NBA free agency is still in it’s early stages, yet it’s been a whirlwind few weeks around the league as teams have been eager to snap up the talent on the market and prove they’re willing to pay to do so.
Some of the early deals we’ve heard about (contracts can’t actually be signed until Thursday) were to be expected. Kawhi Leonard, Marc Gasol, Kevin Love, Draymond Green and Jimmy Butler all re-signed with their current teams for big money and long term deals. Similarly, Tobias Harris, Jae Crowder, Brooke Lopez, Paul Millsap and Thaddeus Young all re-signed.
However, there have been some surprising players who have had max contracts thrown at them, indicative of the way free agency is conducted in today’s NBA. Brandon Knight signed a five-year, $70-million deal with the Suns. Khris Middleton signed a five-year, $70-million deal with the Bucks. Reggie Jackson one upped both of them when he signed a five-year, $80-million deal with the Pistons.
There are a number of big name NBA veterans also returning to their squads. Dwyane Wade, Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Kevin Garnett will all be returning for another year (or two). With Wade, Chris Bosh, Dragic (five-year, $90-million deal) and Deng returning (Deng opted into his final year), the Heat have a playmaker at every position, and rookie Justise Winslow will make an immediate impact.
Garnett returning to Minnesota brings veteran leadership for the young core that the T-Wolves are trying to build around. Explosive young talent like Andrew Wiggins (reigning Rookie of the Year), Zach LaVine (reigning Dunk Contest winner), Karl-Anthony Towns (reigning first overall pick) and Tyus Jones (reigning NCAA champion coming out of college) will be key for Minnesota to win.
The Spurs may have had one of the best free agencies out of any team. Not only did they manage to coax two of the best players in the league back for another year despite Duncan being 39 and Ginobili being 37, they re-signed Kawhi Leonard and Danny Green, two of their key players going forward. They even managed to get 41-year-old David West to sign a one-year veteran minimum deal!
I know, I know – you were waiting on the big news to drop. Despite Duncan and Ginobili returning, despite Leonard and Green re-signing, the biggest move that the Spurs made – really, the biggest move in free agency – was LaMarcus Aldridge taking his talents down to San Antonio. Aldridge is one of the best big men in the league, a four-time All-Star and three-time All-NBA team selection.
While Aldridge will be returning to his home state of Texas, these past few years in Portland have really seen him up his game. Last season, he averaged his highest PPG average at 23.4, as well as shooting the highest three-point percentage and free throw percentage of his career. In the years preceding, he set career highs for field goal percentage, assists per game and blocks per game.
Aldridge wasn’t the only big name (or big man) changing scenery. DeAndre Jordan signed a four-year, $80-million deal with the Mavericks, Roy Hibbert was traded to the Lakers, Greg Monroe signed a three-year, $50-million deal with the Bucks and Robin Lopez signed a four-year, $54-million deal with the Knicks.
DeAndre Jordan signing with Dallas puts the Mavericks right back into the hunt in the Western Conference. With Rondo gone to Sacramento, the drama has gone from the locker room and Dirk could get his second ring sooner than he expected.
The Lakers missed out on Aldridge, but will be pleased to have gotten Hibbert, a two-time All-Star and All-Defensive Second Team selection.
NBA free agency seems to have been a blur so far, and we’re only one week into July. Max deals are being given out to anyone who wants them, and some big names have ventured to pastures new. Don’t be surprised to see some more moves that leave you scratching your head.
There’s still three months until the season starts, and I predict plenty more money being thrown around until then.
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