Over the summer, I ranked all 30 NBA head coaching jobs based on their desirability. The Dallas Mavericks ranked No. 5 because they had Luka Doncic and because Nico Harrison had, in my own words, “solidified himself as a strong general manager by drafting Dereck Lively and trading for P.J. Washington and Daniel Gafford.” Needless to say… a lot has changed since then!
The 2024 offseason was relatively quiet. Few teams seemed prepared to deal with the onslaught of restricting salary cap rules that took effect following the 2023 Collective Bargaining Agreement. The 2025 trade deadline, though, was another matter entirely. Nine different All-Stars changed teams. Almost everyone got in on the action in some way, shape or form. And our opinions on the people making all of these moves therefore deserve to be re-evaluated.
So today, we’re going to be ranking all 30 NBA front offices. These rankings are all-inclusive, so general managers, scouts, cap managers and even owners will be evaluated as a whole. While there is no set rubric, the following factors will be considered:
- Does their general manager have a successful track record? This is probably the single most important factor we’ll measure. The more winning an executive has done, the more latitude they get for recent missteps or a losing record. Keep in mind that the lead basketball decision-maker is the single figure most responsible for these rankings. Even if a team has a successful track record, they’re going to lose credit if the general manager currently in place was not at the helm for that success.
- Is there a clear plan in place? This is relatively simple. While not every great front office has the same plan for building a championship roster, they all at least have one. Is their vision readily apparent? Have their recent moves taken them closer to that end goal?
- Is their team winning? This isn’t an absolute, as the first two points covered, but having a good team today certainly helps.
- Is their owner willing to spend enough money to win consistently?
- Is their owner heavily involved in basketball decisions? If the answer is yes, is there a reason to believe that owner’s voice in basketball matters is at all helpful?
- Is it readily apparent who is making major basketball decisions? Most successful front offices have a single lead executive who has final say on basketball matters. If a team does not, is there reason to believe that their alternative structure is at all helpful?
- Has this front office done a good job hiring head coaches? Does this front office collaborate with its head coaches effectively?
- How have circumstances impacted their outcomes? Has a team made good decisions that have been doomed by poor health? Has a team benefitted from or been hurt by its market or history?
- Does this front office tend to draft well in terms of where it picks?
- Does this front office tend to sign players to contracts that represent good value relative to the market?
- Does this front office tend to win its trades?
- Is this front office notably creative in how it acquires or retains players?
- Is everyone in the organization properly aligned towards the goal of meaningfully competing for a championship, either now or in the future? This thankfully only applies to a small number of teams, but no front office is going to rank well if it appears comfortable winning 45 games in perpetuity.
Essentially, if you were tasked with setting up an expansion team tomorrow and knew nothing of its market or other circumstances, which of the 30 existing front offices would you most trust to put together a winner?
Two quick notes before we begin. First, I want to stress that there are far more good front offices than bad ones in the modern NBA. Do not treat a low ranking as an absolute indictment of a front office. A lot of this is circumstantial and will be explained in more depth. Where an indictment is warranted, one will be provided. Second, I will be grouping these front offices by tiers. While all 30 teams will be ranked 1-30, there is no great difference in quality between any two teams in the same tier. Teams within a tier could plausibly be ordered in any way based on preference. So, with that in mind, let’s rank some front offices.
Tier 1: Nearly Perfect
1. Oklahoma City Thunder
No team this century has ever been better-positioned to compete for a sustained period than the Thunder. They’ve done virtually everything right since losing the Western Conference finals and Kevin Durant in 2016. Case-in-point: they traded Serge Ibaka on draft night of 2016 for Victor Oladipo and Domantas Sabonis. A year later, they traded those two for Paul George, and then George for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and a mountain of draft picks, one of which yielded Jalen Williams. They tanked for two years. One of them netted Chet Holmgren. Josh Giddey wasn’t nearly as good, but they at least realized that quickly enough to trade him for Alex Caruso.
There’s not a nit to pick here. Mark Daigneault just won Coach of the Year. Their ownership stays out of Sam Presti’s way, but was willing to pay exorbitant luxury-tax bills during the Russell Westbrook-Paul George era. They consistently re-sign their own youngsters to long-term, team-friendly deals. The quartet of Lu Dort, Aaron Wiggins, Kenrich Williams and Isaiah Joe, all on extensions, will earn less over the next two years than Zach LaVine, Bradley Beal or Lauri Markkanen. Their lone significant foray into free agency got them Isaiah Hartenstein on a deal that comes with a team option right when Holmgren and Williams get expensive.
They have excelled in their draft selections at every level, and their collection of picks allows them to easily replace role players when needed or potentially trade for a star player. Once they secure a championship, they will undoubtedly rise to the top tier of teams in the league.
Boston Celtics:
Brad Stevens, with his unique blend of coaching and general manager skills, has a deep understanding of his roster and how players can complement each other. He has made savvy moves like acquiring Derrick White and Kristaps Porzingis to strengthen the team. Stevens’ ability to manage the roster effectively and make smart decisions has kept the Celtics competitive. The uncertainty surrounding ownership is the only potential issue, but with Stevens and Mike Zarren at the helm, the Celtics are well-equipped for any future challenges.
San Antonio Spurs:
Despite some luck in acquiring Victor Wembanyama, the Spurs’ front office remains one of the best in the NBA. They have made shrewd trades, including extracting valuable assets from the Sacramento Kings. Their recent draft picks have shown promise, but the challenge lies in shaping these talents into a cohesive contender. With a strong foundation and ample draft picks, the Spurs are in a good position to continue their success.
Miami Heat:
The Heat have a long history of success and have consistently found talent through the draft and undrafted free agents. Their recent track record, including multiple NBA Finals appearances, speaks to their ability to build a competitive team. With promising young players like Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo, along with potential future stars like Kel’El Ware, the Heat are poised for continued success. Andy Elisburg is known as one of the top capologists in the basketball world. Mickey Arison doesn’t spend as freely as Joe Lacob, but money has never really been an issue for the Heat, and he lets Pat Riley run the show.
However, recent events have raised some concerns. Missing out on Damian Lillard and the fallout from Jimmy Butler’s departure have left some questioning the Heat’s decision-making. Keeping Butler without extending him only damaged their relationship and likely cost them a better return in a trade. The team was far from contending last season, so the old-fashioned approach of challenging Butler to earn an extension seemed outdated. The question arises whether this traditional approach still makes sense in today’s NBA landscape.
While the answer is uncertain, the Heat front office has a wealth of basketball knowledge and can adapt if needed. The Butler and Lillard situations may have dinged their reputation slightly, but they have the potential to learn and evolve.
On the other hand, the Utah Jazz and Memphis Grizzlies have been making smart moves. The Jazz have made savvy trades, while the Grizzlies excel at drafting and developing talent. Both teams have bright futures ahead, with strong leadership guiding their paths to success. Otherwise, the Grizzlies excel in almost every aspect. Despite their relative unluckiness on lottery nights, the Houston Rockets have managed to amass a talented young roster. Their draft positions have consistently been worse than their standings during their tanking years. In 2022, they missed out on Paolo Banchero when the Magic surprised everyone by selecting him, leaving Houston with Jabari Smith.
The Rockets have made smart moves in transitioning to a winning team. Contracts for Fred VanVleet and Dillon Brooks have worked out well, structured in team-friendly ways. They have chosen not to make major trades for veterans yet, opting to let their young core develop first. Ime Udoka’s coaching style has brought a defensive personality to the team that was lacking during the Harden era. Rafael Stone has shown creativity in trades, benefiting the Rockets. With their youth, assets, and identity, they have the potential to become a long-term force in the Western Conference.
On the other hand, the Philadelphia 76ers, led by Daryl Morey, have been smart but unlucky. Contracts for Paul George and Joel Embiid are currently concerning, but Morey’s pursuit of star-level talent is commendable. Despite some setbacks, Morey has made successful moves, like drafting Tyrese Maxey and other draft wins. While criticism for some contract decisions is fair, Morey’s track record suggests he will figure things out.
The Los Angeles Clippers traded for Kawhi Leonard and Paul George to contend for a championship, a move that made sense at the time. However, injuries derailed their championship aspirations, leading to George’s departure. The decision to let George go has worked out well, making the Clippers deeper and financially flexible. Though they may not be title contenders currently, they did not resort to tanking to build their team around Leonard and George. The philosophy they seem to have adopted involves prioritizing short-term competitiveness to attract a potential future star who may force his way to them, similar to what Leonard did in the past. With one of the NBA’s top coaches and an owner with significant financial resources, this strategy makes sense. While the lack of control over their first-round picks until 2029 is indeed risky, this front office has shown adaptability and creativity. The James Harden trade, which sacrificed long-term potential for a brief championship window, raises some doubts, but the team has a track record of making bold moves. The Nets, led by Marks, have transformed from the worst team in the league to championship contenders in a short span, showcasing impressive drafting and roster building skills. Despite challenges and injuries, Griffin has assembled a talented roster in New Orleans, but faces ownership issues and a lack of willingness to pay the luxury tax. The Warriors, dealing with significant turnover in their front office, have shown promise under new leadership, with a collaborative approach and solid drafting yielding positive results so far. If Dunleavy can assemble the right pieces around the Butler-Green-Stephen Curry core in the coming years, it is likely that the Warriors will remain lightyears ahead of their competition. Their next step is reaching greatness.
Tier 6: The Minnesota Timberwolves are a challenging team to rank. Tim Connelly has made significant moves for the team, including the Rudy Gobert trade and the Karl-Anthony Towns trade. However, the future of the team is uncertain, with questions surrounding ownership, the GM position, and the lack of draft picks for the future. The next few seasons will be crucial in determining the direction of the team and if they can retain players like Anthony Edwards.
Tier 7: The Los Angeles Lakers have a history of acquiring top-tier players like LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and Luka Dončić. However, their ability to build a successful team around these players has been inconsistent. The team has made key mistakes in trades and player acquisitions, leading to challenges in maintaining a competitive roster. The front office’s decisions will be critical in determining the team’s success moving forward.
Tier 8: The Detroit Pistons, Charlotte Hornets, and Washington Wizards are all relatively new front offices with varying degrees of success. The Pistons have shown tangible progress with recent additions and coaching hires, while the Hornets and Wizards are still in the early stages of their rebuilds. All three teams have made efforts to acquire draft picks and maintain financial flexibility, setting a solid foundation for future success.
Tier 9: The Milwaukee Bucks, despite their 2021 championship win, have faced challenges in maintaining their success. While their moves leading up to the championship were successful, recent decisions have been questionable. The team has struggled to develop young talent and make impactful moves, raising concerns about their ability to remain competitive in the long term. The front office will need to make strategic decisions to address these issues and sustain their success. Since replacing Doc Rivers, the team has a record of 47-43. The Milwaukee Bucks are facing an all-in season with a 30-24 record, and their future looks uncertain with ownership changes and questionable decision-making. The Denver Nuggets, under new leadership, have had mixed results with a strong core but questionable signings and vision. The Portland Trail Blazers have been hesitant to fully commit to rebuilding, while the Atlanta Hawks have complex power dynamics in the front office. The Dallas Mavericks made a controversial trade involving Luka Dončić, showcasing a lack of understanding of fan loyalty. The city of Dallas is being urged to support the laundry instead of the player who wore it, such as Luka Dončić. While players are often referred to as assets, Dončić transcends that label and is the reason why fans watch sports. The decision to trade him reflects poorly on the front office, overshadowing any future success. Similarly, the Phoenix Suns and Sacramento Kings have made short-sighted decisions that have hindered their progress. The Phoenix Suns lack foresight in their moves, while the Sacramento Kings are desperate to recreate past success without addressing underlying issues. The Chicago Bulls, on the other hand, lack a clear plan and have not made significant progress under their current GM. These teams’ decisions demonstrate a lack of direction and foresight in building successful franchises.