CBS: Western team ratings during offseason Rockets were the gods during offseason, Lakers and Mavericks performed poorly, and the team completely failed

If you haven't heard this, let's do it again - it's the NBA offseason, the story of the Eastern Conference is "the weaker you have to be", while the story of the Western Conference is "the arms race to subvert the new dynasty continues to escalate."

We have been discussing this for 25 years. Whether it is the Lakers, Spurs, Warriors, or the Thunder today, the West has never had the concept of "not doing" or "weakening", it has always been a bloody battle.

The Oklahoma City Thunder, a "gradually mature monster", won its first championship in team history in June, but few Western Conference opponents are ready to accept the defending title. The strength of the top level of the league is stronger than a year ago, and some mid-stream teams will also improve. The Jazz are the only team to "satisfied with peace of mind"; the fourth-worst Pelicans in the league last season were even trading unprotected draft picks... Almost all Western teams want to win - if they are in cities closer to the Atlantic (referring to the East), most of them can do it.

Unfortunately, the division of the competition area is uncontrollable, but the offseason operation is controllable. All Western teams understand the rules: either prepare to challenge the Thunder now or prepare to challenge the Thunder in the future. Our rating for the Western Conference offseason is basically around this standard. Those teams that have taken substantial steps to challenge the Thunder have performed well; what have not been done? Turn down and you will find them.

Rockets: A+

The Rockets have substantially adjusted three positions during the offseason this season: outside scorer, 3D wing, and third center. See who is coming and who is leaving.

Kevin Durant (one of the top scorers in NBA history) replaced Jaylen Green - Green's shooting percentage last season was "the lowest after the season" in almost every data category of Durant. Green played seven games last season in the playoffs, with four of them scoring single digits; Durant played 170 games in the playoffs and never scored single digits in any game (even if he left the game due to a ruptured Achilles tendon after only 12 minutes).

Dorian Finney Smith replaced Dillon Brooks - the two had similar career three-point shooting percentages, but Finney Smith had a slightly better shooting; Brooks' singles were better. Both are top defenders, and the data has their own opinions on their preferences. Finney Smith is three years older, but his salary is about $14 million less than Brooks in the next two years, and his contract will not be guaranteed later.

Clint Capela replaces Jock Landale - Randale has only started 11 games in his career, never averaging more than 15 minutes; Capela starts 8 times in 11 NBA seasons.

Apart from this, the lineup remains basically unchanged (except for the internal growth of young players). They almost only lost Whitmore (not much playing time) and the 10th pick (referring to Shepard, who was ranked 3rd last year, has no playing time anyway). They didn't spend a lot of money, but they greatly improved the roster - this was Raphael Stone's near-perfect offseason operation. He even convinced Fred VanVleet to cut his salary by nearly half.

Houston still has the initiative: if you want young players to grow slowly, you can; if you want to trade superstars, you can. The lineup is deep enough, and it is almost immune to injuries except Durant. Capela exists to keep Steven Adams in the playoffs; Shepard will have more playing time as a Tanhua show. This lineup has a high ceiling, sufficient depth, and strong flexibility - no fuss, continue to rush, Houston.

Nuggets: The unprotected 2032 first-round pick given to the Nets by the Nuggets immediately ranked among the most "value" draft picks in the league (it will take effect only when Jokic is 37 years old). This transaction is by no means easy to make, but it must be done - the Nuggets' future chances of winning the championship may be difficult to have a core like Jokic. They have to maximize their use of him, and this offseason has taken a key step.

Cam Johnson (in a vacuum environment) is better than Michael Porter Jr.: the two are shooting similarly, but Johnson's creativity in holding the ball is more critical and his defense is slightly better. However, the $17 million salary gap between the two opened up space for the Nuggets - they immediately signed Jonas Valanciunas (the best substitute center in the Jokic era, which is crucial to the long-term weak inside problem).

Valanciunas may want to go back to Europe, but the Nuggets have no intention of letting him go; even if a trade is needed in the future, this operation has hidden value: it can get rid of Dario Sharicic (almost "dead money"), and Valanciunas' willingness to leave the team may make him a high-quality trading chip (such as matching trades with his 10 million salary). This may even be a "shock trick" to send Najib away the bad contract - the Nuggets can pack two people and exchange them for a player of about 20 million yuan, and then use the buyout to save money.

The Nuggets completely "blooded" the basic salary market: signing former champion member Bruce Brown with Tim Hardaway Jr. (the team with the fewest three-pointers in the league last season is in need of such a substitute shooter). Now the Nuggets are in a favorable position: they step on the luxury tax line at the beginning of the season and may try to avoid it completely (it can be done without a significant relegation during the season); if there is a high-quality upgrade opportunity in the trading or buyout market, they can also use the unused complete middle-class special case and rush to the first rich line. The Nuggets are now: stronger than last season and still have room to seize the opportunity - even if they ultimately avoid taxes, they deserve it.

Clippers: B

Clippers are difficult to evaluate because although it has not been officially announced, it is generally expected that they will sign Bradley Bill for "almost free". Bill is worth about 20 million in his current career. Last year, when he made 50 million, the deal was a disaster... but taking him with the remaining 5 million in the middle class exception is a huge deal. We give B+ (with Bill) and B- (without Bill) "Note: Bill has signed with the Clippers."

Even if you don't get Bill, this season's offseason will be considered successful: two major weaknesses (substitute point guard, substitute center) were solved. More likely: Irving is inadequate in health, Davis and Irving are declining in age/injuries, and reconstruction can only "revolve around Flag temporarily." By the time they admit their mistakes, it is too late to adjust; it will be even more difficult to "temporary reorganization" in a few years.

Kings: D

We used to joke about the "Western Bulls" (the Kings signed a bunch of former Bulls players this summer), but this season is more "spiritual" - they officially became the "Chicago spiritual successors" of the "play-only play-off".

Denis Schroeder is a good player (the 10th team played for, the 8th team after 2021-22), but the Kings have just used Fox and Halliburton, making him the "starting point guard" is a tragedy for the "best fan group in the league". His organization is below the starting point guard standard and loves to score - others in the team love to score. They tried to trade Malik Monk but failed; Zach Lavender is the same type of "older, more vulnerable, more expensive"; Demar DeRozan stayed in the team (because he was 36 years old, he didn't like to shoot three-pointers/defense small market). They even want to sign Jonathan Kumingga (copy "Bulls High Pick" + "Chasing Former Warriors Player").

Is no one planning to defend except Keon Ellis?

Talk about data: Ellis is a "team option" (basic salary). If the King gives up, he can become a restricted free agent (restricted market, renewal at a low price). But the King chose the "execution option" - this season is cheap, but if he doesn't renew his contract next season, the King will lose him. For teams that have "only one playoff in the past 19 years", Presti should learn from (see the Thunder's early renewal of Dorte, etc.), and the Kings did not do so.

The Mavericks have a "bad plan" but at least a plan (they really believe they can win the championship); King? Ambitions may only reach the "play-up" - it's disappointing for a team that was "promising" a few years ago.

Pelicans: F

"Hiring Joe Dumas is a bad idea", now it feels that it may be worse. His first operation was to hire "Detroit's 28-game losing streak" Troy Weaver as his deputy and see their offseason operations:

Use the expiration contracts of C.J. McCollum and Kelly Olynick to exchange for Jordan Poole and Sadiq Bay (bearing over 40 million in 2026-27 salary). Poole's poor efficiency, the latter just recovered from the ACL tear.

Signed Kevin Looney (guaranteed 16 million, exceeding his average value of 15 minutes last season). He is still a center who doesn't shoot three-pointers.

No. 7 pick Jeremiah Fels (close to his draft range) - but he scored 28.4% of three-pointers last season.

Used Indiana's first round pick to exchange for the 23rd pick.

Used the 23rd pick + unprotected first-round pick (including the Bucks swap rights), and replaced the 13th pick with Maryland big man Derek Quinn (and didn't shoot three points).

Why do you always get three points? Because Zion is still on the team-his best version is "Hold the ball + shooter surround". The Pelicans did the opposite (using players who "want the ball, don't open the space" around him), indicating that they may trade Zion - but teams that "plan to send away the core" usually want "future first-round picks", so no matter what, the Pelicans' lineup construction is "logical chaos."

What's more ironic is: if they "need in urgent need of Quinn", why only move to the 13th pick? The team with the 8-12 pick cannot be uninterested (no reports said they have been in contact). Former Pelicans executive Bryson Gray is now the Hawks, which may be the reason — but means the Pelicans almost lost the "much-needed player." They risked Quinn to drop to 13th, without even being "premium".

Dumas and Weaver took office for one offseason, and the lineup is "uncomprehensible" - players are incompatible, and almost everyone is at a premium. Unless "the rookie is far beyond expectations", there is no defense. If they fail, they have seriously damaged the lineup left by Griffin.

Warriors: Unable to rate

The Warriors have not signed anyone this summer - everything is stuck by Jonathan Kumingga's "restricted free agent" (their plan relies on him to exchange talents). They were passed close to signing former Celtic center Al Horford (perfect adaptation: shooting, passing, senior defense), but he hasn't joined yet. Before solving Kumingga, the rating is unfair - the most likely operation is to exchange Kumingga for Horford + Assets (reasonable). We will comment after the results are available. But "changing Horford + processing Kumingga" is a reasonable idea, and if it succeeds, it will be a good operation.