NBA Offseason Talent Shifts: Clippers Lead Gains, Celtics Suffer Biggest Loss
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New York, Oct. 2, 2025 — A data-driven review of summer transactions shows the Los Angeles Clippers added more on-court value than any other club, while the defending champion Boston Celtics experienced the steepest drop, according to Estimated RAPTOR Wins Above Replacement (WAR) projections.
Top five gainers
1. Los Angeles Clippers (+8.1 net WAR)
Key arrivals: Chris Paul (4.7), Brook Lopez (3.5), Bradley Beal (2.9), John Collins (2.5)
Key departures: Norman Powell (4.8), Ben Simmons (0.7), Amir Coffey (0.3)
The Clippers sacrificed Powell’s career-best 6.3-WAR season in a July three-team swap but otherwise kept their core intact while importing four players who each averaged at least 2.5 WAR in recent campaigns.
2. Houston Rockets (+5.1)
Arrivals: Kevin Durant (7.1), Dorian Finney-Smith (2.2), Josh Okogie (1.7), Clint Capela (1.5)
Departures: Jalen Green (3.0), Dillon Brooks (2.7), Cam Whitmore (1.1), Jock Landale (0.6)
Season-ending injury: Fred VanVleet (-6.3)
Houston landed the offseason’s top prize in Durant, 36, who produced 26.6 points per game last year. The boost offsets VanVleet’s torn ACL and the loss of Green and Brooks in the seven-team blockbuster with Phoenix.
3. Dallas Mavericks (+3.8)
Arrivals: No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg (3.6), D’Angelo Russell (2.8)
Departures: Spencer Dinwiddie (1.7), Kai Jones (0.7)
Dallas projects improvement from rookie Flagg and a healthy Anthony Davis, while Russell replaces the outgoing Dinwiddie in the backcourt.
4. Brooklyn Nets (+3.0)
Arrivals: Michael Porter Jr. (5.6), Haywood Highsmith (1.7), Terance Mann (1.5), Egor Demin (0.6)
Departures: Cameron Johnson (3.5), D’Angelo Russell (2.8)
Porter’s recent 11.7 WAR over two seasons nearly doubles Johnson’s output, giving the rebuilding Nets a modest net gain.
5. Charlotte Hornets (+2.0)
Arrivals: Collin Sexton (3.3), Spencer Dinwiddie (1.7), Kon Knueppel (1.0), Mason Plumlee (0.7), Pat Connaughton (0.6)
Departures: Mark Williams (1.8), Josh Okogie (1.7), Jusuf Nurkić (1.4), Seth Curry (0.5)
A 19-win squad reshaped its rotation around Miles Bridges, LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller, opting for Sexton’s scoring punch and Dinwiddie’s playmaking.
Notable teams outside the top five
The Orlando Magic climbed to seventh in preseason title odds after adding Desmond Bane, but the trade cost them Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Cole Anthony, limiting their net gain to 17th overall. Memphis, Atlanta and Portland made significant moves yet broke even once outgoing talent was included, while Damian Lillard’s Achilles rehab delays any Blazers benefit until at least 2026-27.
Biggest value losers
30. Boston Celtics (-11.6 net WAR)
Arrivals: Anfernee Simons (2.6), Chris Boucher (1.6), Josh Minott (0.5)
Departures: Kristaps Porziņģis (4.9), Jrue Holiday (4.5), Luke Kornet (3.5), Al Horford (3.2)
Season-ending injury: Jayson Tatum (-10.7)
The reigning champions face a drastically altered roster after Tatum’s torn Achilles and the exits of Porziņģis, Holiday and Horford.
29. Phoenix Suns (-7.1)
Arrivals: Jalen Green (3.0), Dillon Brooks (2.7), Mark Williams (1.8), Jared Butler (0.8), Khaman Maluach (0.5)
Departures: Kevin Durant (7.1), Bradley Beal (2.9), Tyus Jones (2.7), Cody Martin (1.4), Monte Morris (0.9), Mason Plumlee (0.7), Bol Bol (0.5)
Phoenix’s reset from the Durant–Beal–Booker era brings back young talent but results in the NBA’s second-largest net loss.
28. Milwaukee Bucks (-5.6)
Arrivals: Myles Turner (2.9), Gary Harris (1.2), Cole Anthony (1.2)
Departures: Damian Lillard (7.0), Brook Lopez (3.5), Pat Connaughton (0.6)
Moving on from Lillard after two injury-plagued seasons, Milwaukee pairs Giannis Antetokounmpo with Turner and hopes for better health.
27. Cleveland Cavaliers (-5.4)
Arrivals: Larry Nance Jr. (1.4), Lonzo Ball (1.2)
Departures: Ty Jerome (4.6), Isaac Okoro (2.5), Javonte Green (0.9)
Jerome’s elite efficiency and Okoro’s 3-and-D role leave major gaps unless Ball, often injured, can stay on the floor.
26. Minnesota Timberwolves (-3.3)
Arrivals: Joan Beringer (0.3)
Departures: Nickeil Alexander-Walker (3.0), Josh Minott (0.5)
Retaining Julius Randle and Naz Reid cost Minnesota cap flexibility, leading to Alexander-Walker’s departure and a thinner bench.
The analysis underscores how parity continues to define the league: seven champions in seven seasons, and another wide-open race expected after a summer of calculated gains and unavoidable losses.
Source: ESPN
