Final Report Card Grades for Every 2023-24 NBA Team

Final Report Card Grades for Every 2023-24 NBA Team0 of 30

Stephen Curry and LeBron JamesAndrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images

We made it. The 2023-24 NBA season is over. And that means it’s time to hand out final grades for this campaign.

Plenty of teams exceeded expectations. Others fell short. There were good stories and bad from all over the league. And that all found its way into the rubric for our final grades.

Based at least in part on preseason expectations, team and individual numbers, season-long performance and loads of subjectivity, all 30 teams in the NBA are graded on the classic A through F scale.

Atlanta Hawks: D+1 of 30

Trae Young and Dejounte MurrayTodd Kirkland/Getty Images

Record: 36-46
Preseason Over-Under: 42.5

The lasting impression from this Atlanta Hawks campaign will almost certainly be the lack of effectiveness from Trae Young-Dejounte Murray lineups.

Many (including yours truly) were convinced that a full training camp with coach Quin Snyder and a little more time for Young and Murray to adapt to each other might make the backcourt jell. But it just didn’t.

In fact, the combination was worse this season. When they shared the floor, Atlanta was minus-4.7 points per 100 possessions. It was minus-0.8 when Murray played without Young, and plus-4.0 when Young played without Murray.

And thanks to a late-season surge without the injured Young, the team finished 14-14 in games he missed. It was 22-32 when he was in the lineup.

That’s almost certainly going to lead to trade rumors surrounding both guards this summer, and given Young’s age (25) and individual production, he’d likely fetch the Hawks the bigger return.

This season wasn’t all bad, though. One player who almost certainly won’t generate trade speculation this summer is Jalen Johnson, who broke out with 16.0 points, 8.7 rebounds and 3.6 assists, is just 22 and looks ready for a three-and-D-plus role going forward.

And with him, Onyeka Okongwu and whatever Atlanta can command for Young and Murray, the Hawks might actually have a decent foundation for a rebuild going forward.

Boston Celtics: A+2 of 30

Jaylen Brown and Jayson TatumScott Cunningham/NBAE via Getty Images

Record: 64-18
Preseason Over-Under: 54.5

The regular season couldn’t have gone much better for the Boston Celtics.

They finished with one of the five best season-long average point differentials in NBA history. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown will both be in the mix for All-NBA selections. Kristaps Porziņģis and Jrue Holiday couldn’t have fit in much more seamlessly than they did. Holiday and Derrick White quickly ascended to “best defensive backcourt in the league” status. And even the bench featuring Al Horford, Payton Pritchard and Sam Hauser exceeded expectations.

All of that came together to give Boston the best record in the NBA this season by far. And though this group will ultimately be judged by what it does in the postseason, there’s almost no way to nitpick the Celtics’ regular season.

Brooklyn Nets: D-3 of 30

Cam Thomas and Mikal BridgesMike Stobe/Getty Images

Record: 32-50
Preseason Over-Under: 37.5

Aimless. Uninspiring. Even in a conference that featured prolific losers such as the Washington Wizards, Detroit Pistons and Charlotte Hornets, the Brooklyn Nets might have the situation that calls for the saddest descriptors.

They don’t have control of their own first-round draft picks for the foreseeable future, which makes tanking a useless pursuit. They don’t have a single player you’d bank on being a superstar in the near future (or any future). They fired their coach midseason. Their team full of third and fourth options understandably fell well shy of that preseason over-under.

And perhaps worse than all of that, their highest-paid player and the prize of the James Harden trade, Ben Simmons, is still under contract for $40.3 million in 2024-25 while rapidly becoming one of the sadder stories in recent league history.

After making All-Star teams for three straight seasons from age 22 to 24, he has made just 57 appearances in the three seasons since then. In 2023-24, he found his way to the floor just 15 times, and he averaged a career-worst 6.1 points.

Ultimately, all this means Brooklyn is probably just going to have to wait out its current, dreadful situation (unless someone gives it another opportunity to turn Mikal Bridges into assets).

And in the meantime, fans will have to talk themselves into young talents like Cam Thomas (who led the team in scoring at 22.5 points per game but could still show more as a distributor) and Nic Claxton (a rim-runner who nearly averaged a double-double to go with 2.1 blocks but could still round out his all-around game).

Charlotte Hornets: D+4 of 30

Tre Mann, Brandon Miller and JT ThorKevin C. Cox/Getty Images

Record: 21-61
Preseason Over-Under: 31.5

The Charlotte Hornets finished with fewer wins than the Nets, but they entered the season with slightly lower expectations and were ravaged by injuries.

Everyone knows about the LaMelo Ball absences. He was limited to a career-low 22 games this season. And having just 184 games played in his first four years has to be a concern going forward.

But perhaps just as important, at least for this season, was the fact that starting center Mark Williams only played in 19 games. When Charlotte’s best rim-runner and rim-protector was on the floor, it was a less depressing minus-2.0 points per 100 possessions. When he wasn’t, the Hornets were minus-12.4.

If those two are healthy and flanked by the rapidly developing Brandon Miller, who averaged 17.3 points and 2.5 threes while shooting 37.3 percent from three as a rookie, Charlotte will almost certainly be better in 2024-25.

None of that erases the fact that this team finished dead last, by a pretty significant margin, in net rating, though. So, even if there are some legitimate reasons for optimism, the Hornets can’t quite get into that C range.

Chicago Bulls: C5 of 30

Coby White and DeMar DeRozanPatrick McDermott/Getty Images

Record: 39-43
Preseason Over-Under: 37.5

No team screamed “average” quite like the Chicago Bulls this season.

At times, it felt like they might threaten a .500 record or make a push to escape the play-in, but those moments always seemed to be followed by a two- or three-game losing streak.

And even if the Bulls manage to win back-to-back play-in games and make the playoffs, it’s hard to imagine anything other than a squash job in the first round at the hands of the Celtics.

Still, there were at least some reasons from optimism that arose from this campaign.

DeMar DeRozan’s 24.0 points per game was the 11th-highest average in NBA history for an age-34 campaign. Coby White emerged as a legitimate option to be the team’s lead playmaker of the future, with 19.1 points, 5.1 assists and a 37.6 three-point percentage. And Ayo Dosunmu looks like he could be a worthy backcourt partner for White.

As the team phases out of the DeRozan-Zach LaVine-Nikola Vučević era over the next couple years, there will be some talent waiting in the wings to take over.

Cleveland Cavaliers: C6 of 30

Darius Garland and Donovan MitchellAAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post

Record: 48-34
Preseason Over-Under: 50.5

In at least one stretch this season, the Cleveland Cavaliers looked primed to improve upon last season’s performance.

From January 3 to February 10, they went 17-1. But injuries had the rotation in flux during that stretch, and 12 of those wins came against teams that finished below .500.

Over the rest of the season, the team was 31-32, and the evidence is mounting that Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley might not be the ideal frontcourt pairing.

On the season, Cleveland was an uninspiring plus-0.9 points per 100 possessions with both bigs on the floor, compared to plus-6.0 when Allen played without Mobley.

If the younger center-forward isn’t able to develop a more reliable outside shot soon, the Cavs may have to make some tough decisions about that frontcourt.

And that’s not the only potential source of discomfort this summer.

Donovan Mitchell is suddenly starting to sound an awful lot like he did toward the end of his time with the Utah Jazz. And with just one guaranteed season on his contract after this one, expect trade rumors around him if Cleveland suffers another early playoff exit.

Dallas Mavericks: A7 of 30

Kyrie Irving and Luka DončićRon Jenkins/Getty Images

Record: 50-32
Preseason Over-Under: 45.5

Beyond comfortably clearing that preseason over-under, the Dallas Mavericks join the ranks of those getting As because of the stellar individual play of Luka Dončić, Kyrie Irving’s willingness to accept his role as a No. 2 and the trade deadline moves that supercharged the team’s performance.

Dončić, in part because Joel Embiid didn’t qualify for the leaderboard, led the league in scoring at 33.9 points. He also led the Mavs in assists (9.8) and rebounds (9.2) per game and built a legitimate MVP case for himself.

Irving, meanwhile, averaged 25.6 points, 5.0 assists and 3.0 threes, while shooting 41.1 percent from deep.

And when new additions Daniel Gafford and P.J. Washington were both on the floor, the team was plus-6.8 points per 100 possessions.

Add all that to late offseason signings such as Dante Exum and Derrick Jones Jr. undoubtedly being wins, and Dallas getting an A is one of the easier calls here.

Denver Nuggets: B+8 of 30

Nikola Jokić and Jamal MurrayBart Young/NBAE via Getty Images

Record: 57-25
Preseason Over-Under: 52.5

The Denver Nuggets cleared their over-under and are clearly in the tier of legitimate title contenders, but something just seemed to be missing for much of the season.

Whether it was Jamal Murray’s 23 absences, generally being in cruise control after winning the title or deploying a young bench that had to do a lot of learning on the job this season, the Nuggets just didn’t feel dominant for much of the season.

That was reflected by a net rating that wasn’t even half of the Celtics’, a three-game losing streak to enter the All-Star break and random games where everyone looked disconnected like this week’s loss to the sub-.500 San Antonio Spurs when first place was on the line.

Still, Nikola Jokić had another historic season and is rightfully an overwhelming favorite to win his third MVP. The Nuggets were plus-15.1 points per 100 possessions when he and Murray shared the floor.

Michael Porter Jr. had the healthiest season of his career and shot 39.7 percent from deep. Aaron Gordon and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope provided All-Defense-level contributions. And though that young bench overwhelmingly lost its minutes, Peyton Watson and Christian Braun both showed plenty of upside.

Going 16-4, winning the title and having the best player in the world established expectations Denver couldn’t quite reach, but it was still a strong season.

Detroit Pistons: F9 of 30

Jalen Duren and Cade CunninghamChris Schwegler/NBAE via Getty Images

Record: 14-68
Preseason Over-Under: 28.5

This is about more than the record-tying 28-game losing streak.

The Detroit Pistons put together a genuinely dreadful campaign in which new coach Monty Williams failed to make Jaden Ivey a full-time starter until mid-December, Killian Hayes was cut during his rookie contract, Ivey and Cade Cunningham were two of the least efficient scorers in the league, and 31 total players suited up to get to just 14 total wins.

Ultimately, they finished with one of the 20 worst single-season winning percentages in NBA history, and their reward is a 14 percent chance at the No. 1 pick in a draft that’s being described as one of the worst ever.

Obviously, it’s too early to give up on Cunningham, who just averaged 22.7 points and 7.5 assists as a 22-year-old. There could be some real pick-and-roll chemistry between him and Jalen Duren for the foreseeable future.

But 2023-24 proved this team is so much further from competitiveness than we thought. The preseason over-under was a modest 28.5, and Detroit only made it about halfway there.

Golden State Warriors: C10 of 30

Klay Thompson, Draymond Green and Stephen CurryLachlan Cunningham/Getty Images

Record: 46-36
Preseason Over-Under: 48.5

If last season’s second-round exit at the hands of a play-in team didn’t signal the end of this Golden State Warriors’ title-contending window, the 2023-24 regular season probably did.

Golden State failed to meet its sub-50 over-under, Stephen Curry finally started to look like a mortal, Klay Thompson averaged fewer than 20 points for the first time since 2013-14, and Draymond Green’s inability to control his emotions probably doomed the team to the play-in.

The Warriors went 10-11 in the games Green missed due to two separate suspensions (one for choking Rudy Gobert and another for smacking Jusuf Nurkić) and 36-25 in all other games.

After four championships together, we might have finally seen the end of this legendary trio.

On the bright side, Jonathan Kuminga took significant strides as a cutter, scorer and defender this season. Brandin Podziemski and Trayce Jackson-Davis were both better than expected.

We’ve reached a point where Golden State really has to starting thinking about its post-Curry future, but it clearly has a couple reasons for hope already on the roster.

Houston Rockets: B+11 of 30

Jalen Green and Alperen ŞengünCarmen Mandato/Getty Images

Record: 41-41
Preseason Over-Under: 31.5

A late-season surge was cut short by a five-game losing streak that doomed their bid for a play-in spot, but the Houston Rockets smashed expectations this season and got multiple breakouts from all over the roster.

Alperen Şengün had a fringe MVP case in February and finished with averages of 21.1 points, 9.3 rebounds and 5.0 assists. Over his last 24 games, Jalen Green averaged 24.5 points, 4.0 assists and 3.5 threes, while shooting 37.3 percent from deep. Jabari Smith Jr. showed plenty of three-and-D upside. And rookies Amen Thompson and Cam Whitmore both look like potentially dynamic wins.

With the young core clearly developing and veteran additions Fred VanVleet and Dillon Brooks adding the experience and leadership the front office was after, Houston is moving in the right direction.

Indiana Pacers: B+12 of 30

Tyrese Haliburton and Pascal SiakamPatrick McDermott/Getty Images

Record: 47-35
Preseason Over-Under: 38.5

An injury to Tyrese Haliburton and an adjustment period for Pascal Siakam seemed to take a little wind out of the Indiana Pacers’ sails, but they still comfortably exceeded season-long expectations, and Haliburton looks like he’ll be one of the game’s premier playmakers for years to come.

The 24-year-old averaged 20.1 points, a league-leading 10.9 assists and 2.8 threes. And when he was on the floor, Indiana scored a whopping 123.2 points per 100 possessions.

And while it does look like it could take some time for coach Rick Carlisle to figure out how to best integrate Siakam into the offense, that trade did improve the team’s defense.

With those two in place, Myles Turner continuing to be one of the game’s steadier three-and-D bigs and younger players like Aaron Nesmith and Andrew Nembhard developing, Indiana looks to be in pretty good shape for its short-term future.

Los Angeles Clippers: B+13 of 30

James Harden, Kawhi Leonard and Paul GeorgeAlika Jenner/Getty Images

Record: 51-31
Preseason Over-Under: 46.5

Much like Cleveland’s, this Los Angeles Clippers season can pretty easily be segmented into one red-hot stretch and everything else.

From December 2 to February 5, L.A. went 26-5 and pretty much cemented its spot in the top four. For much of the rest of the season, though, it appeared to slap on the cruise control.

Like several of the other veterans teams here, the Clippers will be judged by what they do in the postseason.

This campaign did offer some hints for how they can be successful in the playoffs, though. Health of the superstar wings (Kawhi Leonard and Paul George) will be critical, but getting the engaged, pass-first version of James Harden may be the biggest key.

The Clippers were 23-4 when the 10-time All-Star handed out at least 10 assists this season.

Los Angeles Lakers: C+14 of 30

Anthony Davis and LeBron JamesAdam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images

Record: 47-35
Preseason Over-Under: 47.5

If you’d been told before the season that LeBron James and Anthony Davis would both make 70-plus appearances and perform like top 5-10 players, the over on 47.5 wins would have felt like a pretty safe bet.

However, a handful of injuries to the supporting cast and some truly bizarre coaching decisions—like Darvin Ham’s early insistence on playing Taurean Prince over Rui Hachimura—doomed the Los Angeles Lakers to a second straight appearance in the Play-In Tournament.

They’ve obviously shown an ability to go from there to the conference finals, but it’s not the ideal place to start your postseason journey.

Fortunately, Ham has finally entrusted the role players who pushed for that conference finals appearance (Hachimura, Austin Reaves and D’Angelo Russell), and the rest of the roster is starting to get healthier.

Memphis Grizzlies: Incomplete15 of 30

Vince Williams Jr. and GG JacksonJoe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images

Record: 27-55
Preseason Over-Under: 45.5

Thanks to a suspension and then an injury, the Memphis Grizzlies’ best player, Ja Morant, appeared in just nine games this season. Starting center Steven Adams (who was eventually traded) didn’t play a single minute. Even Desmond Bane only managed 42 games.

This team was hammered by injuries and had to have a whopping 33 players log minutes for it this season. Hence, the incomplete mark in our ratings.

If you’re a Grizzlies fan, though, it shouldn’t be hard to find silver linings from this campaign.

Jaren Jackson Jr. got the opportunity to explore his offensive game a little and should be more comfortable in a bit more limited role next season. Vince Williams Jr. and GG Jackson both look like they’ll be valuable rotation players for the foreseeable future. And even with all the injuries, Memphis competed hard enough to threaten 30 wins.

This may have been a difficult season for the team and its fans to survive, but it also offered plenty of hope for the future.

Miami Heat: C16 of 30

Caleb Martin, Jimmy Butler and Bam AdebayoBart Young/NBAE via Getty Images

Record: 46-36
Preseason Over-Under: 45.5

Injuries certainly had something to do with the Miami Heat’s general mediocrity this season.

Jimmy Butler, Tyler Herro, Duncan Robinson, Caleb Martin, Josh Richardson and Kevin Love played 60, 42, 68, 64, 43 and 55 games, respectively. With so many players in and out of the rotation, it was tough for the team to find any consistent rhythm. Add the midseason acquisition of starting guard Terry Rozier, and there’s even more chaos.

However, Miami might also be among the teams here that are guilty of generally treating the regular season a bit less seriously.

Butler made two Finals runs in his four seasons with the Heat prior to this one. And both times, they came from unexpected spots in the standings. Last year’s run started from the play-in. So, it’s only natural that he and the teammates who follow him might not treat every regular-season game like a big one.

Still, Bam Adebayo performed like an All-Defense player once again. Butler and Herro both averaged 20-plus points. Robinson’s game expanded to include a lot more playmaking and inside-the-arc scoring this season. Nikola Jović broke out as a floor-spacing 4. Jaime Jaquez Jr. averaged double-figures as a rookie.

And, as usual, the Heat showed just enough to keep the rest of the league worried about them as we enter the postseason.

Milwaukee Bucks: D17 of 30

Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian LillardGary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images

Record: 49-33
Preseason Over-Under: 54.5

The Milwaukee Bucks, despite getting 70-plus games from each of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard, fell short of 50 wins this season.

Despite a 30-13 record, they ran off first-year coach Adrian Griffin just over halfway through the campaign. And under the guidance of journeyman replacement Doc Rivers, they went 19-20 the rest of the way.

Even with Giannis performing like an MVP for a sixth straight season, this regular season felt like a borderline disaster for the Bucks.

Their defense improved a bit under Rivers, but it still finished firmly in the bottom half of the league. Khris Middleton missed 27 games due to injury, and Lillard posted a below-average percentage from both two- and three-point range.

It still feels like there’s enough raw talent here for a quick about-face in the postseason, but after going out in the first round last year and following that up with this uninspiring 2023-24 campaign, it’s fair to worry about the Bucks.

Minnesota Timberwolves: A18 of 30

Anthony Edwards and Rudy GobertAdam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images

Record: 56-26
Preseason Over-Under: 44.5

One of the breakout teams of 2023-24, the Minnesota Timberwolves rode a stifling, No. 1 defense to 50-plus wins and homecourt advantage to start the playoffs.

And less than two years after countless fans and analysts panned Minnesota’s acquisition of Rudy Gobert, he’s the odds-on favorite for Defensive Player of the Year. His fit alongside Karl-Anthony Towns and Anthony Edwards looks good enough to contend for a title.

With his rim protection anchoring the defense, Edwards ascending as perhaps the game’s next superstar wing, KAT spacing the floor, Jaden McDaniels defending all over the floor and Mike Conley running everything as one of the game’s steadiest floor generals, Minnesota has been one of this season’s best teams.

New Orleans Pelicans: A-19 of 30

CJ McCollum, Brandon Ingram and Zion WilliamsonLayne Murdoch Jr./NBAE via Getty Images

Record: 49-33
Preseason Over-Under: 44.5

The New Orleans Pelicans, and Zion Williamson specifically, suffered an embarrassing 44-point loss to the Los Angeles Lakers during the in-season tournament in December.

From that point on, though, New Orleans went 37-22, and the 2019 No. 1 overall pick started to look like a bona fide superstar again.

During that stretch, Williamson averaged 23.1 points and 5.1 assists, while shooting 56.9 percent from the field.

With the big man playing like that and surrounded by one of the league’s deepest supporting casts, New Orleans looks like it has the potential to make some noise in the playoffs.

Brandon Ingram and CJ McCollum are both capable of going for 30 on any given night. Herb Jones and Trey Murphy III have developed into one of the NBA’s better three-and-D combos. And Jonas Valančiūnas can bully-ball his way to a double-double against anyone.

New York Knicks: A20 of 30

Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart and Donte DiVincenzoNathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images

Record: 50-32
Preseason Over-Under: 45.5

Few teams were hammered by injuries quite as thoroughly as the New York Knicks. Julius Randle hasn’t played since January, OG Anunoby missed 27 games after being traded to the team, and Mitchell Robinson totaled 31 appearances all season.

That New York got to 50 wins in spite of three starters missing so much time is remarkable. And while several players get credit for reaching that benchmark, none deserve more than point guard Jalen Brunson.

After dropping 40 in his regular-season finale, an overtime win over the Chicago Bulls, the 27-year-old finished this campaign with averages of 28.7 points and 6.7 assists while shooting 40.1 percent from deep. With the way he carried this Knicks squad, he has a real argument to make first-team All-NBA.

Again, though, he’s not the only player who got New York to 50 wins and a second-place finish in the East.

Donte DiVincenzo was third in the league in total threes made (and just one shy of second-place Luka Dončić). Josh Hart was one of the league’s best rebounding wings. Isaiah Hartenstein was one of the game’s most effective and versatile hustle bigs, filling in for Robinson. And Anunoby had a positive plus-minus in each of his 23 appearances with the team.

Oklahoma City Thunder: A21 of 30

Luguentz Dort, Jalen Williams, Chet Holmgren and Shai Gilgeous-AlexanderMichael Reaves/Getty Images

Record: 57-25
Preseason Over-Under: 44.5

The Oklahoma City Thunder entered this season with the second youngest roster in the league, and they finished it as the No. 1 seed in the gauntlet that is the Western Conference.

It’s a remarkable achievement for a team with this little experience, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander deserves every point that’s headed his way in MVP voting.

SGA finished his campaign with averages of 30.1 points, 7.6 free throws, 6.2 assists and a league-leading 2.0 steals, while shooting 53.5 percent from the field.

He was essentially a scoring metronome for OKC, while also providing solid perimeter defense, but he was far from alone.

In just his second season, Jalen Williams averaged 19.1 points, including 6.8 in fourth quarters, a mark that ranked 13th in the league.

As a rookie, Chet Holmgren broke out as a solid three-point shooter and one of the best rim protectors in the league.

And the rest of a supporting cast that includes Josh Giddey, Isaiah Joe, Cason Wallace and Luguentz Dort made timely contributions throughout the season.

Orlando Magic: A22 of 30

Franz Wagner and Paolo BancheroFernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images

Record: 47-35
Preseason Over-Under: 37.5

Another team that dramatically outperformed expectations, the Orlando Magic had the second-best defense in the league this season, a pair of dynamic scoring forwards in Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner, and perhaps the league’s best individual defender in Jonathan Isaac.

In just his second season, Banchero finished with averages of 22.6 points and 5.4 assists, while Wagner added 19.7 points and 3.7 assists, despite his three-point shot sort of abandoning him (he shot a career-worst 28.1 percent from deep).

With those two backed up by the defense of Isaac (who finished first in Dunks and Threes’ defensive estimated plus-minus) and Jalen Suggs, few teams offered as much resistance as this one night to night.

And with an underrated bench that included Isaac, Cole Anthony and Joe Ingles, the Magic typically won their minutes when the starters weren’t on the floor.

Orlando did all of this with one of the youngest rosters in the league. The future is bright for the Magic.

Philadelphia 76ers: B+23 of 30

Tyrese Maxey and Joel EmbiidJesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images

Record: 47-35
Preseason Over-Under: 48.5

It’s pretty obvious why the Philadelphia 76ers failed to hit that over-under.

They went 31-8 in the 39 games Joel Embiid played (which is a 65-win pace over an 82-game season) and 16-27 in every other game.

So, while the raw win total came in under preseason expectations, making it hard to put Philadelphia in the A range, it was clear that the healthy version of this team can compete with anyone.

Embiid finished with an absurd average of 34.7 points (in just 33.6 minutes), and Tyrese Maxey ascended to genuine star status in the wake of the James Harden deal.

When both were on the floor, the Sixers were plus-11.1 points per 100 possessions. And with a supporting cast clearly keyed in on maximizing the output of those stars, the Sixers look like a bona fide title contender.

Phoenix Suns: C+24 of 30

Devin Booker, Bradley Beal and Kevin DurantGarrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images

Record: 49-33
Preseason Over-Under: 51.5

The Phoenix Suns are another team that was influenced by injuries. Devin Booker and Bradley Beal played 68 and 53 games, respectively. But when all of the best players were available, they played like a contender.

When Beal, Booker, Grayson Allen, Kevin Durant and Jusuf Nurkić were all on the floor, the Suns were plus-11.1 points per 100 possessions.

And the amount of offense that lineup brings is almost terrifying. Booker and Durant can get a good shot for themselves on seemingly any possession. Beal is about as supercharged as third options get. Allen led the league in three-point percentage and is among the game’s most dynamic off-ball movers and floor spacers. And the swap from Deandre Ayton to Nurkić, who’s a far better passer, has worked brilliantly.

Of course, lack of depth and durability, as well as occasional defensive lapses, could haunt the Suns in the playoffs. Those things contributed to them falling short of the over-under too, but Phoenix probably should’ve expected that when it assembled the top-heavy roster it did.

Portland Trail Blazers: D-25 of 30

Dalano Banton, Scoot Henderson and Deandre AytonStephen Gosling/NBAE via Getty Images

Record: 21-61
Preseason Over-Under: 28.5

From the moment the Portland Trail Blazers traded Damian Lillard for a rebuild-ready package (that expanded when they traded Jrue Holiday too), it was clear this season was going to be rough.

But Portland still somehow failed to meet expectations. It couldn’t turn Malcolm Brogdon and Jerami Grant into more rebuild-ready assets ahead of the trade deadline. And Scoot Henderson, the No. 3 pick in the 2023 draft, had one of the worst rookie campaigns we’ve ever seen.

Among the 955 rookie campaigns of at least 1,000 minutes in the three-point era, Henderson’s box plus/minus is tied for 937th. He averaged 14.0 points and 5.4 assists, but he shot just 41.6 percent on twos and 32.5 percent on threes, while also handing out 3.4 turnovers per game and offering little resistance on defense.

The team barely cleared 20 wins, and it’s a lot harder to have faith in Henderson’s longtime upside now than it was six months ago.

And there really isn’t another high-upside prospect worthy of redirecting that faith. Deandre Ayton averaged a double-double, but he offered little in the way of ancillary contributions. Anfernee Simons averaged 22.6 points, but he’s averaged just 55 appearances per year over the last three seasons.

The best sources of hope at this point might be the trade prospects of Brogdon and Grant this summer.

Sacramento Kings: B26 of 30

De’Aaron Fox and Domantas SabonisRocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images

Record: 46-36
Preseason Over-Under: 44.5

There seemed to be a general sense of disappointment surrounding the Sacramento Kings this season, perhaps because they fell short of last season’s 48-win total.

However, this team is perhaps a reminder that development isn’t always linear. And the fact that Sacramento cleared its over-under in a Western Conference that was more competitive than in 2022-23 should be seen as a win.

Domantas Sabonis leading the league in triple-doubles and playing well enough to get some consideration for fifth-place MVP votes is a reason for optimism too.

This conference isn’t going to get any easier in 2024-25, though. Most of the teams in the top 10 will be competitive again, plus the Grizzlies and San Antonio Spurs should be better.

The Kings could get further development from Sabonis, De’Aaron Fox and Keegan Murray, but they may not be able to afford resting on those laurels.

San Antonio Spurs: D+27 of 30

Devin Vassell and Victor WembanyamaPhotos by Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images

Record: 22-60
Preseason Over-Under: 28.5

If the goal was to be bad again, then the San Antonio Spurs can safely proclaim “mission accomplished.”

However, there were pretty obvious moves staring them in the face early in the season that would’ve made this a more competitive campaign.

Had Gregg Popovich played Victor Wembanyama more with a traditional point guard, lined him up at center or pulled the plug on the “Jeremy Sochan as lead playmaker” experiment earlier, San Antonio would have won more games.

Despite having one of the league’s worst overall net ratings, the Spurs were plus-9.0 points per 100 possessions when Wembanyama, Tre Jones and Devin Vassell were all on the floor.

But San Antonio didn’t make any of those moves, at least not early enough. And it’s probably fine that it didn’t.

Again, another bad record means another high draft pick. And nothing from this season was more important than Wembanyama’s individual play.

The 20-year-old entered the league with off-the-charts hype and somehow exceeded it.

Wemby averaged 21.4 points, 10.6 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 3.6 blocks and 1.2 steals as a rookie. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who did it in his age-28 campaign, is the only player in league history to match or exceed all five marks for a full season.

The Spurs lucked into a generational talent, and they should be back to competitiveness real soon.

Toronto Raptors: D+28 of 30

Scottie Barnes, Immanuel Quickley, RJ Barrett and Gary Trent Jr.Vaughn Ridley/NBAE via Getty Images

Record: 25-57
Preseason Over-Under: 36.5

A collapse of some sort probably should have been expected when the Toronto Raptors traded Pascal Siakam and OG Anunoby, but finishing the campaign at 3-21 over the last 24 games somehow still surprised.

And while injuries and other absences for personal reasons certainly contributed to that spiral, it’s fair to emerge from this season wondering what kind of upside is left on the roster after the Anunoby and Siakam deals.

Scottie Barnes is already an All-Star and looks like a dynamic future point forward, but there isn’t a lot more star upside on the roster (depending on how you feel about Immanuel Quickley and RJ Barrett). And spending a first-round pick to add soon-to-be-33 Kelly Olynyk to that bunch was, in a word, curious.

After finishing shy of the Play-In Tournament in 2023-24, it would be hard to confidently bet on the Raptors finishing in the top 10 next season.

Utah Jazz: D+29 of 30

Collin Sexton and Lauri MarkkanenMelissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images

Record: 31-51
Preseason Over-Under: 35.5

For the second year in a row, the Utah Jazz may have waited too long to trade veteran players who were making it tough to tank.

In 2022-23, it was Mike Conley. This season, it was Kelly Olynyk and Simone Fontecchio. And both times, the delayed rebuilding moves cost Utah a few losses and potentially better odds to land the top pick in the draft.

Still, there were some positives to take from this campaign.

In the 55 games Lauri Markkanen played, he looked like a borderline All-Star again. Collin Sexton had the best season of his career, with averages of 18.7 points and 4.9 assists in just 26.6 minutes. And a trio of first-round picks from 2023—Taylor Hendricks, Keyonte George and Brice Sensabaugh—all showed varying degrees of upside throughout the season.

Ideally, Utah would have emerged from a non-playoff season with better than a 6.0 percent chance at the top pick, but there’s still an intriguing young core in place.

Washington Wizards: D-30 of 30

Kyle Kuzma and Jordan PooleJess Rapfogel/Getty Images

Record: 15-67
Preseason Over-Under: 24.5

The Washington Wizards were almost comically bad this season, in part because their two leading scorers, Kyle Kuzma and Jordan Poole, were two of the least efficient scorers in the entire NBA.

And somehow, even with those posting well-below-average percentages from both two- and three-point range, the Wizards’ bigger problem was on the defensive end where they had one of the five worst defensive ratings in league history.

If you’re looking for silver linings, you might find one with Deni Avdija, whose offense started to catch up with his defense this season. He shot 37.4 percent from deep and averaged 3.8 assists. Corey Kispert shooting 38.3 percent from deep is encouraging, and rookie Bilal Coulibaly showed some flashes of three-and-D upside.

However, the only real source of hope for this organization is that it will be bad again next season, just before a 2025 draft that should be loaded.