The NBA Draft is well behind us, and most of the big-name NBA free agents have already signed new contracts, so it’s time to take a deep dive into the 15 Eastern Conference teams to find out who is nailing and who is failing the 2025 off-season.

Atlanta Hawks

Key additions: Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Luke Kennard, Kristaps Porzingis, Asa Newell (R)

Retaining: N/A

Key departures: Caris LeVert, Clint Capela, Larry Nance Jr., Terrance Mann, Georges Niang, GM Landy Fields

Grade: C+

The Hawks finally added some height by trading for Kristaps Porzingis. His presence and experience in the NBA will quickly rub off on former number-one overall pick Zaccharie Risacher. Atlanta also upgraded its shooting guard spot by bringing in a high-level three-point shooter like Luke Kennard. If the Hawks hadn’t parted ways with so many contributors from last season, then they would have a better grade.

Boston Celtics

Key additions: Georges Niang, Luka Garza, Josh Minott, Anfernee Simons, Hugo Gonzalez (R), Amari Williams (R), Max Shulga (R)

Retaining: N/A

Key departures: Jrue Holiday, Luke Kornet, Kristaps Porziņgis

Grade: C-

Anfernee Simons is a big addition for a team that will need to find some replacement scoring with Jayson Tatum potentially missing the entirety of the 2025-26 season. Then again, if Simons leaves in free agency next off-season, that trade will end up looking a whole lot worse from Boston’s end. Losing Holiday and Porzingis will undoubtedly hurt this team, but they’ll still compete for a playoff spot next season.

Brooklyn Nets

Key additions: Terance Mann, Michael Porter Jr., Egor Demin (R), Nolan Traoré (R), Drake Powell (R), Ben Saraf (R), Danny Wolf (R)

Retaining: Day’Ron Sharpe, Ziaire Williams

Key departures: Cam Johnson, D’Angelo Russell, Trendon Watford

Grade: C+

Though the Nets made five first-round draft picks, none of those rookies are likely going to step in and compete for starting minutes right away, outside of maybe Egor Demin, who has big shoes to fill trying to replace D’Angelo Russell. Trading for Michael Porter Jr. was smart because he had similar numbers to Cameron Johnson while being two years younger. I have high hopes that Nolan Traoré can eventually become a good player in this league, but that probably won’t happen this coming season. Despite losing Johnson and Russell, this wasn’t a bad summer for Brooklyn.

Charlotte Hornets

Key additions: Pat Connaughton, Spencer Dinwiddie, Mason Plumlee, Collin Sexton, Kon Knueppel (R), Liam McNeeley (R), Sion James (R), Ryan Kalkbrenner (R)

Retaining: Tre Mann

Key departures: Jusuf Nurkić, Mark Williams

Grade: B-

The Hornets only lost two players, but those guys happen to represent a lot of meaningful frontcourt minutes in Mark Williams and Jusuf Nurkić. Clearly, Charlotte has high expectations for Ryan Kalkbrenner and Miles Bridges. Three-point shooting shouldn’t be as much of a problem this coming season after the Hornets added Pat Connaughton, Collin Sexton, and Kon Knueppel. Charlotte needs to be better offensively after finishing with the worst field goal percentage in the NBA last year.

Chicago Bulls

Key additions: Isaac Okoro, Noa Essengue (R), Lachlan Olbrich (R)

Retaining: Tre Jones

Key departures: Lonzo Ball

Grade: C+

In all likelihood, Lonzo Ball was going to leave in free agency, so trading him away for a solid defensive guard like Isaac Okoro makes sense. Meanwhile, Noa Essengue is a project player who could become a good starter, but he needs to develop his jumpshot first, which will probably take a year or two. The Bulls made smart small moves but didn’t do anything big this off-season to change the trajectory of the franchise.

Cleveland Cavaliers

Key additions: Lonzo Ball, Larry Nance Jr., Tyrese Proctor (R), Saliou Niang (R)

Retaining: Sam Merrill

Key departures: Ty Jerome, Isaac Okoro

Grade: B

Outside of taking a big swing for a marquee superstar like Kevin Durant, the Cavs didn’t have to do much this off-season. I’m disappointed they let Ty Jerome walk in free agency. He was a Sixth Man of the Year finalist and fifth on the team in playoff scoring. Then again, Tyrese Proctor and Lonzo Ball will probably make up for those lost minutes. Plus, Larry Nance Jr. can provide some relief for Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen. Had Cleveland retained Ty Jerome, this could’ve easily been an A.

Detroit Pistons

Key additions: Caris LeVert, Duncan Robinson, Chaz Lanier (R)

Retaining: Paul Reed

Key departures: Tim Hardaway Jr., Dennis Schröder

Grade: B-

The Pistons upgraded by replacing Tim Hardaway Jr. and Dennis Schröder with Duncan Robinson and Caris LeVert. Robinson is a much better shooter than Tim Hardaway Jr. The same goes for Caris LeVert, who was much more efficient than Schröder last season, with a field goal percentage 6.1% higher than Schröder’s. Detroit was held to just a B- because Michael Beasley is at the center of a gambling investigation, which has put his NBA future into question. If he receives a one-year suspension or worse, the Pistons will lose a 16-point-per-game player, which would be devastating.

Indiana Pacers

Key additions: Jay Huff, Kam Jones (R), Taelon Peter (R)

Retaining: N/A

Key departures: Myles Turner

Grade: F

The Pacers have failed themselves this off-season. Myles Turner has been the subject of trade rumors for several years, but Indiana waited until after the most successful season in franchise history to let him go in free agency. And if that wasn’t bad enough, he signed with a divisional rival! They added center Jay Huff to replace him, even though I have literally never heard of the guy until a few days ago. They’re also putting a lot of pressure on Kam Jones and Taelon Peter to make up for the production lost due to Tyrese Haliburton’s injury. It would’ve made more sense to sign a veteran point guard to a two-year bridge contract. The Pacers will be much worse next season.

Miami Heat

Key additions: Simone Fontecchio, Kasparas Jakucionis (R)

Retaining: Davion Mitchell

Key departures: Duncan Robinson

Grade: D

The Heat lost the franchise’s all-time leader in three-point shooting, and their plan to replace him is Davion Mitchell and Simone Fontecchio? That is almost certainly going to backfire on them. It was smart to draft a promising prospect like Jakučionis, who is at his best when he doesn’t have to be a team’s primary scorer. The problem is that Miami is already loaded at the guard position with Tyler Herro, Terry Rozier, Davion Mitchell, etc. Miami didn’t do anything to make itself better or more prepared to compete for a championship.

Milwaukee Bucks

Key additions: Vasilije Micić, Myles Turner, Gary Harris, Bogoljub Markovic (R)

Retaining: Kevin Porter Jr., Bobby Portis, Taurean Prince, Jericho Sims, Gary Trent Jr.

Key departures: Pat Connaughton, Damian Lillard, Brook Lopez

Grade: C+

The Damian Lillard release was shocking, but it was the right decision to make for the immediate success of this franchise. The move allowed them to sign arguably the most-coveted free agent of the 2025 off-season in Myles Turner. They also retained several key contributors from last season while parting ways with older players. In order to keep Giannis happy, the Bucks need to be younger, play faster, and win more in the playoffs. They’ll definitely be younger and faster next season. It also wouldn’t hurt to add another veteran point guard like Chris Paul or Russell Westbrook.

New York Knicks

Key additions: Jordan Clarkson, Guerschon Yabusele, Mohamed Diawara (R), HC Mike Brown

Retaining: N/A

Key departures: HC Tom Thibodeau

Grade: C-

This could’ve been a really good off-season for the Knicks. It’s arguably the most important Summer in franchise history after the team was eliminated in the Eastern Conference Finals. Jordan Clarkson is an excellent locker room presence who can provide valuable scoring off the bench. Also, Guerschon Yabusele can be a reliable backup center. Unfortunately, the Knicks downgraded at the head coaching spot by firing Tom Thibodeau and hiring Mike Brown. If they had just stayed put with Thibs, they could’ve earned a B or a B+.

Orlando Magic

Key additions: Desmond Bane, Tyus Jones, Jase Richardson (R), Noah Penda (R)

Retaining: Moe Wagner

Key departures: Cole Anthony, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Gary Harris

Grade: B+

Making the trade for Desmond Bane was arguably the biggest swing taken by an NBA team this off-season, and I love that. Thankfully, Bane doesn’t have to be perfect right away. If he can shoot his career average from beyond the three-point line (41%), he’ll easily become one of the best deep threats in Orlando. And as a precautionary measure, they drafted Jase Richardson, the son of NBA veteran Jason Richardson. He’ll also be crucial to the Magic’s success after he shot from beyond the arc 41.6% during his college career. This squad will NOT be the worst three-point shooting team in the NBA like it was last season.

Philadelphia 76ers

Key additions: Trendon Watford, VJ Edgecombe (R), Johni Broome (R)

Retaining: Justin Edwards, Eric Gordon

Key departures: Guerschon Yabusele

Grade: B+

The 76ers didn’t need to do much to have a good off-season. They just needed to retain a few contributors and ensure their starters are fully healthy for the 2025-26 season. They could afford to lose Guerschon Yabusele with the additions of Johnni Broome and Trendon Watford. I also love number-three overall pick VJ Edgecombe getting a chance to play alongside bonafide All-Stars like Tyrese Maxey, Paul George, and Joel Embiid. The 76ers have positioned themselves to be a top team in the East next season.

Toronto Raptors

Key additions: Sandro Mamukelashvili, Collin Murray-Boyles (R), Alijah Martin (R)

Retaining: Jakob Poeltl

Key departures: Chairman Masai Ujiri

Grade: F

I hated the Raptors’ approach to the off-season. First, they decided to run it back with basically the same roster by giving Jakob Poeltl a $104 million extension. They only added three players. One is a backup/third-string center, while the other two are rookies who will likely not be immediate difference-makers. To top it all off, Toronto parted ways with Masai Ujiri, who helped the franchise win its only championship in 2019. The Raptors were a 30-win team last season, and that’ll be the case again this season.

Washington Wizards

Key additions: C.J. McCollum, Dillon Jones, Kelly Olynyk, Cam Whitmore, Tre Johnson (R), Will Riley (R), Jamir Watkins (R)

Retaining: N/A

Key departures: Saddiq Bey, Anthony Gill, Jordan Poole

Grade: D

So the Wizards are going to be a better team by adding older players and trading away their leading scorer from last season? I’m not buying it. For most other teams, the additions of C.J. McCollum, Cam Whitmore, and Tre Johnson would move the needle. In Washington D.C., though, nothing the Wizards did this off-season improved the franchise’s chances of winning a championship any time soon. At least they were able to unload Poole’s $128 million contract and add a good scorer like Johnson. Those moves save them from a failing grade.

*Author’s note: (R) indicates a rookie who was selected during the 2025 NBA Draft*