NBA offseason grades: Breaking down the moves in the Central Division

On the cusp of a new campaign, we're recapping the summer moves made by each NBA franchise, whether through the draft, trades, or free agency.

The Milwaukee Bucks are the undisputed favorites to capture a sixth straight Central Division crown after winning the Damian Lillard sweepstakes. The Cleveland Cavaliers are seeking a playoff breakthrough following a disappointing first-round exit. Meanwhile, the Chicago Bulls appear to be stuck in the middle with little financial flexibility.

The Indiana Pacers could push for a postseason berth with Tyrese Haliburton leading a promising group. The Detroit Pistons are poised to improve upon last season's 17-win campaign with Cade Cunningham back in the fold.

Be sure to check out our breakdowns for all six NBA divisions.

Atlantic | Central | Southeast
Northwest | Pacific | Southwest

Milwaukee Bucks

Last season: 58-24 (.707), lost in first round

Giannis Antetokounmpo has been vocal about his desire to win another title and wanted to see that same level of commitment from the Bucks before inking a new long-term contract. The club couldn't have responded in a better way, making the biggest splash of the offseason by adding Lillard in a three-team blockbuster trade. Now, Milwaukee is in prime position to keep Antetokounmpo for the duration of his prime years.

Make no mistake, Lillard is nowhere near the defensive player that Jrue Holiday was, but his unlimited shooting range will keep the opposition from consistently packing the paint against Antetokounmpo. Lillard also gives Antetokounmpo a lethal pick-and-roll partner that the two-time MVP never quite had in previous seasons. The Bucks are betting on the offensive upgrade to significantly outweigh the drop-off defensively.

Outside of Lillard, the roster remains relatively the same. The Bucks retained two key pieces from their championship-winning squad - Brook Lopez and Khris Middleton - and 3-and-D wing Jae Crowder. They signed sharpshooter Malik Beasley on the veteran's minimum. The 26-year-old has finished each of the last two seasons in the top 10 in triples made and will likely fill the minutes vacated by Grayson Allen.

The Bucks took their time in replacing Jevon Carter but eventually addressed the backup point guard role, signing veteran Cameron Payne to a one-year deal. Payne's scoring and playmaking off the bench was a key part of the Phoenix Suns' run to the 2021 Finals, and he'll look to replicate that with his new team.

There will be a ton of pressure on first-year head coach Adrian Griffin to deliver, but Milwaukee will have multiple cracks at the Larry O'Brien Trophy with Antetokounmpo and Lillard both under contract for at least two seasons.

Grade: A

Cleveland Cavaliers

Last season: 51-31 (.622), lost in first round

The Cavaliers made it a priority to surround Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland, and Evan Mobley with more outside shooting. It was one of their downfalls in their opening-round playoff loss to the New York Knicks, as they converted just 32.7% of their attempts from deep. The signings of Max Strus, Georges Niang, and Ty Jerome should help a squad that ranked 19th in threes made per game (11.6) last season.

Strus knocked down 37.6% of his 3-pointers over the last two seasons. The undrafted wing's ability to shoot on the move should provide ample space in the post for Mobley to operate and open driving lanes for Mitchell and Garland to exploit. Niang's effectiveness in the pick-and-pop will also create extra room on the floor.

Jerome was an under-the-radar addition with veteran guard Ricky Rubio taking an indefinite leave to focus on his mental health. The Virginia product averaged 6.9 points and three assists to go along with a 38.9% clip from long range over 45 appearances for the Golden State Warriors in 2022-23.

Meanwhile, Caris LeVert stayed put at a reasonable price and term. The 6-foot-6 wing has done a little bit of everything in parts of two seasons in Cleveland, giving the team some offensive punch off the bench, secondary playmaking, and solid perimeter defense.

With more depth across the board, expect Cleveland's young nucleus to take another step.

Grade: B+

Chicago Bulls

Last season: 40-42 (.488), lost in play-in tournament

It was evident early in the offseason that Chicago wasn't interested in a rebuild. A few days before the start of free agency, the Bulls' brass inked Nikola Vucevic to a three-year, $60-million extension. Their decision to double down on a core that's very likely hit its ceiling meant the organization had to be mindful of how it went about its business the rest of the summer.

Chicago found good value in free-agent deals for Carter (three years, $19.5 million) and Torrey Craig (two years, $5.4 million). Both players provide some much-needed firepower to last season's league-worst 3-point attack and defensive grit to an already stingy unit. The Bulls also didn't break the bank to re-sign Ayo Dosunmu and Coby White. Both are only in their early 20s and could easily outplay their new contracts if they continue developing.

Still, it all comes back to Vucevic's big-money deal. The club had an opportunity to tear down the roster and start fresh. Instead, they returned a roster that failed to make the postseason and now sit approximately $4.5 million below the luxury-tax first apron, according to Spotrac.

Grade: D+

Indiana Pacers

Last season: 35-47 (.427), missed playoffs

The Pacers' most important piece of business came at the beginning of the offseason when they locked up Haliburton to a five-year, $205.9-million extension. The Iowa State product has blossomed into a cornerstone piece since his arrival from the Sacramento Kings in February 2022, and it was a no-brainer to get him signed long term.

Indiana then agreed to a two-year, $45-million contract with versatile wing Bruce Brown. His outside shooting, secondary playmaking, and defensive chops were invaluable during the Denver Nuggets' championship run last season. While Brown's $22.5-million salary is quite a raise, the risk is minimal as the club holds an option for the second year.

Swapping two future second-round picks for the final year of Obi Toppin's rookie deal was another move worth the price. The former top-10 selection struggled to find playing time behind Julius Randle but shined when he got the occasional start, averaging 20.8 points, 5.7 boards, and 3.1 assists across 15 appearances in the New York Knicks' first five. He'll have a bigger role on a young Pacers team and seems to be an ideal fit for the club's up-tempo style.

Indiana's bottom-five defense will get a boost from rookie forward Jarace Walker. The lottery pick's lateral quickness, 240-pound frame, and 7-foot-2 wingspan made him one of the most versatile defenders in college basketball and that should translate at the next level.

The Pacers' lone blemish was their extension negotiations with Buddy Hield. The two sides failed to strike a new deal over the summer, and the Oklahoma product is now reportedly open to a move elsewhere. He's been among the Association's premier 3-point marksmen over the last five seasons and has been an integral part of Indiana's locker room.

Grade: B+

Detroit Pistons

Last season: 17-65 (.207), missed playoffs

Detroit's perpetual rebuild might finally be on the right track. The Pistons handed Monty Williams, who previously turned the Suns into contenders, an NBA-record six-year, $78.5-million contract to engineer a similar change of fortunes. Cunningham is now healthy after playing just 12 games last season and turned heads at Team USA's training camp ahead of the FIBA World Cup.

Jaden Ivey and Jalen Duren are coming off NBA All-Rookie second-team campaigns. Ausar Thompson, who Detroit took with this year's No. 5 pick, flashed his two-way potential at Summer League. The Pistons' decision to reward Isaiah Stewart with a four-year, $64-million extension raised some eyebrows, but his value to the franchise is undeniable. The big man has developed into a multi-positional defender, and his development into a stretch-four threat has given the club a bit more lineup flexibility.

With the roster light on veterans, Detroit used its cap space to take on the salaries of Monte Morris and Joe Harris. Their outside shooting should bolster an anemic offense that ranked 22nd in 3-point percentage (35.1%) last season. If the Pistons fall out of playoff contention, their expiring contracts can be flipped at the trade deadline.

Grade: B-