After the NBA draft, a handful of blockbuster trades and a relatively boring week of free agency, it’s time to evaluate the big winners and losers of the NBA offseason.
Winner: Houston Rockets
It would be foolish not to start with the second-place team that acquired one of the best bucket-getters on the planet — Kevin Durant averaged a league-leading 1.16 points per isolation possession last season — and still protected its best assets. If Giannis Antetokounmpo wanted to change course tomorrow and request a trade from Milwaukee (HYPOTHETICALLY), the Rockets would be as equipped for the bidding war as anyone. In the meantime, the projected starting lineup features Fred VanVleet, Ausar Thompson, Durant, Jabari Smith and Alperen Sengun. Didn’t hurt to extend Steven Adams and sign Dorian Finney-Smith and Clint Capela, either.
Loser: Derik Queen (and the Pelicans)
In what has to be the most bewildering transaction of the offseason so far, the Pelicans traded the most favorable of two unprotected 2026 first-round picks — theirs or Milwaukee’s — to move up 10 spots from 23rd this year. Everyone except the Pelicans seems to think New Orleans’ pick will be top-five. But even if they were betting on themselves to contend in a loaded West by making that trade, there’s also the chance that Milwaukee’s first-rounder turns out to be valuable, especially if circumstances change (HYPOTHETICALLY) with Antetokounmpo. One thing’s for sure: Derik Queen has more pressure on him to be a star than any other 13th pick in NBA history.
Winner: Atlanta Hawks
On the other end of that draft night head-scratcher was Atlanta, one of several teams hungry to capitalize on a talent shortage in the East. The Hawks traded for Kristaps Porzingis to bolster their center rotation, but they won’t be over-reliant on his fickle health either, thanks to a solid frontcourt infrastructure already in place. They signed Nickeil Alexander-Walker, one of the best role players on the market. And they threw their remaining cash at Luke Kennard, who hasn’t shot worse than 43% from 3 since the bubble. This is suddenly a roster capable of making the conference finals, with a potential lottery pick waiting on the other side.
Loser: Los Angeles Lakers
Everyone’s favorite pick to upset Oklahoma City before an ill-fated first-round sputter, the Lakers haven’t shown much interest in building on their 50-win season in the short term. They lost Finney-Smith on the open market and acquired young Jake LaRavia — a productive signing as an addition, but not so much as a replacement. They also failed to swiftly address their lack of a starting center. While veteran free agent Brook Lopez chose their little brother across town, the Lakers spent most of the week as the subject of LeBron James trade speculation. They’re left to hope Deandre Ayton can disprove his irresponsible reputation and actually start dominayton. Luka Doncic should set a sterling example.
Winner: Damian Lillard
If there’s any such thing as a lottery for people with torn Achilles tendons, Lillard has won it. The Bucks are paying him for the next five years like he’s Bobby Bonilla, and he gets to hand-pick his next destination (unlike last time) without needing to think about money. It’s a ring-chaser’s dream for one of the NBA’s nicest guys, except for the rehab. Dame is leaving behind a bit of a mess in Milwaukee, where chunks of his waived contract will continue to count against the salary cap and all the future draft picks have magically disappeared. It’s the genuinely unfortunate fallout of a small-market franchise’s earnest efforts to keep its superstar player.
Loser: Indiana Pacers
Why did the Bucks waive and stretch Lillard in the first place? So they could make room for Myles Turner in their latest display of loyalty to Giannis, of course. There’s a chance everyone involved in this ends up being a loser. Turner is a very good NBA center, but he’s not about to individually solve Milwaukee’s numerous problems. Antetokounmpo admirably seems opposed to giving up on the Bucks, but this feels like it could (HYPOTHETICALLY) be spiraling toward an unhappy ending. As for the fans in Indiana, is there a more devastating way to lose a player? Undercut by a bitter rival, only because your owner seemingly soured on paying the luxury tax and didn’t offer enough money? Immediately after losing Game 7 of the NBA Finals, and losing your All-NBA point guard for a year to injury?
Winner: Denver Nuggets
Why hire one general manager when you can hire two, right? Surely, no one ever questioned or ridiculed the practicality of that idea. Ben Tenzer and Jon Wallace are old friends dating back to the first time they overlapped in Denver’s front office, and it turns out the power of friendship is enough to supercharge the Nuggets’ depth chart and contender status. Denver can still be optimistic about the development of its young players, without needing to rely on them so desperately on a game-to-game basis. This stockpile of newcomers is one of the most impressive in the league: Cam Johnson, Jonas Valanciunas, Bruce Brown and Tim Hardaway Jr.
Loser: Michael Porter Jr.
Honestly, Porter should be fun to watch in Brooklyn. He’ll have more liberty to demand the ball, work on creating shots off the dribble, make mistakes and learn from them. But the general direction of the team seems questionable, especially after it used all five of its first-round picks in the draft without making a trade. Four of those selections were 19th or later. It was an even more dramatic bet on post-lottery talent evaluation than what Calvin Booth did as Denver’s GM. Porter was a good Nugget, and he always took losing hard. He’ll have to put up with a lot more of it now.
Leftover winner: Orlando Magic
Desmond Bane! Tyus Jones! Space for Paolo Banchero to breathe! Orlando might actually have a competent offense for the first time in years.
Leftover loser: Dallas Mavericks
D’Angelo Russell is a talented scorer. Alas, a wise man once said defense wins championships.