With free agency largely complete, this offseason saw plenty of movement. Over $1 billion was spent on player movement and ultimately saw several high-level players change teams via trade. After seeing the first wave of free-agent activity progress, let’s look at how the Kings stack up in the Western Conference next season:
After winning their first NBA title in franchise history, the Nuggets have had a relatively pedestrian offseason, losing two key role players to their championship depth in Bruce Brown (Pacers) and Jeff Green (Rockets). Denver’s only attempt to counter: Re-signing Reggie Jackson after falling out of the rotation later in the season. While they have had a lackluster offseason, the West still runs through a healthy Denver core of Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, Michael Porter Jr, and Aaron Gordon.
After turning an aging, declining Chris Paul into Bradley Beal, the Suns have kept the agenda of “going all-in” full throttle. The question was whether they could obtain quality players through free agency via the veteran minimum, which they could do, improving their depth and roster construction around Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, Beal, and DeAndre Ayton for next season.
The Lakers…DIDN’T chase superstars in a free agency? For once in the storied franchise’s long history, they elected towards building their roster through depth and retaining most of last season’s roster post-trade deadline that saw the Lakers make it to the Western Conference Finals before falling to Denver. The Lakers also added Gabe Vincent, Taurean Prince, and Jaxson Hayes while losing Lonnie Walker, Malik Beasley, Dennis Schroder, and Mo Bamba from their team.
This ranking is largely due to the Lakers’ performance at the end of last season, coupled with their playoff run. Combined with a likely healthier LeBron and Anthony Davis, the Lakers have a chance to be at the top of the Western Conference for 2023-24. Their ability to retain Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura, and D’Angelo Russell without financially hindering themselves was a major win.
The Kings appear to be modeling themselves after Denver: Continuity. After a draft day trade saw the 24th pick paired with Richaun Holmes‘ contract get sent to Dallas, the Kings opened up cap flexibility for this free agency. Instead, they opted towards re-signing Harrison Barnes, Trey Lyles, and Alex Len to ensure their team from last season’s playoff contender. Sacramento was active, though, adding Chris Duarte from the Pacers via trade AND EuroLeague MVP Sasha Vezenkov.
Apart from one of the more surprising moves of the offseason, the Grizzlies acquired Marcus Smart in a three-team trade with the Celtics, which also saw Tyus Jones head to Washington. While Smart is certainly an upgrade over Jones, they still lost one of their best defenders (Dillon Brooks) and will be without Ja Morant for the first 25 games of next season.
Out with Jordan Poole and in with Chris Paul, the Warriors have changed the future of their team, eyeing short-term championship hopes, better long-term financial health, and rebuilding the culture they’ve set for a decade, which became fractured before last season’s start due to the Draymond Green-Jordan Poole incident. With a revamped bench unit, more veteran leadership, and (hopefully) better health, the Warriors will be poised to make a championship run in 2023-24.
A team that missed the playoffs (albeit surprisingly) at SEVEN?! Dallas should be excited about what they are building, including next season. After being a top-10 defense two seasons ago (a WCF appearance), they fell to the bottom-10 of the league, drastically shifting Dallas’ perception around Luka Doncic and his future. Dallas needed a major offseason with Doncic’s future looming. Would they lose another star player in free agency (Jalen Brunson last offseason)?
Fortunately for Dallas, they had a great draft, bringing in Duke big man Dereck Lively with the 12th pick while offloading Davis Bertans contract, followed by acquiring Olivier-Maxence Prosper from Sacramento (the 24th pick). They also retained Kyrie Irving long-term, and traded for Grant Williams, only increasing Dallas’ depth, defense, and core around Luka and Kyrie. In addition to these moves, the Mavs expect a big jump from Jalen Hardy and Josh Green in 2023-24.
Same old Clippers, same old story. If healthy this, if healthy that. Reality is: This team’s two best players (Kawhi Leonard and Paul George) have been unable to stay on the court for the majority of their time together in Clippers uniforms, only botching their chances of a title every season. The Clippers did bring in Russell Westbrook last season to enhance their point guard position, bringing stability and strengthened playmaking/productivity that was much needed.
While the Clippers retained Westbrook this offseason (after a failed Malcolm Brogdon trade), they appear to be the top suitors in a potential James Harden trade, which would only signal “Last Dance” vibes for this roster, featuring Leonard, George, Harden, and Westbrook. It’s the health of this team combined with the conference depth that drives them to play-in status.
A potential breakout team for next season, the Thunder has a quiet offseason, drafting Cason Wallace in the lottery and adding Davis Bertans (salary dump for Dallas) in order to get to Wallace. After Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s breakout season, coupled with surprise rookie Jalen Williams entering his year two, the Thunder have a chance to take another step in the West. Add Chet Holmgren’s return this season, and the Thunder’s core is fully intact and poised to compete.
A team near the top of the West prior to Zion Williamson’s injury-riddled 2022-23 season kicked in, a healthy Pelicans squad has a chance to compete with the best teams in the league. Featuring CJ McCollum, Brandon Ingram, Zion Williamson, Jonas Valanciunas, Trey Murphy, and Herb Jones, the Pelicans saw Murphy and Jones elevate in Zion’s absence last season, and make the play-in.
Although Zion will likely have another injury-filled season, the Pelicans will have a chance to make the playoffs and take another step with Brandon Ingram expected to take another step in his game. The Pelicans didn’t do much this offseason, other than losing Jaxson Hayes to the Lakers and Zion trade rumors, the Pelicans will be fielding a nearly identical team for next season.
The make-or-break season for the Wolves is upcoming. With growing questions about Karl-Anthony Towns’ future in Minnesota, paired with an Anthony Edwards max extension and Naz Reid extension, the Wolves have one of the largest payrolls in the NBA (10th, $149,441,150) and are approaching the new, deadly second apron if they aren’t careful in 2023-24. With the team poised to make Anthony Edwards the franchise player, moving on from KAT looks more likely.
Trading for Rudy Gobert hindered Minnesota’s roster construction, and their long-term plans considering the haul they traded for Gobert. Minnesota’s wings are still improving (Edwards, Jaden McDaniels, Nickeil Alexander-Walker), and they had a strong draft class (Jaylen Clark, Leonard Miller). With Mike Conley still rostered, adding Shake Milton and Troy Brown, the Wolves have increased their depth, guard/wing play, and versatility for next season, but will be play-in at best.
The biggest spenders as a result of the CBA, the Houston Rockets opened up the checkbooks this free agency. After a phenomenal draft, which saw them bring in Overtime Elite’s versatile Amen Thompson and lottery talent Cam Whitmore (who fell outside the top 20), Houston became one of the most active teams in July. Fred VanVleet signed a MASSIVE 3-year, $130M deal, along with Dillon Brooks‘ 4-year, $80M bag from the team and Jock Landale’s 4 years, $32M contract.
Houston added some established veterans to an extremely young, but promising team. The most underrated of their signings: Jeff Green’s 1 year, $6M deal. With Ime Udoka leading in Houston, he clearly wants a culture change, and by establishing VanVleet and Green as locker-room leaders, the Rockets look determined to try and compete this upcoming season and in the future. While it likely wasn’t enough to make the playoffs, they could be a sneaky play-in team next season.
Another team that surprised the league last year, the Jazz experienced a breakout season from Lauri Markannen and had an excellent draft, selecting UCF’s Taylor Hendricks in the lottery, followed by Baylor’s Keyonte George, and Ohio State’s Brice Sensabaugh all in the first round. Their other offseason moves? Trade for Atlanta’s John Collins, who could blossom in a new situation away from the Hawks, and resigning Jordan Clarkson (3 years, $55M).
The Jazz also got an opt-in from Talen Horton-Tucker on his player option after a very promising last season, as they look to continue to build around him, Collin Sexton, Ochai Agbaji, and Clarkson in the backcourt, with Markannen and Walker Kessler. With near unlimited depth, draft assets for years, and a few valuable players (Clarkson, THT, Kelly Olynyk, among others), watch out for Utah to be active if any superstars request out in the next year, as they attempt to take that next step.
The Wemby sweepstakes were won by the Spurs! The lottery winners had a celebratory offseason, finding their next franchise player in 7’4″ French phenom Victor Wembanyama, and locking up Tre Jones to bargain deal through a restricted free agency deal. The Spurs have quietly established one of the best young cores in the NBA, but they will still have to develop Wemby and get him acclimated to the NBA. Expect big things for the Spurs, just not in 2023-24.
Dame Time in Portland has finally come to an end. The trade request has come, and now the entire league waits. Specifically, the Miami Heat, who Lillard has vowed his public desire to be traded, but uncertainty on when or if the Blazers will ever trade their franchise player to Miami. Besides that, Portland actually had a beautiful off-season. Not only did they draft the heir apparent to Dame in Scoot Henderson, but they added Kris Murray, Rayan Rupert through the draft.
Although they resigned Jerami Grant to a huge 5 year, $160M contract, Portland will be sure to consider moving him and veteran big man Jusuf Nurkic when the time comes and both are eligible (along with Lillard). Portland also matched a Dallas offer sheet on Matisse Thybulle ultimately worth $33M over the course of the deal. Portland’s done a quiet rebuild for two seasons, but no longer have to hide it and can enter the next phase of their franchise’s future with a Dame trade.
Steph Curry takes shots at Kings fans after golf tournament victory
After a long weekend of golf at the American Century Championship, Stephen Curry had something to say about the Sacramento Kings fans in attendance.