The 2022 NBA offseason is officially in the books.

Sort of.

Collin Sexton remains stuck in the thorny world of restricted free agency. A Donovan Mitchell deal could, in theory at least, still go down at any moment. A batch of unsigned ballers still await training-camp invites.

NBA

2 teams viewed as most likely suitors for Russell Westbrook

However, virtually all of the heavy lifting is finished, which makes this is a perfect time to recap the action around the Association by spotlighting the best weapon each team added over the summer.

 

Atlanta Hawks: Dejounte Murray

The Atlanta Hawks parted with three first-round picks and a pick swap to land Dejounte Murray, and while you can debate the merits of the move, there's no questioning his prominent position within the franchise. He's already the most important player in Atlanta not named Trae Young and perhaps the ideal backcourt mate for the two-time All-Star.

Having been previously established as a defensive elite, Murray made big strides at the opposite end to fuel his All-Star ascension in 2021-22. His stat sheet wound up featuring one career high after the next, ultimately positioning him as the only player ever to average 20 points, nine assists, eight rebounds and two steals.

He could mean as much to Atlanta's defense as Young does the offense, and unlike his new backcourt partner, Murray's importance isn't solely tied to one end. If he settles into secondary roles as a scorer and playmaker while finding a pinch more consistency with his outside shot, he could easily wind up justifying the steep trade cost.

 

Boston Celtics: Malcolm Brogdon

Danilo Gallinari's meniscus tear is objectively a bummer for Boston, but at least he wasn't the club's most critical addition this summer. That distinction instead lands with Malcolm Brogdon, who could prove to be the Shamrocks' missing piece so long as he stays healthy.

So far, the 29-year-old has had trouble doing just that. His 36 games in 2021-22 were a career low, but he hasn't cleared 60 games since 2018-19 and only topped 65 games in 2016-17, his rookie season. That's perhaps why Boston landed him relatively cheaply, essentially sacrificing only a protected first-round pick and Daniel Theis.

If the Shamrocks can keep Brogdon upright, he should shine. While he lacks a standout skill, he grades out as above-average to very good in many areas, which should allow him to shapeshift and fill any voids that arise around star wings Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. Brogdon's versatility reaches both ends too, so he'll be an effortless addition to head coach Ime Udoka's defensive system.

 

Brooklyn Nets: T.J. Warren

Despite making some massive, juicy headlines this summer, the Brooklyn Nets wound up keeping things relatively quiet. They sat out the draft, let Bruce Brown walk in free agency and resisted making any landscape-shifting deals.

They did, however, swing a trade for three-and-D swingman Royce O'Neale, who arguably has the best odds of any Nets newcomer to make his presence felt. That said, T.J. Warren previously flashed a level higher than any O'Neale could dream, and if Brooklyn somehow gets a healthy Warren, then this offense could be downright absurd.

Granted, that's a major if, as Warren has lost all but four games of the past two seasons combined to injuries. Before foot problems got the best of him, though, he was busy breaking out in the Orlando bubble and unleashing a powerful scoring punch. A full-strength Warren is nothing short of a three-level scorer, and he offers a decent amount of defensive resistance when fully engaged.

 

Charlotte Hornets: Mark Williams

The Charlotte Hornets have had a glaring hole on their interior for years. The hope is that Williams, this year's No. 15 pick, can finally cover it up.

That's obviously plenty to ask of a 20-year-old rookie, and the fact that Mason Plumlee still resides in Buzz City means Charlotte could be cautious about throwing too much at Williams too quickly.

Still, they won't waste a second whenever they think Williams is ready to take the baton. His 7'7" wingspan, power and energy all have him well-equipped for the middle, and the Hornets will count on him to lift them out of the league's bottom-third in defensive efficiency (22nd) and defensive rebound percentage (29th).

 

Chicago Bulls: Andre Drummond

While it's possible Goran Dragic or rookie Dalen Terry could play the biggest role among the Bulls' newcomers—particularly if Lonzo Ball can't shake his nagging knee injury—Andre Drummond is the early favorite to be the cleanest fit.

Chicago needed a big, athletic paint presence behind Nikola Vucevic, and Drummond can be precisely that. He might have his flaws—namely, anything connected to the perimeter—but he gets hyperactive on the interior and showed last season he can handle a significant role for a contender.

He nearly averaged a double-double (9.3 rebounds and 7.9 points) across 73 games for Philadelphia and Brooklyn despite seeing fewer than 20 minutes per night. He also contributed 2.0 steals and 1.7 blocks per 36 minutes while shaving 4.9 percentage points off his opponents' connection rate inside of six feet.

A Bulls team that was too often muscled around in the middle (fourth-most field goals allowed within five feet) will feel Drummond's impact early and often.