It feels like half of the league’s players are in different spots than they were just a week ago and some teams have benefited more than others from the player movement. You can check out all the movement in our Free Agent Tracker.
The Nets are arguably the biggest winner. They land Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving. The franchise also added DeAndre Jordan and netted a first-rounder from the D’Angelo Russell sign-and-trade.
Russell went to the Warriors on a max deal and Golden State had an impressive few days outside of losing Durant. The Magic were able to re-sign their main guys and will bring back the core of a team that made the playoffs in the Eastern Conference last season.
Jimmy Butler will go to the Heat via sign-and-trade, giving the Heat a star they’ve long been in the market for. Kemba Walker heads to Boston and Terry Rozier to Charlotte in a double sign-and-trade that arguably puts a ceiling on what each team can accomplish.
The Sixers landed Al Horford and Josh Richardson (via the Butler deal) and brought back Tobias Harris. Philadelphia was one of the more active teams over the past few days, while the two Los Angeles teams remained in sort of a holding pattern as they wait for Kawhi Leonard to make a decision.
The Jazz added Mike Conley prior to free agency and made moves to complement their new core. The team added Bojan Bogdanovic on a four-year deal and brought in Ed Davis, Emmanuel Mudiay and Jeff Green to round out a strong first few days of free agency.
Our community shootaround tonight is simple: Which team has made the best signings thus far? Do you believe any team had a better few days than the Nets? Is there an under-the-radar team that isn’t being talked about enough?
Let us know your opinion in the comment section below. We look forward to what you have to say!
Can we wait until the best free agent signs before determining who “won/lost” free agency?
We can’t wait all summer on Alex Caruso
No doubt the Knicks!
I’d say the jury is out on the Nets until Durant comes back next year and shows he can play again. Achilles injury is no joke.
Nets without KD are still a good team. Since they still having lriving, dj , and temple they added to a already solid team.
Nets giving a max contract over four years will cripple what they could have done if Durant never returns to form. It’s the kind of foolishness we expect the Knicks to do.
Being a solid team is nice and all. Won’t win a championship in a million years.
Kevin Durant is not a guard or small forward who relies on quickness and speed. He relies on his skill and size which did not get reduced or affected by his injury. He’s a Dirk Nowitzki with better shooting and handles. A 7-footer who can shoot.
Maybe better handles than Dirk… but ain’t a better shooter, no way dude!
I’ll compromise and say it’s debatable.
nets minus Dlo/Holiis-J and Dudley … plus Kyrie/Dj and Temple … they are probably 3-5 games better. Depends on which Kyrie they get.
Me personally I think the Pelicans and Lakers might be the biggest winners so far.
Forgot about the Pelicans !! They did do an excellent job.
Lakers if they get Kwahi, then sixers, then pacers, then Utah.
Brooklyn will make a lot of money and score a lot of points, but they aren’t stopping anyone with that lineup.
So having KD and dj who can defend doesn’t help and Allen not a bad defender either.
DUDE I KNOW! KDs defense this year is going to be so off the charts. I think he might be a better defender the producer for once! Nets look so good thats why 538 has them below 1500 on the Carmelo score after the offseason moves.
Lakers yes. Sixers did great as well. I would put them number one till we’re 100% on Kawhi.
Not sure about the Pacers. Who did get, that foot injury guy? But they lost that big white guy shooter who is pretty good. Kind of a wash.
Utah yes, did very very well. Agree on Brooklyn too.
I say the jazz. Yes nets did a great thing. But to add a top PG and solid depth to a already good team is a strong win for the jazz
Yes. Jazz and Sixers.
I agree, Jazz have had the best offseason so far, but because it’s Utah, they won’t get talked about much and will get overlooked.
The Celtics should be in this discussion too… though to be fair you could consider them both the biggest losers and biggest winners – as they lost more than any other team (more or less) but they also made a pretty remarkable recovery given the circumstances.
I don’t think The Nets or The Lakers win a Chip in the next year or two (unless Leonard goes to the Lakers) I think the NBA is wide open for the first time in awhile. Rockets/Jazz/Nuggs/Warriors/Blazers/Spurs/Lakers/OKC will contend in the West with a legit chance. I actually love what Houston did in retaining House and Rivers (for the minimum) and dodging the train wreck that is Jimmy Butler
Nets won hands down. Not only did they get the guys there were after, they managed to get a first round pick for D’Angelo. Add to that, they also embarrassed their local rival. Sure, they will likely under-perform, but they may not. In either case doesn’t change that they won the free agency contest in getting more top name players than any team, which I’m pretty sure is what everyone looks at in free agency.
‘Hands down’? They spent a bunch. KD’s not playing and may never be 100%. Jordan is declining. They’re not going to be much better this coming year. Jury is out on the Nets. There’s no ‘hands down’ about it.
The Nets got the #2 and #3 top free agents on the market, both for less than the max. They got a future 1st for DLo. They got a top 20 talent in the draft with 31st pick Claxton. They added Taurean Prince, a good young player who is only getting better. Got a future 1st and 56th pick for the 27th pick. They also added DeAndre Jordan, Wilson Chandler and Garrett Temple. Even without considering KD they won free agency. Hate us cause you ain’t us
This article clearly says free agency, not off season. And we all know the Knicks won free agency.
I’m surprised how much love the Sixers and Pacers are getting but no one is mentioning the Bucks. Milwaukee resigned all of their core players (Middleton, B.Lopez and Hill) minus Brogdon but were able to get a lottery protected 1st, 2 future 2nds and a large TPE for losing him. Then they signed both Wes Matthews (Malcolm’s replacement) and Robin Lopez for under market value. Not sure how a team that led the league in wins last season and has just as potent of a lineup doesn’t deserve some love.
Brogdon was their second best player in the Toronto playoff series. Losing him was big.
I posted this elsewhere but Mathews will replace Brogdon like he replaced Olidipo– poorly and with playoff disappointment. Connoton could be terrific though. Still a 1st & 2 2nds does not replace Brogdon.
I have to agree with you on how the Bucks handled free agency. If people dont believe that they arent one of the teams to beat they are over looking a very talented team
The Bucks are definitely the team to beat in the East. They’re fantastic and have a great roster.
But their off-season work was not so hot compared to other teams in the east. They did a nice job with Matthews replacing Brogdon.
But they haven’t improved aside from the huge facts of staying together, building on what they did last year as a group, and they’re young enough to have plenty of room to improve from their excellent position as a high seed.
Nets aren’t necessarily the biggest winner, they are just the biggest spender right now. Plus they sold the soul of their team that they have been building for several years for a couple of big names. They are not winners in my book.
By soul you mean… Russell?
Russell, RHJ, Allen taking a probable back seat to Jordan, just the entire team they built. Basically everyone but Levert.
Even if the new Nets win, it won’t be the Nets winning. It will be a group of free agents that just happen to be wearing the Nets uniform that year. No one will ever think of Durant as a Net. No one will think of Kyrie as a Net. Same with Jordan.
I have no problem with a free agent or two joining a team on the way up, but not replacing an entire team with free agents. Even Golden State just added Durant to their already built core. Philly didn’t spend their time losing just to trade away Simmons and Embiid to get three star players from another team. They added to their core. Brooklyn just threw away its core for someone else’s players. It just makes the last two years for the Nets seem like as big a waste as the losing years before that.
This is well thought out. Kudos.
There’s something to be said for building the core and adding to it –vs– buying a “core” in FA.
I think these moves for sure stunt Levert’s on-court growth. Caris is a lead-guard in a wing’s body. He’ll have less touches, and probably more catch &shoot opp with Kyrie handling (don’t see him willingly playing off the ball at the same percentage as D-Lo did).
This is a rings or bust situation for sure.
I was also thinking that these moves will hurt Levert and Dinwiddie as well, both are better with the ball in their hands. But Levert could be the leader of the 2nd unit and a likely 6th man candidate.
Foolishness. xrta, neo, rct, hiflew, wildboyz, 4quartrs, JL, victorg. Irving is the only sure new starter… If there’s more, it’s because the position was upgraded, a good thing.
Last year’s team was limited; this years less so. Sorry they’re not a toy team anymore.
Russell was the recipient of ‘culture’, not the creator of it. He just took the most shots.
Jordan provides options vs size.
Atkinson, Marks, Dinwiddie, Allen, Harris, Levert remain, most of the key elements of culture. Dudley is a loss but his choice. And sleeping on Durant, good grief.
Well said
Nets big winners
Thunder kept Noel, added Muscala, and Burks could be a big help with PG skills on the side. They had little to spend.
Pels got Favors and Redick
Clips kept Beverly, Mcgruder. Got a 1st & in case of no Kawhi, Harkless.
Levert is the biggest loser in all of this. He was breaking out last year – freak injury – started to find his game again in the playoffs – now he has a PG who is not going to play off the ball as much as D-Lo did…and then KD comes back in a year.
With Harris being the catch & shoot sniper, and Rodions being the energy guy, I don’t see where a wing with on-ball skills fit with Kyrie & eventually KD.
Well that’s a good point. Hiflew was ridiculous… RHJ was phasing out anyway, Jordan is a backup, no guarantee Russell even wanted to stay if someone was going to max him. Marks knows him and made his choice. Got good value for him.
“No one will think of Irving as a Net”… This is the only team he has chosen since Duke. Reluctant thinkers better get used to it.
Durant and Irving is a disaster waiting to happen. Both are crybabies.
Yes but now Durant can be happy and go out partying at night with his single bff teammate. It was not much fun in the family and values atmosphere of the Warriors. ( well besides Klay who you can’t call every single night to go out. He’s chill and hanging out with Rocco and working out.)
Utah has crushed this offseason.
For 2019-2020, the Nets really haven’t gotten any better. Kyrie has the name recognition, but D’Angelo Russell was far better last year.
I agree on jazz take … conley is a plus over Rubio and should play really well with Mitchel.
– The Nets obviously for their FA coup. Time will tell how that team will fare but they aren’t lacking talent.
– The Lakers with AD and most likely Kawhi. However if they don’t land Kawhi they could become one of the biggest losers since most FA’s have signed and they don’t have many assets to be active on the Trade Market.
– The Jazz. They’ve made solid moves and will compete in the West. Nice depth and core.
– The Knicks (Believe it or not). I don’t know what the actual story with KD is but instead of the end of the world scenario, they went out and got solid veterans to help that young team. They aren’t a playoff team (fringe at best in a weak east) but they are 12 deep and are building a good environment. They are taking strides in turning the perception around that organization around. That said Dolan is still a major hurdle and may keep them from completely changing. Time will tell.
Mavs should try and pry away dolan wright from memphis. sign cousins to a 10mil contract and a team option next year. And use rest of cap on danny green
Without Butler the 76ers have no closer. By the time Khawi makes up his mind the Lakers will have a new Owner and Canada will have become part of United States, Austin River will be the new coach of the Clippers! The Knicks will be on their third Repeat! Zion will have brought the Pelicans!
Nets signed two of the leagues most selfish free agents. Kyrie is a cancer and Durant leaves a great team(up until now) because they are all team first players and Durant needs his ego stroked daily. Dray Green was right. Durant was out the door before the season even started. Didn’t want to share trophies with Steph & Company anymore because he didn’t get all the attention. The reason he joined the Warriors in the first place was because they “played the game right. Team first”.) Durant only cared about himself from day one. And Kyrie almost single handedly destroyed Boston’s season. Good luck to the Nets who were finally improving this past year. Might work out but could also be a disaster. Kyrie will want out before KD is even healthy.
Irving was not a cancer in Cleveland, just a turd, and turds are a product of a healthy functioning bowel system.
The Boston lockerroom offered an atmosphere of resentment but not a Dinwiddie Universal Adaptor to plug in to.