Spurs and Jazz top ESPN’s NBA offseason report card
ESPN’s Zach Kram gave San Antonio and Utah A grades, while Miami’s Giannis splash landed only a B.
By Deshawn Carter · Sports Writer
3 min read
Victor Wembanyama’s new deal is the kind of contract math that can make a front office grin. ESPN’s Zach Kram put the San Antonio Spurs at the top of his NBA offseason grades after the team signed Wembanyama to a 25% maximum extension instead of a possible 30% supermax.
According to Kram, that structure could save the Spurs more than $50 million over five years as they try to build and keep a championship-level roster around their franchise star. San Antonio received an A, with Kram also noting Tobias Harris’ two-year deal helped fill a roster need.
Kram’s grades covered trades, free-agent signings and extensions, while leaving out 2026 draft picks. He wrote that a C should be read as neutral, with higher marks showing teams met at least some of their summer goals. ESPN said LeBron James’ latest decision was still pending, but most moves affecting the 2026-27 season had already happened.
Jazz cash in on Kessler
The Utah Jazz also earned an A from Kram, largely because of their trade involving Walker Kessler. ESPN’s breakdown said Utah received two unprotected first-round picks and two swaps for Kessler, whom Kram described as a good player rather than a star-level one.
Kram wrote that losing Kessler makes Utah a less tempting dark-horse pick for next season. He also pointed to questions about how coach Will Hardy will use Jaren Jackson Jr. at center, with Jusuf Nurkic and free-agent addition Jaxson Hayes not viewed in the piece as high-end starters.
Hawks, Hornets and Sixers get strong marks
Atlanta, Charlotte and Philadelphia each received A-minus grades from ESPN.
For the Hawks, Kram wrote that the team may not have added a starter, depending on Quin Snyder’s rotation, though it kept CJ McCollum on a one-year deal. ESPN credited Atlanta for improving its bench by adding Luguentz Dort, Aaron Wiggins, Devin Carter and Ryan Nembhard.
Charlotte’s grade came after a major reset. Kram wrote that the Hornets traded Miles Bridges and LaMelo Ball, built up one of the league’s largest stores of draft picks and shifted attention toward Brandon Miller and Kon Knueppel. ESPN also cited the re-signing of Coby White and the trade for Dorian Finney-Smith and picks as positive moves.
Philadelphia’s A-minus centered on the trade that sent out 36-year-old Paul George and brought in 29-year-old Jaylen Brown. Kram wrote that Brown and Dean Wade put the 76ers in better shape at forward and gave the team a narrower route to the Finals alongside Joel Embiid.
Giannis arrives, but Miami gets a B
Houston received a B-plus from ESPN after adding Marcus Smart and re-signing Tari Eason to a five-year, $81.5 million deal. Kram called Eason’s restricted free-agent contract one of the summer’s best values, while noting Houston gave up three second-round picks to move Finney-Smith’s contract.
Memphis earned a B after trading Ja Morant to Portland for Jerami Grant and Kris Murray, with no draft picks included, according to ESPN. Kram wrote that Morant’s value had fallen and that Memphis appeared focused on a fresh build around Cameron Boozer, Cedric Coward and Zach Edey.
Miami also landed a B despite acquiring Giannis Antetokounmpo. Kram called him a top-five NBA player, but wrote that the Heat still did not look like true title contenders as built, citing backcourt concerns, limited depth and few remaining draft assets. ESPN said a LeBron James return to Miami would change that outlook.
Milwaukee received a B for the Antetokounmpo trade. Kram wrote that the Bucks brought back a strong package of picks and young players from Miami, while criticizing their four-year, $64 million deal with Gary Trent Jr.
This story draws on original reporting from ESPN.com.