With the NBA’s regular season just past its halfway point, it’s the perfect time to hand out midterm grades to all 30 teams.

My grades, based on performance to date, are strongly influenced by a team’s expectations entering the season. The same record that produces an “A” for a team that looked like an also-ran in September could be a “C” for another with realistic championship hopes.

For context, we’ve included ESPN BET’s projected over/under win total for each team from the preseason alongside the current projection provided by ESPN’s Basketball Power Index, which incorporates win-loss record and accounts for injuries.

Beyond wins and losses, I’m also considering how well teams are executing their goals, including developing young talent and securing lottery positioning. Generally speaking, a “B” grade means a team has met expectations thus far, meaning overperformance is required to get an “A.”

I’ve handed out six of those, plus one “F,” while also looking at how teams can improve their grades over the second half of the schedule.

Jump to a grade range:
A’s | B’s | C’s | D’s | F’s

Jump to a team:
ATL | BOS | BKN | CHA | CHI | CLE
DAL | DEN | DET | GS | HOU | IND
LAC | LAL | MEM | MIA | MIL | MIN
NO | NY | OKC | ORL | PHI | PHX
POR | SAC | SA | TOR | UTA | WAS

*Midseason projected wins as of Jan. 22

A grades

Cleveland Cavaliers
Grade: A

Preseason projected wins: 48.5
Midseason projected wins: 64.8

Why this grade: The Cavaliers boast the NBA’s best record and are on track for the most wins in franchise history. Under new coach Kenny Atkinson, they’ve answered any doubts about how their starters fit together and demonstrated as much depth as nearly any team. Cleveland could have three All-Stars for just the second time since 1993 in Darius Garland, Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley.

How they can improve: It’s hard to ask much more of the Cavaliers, but it would be nice to see wing Isaac Okoro get healthy and back on track. Okoro shot 1-of-17 on 3s during a five game-stretch earlier this month before returning to the sideline because of an AC joint sprain in his shooting shoulder.

Detroit Pistons
Grade: A

Preseason projected wins: 25.5
Midseason projected wins: 40.8

Why this grade: The Pistons surpassed last season’s win total by Jan. 1 and aren’t content with that. Detroit is in the top six in the East, which would guarantee the Pistons’ first playoff appearance since 2019. Cade Cunningham‘s development, aided by better shooting around him, makes this seem more sustainable than any Detroit success in decades.

How they can improve: Jalen Duren stepping into a larger offensive role would be a positive. Only Cunningham and guard Jaden Ivey (sidelined by a fibula fracture) are younger than age 28 among the team’s top five scorers.

Houston Rockets
Grade: A

Preseason projected wins: 43.5
Midseason projected wins: 51.5

Why this grade: Following in the footsteps of the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Rockets went from fun up-and-comer to competing for home-court advantage in record time. Houston ranks in the top 10 in both offense and defense with the NBA’s fifth-youngest roster, weighted by minutes played. Alperen Sengun could become the team’s first All-Star since Russell Westbrook and James Harden in 2020.

How they can improve: If Jalen Green can keep up anything approaching his 27.0 points per game in January on 46.3% 3-point shooting, the Rockets will become much tougher to stop.

LA Clippers
Grade: A

Preseason projected wins: 35.5
Midseason projected wins: 45.2

Why this grade: Expected to contend for the play-in at best after Paul George‘s departure, the Clippers have instead used a breakthrough campaign from Norman Powell and veteran depth to stay in the West’s top six with Kawhi Leonard sidelined. With Leonard back in the lineup, the Clippers can solidify themselves as contenders — but only if he can return to form.

How they can improve: Build an above-average offense. Contributions from James Harden and Powell have kept the Clippers afloat on offense, allowing them to take advantage of the NBA’s second-best defense. To win a playoff series, the Clippers will have to be more potent — and Leonard’s return (42 points on 15-of-24 shooting in his past two games) suggests they can be.

Memphis Grizzlies
Grade: A

Preseason projected wins: 46.5
Midseason projected wins: 50.6

Why this grade: We expected the Grizzlies to benefit from better health this season. Remarkably, they’re in contention for the No. 2 seed in the West while still ranking second in the league in games missed because of injury or illness. The trio of Desmond Bane, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Ja Morant has played just 19 games together, yet Memphis has the NBA’s fourth-best point differential.

How they can improve: Given the schedule ahead for the Grizzlies, who have the fourth-hardest slate of remaining games according to ESPN’s Basketball Power Index, merely staying in the West’s top three would be impressive.

Oklahoma City Thunder
Grade: A

Preseason projected wins: 57.5
Midseason projected wins: 65.1

Why this grade: The Thunder have shaken off injuries to centers Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein, who have yet to play together, to outscore opponents by a league-high 12.1 points per game — which would set the best mark in NBA history if they can maintain it. Seven games up in the West, Oklahoma City could clinch the conference by late March, leaving Shai Gilgeous-Alexander‘s MVP candidacy as the biggest drama remaining in the regular season.

How they can improve: The most interesting thing to watch for the Thunder is how coach Mark Daigneault deploys Hartenstein and Holmgren together once they’re healthy, giving Oklahoma City bigger lineups to use in the playoffs.

Denver Nuggets
Grade: A-

Preseason projected wins: 50.5
Midseason projected wins: 51.5

Why this grade: Since an 11-10 start, the Nuggets are back among the top four in the West and within striking distance of claiming the No. 2 seed for the second consecutive year. Moving Russell Westbrook into the starting lineup has maximized his chemistry with Nikola Jokic.

How they can improve: Keep up the hot shooting. Although Denver is predictably last in the NBA in 3-point attempts (the Nuggets were in the bottom five the past two seasons), the team’s 39% accuracy ranks third. If Denver can sustain that, the Nuggets have a good chance to stay on the other side of the playoff bracket from the West-leading Thunder.

B grades

San Antonio Spurs
Grade: B+

Preseason projected wins: 36.5
Midseason projected wins: 37.3

Why this grade: In Victor Wembanyama‘s second season, the Spurs have taken an expected step forward and then some. With veteran Chris Paul organizing the team, San Antonio reached two games over .500 after winning in Denver on Jan. 3. Since then, the Spurs’ progress has stalled with six losses in their past seven games.

How they can improve: Maintaining 48 minutes of solid defense. How does a team with the front-runner for Defensive Player of the Year rank 18th in defensive rating? Per Cleaning the Glass, San Antonio lineups without Wembanyama rate in the fifth percentile leaguewide on defense, as compared to the 78th percentile with him.

Atlanta Hawks
Grade: B+

Preseason projected wins: 36.5
Midseason projected wins: 41.9

Why this grade: The expectation was the Hawks would be on par with last season’s 36-46 team after breaking up the Dejounte Murray–Trae Young duo. Instead, Atlanta has been even better. Dyson Daniels has excelled replacing Murray, leading the league in steals (3.1 per game), while Jalen Johnson has emerged as a strong No. 2 option on offense.

How they can improve: Get better play from No. 1 pick Zaccharie Risacher or reduce his role. Risacher has started 37 of the 39 games he has played but is shooting just 28% on 3s. Risacher’s development is important, but the evidence that playing more translates into progress is mixed.

Brooklyn Nets
Grade: B+

Preseason projected wins: 18.5
Midseason projected wins: 29.3

Why this grade: The Nets started strong under new coach Jordi Fernandez, getting halfway to their projected preseason win total by Dec. 4. They stocked up on second-round picks by trading Dorian Finney-Smith and Dennis Schroder when both were playing at a high level. Since then, Brooklyn has slid to sixth in the lottery standings, working to accomplish the real goal of this season, a top-10 pick in the draft.

How they can improve: Get solid production from developing players who could be part of the team’s future, including Noah Clowney and Cam Thomas, and lose enough games to move into the top five entering the draft lottery.

New York Knicks
Grade: B+

Preseason projected wins: 53.5
Midseason projected wins: 48.4

Why this grade: By sacrificing depth in their trades for Mikal Bridges and Karl-Anthony Towns, the Knicks had the potential to take a step back during the regular season in the name of higher playoff upside. It’s encouraging, then, that the Knicks could still surpass last season’s 50 wins and plus-4.6 point differential thanks largely to Towns’ All-Star play.

How they can improve: Defend at a top-10 level. The Knicks’ 14th-ranked defense is their worst relative to league average of the Tom Thibodeau era. New York’s No. 2 offense alone is good enough to win in the regular season, but reaching the conference finals will require more balance.

Orlando Magic
Grade: B+

Preseason projected wins: 47.5
Midseason projected wins: 43.8

Why this grade: Orlando’s three best players — Paolo Banchero, Jalen Suggs and Franz Wagner — haven’t played together since October. But the Magic have used a top-five defense to stay above .500 and within position to make a run once Suggs and Wagner rejoin Banchero, who missed 34 games before returning this month.

How they can improve: Maybe make some 3s? It’s not just that Orlando is last in the league in 3-point percentage (30%), it’s that nobody else is even close. Every other team is shooting at least 33%. No team has been so inaccurate since the 2011-12 Charlotte Bobcats, who went 7-59 — the worst winning percentage in NBA history.

Dallas Mavericks
Grade: B

Preseason projected wins: 49.5
Midseason projected wins: 43.8

Why this grade: Dallas was a game out of second in the West before Luka Doncic‘s calf strain on Christmas Day sidelined him. Since then, the Mavericks have gone 4-10 while dealing with absences for Kyrie Irving, Naji Marshall and now Dereck Lively II, who is expected to miss two to three months.

How they can improve: Get healthy and avoid the play-in tournament. The more Dallas can win now, the better to avoid rushing Doncic back and risking another injury. Health is more important than seeding for the Mavericks, who made the Finals as the No. 4 seed last season, but a run out of the play-in would be challenging.

Boston Celtics
Grade: B-

Preseason projected wins: 58.5
Midseason projected wins: 55.7

Why this grade: It’s only by last season’s 64-win standards that a team winning 70% of its games could even be a mild disappointment. Boston has gone 9-7 since Dec. 23, but it’s hard to worry too much when the Celtics’ plus-9.5 point differential in that span still ranks third in the NBA.

How they can improve: Better consistency. Boston leads the league with 12 wins by 20-plus points, but only the Clippers and Warriors have seen their results vary more from game to game after accounting for opponent and location.

Indiana Pacers
Grade: B-

Preseason projected wins: 47.5
Midseason projected wins: 44.6

Why this grade: After dropping five games below .500 at 9-14, the Pacers have righted the ship and are in the East’s top five. They’re still shy of last season’s 47-win pace but have to be encouraged that star guard Tyrese Haliburton has improved his shooting percentages each month so far.

How they can improve: Get back to playing with pace. Last season’s Indiana team outran its opponents, but the Pacers have dropped from the fastest time to shoot, per Inpredictable.com, to 16th this season. That should help boost an offense that has declined from second to ninth in per-possession scoring.

Sacramento Kings
Grade: B-

Preseason projected wins: 46.5
Midseason projected wins: 40.7

Why this grade: Here’s one way we can grade a first half that saw the Kings become the first team to make a coaching change, replacing Mike Brown with Doug Christie in the midst of a six-game losing streak. Sacramento has surged under Christie, with Keon Ellis being elevated in the rotation and All-Star Domantas Sabonis picking up his play.

How they can improve: Finishing in the West’s top six is a realistic goal for the Kings, who are seventh in the standings. They’re also sixth in the conference in point differential (plus-2.8 points per game) and have seen their record in close games even out since the coaching change.

C grades

Los Angeles Lakers
Grade: C+

Preseason projected wins: 42.5
Midseason projected wins: 44.4

Why this grade: The Lakers started the season remarkably healthy, with LeBron James and Anthony Davis missing a combined six games. Yet the Lakers are still 12th in the West in point differential (minus-2.0), suggesting their above-.500 record might prove difficult to sustain.

How they can improve: Improve defensively. After trading D’Angelo Russell, the Lakers probably don’t have much upside to explore on offense without a major trade. But there’s enough defensive talent to be better than 23rd in the league. The imminent return of Jarred Vanderbilt could help there.

Miami Heat
Grade: C+

Preseason projected wins: 43.5
Midseason projected wins: 40.8

Why this grade: If the season ended Thursday, the Heat would have to win twice in the play-in just to reach the playoffs as the No. 9 seed. Miami has performed much better from a point differential standpoint (plus-1.0), however, ranking fifth in the East. And the Heat are only a game out of moving up to sixth.

How they can improve: There’s a Jimmy Butler-sized elephant in the room for Miami. The six-time All-Star was once again suspended Wednesday, this time for two games. If the Heat can’t find an acceptable Butler trade by the Feb. 6 deadline, they’ll have to hope he can rediscover his joy for basketball in Miami — and the need to impress suitors before potentially changing teams this summer.

Portland Trail Blazers
Grade: C+

Preseason projected wins: 21.5
Midseason projected wins: 31.1

Why this grade: The development of young perimeter players Deni Avdija, Scoot Henderson and Shaedon Sharpe has been a positive, and Portland should surpass last season’s 21 wins. Yet the Blazers still get dominated on a regular basis, producing a minus-8.4 point differential that ranks 29th in the league, and the poor play of Portland’s veterans might impact their trade value.

How they can improve: The Blazers want to see Henderson continue a strong January in which he’s shooting 43% from 3-point range, as well as have rookie center Donovan Clingan finish the season strong. But without a clear centerpiece to their rebuild, lottery positioning will be critical, too.

Charlotte Hornets
Grade: C

Preseason projected wins: 31.5
Midseason projected wins: 27.2

Why this grade: The Hornets have improved defensively under first-year coach Charles Lee, jumping from 29th in defensive rating to 19th. Unfortunately, even with LaMelo Ball averaging nearly 30 points, they can’t score: Charlotte ranks 28th in offense.

How they can improve: The Hornets would surely love to see Ball and center Mark Williams stay healthy given neither has played more than 43 games the previous two seasons, but they also want to be in position to land nearby Duke superstar Cooper Flagg by winning the draft lottery.

Chicago Bulls
Grade: C

Preseason projected wins: 28.5
Midseason projected wins: 35.8

Why this grade: The Bulls seem headed to the East play-in tournament by default, having opened up a three-game lead over Philadelphia for 10th. Unfortunately, Chicago looks no closer to actually competing in the postseason. The Bulls’ minus-2.9 point differential ranks 22nd in the league.

How they can improve: Given the top-10-protected pick Chicago owes San Antonio from the 2021 trade to acquire DeMar DeRozan, staying behind the Spurs in the standings is the Bulls’ most important task. That would allow them to slide down a spot in the lottery while keeping the pick.

Minnesota Timberwolves
Grade: C

Preseason projected wins: 51.5
Midseason projected wins: 40.7

Why this grade: Even with relatively lower expectations for the Timberwolves based on my stats-based projections, I’m still disappointed to see them hovering around .500. Minnesota didn’t have a plan in place for Mike Conley‘s decline and has gotten little from lottery pick Rob Dillingham. Friday in New York was the first time this season Dillingham played more than 10 minutes in a win.

How they can improve: Better fortune in close games would help the Timberwolves, who have played a league-high 29 games that entered clutch time (within five points in the last five minutes) and gone 13-16 in them. Minnesota’s plus-1.9 differential ranks a comfortable eighth in the West.

Utah Jazz
Grade: C

Preseason projected wins: 27.5
Midseason projected wins: 23.1

Why this grade: The Jazz’s 10-31 record is going to plan. After starting strong and losing their way into the middle of the lottery the past two seasons, Utah would have the second-best odds if the season ended today. Playing teenagers at guard is the easiest way to accumulate lottery odds, and the Jazz’s rookie duo of Isaiah Collier and Cody Williams has predictably struggled. But there has been progress elsewhere from second-year players Keyonte George and Brice Sensabaugh, plus third-year center Walker Kessler.

How they can improve: Continue being competitive enough to play close games but not win them. The Jazz are a league-worst 4-13 in games that reach clutch time.

Washington Wizards
Grade: C

Preseason projected wins: 19.5
Midseason projected wins: 17.3

Why this grade: It’s no surprise that Washington has the NBA’s worst record and a record-threatening minus-14.4 point differential. With three first-round picks seeing regular action, the Wizards boast the youngest roster in the NBA when weighted by minutes played. Washington is hoping the lumps the rookies are taking translate into a brighter future. Meanwhile, Jordan Poole has rebuilt his value by shooting a career-high 40% from 3-point range.

How they can improve: The Wizards have a large enough cushion at the bottom of the overall league standings (4½ games behind Utah) that they don’t have to worry about trying to lose. Instead, Washington should hope to comfortably reach double-digit wins and avoid the most losses in league history.

Golden State Warriors
Grade: C-

Preseason projected wins: 43.5
Midseason projected wins: 40.0

Why this grade: The Warriors hoped an offseason makeover, including the departure of Klay Thompson, would help them return to the playoffs. That looked nearly certain during a 12-3 start, but Golden State has slipped back to under .500 and would miss the play-in entirely if the season ended today.

How they can improve: Get back to splashing 3s. A Warriors team with the top two players in made 3-pointers since 2020-21 (all-time leader Stephen Curry and offseason addition Buddy Hield) is shooting barely better than league average from downtown. Making more 3s would also help Golden State paper over a leaky transition defense.

Milwaukee Bucks
Grade: C-

Preseason projected wins: 49.5
Midseason projected wins: 46.5

Why this grade: The NBA Cup is looking like the highlight of Milwaukee’s season. Aside from a 7-0 record in NBA Cup play, the Bucks have been a game over .500 with a middling plus-1.9 point differential. Milwaukee is still on track for home-court advantage, and avoiding the Celtics’ side of the bracket might not be the worst thing, but there’s little indication the NBA Cup victory will be followed by a title run.

How they can improve: The Bucks have been solid defensively, but a Giannis Antetokounmpo–Damian Lillard pairing resulting in the NBA’s 12th-best offense was not what anyone envisioned. One key culprit: Milwaukee is dead last in offensive rebounding after ranking in the top 10 two seasons ago.

Toronto Raptors
Grade: C-

Preseason projected wins: 29.5
Midseason projected wins: 26.7

Why this grade: After sending a lottery pick to the Spurs last season in the Jakob Poeltl trade, the Raptors are in position to benefit from the NBA’s third-worst winning percentage this season. Still, Toronto was surely hoping for better performances from the team’s young talent. Immanuel Quickley has played just nine games because of injures, and Scottie Barnes, who has missed time as well, hasn’t maintained last season’s 34% 3-point shooting.

How they can improve: The Raptors would like to finish with a bottom-three record, giving them the best possible chance at landing the No. 1 pick.

D grades

New Orleans Pelicans
Grade: D

Preseason projected wins: 45.5
Midseason projected wins: 26.1

Why this grade: Nobody could have predicted the injury woes that have befallen the Pelicans, who have used 23 different starting lineups and only one more than four times. With the notable exceptions of Trey Murphy III and rookie Yves Missi, however, even the healthy New Orleans players have performed short of expectations in what has already become a lost season.

How they can improve: At this point, a late charge up in the standings might be the worst possible thing for the Pelicans. They should explore a Brandon Ingram trade and hope to catch some lottery luck.

Phoenix Suns
Grade: D-

Preseason projected wins: 49.5
Midseason projected wins: 40.9

Why this grade: The Suns are set to pay a league-high $168 million in luxury tax on top of $216 million in salary and aren’t even certain to reach the postseason. Phoenix is within reach of sixth in the West, but neither the team’s difficult remaining schedule nor a dismal minus-1.7 point differential suggest such a run is coming.

How can they improve: Perhaps with Jimmy Butler? Tuesday’s trade with Utah — splitting the Suns’ 2031 first-round pick into three less valuable ones — seems like a precursor for a big deadline move. Perhaps this is the one that finally works for Phoenix.

play

What to make of Suns-Jazz draft pick trade

Bobby Marks explains why the Suns exchanged a 2031 first-round pick for three first-round picks from the Jazz.

F grades

Philadelphia 76ers
Grade: F

Preseason projected wins: 49.5
Midseason projected wins: 34.4

Why this grade: The Sixers began the season with championship aspirations after adding Paul George to fellow All-Stars Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey. Never did we imagine the top-six protection on the first-round pick Philadelphia owes Oklahoma City might matter. With Embiid limited to 13 uneven games, George in a seasonlong slump and supporting players coming up short, the Sixers might spend lottery night hoping they jump up and keep their pick.

How they can improve: It’s probably still not worth it for Philadelphia to pivot toward lottery odds. The 76ers are, somehow, just three games out of the play-in. Finishing 10th would mean hoping to stay healthy for some kind of playoff run.