Summer League MVP Cam Whitmore is one of many exciting new players joining the NBA this season. (Photo courtesy of NBA.com)

Admit it — you have been watching football and baseball, and you aren’t ready for the NBA season to start. You’ve lost track of who went where and forgot who drafted whom. “Damian Lillard is now in Miami, right?”

Well, not exactly, but don’t worry, the Hoops Prospects crew follows basketball year round, and we got you covered.

Beginning in July and up to now, the Hoops Prospects staff has been evaluating all 30 NBA teams in terms of draft performance and offseason/preseason moves. This began on the Hoops Prospects Podcast (HPP) with our back-to-back NBA Draft Grades shows. We followed that up with our NBA Offseason Grades show. We recently previewed both the Eastern Conference and Western Conference, and then we released the results of our 2023-24 NBA Fearless Forecast.

My name is Naz Noyim, I am here now to tie everything together, with the help of three other HP staff members. Rich Harris, Jackson Inagi, and Cam Riehl originally summed up and graded each team’s draft and offseason moves, and the four of us have been updating those grades as developments have required. And now, with the season upon us, I have ordered the teams from best to worst for expected finish in each conference and given my thoughts on each team’s outlook for this season.

Below is a summary of my predicted order of finish for both conferences, each team’s draft grade and overall offseason grade plus Cam’s, Rich’s, and my picks for the over/under for total wins for each team. Following the chart is our analysis for each team, and to see each club’s complete roster go to our depth charts page.

~ Naz Noyim


Team	East Finish	Draft Grade	Overall Offseason Grade	Ov/Un	Naz’s Picks	Cam’s Picks	Rich’s Picks
Boston Celtics	1	B	A	54.5	O	O	U
Milwaukee Bucks	2	B-	A	54.5	O	O	U
New York Knicks	3	F	D	45.5	O	O	U
Philadelphia 76ers	4	D	D	48.5	U	U	U
Cleveland Cavaliers	5	C-	C+	50.5	U	U	U
Indiana Pacers	6	B+	A-	38.5	O	O	O
Atlanta Hawks	7	C-	D+	42.5	O	U	O
Miami Heat	8	B-	C	45.5	U	U	U
Orlando Magic	9	C	C-	36.5	O	O	U
Brooklyn Nets	10	B+	B-	37.5	U	U	U
Detroit Pistons	11	B	B	27.5	O	O	O
Charlotte Hornets	12	A-	B-	31.5	U	U	U
Chicago Bulls	13	D+	D+	37.5	U	U	U
Toronto Raptors	14	B	C+	36.5	U	U	O
Washington Wizards	15	B-	B	24.5	U	U	U
Team	West Finish	Draft Grade	Overall Offseason Grade	Ov/Un	Naz’s Picks	Cam’s Picks	Rich’s Picks
Los Angeles Lakers	1	C+	A+	47.5	O	U	U
Denver Nuggets	2	C+	C-	52.5	U	O	O
Phoenix Suns	3	D-	B-	51.5	O	U	U
Sacramento Kings	4	C	B	44.5	O	O	O
Oklahoma City Thunder	5	C+	B-	44.5	O	O	U
Los Angeles Clippers	6	C	C	46.5	U	U	U
Golden State Warriors	7	C+	B-	48.5	U	U	U
Memphis Grizzlies	8	B-	C+	44.5	O	U	U
Dallas Mavericks	9	B+	A-	48.5	U	O	U
Minnesota Timberwolves	10	C	C-	44.5	U	U	U
New Orleans Pelicans	11	B-	C+	44.5	U	U	U
Utah Jazz	12	A+	A	35.5	O	O	O
Houston Rockets	13	A	A-	31.5	O	O	O
San Antonio Spurs	14	A	A-	29.5	U	O	U
Portland Trail Blazers	15	A	A	28.5	U	U	O

Eastern Conference

Boston Celtics

Draft Picks: Jordan Walsh (36)

Free Agents Signed: Dalano Banton, Oshae Brissett, Svi Mykhailiuk, Lamar Stevens

Players Re-signed: none

Trades:

As part of a 3-team trade, the Mavs will receive Grant Williams (sign & trade) from Boston plus a 2025 second-round pick (via San Antonio) and a 2028 second-round pick (from San Antonio); the Spurs will receive Reggie Bullock and an unprotected 2030 pick swap from the Mavs, while the Celtics will receive a 2024 second-round pick (via San Antonio), a 2025 second-round pick swap (via Mavs) and a 2030 second-round pick (via Mavs).
In a 3-team trade, the Celtics acquire Kristaps Porzingis, the draft rights to Marcus Sasser (No. 25 pick from Memphis), and the Warriors’ 2024 first-round pick (top-four protected from Memphis); Grizzlies acquire Marcus Smart; Wizards receive Danilo Gallinari, Mike Muscala, and the draft rights to Julian Phillips (No. 35 pick).
Celtics acquire James Nnaji (No. 31 pick), the most favorable of the Pistons’, Warriors’, and Wizards’ 2025 second-round picks, and the most favorable of the Timberwolves’, Pelicans’, Knicks’, and Trail Blazers’ 2026 second-round picks; Pistons acquire Marcus Sasser (No. 25 pick).
Celtics to acquire Colby Jones (No. 34 pick) and Mouhamed Gueye (No. 39 pick); Hornets acquire James Nnaji (No. 31 pick)
Celtics to acquire the Hawks’ 2027 second-round pick; Hawks acquire the rights to Mouhamed Gueye (No. 39 pick).
Celtics acquire Jordan Walsh (No. 38 pick) and the Mavericks’ 2024 second-round pick; Kings acquire Colby Jones (No. 34 pick).
The Celtics acquired Jrue Holiday from the Trail Blazers in exchange for Robert Williams, Malcolm Brogdon and two draft picks: Golden State’s first-rounder in 2024 (top-4 protected) and Boston’s unprotected first-rounder in 2029.

Draft Grade (B)

The Celtics entered the draft with pick 35 and left with pick 38, but in between, a lot of moves transpired. By trading Marcus Smart to Memphis and pick 35 to Washington, the Celtics not only received Kristaps Porzingis but also two first-rounders. Using one of those first-rounders (pick 25), they made a series of moves to gain future picks (a total of six second-rounders) plus pick 38. In hindsight, perhaps Boston should have held onto pick 39, and drafted one of the players that were selected between 40-45, such as Amari Bailey. Jordan Walsh, selected for Boston with the 36th pick, is a versatile defender who could help offset the losses of Smart and restricted free agent Grant Williams, and the Arkansas rookie has more upside than Williams in the long run. Walsh was better than expected offensively in Summer League, but he cooled off significantly in the preseason. Ultimately, the Celtics may have snagged a rookie who can contribute as a backup to Jason Tatum, but it remains to be seen what Walsh can contribute as an offensive player.

Overall Offseason Grade (A)

The 2022 Celtics are no more – do not be fooled by the headlining duo of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown – this is a completely new team in Beantown. This offseason has been a changing of the guard in Boston, as longtime Celtics such as Smart, Grant Williams, Robert “Time Lord” Williams, and Malcolm Brogdon will suit up for rival franchises this season. Now their watch has ended. In their stead, the Celtics have assembled what will shortly become the highest paid roster in the NBA once the aforementioned Brown’s supermax begins. Two-time All-Star Jrue Holiday alongside Colorado’s own Derrick White stand poised to continue Boston’s run of dominant wing defensive specialists. Kristaps Porzingis will also join the storied franchise, fresh off the healthiest and most efficient season of his injury-riddled career. The eternal Al Horford will help shore up the frontcourt alongside Porzingis as well. For all of the talent moving out the door, you have to admit, this team has simply underachieved dating back to Tatum’s rookie season. You have to give Brad Stevens and the rest of the front office in Boston massive credit — to make such major changes to this team’s roster takes balls, massive balls.

To come out on the other side of an offseason with this many roster moves and still be considered favorites if not “the favorite” to make the NBA finals is quite an achievement. We won’t see the full force of this roster until the All-Star break; there is going to be a learning curve, and there are still depth questions that need to be answered, especially in the frontcourt. On paper, this is the most talented starting five in the NBA, but one could argue that has been true of the Celtics for years now, and they do not have a championship to show for it. A parade in Boston is always the expectation of this fanbase — this year, it is a necessity.

Season Projection — 1st in the East

After the blockbuster trade in which the Milwaukee Bucks shipped out Jrue Holiday, Grayson Allen, and some draft picks to acquire superstar Daimen Lillard, it looked like the Bucks were going to run away with the East and possibly hoist the Larry O’Brien Trophy in June. But everything changed when Holiday was traded again, this time to Milwaukee’s Eastern Conference foe, the Boston Celtics. The Celtics now arguably have the best starting lineup in the NBA, both offensively and defensively. They will be led by their All-Stars, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, and every player in the starting lineup can defend and knock down threes, which is a recipe for success in today’s league.

The main concern with this team is the lost depth. At a minimum, the team appears to be in good shape at guard, as both Payton Pritchard (15.6 PPG, FG% 44.4) and Svi Mykhailiuk (12.0 PPG, FG% 52.2) played well in the preseason. Even so, the key to the Celtics’ success will be the health of their stars. If Tatum, Brown, Holiday, and Kristaps Porzingis are healthy come playoff time, Boston should win the title.

Milwaukee Bucks

Draft Picks: #36 Andre Jackson Jr., #58 Chris Livingston

Free Agents Added: Malik Beasley, Robin Lopez, Cameron Payne, TyTy Washington (2-Way)

Re-signed Players: Khris Middleton, Brook Lopez, Jae Crowder, A.J. Green

Trades:

In a three-team deal, Portland traded Damian Lillard to Milwaukee for Jrue Holiday and an unprotected 2029 first-round pick from the Bucks, along with the right to swap first-round picks with Milwaukee in 2028 and 2030. The Blazers also received center Deandre Ayton and rookie forward Toumani Camara from the Suns in the deal, while Phoenix received center Jusuf Nurkic, forward Nassir Little, and guard Keon Johnson from Portland, as well as wing Grayson Allen from Milwaukee.
Bucks acquire Andre Jackson Jr. (No. 36 pick); the Magic acquire the Bucks’ 2030 second-round pick and cash.

Draft Grade (B-)

The Bucks made the best of a bad situation in this year’s draft, perhaps the best example of a team using all the tricks to find value in the draft without a ton of capital. They picked up a really interesting prospect in Andre Jackson Jr. with the 36^th pick. Jackson has all of the tools to be an excellent defender, including top-notch athleticism, and could be the team’s future point guard if he can develop a consistent outside shot. The Bucks also locked down wing Chris Livingston with the 58^th pick. The Kentucky product has a solid frame and a nice jump shot — 3-and-D potential.

Overall Offseason Grade (A)

Before the Damian Lillard trade was announced, we were prepared to give the Milwaukee Bucks a flat B for their offseason roster moves. The Bucks had checked off every item on their to do list. Bringing back Brook Lopez and Kris Middleton were necessary moves to both maintain continuity and talent for the team to remain a contender in the East. However, we felt it was difficult to project another championship for a team that seemed to regress in the 2023 playoffs. It seems that team star Giannis Antetankounmpo shared in our sentiments as the NBA media began to buzz about the possibility of Giannis asking for a trade after the season if he felt that the team was no longer competitive. Then, out of the blue, the Bucks front office quietly wiggled into the Damian Lillard sweepstakes and managed to add the seven-time All-Star in a deal centered around Jrue Holiday, Grayson Allen, and draft compensation. It was a steep price to pay, not just in terms of the Bucks’ future assets, but in terms of immediate depth.

This refurbished roster is very thin at guard and wing positions, but the recent signing of free agent Cameron Payne will help alleviate concerns about the backup point guard position. Outside of Middleton, the wings remain a major question mark; Pat Conaughton, Jae Crowder, Marjon Beauchamp, and Malik Beasley will need to produce at a high level, especially defensively. The injection of Lillard into the starting line up will certainly elevate the Bucks offense to new heights — the image of a Lillard-Giannis pick-and-roll is horrifying in its own right, but the luxury of Middleton reverting to tertiary scorer is just the cherry on top. If the Bucks coaching staff is able to balance a top-five scoring attack while maintaining a top-15 defense and depth concerns, this team may be on the path to yet another championship in the 2023-24 NBA season.

Season Projection — 2nd in the East

Coming off the disappointing first-round upset in last year’s playoffs, the Bucks knew they had to make a move, especially after Giannis publicly expressed that he wants to compete for more titles. And they made the biggest splash in the offseason by trading for “Dame Time.” The Bucks are all in this year, but are they deep enough to win the East? First and most importantly, can a rookie head coach get the job done in the big moments? Will Middleton stay healthy? Will their defense suffer after losing one of the best perimeter defenders in the league? Lillard and the Bucks are not a lock for a championship this year, unlike when Kevin Durant went to the Warriors. However, Milwaukee has one of the most talented duos in the league and enough supporting talent to make them the clear 1B in the Eastern Conference.

New York Knicks

Draft Picks: none

Free Agents Added: Donte DiVincenzo, Dylan Windler, Jacob Toppin (two-way), Charlie Brown Jr. (two-way)

Re-signed Players: Ryan Arcidiacono, Duane Washington (two-way)

Trades:

Knicks send Obi Toppin to the Pacers for either the Suns’ or Pacers’ 2028 second-round pick (whichever is least favorable) and either the Pacers’ or Wizards’ 2029 second-round pick (whichever is least favorable).

Draft Grade (F)

Without a selection in the draft, the Knicks picked up one undrafted free agent that made the roster on a two-way contract, forward Jacob Toppin, the brother of Obi Toppin. The younger Toppin is an athletic prospect who played better in the second half of last season for Kentucky. However, he only shot 30% from three on 1.8 attempts per game and 66 percent from the free-throw line. Overall, he’s 23 and doesn’t possess any elite translatable skills as an NBA player.

Overall Offseason Grade (D)

New York’s Summer League team was highlighted by the relatively unknown Charlie Brown Jr., a 26-year-old player who has played for Team USA’s 3-on-3 team under Fran Fraschilla. Brown Jr. has had a few stints in the league but impressed in Vegas, averaging 19.8 points per game while shooting 37.5 percent from three. Brown barely played during the preseason, but his Summer League stint was enough to earn him a two-way contract.

The rest of New York’s quiet offseason was highlighted by the signing of guard Donte DiVincenzo. While he will be able to bring defense, shooting, and playmaking to the rotation, the Knicks already had a logjam at the guard spots, and he will take away reps from Quentin Grimes and Immanuel Quickley, barring a trade in the future. At the same time, the team is thin in the frontcourt after trading away Obi Toppin for two second-rounders, recouping some value for the former lottery pick and yet disappointing to sell low on a guy who was picked eighth overall in 2020 and was never given a chance to play significant minutes. With Toppin gone, Julius Randle is the only true four on the roster. The plan is to use a combination of wing Josh Hart and center Jericho Sims as Randle’s backups. Hopefully for New York fans, the team is able to recapture some magic from the 2016 Villanova championship roster and the chemistry of DiVincenzo, Hart, and Jalen Brunson. That trio plus Ranlde, RJ Barrett and sixth man Immanuel Quickley is a solid six, but is it really enough to improve upon the team’s second-round playoff appearance from last season?

Season Projection — 3rd in the East

The Knicks have a good young team led by Jalen Brunson and Julius Randle, and they have a tough coach that will get the best out of the players. They are still one All-Star caliber player away from making some real noise in the East. However, should a perennial All-Star become available before the trade deadline, such as Karl-Anthony Towns or Joel Embiid, this franchise will enter the bidding war with everything they have. Sixers beat writer Keith Pompey was recently told by his sources that the Knicks are looking to trade for Joel Embid. And they are willing to trade Julius Randle, RJ Barett, Mitchell Robinson, and two or three first-round picks.

Philadelphia 76ers

Draft Picks: none

Free Agents Added: Kelly Oubre, Patrick Beverley, Mohamed Bamba, Filip Petrusev, Danny Green, Terquavion Smith (two-way), Azuolas Tubelis (two-way), Javonte Smart (two-way)

Re-signed Players: Paul Reed

Trades: none

Draft Grade (D)

How does a team with no picks get a passing grade (barely)? Well, the Sixers made some nice signings after the draft, signing three undrafted players, Terquavion Smith, Ricky Council, and Azuolas Tubelis, who were considered by most to be second-rounders. The team is especially excited about Smith, who is an excellent athlete and a dynamic scorer with the potential to develop into a point guard.

Overall Offseason Grade (D)

The beginning free-agency period was not especially exciting for Sixers fans, who saw Shake Milton, Jalen McDaniels, and Georges Niang slip away to other teams. At the same time, the team signed Patrick Beverley, Mohamed Bamba, and former draft-and-stash big man Filip Petrusev to replenish the bench. The Sixers also called Danny Ainge’s bluff and matched an offer on restricted free agent Paul Reed, and that move could cost the team dearly in luxury taxes down the road. The biggest move came much later in the process — the signing of wing Kelly Oubre, who should replace the aging P.J. Tucker in the starting lineup and add some needed shooting.

Considering the above moves, it definitely could be argued that the Sixers improved over last year, but the James Harden situation changes everything. The front office created this mess in the first place by acquiring Harden, who is currently teetering on a holdout, at least virtually. Also, both the player and the team appear to overestimate Harden’s market value. Trade talks with the Clippers, the lone team that is seemingly interested in the mercurial All-Star, are at an impasse because neither side is willing to move off their original demands — the Clippers won’t part ways with Terance Mann, and the Sixers won’t take Norman Powell and the remaining three years on his contract worth roughly $58 million. At this point, it would make sense for Philadelphia to reach out to teams such as the Bulls, the Heat, the Timberwolves, the Pelicans, and the Raptors, all of whom may offer a more agreeable deal than the Clippers. Of course, Harden might make any deal extremely difficult by saying that he will refuse to play for any team other than the Clippers.

Season Projection — 4th in the East

The biggest question for Philadelphia is: how long will James Harden be on the team? It’s safe to say at this point that the Sixers will not get 100 percent from the disgruntled guard. If the Sixers can trade Harden and get some good value back for him, they can certainly compete in the East because Tyreese Maxey can play Harden’s role just as well, and maybe even better. Ideally, the trade return would include a pair of solid wings, such as Terance Mann and Norman Powell or OG Anunoby and Gary Trent Jr. If the 76ers are stuck with Harden for the entire season, the ceiling is not so high for them because Joel Embid has shown year after year that he cannot get the job done in the playoffs. Unless they make some changes, the second round is their ceiling, again!

Cleveland Cavaliers

Draft Picks: Emoni Bates (49)

Free Agents Added: Georges Niang, Ty Jerome, Tristan Thompson, Craig Porter (two-way)

Re-signed Players: Caris LeVert, Isaiah Mobley (two-way)

Trades:

Cavaliers acquire Damian Jones from the Jazz for cash.
As part of a 3-team trade, the Cavaliers acquire Max Strus (sign —and-trade), and send Cedi Osman, Lamar Stevens, their 2030 second-round pick, and cash to the Spurs. The Cavs also send the Lakers’ 2026 2nd-round pick to the Heat.

Draft Grade (C-)

The Cleveland Cavaliers used their only pick to select Emoni Bates at No. 49. A polarizing prospect since he was dubbed the next big thing as a 15-year-old, Bates gives the team a flamethrowing wing when he is on, but historically, a player who offers little else when he is off. There is potential for Bates to emerge as a scoring specialist off the bench, but the Cavs are looking to win now around Donovan Mitchell and did little to eliminate their depth concerns in the draft.

Bates showcased his shotmaking ability in Summer League, shooting 40 percent from three and averaging 17 points per game. He also hustled, producing nearly one steal and one block per game while averaging six rebounds. He continued his hot play in the preseason, shooting 50 percent from the field and 46 percent from deep. Bates needs to consistently play with energy on both ends of the court and not force unnecessary shots from the outside. If so, he will eventually be upgraded to a standard contract and be a very effective microwave scorer off the bench.

Overall Offseason Grade (C+)

NBA Summer League ended with the Cleveland Cavaliers as the champions and Isaiah Mobley as the championship game MVP. Mobley looked sharp, displaying his offensive versatility and defensive anticipation in the paint. It would not be surprising to see his contract upgraded from a two-way deal, allowing the second-year pro to compete for backup minutes at the four and five spots, especially since the Cavs lack talented depth in the frontcourt. Similarly, undrafted rookie Craig Porter (two-way contract) impressed at Summer League with his abilities at the point guard position. He is only 6’2” but averaged 7.3 rebounds and led the team in assists at 5.3 per game. He, too, could conceivably be upgraded to a standard contract with Ricky Rubio’s NBA future in doubt.

Cleveland was active this offseason, adding wing Max Strus, forward George Niang, guard Ty Jerome plus centers Tristan Thompson and Damian Jones to solidify their depth. They also re-signed Caris LeVert to continue as their sixth man off the bench. The Strus acquisition addresses a need for shooting after the Cavs’ struggles in the postseason. However, one can’t help but wonder if there will be buyer’s remorse with his four-year, $63M contract if he regresses from his playoff form during Miami’s run to the Finals. Cleveland may also regret not addressing the point guard position more aggressively. Even if Rubio returns to the team, his play is quickly regressing, and while Jerome gives them depth, he shouldn’t be the primary backup point guard on a contending team. Another position of need is backup center — the current options are Dean Wade, Thompson, and Jones. Based on his Summer League play, Isaiah Mobely might be the best option behind Jarrett Allen, and as noted above, the second-year pro may see his contract upgraded to a standard deal.

Season Projection — 5th in the East

Last season, the Cavaliers really took off with Mitchell leading the way. But, surprisingly, they were easily defeated by the New York Knicks in the first round. Although the Cavs didn’t make huge changes to the roster, they are still good enough to be near the top of the East, but they are not good enough to battle with the two powerhouses in the conference.

The best case scenario is: 1) Evan Mobley will improve over last year and win Defensive Player of the Year, 2) either Strus, Bates, or former lottery pick Isaac Okoro emerges as a solid and consistent two-way starter at the three spot, and 3) all of the team’s core players stay healthy so that backups such as Jerome, Wade, and Jones don’t have to play heavy minutes. And even if that happens, getting past Milwaukee and/or Boston in the playoffs will still be very difficult if both of those proven clubs are relatively healthy.

Indiana Pacers

Draft Picks: Jarace Walker (8), Ben Sheppard (26), Mojave King (47), Isaiah Wong (55)

Free Agents Added: Bruce Brown, Oscar Tshiebwe (two-way)

Re-signed Players:

Trades:

The Pacers sent Chris Duarte to the Kings for Dallas’ 2028 second-round pick and Sacramento’s own 2030 second-rounder.
Pacers acquire Obi Toppin from the Knicks for either the Suns’ or Pacers’ 2028 second-round pick (whichever is least favorable) and either the Pacers’ or Wizards’ 2029 second-round pick (whichever is least favorable).
Indiana received pick 40 and the Nuggets’ 2024 first-rounder from OKC (least favorable of four); Denver received picks 29 and 32.
The Pacers receive the draft rights to Mojave King (No. 47 pick) and cash ($4,363,000); the Lakers acquire the draft rights to Maxwell Lewis (No. 40 pick).
Pacers acquire the draft rights to Jarace Walker (No. 8 pick), the Suns’ 2028 second-round pick, and the Wizards’ 2029 second-round pick; Wizards acquire Bilal Coulibaly (No. 7 pick).

Draft Grade (B+)

The Pacers came into the draft with five picks, including three first-rounders; they left with five players, including the signing of undrafted forward/center Oscar Tshiebwe, plus a future first-rounder, two future second-rounders, and $4.4 million in cash. However, of the five players added, only one definitely has first-round value in my opinion (Jarace Walker).

The Pacers made a nice move to get Walker, the man they likely wanted in the first place plus two additional future second-rounders. The Houston freshman should solve Indiana’s long-term issues at power forward, but the rest of newcomers may never be big contributors. In fact, Mojave King will be a draft-and-stash, as he is planning to play overseas this season. Selecting wing Ben Sheppard in the first round was a bit of a risk, given that he had just one outstanding college season and played four years at Belmont. An alternative was selecting Brice Sensabaugh at 26, and picking up a shooter with one of the team’s second-rounders, such as Emoni Bates.

Only Walker and Sheppard played significant minutes during the preseason, and both made less than 39 percent from the field.

Overall Offseason Grade (A-)

After the draft, in the simplest of terms, the Pacers acquired forward Obi Toppin from New York and sent wing Chris Duarte to the Kings. It’s certainly debatable whether Toppin is any better than Duarte, but the former did fill a need while the latter was part of a depth-chart logjam. The Pacers’ big free-agent signing was guard Bruce Brown, a versatile and tenacious defender and a proven winner, who would be a welcome addition to any club. You also cannot understate the importance of extending star point guard Tyrese Haliburton to a five-year max-rookie extension. It seems rather obvious that Indiana is looking to be competitive this season, and the Pacers may have added just enough to their young core to mix it up in the playoffs.

Season Projection — 6th in the East

The Pacers are a good young team led by a legit All-Star caliber player, Tyreese Halliburten. The roster also features a MIP candidate in second-year pro Benedict Mathurin, a 6MOY candidate in Bruce Brown, and a DPOY candidate in Myles Turner plus a bunch of solid role players. Last season, the Pacers competed every single game, and this year, they will take the next step in their progress.

Atlanta Hawks

Draft Picks: Kobe Bufkin (15), Mouhamed Gueye (39), Seth Lundy (46)

Free Agents Added: Wesley Matthews, Miles Norris (two-way)

Re-signed Players: Trent Forrest (two-way)

Trades:

The Thunder sent Patty Mills to the Hawks in exchange for guard TyTy Washington, forward Rudy Gay, big man Usman Garuba, and a second-round pick (TBA).
As part of a 5-team trade, the Hawks to acquire Usman Garuba, TyTy Washington, the Timberwolves’ 2025 second-round pick (from Rockets), the Rockets’ 2028 second-round pick, and $1.1 million in cash (from Thunder); the Rockets receive the draft rights to Alpha Kaba from Hawks.
Hawks to acquire Rudy Gay and Memphis’ 2026 2nd-round pick, which will only convey if it lands between 31 and 42, to the Jazz for John Collins.
Hawks to acquire rights to Mouhamed Gueye (No. 39 pick); Celtics to acquire the Hawks’ 2027 second-round pick.

Draft Grade (C-)

The Hawks didn’t get much value with their picks, selecting two long-term projects in Kobe Bufkin and Mouhamed Gueye, and an older 3-and-D prospect in Seth Lundy. Bufkin, a combo guard out of Michigan, was the Hawks’ highest pick at 15. He was a late riser in the draft process and has the potential to develop into a potent secondary playmaker. Unfortunately, Bufkin has struggled in both Summer League and the preseason, shooting less than 34 percent from the field, combined. Atlanta likely plans to play Gueye at power forward, which is good because they don’t need another center and he is not a rim protector. Gueye has looked the best of the Hawks’ three draft picks, posting a PER of 15.1 in the preseason and even blocking shots in Summer League action. However, the 20-year-old is unlikely to get much run this season unless there are a couple of injuries in the frontcourt.

Overall Offseason Grade (D+)

Atlanta basically gave away John Collins, and you have to think the club could have done better. The Hawks were not overly active in the market outside of draft night; they didn’t have many open roster spots to fill. Getting two second-rounders as well as TyTy Washington and Usman Garuba for nothing (the draft rights to Alpha Kaba) was a great move, which would seemingly push the team’s offseason grade up a notch or two. Both former first-round picks are still very young and might have surprised by working their way into the rotation. However, both players were flipped to OKC along with Rudy Gay and a second-rounder for Patty Mills. Go figure? Mills gives the Hawks a backup combo guard, but he hardly seems equal compensation for the loss of Collins.

The Hawks still have a ton of talent in house, but in order to make waves in the Eastern Conference, one of their young prospects must make a major leap forward. Jalen Johnson seems primed to step in as Collins’ replacement at the four; both Johnson and Saddiq Bey were stellar in the preseason and should push the oft-injured DeAndre Hunter to the bench. Third-year center Onyeka Okongwu was also impressive in preseason action and could be ready to step into a larger role should the team move on from Clint Capela.

Regardless of a puzzling offseason that netted very little for the immediate future, it does seem like this team is on the upward trajectory due to in-house growth. All in all, the roster looks pretty solid, but the team’s success will depend a lot on the development of youngsters such as Johnson, Bey, Okongwu, and AJ Griffin.

Season Projection — 7th in the East

Head Coach Quin Snyder will have this Hawks offense purring in the regular season — more than enough to carry a bottom-10 defense to the playoffs. Some of the key young players looked good in preseason. Jalen Johnson shot better than 50% from three, and Onyeka Okongwu looks like he is expanding his game; he took 13 three pointers in pre-season, knocking down 38% of them. However, this team does not have the talent to support a deep playoff run, especially as the game slows down in the postseason. The Murray-Young backcourt may not last past this season after a disappointing first-round exit.

Miami Heat

Draft Picks: Jaime Jaquez (18)

Free Agents Added: Josh Richardson, Thomas Bryant, RJ Hampton (two-way), Cole Swider (two-way)

Re-signed Players: Kevin Love, Haywood Highsmith, Orlando Robinson, Dru Smith, Jamal Cain (two-way)

Trades:

As part of a 3-team trade, the Heat sent Max Strus (sign —and-trade) to Cleveland for the Lakers’ 2026 second-round pick. As part of the deal, Miami will also swap second-round picks with the Spurs, with Miami receiving a 2027 selection and San Antonio receiving a 2026 pick.
Heat sent Victor Oladipo and second-round picks in 2029 and 2030 to OKC for cash.

Draft Grade (B-)

The Heat continue to prove that Heat Culture is palpable in South Beach. Jaime Jaquez is as much a “Heat” player as one could possibly be. I’m sure a lot of draft analysts might say this was too early for the UCLA senior, and might have wanted to see the team swing for a more upside or project type of player at pick 18 — BUT Jaquez had all the qualities Miami was looking for. He’s a two-way team player who hustles and can contribute in a variety of ways. The rookie had respectable showings at Summer League and in the preseason, but both appearances were cut short by injuries. Jaquez was durable at UCLA, so the team doesn’t seem overly concerned, but with just 62 pro minutes under his belt so far, he cannot be considered ready to contribute significantly.

Overall Offseason Grade (C)

The Miami Heat attempted to do their best impression of the New England Patriots this offseason by allowing multiple role players from their Finals run to walk in free agency rather than overpay role players. Gabe Vincent leaving South Beach for a large contract with the Lakers is a major loss for this team. Not to mention Max Strus moving on as well. Unfortunately, the Heat didn’t do much in free agency to mitigate these losses. Josh Richardson, who was a star for the Heat in the down years before Jimmy Butler came to town, will return to Miami this season after serving as a journeyman for the past few seasons. The Heat also moved on from Victor Oladipo, which freed some much-needed cap space.

Much of the architecture of the Miami offseason was shaped around the hope of bringing in perennial All-Star point guard Damian Lillard, who made waves throughout the NBA by not only asking for a trade, but also openly broadcasting that the only destination that caught his eye was Miami. To much of the outside world, it seemed all but assured that Lillard would suit up for Miami this season, as many teams around the league were initially hesitant to trade major assets for a player that may not be happy with his new home. Unfortunately for the Heat, Lillard was finally traded to the Milwaukee Bucks while the Heat were cut out of negotiations. It seems that, for once, the great Pat Riley was left holding the bag while a small market franchise raked in a big-name asset.

The Heat will continue to be a dark horse contender in the Eastern Conference with their current roster, banking on internal development. However, you have to think that this team’s championship ceiling has begun to cave in on itself after a demoralizing offseason.

Season Projection — 8th in the East

The Heat went from possibly being the favorites to win it all if they acquired Daimen Lillard to not being able to make the playoffs. Last season, they were 12 minutes away from missing the playoffs but they came back to win the play-in game against the Bulls, and ended up being the first play-in team to win a conference title. This season, the Heat will find themselves in the same situation, but this time, they will burn out. They have lost two starters, Kyle Lowry is getting older and was sent to the bench, and Bam Adebayo may have reached his ceiling, yet to expand his offensive game. To compound matters, Miami begins the season with three players either out or slowed by injuries: Caleb Martin, Josh Richerdson and Hayword Highsmith. Playoff Jimmy can only be activated if his team is in the playoffs. And they won’t be! Pat Riley’s arrogance in the Dame trade might cost them.

Orlando Magic

Draft Picks: Anthony Black (6), Jett Howard (11)

Free Agents Added: Joe Ingles, Trevelin Queen (two-way)

Re-signed Players: Moritz Wagner

Transactions:

The Magic acquire the Bucks’ 2030 second-round pick and cash; Bucks acquire Andre Jackson Jr. (No. 36 pick).

Draft Grade (C)

The Magic had the draft capital to earn one of the higher grades; however, they reached with both of their picks, changing the way that we felt about their draft night. Taking Jett Howard as high as pick 11 could turn into a major roster building failure for this team. Howard’s positional fit with a team built around Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner is questionable; his only NBA ready skill is shooting, and he has lower upside in our perception than many of the other players left on the board at pick 11. In both Summer league and preseason play, he shot better from deep than he did the field. You can even quibble with the Anthony Black pick at No. 6; he was almost universally mocked at 8th to the Wizards, so it’s not much of a reach. However, Black is a plus-sized point guard who lacks an outside shot – there is real risk taking a swing on a project like Black so early in the lottery. The Magic could have easily explored trading up for a higher ceiling prospect; there certainly would have been teams in the top five willing to explore a swap with the Magic.

Overall Offseason Grade (C-)

The Magic did not have an offseason that would blow you away. They made some gambles in the draft and only time will tell how effective those players will be. Since then, Orlando has been quiet on both the trade and free agent market. The Magic’s primary new addition going into the 2023 season has been veteran wing Joe Ingles, who had an underwhelming season last year for the Bucks after returning from injury. The veteran point forward was not particularly twitchy and athletic to begin with, but Ingles looks shaky at this stage of his career. Orlando made sure to re-sign Franz Wagner’s brother Moritz to a deal, and in doing so, waived a productive young player in Bol Bol. It is a real shame to let a talented prospect like Bol walk for nothing. The Magic continue to play the waiting game while their young core grows, but surely they could have sought a sign-and-trade that would have accelerated their roster’s growth curve over the offseason.

Season Projection —9th in the East

I expect that the Orlando Magic will finish ninth in the Eastern Conference, will win two games in the play-in tournament to earn a spot in the playoffs but will lose in the first round. Franz Wagner, who played great in both FIBA World Cup and preseason action, will be in serious contention for the NBA Most Improved Player Award. Also, as a unit, the Magic will have one of the highest-rated defenses in the Eastern Conference. They began the 2022 season ranked below average (18th) in defensive rating, but exploded in the second half of the season on that end of the court. The Magic were the league’s 7th highest rated defense from December on last season.

Brooklyn Nets

Draft Picks: Noah Clowney (#20), Dariq Whitehead (#21), Jalen Wilson (#51)

Free Agents Signed: Lonnie Walker, Dennis Smith, Trendon Watford, Harry Giles

Players Re-signed: Cam Johnson

Trades:

Nets send Patty Mills and the Bucks’ 2028 second-round pick to Houston for Brooklyn’s 2024 second-rounder, acquired in a prior trade by the Rockets, protected between 31-54.
Nets receive $110K in cash; Pistons acquire Joe Harris, the Mavericks’ 2027 second-round pick, and the Bucks’ 2029 second-round pick.

Draft Grade (B+)

The Nets made some quality pickups on draft night. They used their back-to-back first-round picks to select Noah Clowney and Dariq Whitehead. Both have high upside but will need some time to develop into rotation players. After selecting a pair of potential steals in the early 20’s, the Nets also selected a college hoops veteran with pick 59, Jalen Wilson, who has been a part of winning at every level. Wilson looked the part in Summer League, averaging 17.6 PPG and 7.8 REB for the Nets. Signed to a two-way deal, however, Wilson saw very limited action in the preseason and doesn’t figure to be a factor this season. The lanky Clowney had a particularly rocky start to his NBA career in Summer League play. As expected, he looked physically unprepared for NBA minutes. Possessing many of the same traits as undersized starting center Nic Claxton, Clowney will need time to build up his body, but he did show some positive signs in the preseason, posting a PER of 17.7. Whitehead, who was once considered a top-5 prospect but struggled with an injury at Duke, was forced to undergo a second corrective surgery to his foot, and he will not be ready to play for quite some time. Regardless, this is a quality crop of young talent to bring into a rebuilding franchise.

Overall Offseason Grade (B-)

In the early days of free agency, the Nets popped up in the Damian Lillard trade bonanza. However, their free agency activity was relatively tame outside of that trade speculation. The Brooklyn front office is moving on from some of the big veteran contracts signed during the Kevin Durant & Kyrie Irving era, sending away a few future second-round picks to salary dump Patty Mills and Joe Harris. The Nets then looked to the free agent market to fill those outgoing role players – taking one-year fliers on younger veterans like Lonnie Walker, Dennis Smith Jr., and Harry Giles.

This team struggled to score in the last year’s playoffs, and although they may not be bringing a ton in, re-signing Cameron Johnson was a must, and they got it done. Johnson averaged 16.5 points per game in 25 games for Brooklyn last season after being acquired from Phoenix in the Durant trade, and he has shown flashes of higher scoring upside in both stops. Look for Johnson to continue his upward trajectory as a part of the Nets’ starting five this season. If he is capable of taking on a larger offensive role as expected, the Nets could pose more of a threat in the playoffs than many believe. Brooklyn is moving in the right direction with a fun, defensive-minded core.

Season Projection — 10th in the East

Ben Simmons has looked fully healthy and played well in preseason, and he will help the Brooklyn Nets get off to a frisky start to the NBA season. The team will flirt with a playoff spot for the first few months; however, as the season begins to drag on, the front office will begin to consolidate assets for a rebuild. Dorian Finney-Smith and Royce O’Neale will be auctioned off to more competitive franchises for draft capital. The Nets’ record will fall off a cliff, and they will find themselves on the outside looking in come playoff time.