No. 10: Chicago Sky

10 of 13

David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images

Notable Additions: Courtney Vandersloot, Rebecca Allen, Kia Nurse

Notable Departures: Lindsay Allen (Connecticut Sun), Dana Evans (Las Vegas Aces), Diamond DeShields (Connecticut Sun)

As a quick disclaimer, there’s room for movement here once we get closer to the regular season. As of this writing, the Sky only have nine players under contract. The draft plus late additions in free agency—do they bring back Isabelle Harrison? —will make it a little easier to break down and project with this roster.

As it stands: It’s hard not to be excited about the Angel Reese (balling in Unrivaled) and Kamilla Cardoso (balling in China) duo up front. The addition of Vandersloot should make life much easier for them. Her entry passing and screening should lead to deeper catches and more fruitful scoring opportunities.

The additions of Allen and Nurse add much-needed shooting to the room. I’m particularly excited about the defensive versatility of Allen and what kind of lineups she may unlock.

As we wait for the roster to round out, it’s fair to be concerned about the scoring potential of this group.

Suns Receive Low Free Agency Grade After Notable Departures originally appeared on Athlon Sports.

It has been a busy offseason for the Phoenix Suns, though most of their moves came outside of free agency.

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Phoenix began their offseason by trading Kevin Durant to the Houston Rockets for Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, the draft rights to Khaman Maluach and five second-round picks.

They then acquired Mark Williams from the Charlotte Hornets during the NBA draft and selected Rasheer Fleming and Koby Brea in the second round.

© Allan Henry-Imagn Images

Despite these moves, the Suns have only made one free agent signing thus far as they signed Nigel Hayes-Davis from the EuroLeague.

Phoenix also had multiple notable departures this offseason as Tyus Jones, Cody Martin and Mason Plumlee all signed with new teams.

With their lack of moves in free agency, Bleacher Report’s Greg Swartz gave the Suns a C- free agency grade.

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“Phoenix is still over the second apron even after trading Kevin Durant and his $54.7 million salary, so they are limited to veteran minimum deals and re-signing their own free agents,” Swarz wrote. “Even so, Martin was waived to cut the tax bill while Jones (Orlando Magic) and Plumlee (Charlotte Hornets) have both departed. The Suns’ only signing to date, Hayes-Davis, hasn’t played in the NBA since the 2017-18 season, although he’s been incredibly successful in the EuroLeague and passed up a contract that would have paid him more than the $2 million he’ll make from the Suns this season.”

Swartz made a great point about the Suns failing to move below the second apron despite making many moves this offseason, the biggest being the Durant trade.

Phoenix Suns guard Bradley Beal (3).Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Due to this, Phoenix has had issues with making other moves but more moves are expected to be made as Bradley Beal could end up being bought out and both Grayson Allen and Royce O’Neal have been in trade rumors.

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Either way, the Suns’ roster looks much different heading into next season but Devin Booker is still the one leading the charge for Phoenix as they try to bounce back after another disappointing season.

This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 9, 2025, where it first appeared.

The NFL free agency and trade insanity is here for 2024 with the open negotiations period starting on Monday, March 11, and the new league year set to go into effect on Wednesday.

MORE: NFL free agency grades for all 32 teams

Like every year, several potential free agents are staying off the market, either re-signed or franchise-tagged by their teams, but many others are set to change teams by either agreeing to terms with another club or being traded.

Sporting News will once again provide the latest analysis of the most significant moves around the NFL. Keep track of all the key signings and trades during 2024 NFL free-agency below.

NFL FREE AGENCY 2024: Live tracker | Winners & losers | Best still available

NFL free agency grades 2024: The latest key signings and trades

Grading 75 overall free agent signings

BEST FREE AGENTS AVAILABLE: QBs | RBs | WRs | Defense

Falcons sign QB Kirk Cousins for 4 years, $180 million

A — The Falcons are truly a quarterback away from being a playoff contender. He gives the team the big edge at the position in the division and this is a great offensive fit for him with Zac Robinson.

Raiders sign DT Christian Wilkins for 4 years, $110 million

A — The Raiders land their much-needed inside pass rusher and run-stopping force to complement Maxx Crosby from the edge. It’s typical aggressive Tom Telesco splurge for a defensive star.

Texans sign EDGE Danielle Hunter for 2 years, $49 million

A —The Texans saw Jonathan Greenard go to the Vikings so they took Hunter away fromm the Vikings for a higher price knowing they’ll keep their pass rush very disruptive and Hunter can keep thriving under DeMeco Ryans.

Vikings sign EDGE Jonathan Greenard for 4 years, $76 million

A — The Vikings needed to reboot their pass rush with Danielle Hunter not being re-signed for Brian Flores’ defense. Greenard, coming off breakout production in Houston, is a fine new starting end for their scheme.

Jets sign OT Tyron Smith for 1 year

B — The Jets do sometjing late with their offensive line but there must be some concern outside of Dallas what the Cowboys future Hall of Famer has left at age 33 in front of Aaron Rodgers. Offensive tackle still should be a draft priority.

Eagles sign EDGE Bryce Huff for 3 years, $51 million

A — The Eagles needed to get younger on the pass rush and replenish the defensive front for Vic Fangio. Huff, the rising former Jet, fits that philosophy.

Texans sign DT Denico Autry for 2 years, $20 million

A — It’s a nice price to upgrade the DeMeco Ryans front with a versatile producer and also takes away from the division rival Titans.

Lions sign DT D.J. Reader for 2 years, $27.25 million

A — The Lions needed to beef up inside and getting the former Texans and Bengals run stopper was smart.

Dolphins sign CB Kendall Fuller for 2 years, $16.5 million

A — Miami had to move on from Xavien Howard and gets Fuller at a nice price to start opposite Jalen Ramsey.

Jets sign WR Mike Williams

B- — It’s a worthy flyer on the released former Charger big-play and red zone threat, but age and injury are concerns opposite Garrett Wilson to the point the team might need to find the true No. 2 for Aaron Rodgers in the draft.

Chiefs sign WR Marquise Brown for 1 year, $11 million

A — Brown is the ideal deep threat to pair with Patrick Mahomes to play off Travis Kelce and Rashee Rice. He’s a nice upgrade from Marquez Valdes-Scantling.

Rams sign S Kamren Curl for 2 years, $13 million

A — The Rams score a big-time playmaker for their secondary in the transition to new defensive coordinator Chris Shula.

Bengals sign OT Trent Brown

A — The Bengals waited until late to get the versatile veteran to give them an extra needed pass-protection option.

Titans sign WR Calvin Ridley for 4 years, $92 million

B- — The Titans fill a big need for a new downfield target for Will Levis in the new offense of Bill Callahan, but they spent a ton for someone who was inconsistent and disappointing for division rival Jacksonville.

Panthers sign G Robert Hunt for 5 years, $100 million

A — Carolina badly needed to get more athletic and improve its run blocking and Hunt does the trick inside after another strong season in Miami.

Titans sign CB Chidobe Awuzie for 3 years

B — Awuzie is a top-seasoned corner when healthy so he should help a weak spot for Tennessee assuming he recovers well from his torn ACL.

Lions sign G Kevin Zeitler for 1 year

A — Detroit added key depth behind re-signed Graham Glasgow with Jonah Jackson leaving.

Eagles sign RB Saquon Barkley for 3 years, $37.8 million

C — This is a very expensive pickup as a feature back who is rather inconsistent and both big-play and big-run dependent. The Eagles don’t throw much to the running back, either. He will be productive, but they could have gotten away with a cheaper option.

Packers sign RB Josh Jacobs for 4 years, $48 million

A — With the team releasing Aaron Jones and A.J. Dillon being a free agent, this is a workhorse upgrade for an underrated rushing attack to help Jordan Love. Jacobs, the former prolific Raider, also can be a nice outlet in the passing game.

Saints sign EDGE Chase Young

B — Young didn’t get a lot of interest early after the 49ers had no interest in brining back so the Saints took a much-needed flyer on him.

Ravens sign RB Derrick Henry for 2 years, $20 million

A — This was not a well-kept secret that Baltimore was targeting the “King” to replace Gus Edwards and JK Dolbbins. This is a great move as the power-running complement to Lamar Jackson’s rushing and downfield passing. Henry can stay productive on a Super Bowl contender.

Steelers sign QB Russell Wilson for 1 year, $1.2 million

A — Wilson finds his third team after Seattle and Denver at age 35, trying to save his career. Pittsburgh gets a cheap contingency for Kenny Pickett as it tries to improve its offense overall. Given the near-minimum price, it’s a low-risk, high-reward move.

Commanders sign LB Frankie Luvu for 3 years, $36 million

A — Dan Quinn’s defense scores the best pure linebacker on the market, one that has some second-level pass rush juice. The former Panther is not at the level of Micah Parsons, but can play that hybrid role well in Washington.

Steelers sign LB Patrick Queen for 3 years, $41 million

A — The Steelers have been trying to fill the big cleats of Ryan Shazier for years with a rangy, active linebacker and the bonus in landing Queen to fill that void is also weakening the Ravens.

Vikings sign EDGE Andrew Van Ginkel for 2 years, $20 million

B — The Vikings got Greenard to replace Hunter and also added the versatile playmaking of Van Ginkel for Flores whose coverage will be a nice complement to Greenard’s upfield pass rush work.

Seahawks sign LB Tyrel Dodson

A — After seeing Jordyn Brooks and Bobby Wagner land elsewhere, the Seahawks should feel great about landing Dodson coming off a big year of making plays for Buffalo.

Packers sign S Xavier McKinney for 4 years, $68 million

B+ — The Packers splurged a bit to fill one of their weak defensive spots as they also parted away with Darnell Savage at the same to ensure a major all-around playmaking upgrade.

Bengals sign S Geno Stone

B — The former Raven had a breakout year working in a unique three-safety set and the Bengals desperately needed some help at the position after free-agent departures killed it last season.

Commanders sign RB Austin Ekeler for 2 years, $11.43 million

A — Washington got Ekeler on the cheap here to add a key cog to the new passing game under Kliff Kingsbury. He’s a good complement to Brian Robinson Jr. and will have a key outlet role for a young QB.

Commanders sign LB Bobby Wagner

A — Wagner keeps plugging away as a high-level future Hall of Fame playmaker and reunites with former Seahawks defensive coordinator Dan Quinn to be a team leader.

Browns sign LB Jordan Hicks for 2 years, $8 million

B — Hicks has a little left in the tank to help Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah with his solid upfield and lateral tackling vs. run and pass.

Falcons sign WR Darnell Mooney for 3 years, $39 million

A — Mooney was one of the more underrated values in free agency and he’s a perfect fit as a complement to Drake London and Kyle Pitts with his big-play ability with now big-armed QB Kirk Cousins.

Titans sign RB Tony Pollard for 3 years, $24 million

C — Pollard was underwhelming as a lead back in Dallas and there’s some redundancy with the explosive potential and receiving skills for second-year back Tyjae Spears. But it’s clear Brian Callahan’s offense is going away from the power running of Derrick Henry and trying to get more wide open.

Commanders sign EDGE Dorrance Armstrong for 3 years, $45 million

B — Dan Quinn’s influence brings one of his underrated Cowboys pass rusher to town to boost a unit that traded Montez Sweat and Chase Young.

Titans sign C Lloyd Cushenberry for 4 years, $50 million

B — The Titans had to replace free agent Aaron Brewer inside and they land Cushenberry, a stout blocker to anchor next to Peter Skoronski.

Dolphins sign LB Jordyn Brooks for 3 years, $30 million

C — Miami got Brooks and former Brown Anthony Walker to try to help David Long Jr. but it is hoping the Seattle first-rounder gets back on track upfield vs. the run and in the pass rush.

Eagles sign LB Devin White for 1 year, $7.5 million

B — White had struggled a bit for the Bucs of late as his speed and range didn’t translate into the same playmaking reliability but he’s a good rather cheap flyer for Philadelphia’s defense under Vic Fangio.

Bills sign WR Curtis Samuel for 3 years, $24 million

B — Buffalo lands a versatile extra weapon inside with Gabe Davis gone outside to better support Stefon Diggs, Khalil Shakir and Dalton Kincaid for Josh Allen.

Bengals sign DT Sheldon Rankins for 2 years, $26 million

B — It’s a pretty solid deal for the former Texan, who will replace another former Texan, free agent D.J. Reader, as a key run stopper.

Dolphins sign C Aaron Brewer for 3 years, $21 million

B — The Dolphins picked up the former Titan, making it clear they don’t have the cap space to re-sign Connor Williams.

Rams sign G Jonah Jackson for 3 years, $51 million

A — The Rams took care of Kevin Dotson before free agency and with center Coleman Shelton as a free agent, they upgraded the interior with the former Lions starter.

Bears sign TE Gerald Everett for 2 years, $12 million

B — The Bears needed some depth here behind Cole Kmet for their new offense under Shane Waldron so in that sense it was a smart cheap deal.

Grading other key free agent signings

Jaguars sign DT Arik Armstead for 3 years, $51 million

B — Armstead had some injury issues and faded a bit for the 49ers, leading to his release. He still is a needed inside pass rush upgrade for Jacksonville and Trent Baalke, who drafted him in the first round in San Francisco in 2015.

Vikings sign RB Aaron Jones for 1 year, $7 million

B — Jones goes from the Packers to a division rival after they released him and the Vikings moved on from Alexander Mattison. Jones is a good fit for the dynamic pass-first offense of Kevin O’Connell but the only considerable concern is whether Jones can still durably produce at 29.

Bengals sign RB Zack Moss for 2 years, $8 million

A — The Bengals have ended speculation about Joe Mixon’s future with this move and reports his release will happen. Moss, who was a supersub in the Colts’ offense for Jonathan Taylor last season, is a great replacement fit for not much money to complement second-year change of pace Chase Brown.

Vikings sign QB Sam Darnold for 1 year, $10 million

C — Darnold was expected to land here as at least a backup with the new Josh McCown connection but now there’s a real chance he will need to be a bridge starter. Without Cousins now, let’s hope MInnesota goes the first-round rookie route instead of a chance of re-creating last season’s Cousins-less mess.

Browns isgn QB Jameis Winston for 1 year, $8.5 million

B — Cleveland probably realized Joe Flacco isn’t an option again behind Deshaun Watson so going for a younger big-armed pocket type makes sense.

Patriots sign QB Jacoby Brissett

B — Brissett started his career in New England and has built up a good resume as a backup for any system. Now he’s bound to back up the QB the team takes at No. 3 overall in the draft with Mac Jones gone.

Jets sign QB Tyrod Taylor for 2 years

B — The Jets needed a veteran backup and contigency for Aaron Rodgers after last year’s Zach Wilson-led disaster and Taylor is the well-traveled journeyman go-to guy for those matters.

Giants sign QB Drew Lock for 1 year

C — Lock doesn’t inspire much lining up as Taylor’s replacement for Daniel Jones, especially with Tommy DeVito even looking more inspiring.

Raiders sign QB Gardner Minshew for 2 years, $25 million

C — His price isn’t as much as Jimmy Garoppolo, but it feels like the Raiders are playing the ugly backup bridge game at QB again, perhaps feeling out of luck for a top QB of choice at No. 13 overall in the draft. tt’s more likely they create a new pair of vet and rookie, with Minshew and the first-rounder mirroring his situation with the Colts as a better version of the Jimmy G-Aidan O’Connell combination from last season.

Commanders sign QB Marcus Mariota for 1 year

B — Washington gets the seasoned backup it needed to put behind either Drake Maye or Jayden Daniels, whichever QB it takes No. 2 overall for Kliff Kingsbury.

Jaguars sign WR Gabe Davis for 3 years, $39 million

C — The Jags are taking a shot on the former Bills very inconsistent deep threat, perhaps at the expense of keeping Calvin Ridley. Davis needs to show a lot more reliability, but he figures to be more of a complementary piece to Christian Kirk, Evan Engram and Zay Jones.

Bears sign RB D’Andre Swift for 3 years, $24.5 million

C — That’s a lot of spending on the former Lion and Eagle when durability and early-down power are concerns. Chicago felt it needed an upgrade over the young committee of Khalil Herbert and Roschon Johnson.

Giants sign RB Devin Singletary for 3 years, $16.5 million

B- — The Giants didn’t waste much time replacing Barkley with a feature option. Singletary ran OK for the Texans down the stretch and comes in knowing Brian Daboll’s offense from Buffalo, but there’s little upside here.

Vikings sign LB Blake Cashman for 3 years, 25.5 million

B — The Vikings needed someone to cover more ground and Cashman is coming off a solid rangy season under Ryans.

Patriots sign RB Antonio Gibson for 3 years, $11.25 million

C — Gibson is an average runner and pass-catcher who doesn’t feel like much of an improvement over Ezekiel Elliott to complement Rhamondre Stevenson.

Bears sign S Kevin Byard for 2 years, $15 million

B — The Bears needed to replace faded Eddie Jackson, and they get a solid upgrade for their defensive scheme despite the fact the former Titan gave the Eagles only limited late-season punch.

Jaguars sign C Mitch Morse for 2 years, $10.5 million

C — Morse fills another offensive line concern but the near 32-year-old showed signs of fading with the Bills last season.

Bills sign QB Mitch Trubisky for 2 years, $5.25 million

B — The Bills got their previous backup for Josh Allen in a favorable system for him, even with Joe Brady now as the offensive coordinator.

Bengals sign TE Mike Gesicki for 1 year

B — The Bengals also brought back blocking Drew Sample so Gesicki gives them a little extra receiving pop to help Joe Burrow.

Dolphins sign TE Jonnu Smith for 2 years, $10 million

C — The Dolphins added some needed depth inline in the former Falcon.

Giants sign G Jon Runyan for 3 years, $30 million

B — The Giants threw some good money at the former Packer as part of an expected, necessary offensive line overhaul in the offseason.

Chargers sign RB Gus Edwards for 2 years

C — Edwards brings a familiar back to Greg Roman for another Harbaugh but it’s surprising they weren’t more active for a true workhorse for a run-heavier scheme.

Grading key free-agent re-signings

Chiefs re-sign DT Chris Jones for 5 years, $160 million

A — It was a no-brainer to keep the third core member of the Super Bowl dynasty intact, as Jones is right up there with the league’s most indispensable defensive players.

Ravens re-sign DT Justin Madubuike for 4 years, $98 million

A — With Jones getting his deal, the Ravens could easily wrap it up for their inside pass-rushing disruptor.

Bears re-sign CB Jaylon Johnson for 4 years, $76 million

B — Although the price was surprisingly steep, the Bears had to make this move to keep their valuable shutdown-caliber corner.

Colts re-sign WR Michael Pittman Jr. for 3 years, $70 million

A — Pittman was essential to keep as the go-to guy for Anthony Richardson with real questions at the other wide receiver spots.

Buccaneers re-sign WR Mike Evans for 2 years, $52 million

A — The Buccaneers want him to end his Hall-of-Fame career in Tampa, and the short-term splurge was rather reasonable to get the job done.

Browns re-sign DT Maurice Hurst for 1 year, $3.2 million

A+ — This was a bargain retainment as Hurst was a valuable, versatile part of their strong line rotation last season.

Seahawks re-sign DT Leonard Wiliams for 3 years

A- — The Seahawks got good sack production from him after the trade with he Giants last season and hoping he’ll be more solid vs. the run in the new Mike Macdonald system.

Buccaneers re-sign QB Baker Mayfield for 3 years, $100 million

A — There was little reason to doubt this deal getting done, and it was done at the right market price for the right length of time, making sure the Mayfield-Evans connection stays rolling in the new offense.

Patriots re-sign OT Mike Onwenu for 3 years, $57 million

A- — Owenu was the easy choice to retain to anchor the offensive line over aging Trent Brown.

Rams re-sign G Kevin Dotson for 3 years, $48 million

A — Dotson was critical to the run-blocking resurgence to boost Kyren Williams, so he was a critical priority for Sean McVay.

Texans re-sign TE Dalton Schultz for 3 years, $36 million

A- — Schultz is solid all-around as a key target for C.J. Stroud and fits the offense, but the opportunity cost hurts a little.

Browns re-sign EDGE Za’Darius Smith for 2 years, $23.5 million

A — The Browns kept Hurst and Smith reasonably for Jim Schwartz to keep being fine complements to Myles Garrett.

Patriots re-sign EDGE Josh Uche

A — Uche was a good retaining move for defensive-minded new coach Jerod Mayo.

Colts re-sign CB Kenny Moore for 3 years, $30 million

A — Moore is an ace slot corner and the Colts were able to keep his strong coverage for a reasonable price.

Patriots re-sign TE Hunter Henry for 3 years, $30 million

B- — This move is OK because there’s not much else by way of veteran pass catchers in this offense, but the key now is finding a QB who can target Henry well with good chemistry.

Buccaneers re-sign LB Lavonte David for 1 year, $10 million

A — The Buccaneers keep the ageless leader and playmaking wonder on a very favorable return deal.

Colts re-sign DT Grover Stewart for 3 years, $39 million

A — He’s one of the most underrated and indispensable run stoppers in the league.

Raiders re-sign C Andre James for 3 years, $24 million

A — The Raiders keep a solid starter for a reasonable price, one of the better bargains on their offense.

Jaguars re-sign G Ezra Cleveland for 3 years, $28.5 million

C — The Jaguars didn’t want to further have offensive line issues, but they got a little desperate, overpaying an average-at-best starter.

Texans re-sign K Ka’imi Fairbairn for 3 years, $15.9 million

A — Fairbairn is one of the league’s most reliable big legs, and the Texans wanted to keep his range and accuracy intact.

Chiefs re-sign LB Drue Tranquill for 3 years, $19 million

A — Tranquill’s work as a cover linebacker guaranteed he would come back at a nice price for the champs.

Grading notable player trades

Titans trade draft picks to Chiefs for CB L’Jarius Sneed

A — The Chiefs didn’t want to pay too much to keep Sneed given their strength in finding late-round cornerbacks and also knowing how good Trent McDuffie is. The Titans were willing to go after a top corner and pay him to fill a key need.

Steelers trade conditional draft pick to Bears for QB Justin Fields

A — The Steelers couldn’t pass up on also trading for Fields for little given up in draft picks after spending a little more than a million for Wilson. They doubled up teir chances to hit a home run at the most important position under Arthur Smith.

Bears trade fourth-round pick to Chargers for WR Keenan Allen

C — We know what the Chargers are doing — starting fresh at wideout to avoid big cap hits from Williams and Allen, both aging durability concerns. But what are the Bears doing, willing to pay Allen his big salary when they aren’t sure what’s going yet with Justin Fields’ trade value? Allen on paper can work well with D.J. Moore, but there’s little confidence he can stay healthy given his previous wear now at 31.

Eagles trade third-, seventh-round picks to Steelers for QB Kenny Pickett

B — The Eagles needed a better young developmental backup for Jalen Hurts than Tanner McKee and they got him for a reasonable cost. The Steelers are fin blowing up their QB room after getting Russell Wilson with Pickett joining MItchell Trubisky and Mason Rudolph in leaving Pittsburgh.

Cardinals trade WR Rondale Moore to Falcons for QB Desmond Ridder

B — This is a mutually beneficially deal as the Falcons add yet another weapon for Kirk Cousins and the Cardinals get an ideal mobile backup for Kyler Murray.

Seahawks trade third- and fifth-round picks to Commanders for QB Sam Howell

C — This is a lot to give up for a shaky still developmental QB behind Geno Smith who shouldn’t have started last season. Washington aces this move while Seattle throws away draft picks.

Panthers trade CB Donte Jackson to Steelers for WR Diontae Johnson

B — This is an equal grade for both sides as the Steelers take a shot a talented corner who’s underachieved and the Panthers add a well-rounded route-running receiver who’s underwhelmed at times. The move fills a need for each team, with Jackson helping a defense get younger on the back end and Johnson being a new go-to guy for Bryce Young.

Texans trade for Bengals RB Joe Mixon

B- — The Bengals moved on with former Colts bargain Zack Moss and got the bonus of getting somethng for Mixon before releasing him. It’s curious why the Texans didn’t get in on any of the other younger, bigger RB free agents after not re-signing Devin Singletary. It’s a desperate move for a veteran, but Mixon should at least be a bit rejuvenated in their running scheme.

Giants trade second-, fifth-round picks for Panthers EDGE Brian Burns

C — The Giants also signed the former franchise-tagged player to a 5-year, $150 million deal to help Kayvon Thibodeaux. It’s a very high price tag after the compensation for more of a solid than spectacular rusher. Giants fans hope that Burns won’t be a free-agent sequel to Olivier Vernon.

Jaguars trade sixth-round pick for Patriots QB Mac Jones

B+ — While the Patriots wave the early white flag on Jones, who was taken 14 spots behind No. 1 overall pick Trevor Lawrence in the 2021 draft, the Jaguars score a seasoned young vet to upgrade his backup.

Browns trade fifth-, sixth-round picks for Broncos WR Jerry Jeudy

C — Jeudy is the ultimate flyer for the Browns, and the Broncos should have been prepared to get nothing for him. It was a strange addition for Cleveland with similar types in the offense and a loaded WR draft class.

Franchise-tagged players

Josh Allen, EDGE, Jaguars Antoine Winfield Jr., S, Buccaneers Tee Higgins, WR, Bengals

These were all smart moves because of their positional values and importance to their teams at the right non-quarterback positions. They will hope they can score pleasing long-term deals soon like Madubuike and Jaylon Johnson did right after being tagged. Higgins, however, is thinking tag and trade, much like what happened to te former Panthers edge rusher Burns. In addition, Patriots safety Kyle Dugger got the transition tag.

It’s time to hand out final grades on the 2021 offseason.

With training camp now two weeks away, we’re taking one last chance to rehash all that went down in a blur of an offseason.

Defining success is all relative when trying to gauge the success of any offseason, and it’s important to keep in mind the shifting priorities and realistic expectations weighed by each franchise. For some teams, sitting idly by and making minor tweaks is the best way to chart a course to contention. For others, sitting idly by and making minor tweaks is the surest way to the bottom of a 6-foot hole.

No two circumstances are alike, nor does roster-building exist in a vacuum. Context matters!

MORE: The top 50 storylines to watch in 2021-22

Could we sit back and hand out As and Bs to everyone? Of course! Taking the glass half-full approach, there’s a world in which the best-case scenario plays out for every team.

But we’re not doing that. Nope, not here. These grades operate on a curve and for each conference, no more than four teams can receive an A, at least four teams must receive a C, and at least one team must receive a dreaded D or F. Even if a team accomplished its primary objective, that doesn’t necessarily translate to a high grade, especially if there’s work left to be done.

We already handed out report cards to the Eastern Conference. Now it’s time to tackle the West.

(Click on any of the teams to skip down).

DAL | DEN | GSW | HOU | LAC | LAL | MEM | MIN | NOP | OKC | PHX | POR | SAC | SAS | UTAH

Dallas Mavericks

Additions : Sterling Brown (free agency), Reggie Bullock (free agency), Moses Brown (trade)

: Sterling Brown (free agency), Reggie Bullock (free agency), Moses Brown (trade) Departures: Josh Richardson (Celtics), JJ Redick (unsigned), Nicolo Melli (unsigned)

Biggest offseason priority: Appease Luka Doncic

The skinny: First and most importantly, the Mavericks locked in Doncic to a new five-year, $207 million extension, the richest rookie extension in NBA history. Entering the final year of his rookie season, the ascendant superstar is now signed through the 2026-27 season. Beyond a new contract — always a given — the Mavericks and new coach Jason Kidd face the pressure to build a winner around the 22-year-old wunderkind. They added some shooting in Reggie Bullock and Sterling Brown while jettisoning the underperforming Josh Richardson to Boston. Are Bullock and Brown really enough to move the needle? Dallas hopes that a full offseason of recovery for Kristaps Porzingis will lead to a rejuvenation and bounce-back year from someone they desperately need to pop. Outside of a few flashes, the on-court chemistry between Doncic and Porzingis has never been great, and while they didn’t have many attractive options to move off Porzingis this offseason, a breakup feels inevitable down the road. Outside of Doncic, the Mavericks once again look the part of a team destined for a first-round flameout.

Grade: C+

Denver Nuggets

Additions: Jeff Green (free agency), Nah’Shon Hyland (draft)

Jeff Green (free agency), Nah’Shon Hyland (draft) Departures: JaVale McGee (Suns), Paul Millsap (Nets)

Biggest offseason priority: Load up for Jamal Murray’s mid-season return

The skinny: The timing of Jamal Murray’s torn ACL couldn’t have been much worse. When Murray fell to the floor in Golden State last April, it not only sunk Denver’s title chance for 2021 but likewise placed 2022 in doubt. Just don’t tell the Nuggets.

They are operating under the guise that Murray will return sometime in the spring to make a serious run at coming out of the West. They brought back Will Barton, JaMychal Green and Austin Rivers while prying Jeff Green away from Brooklyn, which should be an upgrade over Paul Millsap (who ironically then signed with the Nets). Although they could have waited until next summer, Denver opted to extend Aaron Gordon, signing the versatile Swiss-army knife to a four-year, $92 million extension. It’s a big chunk of change, but Gordon means more to Denver than he would anyone else and is a perfect fit on both ends. With Michael Porter Jr. and Nikola Jokic in line for massive pay days, Denver is pushing its chips all in with this group. If Murray comes back healthy, this offseason puts the Nuggets on track to seriously contend in the West.

Grade: A-

Golden State Warriors

Additions: Nemanja Bjelica (free agency), Otto Porter Jr (free agency), Andre Iguodala (free agency), Jonathan Kuminga (draft), Moses Moody (draft)

Nemanja Bjelica (free agency), Otto Porter Jr (free agency), Andre Iguodala (free agency), Jonathan Kuminga (draft), Moses Moody (draft) Departures: Kelly Oubre (Hornets), Kent Bazemore (Lakers), Eric Paschall (Jazz)

​Biggest offseason priority: Open a new championship window

The skinny: With Klay Thompson returning from a torn Achilles, Stephen Curry performing at an MVP level and Draymond Green rekindling his DPOY potential, the Warriors fully expect to re-enter the title mix in 2022. Armed with a pair of lottery picks, 2020 No. 2 overall pick James Wiseman plus some high-dollar salary (Andrew Wiggins is on the hook for $31.6M this season), the Warriors could have aggressively pursued another star, perhaps one that rhymes with the names Chadley Neal or Ren Timmons. Instead, the Warriors maintain that they have enough firepower as currently constructed and hope at least one of the youngins pops. Perhaps they’re right to hold on to the future assets with the long game in mind. If they fall short, this could be seen as a wasted golden opportunity during the back end of Curry’s prime.

There’s genuine excitement about Golden State’s return to the upper echelon, and for good reason. Also looming is the potential for massive disappointment. Thompson hasn’t played in two years, Green is a zero offensively, and the Warriors were throttled in non-Curry minutes. The Lakers essentially played a box-and-1 against Curry in the play-in game, simultaneously a sign of limitless respect for Curry and utter disrespect for everyone else. Buying into the Warriors hype is the NBA equivalent of going all-in on crypto. In theory, the blockchain is aligned for a massive windfall. But until that potential pays out, that’s all it is — potential. For now, Bob Myers gets the benefit of the doubt.

Grade: B-

MORE: Golden State playing with fire in latest balancing act

Houston Rockets

Additions : Daniel Theis (trade), Jalen Green (draft), Alperun Sengun (draft), Usman Garuba (draft), Josh Christopher (draft)

: Daniel Theis (trade), Jalen Green (draft), Alperun Sengun (draft), Usman Garuba (draft), Josh Christopher (draft) Departures: Sterling Brown (Mavericks), Kelly Olynyk (Pistons)

Biggest offseason priority: Restock the cupboard

The skinny: The Rockets did about as well as they could have. Jalen Green is a strong candidate to lead all rookies in scoring while Alperun Sengun, Turkish League MVP at just 19 years old, has a chance to be one of the draft’s ultimate steals. There is a desire to find a taker for John Wall’s deal but at such a hefty price tag ($91.7 million over the next two years), the Rockets will be hard-pressed to find a taker unless they attach a pick. As I’ve mentioned elsewhere, gauging the success of an offseason entirely off draft picks necessitates a wait-and-see approach, especially if Green doesn’t pan out or underperforms relative to rookies taken later. Overall, a solid offseason for the rebuilding Rockets.

Grade: B+

LA Clippers

Additions : Justise Winslow (free agency), Eric Bledsoe (trade), Keon Johnson (draft), Jason Preston (draft), Brandon Boston (draft)

: Justise Winslow (free agency), Eric Bledsoe (trade), Keon Johnson (draft), Jason Preston (draft), Brandon Boston (draft) Departures: Patrick Beverley (Timberwolves), Rajon Rondo (Lakers), Daniel Oturu (Grizzlies)

Biggest offseason priority: Remain respectable sans Kawhi

The skinny: The Clippers are fascinating. On one hand, you might look at a team likely without Kawhi Leonard for the entire regular season as a lame duck squad simply waiting it out until 2022-23. On the other hand, you might look at them as a team with the opportunity to lay low pressure-free and simply bide their time in the shadows before emerging as a real threat if Leonard comes back. They brought back both Nic Batum and Reggie Jackson, that latter of whom erupted when given the opportunity to step up after Leonard’s injury. Out of necessity, Jackson averaged an efficient 21 points over his last eight playoff games, more than holding his own against both Donovan Mitchell and Chris Paul. Eric Bledsoe receives his fair share of criticism, but there is zero question that he stands to be a significant upgrade over Patrick Beverley, especially if asked to take on primary scoring responsibilities for the bench unit. Justise Winslow simply can’t stay healthy, but he’s an intriguing piece to slot into an amorphous team that stumbled into an identity once Leonard went down. The offseason set the Clippers up to compete even without their best player. And if he comes back? Watch out.

Grade: A-

Los Angeles Lakers

Additions : Russell Westbrook (trade), Carmelo Anthony (free agency), Dwight Howard (free agency), Trevor Ariza (free agency), Rajon Rondo (free agency), DeAndre Jordan (free agency), Wayne Ellington (free agency), Kent Bazemore (free agency), Malik Monk (free agency), Kendrick Nunn (free agency)

: Russell Westbrook (trade), Carmelo Anthony (free agency), Dwight Howard (free agency), Trevor Ariza (free agency), Rajon Rondo (free agency), DeAndre Jordan (free agency), Wayne Ellington (free agency), Kent Bazemore (free agency), Malik Monk (free agency), Kendrick Nunn (free agency) Departures: Kyle Kuzma (Wizards), Montrezl Harrell (Wizards), Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (Wizards), Andre Drummond (76ers), Dennis Schroder (Celtics), Marc Gasol (TBD), Alex Caruso (Bulls), Markieff Morris (Heat)

​Biggest offseason priority: Lots of botox.

The skinny: Whew. There’s a lot to unpack about the Lakers — too much for this space — but my overall perspective revolves around a one-word question: “Why?”

Why did the Lakers feel the need for such a drastic overhaul? The same team that won it all in the bubble looked ready to make another Finals run until Anthony Davis caught the injury bug at the wrong time. Revamping and retooling around LeBron and AD is one thing. But adding the highest-usage point guard in NBA history who also doubles as the worst high-volume shooter in NBA history feels unnecessary. There will be nights when Russell Westbrook takes over and looks amazing, but his addition feels like an 82-game decision more than a 16-game decision. Beyond Westbrook, the defense took a real hit and is a much larger concern than the low-hanging AARP fruit.

This team will be judged on what happens in May and June. If you’re a Lakers fan, do you really want your team’s fate resting on whether Westbrook can hit wide open 3s when left alone down the stretch of tight playoff games? The Lakers didn’t need a third star to win big. We know this because we literally just saw it. They needed shooting, defense and good health. They’re still the favorites to come out of the West and likely would have been regardless of what they did, so it’s not a full-blown “our heads are falling off” overreaction. But this offseason reeks of desperation for a team that didn’t need to act desperately.

Grade: C

MORE: How Westbrook can learn from Carmelo

Memphis Grizzlies

Additions : Steven Adams (trade), Jarrett Culver (trade), Kris Dunn (trade), Carsen Edwards (trade), Ziaire Williams (draft), Santi Aldama (draft)

: Steven Adams (trade), Jarrett Culver (trade), Kris Dunn (trade), Carsen Edwards (trade), Ziaire Williams (draft), Santi Aldama (draft) Departures: Grayson Allen (Bucks), Eric Bledsoe (Clippers), Jonas Valanciunas (Pelicans), Justise Winslow (Clippers)

Biggest offseason priority: Fill in the gaps around Morant and JJJ

The skinny: I don’t understand how the Grizzlies got better. Steven Adams will fit in perfectly in Memphis, but he’s making $3M more than the departed Jonas Valanciunas this season ($17.1M compared with $14M) and has one extra year on his deal. While ridding themselves of Eric Bledsoe’s contract helps (he’s owed $18.1 million this season), the final year of his deal is only partially guaranteed for $3.9 million so they didn’t save that much. Jarrett Culver is a low-risk swing worth taking, but the No. 6 pick in the 2019 draft has thus far been a colossal bust. Offloading Grayson Allen opens up room for Desmond Bane and De’Anthony Melton but doesn’t come without risk. Allen is only 25, averaged more 3s than anyone else on the team and proved to be a valuable crunch-time contributor.

Maybe the line of thinking is that continued patience, a clean bill of health for Jaren Jackson Jr. and a cleaner cap sheet paves the road toward progress. But this feels underwhelming for a team on the upswing.

Grade: C

Minnesota Timberwolves

Additions : Jarred Vanderbilt (free agency), Patrick Beverley (trade), Taurean Prince (trade)

: Jarred Vanderbilt (free agency), Patrick Beverley (trade), Taurean Prince (trade) Departures: Ricky Rubio (Cavaliers), Jarrett Culver (Grizzlies), Juancho Hernangomez (Celtics)

Biggest offseason priority: Add toughness and intensity

The skinny: Minnesota’s dream is landing Ben Simmons, who would fit in perfectly alongside Karl-Anthony Towns. Of course, it’s a pipe dream if they continue insisting that Towns, D’Angelo Russell and Anthony Edwards are all off-limits. Beyond the blockbuster that didn’t (yet) happen, the Timberwolves brought some adults in the room who will bring much-needed toughness and shooting. Taurean Prince is a legitimate 3-and-D wing who drilled over 40 percent from beyond the arc last season. Beverley’s best days may be in the past, but he’s still a tenacious thorn in the side of opposing point guards whose no-nonsense approach should help light a fire under a team that ranked 28th in defensive efficiency last season. Time machines don’t exist and neither do mulligans. Minnesota can’t take back the Russell trade with Golden State, so it’s simply crossing fingers that Jonathan Kuminga’s high upside doesn’t translate into stardom elsewhere.

Grade: B-

New Orleans Pelicans

Additions : Devonte’ Graham (trade), Jonas Valanciunas (trade), Tomas Satoransky (trade), Garrett Temple (trade), Trey Murphy (draft), Herbert Jones (draft)

: Devonte’ Graham (trade), Jonas Valanciunas (trade), Tomas Satoransky (trade), Garrett Temple (trade), Trey Murphy (draft), Herbert Jones (draft) Departures: Lonzo Ball (Bulls), Steven Adams (Grizzlies), Eric Bledsoe (Clippers), Wes Iwundu (Hornets), James Johnson (Nets)

Biggest offseason priority: Keep Zion engaged

The skinny: The Pelicans have been down this road before.

Draft generational talent No. 1 overall. Underwhelm in surrounding said talent with help. Allow seeds of discontent to sprout.

If New Orleans isn’t careful, what happened with Anthony Davis could happen again with Zion Williamson. Siphoning off Eric Bledsoe and Steven Adams to clear up room to bring in a star makes sense. Deciding not to spend $20 million a year on Lonzo Ball and his questionable fit is defensible. Coordinating those moves to make a run at Kyle Lowry is admirable. But doing all that just to sign Devonte’ Graham WHILE ALSO GIVING UP A FIRST-ROUND PICK? Not great, Bob! Jonas Valanciunas is a good player and Trey Murphy is one of the best shooters in the rookie class. But by failing to surround Williamson with needle-moving pieces, the Pelicans are inching one step closer to history repeating itself.

Grade: D

Oklahoma City Thunder

Additions : Derrick Favors (trade), Josh Giddey (draft), Tre Mann (draft), Jeremiah Robinson-Earl (draft), Aaron Wiggins (draft)

: Derrick Favors (trade), Josh Giddey (draft), Tre Mann (draft), Jeremiah Robinson-Earl (draft), Aaron Wiggins (draft) Departures: Tony Bradley (Bulls), Svi Mykhailiuk (Raptors), Kemba Walker (waived)

Biggest offseason priority: Collect all the infinity sto-, ur, draft picks

The skinny: The loudest splash OKC made was inking Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to a five-year, $172 million extension. Beyond that, Sam Presti continues to acquire as many picks as humanly possible in a long, drawn-out rebuild that seemingly has no end in sight. The 6-8 Josh Giddey should slot in nicely next to SGA as a high-IQ prospect who might be the best passer in the draft. OKC traded Al Horford to Boston for Kemba Walker and the 16th overall pick but then flipped that pick to Houston for two future protected first-round picks that likely won’t convey for years as the Rockets are in a similar rebuild. Houston used that pick on 19-year-old Turkish MVP Alperen Sengun, who might be the steal of the draft. Would the Thunder have been better off just drafting Sengun? The Thunder bought out Walker, a curious decision as they could have gone the Chris Paul route and waited to trade him for — you guessed it — more picks. OKC got yet another first-round pick from the Jazz for agreeing to take on Favors. Giddey is a start but at some point the Thunder will need to actually add more foundational pieces next to SGA, who at this rate might be 38 years old by the time that happens.

Grade: C+

Phoenix Suns

Additions : Chandler Hutchinson (free agency), JaVale McGee (free agency), Elfrid Payton (free agency), Landry Shamet (trade)

: Chandler Hutchinson (free agency), JaVale McGee (free agency), Elfrid Payton (free agency), Landry Shamet (trade) Departures: Jevon Carter (Nets), Torrey Craig (Pacers), E’Twaun Moore (Magic)

Biggest offseason priority: Re-sign Chris Paul and commit to contending

The skinny: On the heels of the team’s first NBA Finals appearance since 1993, there were quiet murmurs that Phoenix wouldn’t break the bank to bring back Chris Paul. The franchise notorious for penny pinching instead forked over the bag to run it back, giving the 36-year-old Point God a four-year deal worth up to $120 million. Though perhaps not an Achilles heel, frontcourt depth behind DeAndre Ayton proved to be a serious pain point in the postseason, which the Suns addressed by signing JaVale McGee to a one-year deal. Fresh off the heels of an Olympic gold medal, McGee brings championship experience from his time with the Warriors. Re-signing Cameron Payne and bringing in Elfrid Payton shores up the backcourt depth behind Paul and should give the Suns enough rope to keep him fresh through the rigors of an 82-game season. The Suns did everything in their power to remain on the short list of teams capable of winning the West.

Grade: A-

Portland Trail Blazers

Additions : Ben McLemore (free agency), Tony Snell (free agency), Cody Zeller (free agency), Larry Nance Jr. (trade), Greg Brown III (draft)

: Ben McLemore (free agency), Tony Snell (free agency), Cody Zeller (free agency), Larry Nance Jr. (trade), Greg Brown III (draft) Departures: Carmelo Anthony (Lakers), Zach Collins (Spurs), Derrick Jones Jr. (Bulls), Enes Kanter (Celtics)

Biggest offseason priority: Appease Dame and graduate from frisky to legitimate contender

The skinny: Let’s start here: Portland will not be bad. In fact, there’s a chance that Portland will be really good. Could the Blazers finish in the top four in the West? Absolutely. Could they win a playoff series? Sure. But Portland is kidding itself if it thinks that anything it did this offseason changes its fortunes in any meaningful way. Norman Powell is a nice player. Does giving him $90 million over five years to be the team’s third-best guard equate to substantial improvement? No. Ditto for Larry Nance Jr., a nice role player who offers plus playmaking and defense but likely isn’t making or breaking Portland’s chances.

Damian Lillard wants the Blazers to be aggressive in their pursuit of loftier ambitions. Even if the rumors of Lillard’s trade demands proved premature, the Blazers are once again setting themselves up for a predictable ho-hum season that ends with another early playoff exit. Never change, Blazers.

Grade: D

Sacramento Kings

Additions: Alex Len (free agency), Tristan Thompson (trade), Davion Mitchell (draft), Neemias Queta (draft)

Alex Len (free agency), Tristan Thompson (trade), Davion Mitchell (draft), Neemias Queta (draft) Departures: Hassan Whiteside (Jazz), Delon Wright (Hawks)

Biggest offseason priority: Solve an identity crisis

The skinny: The Kings haven’t made the playoffs since 2006. A combination of recent draft picks plus indecisiveness makes it difficult to assess how exactly the Kings see themselves. Drafting Davion Mitchell one year after drafting Tyrese Haliburton signals that perhaps they’re ready to move on from either Buddy Hield or even De’Aaron Fox. While they nearly dealt Hield to the Lakers, the Kings were outbid by Washington’s offer of Russell Westbrook and so he remains. Though he might be a turnstile defensively, no player in the entire league has made more 3s than Hield over the past three seasons. That type of voluminous floor spacing combined with a unique contract that actually goes down over the next three seasons makes him a potentially juicy trade chip. Add in Marvin Bagley and Harrison Barnes, and Sacramento has an enticing war chest to throw Philly’s way should it want in on Ben Simmons or a player of his ilk. If the Kings are done, then the unresolved backcourt logjam could prove problematic. But if there’s one team primed for a big-time preseason shake-up, it’s the Kings.

Grade: C+… for now

San Antonio Spurs

Additions: Zach Collins (free agency), Bryn Forbes (free agency), Al-Farouq Aminu (trade), Doug McDermott (trade), Thaddeus Young (trade), Joshua Primo (draft), Joe Wieskamp (draft)

Zach Collins (free agency), Bryn Forbes (free agency), Al-Farouq Aminu (trade), Doug McDermott (trade), Thaddeus Young (trade), Joshua Primo (draft), Joe Wieskamp (draft) Departures: DeMar DeRozan (Bulls), Gorgui Dieng (Hawks), Patty Mills (Nets), Rudy Gay (Jazz), Trey Lyles (Pistons)

Biggest offseason priority: Transition into a full rebuild

The skinny: The Spurs finally did it. After two years of hanging on the fringes of playoff chatter, they are leaning into the rebuild. Instead of overpaying to keep DeMar DeRozan, they wisely agreed to a sign-and-trade with the Bulls and in the process picked up a future first-round pick and veteran Thaddeus Young. Long-time Spur Patty Mills, the last holdover from the glory years, signed with the Nets in free agency, leaving 25-year-old Dejounte Murray as the longest-tenured Spur. With the 12th overall pick, the Spurs took a surprise flier on Joshua Primo, the youngest player in the draft who many draftniks pegged as a likely second-round pick. Although the consensus rules it a major reach, it’s the type of back-end lottery swing you take when fully committing to a rebuild with no bona fide foundational pieces in the cupboard. Doug McDermott adds shooting on the heels of a career year while Zach Collins is a potentially shrewd buy-low addition with the massive caveat that he needs to stay healthy. San Antonio took an honest look in the mirror, inhaled deeply and did what it should have done a year ago.

Grade: B

Utah Jazz

Additions : Rudy Gay (free agency), Hassan Whiteside (free agency), Eric Paschall (trade), Jared Butler (draft)

: Rudy Gay (free agency), Hassan Whiteside (free agency), Eric Paschall (trade), Jared Butler (draft) Departures: Derrick Favors (Thunder), Georges Niang (76ers)

Biggest offseason priority: Re-sign Mike Conley

The skinny: Above all else, the Jazz could not afford to lose Mike Conley. Yes, $72 million over three years is a risk for an injury prone 34-year-old point guard. And yet if the Jazz let him walk, they had no means to replace him by virtue of being cap strapped and unable to spend that money elsewhere. Adding Hassan Whiteside on a minimum contract to back up Rudy Gobert is an absolute high-reward, low-risk no-brainer. Best case scenario is he rebounds, rolls and blocks a ton of shots. Remember, Whiteside led the league in blocks per game as recently as 2019-20. At worst, he’s a bad fit for the Jazz and they let him walk for next to nothing. Rudy Gay gives the Jazz more small-ball flexibility for the non-Gobert minutes while Eric Pascall can dependably fill in back-of-the-rotation minutes. There were some rumblings that Utah may unload Joe Ingles, but so far the sweet-shooting lefty playmaker remains in the fold. Short of pivoting away from the Mitchell-Gobert tandem, this is about as well as they could have realistically hoped for.

Grade: A-