Part 3 of the much anticipated, long awaited and wildly procrastinated (hand up, that's on me) NBA Free Agency Grades is finally here. One of the rare occasions where delaying the finale actually worked out, as we had some additional movement in the embers of a scorching hot free agency summer. Alas, it pains me to admit it, but the Godfather still has it.

That's right: Pat "The Don" Riley's Miami Heat won the 2026 NBA offseason. Because when Giannis decides he wants to get his Greek Freak on in the city Will Smith turned into a 1997 smash hit, and Klay "I didn't cheat" Thompson follows suit for the low, low price of a Dallas buyout, then you win.

This is the final installment of RateGame's series grading all 30 offseasons on the 0.0-10 scale our Sports Fans use on every game: the ten franchises that actually got better, counted down to No. 1. The theme of this group is clarity: every team here knew exactly what it needed, and executed.

 

The top ten, ranked

#10 Dallas Mavericks | 6.8 🟢

• In: Zaccharie Risacher (trade), Santi Aldama (trade), Marcus Sasser (trade)

• Re-signed: Moussa Cisse (matched offer sheet)

• Out: Ryan Nembhard → Hawks (trade), AJ Johnson → Grizzlies (trade), Klay Thompson → Heat (August buyout)

Why'd they do it? New president Masai Ujiri and new coach Dusty May, who still has some of that Natty confetti in his coffee cup, are building around reigning Rookie of the Year Cooper Flagg, and every move - buying low on a 21-year-old (!) former No. 1 pick, adding Aldama's stretch skill - is explicitly about the future.

How'd they do? 6.8/10. Ujiri spent his first summer buying talent at its cheapest moment. If Risacher becomes what Atlanta gave up on, Dallas stole a second lottery talent for a backup point guard. They also paid Klay Thompson to go chase ring five in Miami; a graceful August exit that cost nothing but cash and cleared the runway for the kids. Cooper Flagg is sick and tired of hearing about skinny Luka FWIW.

#9 Detroit Pistons | 7.0 🟢

• In: John Collins (3yr/$51M), Isaiah Joe (trade), Taurean Prince + Gary Harris (trade)

• Re-signed: Kevin Huerter (3yr/$27M)

• Out: Tobias Harris → Spurs (FA), Isaiah Stewart → Grizzlies (trade), Caris LeVert → Bucks (trade)

Why'd they do it? The East's No. 1 seed exited the playoffs early for one reason: shooting. So Detroit bought shooting three different ways and surrounded Cade Cunningham with it. Someone needs to tell Jalen Duren the street they named after him doesn't mean he gets what he wants. It's a city planning thing Jalen.

How'd they do? 7.0/10. They diagnosed the flaw, fixed it three ways, and didn't overpay to do it. The Jalen Duren standoff - described as "awfully nasty" by the people paid to know - is the one thread that could unravel the grade, though the two sides are now reportedly circling a 4yr/$160M number, down from Duren's opening ask of five years and $287M. (Sure, Jalen. And I'd like a castle in Scotland.) The calendar gives them about a month. Detroit, please; the group project is due.

#8 San Antonio Spurs | 7.3 🟢

• In: Tobias Harris (2yr/$31M)

• Re-signed: Victor Wembanyama (5yr/$252M max extension), Julian Champagnie (3yr/$45M), Harrison Barnes (1yr/$8M)

• Out: None

Why'd they do it? Fresh off a Finals run, the only assignment was to sign Wemby, change nothing that works, and add a grown-up forward.

How'd they do? 7.3/10. Wembanyama taking the 25% max instead of chasing supermax escalators is a franchise-altering discount worth up to $51M. Where have I seen this before?! (Cough, cough...Brunson) The Spurs were humbled into one of the league's better offseasons by doing what Wembanyama did during his retreat at the Shaolin Temple: looking inward. Rather than chase validation through a splashy overhaul, the Spurs accepted what they already had, retained their core and focused on strengthening it.

#7 Los Angeles Lakers | 7.5 🟢

• In: Walker Kessler (sign-and-trade, 4yr/$130M), Quentin Grimes (4yr/$60M), Sandro Mamukelashvili (4yr/$52M), Collin Sexton (2yr/$19M), Jaden Hardy (trade), Kevon Looney (1yr), Matisse Thybulle (1yr), Ziaire Williams (1yr)

• Re-signed: Austin Reaves (4yr/$185M)

• Out: LeBron James → 76ers (FA), Deandre Ayton → Wizards (trade), Rui Hachimura → Clippers (FA), Marcus Smart → Rockets (FA), Luke Kennard → Suns (FA), Jaxson Hayes → Jazz (FA)

Why'd they do it? One does not simply replace LeBron James. They acknowledged that replacing him is impossible and built a exciting whites conventional roster around skinny Luka instead: a real starting center, four bench pieces with defined 9-5 jobs, and Reaves locked in.

How'd they do? 7.5/10. They lost the greatest player of two entire basketball generations but came out deeper. Albeit less glamorous than chasing another superstar, and probably healthier for the franchise...speaking of healthier...I mean have you seen this man?! This poor guy has been through more divorces (both personally and in team ownership) than Kim K. He's fitting right in to LA.

#6 Utah Jazz | 7.8 🟢

• In: Jaxson Hayes (2yr/$12M), Josh Okogie (2yr/$12M)

• Re-signed: Jusuf Nurkic (2yr/$22M)

• Out: Walker Kessler → Lakers (sign-and-trade: unprotected 2031 + 2033 firsts, 2028 + 2030 swaps)

Why'd they do it? When a center they weren't going to max asked out, the Jazz made the buyer pay full price: two unprotected firsts and two swaps from a franchise whose 2031-2033 outlook is anyone's guess. Then they drafted Darryn Peterson at No. 2, who looks determined to shed the shenanigans of his one-and-done at Kansas. SLAM cover curse loading? Is that even a thing? It should be if he flops.

How'd they do? 7.8/10. Unprotected Lakers picks half a decade out (lol what are we doing here btw) have historically been lottery tickets that cash. Peterson plus that haul makes this the best value-extraction summer in the league.

#5 Charlotte Hornets | 8.0 🟢

• In: Naz Reid + huge pick haul (LaMelo trade), Grayson Allen + Royce O'Neale + unprotected 2033 first (Bridges trade), Dorian Finney-Smith + 3 seconds (for nothing)

• Re-signed: Coby White (3yr/$74M)

• Out: LaMelo Ball → Wolves (trade), Josh Green → Wolves, Miles Bridges → Suns (trade)

 

Why'd they do it? The good folks of Charlotte were being held hostage in their own homes, the threat of a LaMelo hit-and-run looming at every 4-way intersection. A citizens arrest reset was needed: sell LaMelo at peak reckless driving, sell Bridges with an unprotected first attached, get paid to absorb Finney-Smith, and walk away holding the largest traded-player exception in NBA history (~$40.8M).

How'd they do? 8.0/10. Charlotte turned two headaches into a first, a swap portfolio, three useful veterans and record-setting flexibility. The rebuild finally has an adult in the room.

#4 Portland Trail Blazers | 8.2 🟢

• In: Ja Morant (trade - for Jerami Grant and Kris Murray, no picks)

• Re-signed: Robert Williams III (3yr/$44M)

• Out: Jerami Grant → Grizzlies (trade), Kris Murray → Grizzlies, Matisse Thybulle → Lakers (FA)

Why'd they do it? A two-time All-Star in his prime became available for a contract Portland wanted off the books anyway.

How'd they do? 8.2/10. Whatever you think of Morant's last two seasons - hand grenades and all - acquiring him without surrendering a single draft pick is larceny. As for the Lillard-Holiday-Morant-Henderson logjam: Portland has spent all of August swatting away Jrue Holiday offers, and the stated plan is that everybody stays while somebody (Scoot? Ja?!) learns to love the bench. Four starting point guards, one basketball; the geometry is due by opening night.

#3 Washington Wizards | 8.5 🟢

• In: Deandre Ayton (trade), Khris Middleton (6-team sign-and-trade, 3yr/$17.6M)

• Re-signed: Trae Young (4yr/~$212M)

• Out: D'Angelo Russell → Grizzlies (trade), Jaden Hardy → Lakers (trade)

Why'd they do it? The rebuild flipped to fast-forward: lock in Trae Young as the franchise guard, hand No. 1 pick AJ Dybantsa a functional roster on day one, and buy Ayton's starter minutes for spare parts.

How'd they do? 8.5/10. A year ago this was the league's saddest depth chart; now it's Young, Dybantsa, Anthony Davis and Ayton with vet shooting around them. The most improved outlook in basketball.

#2 Philadelphia 76ers | 8.8 🟢

• In: LeBron James (2yr/$8M), Jaylen Brown (trade), Anfernee Simons (2yr/$12.3M), Dean Wade (4yr/$39M), Ariel Hukporti (1yr)
• Re-signed: Options exercised on Barlow, Terry
• Out: Paul George → Celtics (trade), Quentin Grimes → Lakers (FA), Kelly Oubre Jr. → Pacers (FA), Andre Drummond → Knicks (FA), Johni Broome → Clippers (trade)

Why'd they do it? New basketball boss Mike Gansey compressed a decade of Process patience into one month: swap George's contract for a 29-year-old Jaylen Brown, then win the LeBron sweepstakes at eight million dollars - the discount of the century for a 41-year-old chasing ring five.

How'd they do? 8.8/10. Embiid, Brown, Maxey, Edgecombe and LeBron is either a title team or the most spectacular medical gamble ever assembled.

#1 Miami Heat | 9.3 🟢

• In: Giannis Antetokounmpo + Bobby Portis (trade), Tim Hardaway Jr. (1yr/$6.5M)

• Re-signed: Andrew Wiggins (opt-in + extension, 3yr/$64M)

• Out: Tyler Herro → Bucks (trade), Kel'el Ware → Bucks, Jaime Jaquez Jr. → Bucks, Kasparas Jakucionis → Bucks, Norman Powell → Bulls (FA)

  

Why'd they do it? Pat Riley's organization spent a decade hunting a generational whale and finally landed the biggest one of the era. You empty the boat for Giannis.

How'd they do? 9.3/10. Miami gave up four young players and a pile of picks and it isn't close to too much: a two-time MVP in his prime, in Miami, with Bam behind him. And then, while the rest of the league's checkbooks were closed for the summer, Riley waited out the buyout market and added the fourth-greatest shooter of all time (by threes made; you can argue amongst yourselves) for $11.5M over two years. The first of two offseasons this summer that changed who can win the title. The once weak East Coast is suddenly lethal with the New York title holders, City of LeBrotherly Love, and the Miami oh sheeeeet.

Frequently asked questions

Who won NBA free agency in 2026?

The Miami Heat, who acquired Giannis Antetokounmpo from Milwaukee for Tyler Herro, Kel'el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kasparas Jakucionis and a package of picks — the one move of the summer that directly changes the title race.

Why did LeBron James sign with the 76ers?

Because the Knicks said no. I cannot believe that is a real sentence in the year 2026. No but for real, this is the final title run: at 41, he took a two-year, $8M deal (with a player option) to join Joel Embiid, Jaylen Brown and Tyrese Maxey in Philadelphia after eight seasons with the Lakers.

How did the Lakers do after losing LeBron?

Better than expected — a 7.5/10. They re-signed Austin Reaves, added Walker Kessler via sign-and-trade, and signed Grimes, Mamukelashvili, Sexton, Looney, Thybulle and Ziaire Williams to build a deeper, more conventional roster around Luka Doncic.

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Sources: ESPN, NBA.com, HoopsRumors, Yahoo Sports, CBS Sports, Sports Illustrated, Bleacher Report and team beat outlets; every move cross-verified against multiple reports as of July 30, 2026. Grades are RateGame's own. Every one of these rosters gets its real grade starting in October — one game at a time, rated by Sports Fans like you. The app is free, and opening night is closer than you think.