The best offseason addition for every Western Conference NBA team

So much time passes between the NBA Draft, the start of free agency and the start of the season that fans can't be blamed for forgetting where free agents and rookies landed. As training camps open, we highlight the best offseason acquisition by each Western Conference team. (Teams are listed in alphabetical order.)

Dallas Mavericks: Grant Williams, forward: Trading Dorian Finney-Smith left a defensive hole, so the Mavs locked up the Williams on a four-year, $54 million contract. After four years in Boston, Williams heads to Texas, where Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving will be grateful to have a versatile defender flanking them for the next few years. 

Denver Nuggets: Jalen Pickett, guard: The Nuggets didn't make splashy free-agency moves after winning an NBA championship so grabbing the stat-stuffing Pickett (17.7 PPG, 7.4 RPG, 6.6 APG, 38.1% 3PT in 2022-23) from Penn State early in the second round of the draft is a savvy move for a team that is thin in the backcourt behind Jamal Murray.

Golden State Warriors: Chris Paul, point guard: Last season was the first time CP3's age (he will turn 39 during the 2023-24 season) appeared to catch up with him, but his load will be lightened a significant amount in Golden State. If you have the chance to add a future Hall of Famer to a roster with championship hopes, you do it.

Houston Rockets: Fred VanVleet, guard: Rookie Amen Thompson will quickly become a force. However, the addition of FVV on a three-year, $128 million contract remains the most important move Houston made this summer. Providing a steady, veteran presence — on a team that has been sorely lacking just that in recent years — is a great way to help right the ship in H-Town.

Los Angeles Clippers: Kenyon Martin Jr., forward: When teams go on crazy spending sprees (hello, Houston), they often must part with players to create roster space and cap room. That's basically what happened with Martin, whom the Clippers gladly snagged for two second-round picks. He's the best dunker in the league and much more.

Los Angeles Lakers: Gabe Vincent, guard: After a career year in Miami, Vincent heads west to replace Dennis Schröder and provide quality backcourt depth alongside LeBron James and Anthony Davis. Will Vincent replicate his postseason success (12.7 PPG, 3.5 APG in the 2023 playoffs) in L.A.?

Memphis Grizzlies: Marcus Smart, shooting guard: Grit & Grind will never die! Smart would have fit like a glove on any mid-2010s Grizzlies team, but he fits the 2023-24 version pretty dang well, too. Could Smart's defense and postseason experience be the cannon that shoots Memphis past "good regular-season team" to "NBA Finals contender"? Don't rule it out.

Minnesota Timberwolves: Leonard Miller, forward/center: You can count on one hand how many 6-foot-10 teens can pull off the moves Miller showcased at Summer League. He somehow fell to the 33rd pick in the draft, and though a lot of his game is still raw, Miller has the talent to develop into a unique player.

New Orleans Pelicans: Jordan Hawkins, wing:  Fresh off of a national title at Connecticut, Hawkins was picked up by NOLA with the last lottery pick (14th overall). He might not get a ton of minutes this season, but he's an elite shooter (38.8% on nearly eight attempts per game last season) who will be able to provide a high-level skill whenever he checks in.

Oklahoma City Thunder: Cason Wallace, point guard: OKC is going to be just fine in the backcourt scoring department — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander averaged 31.4 points last season — so OKC picked up the 2023 draft's best defensive guard in Wallace to provide balance. He has active hands, quick feet and great instincts. Wallace is going to be a pest for ballhandlers the second he steps onto an NBA court.

Phoenix Suns: Bradley Beal, shooting guard: Phoenix did a solid job balancing its roster during free agency. Yuta Watanabe, Drew Eubanks and Eric Gordon will contribute in their own ways, but landing Beal is the straw that stirs the desert-themed drink. He remains one of the league's most polished scorers.

Portland Trail Blazers: Scoot Henderson, point guard: A little recency bias may cause folks to argue Deandre Ayton should be the pick here. While D.A. has a great chance to revitalize his career in the Rose City, Portland had a potential franchise cornerstone fall into its lap on draft night. The Scoot Show will quickly become must-watch TV.

Sacramento Kings: Sasha Vezenkov, power forward: Who? Don't worry. You're not alone. Vezenkov, a Bulgarian, is in SacTown after winning Euroleague MVP by averaging nearly 18 points and shooting 40% from deep for Olympiacos, a Greek power. At 6-foot-9, the 28-year-old will bring extra shooting and size to the frontcourt.

San Antonio Spurs: Victor Wembanyama, everything: No further explanation needed here for the No. 1 overall pick.

Utah Jazz: Keyonte George, combo guard: This might not be answer you'd expect. The Jazz traded for John Collins, and they drafted Taylor Hendricks before they took George. George, however, looks like an NBA-ready scorer. He could provide instant spark.