Updated

Updated · ESPN · Jul 1

NBA Analyst Grades 2026 Free Agency Deals, Giving Bulls' $45 Million Powell Move a B-

Updated

Updated · ESPN · Jul 1

NBA Analyst Grades 2026 Free Agency Deals, Giving Bulls' $45 Million Powell Move a B-

Q: After trading LaMelo Ball for a historic rookie season from Kon Knueppel, are the Hornets now better positioned for a deep playoff run?

Not yet—at least not for an immediate deep playoff run. The Hornets are better positioned to build a stronger long-term core, but the available evidence does not show they are closer right now to making a serious postseason push. Trading LaMelo Ball to Minnesota brought back Naz Reid, a 2033 unprotected first-round pick, three first-round swaps and three second-rounders, and Charlotte clearly made that move because of Ball’s durability concerns and its belief in Kon Knueppel as a foundational piece. Knueppel’s rookie year was a major reason for optimism. He averaged 18.5 points, 5.3 rebounds and shot 42.5% from three while leading the league in made threes with 273. Charlotte also jumped from 19 wins to 44, with Brandon Miller taking another step and Coby White re-signed on a reasonable three-year, $74 million deal. The Hornets’ offense and defense both improved significantly over the course of the season. But “better positioned” for a deep run is different from “better positioned” for the future. The searched material says Charlotte’s title odds worsened after the Ball trade, moving from 90-1 to 200-1 before settling around 100-1. The team also just lost decisively in the play-in and still showed weaknesses in clutch games and against physical opponents. So the trade looks more like a strategic reset than a win-now move. Charlotte may have improved its long-range outlook, but it has not yet shown it is more likely to make a deep playoff run in the near term.

3 articles · Updated · ESPN · Jul 1

Tuesday’s opening wave of NBA free agency drew mixed reviews, with Chicago’s two-year, $45 million Norman Powell deal earning a B- and its two-year, $17 million Zach Collins pact a C-.
The Bulls’ spending spree also included trading for Nic Claxton, effectively using more than $50 million in cap space on short-term veterans rather than younger upside, a strategy the analysis called decent value but uninspiring for a rebuild.
Detroit’s three-year, $51 million John Collins signing got a C+ because it appears to replace playoff standout Tobias Harris, while Kevin Huerter’s three-year, $27 million return drew a D amid his shooting decline.
Several value deals stood out: Houston landed Marcus Smart for two years and $13 million, Phoenix signed Luke Kennard for two years and $13 million, and Philadelphia added Dean Wade for four years and $39 million.
At the high end, Oklahoma City’s three-year, $75 million Isaiah Hartenstein extension earned an A as a cap-saving move that keeps a key starter, underscoring how apron pressures are shaping this offseason.