NBA offseason grades for every West team: How did OKC Thunder fare?
NBA offseason grades for every West team: How did OKC Thunder fare?
Justin Martinez, The OklahomanWed, September 16, 2026 at 10:16 AM UTC
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The 2026 NBA offseason is coming to a close, and the Western Conference figures to have plenty of contending teams once again.
The San Antonio Spurs and the OKC Thunder still have elite rosters. But the Minnesota Timberwolves shook things up by trading for LaMelo Ball, and the Los Angeles Lakers also made moves to give Luka Dončić a strong supporting cast.
Here are offseason grades for every Western Conference team:
OKC Thunder schedule: Everything you about 2026-27 NBA schedule
2026 NBA offseason grades for Western Conference teams
Dallas Mavericks: B- -
Added: Santi Aldama, Tarik Biberovic, Sergio De Larrea, Vsevolod Ishchenko, Morez Johnson Jr., Tobi Lawal, Zaccharie Risacher and Marcus Sasser
Lost: Marvin Bagley III, AJ Johnson, Khris Middleton, Ryan Nembhard, Klay Thompson and Brandon Williams
Projected starting lineup: Kyrie Irving, Max Christie, Cooper Flagg, P.J. Washington and Daniel Gafford
Dallas hired Michigan head coach Dusty May as its head coach this summer. The Mavericks then selected his former player, Morez Johnson Jr., with the ninth pick in the 2026 draft.
Johnson is a well-rounded forward who has the ability to instantly contribute to winning. So does recent signee Santi Aldama, and Zaccharie Risacher is a young player worth taking a flyer on. That all adds up to a solid summer by Dallas.
More: Six intriguing lineups new-look OKC Thunder could explore in 2026-27
Denver Nuggets: D+ -
Added: Marvin Bagley III, Trevon Brazile, DeMar DeRozan, Alpha Diallo, Bryce Hopkins and Lonnie Walker IV
Lost: Tim Hardaway Jr., Jonas Valanciunas and Peyton Watson
Projected starting lineup: Jamal Murray, Christian Braun, Cameron Johnson, Aaron Gordon and Nikola Jokic
Denver underperformed last season when it was eliminated in the first round. But instead of trying to make improvements to the roster, its front office opted to save money instead.
The Nuggets lost Tim Hardaway Jr. and Jonas Valanciunas, and they then traded Peyton Watson away in a five-team deal where they only received draft capital. Denver did sign DeMar DeRozan to lead the second unit, although it still feels like it didn't do enough to return to championship contention.
Golden State Warriors: C+ -
Added: Lajae Jones, Yaxel Lendeborg, Georges Niang and Brandon Williams
Lost: Quinten Post and Pat Spencer
Projected starting lineup: Stephen Curry, Brandin Podziemski, Gui Santos, Draymond Green and Kristaps Porzingis
Golden State reportedly entered this offseason with lofty goals. It showed interest in signing LeBron James to pair alongside Stephen Curry, and it even looked into acquiring Anthony Davis from Washington.
But none of that materialized, as the Warriors' biggest signing instead proved to be Brandon Williams. And Curry now enters Year 18 with an underwhelming supporting cast that'll likely be without Jimmy Butler (torn ACL) for a large portion of the season. At least they got a promising prospect in Yaxel Lendeborg at pick No. 11.
Houston Rockets: B -
Added: Bogdan Bogdanović, Marcus Smart and Bruce Thornton
Lost: Dorian Finney-Smith and Josh Okogie
Projected starting lineup: Fred VanVleet, Amen Thompson, Kevin Durant, Jabari Smith Jr. and Alperen Sengun
It would've been nice to have seen Houston add more floor spacing than a 34-year-old Bogdan Bogdanović. But it did bolster its backcourt by signing Marcus Smart, who should bring some toughness to the team.
Houston also inked a five-year, $208 million deal with Amen Thompson. And while that's a lot of money, there's no denying the 23-year-old guard's impact as an elite defender and a talented playmaker. Overall, the Rockets did enough this summer to put themselves in a position to be more competitive after a first-round exit.
Los Angeles Clippers: F
Added: Johni Broome, Gradey Dick, Rui Hachimura, Brandon Ingram, Nick Martinelli, Baba Miller, Max Strus and Keaton Wagler
Lost: Bogdan Bogdanovic, John Collins, Kawhi Leonard and Bennedict Mathurin
Projected starting lineup: Darius Garland, Keaton Wagler, Brandon Ingram, Rui Hachimura and Brook Lopez
The Clippers were forced to forfeit five first-round picks from 2029-33, along with a laundry list of other penalties, this summer for violating the NBA's salary cap circumvention rules. And that's a brutal loss for a rebuilding franchise.
Los Angeles can recoup some assets if the NBA finalizes its deal that sends Kawhi Leonard to Toronto for Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, two first-round picks (2031 and 2033), one first-round pick swap (2027) and two second-round picks (2030 and 2033). But even with that in mind and their other offseason moves, which I do like, the Clippers simply have to get an F after this historic punishment.
More: How can OKC Thunder improve for 2026-27 NBA season? Here's one goal for every player
Los Angeles Lakers: B+ -
Added: Cameron Carr, Quentin Grimes, Jaden Hardy, Walker Kessler, Kevon Looney, Sandro Mamukelashvili, Collin Sexton, Matisse Thybulle and Ziaire Williams
Lost: Deandre Ayton, Rui Hachimura, Jaxson Hayes, LeBron James, Luke Kennard and Marcus Smart
Projected starting lineup: Luka Dončić, Austin Reaves, Quentin Grimes, Sandro Mamukelashvili and Walker Kessler
Los Angeles was one of the busiest teams this summer following LeBron James' decision to walk. It revamped its frontcourt with Walker Kessler as its headliner, and it added guard depth with players such as Collin Sexton and Quentin Grimes.
I do question the Lakers' ability to get stops, although head coach JJ Redick has a knack for getting the most out of his team on that end. If he can do that again this season, Los Angeles should be a tough out come playoff time.
Memphis Grizzlies: B -
Added: Cameron Boozer, Jerami Grant, AJ Johnson, Karim Lopez, Kris Murray, Quinten Post, D'Angelo Russell, Richie Saunders and Isaiah Stewart
Lost: Santi Aldama, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Ja Morant
Projected starting lineup: Scotty Pippen Jr., Cedric Coward, Jaylen Wells, Cameron Boozer and Zach Edey
Memphis traded Ja Morant this summer and selected Cameron Boozer with the No. 3 pick in the draft. That signaled a new era of Grizzlies basketball, which could become Grit and Grind 2.0.
Newly-signed forward Isaiah Stewart fits that mold perfectly as well, and Jerami Grant is a veteran forward who can provide some leadership for the young group. It'll take some time to see returns, but this summer marks the starting point of a promising future for Memphis.
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Minnesota Timberwolves: B+ -
Added: LaMelo Ball, Isaiah Evans, Mouhamadou Gueye, Trey Kaufman-Renn, Jonathan Kuminga, Trey Lyles and Cody Williams
Lost: Kyle Anderson, Mike Conley, Josh Green, John Konchar, Julius Randle and Naz Reid
Projected starting lineup: LaMelo Ball, Anthony Edwards, Jonathan Kuminga, Jaden McDaniels and Rudy Gobert
Minnesota sent Naz Reid, a 2023 first-round pick, three first-round pick swaps (2028-30) and three second-round picks (2029, 2032 and 2033) to Charlotte this summer in exchange for LaMelo Ball and Josh Green.
I like the addition of Ball, who'll take shot creation and playmaking pressure off of Anthony Edwards while also forming a strong pick-and-roll duo with Rudy Gobert. Even though depth is a concern, Jonathan Kuminga is a signing that has upside, and Cody Williams is also worth taking a flyer on.
New Orleans Pelicans: C -
Added: Bennedict Mathurin, Jaron Pierre Jr. and Trendon Watford
Lost: Kevon Looney
Projected starting lineup: Dejounte Murray, Trey Murphy III, Herbert Jones, Zion Williamson and Yves Missi
After mostly opting to stay put this summer, New Orleans finally became active when it signed Bennedict Mathurin to a two-year, $16 million deal. It's a decent addition, but it's now how I preferred this summer to play out for the Pelicans.
New Orleans isn't going to be very competitive in a stacked Western Conference, so it might as well have been a seller with valuable assets such as Trey Murphy III and Herbert Jones. Maybe it could've even traded into the talented 2026 draft, where its own pick belonged to Atlanta. But the Pelicans didn't do any of that, and they'll likely finish near the bottom of the standings once again this season.
Oklahoma City Thunder: B
Added: Josh Dix, Aday Mara, Otega Oweh and Bennett Stirtz
Lost: Branden Carlson, Lu Dort, Isaiah Joe and Aaron Wiggins
Projected starting lineup: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Cason Wallace, Jalen Williams, Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein
OKC got good value with its draft selections, and re-singing Isaiah Hartenstein was a must. It also did well to save $165 million while still netting four second-round picks by trading away Isaiah Joe and Aaron Wiggins, two guys who weren't high in the playoff rotation.
But OKC's grade has to take a hit for trading Lu Dort, a full-time starter and a key contributor to the culture, in another cost-cutting move. And while that's a critique on ownership, not general manager Sam Presti, it's a critique on the Thunder's offseason nonetheless. Fortunately, the team is still poised to compete for a championship if it can stay healthy.
OKC Thunder offseason grades: How have Sam Presti & Co. fared in NBA Draft, trades?
Phoenix Suns: B -
Added: Miles Bridges, Luke Kennard and Koa Peat
Lost: Grayson Allen and Royce O'Neale
Projected starting lineup: Devin Booker, Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, Miles Bridges and Mark Williams
Phoenix added two athletic forwards in Miles Bridges and Koa Peat, who was selected with the 30th pick in the 2026 draft. And it added Luke Kennard, one of the best 3-point shooters in the entire league.
Of course, these moves won't make the Suns contenders. But they should still make the team better, despite losing Grayson Allen and Royce O'Neale, after reaching the playoffs last season.
Portland Trail Blazers: B -
Added: Branden Carlson, Ja Morant, Micah Potter and Jeremy Sochan
Lost: Jerami Grant, Kris Murray and Matisse Thybulle
Projected starting lineup: Ja Morant, Damian Lillard, Toumani Camara, Deni Avdija and Donovan Clingan
Ja Morant was expected to get traded at some point, but Portland wasn't on anyone's list of potential landing spots. It's an interesting fit, considering the Trail Blazers also have a now-healthy Damian Lillard, Jrue Holiday and Scoot Henderson in the mix.
The Trail Blazers are clearly stockpiling talent and seeing how it shakes out, which isn't a bad strategy. It's only right to give their offseason a B with room to go up or down.
Sacramento Kings: C+ -
Added: Darius Acuff Jr., Alex Karaban, Emanuel Sharp and Ben Simmons
Lost: Devin Carter, DeMar DeRozan and Russell Westbrook
Projected starting lineup: Darius Acuff, Zach LaVine, Nique Clifford, De'Andre Hunter and Domantas Sabonis
The Kings selected Darius Acuff Jr. with the No. 7 pick in the 2026 draft, and the hope is that he'll become the face of the franchise at some point.
But for now, there isn't much else to get excited about in Sacramento. Not unless you're a big believer in the Ben Simmons comeback. That makes this a pretty underwhelming offseason for the Kings.
San Antonio Spurs: B -
Added: Maliq Brown, Tobias Harris, Ja'Kobi Gillespie, Jayden Quaintance and Tarris Reed Jr.
Lost: Lindy Waters III
Projected starting lineup: De'Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle, Devin Vassell, Tobias Harris and Victor Wembanyama
It's unclear how San Antonio's roster will shake out, with guys such as Kelly Olynyk and Bismack Biyombo still on the chopping block. But neither of them were significant contributors to the Spurs' NBA Finals run last season.
San Antonio is mostly bringing everyone back, and it even added Tobias Harris. The veteran forward brings more size to the four and is a proven bucket getter, making him yet another weapon for this championship-contending team.
Utah Jazz: B+
Added: Josh Green, Jaxson Hayes, Josh Okogie and Darryn Peterson
Lost: Walker Kessler, John Konchar and Cody Williams
Projected starting lineup: Keyonte George, Darryn Peterson, Lauri Markkanen, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Jusuf Nurkic
Utah gets a B+ for this offseason, mostly because it selected Darryn Peterson with the No. 2 pick in the 2026 draft. The former Kansas guard is a gifted scorer who has "star" written all over him.
Trading Walker Kessler to the Lakers for two unprotected first-round picks (2031 and 2033) and two first-round swaps (2028 and 2030) might've been hard for some Jazz fans. But Jusuf Nurkić can hold it down at center for a team that should be far more competitive this season.
Exclusive: Thunder GM Sam Presti talks about Lu Dort trade, OKC offseason moves
Justin Martinez covers the Thunder and NBA for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Justin? He can be reached at jmartinez@oklahoman.com or on X/Twitter at @Justintohoops. Sign up for the Thunder Sports Minute newsletter to access more NBA coverage. Support Justin's work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: NBA offseason grades for every West team: How did OKC Thunder fare?
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