Where do OKC Thunder’s moves go?

The dust has finally begun to settle on an eventful NBA offseason.

Big names like Paul George, DeMar DeRozan and Mikal Bridges found new homes this summer. But notable players like Alex Caruso, Isaiah Hartenstein and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope also found themselves on the move.

There’s still plenty of change to come before the 2024-25 season begins on Oct. 22. Here are the 10 best acquisitions made during the NBA offseason:

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Top 10 NBA Offseason Acquisitions for 2024

10. Sacramento acquires DeMar DeRozan in sign-and-trade

Sacramento made one of the more surprising trades of the offseason on July 6, acquiring DeRozan from Chicago in a three-team trade.

Sacramento sent Harrison Barnes and an unprotected 2031 pick swap to San Antonio. It also sent Chris Duarte, two second-round picks and cash to Chicago. The Kings then signed DeRozan to a three-year, $74 million contract.

DeRozan is a 35-year-old veteran who has averaged at least 20 points per game in every season since 2013. He will be another sure thing for a Sacramento offense that ranked ninth in the league in points per game last season (116.6).

Still, the acquisition only lands at No. 10 on this list because of questionable fit. DeRozan is an aging isolation shooter who will rip the ball out of the hands of players like De’Aaron Fox. DeRozan also struggles on defense, which is already Sacramento’s biggest weakness, which makes me believe this move is more of an upgrade than an upgrade.

9. San Antonio signs Chris Paul

On June 30, San Antonio added an experienced point guard to its roster by signing Paul to a one-year contract worth $11 million.

The pairing came as a surprise to some who expected Paul to sign with a championship contender in hopes of winning his first title. Instead, the 39-year-old point guard opted to join a San Antonio team that finished 14th in the Western Conference last season with a 22-60 record.

I love it. Paul is a pass-first playmaker and will create a lot of easy chances for Victor Wembanyama. He will also be a veteran leader for a team that is building the foundations for a new era.

And while Paul has proven to be an up-and-comer at all of his stops, it’s unlikely he’ll lead San Antonio to a playoff spot. The Spurs will reap the long-term benefits of his mentorship while also landing a high lottery pick in the tense 2025 NBA Draft.

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8. Brooklyn trades for its own first-round draft picks in 2025 and 2026

On June 25, Brooklyn pulled off one of the most underrated trades of the offseason by defeating Houston.

Houston gained the right to swap its 2025 first-round draft pick or OKC’s first-round draft pick with Phoenix, a 2027 first-round draft pick (via Phoenix), and the rights to the two highest-value first-round draft picks in 2029: Dallas, Phoenix, and Houston. Brooklyn regained its own 2025 first-round draft pick, negating a previously agreed-to swap, and its 2026 first-round draft pick.

In short, Brooklyn now has control of its first-round picks for the next two seasons, a huge deal for a team that appears to be in a rebuilding phase after trading Bridges to New York.

This trade did not involve any players, so it went largely unnoticed. But if the Nets are able to land prospects over the next two drafts, this trade could have a huge impact on the future of their franchise.

7. Dallas acquires Klay Thompson in sign-and-trade deal

On July 1, Dallas acquired Thompson and a 2025 second-round draft pick in the first six-team trade in league history.

Dallas sent a 2031 second-round pick to Philadelphia as part of a blockbuster deal and also sent Josh Green to Charlotte. The Mavericks then signed Thompson to a three-year, $50 million contract.

Dallas shot just 31.6 percent from deep in its NBA Finals loss to Boston, and Thompson should help in that department. While the 34-year-old guard has lost a step on defense, he still boasts a 3-point percentage of 41.3 percent.

But acquisition isn’t higher on that list because Dallas allowed Derrick Jones Jr., a key wing defender, to leave in the process. That void could be filled by rookies like Naji Marshall or Quentin Grimes, but it’s still a problem for a Dallas team that relied on its improved defense during the playoffs.

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6. Orlando signs Kentavious Caldwell-Pope

The Magic made one of their best free agency moves of the season on June 30 when they signed Caldwell-Pope to a three-year, $66 million contract extension.

Orlando took advantage of Denver’s tough decision to likely let Caldwell-Pope leave in order to avoid being placed in the recently introduced second lane of the luxury tax. Those in the second lane face stricter restrictions, such as not being able to take additional salary in trades and not being granted the mid-level exception (MLE).

Orlando could certainly use Caldwell-Pope’s services. The Magic ranked 24th in the NBA in 3-point percentage (35.2%) last season, and Caldwell-Pope is a seasoned 3-and-D point guard who has shot at least 40 percent from deep in three of the last four seasons.

It’s a home run for Orlando, which lost 4-3 to Cleveland in the first round of the playoffs last season. It will look to make a deeper run this time around with two-time champion Caldwell-Pope on its roster.

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5. OKC trades Alex Caruso

OKC made its first splash of the offseason on June 20 when it traded Josh Giddey to Chicago for Caruso in a one-for-one deal that did not include draft capital.

OKC has parted ways with Giddey, a 21-year-old guard who was selected by the franchise with the sixth pick in the 2021 NBA Draft. Giddey flashed potential as a huge defender with excellent passing skills but was ultimately sidelined in last season’s playoff run due to his shooting and defense issues.

Giddey was one of the Thunder’s weakest links in the postseason, and the franchise replaced him with one of the league’s best bench players. Caruso, a 30-year-old guard, has made the All-Defensive team in each of the last two seasons and shot 40.8 percent from three on a team-high 4.7 attempts per game last season.

OKC became the youngest No. 1 seed in NBA history for both conferences last season and reached the Western Conference semifinals before losing a 4-2 series to Dallas. Now, after a very successful offseason, it has a chance to win its first championship.

4. New Orleans trades Dejounte Murray

New Orleans made a major move on June 28, acquiring Murray from Atlanta.

The Pelicans sent Dyson Daniels, EJ Liddell, Larry Nance Jr. and Cody Zeller a 2025 first-round draft pick (via the Los Angeles Lakers) and a top-four first-round draft pick in 2027 (lowest-priced for Milwaukee and New Orleans) to the Hawks in exchange for Murray.

After handing point guard duties to C.J. McCollum last season, New Orleans began the offseason looking for a point guard to help the offense. They landed on Murray, who filled that role in San Antonio but struggled off-ball alongside Trae Young in Atlanta.

Murray ticks a lot of boxes for New Orleans with his passing and scoring ability, and the hope is that he can return to being a standout defender. If that happens, this acquisition could be a game-changer for the Pelicans.

3. OKC signs Isaiah Hartenstein

OKC made a splash on July 1 when it signed Hartenstein to a three-year, $87 million contract.

The Thunder snagged Hartenstein away from the Knicks, who essentially ended their chances of re-signing the 26-year-old forward when they traded for Bridges. And while the contract appears to be high for Hartenstein, he does have a team option for a third season, which will give OKC flexibility when it comes time to extend the contracts of young stars like Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams.

Hartenstein, meanwhile, fills a pressing need for the Thunder, which is undersized. The 7-foot forward is great at protecting the rim and rebounding, and he’s also a capable 3-point shooter who can stretch the floor next to Holmgren.

Hartenstein is the perfect addition for OKC, which has a pair of top-five signings on this list. Chapeau bas to general manager Sam Presti.

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2. Philadelphia signs Paul George

The biggest star to find a new home this offseason was George, who signed a four-year, $212 million contract with Philadelphia on July 1.

After a 4-2 series loss to New York in the first round of the playoffs, Philadelphia entered this offseason with more than $60 million in salary cap space. It has rebuilt its roster, signing free agents like Caleb Martin and Andre Drummond, but George is at the top of the list.

The 34-year-old forward is a nine-time All-Star and one of the NBA’s top two-way forwards. George averaged 22.6 points and 5.2 rebounds last season while shooting 41.3 percent from deep.

Philadelphia now has a Big Three of George, Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey, a dangerous trio that is capable of contending for a title, making this one of the best acquisitions of the offseason.

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1. New York trades Mikal Bridges

Bridges isn’t a better player than George, but he’s still the best acquisition of the offseason.

New York reached the Eastern Conference semifinals last season, led by Villanova graduates Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart and Donte DiVincenzo. The final missing piece in the former Wildcats’ unfinished gauntlet was Bridges, whose 3-and-D prowess and 474-game ironman streak made him an ideal acquisition.

Some called it a pipe dream. Brooklyn had been reluctant to part with Bridges for more than a year, and the franchise hadn’t made a trade with New York since 1983. There was no way the Nets were going to send their best player across the bridge, right?

Mistake. New York did the unthinkable on June 25, sending Bojan Bogdanovic, Mamadi Diakite, Shake Milton, four unprotected first-round draft picks (2025, 2027, 2029 and 2031), one of four protected 2025 first-round draft picks (via Milwaukee), and a 2025 second-round draft pick to Brooklyn in exchange for Bridges, Keita Bates-Diop, a 2026 second-round draft pick and the draft rights to Juan Pablo Vaulet.

Bridges has reunited with the rest of the Villanova guys and is another elite wing defender on a New York team that acquired OG Anunoby last season, easily the best and most surprising acquisition of the offseason.