While there are still some noteworthy free agents who have yet to find new teams, we’re currently in a relatively slow period for NBA transactions, as most teams have a pretty good idea of what their rosters will look like ahead of the 2024/25 season.
With that in mind, Tim Bontemps of ESPN (subscription required) recently spoke to 18 NBA coaches, scouts and executives to solicit their (anonymous) opinions on the biggest moves made so far in the 2024 offseason.
Here are some highlights from Bontemps’ survey, which is worth reading in full for those who subscribe to ESPN+:
Which team had the best offseason?
Sixers (8 votes), Knicks (5), Thunder (3), Celtics.
“They took themselves to the next level,” an East executive said of the 76ers. “We’ll see if it’s good enough, but you went from Point A to Point B.”
Which team had the worst offseason?
Nuggets (6 votes), Bulls (5), Clippers (4), Lakers (1), Knicks (1), Pistons (1).
As Bontemps writes, Denver (Kentavious Caldwell-Pope), Chicago (Alex Caruso, DeMar DeRozan) and the Clippers (Paul George) received the majority of the votes for losing key players in free agency and/or trades.
Interestingly, while Philadelphia signing George to a four-year, maximum-salary contract received the most votes (six) for the best offseason move, it also tied for the most votes (three) for worst move. A total of 10 different answers were given for worst move, including the Bulls and Kings receiving three votes apiece for their parts in the DeRozan sign-and-trade.
As for the most surprising move, the Knicks’ blockbuster trade with the Nets for Mikal Bridges received the most votes (five) in Bontemps’ survey, followed by George leaving Los Angeles (three) and the swap of Caruso for Josh Giddey (two). Eight other moves each received one vote.
Bontemps also asked questions about the top offseason trend, the effectiveness of the new CBA, and whether there will be an increase in tanking ahead of the 2025 draft.
Hyping up the sixers a little too much(and I’m a sixers fan).
Last off season the Suns were considered favorites and they pretty much flopped.
Sixer fans should be concerned that Embiid doesn’t look 100% healthy and not moving well so far. Suns picking up Jones was a good move for them. Clippers made some good moves too. There are a couple teams not listed that got much worse.
How could you possibly justify rating the Kings getting DeRozan as the worst move of the off-season?
As a Sixers fan I agree
It’s a team sport. Not about the individual talent. It’s about how it works with your top 8-10 players. Hype is for writers. Sixers are better. So are Knicks. The games will bring out the best teams. The East is tough this yr.
Celtics are the team to beat.
Sixers have no height on this team. None.
The Sixers have a 7-footer and a 6-11. The idea of finding an affordable guy, that you would want to put out there for a substantial amount of time, seems next to impossible.
Knicks are the deepest team now. When they settle on their Center position. They will be even deeper. I like our chances.
Not only should we be the best defensive team next yr. Knicks got plenty offense.
While I agree with the notion the Kings needed to do more than what they have done, Getting DeRozen is by far no reason to state it was a Bad move, compared to what they had last season. We need another Wing and I believe we can go alot farther in the Play Offs, maybe not a Championship Team yet, but getting closer.
They are still linked to a Kuzma or Johnson Trade.
Harrison Barnes and a pick swap 7 years down the road for DeRozan is a pretty damn good trade, imo. Upgraded the offensive talent immensely, and defensively didn’t get worse.