NBA offseason grades: Eastern Conference

With two weeks to go until the 2024-25 NBA season kicks off, rosters are more or less set for the 30 teams after a busy offseason of draft picks, free-agency signings, and trades.

Here's a look at how each of the 15 organizations in the Eastern Conference fared this summer, taking into account motivations, resources, and both short-term and long-term planning:

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ATL | BOS | BKN | CHA | CHI | CLE | DET | IND | MIA | MIL | NYK | ORL | PHI | TOR | WAS

Atlanta Hawks: B-

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The two big moves that established the Atlanta Hawks' offseason rebuild were the selection of Frenchman Zaccharie Risacher with the first overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft and Dejounte Murray's trade to the New Orleans Pelicans. Dealing Murray was a concession that the backcourt partnership with Trae Young didn't produce the results the franchise hoped for. However, a return centered around Dyson Daniels, Larry Nance Jr., and a pair of first-rounders is a solid return for a squad aiming to stay competitive while recognizing it has to deviate from its initial plan.

There are still questions after Atlanta's summer shuffle, though. Who starts next to Young now? And if the answer is Bogdan Bogdanovic, who can reliably take up playmaking duties for the second unit? Is this the year Onyeka Okongwu graduates to a full-time starter over Clint Capela? And how will Risacher acclimate on a team under more pressure to win now than the usual outfits that pick first overall?

Boston Celtics: A

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Since the 2023-24 championship-winning Celtics were one of the best teams in NBA history, there wasn't too much the organization needed to do this offseason. The core remains the same, and over the past few months, general manager Brad Stevens locked up Jrue Holiday, Jayson Tatum, Derrick White, and Sam Hauser to long-term deals. Boston's only notable free-agent signing was Lonnie Walker. The 25-year-old is a big, defensively-minded guard who should provide adequate cover if White or Holiday miss time.

Getting sharpshooter Baylor Scheierman with the 30th pick in the draft was a steal. Adding a big wing who had been one of the best college shooters over the past few years is a seamless fit with Boston's five-out offense.

Brooklyn Nets: A-

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Sean Marks and the Nets' front office are turning over a new page and starting fresh after sending Mikal Bridges to the crosstown-rival New York Knicks in exchange for six future first-round selections. While they added no players in the draft, they also received their first-round picks back in 2025 and 2026 in another savvy trade with the Houston Rockets.

Apart from bringing back Nic Claxton on a four-year deal, the rest of the team's offseason haul consisted of stopgap veterans and intriguing prospects. The next great players for the Nets probably aren't currently on the roster, but now the franchise has the ability to acquire them with a treasure chest of future assets.

Charlotte Hornets: C

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The Hornets moved on from a lot of players who weren't going to be a part of the organization's long-term future. They have their two foundational pieces in Brandon Miller and LaMelo Ball but have struggled to surround them with a decent NBA roster. Charlotte had an opportunity to get a core piece for first-year head coach Charles Lee with the sixth pick in the 2024 draft. The team opted to use that selection on Tidjane Salaun, a player with interesting tools but who probably won't be an impact NBA player for a couple of seasons.

Re-signing Miles Bridges on a three-year, $75-million deal despite his off-court legal issues was an odd choice. It's unclear who the Hornets were competing against for his signature. Charlotte has done well jumping into trades as a third team to pick up assets on the cheap. Taking a swing at Josh Green isn't the worst decision, particularly when all the Hornets had to do was give up a couple of second-rounders.

Chicago Bulls: F

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Matas Buzelis could be a home-run selection at No. 11, and Josh Giddey is an extremely talented player who's still only 21 years old. Moving on from DeMar DeRozan and Alex Caruso was the correct decision for a franchise that seemed to have stalled.

Ultimately, the Bulls get an F because they waited too long to make their moves. As a result, they didn't get a single pick back in the Caruso trade - arguably the best defensive wing in the league - and had to accept a meek sign-and-trade for six-time All-Star DeRozan. Zach LaVine was being shopped around but underwent season-ending foot surgery, which will likely hamper the Bulls' potential return in the future.

Cleveland Cavaliers: C+

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Heading into the summer, the Cavaliers had 11 players on the books for the 2024-25 season, giving them nothing but the back end of the roster to fill out. Adding Jaylon Tyson, a versatile two-way forward, gives the team another option to play alongside the core four of Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley, Darius Garland, and Jarrett Allen.

Cleveland mainly focused on rewarding its stars, agreeing to extensions with Mitchell, Mobley, Allen, and two-way wing Isaac Okoro. With new coach Kenny Atkinson in place, the Cavaliers seem ready to make the next jump through internal improvements and schematic changes rather than external additions.

Detroit Pistons: B-

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Detroit made wholesale changes in an attempt to change its fortunes, hiring J.B. Bickerstaff as head coach and Trajan Langdon as its new president of basketball operations. The Pistons locked up former No. 1 overall pick Cade Cunningham and surrounded him with some much-needed outside shooting. Malik Beasley has drained at least 200 triples in three consecutive seasons, and his expiring deal could be an asset at the trade deadline.

Paul Reed gives the club another solid rebounder and some depth behind the oft-injured frontcourt duo of Jalen Duren and Isaiah Stewart. The athletic Ron Holland should provide an immediate defensive impact while he works on his 3-point efficiency. Bringing back Tobias Harris to the Motor City was probably too expensive. Still, the veteran forward fills a glaring need on the court and in the locker room. Detroit also maintains salary cap flexibility, even with Harris' two-year, $52-million contract on the books.

Indiana Pacers: B-

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Another squad that decided to add around the edges instead of making a big swing, the Pacers focused on bringing back internal free agents, including Pascal Siakam, Obi Toppin, Andrew Nembhard, T.J. McConnell, and James Johnson. After making an unexpected run to the Eastern Conference finals, Indiana isn't moving away from the key contributors that helped the franchise get there.

The main additions came through second-round draft picks, adding former Kansas wing Johnny Furphy and 2024 Final Four MOP Tristen Newton. Indiana also took a swing on former No. 2 pick James Wiseman, signing him to a two-year deal. The center could help the Pacers secure more boards if he plays, as Indiana ranked 28th in rebounds per game last season.

Miami Heat: C-

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Miami's most important pieces of business came internally. The team extended Bam Adebayo through at least the 2027-28 campaign, re-signed defensive stopper Haywood Highsmith to a team-friendly deal, and didn't overpay to bring back key reserve Kevin Love. Kel'el Ware could eventually emerge as Adebayo's long-term frontcourt partner. The Indiana product's improved 3-point stroke, athleticism, and rim protection might be a solid fit alongside the Heat's franchise cornerstone. Pelle Larsson showed off his all-around solid play in Summer League and may be the next product of the team's renowned player development system.

It's not necessarily a bad idea for Miami to run it back, considering all the injuries the club dealt with last season. The Heat essentially made their big move at the trade deadline when they acquired Terry Rozier from Charlotte. However, only adding Alec Burks to the existing core is pretty underwhelming for a team aspiring to make another deep playoff run. Losing Caleb Martin's perimeter defense to one of Miami's rivals will hurt as well. It's tough to count out the Heat as long as Erik Spoelstra and Pat Riley are running the show, but it's fair to question the offseason they've had.

Milwaukee Bucks: A

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The Bucks didn't make any earth-shattering moves but still picked up exactly what they needed. Though they had to wait, former Raptors guard Gary Trent Jr. has the potential to be one of the more underrated pickups made during the window; the 25-year-old, who looked in line for a massive extension with Toronto just over a year ago, can be streaky with his shot but should still be a regular threat from outside while bringing active hands on defense - all on a minimum contract.

While bolstering the supporting pieces around the star trio of Giannis Antetokounmpo, Damian Lillard, and Khris Middleton, Milwaukee had to say goodbye to ... very little. Malik Beasley's occasional hot hand is almost like-for-like replaced by the incoming Trent, and Taurean Prince is four years Jae Crowder's junior but has plenty of experience of his own as an energy wing-forward hybrid who can come off the bench or make the occasional spot start. With Middleton's knee proving to be an issue last season, that's important cover for a Bucks franchise that quietly did what it needed to this summer.

New York Knicks: A

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In this new age of the NBA, questions about the fit of incoming high-quality players might have to go to the wayside. In this case, the Knicks swung big, bringing in forward Mikal Bridges to reunite with former Villanova teammates Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, and Donte DiVincenzo. More than two months later, New York then decided to split up the squad by trading DiVincenzo and upcoming free agent Julius Randle to the Minnesota Timberwolves for four-time All-Star Karl-Anthony Towns. In separate trades, the Knicks added another versatile wing and brought in a quality center, the latter of which addressed their biggest need after Isaiah Hartenstein left for the Oklahoma City Thunder.

The trades had a significant cost, as the team lost seven first-round selections and considerable depth in Randle, DiVincenzo, Hartenstein, and Bogdanovic while only bringing in two players. With Mitchell Robinson sidelined until the winter, the Knicks will have to rely on largely untested players outside of the starting five: Miles McBride, Precious Achiuwa, and free-agent signing Cameron Payne.

The Knicks were also able to get Brunson and OG Anunoby to commit to long-term deals, including the former taking a $113-million discount to help the team remain cap-flexible. For the first time in ages, New York seems to be a true contender to win a championship.

Orlando Magic: B+

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Orlando ensured Franz Wagner was part of the big picture by signing the rising star to a five-year, $224-million max extension. Jonathan Isaac appears to be sticking around for the long run as well after agreeing to a five-year, $84-million extension and renegotiation with the Magic. The former No. 6 overall pick's new deal is front-loaded and non-guaranteed for the final two years, providing insurance in the event the defensive ace suffers another serious injury and flexibility for Paolo Banchero's contract down the line. Starting center Wendell Carter also got an extension to solidify the team's frontcourt.

Goga Bitadze, Gary Harris, and Moritz Wagner were all re-signed at a reasonable term and value to solidify one of the NBA's top second units. Orlando holds team options next season for both Harris and Wagner, allowing the club some wiggle room in the summer to potentially lock up Jalen Suggs. The Magic's marquee free-agent addition was Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. The veteran guard addresses the club's desperate need for 3-point shooting and should fit seamlessly into its defensive culture.

Philadelphia 76ers: A+

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The 76ers added the best available player in free agency, brought in a number of proven veterans, signed their young stud point guard to a big extension, and landed one of the stars of the Paris Olympics. It's hard to quibble with anything the organization has done this offseason.

Adding Duke's Jared McCain in the draft was another great move by Daryl Morey. A wizard off the bounce, McCain has the potential to be a game-changer off the bench this season. If he hits, this 76ers' offense could be unstoppable.

Toronto Raptors: B

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With Scottie Barnes and Immanuel Quickley signed to lucrative five-year contracts, the Raptors made it clear who they're building around going forward. Masai Ujiri and Co. are now tasked with finding the right pieces to complement the young duo.

Davion Mitchell was a savvy pickup to shore up the backup point guard position, and his on-ball pressure should help last season's 25th-ranked defensive unit. Ja'Kobe Walter's elite length, tenacity, and high motor should also help in that respect, but he may have to wait his turn with Bruce Brown Jr. still on the roster.

Aside from Gary Trent Jr.'s departure, Toronto didn't lose any major contributors from the previous campaign. The front office's heavy lifting will come at the trade deadline when it will have a chance to turn the expiring deals of Brown and Chris Boucher into future assets.

Washington Wizards: B

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The Wizards' main focus during the offseason was to improve the team with young, cost-controlled talent. Having arguably the best prospect in the draft fall to them in Alex Sarr was fortunate, and they added two more high-upside prospects in Bub Carrington and Kyshawn George.

Acquiring Carrington, a Maryland native, from the Portland Trail Blazers cost Washington forward Deni Avdija - who averaged a career-best 14.7 points per game for the tanking Wizards last season. Adding veterans like Jonas Valanciunas and Malcolm Brogdon will help the Wizards' young roster get up to speed in the NBA.