NBA East conference offseason winners (so far)

In the midst of the NBA offseason, many teams have made moves to improve in a winnable Eastern Conference.

Orlando Magic: A. The Magic's 2024 season consisted of major injuries to key players like Franz Wagner, Jalen Suggs, Mo Wagner, and Paolo Banchero. While it didn't hurt in the regular season, it affected them as they were a play-in team and lost in 5 games in the first round to the Boston Celtics.

The Magic looked to add scoring and height to their guard rotation and did so with the trade acquisition of Desmond Bane, as they traded away four first-round picks, Cole Anthony, and KCP. A huge haul for a guard that would fit right in with a large lineup. They also brought back Mo Wagner on a 1-year deal and signed Tyus Jones to be their backup guard.

The big move was signing their star Paolo Banchero to a 5-year, $287 million extension supermax, as they locked down their whole young core and look to be a contending team to make the finals in a wide-open Eastern Conference.

Atlanta Hawks: B plus. The Hawks franchise has been in a difficult spot, as in the last 3 seasons they have made the play-in and been eliminated in the first round multiple times, so they looked to build around Trae Young. They decided to get more guard help, and the big move was a sign-and-trade with the Timberwolves to acquire Nickeil Alexander-Walker to a 4-year deal. Alexander-Walker was the type of player that the Hawks needed around Trae Young, to help on the perimeter defense while also being an option from three.

Another trade they got involved with was with the Boston Celtics, who needed to get out of the second apron of the cap space. The Hawks made a three-team trade that included the Brooklyn Nets and the Celtics, where they acquired Kristaps Porzingis and a 2nd-round pick, while trading Terrance Mann and their own 2025 first-round pick (Drake Powell), and giving up George Niang and two second-round picks to the Celtics.

Kristaps, being a 7-foot center who could be an option for Trae's playmaking, is what the Hawks needed after a disappointing season by Capela, who was not someone who could help the Hawks outside of the paint.

The last player they acquired was guard Luke Kennard, who can be a scoring option off the bench, as an even more viable option than LeVert or Mann, who weren't big scoring options for the Hawks during last season. Within an open Eastern Conference with the injuries to Tatum and Haliburton, the Hawks look to get past the play-in and to be a viable candidate for the East.

Milwaukee Bucks: B plus.

With Giannis trade rumors going wild after being eliminated in the first round and Damian Lillard tearing his ACL, the Bucks looked to see how they would be able to compete in the East while also convincing Giannis that the Bucks are a team committed to helping him be a viable option. The biggest surprise move was releasing Damian Lillard after his ACL injury, which meant taking on dead cap space from his contract and freeing up money to compete in the 2025/26 season.

The players they picked up seemed to not only improve the team but also seemingly get younger around a 30-year-old Giannis, as they signed Myles Turner to a 4-year deal after being part of a Pacers team that went 7 games vs. OKC in the NBA finals. His perimeter shooting, rebounding, and force on the glass will help with Giannis as the four, as they let Brook Lopez go, who was getting up there in age and wasn't playing at his best this past season.

Lillard's departure brought on the need for guard help, so the Bucks signed Cole Anthony to a one-year deal while bringing Gary Harris to a 2-year deal, who will help with the return of Gary Trent Jr. While they are more on the small side for a guard to play beside Giannis, they are players who can be the scorers and facilitators when Giannis is on the bench.