NBA Offseason Grades: Spurs Ace, Heat Get B for Giannis
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- San Antonio Spurs earned an A for locking Victor Wembanyama into a 25% maximum extension rather than a potential 30% supermax, saving more than $50 million over half a decade — a move the author noted carries significant repercussions for NBA financial negotiations
- Utah Jazz received an A for trading Walker Kessler — a 'good but not star-level player' — for two unprotected first-round picks and two swaps, described as 'arguably the best trade of the summer'
- Philadelphia 76ers received an A- for swapping 36-year-old Paul George for 29-year-old All-NBA wing Jaylen Brown, giving them what the author called 'a narrow path to the Finals' alongside Joel Embiid
- Charlotte Hornets received an A- for trading 28-year-old Miles Bridges and 24-year-old LaMelo Ball for one of the league's largest draft pick stashes, reorienting around Brandon Miller and Kon Knueppel
- Miami Heat received only a B despite acquiring Giannis Antetokounmpo, with concerns about his age (31) and injury history leaving them looking 'a year away' from title contention
- Milwaukee Bucks received a B for trading Giannis for a draft pick haul and young players, though the author noted they 'could have set themselves up even better' by trading him a year earlier
- Memphis Grizzlies received a B for trading Ja Morant for Jerami Grant and Kris Murray with no draft picks attached, prioritizing a clean rebuild around Cameron Boozer, Cedric Coward and Zach Edey
Why it matters: The Spurs' Wembanyama extension saves over $50 million and carries significant repercussions for the NBA's labor negotiations, according to the author. The Heat's acquisition of the 31-year-old Giannis creates a narrow championship window — a stark contrast to the Bucks, who received only a modest haul after holding their star one year too long.
