I'll be going in order by team name discussing my general pulse for each team's direction with some quick thoughts on them. At the end, I'll tier the teams on what I think their title contention ability is going forward.
Clippers
Going for it and hoping Kawhi can be a top 10 player in the playoffs might still be viable somehow, but he's clearly lost a half-step from his top 3 player in the world peak. At the line less, scores less in general and his avilability is always highly questionable since he joined the Clips. Despite that, I'd probably continue trying to win as they got a star big/wing/guard trio, a top 10 player in the playoffs and a high quality defense. With some small adjustments to their team, they could position themselves to contend for a ring.
Grizzlies
Weird situation has been made a lot better by moving Bane for those picks and KCP, much more flexability. Given the context of the team, the player swap shouldn't be too damaging if KCP can hold up defensively and connect on his shots like he was in LA and Denver. The main piece is Ja Morant, who at his best, looks like a fringe top 10 player, but his availability has not been there for many reasons. JJJ is a player who is a top 30 player in his own right with DPoY defense at his peak on that end. I like the position they're in to adapt to either this group showing signs of contention or blowing it up with a real asset pool to work with. Staying the course makes most sense for them, see what this group can show.
Jazz
Clear pick surplus, quality coaching and a top 5 pick talent is there, there's hope with this franchise. If the Jazz hope to use Lauri Markkanen's prime years on a up-and-coming team, they should target the 2026 off-season as one to make the team ready for sustained success. Assuming that their 5th overall pick Ace Baily becomes a top end talent (no guarantee), it'll be during Lauri's age 33 season (Baily's 6th season) at the earliest where ring contending is even somewhat plausible for Baily, the tail end of Lauri's prime. It's more likely that Lauri will be entering his mid 30's when the Jazz are finally ready to win a ring if they nail their picks. Given that, a tough decision has to be made; do the Jazz trade Lauri or build continuity with him and have a good but not quite star level player by their contending years? If the value isn't that high in trade, I'd keep him and have him lead the team during the come-up years. He can then fade into a good 4th/5th starter during true contention seasons.
Kings
Failed the Fox+Domas years trying to build around them as they never got the right other pieces to work at a contending level. A win-win trade if they did everything right after, however, they were at best hit or miss after finding the right pieces and the situation blew up in their face. Now with Haliburton being a tier 2 superstar (top 10 player, not quite MVP) and Fox being moved for peanuts, they have unquestionably lost that trade. I don't love doing the full-on "blow it up" thing, but given the lack of win-now talent, youthful upside and a small amount of other teams draft picks, they should probably trade most of their veteran talent.
Lakers
This might be the most facinating situation for roster building out of any team. It's all about building around Luka quickly, his next few seasons will likely be his peak. They have a lot of needs and questions to figure out. Can Reaves and Luka work together defensively in the playoffs? Can LeBron hold up as the 2nd star to Luka? Can the Lakers get the quality bigman play needed to win it all? Can they get a viable bench? What's the long-term outlook past LeBron for a viable co-star? Despite the home run of a trade the Lakers made, it is by no means an easy situation to build a contender with such little continuity built up and an extremely flawed roster currently. The brand, location and having Luka there makes it an unique situation for roster building. Not sure exactly how it'll happen, but those factors will work their magic and there will be a competent supporting cast most likely around Luka.
Mavericks
Nico Harrison is the luckiest GM alive with them landing Cooper Flagg, otherwise would be an impossible situation. Short term, they're solid already, and long term with Cooper leading the way, there's a real chance of sustained near-contention and/or contention for the next decade or so. A short-term Kyrie replacement who can dominate the ball and make plays is an ideal fit here, the currently rumored Dlo is a great fit for that. AD is at the tail-end of being a top 10 player, but he's still there. If Kyrie comes back and isnt cooked, there's a real chance they contend for a champsionship with Cooper added on (he screams high minute NBA ready player even as a rookie). It's annoying to say this given the process to get to this point was on nothing but sheer dumb luck, but I like the direction of the Mavs.
Nuggets
In the short-term, they're fine, a championship core with young players that are getting more experienced and ready to contribute. Besides the usual touching up the edges that any team should do, I like what Denver has done recently. The young David Adelman should be a great fit going forward, really proving himself in the playoffs as an X-and-O's capable coach who's also willing to play the young guys.
Pelicans
Just completely restart the franchise from square one, move literally everything of value and tank for next years draft. Wait, Joe Dumbass traded next years pick completely unprotected to move up from 23 to 13????? LoOOOOOOOOOLLLLLL. Pels fans, be lucky (FIRE) Nico Harrison traded Luka Doncic to the Lakers for 10 games of AD. Wait, they have their own pick and lucked into Cooper fucking Flagg?????? LMMMGFafaPOOOOOOOO. Pels fans, I'm sorry this is your existence, they're the 2020's version of the early 2010's Pistons.
Rockets
Love their direction, THIS is how you build a team. The KD trade is fantastic for them as he's still capable of being an elite #1 scoring option for a contender (them PPP iso numbers are crazyyyyyyy). The defensive identity, coaching, high level youthful talent and playoff experience gives them an opening now to bring in a star to contend and they did. I'm super excited to see what they'll do and they should continue with what they're doing.
Spurs
Love their direction, THIS is ALSO how you build a team. Bringing in Fox gives them an established star player next to Wemby that should pair decently with him. They got two other top 5 pick talents next to Wemby, pick abundance and a solid roster that is ready to take the next step into becoming a contender; make the playoffs. This is short, but not much to be said, they're on the right track and I wouldn't change what they're doing.
Suns
LMAOOOOOOoOoOOoOOOOOOO, SARVER TO THIS LOANING SCUM. For a serious angle on them though, well, there's some positives I guess? If they insist on keeping Booker, they got Mark Williams as a swing for the fences on a decent bigman type of trade, it's fine. Dillon Brooks is a good fit for what they need. They've added a top 10 pick prospect. Ryan Dunn is a nice young role player. The Jalen Green aspect of their team makes no sense, they should flip him asap. Trying point Booker again when it clearly doesn't work would be a mistake. Overall, despite a couple additions I kinda like, I don't think it's enough and I would put Booker up for sale instantly for all my picks back. He's a really good player, but he's not a Jokic or Giannis level player to where these decent small moves and a stroke of luck to land a star is enough to win it all.
TWolves
While their picks are non-existent, it's justifiable with their recent success and their existing young talent being surprisingly good. They also got Ant, a top 10 player type talent. Given the cap constraints too, they've done quite well for themselves retooling yet keeping identity and continuity at the same time. Re-signing Randle is a big thing for them in the short term, his recent performance and general fit makes it worth it. With new ownership finally in place, the franchise will likely continue to sustain success and be a near title contender, a fine position to be in with the upside to get better existing. I would continue their plan, the Rudy Gobert trade really worked out somehow lol.
Thunder
Sam Presti really has it all lmao. They got identity, continuity, a superstar, co-stars, a solid coach and a versatile roster. I want to highlight the recent additions of IHart and Caruso in particular. The IHart signing in the off-season was the first big FA deal ever in their history and fixed a major hole on the roster down low. Adding the now 31 year old Caruso's experience, attitude and skillset was an ideal fit for the roster. Most 1st time champions do it through their defense mainly and the Thunder nailed it last year with a historically great defense. Most repeat champions do it through more offense than defense as their core players develop continuity and skill. With the existing young core continuing to develop offensively and the addition of Nikola Topic's skillset next year, they will be more offensively capable. They still somehow have a massive pick stash to work with too as if they didnt already have an amazing enough situation. Masterful rebuild by the best basketball executive in the business, it's art at this point.
TBlazers
A defensive identity is being formed after a great 2nd half of the season last year. They got some star talents to work with Deni and Scoot (I'll get to them later) and are a pick positive situation. I have concerns about them missing a top 10 talent, but I have little concern for them at least being a solid team in the future. The Jrue Holiday trade has been critized online from what I can tell for Portland, but to me, this is a great trade for them. Anfernee was not a part of the future as Scoot has higher upside and they didn't fit the identity in Portland at all. Jrue comes in with championship experience, the ability to be a floor general and also play off-ball to let Scoot cook. His play style is something Scoot can draw from, and along with Chauncey's continued work with him, I'm confident Scoot will become a star floor general by around year 4 or 5. The size, clear ability to drastically improve (he did from last year to this year in many areas), the defensive first environment and opportunity to play will combine into a clearly better player down the line. Overall, I like where Portland is heading, but I would like to see if they can eek out a bigger pick advantage to cash in on a trade in the future. It'll likely be a floor spacer with size who can help carry the scoring load, a similar situation with the Rockets and KD.
Warriors
Top 10 player, great coach, other supporting stars, decent young talent, continuity and identity, there's something here with them that could work for contention. My skepticism with Jimmy holding up due to age exist, but if he can remain an all-star talent for next year, this team can contend for a championship. The young guys took their bumps this year in an increased role and got the experience needed. For Dunleavy, it's now about working out the edges of the team and see what happens from there. Overall, really like most of what the Warriors have done recently. They should bring back Kuminga or find that athletic pop by FA/trade though, they'll need it in the playoffs.
Clear Positive
Grizzlies
Lakers (I'm assuming the support cast gets a nice fix up)
Mavs (I'm assuming Flagg becomes a top 10 player at some point)
Nuggets
Rockets
Spurs
TWolves
Thunder
Small Positive
Clippers
Jazz
TBlazers
Warriors
Negative
Kings
Pelicans
Suns
https://fanspo.com/nba/s/general/trades/OnzaZY4wgy3MrN/contender-viability-eastern-conference (East)