In a comprehensive offseason analysis conducted by Zach Kram at ESPN, the San Antonio Spurs and Utah Jazz emerged as the undisputed winners of the NBA summer. The two Western Conference franchises were the only teams to receive flat “A” grades for their aggressive free agency maneuvers and long-term roster construction.
On the flip side, the New Orleans Pelicans sank to the bottom of the league. They walked away with a harsh “D” grade. The Philadelphia 76ers, Atlanta Hawks, and Charlotte Hornets all secured “A-” marks after heavily retooling their depth charts.
The Spurs locked up their top grade through sheer financial discipline. Victor Wembanyama agreed to a 25% maximum contract extension rather than holding out for a 30% supermax deal. That single decision saves the franchise over $50 million in cap space. Zach Kram of ESPN noted that this kind of financial flexibility is incredibly rare for a generational talent.
Utah took a completely different path to their top mark. The Jazz capitalized on desperation, trading center Walker Kessler to the Los Angeles Lakers. In return, Utah extracted two unprotected first-round picks and two pick swaps. That gives them massive draft capital moving forward.
Philadelphia earned their “A-” by pulling off a shocking blockbuster. The 76ers shipped 36-year-old Paul George to the Boston Celtics in a straight swap for 29-year-old Jaylen Brown. The move immediately injects youth and elite wing depth right next to Joel Embiid.
Down at the bottom of the class, the Washington Wizards and Orlando Magic scraped by with “D+” grades. The Wizards faced immediate fan backlash after they decided to extend Trae Young and trade for center Deandre Ayton. This evaluation mirrors the heavy criticism surrounding the Brooklyn Nets’ offseason grade following their controversial acquisition of Julius Randle.
Wembanyama Extension Rewires NBA Contract Logic
Wembanyama accepting a 25% maximum extension instead of demanding the full 30% supermax establishes a massive financial precedent. Franchise cornerstones almost always demand every available dollar.
This structural change directly impacts future negotiations between team owners and the players’ union. By leaving $50 million on the table, Wembanyama allows the Spurs to dodge strict luxury tax penalties and acquire high-level role players. If other young stars follow this blueprint, the entire salary cap management strategy across the league will shift. Front offices will now point directly to San Antonio when negotiating rookie extensions.