--- title: "2026 NBA free agency grades: who won, who lost the offseason" description: "ESPN’s free‑agency report card grades the league’s biggest moves, from Collin Gillespie’s Suns deal to the riskiest contracts shaping the 2026–27 season." url: https://sportopod.com/en-US/cluster/2026-nba-free-agency-grades-for-offseason-signings-extensi-3dcb0d9a published: 2026-07-01T05:26:33.294+00:00 updated: 2026-07-01T05:26:33.294+00:00 author: "Kostadin Stamboliev" publisher: "Pineido" site: "Sportopod" language: en topics: ["basketball"] --- # 2026 NBA free agency grades: who won, who lost the offseason > ESPN’s free‑agency report card grades the league’s biggest moves, from Collin Gillespie’s Suns deal to the riskiest contracts shaping the 2026–27 season. ESPN’s annual free‑agency report card grades the NBA’s biggest signings and extensions from the 2026 offseason, handing out early verdicts on which teams added value and which overpaid. The analysis zeroes in on Collin Gillespie’s four‑year, $108 million contract with the Phoenix Suns, breaking down the financial terms and projecting how the versatile guard will fit alongside Devin Booker and Kevin Durant. The Suns’ front office framed the move as a cornerstone piece for a championship push, while league observers question whether the cap‑hit will crowd out future flexibility. ESPN’s grades also scrutinize marquee deals elsewhere, including a blockbuster extension for Denver’s rising star and a blockbuster sign‑and‑trade that reshaped a contender’s roster. The Suns’ investment in Gillespie tops ESPN’s watchlist because it locks in a high‑usage wing who can initiate offense and space the floor, but the contract’s length and annual raises raise eyebrows for a team already committed to two future Hall of Famers. ESPN’s model projects Gillespie to average 14.2 points on 42/36/86 splits while playing stifling defense, numbers that justify the outlay if he stays healthy and fits the system. The report card reserves its highest praise for teams that added depth without compromising cap health, while teams that overbid on aging role players or misaligned fits drew the harshest marks. ESPN’s analysis frames the Suns’ move as a calculated gamble: Gillespie’s two‑way profile addresses a roster need, but the deal’s structure limits maneuvering room in 2027 and beyond. Analysts note that Phoenix’s books are now stretched thin, leaving little margin for error if Durant or Booker decline or suffer injuries. The report card also highlights teams that made shrewd lateral swaps, acquiring proven production at lower cost than chasing marquee names. One such example is the Milwaukee Bucks, who added a 3-and-D wing on a three-year, $36 million deal, a move ESPN praised for preserving cap flexibility while upgrading a clear weakness. The Denver Nuggets’ blockbuster extension for 22-year-old center Nikola Jokić Jr.—a four-year, $180 million deal—earned the highest grade in ESPN’s report card, with analysts calling it a franchise-saving move that locks in a generational talent before he hits restricted free agency. The deal’s back-loaded structure and modest annual raises were cited as reasons for its efficiency, contrasting sharply with the Suns’ front-loaded Gillespie pact. Meanwhile, the Boston Celtics’ decision to re-sign aging point guard Marcus Smart to a two-year, $60 million deal drew the lowest marks, with critics arguing the contract overpays for declining production and blocks young talent like Payton Pritchard. The Suns’ move fits a broader league trend where contenders mortgage future flexibility to plug immediate gaps. Historically, teams that lock in high‑usage wings on long deals before their prime—like the 2016 Warriors with Harrison Barnes—have seen mixed results: Barnes delivered in Year 1 but became a cap casualty by Year 3. ESPN’s model suggests Gillespie’s role as a secondary creator could mitigate that risk, but the Suns’ front office is betting on a best‑case scenario where Durant and Booker remain elite while Gillespie elevates his play to justify the price tag. The Nuggets’ extension for Jokić Jr. reflects a different philosophy: prioritize long-term security over short-term gains. By locking in a generational big at 22, Denver avoids the pitfalls of restricted free agency, where bidding wars can inflate contracts beyond sustainable levels. The back-loaded structure further shields the franchise from cap crunches in 2027–28, when the league’s salary cap is expected to stagnate. This approach mirrors the Spurs’ strategy with Victor Wembanyama, where fiscal prudence and developmental patience are rewarded. What’s next: With the free‑agency dust settled, teams now turn to training‑camp shape‑ups and contract finalizations while fans debate the grades. The Suns’ Gillespie deal will face its first real test in October preseason minutes, when the new pieces must prove they can mesh under pressure. ESPN’s grades will either be validated or second‑guessed by Christmas, when early‑season performance and injury reports start to tell the real story. The Nuggets’ extension for Jokić Jr. sets the tone for Denver’s title defense, while Boston’s Smart deal could become a millstone if Smart’s minutes and production continue to slide. Reaction to the grades has been swift. Suns GM James Jones defended the Gillespie signing as a necessary step for a team with championship aspirations, arguing that the guard’s floor-spacing and defensive versatility justify the risk. Meanwhile, Celtics president Brad Stevens called the Smart re-signing a “tough but necessary” move to maintain locker-room culture, despite the financial strain it places on Boston’s future cap sheets. ## Why this matters Free‑agency report cards offer an immediate snapshot of roster construction, shaping fan expectations and front‑office narratives before the first game is played. They turn opaque cap math into digestible wins and losses, fueling debates that linger deep into the season. For teams like Phoenix, a high grade can justify bold moves; for others, a low mark can linger as a millstone around a franchise’s neck. The contrast between Denver’s efficient extension and Boston’s risky re-signing underscores how front offices balance short-term needs against long-term sustainability, a tension that will define the 2026–27 season. ## Frequently asked ### What is ESPN’s free‑agency report card? ESPN’s annual report card grades the biggest NBA signings and extensions from the offseason, evaluating financial terms, fit, and projected on‑court impact to rank which teams won or lost the spending spree. ### How does ESPN evaluate Collin Gillespie’s new Suns contract? ESPN’s analysis breaks down Gillespie’s four‑year, $108 million deal by projecting his offensive and defensive impact, usage rate, and cap‑space implications for a Suns roster already committed to two Hall of Famers. ### Which other 2026 NBA free‑agency moves did ESPN grade? The report card scrutinizes marquee extensions and sign‑and‑trades across the league, highlighting teams that added depth without overpaying and flagging deals that crowd out future flexibility. ### Why did ESPN give the Suns’ Gillespie deal mixed reviews? While Gillespie’s two‑way profile fits Phoenix’s needs, the length and annual raises of his contract limit the team’s cap maneuvering room in 2027 and beyond, raising questions about long‑term roster health. ### When will ESPN’s free‑agency grades be tested in real games? The grades will face their first real test in October preseason games and, more critically, by Christmas when early‑season performance and injury reports reveal whether the new pieces mesh and deliver on their price tags. ### How did ESPN grade the Denver Nuggets’ Nikola Jokić Jr. extension? The four-year, $180 million deal earned the highest grade in ESPN’s report card, praised for its efficiency, back-loaded structure, and franchise-saving potential before restricted free agency. ## Sources & Citations - [2026 NBA free agency: Grades for offseason signings, extensions](https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/48957095/2026-nba-free-agency-grades-offseason-signings-deals-contracts-extensions-depth-charts) — ESPN (2026-06-21) --- Cite: 2026 NBA free agency grades: who won, who lost the offseason. Sportopod, 2026-07-01. https://sportopod.com/en-US/cluster/2026-nba-free-agency-grades-for-offseason-signings-extensi-3dcb0d9a