Golden State Warriors' patience is being tested in Al Horford pursuit
The Golden State Warriors have endured a slow start to the offseason. Other than losing Kevon Looney to the New Orleans Pelicans, there have been no incomings or outgoings from the Bay Area. Reports have consistently linked Al Horford with a move to Golden State, as the veteran big man weighs up his options after his deal with the Boston Celtics expired.
Unfortunately, Horford's decision appears to be taking longer than expected. According to Marc J. Spears, who was speaking via a recent episode of ESPN's NBA Today, the Warriors were expecting the forward to sign with the franchise last week.
"Golden State expected him to sign last week, he didn't,' Spears reported. '(The) Lakers, Milwaukee, and the Atlanta, I believe, are also interested in this 40-year-old guy who also has retirement on the table. He's still considering retiring; he's not in any hurry.'
Horford's tenure with the Celtics appears to be over. However, there doesn't appear to be a guarantee that he will land with Steve Kerr's team ahead of the new season. The Warriors must move to get a commitment from the veteran big man; otherwise, they may need to turn their attention elsewhere.
There's no denying that Horford would be a valuable addition to the Warriors' rotation. His skill set would plug multiple gaps in the current rotation and improve the roster on both sides of the floor. However, Golden State can't risk missing out on other potential additions while they wait on his decision. As such, the Warriors could be wise to set a deadline for Horford's decision, and if nothing materializes, they should begin casting a wider net.
This post originally appeared on Warriors Wire! Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!
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New York Times
23 minutes ago
- New York Times
Clippers need Yanic Konan Niederhäuser to keep channeling his ‘barbarian' side
LAS VEGAS — Yanic Konan Niederhäuser was in the dunker spot Monday at the Thomas & Mack Center when LA Clippers teammate Zavier Simpson drove hard down the middle of the paint. Simpson hit the rookie center with a good bounce pass and watched him go up against Los Angeles Lakers center Christian Koloko — and miss everything. Advertisement At that point, Konan Niederhäuser had made only two shots in nine quarters of summer-league action. None of those makes came in his first seven quarters. He only attempted one shot in his second summer-league game the night before. In the second quarter, though, Konan Niederhäuser got a couple of dunks, including one in Koloko's grill. He cut off another Simpson drive in the third quarter, finishing another dunk. And to cap the show, Konan Niederhäuser took two dribbles on a fast break following a Lakers turnover and launched himself toward the basket just inside of the free-throw circle, with total disregard for backpedaling power forward Cole Swider. It was the kind of dunk that showcased the 7-foot-3 wingspan and 37-inch maximum vertical leap from a man who checks in at 6-feet-11 and 243 pounds. YANIC?!?! HOW?!?!? 🤯🤯🤯 — LA Clippers (@LAClippers) July 15, 2025 'I was just way more aggressive today,' the 22-year-old said after scoring 10 points on 5 of 9 field goals against the Lakers as part of a 67-58 win. 'I rolled harder to the rim. Also, when I left the hotel, I said, 'Today, Konan gotta be here. Not Yanic. Konan the Barbarian.' Yanic Konan Niederhäuser on being different tonight: "When I left the hotel, I said 'today, Konan gotta be here. Not Yanic. Konan the Barbarian.'" — Law Murray 🎡 (@LawMurrayTheNU) July 15, 2025 Monday night was a breakthrough for Konan Niederhäuser, but it still highlighted areas where he has room for improvement. In a game the Clippers won by nine points, the Lakers outscored them by nine in Konan Niederhäuser's 22:54. While the Clippers were at their best with burgeoning young defender Trentyn Flowers on the floor, it has been a struggle for them to keep Konan Niederhäuser included offensively through three games. His only two free-throw attempts came in his first game Friday against the Houston Rockets, he hasn't made any shots outside of the paint despite attempting two 3s, and his next assist will be his first in summer league. Advertisement 'He's got to run the floor all day,' Clippers summer-league head coach Jeremy Castleberry said when asked about what Konan Niederhäuser needs to do to get more opportunities to score. 'If he runs the floor all game, rim protects and continues to get behind the defense, he'll be OK. He's got to get his conditioning in shape. He's working on it. Like I said, every game, he's getting better. I like everything he's doing. I have no issues with him, as long as he comes in and works harder than he did the last day.' Jeremy Castleberry continues to be happy with the progress that Yanic Konan Niederhäuser is making I asked Castleberry about what YKN needs to do to get himself more shot opportunities, and also about his level of effectiveness as a screener — Law Murray 🎡 (@LawMurrayTheNU) July 14, 2025 The Clippers drafted the Switzerland-born Konan Niederhäuser with the 30th pick in June, making him the first Penn State player selected in the first round of the NBA Draft. Even with that pedigree, he is set to be a multi-year project. General manager Trent Redden said that Konan Niederhäuser went from 6-1 as a 15-year-old to 6-9 by the time he was 18. Before he landed at Penn State, he played at Northern Illinois for two years. Now, as the third-string center behind two starting-caliber veterans who both took the long road toward improving their games, he has a long way to go and a relatively short time to get there. When Ivica Zubac was traded to the Clippers in 2019 from the Lakers, he was a month away from his 22nd birthday on March 18. Niederhäuser turned 22 on March 14. Zubac was given a starting job right away with the Clippers and didn't permanently earn that spot until 2021. This past season, he blossomed into a 30-minute player for the first time, earning his first career All-Defense selection while averaging career bests in points (16.8), rebounds (12.6) and assists (2.7). 'I was excited, happy. I felt I was in a great spot, especially with all these veterans who I can learn from,' Konan Niederhäuser said. 'A great spot to just develop and get better. It's my main goal to improve every year and just get better.' Advertisement Konan Niederhäuser knew Zubac would be his teammate when he was drafted. Once free agency began, the Clippers added 2021 NBA champion Brook Lopez on a two-year deal. Lopez, like Zubac, knows a thing or two about development. Lopez didn't make more than two 3-pointers in a season until his ninth year. Now, he's known as one of the league's elite 3-point shooting, rim-protecting centers who can still score inside at a high level. Lopez said he is willing to be a mentor to Konan Niederhäuser while also pushing the young center to get the most out of his ability. 'I was fortunate to play with a lot of great players throughout my career,' said Lopez, who turned 37 in April. 'Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, Giannis (Antetokounmpo), Vince Carter. I can go down the line. But particularly, KG was someone I was fortunate to have played with when I was a younger player in this league. 'He helped mold me into the player I am today. And so, I think it's only right to pass on the things he taught me, help the younger guys the same way he helped me. I wouldn't be here if it weren't for him. So I'm absolutely ready to get on the court, help him out and then help him adjust and become a great player in this league.' Konan Niederhäuser was the fifth center selected in June. The only true center who went in the lottery was Khaman Maluach out of Duke, who went No. 10 to the Phoenix Suns. The other three first-round centers were Thomas Sorber out of Georgetown (15th to Oklahoma City), Yang Hansen out of China (16th to Portland) and Joan Beringer out of France (17th to Minnesota). All of those centers are younger than Konan Niederhäuser. The Clippers worked out Creighton center Ryan Kalkbrenner, who became the sixth center drafted, going 34th to the Charlotte Hornets. Kalkbrenner is more experienced and pro-ready than Konan Niederhäuser, but Kalkbrenner is more than a year older after spending five years in college. Konan Niederhäuser's athletic tools — he had the second-best standing vertical leap of any player at the combine at 33 1/2 inches — likely give him the higher ceiling. Still, Kalkbrenner will likely be watched by Clippers fans as a counterpart to Konan Niederhäuser. 'I feel like I'm in a great spot,' Kalkbrenner told The Athletic. 'Part of making it in the league is being in the right place at the right time, and I feel I am. I feel there's an opportunity to play. I feel management and coaches all have a plan for me, want me to be a part of the long-term plan. So I just got to come in and do what they ask … but obviously being a fifth-year player, I have the expectation of myself, and they have the expectations of me to come in and to do some things right away. Obviously I don't think that's going to happen. You don't expect most rookies to come in and be an All-Star right away or be a star player right away, but I think I can definitely come in and impact the game right away.' Advertisement Even with the high expectations a player like Kalkbrenner has, he can relate to Konan Niederhäuser's assimilation to being a center in summer league. In three games, Kalkbrenner has 26 points on 10-of-21 shooting from the field, with a high of 10 points (the same single-game scoring high as Konan Niederhäuser). As the Clippers progress through summer league, Konan Niederhäuser will progress through his development. Over time, the Clippers hope he learns how to use his body to effectively put himself in a position to make an impact on both ends of the floor. Because Konan Niederhäuser is 22 and not 19, it is even more critical to show he can make it with the Clippers; it's harder to sell the other 29 teams on a second-chance 25-year-old than it is for a second-chance 22-year-old. Konan Niederhäuser is getting a taste of what it's like to get better in a short amount of time. And he knows that he needs to channel that 'barbarian' to be the best version of himself. 'He's ruthless — I watched his movie,' Konan Niederhäuser told The Athletic when asked about 'Conan the Barbarian.' 'I know he's got his goal in mind, and if he wants to get something, he's going to get it. And he's going to do whatever he's got to do to get it.' (Photo of Yanic Konan Niederhäuser: Garrett Ellwood / NBAE via Getty Images)
Forbes
an hour ago
- Forbes
Restricted Free Agents May Be Holding Up The Rest Of NBA Free Agency
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 30: Jonathan Kuminga #00 of the Golden State Warriors looks to ... More drive to the basket past Kelly Oubre Jr. #9 of the Philadelphia 76ers during the fourth quarter of an NBA basketball game at Chase Center on January 30, 2024 in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) The NBA free-agent market opened only two weeks ago, but it has largely ground to a halt. A handful of notable restricted free agents may largely be to blame for that. Nine-time All-Star point guard Damian Lillard is the best player on the free-agent market, although he's expected to miss most or all of the 2025-26 campaign due to the Achilles tendon tear that he suffered in the first round of the playoffs. He's an unrestricted free agent, so he can sign with any team of his choosing at any time, but he's likely in no rush for now. Beyond that, the next-best options are all restricted free agents. Golden State Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga, Chicago Bulls guard Josh Giddey, Philadelphia 76ers guard Quentin Grimes and Brooklyn Nets guard Cam Thomas are the four who may be gumming up the free-agent market at large. The Nets are the only remaining team with significant salary-cap space, so options are running low for anyone who's hoping to land a big payday this offseason. Sign-and-trades could open up additional possibilities, although base-year-compensation rules would complicate that for any restricted free agents who are eyeing a significant raise. As the Warriors, Bulls, Sixers and Nets await decisions from their respective RFAs, they're somewhat stuck for the time being. Those four might be the next big dominoes that have to fall before free-agent activity picks back up across the league. The Kuminga Roadblock Of the four notable RFAs on the market, Kuminga has long seemed like the biggest flight risk. According to Anthony Slater of The Athletic, he has "long held a dream of evolving into a star wing capable of driving an offense and leading a team," but that isn't likely to happen in Golden State as long as Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler are still around. Slater reported that the Sacramento Kings offered 2024 No. 13 overall pick Devin Carter, veteran big man Dario Šarić and two second-round picks in a sign-and-trade for Kuminga, but the Warriors "balked at what they felt was a buy-low attempt." He added that the Warriors "have been searching for a promising young player plus a first-round pick in return for Kuminga" in a sign-and-trade. Slater mentioned that "an eventual compromise and return to the Warriors" is still "very much on the table," although he reported that the Bulls, Nets, Washington Wizards, Miami Heat and Milwaukee Bucks had "also registered varying levels of interest in him." Either way, Kuminga's uncertain future could be impacting the rest of what the Warriors do this offseason. With only nine players under contract, the Warriors are currently $25 million below the $195.9 million first apron and $36.9 million below the $207.8 million second apron. Filling out the rest of their roster with veteran-minimum contracts alone would cost them at least an additional $10 million. The question then becomes whether they'll retain Kuminga, as that could decide which version of the mid-level exception they have access to (if any). If the Warriors used the $14.1 million non-taxpayer mid-level exception, they'd be hard-capped at the first apron, which wouldn't leave much wiggle room for them to re-sign Kuminga. Instead, they figure to use the $5.7 million taxpayer mid-level exception, which will hard-cap them at the second apron. However, they likely have no interest in hard-capping themselves at either apron until they know exactly what's next for Kuminga. That may be having a trickle-down effect on veteran center Al Horford, who's been linked to the Warriors for the past few weeks. On Monday's episode of ESPN's NBA Today, Marc J. Spears of Andscape said the Warriors expected Horford to sign with them last week, although he has yet to do so. ESPN's Tim MacMahon proceeded to tamp down concerns by saying that "the assumption around the league is that he will end up with the Warriors," which begs the question of whether their delay in signing him is related to Kuminga. Jake Fischer of The Stein Line recently reported that the Warriors are also "a strong contender" to re-sign De'Anthony Melton, who played only six games for them this past season before tearing his ACL. Like with Horford, the Warriors may be waiting to see how much Kuminga commands—and whether they decide to re-sign him—before devoting a specific dollar amount to Melton. Grimes And Giddey The Sixers find themselves in a similar boat with Grimes as the Warriors are with Kuminga. After drafting VJ Edgecombe and Johni Broome, signing Trendon Watford to a two-year, veteran-minimum contract and re-signing Eric Gordon, Kyle Lowry to one-year, vet-min deals, the Sixers currently have $188.1 million their books. That leaves them roughly $7.8 million below the first apron and $19.7 million below the second apron. The Sixers could create slightly more wiggle room under the aprons by waiving Ricky Council IV, whose $2.2 million salary is fully nonguaranteed until Jan. 10. But if they're hoping to use the $5.7 million taxpayer mid-level exception, which would hard-cap them at the second apron, they need to know exactly how much Grimes is earning next year first. Leading up to free agency, Tony Jones of The Athletic reported that Grimes was "looking for a contract that averages $25 million per season." If he got anywhere near that, the Sixers would go soaring over the second apron and would lose access to any mid-level exception. Team president Daryl Morey recently cited that as the reason why the Sixers weren't able to re-sign Guerschon Yabusele, who took a two-year, $11.3 million contract with the New York Knicks via their taxpayer MLE. The Bulls are currently $38.6 million below the luxury-tax line, so they shouldn't be too concerned about the aprons. (They're $43.7 million below the first apron and $55.6 million below the second apron.) However, they haven't crossed into luxury-tax territory since the 2015-16, and that isn't likely to change this year. If the Bulls also want to use the $14.1 million non-taxpayer MLE, that would leave only $24.5 million for Giddey. Much like the Sixers and Warriors, they likely want to know Giddey's exact starting salary before they embark upon the rest of their offseason business. The Wild-Card Nets The Nets entered free agency as the NBA's biggest wild card, as they were the only team that had significant cap space this offseason. They've used most of that on trades (Michael Porter Jr., Tre Mann) rather than free agents, but they could still carve out nearly $25 million of spending power while keeping Thomas' $12.1 million cap hold on their books. The Nets only have $126.3 million in salary at the moment, and they have 16 players under contract, which is one higher than the regular-season roster limit. In other words, more changes are coming this offseason. The Nets figure to spend the rest of their cap space before turning their attention to re-signing Thomas. Once they do, they should still be far enough under the luxury-tax line for that not to be a concern. However, they may want to keep their options open for the time being since they're the only team left with actual cap space. If other teams need to shed salary in a multi-team trade, the Nets would be the obvious dumping ground. Once Kuminga, Grimes and Giddey decide what to do, that'll give the Warriors, Sixers and Bulls the information they need to move forward with the rest of their offseason plans. Until then, all three are in a holding pattern, which could be having a trickle-down effect on the remaining free-agent class at large.
USA Today
2 hours ago
- USA Today
NBA offseason grades: Thunder lock up stars, incomplete mark for Warriors
The NBA's offseason is nearing its quietest time of the year. Summer League in Las Vegas is almost over, and free agency lingers — and it was never a big free-agent summer with most major deals getting done via trades. Restricted free agency has been an issue for Golden State's Jonathan Kuminga and Chicago's Josh Giddey, primarily because teams didn't have the kind of salary cap space normally used to spur restricted free agency, leaving Kuminga and Giddey without much leverage in contract negotiations. As the NBA heads toward vacation and more attention turns toward the WNBA, MLB, NFL, college football, MLS, and the remaining golf and tennis majors, let's take a look at how each NBA team fared in the offseason. Here are USA TODAY Sports' 2025 offseason NBA grades — trades, draft, front-office moves and coaching changes taken into account: 2025 NBA offseason grades for each team Eastern Conference grades Boston Celtics: C+ They absolutely needed to shed salary to prevent apron triggers, so trading Kristaps Porziņģis and Jrue Holiday had to happen. Anfernee Simons is a nice player in return, and No. 28 overall selection Hugo González is an intriguing project at guard, but can Boston say it is better now? That's magnified significantly with Jayson Tatum (Achilles) expected to miss the entire season. Brooklyn Nets: C+ The priority, for Brooklyn, remains in stocking draft capital. In trading Cameron Johnson for Michael Porter Jr., a similar but more expensive player, the Nets got a 2032 first-round pick in return. Brooklyn, however, has been unable to land a star and is in a full rebuild. Making all five of its selections in the 2025 first round was curious. Now they'll need to prove they hit on at least some of those. New York Knicks: B It has been an odd offseason for the Knicks, who made their first conference championship appearance in 25 seasons. Yet, New York fired its coach and seemingly didn't have a plan, reportedly getting rebuffed by five teams with requests to interview their head coaches. Nonetheless, they ended up with a solid and safe fit in Mike Brown as their new coach and adding scorer Jordan Clarkson on the cheap should help the offense. Philadelphia 76ers: B+ While the health of Joel Embiid and Paul George remain massive concerns, the 76ers are playing the smart — if coldly calculated — game with restricted free agent Quentin Grimes. Teams across the league simply don't have the cap space to make splash signings, leaving players like Grimes out of options and with little leverage. Getting him back on an affordable deal would be a big win, and No. 3 overall pick VJ Edgecombe looks like he could blossom into a star. Toronto Raptors: C+ The Raptors were fairly quiet in the offseason, with their big move being the extension to Jakob Poeltl. At three years and $84.5 million, it's perhaps an overpay, but he is a big part of their presence in the paint. Collin Murray-Boyles at No. 9 was a solid pickup, but Toronto lost a lot of institutional knowledge and front-office savvy with the departure of team president Masai Ujiri. Highly regarded general manager Bobby Webster is the top decision-maker now. Chicago Bulls: C+ Give the Bulls credit for being smart and calculated — similar to the way the Sixers are being with Quentin Grimes — with their negotiations with Josh Giddey, a restricted free agent. There simply isn't a market for Giddey, so the Bulls are being firm in not overpaying. Still, Chicago remains in that frustrating realm between relevance and rebuilding. Cleveland Cavaliers: B Losing Sixth Man of the Year finalist Ty Jerome is a big blow, but the Cavs are taking swings with Lonzo Ball and Larry Nance Jr. as players who can step into roles to keep Cleveland in its championship contention window. The most significant decision is the team's boldness in keeping an expensive roster in place even with luxury tax implications. Cleveland also gave contract extensions through 2030 to key members of the front office: president of basketball operations Koby Altman, general manager Mike Gansey, assistant GM Brandon Weems, vice president of basketball operations/general counsel Jason Hillman and vice president of basketball strategy and personnel Jon Nichols. Detroit Pistons: B+ The Pistons essentially swapped Malik Beasley for Duncan Robinson and added Caris LeVert to offset the loss of Dennis Schröder, who stepped up in the postseason for Detroit. The Pistons have a solid, young core, and getting center Paul Reed to re-sign was a solid move. With point guard Jaden Ivey returning, the loss of Schröder stings even less. Indiana Pacers: C Taking a very different approach to the luxury tax, the Pacers' reluctance to dip into it cost them center Myles Turner, who had been the longest-tenured player on the team. Making matters (way) worse: Turner ended up signing with hated rivals, the Milwaukee Bucks. In any case, Indy appears headed on a reset season with Tyrese Haliburton (Achilles) missing all of 2025-26. Milwaukee Bucks: C While waiving and stretching Damian Lillard was a clear acknowledgement that his time in Milwaukee was a failure, the Bucks are seemingly just trying to keep Giannis Antetokounmpo happy enough with the direction of the franchise. The Bucks replaced Brook Lopez with Myles Turner, re-signed a bunch of rotation players and added Gary Harris. None of these moves, however, seem likely to put Milwaukee over the edge — so the Antetokounmpo question remains. Atlanta Hawks: A The Hawks were aggressive from the start, trading for Kristaps Porzingis and landing Nickeil Alexander-Walker in a sign-and-trade with Minnesota. Luke Kennard signed a one-year deal, and while the Hawks lost some key players, they drafted Asa Newell as new front-office leadership led by Onsi Saleh refines the roster. Charlotte Hornets: B The Hornets' rebuild is starting to take shape. At the draft, they acquired Kon Knueppel, Liam McNeely, Sion James and Ryan Kalkbrenner. They re-signed Tre Mann and brought in Pat Connaughton and Collin Sexton via trades and reached free-agent deals with Spencer Dinwiddie and Mason Plumlee. Miami Heat: B- It's the Heat. It's Pat Riley. So they will continue to look at ways to improve the roster. Trading for Norman Powell helps with scoring and re-signing Davion Mitchell helps with defense. Simone Fontechhio will get a chance to show what he can do, and the Heat will work hard to develop 2025 first-round draft pick Kasparas Jakucionis into a contributor. Orlando Magic: A- The Magic got value in the draft with Jase Richardson at No. 25 and Noah Penda at No. 32, and obtained shooting by acquiring Desmond Bane in a trade with Memphis. Tyus Jones provides backcourt depth, Moe Wagner returns on a one-year deal, and the Magic signed Paolo Banchero to a five-year rookie max extension worth at least $237 million. Orlando needs a year of good health to see what this roster can deliver. Washington Wizards: B+ The Wizards made moves that will help the team now and in the future, including salary cap space in free agency in 2026. The Wizards drafted Tre Johnson and Will Riley for backcourt assistance, and added CJ McCollum, Cam Whitmore, Dillon Jones, Blake Wesley and Malaki Branham. They also accumulated future draft picks. Western Conference grades Denver Nuggets: A The Nuggets improved offensively and defensively, and procured depth with the addition of Cam Johnson, Bruce Brown, Tim Hardaway Jr., and Jonas Valanciunas. The Nuggets went seven games with Oklahoma City in the Western Conference semifinals and got better as they try to capitalize on Nikola Jokic's remaining MVP-caliber seasons. Denver made David Adelman its permanent head coach and elevated Ben Tenzer (executive vice president of basketball operations) and Jonathan Wallace (executive vice president of player personnel) to prominent front-office roles. Minnesota Timberwolves: B The Timberwolves were not in position to re-sign Julius Randle, Naz Reid and Nickeil Alexander-Walker — however, as Meat Loaf sang — two out of three ain't bad. Plus, Marc Lore and Alex Rodriguez take over as owners of the Timberwolves, WNBA's Minnesota Lynx and G League's Iowa Wolves. Oklahoma City Thunder: A+ The defending champs aced the offseason. They reached long-term deals with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren and the core of a deep squad. They drafted Thomas Sorber at No. 15 and have a stockpile of talent, veterans, youth and draft picks to remain a contender for the next several seasons. NBA POWER RANKINGS: How every team stacks up after draft and free agency Portland Trail Blazers: C Even cutting ties with Deandre Ayton left the Blazers with four centers including two 7-footers. Still, the Blazers appear to be on an upward trend and acquired Jrue Holiday, who they could trade for a player who better fits their rebuilding timeline. Head coach Chauncey Billups signed a contract extension after a season of progress. Utah Jazz: B The Jazz are pleased with their 2025 draft picks: Ace Bailey at No. 5, Walter Clayton at No. 18 and John Tonje at No. 53. They traded John Collins and Collin Sexton, signaling that they're turning over the keys to the young players while having a few veterans around to provide guidance. Hiring Austin Ainge as president of basketball operations adds another respected and knowledgeable executive to Utah's front office. Golden State Warriors: Incomplete The Warriors have not finished all their assignments. Jonathan Kuminga remains a restricted free agent and until the situation is resolved, it's difficult to assess their offseason. Golden State didn't have a first-round pick in the draft and have not made any moves — plus they lost Kevon Looney in free agency. Los Angeles Lakers: B- Los Angeles' handling of the LeBron James situation — no extension and no indication he's wanted beyond the 2025-26 season, plus James' desire to still compete for a championship — leaves it in a precarious situation as it tries to navigate a future with Luka Doncic. Returning Jaxon Hayes and signing Deandre Ayton gives the Lakers interior help. It's the Lakers with LeBron and Luka, so it will be fascinating to watch. Los Angeles Clippers: A James Harden and Nic Batum re-signed with the Clippers, Brook Lopez joins the team on a two-year deal and John Collins arrives via a trade with Utah. The Clippers with Kawhi Leonard will be competitive and maybe possess the two-way firepower to make a deep run in the West. Sacramento Kings: B- The Suns added Dennis Schröder, Drew Eubanks and Dario Saric during free agency and drafted Nique Clifford No. 24 and Maxime Raynaud No. 42 in the draft. But where does that leave the Kings in the Western Conference in 2025-26 after reaching the play-in game but no playoffs last season? Front-office veteran Scotty Perry is the new GM, and Doug Christie had the interim tag removed from head coach. Phoenix Suns: B- The Suns traded Kevin Durant for Dillon Brooks and Jalen Green and picked up Khaman Maluach (10th pick), Rasheer Fleming (31st pick) and Koby Brea (41st pick) in the draft and added Mark Williams and Nigel Hayes-Davis. Signing Devin Booker to a two-year, $145 million extension shows the Suns want to be competitive. They also made Brian Gregory their general manager and hired Jordan Ott as their head coach. Dallas Mavericks: A It's hard to take issue when the Mavericks lucked into a clear star in No. 1 overall selection Cooper Flagg. Kyrie Irving will miss time, but his three-year extension ensures that Dallas' veterans will be around as Flagg develops. Houston Rockets: A+ The Rockets are going all-in, and they made splashy and underrated moves to get there. Kevin Durant is the obvious one, but re-signing Steven Adams and a reunion with Clint Capela shores up the frontcourt. Adding Dorian Finney-Smith gives Houston a solid 3-and-D player and the Rockets suddenly have tremendous length and athleticism along the wing. Memphis Grizzlies: B They went younger and cheaper in replacing Desmond Bane with No. 11 overall pick Cedric Coward, and got a nice scoring threat in Ty Jerome. The Grizzlies also took care of their own with deals to Jaren Jackson Jr. and Santi Aldama. Now it's all about how new coach Tuomas Iisalo revamps Memphis' offense to feature efficiency to go with its pace. New Orleans Pelicans: C- The Pelicans unquestionably lost the draft day trade with the Hawks, in which New Orleans gave away an unprotected first-round pick next year. Derik Queen might turn out to be a fine player, but that pick could become a lottery selection. The Pelicans appear to lack a clear identity, and Jordan Poole is an inconsistent addition to a team already with other inconsistent players — particularly ones with health issues. Joe Dumars moved from a role with the NBA to New Orleans' executive vice president of basketball operations. San Antonio Spurs: A- They were able to secure the consensus No. 2 player in the draft in Dylan Harper and early indications from summer league are that No. 14 pick Carter Bryant could develop into a defensive stopper for new coach Mitch Johnson, who replaced Hall of Famer Gregg Popovich. All of a sudden, the Spurs have a deep rotation at guard, which should make life far easier for Victor Wembanyama. Perhaps Luke Kornet (four years, $41 million) was a bit of a reach, but he'll provide great frontcourt depth.
