Winners and losers after two weeks of Texans training camp
After a four-day trip to The Greenbrier in West Virginia, the first test appears on Houston's schedule. It's a preseason game, so don't expect much from starters, but every win or loss could carry weight and a public perception going into Week 1's showdown against Matthew Stafford and the Los Angeles Rams.
Several players are peaking at the right time, like Will Anderson Jr. He's not in jeopardy of losing starting reps, but a strong season could warrant a contract that makes him one of the highest-paid defensive ends in league history.
Others have regressed. And yes, those players are fighting for roster spots going into a week of practice at the Greenbrier. As Houston preps for another week of drills, here's Texans Wire's biggest winners and losers of training camp back at home base.
Winner: TE Cade Stover
Texans general manager Nick Caserio mentioned that Stover was the most improved player of the entire offseason, regardless of position group or side of the ball. So far through 10 days of camp, it's hard to argue. Last season, Stover was still getting comfortable learning how to play the position after starting off his career as a linebacker at Ohio State.
Now, the former fourth-round pick is looking more like that security blanket that C.J. Stroud trusted in Columbus amid a College Football Playoff run in 2023. Stover has constantly found himself working with the first-team offense. He looks more comfortable winning his route battles against opposing defenders and has leaned down to become more agile in blocking sets.
Dalton Schultz is going to be the main starter this season, but plan for Stover to have a significant role in Nick Caley's offense this season.
Loser: OT Blake Fisher
It's still early to call it quits on Fisher, but the second-round pick isn't helping his case by avoiding the "b" word after a struggling offseason. When camp broke in mid-July, the former starting right tackle was taking reps solely with the first-team offense. He's been running with 2s since pads came on Monday morning and hasn't even cracked the rotation.
Fisher has experience over rookie Tay Ersery, having started in the team's final six games. They weren't pretty, but reps matter. Sadly, so do penalties, which Fisher has been flagged for multiple times in team drills. What's worse is the sack total. Even names like Darrell Taylor and Solomon Byrd are winning their battles and getting pressure on Stroud during team drills.
Fisher has an uphill battle to reclaim that top spot over Ersery, whom the Texans drafted to be Laremy Tunsil's replacement on the left side. It could be a long season for the once-thought long-term right tackle in H-Town if he continues to struggle.
Winner: DB Calen Bullock
Pick a practice. Literally, any day since camp broke last week. You got it? Bullock has been the most impressive player that morning.
Yes, every morning, Bullock is the one standing out the most. He's already recorded four interceptions against Stroud in drills and has been more physical when asked to play against tight ends in man coverage. On Wednesday, the second-year defensive back went stride-for-stride with Pro Bowl wide receiver Nico Collins to break up a deep post pattern.
Last season, Bullock totaled five interceptions and helped Houston stabilize the back end of its secondary after Jalen Pitre moved into the nickel role. He's a true ball-hawk that's only getting back as a tackler and run-stopper.
Loser: LB Christian Harris
Harris hasn't been on the field, which is why he should be considered a "loser" through two weeks of camp. The Texans elected not to put the fourth-year linebacker on the PUP list for the start of camp after he was limited in OTAs. Theoretically, Harris could show up at practice tomorrow and make this a moot point.
But through two weeks, no one has seen Harris on the field. He's done some work off to the sides, but outside of a couple of glimpes, the linebacker who took over the Texans' defense in 2023 has been absent. That's a massive deal for his future since Henry To'oTo'o and E.J. Speed both have looked promising as the weakside linebacker in drills throughout camp.
No, Harris likely won't be cut since his potential trumps both To'oTo'o and Azeez Al-Shaair, but as he enters the final year of his rookie deal, he needs a solid season to earn a contract extension.
Winner: DE Darrell Taylor
Danielle Hunter and Anderson aren't in jeopardy of losing reps, but teams are always looking for a secondary pass-rusher who can fill in on certain downs. While Derek Barnett has been a fine addition, Taylor looks moe agile and has been blowing past both Tay Ersery and Cam Robinson when rotating in with the first-team defense.
A former part-time starter in Seattle, Taylor averaged six sacks a season with the Seahawks. Last year with Chicago, he only managed to total three, but his pressure rate ranked among the top 10 of non-starting edge rushers. It's been on display throughout drills during team with the second-team unit.
Right now, expect Taylor to be the first man up should Anderson or Hunter need a minute to catch their breath.
Loser: RB Nick Chubb
Let's get this out of the way; no, Chubb isn't a terrible running back who looks overworked after coming off back-to-back season-ending injuries. But the Texans didn't sign Chubb to be the lead back like they did with Joe Mixon. He was supposed to be a solid No. 2 option that could start in a pinch.
Right now, starting Chubb might be the biggest red flag for Houston long-term. So far in camp, that burst needed to get through to the second and third level of the defense is nowhere to be found. Now could some of the blame fall on the offensive line? Perhaps, but you can't put all the blame on the unit in a live game if that's all you got.
Houston needs Mixon to stay healthy. That was evident last season when he missed three games with an ankle injury. The run game was obsolete at best. Right now, it looks to be the same; should Chubb, or really anyone for that matter, be the lead back?
Winner: CB Kamari Lassiter
It's hard to stand out when you're competing for reps opposite an All-Pro cornerback daily, but those at practice have noticed growth in Lassiter in drills. He's won nearly every route in man coverage during team drills when not asked to target Collins. He's also forced a handful of incompletions and has yet to give up a touchdown in coverage since the red zone drills on Tuesday against the Pro Bowler from Michigan.
By the season's end, Lassiter could be considered the league's best No. 2 corner and a rising star among all defenders in the league with his consistency in mirroring receivers and as a tackler in space.
Winner: DB Jaylin Smith
There's a good chance we won't see much of Smith on defense, but that doesn't mean he hasn't been standing out in drills. The third-round pick from USC has worked drills at both safety and outside corner, but a majority of his snaps have come in the nickel position. On Saturday, he broke up a pass intended for Jayden Higgins. He also won his one-on-one battle against Collins during seven-on-seven drills.
Right now, there's no home for Smith. Maybe that's promising since the Texans could have him line up anywhere in a pinch. Expect to see him play a significant amount of snaps on Saturday against the Vikings, often moving from the nickel to the boundary and maybe even some reps in the C.J. Gardner-Johnson role.
Loser: DL Denico Autry
Much like with Harris, Autry's loss is more so because of his availability and growth from other talents. He's a rotational defensive end who probably will only see action on pass-rushing downs when they shift him inside. The problem is that Derek Barnett can do the same thing. So can Taylor, who continues to shine at practice.
No one is picking up Autry's contract after a suspension that cost him six games and a disappointing first year with the roster. In the end, Houston might just cut its losses with Autry, eat the dead money and use what's left over as a starting point for extensions in the offseason.
Winner: WR Jaylin Noel
While he's going to start the season as the No. 2 slot option, Texans fans should feel confident in Noel taking over as the long-term starter in 2026. While working mostly with the second-team offense, he's been far and away the best option on the 2s and perhaps the most impressive rookie.
Noel isn't going to beat Kirk Week 1 for reps, but the offense allows all three of its receivers to rotate in and out of spots on the field. That means if Kirk ends up being a solid fit on the outside of the rookie Higgins, Noel should shift inside with more first-team reps as the starting slot option.
Loser: OL Juice Scruggs
Fisher might not be in jeopardy of losing a roster spot, but Scruggs probably isn't so lucky. In two years, the former second-round pick has gone from starting at guard to starting at center to moving back to guard to now working with the third-team unit behind names like Jaylon Thomas.
Right now, he's still on the roster, but if things continue to sour in drills, Scruggs could be the odd man out on the line with insufficient play. At best right now, Scruggs is depth. Nothing more. Nothing less.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Los Angeles Times
10 minutes ago
- Los Angeles Times
Times of Troy: What's the best-case scenario for USC football this season?
Welcome back to the Times of Troy newsletter, where the college football offseason is now fully in the rearview mirror. USC opened its preseason camp last week, and already, my arms are a deep shade of red from failure to wear sunscreen at practice. We're back, baby. This is the time of year when anything is possible. (Except for me getting an even tan.) Now is the time to convince yourself of your team's unproven quarterback. Or buy into the hype about the rebuilt defensive line. Maybe you even start to come around on that coach you said you'd never trust again. There's plenty of time for us to get cynical in the next several weeks. But for this week, let's consider what a best-case scenario might look like for USC's season. Let's start here: I don't think it's crazy to convince yourself of a world where Lincoln Riley could lead USC to the College Football Playoff. I'm not suggesting that's the likely outcome. (In my actual opinion, it's not.) But since we're wearing our cardinal-and-gold-colored glasses this morning, let's consider what that path might look like. It's safe to assume that a berth in the playoff would require winning 10 games. Just one team got in with three losses last year — Clemson — and that's only because they had an automatic bid. USC's two toughest games of the season, by far, are its road tilts against Notre Dame and Oregon. I have a hard time envisioning a scenario in which the Trojans escape with two wins against surefire top-10 teams on the road. Losses in both would, in turn, require USC to run the table in their other 10. That's not easy, no matter who you are. So in any scenario that ends with USC slipping into the playoff probably starts with stealing a win in one of Eugene or South Bend. There are plenty of other points in the road where the Trojans could still stumble. If USC can afford to lose just one other game to maintain its playoff candidacy, as last year's field suggests, that means it must win at least three of these four games: Michigan and Iowa, at home, and Illinois and Nebraska, on the road. All four feel like coin flips, as of early August. Not only that, but USC also can't afford to blow any of its games against inferior conference opponents such as Purdue, Michigan State and Northwestern. That shouldn't be a problem. But, well … you never know. Even in a best-case scenario, it's reasonable to expect at least one loss in that crop of seven games. But if somehow USC emerged from its second Big Ten season with a 10-2 record, USC would probably punch its first ticket to the College Football Playoff. It's just that simple. Right? Well … not exactly. But we're staying optimistic here! Which, in this 10-win scenario, means first and foremost that USC's defense — and its defensive line in particular — will have taken a major step forward in Year 2 under D'Anton Lynn. Defensive end Kameryn Fountain and defensive tackle Devan Thompkins will have lived up to their preseason hype with All-Big Ten seasons, while Eric Gentry will lead the Big Ten in sacks before skyrocketing into the first round of the upcoming NFL draft. It's not that difficult to imagine, really. But that sort of leap on defense probably also means more suitors for Lynn in the offseason — either in the NFL or as a college head coach — which is a problem for another day. The best-case scenario for USC's offense, meanwhile, starts with a breakout season for quarterback Jayden Maiava, who, in this hypothetical, proves to be a much better fit for Riley's offense than Miller Moss was a year ago. USC throws deep more often than ever before under Riley, establishing itself again as one of the most explosive offenses in college football. Maiava manages to limit the back-breaking mistakes that plagued him late last season and even leads a few game-winning drives in the fourth quarter. A steady rushing attack, in this scenario, is key to keeping the pressure off of Maiava, as Riley, following an offseason of soul-searching, finally realizes the true meaning of leaning on the run. Waymond Jordan, in turn, puts together a breakout season in USC's backfield and becomes a household name in the Big Ten, while the offensive line manages to avoid any major injuries. None of those things feel impossible, on their own. Actually reaching that best-case scenario, however, requires a significant number of those variables tilting the Trojans' way. Could it happen? Of course. But with so much uncertainty, this USC season could just as easily veer in the other direction, too. Next week, we'll talk about what that could look like — and how low the Trojans could potentially go, if everything happens to go awry. The Heisman-winning quarterback and FOX analyst joined me to give his thoughts on USC, on behalf of Abbott's 'We Give Blood' drive, which encourages Big Ten fans to donate. The following conversation has been edited for length and clarity. Question: What excites you about this USC roster? Where do you have questions? Leinart: What excites me is — there's always expectation at USC — but we're flying under the radar. I don't even think we're in the top 25 preseason, which is fine. We made strides on defense last year with Coach Lynn. I thought he was fantastic. We've gotten a lot of big dudes in the portal, which we need. We needed the size up front. I'm excited to see what Jayden does with a full year and a full offseason ahead of Year 2 in Lincoln's system. The schedule is kind of favorable, like you have some games you can win there and really make a run. To me, this year is about finishing for them. Last year they were very close in a lot of games, but close doesn't win you football games. You've gotta learn how to finish, and if you can learn how to finish, that's just a mindset. Just going out there knowing that when you go into the fourth quarter, that's where you're going to win the game. If they can develop that and that becomes ingrained in who you are as a team and as a player, they're going to be pretty good. I think they're underrated, and I think they have a chance to make a run. I really do. Now they just have to go out and prove that. Question: What do you need to see out of Lincoln Riley in Year 4? Leinart: Look, and I'm close with Lincoln. He knows what he needs to do. He knows what the team needs to do. He understands the frustrations that even someone like myself has as an alumni and a proud Trojan and someone who covers college football. But at the end of the day, he can't worry about all that. I think with Lincoln, there's always been a question: Are his teams tough enough? Are his teams physical enough? And I think that's something they've really come out and attacked on both sides of the ball and with some of the coaching hires that he's made. You don't get a lot of time these days to build something. Look at Jim Harbaugh. It took him until Year 7 to win a national championship. There were a couple years where, gosh, we would talk on Big Noon like, 'Should Jim Harbaugh be fired?' And look what happened. Patience is hard to come by. That's what I tell my kids all the time. But this is kind of the year, where he's got to flip that script and that narrative. Question: Who's someone flying under the radar on this team that you expect to take a big step forward this season? Leinart: Gosh. The receivers? Makai Lemon is one of my favorite players. I know he's not technically under-the-radar. But like this is a breakout year for him, I think. Jayden is under the radar. I think he's going to be fantastic. Year 2, and he showed a lot last year. And this might be a different Lincoln Riley offense, where they run the ball more and they're more physical as he gets better. On defense, I love Anthony Lucas. I hope he steps up. And Jahkeem Stewart, the big-time freshman, I've heard like, 'He's so young, but he's going to be a monster.' Then there's the couple guys we got from the SEC in the portal on the D-line. I'm excited. —Lincoln Riley called on the NCAA to 'do the right thing' with DJ Wingfield. But his case is with the courts now. Riley had refrained from saying much about the circumstances surrounding Wingfield, who's now suing the NCAA in hopes of an injunction that would allow him to play this season. But asked about it on Friday, Riley made his frustration with the NCAA quite clear. 'It isn't right,' he said. 'I haven't seen anything like it in all my years of coaching.' He was frank about the fact that Wingfield is 'not doing very good.' He's not the only one across the country caught in a similar limbo as the NCAA tries to put its foot down on enforcing its Five-Year Rule for eligibility. To me, it feels pretty callous of the NCAA to loosen the reins after the Diego Pavia case, only to tighten them once again after the House settlement. I understand Riley's angst with the NCAA. But the reality is the case is now with the courts. A hearing is set for Friday, and no one I've spoken with seems to have a good feel for what the judge might rule. If the judge grants Wingfield a temporary restraining order, he'd be ready to start practicing by the time our next newsletter drops. —Notre Dame is willing to play the USC game early in the season. So now what? In a sitdown with reporters, Notre Dame athletic director Pete Bevacqua opened the door for at least one concession to USC in negotiations over the rivalry series. USC, at the moment, is still holding strong with the rest of the Big Ten on pushing for four automatic qualifiers to the College Football Playoff. But if that plan goes nowhere, which at this point seems likely, then I don't see why USC and Notre Dame wouldn't be able to iron something out to keep the series alive. —Offensive line reinforcements are on the way in USC's 2026 class. The rich got richer on the recruiting trail last week as USC nabbed the commitment of Breck Kolojay, a fast-rising interior line prospect from IMG Academy. That gives the Trojans seven (!!) commits on the offensive line, which would be the largest line class in recent memory at USC. That group is headlined by the nation's top offensive tackle prospect, Keenyi Pepe, who just happens to be Kolojay's teammate at IMG. USC already added four freshman linemen to the mix in 2025, giving the program a pretty solid foundation up front for the foreseeable future. Tobias Raymond is now a key cog — and de facto grillmaster — on uncertain USC offensive line USC trusts new strength coach Trumain Carroll to help Trojans open and finish strong Offensive lineman DJ Wingfield files lawsuit against NCAA in bid to play for USC I'm a little late to the party, but 'The Diplomat' on Netflix has been a pleasant surprise during a slow TV summer. The main draw for me was Keri Russell, who is at her best when playing a character as prickly as possible — i.e. her phenomenal work on 'The Americans.' This role, as U.S. Ambassador Kate Wyler, definitely fits that bill. The back-and-forth between her and her husband, played by Rufus Sewell, is worth the price of admission alone. But it's the unexpected twists and turns of the story that will keep you hooked. After burning through one season in a few days, my wife and I have already dug into Season 2. That concludes today's newsletter. If you have any feedback, ideas for improvement or things you'd like to see, email me at and follow me on Twitter at @Ryan_Kartje. To get this newsletter in your inbox, click here.
USA Today
40 minutes ago
- USA Today
What is LSU football's record vs. the spread under head coach Brian Kelly?
Brian Kelly is entering year four as LSU football's head coach. In three years, Kelly has elevated LSU from where the program was in Ed Orgeron's final years, but Kelly is yet to lead LSU to a College Football Playoff appearance. LSU won the SEC West in Kelly's first year, but lost to Georgia in the SEC title. Overall, LSU is 29-11 under Kelly. That's a solid record, but let's take a look at how Kelly and LSU have fared vs. the betting spread in recent years. Under Kelly, LSU is 21-19 against the spread for a cover rate of 52.5%. On average, Kelly's LSU teams outperform the spread by 1.8 points. That's a good reflection of LSU's identity over the last three seasons. The floor is high, but LSU is yet to overperform expectations under Kelly. LSU's 2024 win total was 8.5 and LSU finished the regular season with eight wins, earning its ninth win in the bowl game vs. Baylor. LSU thinks it has the talent to take the next step in 2025. The Tigers return quarterback Garrett Nussmeier and sign the sport's top-ranked transfer portal class.
New York Times
2 hours ago
- New York Times
2025 NBA offseason grades: Rating each team's summer moves
While there are still a handful of moves remaining between restricted free-agent extensions and filling out final roster spots, the NBA picture for the 2025-26 season is now largely in focus. The Houston Rockets, LA Clippers, Dallas Mavericks and Denver Nuggets retooled with superstar trades and draft-day no-brainers, while the Orlando Magic, Atlanta Hawks and Milwaukee Bucks took huge swings to compete in what is suddenly a wide-open Eastern Conference. Advertisement Meanwhile, some teams shed contracts (and talent) to get under the collective bargaining agreement's punitive second-apron payroll threshold, and the Chicago Bulls and New Orleans Pelicans left fans scratching their heads. Here's how our experts grade the offseason acquisitions for all 30 NBA teams. Grade: C The Nets had, perhaps, the NBA's biggest blank canvas for their offseason, but they haven't done much with it yet. Brooklyn did a decent job tearing down what was looking like a Play-In Tournament team at the beginning of last season, and their patience offloading Cam Johnson paid off. They got the Nuggets' unprotected 2032 first-round pick, which is far more valuable than a couple of late firsts in the coming drafts from a contender like the Cleveland Cavaliers. Michael Porter Jr. will be a solid placeholder as the team continues to rebuild, and they fared well taking on Terance Mann's salary as a facilitator in the Kristaps Porziņģis deal to add another first in June's draft. But to use all five of their first-round picks this summer to take players who were mostly reaches and have a lot of skill overlap was disappointing. They still have unfinished business with restricted free agent Cam Thomas, and it looks like declining to extend him last season is paying dividends, as his market appears to be much less fruitful than he hoped. — Jared Weiss Grade: C- The Celtics have been able to shed significant salary. They have wisely pushed themselves under the collective bargaining agreement's second apron in a season they will at least begin without Jayson Tatum. It has still been an uninspiring start to the summer. They have already lost Kristaps Porziņģis, Jrue Holiday and Luke Kornet, and they expect to lose Al Horford. Their frontcourt, starring Neemias Queta and Luka Garza, could be one of the NBA's worst. And they are still about $18 million over the luxury-tax threshold, which they would need to get under to begin the process of resetting the repeater tax. The realities of Tatum's injury and the CBA combine to put general manager Brad Stevens in a predicament; he did solid work to solve his team's salary-cap dilemma without burning draft capital, but he must next figure out how to fill the new holes in his roster. Next season appears to be a gap year of sorts. — Jay King Advertisement Grade: B+ Given that the Knicks were one of the most financially tight teams in the NBA this offseason, adding two legitimate role players in Jordan Clarkson and Guerschon Yabusele is nothing to sneeze at. New York needed depth this summer, and it got it in the form of a bench scorer and a utility forward. Neither signing was splashy, but, on paper, it should bolster a team that made the Eastern Conference finals and struggled to get consistency from its bench. The Knicks were also able to secure a long-term extension with Mikal Bridges, which was for four years and $150 million, $6 million less than his maximum salary. Bridges is a good player on both ends, and the Knicks now have their core set up for the next several years. Furthermore, Bridges signing for less than the max extension may help New York stay under the second apron going forward. Solid business all around. — James L. Edwards III Grade: B None of this matters unless Joel Embiid and Paul George have a run of good health. That being said, I loved Daryl Morey's draft: VJ Edgecombe has a real chance to become a star-level player and second-round pick Johni Broome should develop into a rotation player. Getting Jabari Walker on a two-way contract is a steal. Trendon Watford will be a good and versatile addition to the group. While you can argue the Sixers need a starting power forward, Philadelphia is a deeper and more athletic team than it was a season ago. But Embiid and George have to be healthy, and there is no way to predict how that will play out. — Tony Jones Grade: B- By signing Brandon Ingram to a three-year, $120 million extension in February, the Raptors essentially sat out free agency. They drafted Collin Murray-Boyles — who doesn't address a need but fits in with the defend-and-hustle ethos of their younger players — with the ninth pick. The Jakob Poeltl extension was perhaps a little rich, but he's a good player whom the Raptors need. They took a reasonable flier on Sandro Mamukelashvili to back up Poeltl. However, nothing they did in the offseason will be as important as what they did with Ingram in February or the deals they gave Scottie Barnes and Immanuel Quickley last summer. — Eric Koreen Grade: D+ Chicago still hasn't committed to a rebuild: Call when hell gets chilly. Fans have begged for a sign of progress, or at least something that signals change. The Bulls responded this summer by extending coach Billy Donovan and dealing away Lonzo Ball without receiving any draft capital. Perhaps Noa Essengue could bloom into a starter. Perhaps Isaac Okoro becomes rejuvenated in Chicago. But those things hinge on the promise of internal development. — Joel Lorenzi Grade: B An 'A' would have followed some surprise trade that made this team markedly better than the one that finished first in the East, but salary realities (read 'second apron') made that unlikely. I like the Lonzo Ball acquisition and am glad Isaac Okoro gets a chance in Chicago. I don't mind not paying Ty Jerome way above market value, given his struggles in the playoffs, and Tyrese Proctor out of Duke made sense to me with the 49th pick. Otherwise, the Cavs simply weren't in a position to make that splashy trade. They committed to this roster two years ago, and they need to ride out their commitment for at least this season. — Joe Vardon Advertisement Grade: B- Patience has been a keyword for Pistons president of basketball operations Trajan Langdon since Detroit's season ended. His offseason moves have reflected his stance. Chaz Lanier played solidly during summer league and could eventually find minutes off the bench with his 3-point shot making. Jaden Ivey should slot back in as the starting shooting guard, replacing Tim Hardaway Jr. Duncan Robinson will look to make up for the void Malik Beasley's historic 3-point shooting left. Caris LeVert likely assumes Dennis Schröder's primary ballhandling responsibilities on the second unit. The Pistons also re-signed veteran Paul Reed to round out their big-man rotation alongside Jalen Duren and Isaiah Stewart. With no clear-cut favorite in the East, Detroit is betting on the growth of its young core. Considering the news of Beasley's federal investigation breaking days before offseason free agency began, the pivot by the Pistons' front office was respectable. — Hunter Patterson Grade: C- It remains to be seen what the Pacers are going to do at center. With big man Myles Turner off to Milwaukee, Jay Huff, Tony Bradley, Isaiah Jackson and James Wiseman are all likely to get playing time. The uncertainty at center certainly impacts Indiana's outlook. And with star Tyrese Haliburton out for the season, the Pacers have a lot to figure out if they're looking to contend in the East. — Shakeia Taylor Grade: B The Bucks were dealt a bad hand when Damian Lillard tore his left Achilles in the playoffs. That left their offseason options severely limited. Bucks general manager Jon Horst opted for the largest waive-and-stretch in NBA history, tying up $22.5 million for each of the next five seasons. That is going to be a serious team-building handicap moving forward, but it would be tough to deny the roster is in a better place now than it was after the Bucks were eliminated from the postseason. Myles Turner affects games in the same way as former center Brook Lopez, plus he's eight years younger and started all 23 playoff games on the Pacers' run to the finals. The Bucks brought back the rest of the roster that put together a 10-4 record to end the season when Lillard was sidelined with deep vein thrombosis, and they added Cole Anthony. — Eric Nehm Grade: A Getting an unprotected lottery pick from New Orleans to move down 10 spots in a blah draft made this offseason a massive success on its own. The Hawks also walked away with Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Luke Kennard and Kristaps Porziņģis at a cost of … Terance Mann, Georges Niang, Clint Capela and the 22nd pick in the draft? We'll call that a win. Work remains, though: The Hawks' depth still looks shaky. They need one more big body, and extension questions loom for Porziņģis and Trae Young entering their walk years. — John Hollinger Grade B: The Hornets had a solid offseason to continue their rebuilding project. They took Kon Knueppel with the No. 4 pick, avoiding the Ace Bailey mishigas, and already have a trophy as a result. The return they got for Mark Williams, who played 106 games in his first three seasons but was not a part of the franchise's long-term plan, was good. Liam McNeeley is the kind of strong-pedigreed prospect worth taking a shot on in the draft, and they get a future first, as well. That return doesn't compare to what they were set to get from the Los Angeles Lakers in their rescinded February trade, but c'est la vie. Getting a second-round pick with Collin Sexton to trade out Jusuf Nurkić continues to boggle the mind. Adding ballhandling and playmaking with Sexton and Spencer Dinwiddie (and re-signing Tre Mann) should help the league's second-worst offense. But the long-term success of the Hornets will center on their young players and amassing as many talented ones as they can, and Charlotte was successful in adding to that war chest in present and future investments. — Mike Vorkunov Grade: B- The Heat have done a decent job of building this roster while maximizing the limited assets they brought into the offseason. Turning Kevin Love and Kyle Anderson into Norman Powell was a major win, even if Powell is 32 and looking for a new contract. Drafting Kasparas Jakučionis at No. 20 was a win for Miami, considering many draft analysts regarded him as a top-10 pick for most of the summer. Bringing back Davion Mitchell on a reasonable deal was also smart. As of now, this team probably isn't a contender, but it can also shake things up by getting involved in the Jonathan Kuminga sweepstakes or going all in on a potential LeBron James reunion — though recent reports have suggested both moves seem unlikely. The biggest remaining question involves what they are going to do about Terry Rozier and the one year, $26.6 million remaining on his deal. Once that's resolved, this team should have enough to compete for a top-six spot in the depleted East. — William Guillory Grade: A- If there was any question before about how relevant the Magic were, that's settled now, thanks to the team's trade for Desmond Bane and, to a lesser extent, the signing of Tyus Jones and additions of assistant coaches Joe Prunty and God Shammgod. The Magic also reached a maximum-salary contract extension with their top player, Paolo Banchero. Orlando may be in the East title-contention mix and should field its best team since Dwight Howard's heyday. Sounds great, right? Why an A-minus instead of an A? The price to trade for Bane included four unprotected first-round picks and a 2029 first-round pick swap, and that price will feel even heavier if the outgoing 2026 first-rounder becomes a lottery pick because Phoenix falters. — Josh Robbins Advertisement Grade: B You can't fault the Wizards for a lack of effort or a lack of ingenuity. In addition to drafting Tre Johnson, arguably the draft's best shooter, they made myriad smart moves to create additional cap space for 2026. None of those moves was more important than shedding Jordan Poole's onerous $34 million salary for 2026-27 by trading Poole and Saddiq Bey to the New Orleans Pelicans in what turned out to be a three-team deal. As part of that transaction, the Wizards also added promising talent Cam Whitmore from the Houston Rockets for a pair of future second-round picks. Washington mastered moves along the margins. So, why only a B grade? While it's true Washington created its own luck with forward-thinking decisions, it entered the offseason hoping to land a franchise-changing player in the draft. The lottery cost them Cooper Flagg or Dylan Harper, and they couldn't trade up for Ace Bailey. Maybe Johnson will turn out to be the guy the Wizards need, but as things look now, the Wizards don't appear to have landed someone who will massively accelerate their rebuild. — Josh Robbins Grade: A+ Denver, in my eyes, won the offseason. The Nuggets added depth and shooting. They upgraded significantly from Michael Porter Jr. to Cam Johnson at small forward. Getting Tim Hardaway Jr. on a vet-minimum deal is a steal, and they return Bruce Brown. The Nuggets also acquired the best backup center Nikola Jokić has ever played with in Jonas Valančiūnas. Denver has its best chance of winning a championship since its 2023 title team. The Nuggets are loaded. — Tony Jones Grade: B The Timberwolves were a second-apron team last season with one of the most expensive rosters in the league. They also had the 17th pick in the draft. Those two details meant they didn't have a bunch of money to spend in free agency, and they didn't have a top-five pick to use as ammunition for a splashy summer that could send their grade skyrocketing. But they did spend $225 million to re-sign Julius Randle and Naz Reid, retaining two crucial pieces of their run to the Western Conference finals. They are also sky-high on the potential of their first-round pick Joan Beringer. They did have conversations with Phoenix about trading for Kevin Durant, but those were abandoned when it became clear KD preferred to be elsewhere. The Wolves' biggest departure was Nickeil Alexander-Walker, who left to sign with Atlanta. The Wolves believe youngsters Terrence Shannon Jr., Rob Dillingham and Jaylen Clark will help mitigate that loss. It was a solid summer for a team that believes continuity and the continued development of Reid, Anthony Edwards and Jaden McDaniels will allow them to remain contenders in a Western Conference that is only getting deeper. — Jon Krawczynski Grade: A When you're the champ, not opting for a makeover is fine. Especially in the case of the Thunder, who deploy one of the youngest rotations in the NBA. Oklahoma City not only chose not to meddle with its core, but also locked up its three stars for the future in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren. If you're looking for a cherry on top, pseudo-rookie Nikola Topić played well in summer league. — Joel Lorenzi Grade: C If this offseason was about intrigue and heartstrings, the Blazers would get an A. But when it comes to basketball moves, Portland's summer was a curious and confusing exercise. Signing an injured Damian Lillard healed fans' wounded hearts. The surprise draft of Chinese center Yang Hansen at No. 16 has the look of a fun project, and the trade for aging Jrue Holiday and his $100-plus million contract is palatable if the Blazers were on the cusp of contending … but they are not. How Lillard fits into the Holiday-Scoot Henderson point guard rotation in 2026 is a big question, and so too is how soon Yang can contribute. But no question is bigger than the one left by the trade of Anfernee Simons to Boston: Do the Blazers have enough shooting? — Jason Quick Grade: B I think a lot of people are focusing on having to essentially give Collin Sexton away and allow Jordan Clarkson to walk for nothing in return. And, for sure, it's not ideal that the Jazz didn't get much, if anything, for two good players. But this offseason was about clearing runway for the Jazz to again be one of the worst teams in the league, in order to put themselves in position to keep their pick in the 2026 draft next season. Remember, that pick is owed to the Oklahoma City Thunder, top 8 protected. So, the Jazz have to be one of the worst eight teams in the league next season. And that is what this offseason was about. In that sense, they accomplished that. — Tony Jones Grade: Incomplete The Jonathan Kuminga situation has created quite an offseason logjam for the Warriors, who must get his restricted free agency outcome right if they have any hope of adding another pivotal player down the line. But they might have to re-sign him and wait until the February trade deadline to trade him to fulfill that desire. As such, it's pointless to assess a grade until we know where he's heading (if anywhere) and what they might be able to do as a result. Meanwhile, rumored additions like Al Horford and De'Anthony Melton have yet to be finalized. Boom or bust are still both in play here. — Sam Amick Advertisement Grade: A- The Clippers had two primary issues, one apparent throughout the regular season and another in the postseason. The regular season issue: turnovers, something that limited their offense. The postseason issue: the lack of playable non-center athletic size options, as Nuggets power forward Aaron Gordon ran circles around the Clippers in a seven-game series. They addressed their ballhandling issues with Bradley Beal, who replaces Powell, and Chris Paul, who replaces Patty Mills. They addressed their frontcourt options with John Collins, who replaces Amir Coffey, and Brook Lopez, who replaces Ben Simmons. Their draft picks won't be counted on, but they selected the most athletic center in Yanic Konan Niederhäuser, who replaces Drew Eubanks, and a 6-foot-9 guard in Kobe Sanders, who replaces Seth Lundy. They re-signed James Harden and Nicolas Batum, and Kawhi Leonard is healthy. The only legitimate complaint is that the team is older. But the Clippers are also deeper and better, and that is more relevant than age. — Law Murray Grade: B- The challenge in grading the Lakers' offseason is whether to hold them to the relative scale of what they were trying to accomplish or whether to grade them against the rest of the league — in particular, their rivals in the West. If it's regarding what they were trying to accomplish, it's hard to think of a way they could've done better than Deandre Ayton, Jake LaRavia and Marcus Smart without sacrificing draft picks or significant assets. If it's against the rest of the West, you can't say on paper that they kept up with the Houston Rockets, Denver Nuggets or maybe even the LA Clippers. But an offseason isn't just about which players come in and which ones are lost; there's other stuff, too. Luka Dončić's extension (and role in signing Ayton and Smart) bodes well for a long-term relationship between the organization and the star. The ownership sale to Mark Walter at a $10 billion evaluation should eventually give the team every financial tool and then some. The awkwardness with LeBron James is less than ideal, but on the whole, the Lakers got better this summer in more than one way. — Dan Woike Grade: C+ The Suns deserve credit for pulling the plug on a miserable stretch. They made a coaching change, hired a new general manager and overhauled the roster. Kevin Durant was traded to the Houston Rockets. Bradley Beal was bought out. Perhaps most important, the Suns got off the second apron, which gives them roster flexibility. Still, it was only a first step. Questions remain. How will a Devin Booker-Jalen Green backcourt work? Can center Mark Williams stay healthy? (Coming off the Beal experience, trading for an injury-prone center was indeed head-scratching.) Can rookie big man Khaman Maluach help anytime soon? Growing pains usually come with change. The Suns may experience some for a while. — Doug Haller Grade: C I was tempted to go with 'Incomplete' here, as the Kings remain engaged on the Jonathan Kuminga front and, as such, could still have a far different offseason than the one we've witnessed thus far. But they have made substantive moves that we can evaluate, chief among them the calculated risk of signing Dennis Schröder (three years, $45 million with a small partial guarantee in the final season). Regardless of how you feel about Schröder — and he's been a mixed bag in recent seasons — the point guard void had to be filled after the previous front office regime traded De'Aaron Fox to San Antonio. First-year general manager Scott Perry was aggressive in landing shooting guard Nique Clifford in the draft, sending a 2027 protected first to Oklahoma City to bring the 23-year-old from Colorado State to town with the 24th pick. (He earned first-team All-Summer League honors.) All in all, it's going to take Perry a while to clean up this messy roster. — Sam Amick Grade: A Mavericks fans have reason to hope again. The team lucked into the No. 1 pick and selected Cooper Flagg, and the 18-year-old Newport, Maine, native is expected to be a monster. He impacts the game in so many ways. Dallas has enjoyed some smaller wins, too. Convincing Kyrie Irving to decline his $43 million player option for next season and re-up on a new deal gave the Mavericks access to the taxpayer midlevel exception, which they used to sign D'Angelo Russell. Daniel Gafford's extension ($54.4 million over three years) was another piece of good business. — Christian Clark Grade: A The acquisition of Kevin Durant by a 52-win team without cratering depth was enough to cap a strong Rockets offseason, but the veteran additions of Dorian Finney-Smith and Clint Capela on team-friendly contracts put Houston in rare summer air. The organization was also able to retain key rotational members Fred VanVleet, Steven Adams and Jabari Smith Jr. without handcuffing themselves financially — and the Rockets now stand as arguably the deepest team in basketball. This team has shifted from a patient rebuild to an aggressive championship push in fewer than three seasons and now has the personnel to play any style that head coach Ime Udoka wants, any time. Houston's time is now. — Kelly Iko Grade: B The Grizzlies' offseason was a setup for whatever comes next, thanks to a draft-pick bounty from the Desmond Bane trade and a rebalanced cap sheet. Even with Jaren Jackson Jr.'s expensive extension, Memphis is $21 million below next summer's projected first apron and will hope the Suns' ineptitude delivers a high lottery pick. The Grizzlies likely overpaid for Cedric Coward on draft night, but they got value in Ty Jerome's contract and their return on Bane. Can Tuomas Iisalo coach? Is there a starting center here? Grading this offseason is tough because it's a wait-and-see process. — John Hollinger Advertisement Grade: D The Pelicans' stunning draft-day trade that sent their unprotected 2026 first-round pick to the Atlanta Hawks has been a consistent source of conversation for the last few weeks — and it's not just because of the tremendous risk New Orleans is taking by accepting such a deal. Despite constant concerns over Zion Williamson's health issues and an inexperienced roster, New Orleans' front office expects the Pelicans to make a playoff run in a treacherous Western Conference. Even if you like the Pelicans' rookie additions of Jeremiah Fears and Derik Queen, the recent news that Queen underwent wrist surgery and will be sidelined for three months adds to the long list of obstacles this team has to overcome. — William Guillory Grade: B+ One of the side effects of Victor Wembanyama's rapid improvement last season was the debate about whether the team needed to accelerate its timeline to start competing as soon as possible. The De'Aaron Fox trade in February fed into that notion, but the Spurs wisely didn't take it too far this summer by trading for Kevin Durant. Getting the No. 2 pick in the draft gave them a clear path to a steadier build-up around their star, and they showed they weren't afraid to be patient when they took Dylan Harper. Selecting Carter Bryant at No. 14 gives them a tough 3-and-D wing to develop in an already-deep rotation. They brought in Luke Kornet for just less than the midlevel exception with a team-favorable structure, giving Wembanyama a steady backup and keeping the locker-room vibes positive as the team starts to face higher expectations. This team is still in an identity-building phase. The Spurs enter the season with an overabundance of downhill driving guards between Fox, Harper and NBA Rookie of the Year Stephon Castle, but that's fine. Eventually, they'll see what a fully fleshed-out Wemby looks like and know what he needs around him. — Jared Weiss (Illustration: Dan Goldfarb / The Athletic; Michael Reaves, Stacy Revere, Chris Gardner / Getty Images)
