aaron Holiday.Is that enough to lift them from first-round fodder into championship contention? Probably not, but if they can avoid a chemistry disaster, the core of Durant, Fred VanVleet (returning from ACL surgery), Amen Thompson, Jabari Smith Jr., Alperen engn and Steven Adams, among others, should be good for another 50 victories, another guaranteed playoff berth and a slightly improved shot at advancing further.Grade: BLos Angeles Clippers2025-26:42-402026-27 wins O/U:28.5Key additions:*Brandon Ingram Rui Hachimura Keaton Wagler Gradey Dick Baba MillerKey subtractions:*Kawhi Leonard Bogdan Bogdanovi Nic Batum John Collins*For the purposes of this exercise, we will assume the Kawhi Leonard trade goes through, returning Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick and a pair of first-round draft picks. While the Aspiration scandal could prevent the deal from being consummated, it feels more likely that the Clippers are just fine with putting an end to the Leonard era.And losing Leonard is no small conceit. He was a bona fide MVP candidate when healthy last season, and he was healthy for 65 games at the age of 34, averaging a 28-6-4 on 51/39/89 shooting splits and earning some votes for All-NBA First Team.All that said, the Clippers have committed to a rebuild, now relying on 26-year-old two-time All-Star Darius Garland and 19-year-old No. 5 overall pick Keaton Wagler for star power. Gone are a number of veterans who helped right the ship after a shaky start to last season. While Ingram and Rui Hachimura are quality players, they are not the sort who can consistently carry a winner whenever the season goes south again.Grade: DLos Angeles Lakers2025-26:53-292026-27 wins O/U:46.5Key additions:Walker Kessler Quentin Grimes Sandro Mamukelashvilli Collin Sexton Matisse Thybulle Ziaire Williams Kevon Looney Cameron CarrKey subtractions:LeBron James Rui Hachimura Marcus Smart Luke Kennard Deandre Ayton Jaxson HayesAre the Lakers better? Oddsmakers do not think so, pegging them for more than a handful of wins fewer than last season's total. They did, after all, lose LeBron James, one of the greatest players in the history of the game, who, even at 41, was capable of both serving as the NBA's best third option or winning a playoff series on his own.They also lost a handful of role players, who, for all of their flaws, helped them to 53 wins and a home playoff seed in last season's West. With salary cap space to spare, the Lakers spent big this summer, adding Walker Kessler, Quentin Grimes, Sandro Mamukelashvili and Collin Sexton for a combined $261 million. All of them individually are helpful contributors, but collectively do they inspire confidence in a contender?Therein lies the problem. The Lakers committed a ton including the rights to four first-round draft picks, used to acquire Kessler in a sign-and-trade transaction with the Utah Jazz to form a team that may not be better than it was a year ago. A team that likely isn't a title contender, not with the defense at hand. And they have done so for the foreseeable future, essentially betting Luka Doni's prime on the ceiling of Austin Reaves (also locked into a massive four-year deal) and Kessler as co-stars.Grade: DMemphis Grizzlies2025-26:25-572026-27 wins O/U:28.5Key additions:Cameron Boozer Jerami Grant Isaiah Stewart Quinten Post Karim LopezKey subtractions:Ja Morant Santi Aldama Kentavious Caldwell-PopeThe Grizzlies traded Ja Morant, the face of their franchise, for better or worse (mostly worse over the past few seasons), to the Portand Trail Blazers for Jerami Grant and Kris Murray. It's hardly the return you would expect for a 27-year-old two-time All-Star, but Morant's contributions on and off the court came under scrutiny.So, Memphis selected Cameron Boozer with the No. 3 overall pick, acquiring another potential franchise player in a loaded draft. He may be the most talented prospect the Grizzlies have ever known, and that's a pretty good starting point for the summer.Grant can still play. Isaiah Stewart is a culture-setting role player. Quinten Post could help. With the return of Zach Edey, some improvement from Cedric Coward and a Rookie of the Year campaign from Boozer (the odds-on favorite for the award), the Grizzlies should be more competitive than they were in an injury-plagued 2025-26. Grade: BMinnesota Timberwolves2025-26:49-332026-27 wins O/U:49.5Key additions:LaMelo Ball Josh Green Trey Lyles Isaiah EvansKey subtractions:Julius Randle Naz Reid Mike Conley Jr. Kyle AndersonThe Wolves certainly did a lot this summer, trading both Julius Randle and Naz Reid, reshaping a frontcourt that reached consecutive Western Conference finals, and committing instead to a backcourt partnership of Anthony Edwards and LaMelo Ball.It is a big bet on Ball, an oft-injured one-time All-Star whose creativity as a performer is equal parts tantalizing and infuriating. Can he pull the kind of attention Minnesota wants to draw from Edwards on the offensive end and contribute to the sort of defensive effort the Wolves have grown accustomed to with Rudy Gobert at center?Minnesota will be good, especially if Jaden McDaniels continues to ascend, but the Wolves have lost some of their depth, a little toughness and maybe an edge required to compete with the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs atop the West.Grade: CNew Orleans Pelicans2025-26:26-562026-27 wins O/U:27.5Key additions:Jaron Pierre Jr.Key subtractions:Kevon LooneyIt is unclear whether or not Joe Dumars and the rest of the Pelicans' front office took the summer off, since they didn't do much business. They did select Jaron Pierre Jr. with the 58th pick, signing him to a two-way deal, and they retained Teammate of the Year DeAndre Jordan on a curious two-year contract, but other than that crickets.Forgoing trade offers for their wings, the Pelicans chose to keep Trey Murphy III and Herb Jones, and they will again pair them with Zion Williamson. Dejounte Murray and Saddiq Bey are still there, as is Jordan Poole. Derik Queen and Jeremiah Fears are entering their sophomore seasons, and Yves Missi will begin Year 3. This team is not without talent. It's just that the same group won 26 games as a unit last season.Grade: COklahoma City Thunder2025-26:64-182026-27 wins O/U:60.5Key additions:Aday Mara Bennett StirtzKey subtractions:Lu Dort Isaiah Joe Aaron WigginsThe Thunder are definitively not more talented than they were last season, when the second apron had not yet claimed Lu Dort, Isaiah Joe and Aaron Wiggins from the roster. Even if Joe and Wiggins were more end-of-the-rotation contributors, shaving a little bit off what was the NBA's deepest bench could rob them of their superpower.That said, Dort's departure leaves breathing room for both Cason Wallace and Alex Caruso, who can each fill the All-Defensive role left by Dort. Likewise, Oklahoma City drafted both Aday Mara and Bennett Stirtz, adding them to recent first-round picks Nikola Topi and Thomas Sorber, any of whom could help extend the rotation further.Regardless, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren all return, as do Isaiah Hartenstein, Ajay Mitchell and Jared McCain, among others. It is still an embarrassment of riches in Oklahoma City, where the Thunder remain title favorites alongside the San Antonio Spurs.Grade: CPhoenix Suns2025-26:45-372026-27 wins O/U:40.5Key additions:Miles Bridges Luke Kennard Koa PeatKey subtractions:Royce O'Neale Grayson AllenThe Suns had a surprisingly successful 2025-26 campaign, securing the No. 8 seed in the West's playoffs, where they were swept by the Thunder. They did so with Dillon Brooks (who they retained on a fair three-year, $73 million extension) and Jalen Green as their second- and third-most potent scorers behind All-Star Devin Booker. It felt like an easy season from which they could build momentum.So, what was their big swing? Trading Grayson Allen, Royce O'Neale and their 2033 first-round draft pick to the Charlotte Hornets for Miles Bridges, who missed the 2022-23 season upon pleading no contest to a felony domestic violence charge. He went to Michigan State, as did Suns owner Mat Ishbia, and that seems to be a factor in the decision, which just feels weird. Bridges has yet to contribute to a playoff team.It is possible to like Luke Kennard as a replacement for Allen, to think Bridges is an upgrade from O'Neale and to believe in Koa Peat as a high-energy prospect, and to also not like Phoenix's offseason. The Suns traded a valuable asset their far-out unprotected pick for Bridges, who holds an expiring $22.8 million contract. Bizarre.Grade: DPortland Trail Blazers2025-26:42-402026-27 wins O/U:43.5Key additions:Ja Morant Jeremy SochanKey subtractions:Jerami Grant Matisse Thybulle Kris MurrayThe Blazers are also building off considerable momentum, having captured the West's No. 7 seed and giving the San Antonio Spurs a competitive five-game series. So, what did they do? They took a low-cost, high-reward swing for Ja Morant, who carries with him some baggage but desperately needed a change of scenery. I may be in the minority, but I believe in Morant's ability to rediscover what made him great.At the same time, I'm not in love with the apparent plan to pair Morant with Damian Lillard in a starting backcourt, which creates a defensive weakness where there were few in Portland last season. I'd much prefer Morant paired with Jrue Holiday, as the Blazers could stagger Lillard off the bench, and maybe they eventually get there, but as is I do not expect the Blazers to be much better, even with a productive Morant.Meanwhile, new Blazers owner Tom Dundon has been cuttingcostseverywhereelse, forging a rift with the Portland community. As impressive as the culture was on the court last season, it is hard to keep an entire organization paddling in the same direction when there is turmoil elsewhere within it, and that could manifest itself.Grade: CSacramento Kings2025-26:22-602026-27 wins O/U:21.5Key additions:Darius Acuff Jr. Alex KarabanKey subtractions:DeMar DeRozan Russell WestbrookHey, the Kings had a great draft! With the seventh overall pick, they scored Darius Acuff Jr., the franchise's most exciting young prospect since De'Aaron Fox? They haven't had a lot to believe in, and Alex Karaban an experienced winner is good work at the end of the first round, too. These are building blocks, and those are vital on a team that last season counted Keegan Murray as its only homegrown starter.Around those incoming prospects, the Kings did nothing, or more than nothing they waived DeMar DeRozan and let Russell Westbrook walk (though he may come back to them as a veteran mentor to Acuff). Not that either player is still a star, but Sacramento did nothing to replace them. No trades. No signings, other than a two-year, $11.2 million deal to retain Precious Achiuwa (a fine contract). They're just going to hand the keys of a 22-win team to a 19-year-old, removing some vets around him.The Kings are not going to win a lot. In fact, they are in danger of falling into the draft's new relegation zone. You hope that environment doesn't discourage Acuff.Grade: CSan Antonio Spurs2025-26:62-202026-27 wins O/U:59.5Key additions:Tobias Harris Jayden Quaintance Tarris Reed Jr.Key subtractions:Kelly OlynykAre the Spurs better? They're not worse, which means they are championship contenders once again. They probably should have won the title last season, only to succumb to youthful mistakes in the NBA Finals, and they tried to address that shortcoming with the signing of Tobias Harris, a beloved veteran.Except, Harris' own postseason track record does not suggest he will be helpful on the court when it matters most, and that felt like the need they had to address with their non-taxpayer's midlevel exception. Maybe there weren't better options on the open market, other than LeBron James, who did not have San Antonio on his short list. Maybe they win with Harris. They could probably win without him, too. It was just kind of a blah move. Not necessarily a bleh move. But it doesn't move any needles.Likewise, the Spurs added Jayden Quaintance and Tarris Reed Jr. with the Nos. 20 and 26 picks in the first round of this year's draft. Both players could be helpful down the line. I'm not sure either will crack the rotation this season. The Spurs maintained the status quo, while stockpiling more talent behind a contending core. It's fine work.Grade: CUtah Jazz2025-26:22-602026-27 wins O/U:35.5Key additions:Darryn Peterson Josh Okogie Jaxson HayesKey subtractions:Walker Kessler Kevin LoveMuch of the Jazz's improvement will come from the healthy returns of Lauri Markkanen and Jaren Jackson Jr. (acquired at the trade deadline), a pair of All-Stars who create all sorts of lineup flexibility for Utah. The development of Keyonte George and Ace Bailey should also go a long way in helping the Jazz enter the play-in hunt.But Utah will go as No. 2 overall pick Darryn Peterson goes, and I think he'll go pretty good. The Jazz's consistency as a competitor depends on his consistency as a performer. At 19 years old, it could be rough seas, but we expect greatness, too, and the Jazz have a roster ready to complement a rising star. He just needs to be that.They will have to do it without Walker Kessler, who fetched two first-round draft picks and a pair of pick swaps from the Lakers. The Jazz decided that those assets were worth more than Kessler at $130 million over the next four years, and that is probably a smart business decision. If any team in the West warranted an A for its offseason work, it is the Jazz, so consider this B their tax for signing Jaxson Hayes.Grade: B
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