NBA 2023 Offseason Grades: Pacific Division
With the NBA season on our doorstep, it’s time we tied a tight little bow around the offseason. We’ve looked at every division, handing out our grades, bar the Pacific so today we look west.
As always, we give a thankful nod to Hoopshype, whose diligence in collating NBA player movements makes it so easy for us writers.
In case you missed it, we’ve already assessed the Atlantic, Northwest, Central, Southwest and Southeast divisions.
Now let’s dive into our Pacific Division grades!
Golden State Warriors: C+
Major additions:
- Chris Paul (trade)
- Brandin Podziemski (draft)
- Trayce Jackson-Davis (draft)
- Dario Saric (free agent)
- Cory Joseph (free agent)
- Jerome Robinson (free agent)
- Usman Garuba (free agent)
Major subtractions:
- Jordan Poole (trade)
- Patrick Baldwin Jr. (trade)
- Donte DiVincenzo (free agent)
- Ty Jerome (free agent)
So much for that two-timeline thing, eh? With Jordan Poole joining James Wiseman in being shoved through the door marked “do one” this offseason, the Warriors are left with a bit player in Moses Moody and the enigmatic Jonathan Kuminga holding the torch for the next generation.
In their stead, the Dubs have gone all in on veteran know-how. The aged (he’s beyond merely “aging” now) Chris Paul adds to Golden State’s star power, though his style is oil to the Warriors’ water. It will be fascinating to watch the famously inflexible CP3 attempt to integrate himself into strange new surroundings.
Los Angeles Clippers: C
Major additions:
- Kenyon Martin Jr. (trade)
- Kobe Brown (draft)
- Jordan Miller (draft)
Major subtractions:
- Eric Gordon (free agent)
Yes, the Clippers were deep and versatile last season, but they were so deep as to become muddled rotationally. To that end, releasing Gordon over the off-season makes sense, though he represents a big loss given the Clippers traded Luke Kennard and dropped 10 spots in the draft to get him.
Kenyon Martin Jr. is a handy pick-up as an athletic backup four though, as always, the Clippers’ depth will count for nothing if Kawhi Leonard and Paul George are not fit, fighting and ready for battle.
Los Angeles Lakers: A-
Major addition:
- Jalen Hood-Schifino (draft)
- Maxwell Lewis (draft)
- Gabe Vincent (free agent)
- Cam Reddish (free agent)
- Jaxson Hayes (free agent)
- Taurean Prince (free agent)
- Jamal Cain (free agent)
- Caleb Daniels (free agent)
Major subtractions:
- Dennis Schroder (free agent)
- Malik Beasley (free agent)
- Lonnie Walker IV (free agent)
- Troy Brown Jr. (free agent)
- Mo Bamba (free agent)
- Cole Swider (free agent)
- Shaq Harrison (free agent)
Over the years, this writer has let Rob Pelinka have it. The glamorous Lakers general manager had an uneven start to his tenure, winning a title in totally unreplicable circumstances but flaming out every other season. Last season, however, the Lakers found something in making it all the way to the conference finals before being overwhelmed by Nikola Jokic.
This offseason the Lakers retained the bulk of their core whilst smartly adding to their rotation. Gabe Vincent looks a perfect fit whilst Hayes and Reddish are exactly the type of low results, high-pedigree players that LeBron James has made a career out elevating (read: J.R. Smith; Mario Chalmers; Mo Williams).
The only thing holding the Lakers back from an A: Hood-Schifino is a chucker who needs the ball. He doesn’t strike this writer as a player who will fit alongside LeBron or Anthony Davis.
Phoenix Suns: A-
Major additions:
- Bradley Beal (trade)
- Jordan Goodwin (trade)
- Eric Gordon (free agent)
- Yuta Watanabe (free agent)
- Keita Bates-Diop (free agent)
- Chimezie Metu (free agent)
- Bol Bol (free agent)
- Drew Eubanks (free agent)
Major subtractions:
- Chris Paul (trade)
- Landry Shamet (trade)
- Cameron Payne (trade)
- Torrey Craig (free agent)
- Jock Landale (free agent)
- Darius Bazley (free agent)
In for a penny? In for a pound. Nobody can doubt Matt Ishbia’s commitment to the cause.
Phoenix saw that a big three of Devin Booker, Kevin Durant and Chris Paul couldn’t get it done in the postseason. People will wonder how Beal will fit in this “Big 3,” but his ability to play off-ball and the fact that he’s not practically the same age as the owner of the team should make him a far smoother fit than Paul.
Around them, the team has done a good job filling out the roster this off-season with a mixture of ring-chasing vets who should still be able to contribute and young, hungry role players eager to throw themselves into a title chase.
The Suns’ chances will rest with the health of a set of stars that, outside of Los Angeles, are the most fragile in the NBA. If they remain healthy, though, this Suns team is loaded.
Sacramento Kings: B
Major additions:
- Chris Duarte (trade)
- Colby Jones (draft)
- Sasha Veznekov (free agent)
- JaVale McGee (free agent)
- Skal Labissiere (free agent)
Major subtractions:
- Richaun Holmes (trade)
- Chimezie Metu (free agent)
- Matthew Dellavedova (free agent)
- PJ Dozier (free agent)
After the best season the club has had in a generation, it’s no surprise that the Kings only tinkered around the edges rather than enacting significant change.
Sacramento did add more of the game’s most important skill: shooting. Chris Duarte is a very good movement shooter and EuroLeague MVP Sasha Veznekov is another ace shooter with some serious playmaking chops.
Whilst consecutive top-4 seeding might be slightly beyond this group, they’ll be a nightmare 1st round matchup at the very least.
How do you think each Pacific Division team should be graded? Let us know in the comments!
***
Subscribe to Vendetta’s Twitch
Subscribe to Vendetta’s YouTube
Check out the Vendetta Shop
Click here for more NBA content
