No Western Conference team earned an A or F on their offseason report card, and that tells you everything you need to know about the lack of consequential moves made this summer. While NBA legends LeBron James and Kawhi Leonard are taking their talents East, guys like LaMelo Ball and Brandon Ingram are headed West, yet neither really changes the game for their new squads. Even Ja Morant, traded from the Memphis Grizzlies to the Portland Trail Blazers, might raise the ceiling but also lowers the floor for Portland. Both the Blazers and Minnesota Timberwolves, who picked up Ball, landed C grades because, honestly, they are probably no closer to contention than if they had just stood pat.
Lakers Spent Big, But For What?
The grading for these teams isn’t just about whether they got better right now, it is also about managing assets and building for a stronger future. And on that front, the Los Angeles Lakers are taking some serious heat. They went all in, spending big on both salaries and draft picks, only to lock themselves into a roster that is… still not a contender? It feels like a massive swing and a miss when you commit that kind of capital and come out looking exactly the same. What was the point, really?
Dallas Maverick’s Bold Bet On Youth And Experience
The Dallas Mavericks, after a 26-56 season in 2025-26, are projected for 34.5 wins next year, earning them a solid B grade. The Cooper Flagg era is officially in its second season, and having a presumably healthy 34-year-old Kyrie Irving at point guard in place of Ryan Nembhard is a pretty huge upgrade. Sure, it is a mismatch of timelines with the 19-year-old Flagg and the veteran Irving, but that is a combo of brilliant offensive players. After the Luka Dončić and Anthony Davis trades from the previous front office, new executive Masai Ujiri made smart, incremental upgrades. Santi Aldama is one of the league’s most underrated floor-spacing forwards, and former first-round picks Zaccharie Risacher and Marcus Sasser are worth a real look alongside those brilliant playmakers. Plus, Morez Johnson Jr., another top-10 pick and a winner, joins the rotation with his college coach, Dusty May, who won the 2026 NCAA national title with him. That’s a lot of creative firepower for the roster!
Denver’s Championship Window Hinges On One Player
The defending 2025-26 champs, the Denver Nuggets, had a dominant 54-28 season and are looking at a 49.5 wins over/under next year. But their entire offseason boils down to one name: Peyton Watson. He is a restricted free agent, and keeping him at the price he could command elsewhere might send ownership into an uncomfortable spending stratosphere. Yet, losing him could shut that championship window, which has been open for some time, for good. Watson is very good, and the Nuggets desperately need as many good players as they can get. Their core lineup of Nikola Jokić, Jamal Murray, Aaron Gordon, Cam Johnson, and Christian Braun outscored opponents by an insane 14.7 points per 100 meaningful possessions last season. Losing Watson would be a massive blow to that machine. The upcoming season for Denver is riding on that decision, and for Dallas, we are all watching how that Flagg and Irving timeline plays out on the court.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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