The summer is almost over and every NBA team has made some moves this offseason to bolster their chances in the upcoming 2023-2024 season. While there are still some superstars who blatantly asked for a trade to their preferred teams, most teams are already set with their rosters heading into the training camp.
Barring any major trades, each NBA team will likely tweak their rosters and seek out players who are best suited moving forward.
In today’s list, we will discuss the official and final 2023 off-season grades for all 30 NBA teams before the season starts in October. Let’s get into it.
Atlanta Hawks: C-
Trading Collins came a couple of years too late for Atlanta and the return was somewhat abysmal. The backcourt of Young and Murray will at least get them into the play-in tournament, but that’s about it. This team feels like it’s regressing rather than progressing for the past couple of years.
Boston Celtics: B
Extending Brown was a no-brainer but the price was insanely high for a player whose left hand remains a liability. Bringing Porzingis in the mix might pay off or not, but it really depends if he’s capable of playing until June next year. In addition, losing both Smart and Williams will be costly in the long run.
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Brooklyn Nets: B-
Signing bench players to help the emerging Bridges won’t move the needle much for Brooklyn. But they have the potential to squeeze into the playoffs with their current roster if Bridges can continue to score at a high level and if Ben Simmons somehow finds a way to wake up in his current trance.
Charlotte Hornets: C-
It looks like Miller, the 2nd-overall pick in last June’s draft, will need a few more years to get acclimated to the NBA. Passing up on Henderson in the draft might haunt them in the long run. They also brought back the controversial Miles Bridges in a one-year deal to prove his worth after sitting out last season due to off-court problems.
Chicago Bulls: D
With Ball sitting next season, the Bulls are fielding their mediocre lineup again in 2023-2024. DeRozan is slowly exiting his prime years and LaVine essentially peaked. They aren’t good or bad. They are just in the middle.
Cleveland Cavaliers: A
With the same core plus adding Max Strus to their team, the Cavs are poised for a deep run next season. Darius Garland is set to return after an injury-riddled season and Mitchell just entered his prime years. Expect them to be a top-four seed heading into next year’s playoffs.
Dallas Mavericks: A-
The pairing of Kyrie and Luka is too good to fail and it’s optimistic to bet that things will click sooner rather than later. Adding Grant Williams was low-key a great move for the team. The Mavs made significant moves to bolster their team this year after they inexplicably flunked out last season.
Denver Nuggets: A-
Equipped with basically the same championship core next season sans backup point guard Bruce Brown, Denver could realistically shoot for back-to-back titles with Jokic and Murray leading the charge again.
Detroit Pistons: B-
Considering Detroit’s rebuilding phase, they have at least a few more seasons to analyze their young roster’s potential and who’s going to fit in with their long-term plans. If developed the right way, this is a team to watch out a few years from now.
Golden State Warriors: B-
They had to choose between Poole and Draymond and the former was traded away. Their training camp skirmish last year really hampered the team’s chemistry last season. But adding Chris Paul to the mix was polarizing to many. How he’ll fit in Golden State remains to be seen.
Houston Rockets: A-
The Rockets signed a couple of solid veterans Fred VanVleet and Dillon Brooks to help their relatively young core. With the emergence of Green and Sengun, this team could vie for a playoff spot next season if things will click right from the get-go.
Indiana Pacers: A-
Indiana pried away Bruce Brown from the Nuggets and brought in the underutilized Obi Toppin for cheap. With Haliburton emerging as a leader, this team could take a leap next season.
Los Angeles Clippers: C-
Philadelphia’s Harden wants to play for the Clippers next season but his ongoing feud with Morey gets uglier day by day. The Clippers are still waiting for the potential trade to happen and that’s why they are only making minimal moves this offseason.
Los Angeles Lakers: A-
They successfully re-signed Russell, Reaves and Hachimura this offseason. Los Angeles also added Gabe Vincent to give them depth in the shooting department. If this team stays healthy, they will be a threat in the West.
Memphis Grizzlies: B
Losing Dillon Brooks was somehow negated as his defensive prowess was replaced by the addition of Marcus Smart. Derrick Rose’s signing was brilliant as he could legitimately serve as a great mentor for the often-troubled Grizzlies superstar, Ja Morant.
Miami Heat: C
Miami can’t make a move as it patiently waits for Lillard’s situation in Portland. Trade talks are at a standstill. With Vincent and Strus now playing elsewhere, Miami is short of firepower next season.
Milwaukee Bucks: B-
Milwaukee never really added anybody who could move the needle but they did keep their championship window alive by extending Middleton and Lopez. They also brought back Brook’s twin brother, Robin.
Minnesota Timberwolves: B-
The Wolves were relatively silent this offseason as they are determined to run it all back and aim for much better success with Edwards, Anthony-Towns and Gobert leading the fold. If these three somehow click, then they are primed for playoff action next year.
New Orleans Pelicans: C
Their success largely rests upon Zion’s ability to stay healthy for an entire season. They have a nice group of young guys in the team but without Williamson, the Pelicans can’t take the necessary steps towards the next level.
New York Knicks: B-
Bringing in Donte DiVincenzo was a good move for the Knicks as he already has chemistry with Brunson and Hart during their Villanova days. Expect them to duplicate last year’s surprising playoff run.
Oklahoma City Thunder: A-
Shai and Giddey’s emergence last season will definitely continue for years as both are young and still far from entering their prime years. They’ll be a team to watch out for because Chet Holmgrem will finally make his NBA debut after missing last season due to an injury.
Orlando Magic: B-
Another rebuilding team, Orlando didn’t make any splash in free agency but their young core looks promising on paper. This team will be a problem a few years from now.
Philadelphia 76ers: D
The Sixers lost half of their bench and essentially replaced them with Patrick Beverley. Plus, Harden is currently at odds with their controversial GM, Daryl Morey heading into next season.
Phoenix Suns: A
Replacing Paul with a much younger Bradley Beal was a golden move by Phoenix. They now have Booker, Beal, Ayton and Durant in their starting lineup. Phoenix also boosted their bench by adding Eric Gordon. If this team is as good as advertised, they will be the favorites to come out in the West.
Portland Trail Blazers: B-
Despite Lillard’s desire to be traded to Miami, Portland had a fairly good offseason to boast about. They drafted the terrific guard, Scoot Henderson as the 3rd-overall pick in the 2023 NBA draft, which could slide seamlessly to the point guard position if Lillard gets traded before the season starts.
Sacramento Kings: B
For a rising team like Sacramento, they went against altering their roster in favor of internal development to sustain their success. Fox is just entering his prime and his partnership with Sabonis has been praised all over the league. The duo is expected to take another leap next season.
San Antonio Spurs: A
The Spurs did not just win the lottery, they also won the soon-to-be franchise player on the team which is Victor Wembanyama. With Coach Pop still in the fold, this is the perfect situation for the French big man to develop his skills.
Toronto Raptors: C-
Losing VanVleet was a huge blow, but the Raptors are just a hairline above the lottery-bound teams and that’s not good at all. They still have Siakam and Anunoby, but they aren’t going to set the league on fire anytime soon.
Utah Jazz: B
The Jazz lowkey upgraded this summer with the addition of John Collins via Atlanta in exchange for a bag of peanuts. They also re-signed crowd favorite Jordan Clarkson. With Markkanen expected to take a leap next season, this young team is poised to grab a guaranteed lower seed in next year’s playoffs.
Washington Wizards: C
Trading Beal was great for them as the pairing had run its course. Porzingis is now gone too. They finally entered the rebuilding phase after years of pondering. The Poole-Kuzma pairing will be spectacular to see, for better or for worse.
