Every team in the Southwest division is having a great offseason. All 5 NBA teams have created a distinct gap from their goals and identity now (2025-26), compared to the previous season (2024-25). Let’s go over the Southwest division season so far.
Memphis Grizzlies
The Grizzlies and the Magic had the very first trade of the offseason:
Grizzlies Receive: Kentavious Caldwell Pope, Cole Anthony (gone), Four UNPROTECTED first round picks (2025, 2026, 2028, 2030) and a 2029 top 2 protected first sound pick swap. That 2025 pick ended up being Cedric Coward.
Magic Receive: Desmond Bane
I give this trade a strong B+. KCP would give them the needed perimeter defense. But taking on that contract for the production he’ll give you is certainly a con of this trade. However, getting five first round picks and drafting two-way rebounding forward Cedric Coward is what makes them the winners of this trade. Aside from the trade, what offseason signings have they made, and who did they let walk?
| Category | Player(s) |
| 🔁 Trades In | Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Cole Anthony, Marvin Bagley III, Cedric Coward, four first round draft picks |
| 🔁 Trades Out | Desmond Bane, Marcus Smart, Jake LaRavia, Yang Hansen |
| 📝 Signings | Jock Landale, Lamar Stevens, Zyon Pullin (Two-way), Ty Jerome |
| ✍️ Extensions | Cam Spencer, Santi Aldama |
| 🧑🎓 Draft Picks | Javon Small (#48), Will Richard (#56) |
| ❌ Departures | Luke Kennard, David Roddy, Johnny Davis |
I think overall, the Grizzlies deserve a B this offseason; they got better as a team and better trade assets, but not anything that would move the needle much further.
New Orleans Pelicans
The Pelicans made a trade to acquire Jordan Poole, Saddiq Bey, and the draft rights to Micah Peavy. They sent the Wizards CJ McCollum, Kelly Olynyk, draft rights to Mojave King, and a future second-round pick. Pairing up Jordan Poole and Zion Williamson for the foreseeable future will be must-see entertainment. This pairing should put Poole in conversations for potential Most Improved Player talks. Moving McCollum for a younger promising guard was certainly a move that will help them push for a potential top 8 seeding in the west. Let’s look at the offseason acquisitions and departures so far.
| Category | Player(s) |
| Signings | Kevon Looney, Hunter Dickinson, Trey Alexander (2-way), Derik Queen, Micah Peavy, Jeremiah Fears, Lester Quinones, |
| Re-signings | (N/A) |
| Extensions | Herb Jones (3-year, $68M extension with player option)
1 |
| Departures | Brandon Ingram (traded), Antonio Reeves, Jalen Crutcher, Javonte Green, Trey Jemison III (waived), Bruce Brown |
| Trades | Jordan Poole, Saddiq Bey (acquired) |
The Pelicans have had the most underrated offseason so far. Extending elite 3&D wing Herb Jones and drafting 2 of the top 10 players in this year’s draft class are S-tier moves. The Pelicans deserve an A- currently. Though they are still not contenders, their roster has improved greatly.
Houston Rockets
The largest trade ever was the 7-team Kevin Durant trade.
| Team | Received |
| Houston Rockets | Kevin Durant, Clint Capela |
| Phoenix Suns | Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, Khaman Maluach, Rasheer Fleming, Koby Brea, Daeqwon Plowden, 1 second-round pick |
| Brooklyn Nets | 2 second-round picks |
| Golden State Warriors | Alex Toohey, Jahmai Mashack |
| Atlanta Hawks | David Roddy, cash, second-round pick swap |
| Los Angeles Lakers | Adou Thiero |
| Minnesota Timberwolves | Rocco Zikarsky, 2 second-round picks, cash |
Although it was a 7-team trade, the Rockets individually traded with the Suns to acquire KD. They sent out Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, a 2025 first (Khaman Maluach) and five second round picks. With that trade, they’ve also made more signings and have let people walk.
| Category | Player(s) |
| Acquisitions | Kevin Durant, Clint Capela |
| Re-signings | Fred VanVleet (2 yrs, $50M), Steven Adams (3 yrs, $39M) |
| Extensions | Jabari Smith Jr. (5 yrs, $122M) |
| Signings | Dorian Finney-Smith (4 yrs, $53M) |
| Departures | Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, 2025 No. 10 pick, 5 second-round picks |
The Rockets deserve a A+ for the offseason, although they let Cam Whitmore go, they still brought in Kevin Durant and Dorian Finney Smith who is a premier 3&D wing and locked in their best role players to re-signings and extensions.
Dallas Mavericks
After trading Luka Doncic, miraculously they won the Cooper Flagg sweepstakes and attained the first overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft.
| Category | Player(s) |
| Signings | Ryan Nembhard (2-way), Miles Kelly (2-way), Kylor Kelley (2-way) Dante Exum |
| Re-signings | Brandon Williams (rest-of-season contract) |
| Extensions | Daniel Gafford (3 yrs, $54M)
1 , Jaden Hardy (3 yrs, $18M) 1 |
| Trades | Received: Anthony Davis, Max Christie, 2029 1st-round pick Sent: Luka Dončić, Maxi Kleber, Markieff Morris (to Lakers) Received: Caleb Martin (from 76ers) |
| Departures | Luka Dončić, Maxi Kleber, Markieff Morris, Quentin Grimes |
The Mavericks haven’t made many offseason moves but that’s reasonable because they already have a championship level roster. Now with the addition of Cooper Flagg, they are poised to be a top 3 seed in the Western Conference. The league has been put on notice.
San Antonio Spurs
The Spurs have the best young core in the league:
– Victor Wembanyama
– Stephon Castle
– Dylan Harper
– Carter Bryant
– Jeremy Sochan
– Keldon Johnson
– Devin Vassell
It’s hard not to look at this list and not be worried for the rest of the league in about 3-5 years. Although they still can’t contend for a title or even a playoff spot, they have had a terrific offseason.
| Category | Player(s) |
| Signings | Luke Kornet (1-year deal), Jordan McLaughlin (1-year deal), Harrison Ingram (2-way), David Duke Jr. (2-way) |
| Re-signings | Tre Jones (3-year deal) |
| Extensions | Devin Vassell (5 yrs, $146M), Keldon Johnson (4 yrs, $74M) |
| Trades | Received: De’Aaron Fox, Harrison Barnes Sent: 2027 1st-round pick |
| Departures | Chris Paul, Bismack Biyombo, Sandro Mamukelashvili (all UFAs) |
The Spurs do have a logjam in the guard position, but this could work for their benefit due to the play style diversity. Signing Luke Kornet to put next to Wembanyama will put the paint on lock. It will be very difficult to score on them because of this. They also have the personnel to switch on to different defenders. I give the Spurs an A for the offseason they are having.
Conclusion
The offseason for the Southwest division has been great. Is there more to come or could this be it?