NBA’s biggest winners this offseason

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Periodically, NBA.com’s writers will weigh in on key storylines or trending topics around the league.

Who’s won the NBA offseason so far?

Steve Aschburner

The Philadelphia 76ers. Philly is winning the NBA offseason not just by what it has done to add significant pieces but by avoiding what could have been a summer of catastrophe. Given its cap space, failing to score big in free agency could have alienated the fan base and franchise guy Joel Embiid.

President of Basketball Operations Daryl Morey came through, acquiring All-Star wing Paul George as the signature relocation of the offseason, snatching Caleb Martin away from rival Miami, snagging vets Eric Gordon and Andre Drummond, re-upping effervescent Tyrese Maxey and reinvigorating Embiid.

It wasn’t without step-backs – De’Anthony Melton and Paul Reed will be missed and I’m still not clear on why Buddy Hield flopped in Philly. But Morey and coach Nick Nurse have a core that fits, a team that should vie with New York to nip at the Celtics’ heels. Runner-up: OKC’s surgical additions (Alex Caruso, Isaiah Hartenstein).

Brian Martin

The Philadelphia 76ers. OKC adding Hartenstein to bolster its frontline and Alex Caruso to boost its defense puts them in contention here (and in the West). However, after last summer’s public breakup with James Harden, Daryl Morey and the Sixers have won this summer with the additions of Paul George, Caleb Martin, Andre Drummond and Eric Gordon along with re-signing Tyrese Maxey and Kelly Oubre Jr. to put them in the mix with Boston and NY in the East.

Additionally, can a college program win the NBA offseason? The number of Villanova mentions during Knicks games was already high and with the addition of Mikal Bridges to complete the college teammate quartet, that number is going up. New York re-signed OG Anunoby and added Bridges but did so at a hefty price in both Draft capital (five future 1st round picks) and actual capital as they lost Isaiah Hartenstein in free agency.

Shaun Powell

The Philadelphia 76ers. Now, who did the most with the least? That would be Oklahoma City because the Thunder added Alex Caruso and Isaiah Hartenstein without surrendering an important piece (Josh Giddey was on the outs). Maybe also the Mavericks, with Klay Thompson, Naji Marshall and Quentin Grimes while losing only Derrick Jones Jr. of significance.

But the winner is the team that did the most with the most: Philly. Flush with cap space, the Sixers now have Paul George along with Andre Drummond, Eric Gordon and Caleb Martin (and re-signed Kelly Oubre) to put the Celtics and Knicks on notice in the East.

John Schuhmann

The Oklahoma City Thunder. They were one of two teams that ranked in the top five on both ends of the floor last season, they have a bevy of young talent that will only get better in the coming years, and they’ve made two of the best additions of the summer.

Alex Caruso and Isaiah Hartenstein appear to be terrific fits alongside the Thunder’s existing core, and it’s very possible that this team could make more upgrades in the coming months by dealing a combination of mid-size contracts and some of those extra Draft picks they have. As is, they should be the favorite to win the Western Conference in 2024-25.

Michael C. Wright

The San Antonio Spurs. We’re in a new second-apron world in the NBA, and it’s clear Spurs general manager Brian Wright planned ahead for a bright future of sustainable success under the new rules. Wright filled a need at point guard by adding experienced veteran Chris Paul and acquired another consummate pro in Harrison Barnes. So, in addition to surrounding Victor Wembanyama with more talent, the Spurs added veteran experience (on short-term deals) that will be beneficial in guiding its young core while also picking up more Draft capital.

San Antonio now sits on first-round pick swaps in 2026, 2028, two in 2030 and another in 2031. Throw that on top of a fat stash of future first-round picks (including an unprotected first-rounder added last month by trading No. 8 to Minnesota) and you can see Wright has positioned the Spurs for flexibility to add talent in several ways well into Wembanyama’s prime.