You know what they say: if you're not getting better, you're getting worse. But sometimes getting better is simply not getting worse -- if that makes any sense -- as in the case of the NBA champion Golden State Warriors simply retaining the core of their roster. Did other Western Conference teams do enough to chase the Warriors down or even overtake them for conference or league supremacy?
The Spurs sure made a valiant effort. The Clippers, thanks to one of the wackiest free agent dramas in recent memory, also came out pretty good. The Pelicans? Our experts disagree on that one, as without further adieu we unveil our 2015 Western Conference offseason grades.
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Dallas Mavericks |
Matt Moore: So.... this is awkward. I mean, technically speaking, they did really great in free agency -- for a while. Should I blame them for the failure to not box out the Clippers after getting the DeAndre Jordan deal in place? Is it their fault they didn't storm his house when the Clippers seized it? They did land Deron Williams for a reasonable contract instead of a crippling one. The Wes Matthews contract is an amazing overpay in light of it becoming a near-max coming off an Achilles injury, and they're exploring either JaVale McGee or Samuel Dalembert at center. This whole thing is just depressing. Grade: D
Zach Harper: I know J.J. Redick said the Clippers deserved an F when it looked like they were losing DeAndre Jordan, but I don't think we can grade the Mavericks on that same curve. It's unfortunate they lost Jordan after getting a verbal agreement from him, but they did just about all they could to secure that signing -- aside from breaking into Jordan's house and putting up a barricade. The trade for Zaza Pachulia is a nice stopgap and if Wes Matthews is healthy, he's going to be excellent in Rick Carlisle's system. I'm not sure how much Deron Williams has left, but he's not Raymond Felton. Grade: C+
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Denver Nuggets |
Moore: Did not trade Ty Lawson. Did not trade Kenneth Faried. Still have logjams at point and on the wing. Brought over Nikola Jokic, signed Wilson Chandler to a very reasonable extension, didn't waive Randy Foye and brought back Jameer Nelson on a three-year deal. They brought back a lot of components of a team that won 30 games last year, added a 19-year-old point guard (who looks great in Summer League) and added more Euros. The Nuggets didn't really need to make any key free agent signings, but they also didn't do much to resolve some outstanding issues. Grade: C-
Harper: The Denver Nuggets were thought to be in the midst of an overhaul on draft night when they grabbed Emmanuel Mudiay with the seventh pick. Instead, Ty Lawson is still on the team, Danilo Gallinari is still on the team, and Wilson Chandler got a contract extension. They also re-signed Jameer Nelson for point guard depth. They're still a treadmill team, and that's not exactly a direction for them to go in. Rebuild or actually build, but this combination doesn't look great compared to the playoff hopefuls in the West. Grade: D-
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Golden State Warriors |
Moore: It feels like cheating to congratulate them just for keeping all the guys they already had, but so many teams haven't been willing to spend the money to keep good teams together. The 2011 Mavericks disintegrated immediately after their title run and Cuban's been chasing that formula since. The 2013 Heat let Mike Miller go and that came back to bite them. The Warriors knew they had a good thing going and kept it going. Grade: A+
Harper: The Warriors didn't have a lot on their checklist other than re-signing Draymond Green, moving David Lee's contract, and keeping the depth of their bench. They've accomplished all of that this summer without much drama other than a couple hours of "talks breaking off" between the team and Green. The champs kept their team together, got some relief with the Lee trade, and look ready to defend next season. Grade: A
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Houston Rockets |
Moore: They made the Western Conference Finals and basically brought everyone important back while adding Marcus Thornton as a shooter. I can't go through the whole thing with the Warriors and then dock the Rockets for also not doing anything significant, right? Wait, of course I can. The Rockets aren't as good as the Warriors. They needed to get better. Grade: B-
Harper: It's tough for the Rockets and Daryl Morey here because they have a very good team already. There wasn't much they could've done, and yet they were rumored to be vying for a big name free agent (LaMarcus Aldridge, Kevin Love). Instead, they re-signed Patrick Beverley on a great contract, brought back Corey Brewer, and still control restricted free agency of K.J. McDaniels. They didn't do poorly and they're bringing back a good roster, but they couldn't make the big splash they were hoping to make. Grade: C+
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Los Angeles Clippers |
Moore: You might say the Clippers got a "steal" with the DeAndre Jordan deal. I'm not sorry for that pun. Paul Pierce is a great pickup and they've managed to adjust their depth, which was the big wound last year. The process was ugly, but the Clippers are a better team than they were last year and they avoided the nuclear meltdown of Jordan leaving. Plus, all that drama provided for a great story. Grade: B+
Harper: The rollercoaster of the Clippers' offseason has come to a complete stop and nobody threw up on any of the other riders. Bringing in Lance Stephenson, while risky, provides a potential big-time role player, and Paul Pierce could be the guy who teaches him how to be a professional. But let's be honest: keeping DeAndre saved their offseason, and Cole Aldrich is a decent backup option for a thin frontcourt. They've re-signed Austin Rivers -- presumably as the backup point guard -- but they still need someone else back there behind Chris Paul. Disaster totally avoided, right? Grade: B+
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Los Angeles Lakers |
Moore: Roy Hibbert was really good when he was an All-Star. That wasn't that long ago. He's a bad offensive player at this point but he's also a top-flight defensive player. He makes a huge impact. That trade was great for LA. Lou Williams on the deal they got was tremendous and it likely means moving Nick Young, which is always a positive. Brandon Bass is a versatile veteran. They have made a lot of not-bad-at-all moves. They struck out on big moves, but that's just who they are at this point. Grade: B-
Harper: The backup plan of the Lakers hasn't been poorly executed. When they missed out on all of the big names they hoped would buy into "Lakers' mystique," the franchise went out and traded for Roy Hibbert. They also signed Sixth Man of the Year winner Lou Williams to a very reasonable contract. The problem with their offseason is I'm still not sure what the vision is or how all of the pieces are supposed to fit together. They're putting together a lineup that is good enough to likely lose their Top 3 protected pick owed to Philadelphia but not good enough to really make it to the playoffs. They at least seem to have better depth than we saw a year ago when the team was decimated by injuries and apathetic play. Grade: C+
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Memphis Grizzlies |
Moore: Losing Marc Gasol would have plummeted their franchise into the Dark Ages and pretty much leveled any chance at a title for them. Keeping him prolongs their window and keeps their best player home. Brandan Wright was great value for a replacement for Kosta Koufos. Some wing improvements would have helped, but they don't have much cap room to work with. Grade: B+
Harper: I'm not sure I like the idea of essentially swapping out Kosta Koufos, who I think is the best backup center in the NBA, for Brandan Wright. Wright's minutes typically have to be fairly low because of injury concerns. However, Wright is still a very good weapon for them and someone who should do fine in that rotation. They pulled off the big goal of re-signing Marc Gasol to a long-term deal and the addition of Matt Barnes should help with depth at the wings. The backup point guard position is still a bit shaky, but this is more picking nits. Grade: B+
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Minnesota Timberwolves |
Moore: Minnesota wasn't in a position to add free agents with its roster where it is. They didn't make any poor signings so there really isn't much to knock, but there isn't much to praise either. Grade: C
Harper: The Wolves showing patience with the rebuild and the roster is a solid plan. They brought back Kevin Garnett to essentially be a mentor for Karl-Anthony Towns, Andrew Wiggins, and any other young guy willing to absorb his teachings. They moved Chase Budinger for Damjan Rudez, who should be a healthier shooter for them if they keep him around. And they're bringing over Euroleague MVP Nemanja Bjelica to add another quality player to the rotation. Nothing spectacular, but the Wolves are committed to sticking with their rebuilding plan. Grade: B-
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New Orleans Pelicans |
Moore: Omer Asik lets Anthony Davis play the four, which helps him avoid injury. That's good. However, re-signing Asik for $60 million is just way too much for a guy that was a downright liability in the playoffs when so many good centers were on the market this summer. Their other moves were pretty decent, Alonzo Gee in particular, but I just can't get around the years and money for Asik, even with the rising cap. Grade: D-
Harper: I had the Pelicans as a D- for this free agency period. I don't like giving Omer Asik five years and $60 million (even if the fifth year is non-guaranteed) when he doesn't seem to fit much at all with what Alvin Gentry likes to do. I don't understand why you give a four-year deal to Alexis Ajinca. Alonzo Gee is a nice pickup. Re-signing Luke Babbitt and Dante Cunningham are fine. But it didn't feel like the team improved the roster much at all. Then I remembered they locked up Anthony Davis for another five years with his extension. He's so good that it pumps up the grade considerably for them. Grade: A-
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Oklahoma City Thunder |
Moore: If you think that a team with Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant that has had one of the best offenses in league (top ten each of the last five seasons until this injury-plagued year) needs a post scorer who is a defensive liability, then it's great. Enes Kanter is being regarded as a "luxury" but even with the rising cap that's a huge investment for a luxury. The Kyle Singler deal was quietly not bad. His overall versatility wound up being more valuable than Dion Waiters last year. But again, max money to Enes Kanter? Grade: D+
Harper: This doesn't have anything to do with the fact that the Thunder wouldn't go deep into the tax for James Harden and now they'll do it next year for Enes Kanter. Those are two completely different financial climates that have very little relation to each other. I just don't see the need to throw this kind of money at Kanter when you're so deep with your big man rotation. Kanter can rebound and score, but his defense is such a minus for OKC that you have to hope Serge Ibaka never misses a minute with Kanter on the floor. I'm not sold that Kanter is better than Steven Adams and Mitch McGary two years from now. The good news? As long as Kevin Durant comes back healthy, all should be fine. Grade: D+
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Phoenix Suns |
Moore: The Tyson Chandler grab was sneaky good. With their training staff he could have an outstanding season. He fixes their biggest problem, rim protection and gives them some veteran leadership. Keeping Brandon Knight was a smart move. He and Eric Bledsoe work very well together. The Mirza Teletovic signing was really smart. Grade: A-
Harper: Breaking up the Morris twins could cause a rift with Markieff Morris, but going out and getting Tyson Chandler should more than make up for it. Re-signing Brandon Knight for the same deal they gave to Eric Bledsoe is great value in the new salary cap coming up. Mirza Teletovic fits in perfectly with the 3-point shooting barrage they love to put on teams. The acquisitions of Ronnie Price, Jon Leuer, and Sonny Weems give this team really good depth too. It's been a great offseason by the Suns, and they were fairly close to convincing LaMarcus Aldridge to join them. Grade: A-
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Portland Trail Blazers |
Moore: That moment when the party is well and truly "over" and there are beers and food plates strewn everywhere? That's the Blazers, wondering where everyone went. They made some value additions, trading for Gerald Henderson and Noah Vonleh, keeping Damian Lillard on a max extension, getting Ed Davis for cheap, but this is still looking like a lottery team. If the other teams get credit for keeping their most important players, hard not to dock the Blazers for losing four starters from a playoff team. Grade: D+
Harper: I think this is a situation that will eventually benefit the Blazers. They can rebuild quickly around Damian Lillard with a high draft pick and the young talent they've brought in this offseason. But we can't pretend losing 80 percent of their starting lineup this summer is anything other than a devastating turn of events for now. Grabbing Mason Plumlee, Noah Vonleh, and Ed Davis will be a nice core of big men to develop with Meyers Leonard, but they have a lot of work to do the next two years to get back on track and compete for a playoff spot. Grade: D
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Sacramento Kings |
Moore: Oh, man. OK, pretend that the moves were made in a vacuum, not in Sacramento, not with a clash between coach and star player, and that there was no drama. Without all that, they added Rajon Rondo on a one-year deal for only a slight overpay at $10 million, and nabbed one of the best value free agents on the market in Kosta Koufos. They also added a shooter in Marco Belinelli. The team is better than it was last year. If they just hadn't traded Nik Stauskas and another first-rounder for cap space that they then used to completely miss on multiple free agents, it would have been a good summer. Grade: D+
Harper: I have zero clue how to assess this free agency period for the Kings. They made a cap-clearing deal with the Sixers before knowing they would even be able to sign their intended targets. They put Rajon Rondo in the same huddle as George Karl. They signed good veterans in Kosta Koufos, Caron Butler, and Marco Belinelli, but I'm not sure how any of those guys fit together with DeMarcus Cousins, Rondo, and Rudy Gay. And we still have that awkward, unresolved stuff between Cousins and Karl that will have to be settled before training camp. Grade: Incomplete
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San Antonio Spurs |
Moore: Well, they landed the biggest free agent in LaMarcus Aldridge, then followed up with a very good role player in David West. They got Danny Green back at a huge discount which was honestly their best move. The Spurs look like a super contender, even more so this season. I have reservations about how perfect the Aldridge addition is and the depth remains a huge question mark, but the Spurs can't come up anything other than aces on paper here. Grade: A
Harper: Built not bought. That was what the Spurs were being touted for when they faced off against the Miami Heat in back-to-back NBA Finals. This offseason, they decided to be both built and bought when they convinced LaMarcus Aldridge to leave Portland. Bringing in David West to round out the rotation was huge. They got Danny Green, Manu Ginobili, Kawhi Leonard, and Tim Duncan to fit into the cap with Aldridge. They still need a little more depth in the backcourt, but it's hard to find any fault with what they've done this summer. Grade: A+
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Utah Jazz |
Moore: No big moves, but this team is focused on developing its young core. No urgency either. Grade: C
Harper: The Jazz have a young core they're developing and it's a core that was shining defensively after the All-Star break. All they've done this free agency period is re-sign Joe Ingles and bring Raul Neto into the NBA. The Jazz really need a point guard to round out a great rotation, but they could get that from their existing roster if Trey Burke can, you know, learn how to make shots, or if Dante Exum takes a big step forward. The Jazz's inactivity in the trade market isn't unexpected because building this core together is the plan and they're executing it quite well. Grade: B-
