The champagne has barely dried on the Oklahoma City Thunder’s championship parade, but the NBA offseason is already in full swing. Kevin Durant was traded to the Houston Rockets before Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals, and a wild offseason full of trades and surprising draft selections have played out ever since.
NBA free agency is now underway, and many of the top players available flew off the board in the opening hours. The first day of free agency gave us one big trade from the Denver Nuggets that increases their championship chances, while smart signings have helped one more contender has emerged in both the East and the West.
We’re making note of every deal of NBA free agency with our live tracker. Now let’s grade the bigger deals as they come in. This post will be updated throughout the day with deals from the start of free agency.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Hawks agree to four-year, $62 million deal
Luke Kennard, Hawks agree to one-year, $11 million deal
Hawks grade: A
We’ll tie these deals in one and give Atlanta an A for signing two quality players to fair deals that bolster the rotation and makes a dream playoff run possible. The Hawks have aced this offseason from the very beginning with new lead executive Onsi Saleh dramatically improving his team’s outlook for both the present and the future. The Hawks won’t be the favorite to win the East coming into next season, but they’re not far off either.
Alexander-Walker might be the best free agent to change hands this year. He was a key part of Minnesota’s rotation on back-to-back conference finals teams, and he gives Atlanta a big guard who can draw tough defensive assignments while also adding a dash of shooting and playmaking to the offense. Alexander-Walker has knocked down 38.5 percent of his threes the last two years while also shooting around 52 percent on two-pointers. He is a natural fit in lineups next to Trae Young or Kennard, and he has more offensive utility in the halfcourt than incumbent starter Dyson Daniels. Kennard is also a nice signing as an elite shooter with a little bit of playmaking. Atlanta already landed Kristaps Porzingis and the New Pelicans’ 2026 unprotected first-round pick earlier this offseason. The Hawks are loaded, and they have a real shot to make a deep playoff run this year and then find a young franchise star in the next draft. These free agent signings make Atlanta’s already great offseason even better.
Dorian Finney-Smith, Houston Rockets agree to four-year, $53 million deal
Rockets grade: B+
Are the Rockets the biggest challenger to the Oklahoma City Thunder next season? It’s starting to feel that way. Houston already won 52 games this past season to earn the No. 2 seed in the West, but they failed to win a playoff series. The Rockets started this offseason trading for Kevin Durant without giving up too much, and now they’ve replaced the key outgoing piece in that deal (Dillon Brooks) with another tough three-and-D style wing in Finney-Smith. There will be no questions about Finney-Smith’s role in Houston: he’ll defend big forwards, space the floor, and knock down shots. He’s a perfect complementary player around Durant, Alperen Sengun, Fred VanVleet, and Amen Thompson, and his presence makes an already strong defense even better. It’s possible this deal doesn’t age all that well because Finney-Smith started to slip on the Lakers last year and is already 32 years old. Still, the Rockets have tons of young depth behind him, and getting him now improves their chances of breaking through the West in 2026.
Jake LaRavia, Los Angeles Lakers agree to two-year, $12 million deal
Lakers grade: A
LaRavia was one of my favorite sleeper free agent targets this year. The soon-to-be 24-year-old wing has a great mix and size (6’8) and shooting. He’s hit 42.3 percent of his threes this past season between spots with the Grizzlies and Kings, and his off-ball scoring will be a nice complement to Luka Doncic’s creation. He isn’t the defender Finney-Smith is, but it’s possible he’s a better offensive player at this stage of his career who comes at a much lower cost. This isn’t a life-changing move for the Lakers, but it’s a good bargain signing that could pay off.
Bruce Brown, Denver Nuggets agree to one-year deal
Nuggets grade: A
The Nuggets were never the same after Brown left in free agency following the team’s 2023 championship run. Brown’s career was never the same either. To bring him back on a minimum deal is a wonderful piece of business for both sides and should give Brown a chance to boost his value again. The Nuggets really needed one more solid guard in the rotation the last two years, and Brown can be that still as he prepares to turn 29 years old. The Nuggets got better.
Nuggets, Nets trade grades for Cam Johnson for Michael Porter Jr. swap
Nuggets grade: B+
Nets grade: A
Brook Lopez, Los Angeles Clippers agree to two-year, $18 million deal
Clippers grade: A
The Clippers didn’t really have a five-out look they could go to this season. Brook Lopez changes that. The 37-year-old center is still an excellent shot-blocker, and the Clippers’ ferocious point-of-attack defense should make his drop coverage even more effective. Lopez still hit 37 percent of his threes on 4.7 attempts per game this year. He’ll backup Ivica Zubac in LA, and give them 48 good center minutes every night.
Ty Jerome, Memphis Grizzlies agree to three-year, $28 million deal
Grizzlies grade: B+
Jerome was one of the best bench players in the league this season for the East-best Cavaliers, but it feels like he lost himself some money with his playoff performance. The Cavs were upset in the second round by the Indiana Pacers, and Jerome had a few tough games in the series where his shots weren’t falling. His shooting (44 percent from three) and shot-creation will be a nice addition for the Grizzlies team that will be missing Desmond Bane next season.
Luke Kornet, San Antonio Spurs agree to four-year, $41 million deal
Spurs grade: B-
Kornet has carved out a tremendous career for himself, and this contract is validation for all the work he’s put in. He took on a bigger role with the Celtics this past season and thrived in the opportunity, turning into a super efficient finisher (68.3 percent true shooting) who could also protect the rim and add some passing value. He’s a good defender and good locker room presence, but this still feels like a lot of money for a player as limited as he is. The Spurs will believe they can play him with Victor Wembanyama or behind him, and that can work in small spurts. I just find it hard to believe he can live up to this kind of deal because he’s such a low volume scorer, he doesn’t shoot threes, and he doesn’t have a ton of scheme versatility defensively.
Caris LeVert, Detroit Pistons agree to two-year, $29 million deal
Grade: C+
As the Magic and Hawks have improved enough to be considered pre-season Eastern Conference contenders, the similarly positioned Pistons have had a quiet offseason. Detroit added a solid bench scorer in Caris LeVert, but I fear that’s not enough to keep up in the conference arms race. LeVert is historically a very streaker shooter (34 percent from three in his career) and a below-average defender. His shot-creation will be a welcome additon in lineups lineups with Ron Holland and/or Ausar Thompson, but this feels like a lot of money for a player who doesn’t really move the needle.
This post will be updated throughout the day.
