The NBA’s Post-2025 Spending Spree: Who Built a Winner, Who Built a Blunder

The ink's barely dry on some of these deals, and already we're seeing the cracks – or the foundation for a dynasty. Since the wild 2025 offseason, the league has been a flurry of trades and extensions, with teams scrambling for the next big thing or holding onto their stars. Some moves were genius. Others? Well, they’re still making GMs sweat at night.

Let's start with the best, because optimism is always a good place to begin.

**The Smart Money**

1. **Jared McCain to Oklahoma City Thunder (2026 Draft Pick):** This one felt like a steal from the jump. The Thunder, already stacked with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Chet Holmgren, got McCain, a sharpshooting guard, with the 24th pick in the 2026 draft. He’s averaging 17.5 points on 47% shooting, including 42% from deep, through his first 30 games. He’s the perfect plug-and-play scorer for that OKC system.

2. **Jamal Murray Extension, Denver Nuggets (5 years, $220 million, 2025):** The price tag is steep, but Murray is the engine next to Nikola Jokic. He proved it again, dropping 35 points in Game 7 of the 2026 Western Conference Finals. You don’t let that guy walk. This keeps their championship window wide open.

3. **Paolo Banchero Extension, Orlando Magic (5 years, $235 million, 2026):** Max money for their franchise cornerstone. Banchero led the Magic to a 52-win season in 2026-27, averaging 26.8 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 5.5 assists. He's a legitimate superstar and worth every penny.

4. **Desmond Bane Extension, Memphis Grizzlies (5 years, $190 million, 2025):** The Grizzlies locked up their second-best player early. Bane is a consistent 20-point scorer and a tenacious defender. He’s shot over 40% from three for three straight seasons. That kind of efficiency and two-way play is rare.

5. **Cade Cunningham Extension, Detroit Pistons (5 years, $215 million, 2025):** The Pistons finally built something around him, and Cunningham has delivered. He led them to their first playoff berth in years in 2027, averaging 28.1 points and 8.9 assists. He’s their future.

6. **De’Aaron Fox Extension, Sacramento Kings (4 years, $195 million, 2026):** Fox’s speed and clutch play are undeniable. He hit two game-winners in the 2027 playoffs alone, pushing the Kings to the second round. This keeps the core together.

7. **Derrick White Extension, Boston Celtics (4 years, $120 million, 2025):** White is the ultimate glue guy. His defense and timely threes helped the Celtics win the 2026 championship. A fair price for such an integral piece.

8. **OG Anunoby Extension, New York Knicks (4 years, $145 million, 2025):** Anunoby fit like a glove in New York. He averaged 16 points and shutdown opposing wings all the way to the 2026 Eastern Conference Finals. He's indispensable for them.

9. **Jalen Williams Extension, Oklahoma City Thunder (4 years, $110 million, 2026):** Another great move by OKC. Williams is a versatile wing who can score, pass, and defend multiple positions. He averaged 20 points, 5 boards, and 4 assists last season.

10. **Tyrese Maxey Extension, Philadelphia 76ers (5 years, $200 million, 2025):** Maxey became a full-fledged All-Star in 2026, averaging 27 points. His speed and scoring touch are elite. He’s the perfect complement to Joel Embiid.

**The Head Scratchers**

Now for the other side of the coin. Some of these deals are already looking rough.

1. **Bradley Beal to Los Angeles Clippers (Trade, 2025):** The Clippers sent Terance Mann, Norman Powell, and a 2027 unprotected first-rounder to Phoenix for Beal and his massive contract. Beal’s injury history followed him to LA, playing only 38 games in 2025-26 and 45 in 2026-27. He’s owed $57 million in 2027-28. It’s a sunk cost.

2. **Kyrie Irving Extension, Dallas Mavericks (3 years, $130 million, 2025):** The Mavericks made a deep run in 2025, but Irving’s mercurial nature and injury issues resurfaced. He missed 25 games in 2026-27, and the Mavericks barely made the play-in. That’s a lot of money for a part-time player.

3. **Rudy Gobert Extension, Minnesota Timberwolves (3 years, $140 million, 2026):** Gobert’s impact has waned. He’s still a good defender, but his offensive limitations and inability to stay on the floor in crunch time became glaring in the 2027 playoffs. Paying a non-scoring center this much is a huge risk.

4. **Fred VanVleet Extension, Houston Rockets (3 years, $105 million, 2025):** VanVleet’s production dipped significantly after his first season in Houston. He averaged just 14 points on 38% shooting in 2026-27. The Rockets are still rebuilding, and this money could have been spent elsewhere.

5. **Deandre Ayton Trade to Portland Trail Blazers (2025):** The Blazers doubled down on Ayton, sending Scoot Henderson and a 2028 first-rounder to Phoenix. Ayton’s production hasn’t justified the cost. He put up 16 points and 10 rebounds, but his defense remains inconsistent, and his effort comes and goes.

6. **Klay Thompson Extension, Golden State Warriors (2 years, $60 million, 2025):** Father Time catches everyone. Thompson’s shooting percentages plummeted to 39% from the field and 34% from three in 2026-27. He’s a legend, but this extension looks more like a farewell tour than a competitive asset.

7. **Tobias Harris Extension, Philadelphia 76ers (3 years, $100 million, 2025):** The 76ers extended Harris for $33 million per year, only to see his role diminish significantly with Maxey’s emergence. He averaged 12 points and looked lost at times in the 2026 playoffs. They should have let him walk.

8. **CJ McCollum Extension, New Orleans Pelicans (2 years, $65 million, 2025):** McCollum is a solid player, but he’s aging, and the Pelicans need to get younger and more dynamic around Zion Williamson. His contract feels like dead money for a team trying to find its identity.

9. **Nikola Vucevic Extension, Chicago Bulls (3 years, $60 million, 2025):** The Bulls are stuck in neutral, and Vucevic isn’t the answer. He’s a decent big, but his defense is a liability, and his offensive game isn't enough to lift a team. This just cemented their mediocrity.

10. **Ben Simmons Extension, Brooklyn Nets (2 years, $60 million, 2025):** What were the Nets thinking? Simmons has played a combined 50 games since 2025 due to back and knee issues. This is purely a financial disaster.

Here’s the thing: The biggest mistake a team can make is paying for past performance, not future potential. The Clippers giving up assets for an already declining Beal epitomizes that. My hot take? The Lakers will regret not going all-in on a young star in 2025 instead of clinging to aging veterans. Look, the Pelicans are going to finally blow it up in 2028, trading Zion and starting fresh.