The Spurs added experience to their roster this offseason, including Chris Paul, to help guide their young core.
Regularly, NBA.com editors will provide their thoughts on key storylines or trending topics around the league.
Who has won the NBA offseason so far?
Steve Aschburner
The Philadelphia 76ers. Philly is winning the NBA offseason not only because of what it did to add big pieces, but also by avoiding what could have been a disastrous summer. Given its salary cap, failing to score big in free agency could have alienated the fan base and franchise-obsessed Joel Embiid.
President of basketball operations Daryl Morey successfully acquired All-Star forward Paul George as the signature move of the offseason, snatching Caleb Martin from rival Miami, grabbing veterans Eric Gordon and Andre Drummond, re-signing the effervescent Tyrese Maxey and reinvigorating Embiid.
There were setbacks — De’Anthony Melton and Paul Reed will be missing, and I still don’t understand why Buddy Hield failed in Philly. But Morey and coach Nick Nurse have a core that fits, a team that should compete with New York to keep the Celtics on their heels. Second place: OKC’s surgical additions (Alex Caruso, Isaiah Hartenstein).
Brian Martin
The Philadelphia 76ers. OKC added Hartenstein to bolster their front line and Alex Caruso to bolster their defense, which puts them in contention here (and in the West). However, after last summer’s public split with James Harden, Daryl Morey and the Sixers came out on top this summer with the additions of Paul George, Caleb Martin, Andre Drummond, and Eric Gordon as well as the re-signings of Tyrese Maxey and Kelly Oubre Jr. to put them in contention with Boston and NY in the East.
Also, can a college program win the NBA offseason? Villanova’s mention count during Knicks games was already high, and with the addition of Mikal Bridges to round out the quartet of college teammates, that number increases. New York re-signed OG Anunoby and added Bridges, but did so at a high price, both in draft capital (five future first-round picks) and actual capital, as they lost Isaiah Hartenstein in free agency.
Shaun Powell
The Philadelphia 76ers. Now, who did the most with the least? It would be Oklahoma City, as the Thunder added Alex Caruso and Isaiah Hartenstein without giving up a major piece (Josh Giddey was sidelined). Maybe the Mavericks, too, with Klay Thompson, Naji Marshall and Quentin Grimes, while losing only Derrick Jones Jr. of significance.
But the winner is the team that did the most with the most: Philly. With a generous salary cap, the Sixers now have Paul George along with Andre Drummond, Eric Gordon and Caleb Martin (and re-signed Kelly Oubre) to keep the Celtics and Knicks on guard in the East.
Jean Schuhmann
The Oklahoma City Thunder. They were one of the two teams who finished in the top five at both ends of the floor last season, they have a wealth of young talent that will only improve in the years to come, and they made two of the best additions of the summer.
Alex Caruso and Isaiah Hartenstein appear to be very good pieces to round out the Thunder’s current core, and it’s very possible that this team could make further upgrades in the coming months by trading a combination of mid-sized contracts and some of the extra draft picks they have. As things stand, they should be the favorites to win the Western Conference in 2024-25.
Michael C. Wright
The San Antonio Spurs. We’re in a new world of second-tier prowess in the NBA, and it’s clear that Spurs general manager Brian Wright has planned ahead for a bright future of sustained success under the new rules. Wright filled a need at point guard by adding veteran Chris Paul and acquired another consummate pro in Harrison Barnes. So, in addition to surrounding Victor Wembanyama with more talent, the Spurs added veteran experience (on short-term deals) that will be beneficial in guiding his young core while also reclaiming more draft capital.
San Antonio now has first-round pick swaps in 2026, 2028, two in 2030 and another in 2031. Add to that a deep stash of future first-round picks (including an unprotected first-rounder added last month by trading No. 8 to Minnesota) and you can see that Wright has positioned the Spurs to have the flexibility to add talent in multiple ways leading up to Wembanyama’s prime.
