MEMPHIS – From blockbuster acquisitions to big-time bargain shopping, no NBA division made as big a splash this offseason in bolstering their rosters as the five teams in the Southwest.
The transaction wires produced intriguing returns for the Grizzlies, Mavericks, Pelicans, Rockets and Spurs since the end of last season. Each team will open the 2025-26 season having bolstered their respective lineups with frontline major talent or back-end rotation depth.
Consider . . .
The Rockets traded for the market’s top available superstar in Kevin Durant.
The Mavericks landed the top pick in the Draft Lottery to select Cooper Flagg.
The Spurs were one step behind, landing the No. 2 pick in Dylan Harper.
The Grizzlies snagged one of the NBA’s top finishers in Sixth Man voting in Ty Jerome.
And the Pelicans added veteran leadership in three-time NBA champion Kevon Looney.
While realistic outlooks vary from one end of the division to the other, all five teams carry postseason expectations – with at least a couple driven by legit championship aspirations. Emerging to ultimately represent the West in the NBA Finals first requires breaking through arguably the deepest and most hotly-contested division in the league.
With training camps opening this month, I’ve joined insiders and analysts covering the Grizzlies, Mavericks, Pelicans, Rockets and Spurs to preview the Southwest Division’s top storylines. Our six-part series continues by exploring the potential impact of each team’s key offseason moves.
Part 3: Catch us up on the biggest moves, and provide an under-the-radar transaction or two that could have a big effect on your team:
GRIZZLIES – MW, Grind City Media
Desmond Bane’s departure via the trade to Orlando that brought back veteran 3-and-D wing Kentavious Caldwell-Pope signaled the Grizzlies needed to consolidate their core after coming up short in the playoffs the past few seasons. That move also placed a heavier emphasis on the Ja Morant-Jaren Jackson Jr. duo to recalibrate and move forward with a deeper supporting cast.
The signing of Sixth Man of the Year finalist Ty Jerome in free agency and the re-signings of Jackson and Santi Aldama give the Grizzlies legitimate balance and scoring from all areas of the court. Trading into the lottery to draft promising-but-still-largely-unproven swingman Cedric Coward at No. 11 gives Memphis multiple lineup options and versatility that will be intriguing.
MAVERICKS – Eddie Sefko, Mavs.com
Cooper Flagg has a chance to be one of the best players in the NBA for many, many years. That alone is enough to make the Mavericks’ offseason a huge win. They have plans to let him handle the ball and with him on the floor alongside Anthony Davis and Dereck Lively II, it might be the best defensive front line in the game. But there was more to the Mavericks’ summer.
D’Angelo Russell is another marquee addition as a nice “get” for the front office. Clearly, other point guards like Chris Paul or Malcolm Brogdon weren’t good fits – either by their choice or the Mavericks’. Russell has been a capable scorer and playmaker throughout his career and will take over at the point until Kyrie Irving returns from knee surgery. On the subtraction side, don’t underestimate what Spencer Dinwiddie did for this team. He logged more games (79) and minutes (2,136) than any other Maverick last season.
PELICANS – Jim Eichenhofer, Pelicans.com
The biggest transaction for New Orleans brought veterans Jordan Poole and Saddiq Bey to town, in exchange for 30-somethings CJ McCollum and Kelly Olynyk. The shift from McCollum to Poole could be fascinating, with Poole needing to replace some of the offense McCollum brought to the lineup. Poole providing more on-ball juice and playmaking but also needs to maintain the improvement in scoring efficiency he displayed last season with Washington.
The Pelicans gained experience, rebounding and paint defense by signing center Kevon Looney, a former Poole teammate with the Warriors who becomes his new team’s oldest player at just 29. New Orleans needs to make big strides on the boards and defensively, dropping to 29th in the latter in 2024-25. Meanwhile, the Pelicans landed two players in the lottery, taking PG Jeremiah Fears at No. 7 followed by big man Derik Queen at No. 13 in a much-debated trade.
ROCKETS – Danielle Lerner, Houston Chronicle
The headline of Houston’s summer is a no-brainer: The Rockets netted Kevin Durant without tearing apart the roster. Nor did they sacrifice either of their two future first-round picks (2027 and 2029) that once belonged to the Suns. Although the Rockets gave up starters Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks, they kept the rest of their rotation and prioritized young core intact.
Houston also added a high-usage, 3-and-D wing in Dorian Finney-Smith and depth with Clint Capela and Josh Okogie. But the Rockets’ sneakiest steals were convincing Fred VanVleet to take a pay cut and signing Steven Adams to a contract extension before he hit free agency. Both players are valued locker room leaders who were standout performers during last year’s playoff series. VanVleet helps replace the 3-point production of Green and Brooks, while Adams’ rebounding and ability to play alongside Alperen Şengün unlocks a deadly double-big lineup.
SPURS – Jeff McDonald, San Antonio Express-News
The Spurs boasted one of the league’s best defenses with Victor Wembanyama on the floor last season. When he was off the floor – even for a few minutes – Spurs’ opponents quickly found the layup line open at the rim.
The club’s biggest offseason moves were made to address that issue with the signing of free agent big man Luke Kornet from Boston and, to a lesser extent, the trade for Kelly Olynyk from Washington. Only three other players in the NBA last season ranked better than Kornet in terms of rim defense. And Wembanyama was one of them.