NBA offseason grades: Southwest Division

With all the major pieces assigned and reassigned, we turn our attention to grading each and every NBA team’s offseason activity, with todays focus being the Southwest Division.

We’ve already examined the Atlantic, Northeast, Central and Pacific divisions.

Dallas Mavericks: C+

In pure talent terms, picking up Zaccharie Risacher, Santi Aldama and drafting Morez Johnson are all solid moves. Can any of them pair with 19-year-old franchise tentpole Cooper Flagg, though?

Masai Ujiri’s transactions do indicate that PJ Washington and Daniel Gafford are likely not long for Dallas, while Dereck Lively will need to prove that he can play a month of uninterrupted basketball as he looks for an extension.

Marcus Sasser was a quality pick up for practically nothing, adding to a thin backcourt that desperately needs Kyrie Irving to become his old self post knee surgery.

Houston Rockets: B-

Attaching three second round picks to move off of Dorian Finney-Smith hurts, but it moves Houston under the tax. Given this team will get very expensive in the near future, resetting any repeater tax clocks is reasonable business.

On the court, Houston re-upped Tari Eason to a quality contract ($81 million for five years) and picked up Marcus Smart at value for $12.4 million for two seasons.

There are concerns here, though. Much is being placed on Smart, and the returning Fred VanVleet and Steven Adams. All three are aging and injury prone. And you have to wonder if coach Ime Udoka can resist playing Smart and VanVleet together for heavy minutes, freezing out Reed Shepperd and trying to win every game 75-70.

Memphis Grizzlies: A

Addition by subtraction: An interesting concept whereby removing a seemingly integral piece of a puzzle in fact allows other pieces to fall into place. In NBA terms, it’s the Grizzlies moving on from Ja Morant’s declining athleticism and carnival sideshow stylings. That they did it without having to attach a draft pick is a near miracle.

Memphis’ other moves were also fantastic. Taking Cameron Boozer at pick three was obvious, but trading down to take the raw but talented Karim Lopez, gaining some second rounders in the process, is smart business. Turning those into Isaiah Stewart and signing Quentin Post give the Grizz enviable interior depth as well as coverage for the oft-injured Zach Edey.

They still have their Jaren Jackson Jr. inspired trade exception to work with, making them a trade deadline player.

New Orleans Pelicans: D-

Can somebody make a welfare check on Joe Dumars, please?

Here’s the sum of the Pelicans offseason move to this point: released veteran center Kevon Looney, re-signed 38-year-old vibes man DeAndre Jordan and hired coach Jamahl Mosely. That’s it. They didn’t even send Derrick Queen and Jeremiah Fears to Summer League.

It’s likely that Dumars is waiting out the market for big offers on Trey Murphy, Herbert Jones and Zion Williamson. That’s fine. But you have to actually pull the trigger at some point. Otherwise, you’re running it back with a 26-win team.

Make it make sense.

San Antonio Spurs: A-

Another excellent offseason for a superbly run franchise.

The headline was locking Victor Wembanyama to a 25% max, instead of the 30% one he was eligible for. The Spurs also held onto De’Aaron Fox while his value was low – a smart move given Fox is a far better player than he showed in the finals.

As far as additions go, Tobias Harris fills a need at power forward as a low-usage shooter who can create just enough of his own offense. He also won’t tank the defense.

Draft picks Jayden Quaintance and Taris Reed should turn out to be excellent value selections. Quaintance, once he gets healthy, could give the Spurs the best interior defensive tandem in the NBA. Reed is an absolute monster. His sheer size and willingness to use it should carve out a role as a long-term backup and/or enforcer for Wemby. Think some unholy amalgamation of Rick Mahorn and Neemias Queta.