My Thoughts From Day 1 of NBA Free Agency
The craziest and wildest period of the NBA calendar is upon us…free agency.
Where some teams go all-in and spend money, while others sit back. Adding free agents is very important to building a good team and today I will be grading every single free agent move that has happened so far.
I will be grading them based on fit, talent of player, and what the contract itself was.
Prepare to get mad.
Bulls Receive: Lonzo Ball, Signs 4yr/$85 Million Dollar Deal
Pelicans Receive: Tomas Satoransky, Garrett Temple (3yr/$15.5M), 2nd Round Pick
Bulls: The Bulls got their guy in Lonzo and really didn’t have to do much to get him.
Lonzo is now a very good shooter, adding to what he offers as a passer and on the defensive end. The Bulls now have Lavine as a pure scorer, Vucevic to play inside and out, and Lonzo as their glue guy on both ends. I like the idea of Lonzo-Vucevic pick and pops. The contract itself isn’t that bad, of course we’ll see more details on that soon.
But Lonzo fits very well at a position of need and this makes the Bulls a lot better. Now we’ll see what they do about Coby White/Lauri Markkanen.
(Also, KOT4Q is happy and he viewed my story, so I’m happy too).
Grade: A+
Pelicans: What are you doing? Kyle Lowry was already going to the Heat, so why not just sign a very talented player in Lonzo. He fits very well with Ingram and Zion. You had many problems last year, but Lonzo was not one of them. I really don’t get why they did this. I mean, Satoransky is the only decent guy in this trade.
The Pelicans signed Garrett Temple to a 3yr/$15.5 million dollar deal, for some odd reason. I just don’t know what the Pelicans are doing.
If you want Zion to stay around, perhaps keeping his talented teammates around him would help. Just a thought. Awful move by New Orleans, really no defending this one.
Grade: F-
Alec Burks Re-Signs With Knicks, 3yr/$30 Million Dollar Deal
The Knicks draft was less than ideal, but keeping one of their only offensive creators in Burks was a must.
This is very good worth for him, somebody who can come off the bench and bring much needed offense. No-brainer for the Knicks, good move.
Grade: A
Nerlens Noel Re-Signs With Knicks, 3yr/$32 Million Dollar Deal
This one surprised me, in a good way. I expected Noel to leave but he’s staying and that’s great news for the Knicks. Mitchell Robinson is very good and Noel will be an excellent backup, who could play if Robinson’s health gets in the way, which it did last year. Noel is very good and the Knicks defense retains a key piece. No-brainer, good move all-around.
Grade: A
Jarrett Allen Signs 5yr/$100 Million Dollar Extension W/ Cleveland
I don’t know why people think this is a bad move, he’s well worth the money. His defense is excellent and he’s very young, so there’s room to grow. Allen and Mobley down low? That’s a lethal combo, especially with Mobley’s ability to really guard anybody defensively.
Allen and Garland in pick and rolls should be nice. Now with Mobley, Allen, and Okoro, the defense of this team should be very good in the future. I don’t know what they’re doing with Sexton, but the Cavs have done a really good job these past few seasons adding talent. This team is good and could fight for a play-in spot. I’m not used to Cleveland being smart, but I guess that’s just 2021 for you.
(also his hair is fantastic)
Grade: A
Kelly Olynyk Signs 3yr/$37 Million Dollar Deal W/ Detroit
Pistons: I get this move and I also don’t get this move. Olynyk went from Miami to Houston at the deadline this past season. With the Rockets, he was excellent.
He averaged 19 points per game on 67% true shooting, that’s a very good way to get a contract like this. But the Rockets were awful and Olynyk has really never done that type of stuff anywhere else.
He’s been a role player everybody else and I don’t know if Detroit can count on that he did in Houston to translate in Detroit. Now, they did lose Mason Plumlee this offseason, so I suppose this a decent replacement. You’re giving Cade some decent help in his first season so he’s not completely alone.
But I’m not in love with this move. It could be great, it could also be awful.
Grade: C+
Rockets: They’re rebuilding, not really surprised they let him go.
Grade: Don’t Care
Mike Conley Re-Signs With Jazz, 3yr/$72.5 Million Dollar Deal
The Jazz cleared Derrick Favors to make this deal a little less painful, but they are going over the luxury tax for this. This is a good deal for the Jazz, Conley was an All-Star last year and they were much worse without him in the playoffs. Steady hand at point guard who can shoot and pass very well.
But the Jazz are going all-in with this core and I don’t think it can win a championship. But they can’t really do anything about it, which is why they’re stuck. Still a pretty good move, but they don’t have a lot of wiggle room right now.
Grade: A
Tim Hardaway Jr Re-Signs With Dallas, 4yr/$74 Million Dollar Deal
That’s how you keep Luka happy. Doncic signed a $202 million dollar extension (or he’s going to soon), so keeping the talent around him is vital.
Hardaway is probably the 2nd best player on the Mavs and this contract isn’t that bad for somebody who helps Luka a lot. Hardaway is streaky, but he shot nearly 40% from 3 last year, so if he can do anything close to do that, it’s well worth it. But the Mavericks mission has been accomplished, keep Luka happy. Mission accomplished…for now.
Grade: A-
Luka Doncic Signs 5yr/$202 Million Dollar Extension W/ Dallas
He’s so overpaid, the Clippers own this guy.
Grade: A+
Stephen Curry Signs 4yr/$215 Million Dollar Extension W/ Golden State
Even more overpaid. Couldn’t even get this team to the playoffs.
Grade: A+
TJ McConnell Re-Signs With Indiana, 4yr/$35.2 Million Dollar Deal
One of the most underrated players in the NBA, McConnell is well worth this money, even if you don’t know who he is.
Eerily similar to Patrick Beverley, very scrappy, lives for hustle plays and steals. Very good playmaker off the bench, a team player. Indiana gets to keep their best bench player, a win any day of the week.
Grade: A
Duncan Robinson Re-Signs With Miami, 5yr/$90 Million Dollar Deal
The Heat made the right choice choosing Robinson over Kendrick Nunn. Robinson didn’t have the best season in 2021, but he’s one of the best shooters in the league and gives Miami so much flexibility offensively. He works very well with Bam and is lethal. No-brainer here for the Heat.
Also signed the largest deal ever by an undrafted player, so that’s cool.
Grade: A
Torrey Craig Signs 2yr/$10 Million Dollar Deal With Indiana
Pacers: Love this move from Indiana, adding a defensive minded forward for a weak bench unit. Surprised the Suns didn’t keep him, but the Pacers are getting a really good player. This is who they’re going to have to get if they want to win. This helps them a lot, good job Indiana.
Grade: A+
Suns: Losing Craig, who was very helpful to them in the playoffs, hurts. Cam Johnson and Bridges will have to do more and the Suns lose a wing defender, which is key in the West. I don’t know if they even offered Craig a contract, but this one will hurt them down the line.
Grade: D
Jimmy Butler Signs 4yr, $186 Million Dollar Extension
I don’t really like this deal, but Miami couldn’t do a whole lot else. Butler is likely going to start regressing soon and now you’re paying him $40+ million per year. Not ideal, but with the addition of Kyle Lowry (who we’ll talk about later), they’re obviously going all-in, so kind of makes sense to keep Butler.
Again, don’t love this, but Miami didn’t really have a choice.
Grade: B+
Chris Paul Re-Signs With Phoenix, 4yr/$120 Million Dollar Deal
Shocker
Grade: A+
Doug McDermott Signs With Spurs, 3yr,$42 Million Dollar Deal
Spurs: Kind of came out of left field. I guess it’s ok, but this doesn’t change much for them. He’s a Spurs-esque player. Good shooter and off-ball player. But this isn’t going to turn things around for the Spurs. OK move at best.
Grade: C
Pacers: Losing McDermott for the bench hurts. While they got Duarte, McConnell, and apparently Jeff Green (more on that later), they kind of filled his void. But he was so good with Sabonis as an off-ball cutter. Very good off-ball and of course an excellent shooter. Indiana did a good job filling his place, but he will be missed.
Grade: B-
Heat Receive: Kyle Lowry, Signs 3yr,$90 Million Dollar Deal
Raptors Receive: Goran Dragic (S+T), Precious Achiuwa
Heat: They’re going all-in baby. Got back Duncan and locked up Jimmy long term and now they add Lowry, who should fit in well with Heat culture. He is still good and is an upgrade over Dragic. Does this make them better than Milwaukee/Brooklyn? No, but they’re certainly better and a conference finals isn’t out of questions if they get some breaks. Pretty good move, losing Achiuwa does kind of suck.
Grade: A-
Raptors: Well, they got something for the greatest player in franchise history. Lowry will be missed, as he had been the cornerstone in Toronto for so long, giving them a title in 2019. At least he got to to that, because he will go down as the greatest Raptors ever. The Raptors also (finally) get a decent center in Achiuwa, who has good potential. Good, but emotional move for the Raptors.
Grade: B+
Gary Trent Jr Re-Signs With Raptors, 3yr/$54 Million Dollar Deal
This wasn’t surprising. Trent is going to be a 6th man of the year candidate for a while and may even start next year for the Raptors next to VanVleet, with the departure of Lowry. He is young and is a very good two-way player. Should be a face of the Raptors for years to come. Good move, wish he was still on my Blazers.
Grade: A
Jeff Green Signs With Denver, 2y/$10 Million Dollar Deal
Denver: Love this deal. More help for the Denver bench. A veteran who can shoot and offers wing defense. Absolutely love this move.
Grade: A+++
Nets: Apparently having 3 superstars is expensive. Losing Green will hurt and the bench will be weaker, with no Shamet and now Green for next year. Interesting to see who the Nets get to fill the void, but this one certainly hurts.
Grade: D-, but the Big 3 is still good, so who cares?
Will Barton Re-Signs With Denver, 2yr/$32 Million Dollar Deal
The Nuggets need reinforcements to be contenders and to be good while Murray recovers from injury. This might be a little bit too much money for an older Barton who has dealt with injuries in the past few seasons, but when healthy he helps Denver a lot. Would have hurt a lot more to lose him, good move to re-sign him.
Grade: A
JaMychal Green Re-Signs With Denver, 2yr/$17 Million Dollar Deal
With Millsap getting older, Green should prove to be his replacement. Solid shooter and defender, helps fortify the bench as Denver really did a good job this offseason keeping talent and even adding Jeff Green for the bench. Solid move, similar to the Barton move.
Grade: A
Zach Collins Signs 3yr/$22 Million Dollar Deal W/ Spurs
Spurs: Again, doesn’t give them a direction. Collins is a pretty good rim-protector but he has been injured to hell and back these past few seasons. Solid back-up to Poeltl, but again, doesn’t really change things for them. Kind of like running in place.
Grade: C+
Blazers: This one hurts, but I get why we did it. Collins hasn’t been able to stay healthy and we simply can’t use our limited cap space to pay somebody so injury prone. But I will miss his dance moves and snazzy outfits from the bench. We will miss you Zach.
Grade: I’m not crying, you’re crying
Furkan Korkmaz Re-Signs With 76ers, 3yr/$15 Million Dollar Deal
Unless Ben Simmons gets traded, you’re going to need all the shooting you can get. Korkmaz might look like he’s 40, but he’s only 24 and a solid player. Only $5 million per year for him is great, Philly gets a solid bench piece. Maybe he’s used in a Simmons trade down the line, but he’s a solid player with a very affordable contract.
Grade: B
Bobby Portis Re-Signs With Milwaukee, 2yr/$9 Million Dollar Deal
Couldn’t imagine Portis leaving the Bucks after not only winning a title, but becoming a fan favorite. He’s a solid player for the bench who brings the energy and the crowd loves him. Good move.
Grade: B+
Mo Harkless Re-Signs With Kings, 2yr/$9 Million Dollar Deal
Harkless is one of the few Kings players who can’t play offense but is actually somewhat good defensively. Good value and I always love to see my former Blazers doing well.
Grade: B
Boban Marjonovic Re-Signs With Dallas, One Year Deal
A national treasure who is a league-favorite and gets along with Luka. The Mavs have him for the next 3 seasons for cheap, solid player who of course, is a national treasure.
Grade: National Treasure
Trevor Ariza Signs With Lakers, One Year Deal
Lakers: The Lakers are signing veterans for cheap and hoping they work out, I called it. Ariza is older and I don’t know how much you can expect from a 36-year old. But the Lakers are desperate for shooting help with their no-spacing big 3.
Grade: C-
Heat: Didn’t really care to lose him, already losing Iguodala and likely Kendrick Nunn as well. The don’t really care about this in the grand scheme of things.
Grade: Don’t Care
Sterling Brown Signs With Mavericks, 2yr/$6.2 Million Dollar Deal
Mavericks: Sleeper signing that might work. While playing with the Rockets this past season, averaged 8 points per game on 42% 3-PT shooting. If he does that off the bench, perfect addition for the Mavericks looking to finally break through in the Western Conference. Low-risk as well? Good move for the Mavs.
Grade: A
Rockets: Again, they’re rebuilding, doubt they care about any of this.
Grade: Don’t Care
Dwight Howard Signs With Lakers, One Year Deal
Lakers: LA desperately missed Howard last year. Offers leadership, great rebounding, and is a lob threat. Also isn’t half-bad defensively, might even start for LA unless they slide AD down to the 5. They missed him, he knows Vogel and Lebron, should fit well after a one-year break.
Grade: A
76ers: The 76ers got their best backup behind Embiid and now he’s gone. They need a backup center badly, something they really haven’t given Embiid. They’re going to miss Howard, who appears to have abandoned ship, a sinking ship in Philly. Really can’t blame him, but this hurts, especially with how injury prone Embiid is.
Grade: D
Wayne Ellington Signs With Lakers, One Year Deal
Lakers: He can shoot, that’s all that matters. Like with Ariza, hoping he can give you something after LA gutted the roster to get Westbrook. Career 38% 3-PT shooter, makes the Lakers salivate with them having two of the worst volume jump shooters on their team at the same time.
Grade: A-
Pistons: Surprisingly good with the Pistons, not to surprising to see him leave. I doubt the Pistons are losing sleep over this.
Grade: Don’t Care
Evan Fournier Signs With Knicks, 4yr/$78 Million Dollar Deal
Knicks: Now, I know they need a point guard badly, but this isn’t half-bad. Fournier is a very good shooter, but unlike most other good shooters on the Knicks, he can create for himself. A very talented scorer, he gives the Knicks some much needed offense.
But the Knicks still need a point guard, maybe Dinwiddie? Trading for Sexton? They need something better there and they’ll be set. But I still love this signing.
Grade: A++
Celtics: Inevitable that he was leaving, but it does hurt Boston. Would have been the perfect 3rd option behind Jayson and Jalen. But the Celtics got Al Horford and assuming they keep Marcus Smart (they should), they also added Josh Richardson.
So while this hurts, the Celtics have rapidly improved as Brad Stevens has really wasted no time in improving this team. But I would have loved to see Fournier playing for the Celtics for the foreseeable future.
Grade: C-
Derrick Rose Re-Signs With Knicks, 3yr/$43 Million Dollar Deal
Derrick Rose was the one guy who did anything in the playoffs and his offense also helps the Knicks. The Knicks kept everybody and they added D-Rose? Sure, he isn’t the point guard they need, but his offense alone is very valuable and this contract isn’t even half-bad. Good job New York, not completely butchering a free agency.
Grade: A
Nicolas Batum Re-Signs With Clippers, 2 Year Deal
No surprise here, the Clippers desperately need wing reinforcements with the possibility of Kawhi leaving or him missing all of next year with that ACL injury. Batum was great for them and should continue to be.
Grade: A
Alex Caruso Signs With Bulls, 4yr/$37 Million Dollar Deal
Bulls: WHOA. This is weird. I like Caruso a lot, solid player who can shoot well and defend. He worked really well with Lebron, but how much of his success was because of playing with Lebron? Last time I checked, the Bulls don’t have Lebron, so paying him $9 million is risky. But he’s a solid backup at best, at worst, this is a major flop signing.
Also, Caruso and Lonzo reunite. So that’s cool.
Grade: Risky
Lakers: The Lakers couldn’t afford this, but this is a huge loss for them. Like I said, he worked very well with Lebron and had been a key role player for them these past few contending seasons. This one hurts and I’m sure Laker nation is going to miss the Bald Mamba.
Grade: C-
Javale McGee Signs With Phoenix, 1yr/$5 Million Dollar Deal
Suns: While losing Torrey Craig does suck, the Suns add some much needed size down low outside of Ayton. Saric is out for basically all of next season with an ACL injury and unless 2020 lottery pick Jalen Smith magically becomes better, McGee will help the Suns a lot. Good move from James Jones.
Grade: A
Nuggets: I thought they would use McGee more in the playoffs, but they didn’t. I suppose they’re going smaller with guys like Jeff Green and JaMychal Green. I doubt they’re sweating over McGee leaving.
Grade: Don’t Care
Cameron Payne Re-Signs With Phoenix, 3yr/$19 Million Dollar Deal
Not surprised that Payne stayed. A great story, a player who did big things in the 2021 NBA playoffs, a key contributor off the bench for the Suns. One of the better backups in the league and the Suns love him. Monty Williams also gave him a chance when he was unlikely to get one anywhere else. Good signing for the Suns who look to win a title next season.
Grade: A
Cody Zeller Signs With Portland, One Year Deal
Portland: Outside of Nurkic, we really haven’t had a good center. Zeller is solid down low and can actually play defense. Better than Kanter/Collins, solid move.
Grade: B+
Hornets: They got Plumlee and they drafted Kai Jones. Zeller has been very good for them, but he doesn’t really fit their timeline.
Grade: Don’t Care
Rockets Receive: Daniel Theis, Signs 4yr/$36 Million Dollar Deal
Bulls Receive: ????
Rockets: Another big guy? Already got Christian Wood and then you drafted Sengun and Garuba in the draft. Now you’re using you’re Victor Oladipo trade exception for this? Doesn’t make sense, could have just taken Mobley #2 overall and solved all of this. Now you have a big log jam at center. Not a good move.
Grade: WTF
Bulls: Theis is very good, almost too good to be the Bulls backup. We don’t know what they got in return, more on that later.
Grade: TBD
Reggie Bullock Signs With Dallas, 3yr/$30.5 Million Dollar Deal
Dallas: Got Hardaway and Sterling Brown, add some shooting and defense. Bullock brings some much needed defense and he can shoot. I don’t know if he starts or not, but I like this signing a lot. Good job Dallas, keep wonder boy happy.
Grade: A
Knicks: This hurts, but they kept Burks, Noel, Rose, and even got Fournier. Getting Fournier led to this, but Fournier is a lot better. So while Bullock helped them a lot last year, this works out just fine for the Knicks.
Grade: It Will (Likely) Work Out In The End
PJ Tucker Signs With Miami, 2yr/$15 Million Dollar Deal
Miami: How do you still have cap space after everything you’ve done? This is such a good signing, another hard-nosed defender. Proved to be one of the best KD defenders in the league, this is a great signing. Just kind of took me off guard that he would leave Milwaukee.
Grade: A+
Milwaukee: The Bucks apparently offered Tucker a 2yr/$20 million dollar deal. If that’s true, he took less money to go away from the defending champs, which is weird. But Tucker slowed down KD better than anybody and he started for them in the Finals. A very, very, very big loss for the Bucks title defense.
Grade: F
Pelicans Receive: Devonte’ Graham, Signs 4yr/$47 Million Dollar Deal
Charlotte Receives: 2022 Lottery-Protected FRP
Pelicans: This is a pretty good replacement for the Pelicans, certainly not as as good as Lonzo, but this is better than overpaying for Dinwiddie. Graham is a very good shooter and playmaker who is one of the worst rim shooters in the league. He’ll stand on the perimeter and offer space for Zion. Not a very big contract and you have so many picks from the AD trade and the Jrue Holiday trade. I like this move a lot, but having Lonzo at the end of the day would still be better.
Grade: B-
Hornets: With Rozier, Monk, and Ball, Graham kind of fell out of place after a very good 2019-20 campaign when he was undoubtedly better than Rozier. At least you’re getting a pick out of this, hopefully the Pelicans at least make the playoffs for you to be able to use it.
Grade: B-
Norman Powell Re-Signs With Portland, 5yr/$90 Million Dollar Deal
YAAAAAAY! I had my doubts on whether or not Powell would be staying, but we got him back for less than $20 million per year, a bargain for how good he can be. Now, there is a dilemma that the Blazers have to fix and it involves CJ McCollum.
I think we should try out Dame and Norman as a duo and trade CJ away to like Sacramento for Harrison Barnes. I doubt this happens, maybe a sign and trade for John Collins? We need a wing player, not another guard. Maybe we trade CJ for Ben Simmons, wouldn’t be opposed to that with Norman and Dame on the team. I just want CJ gone.
But Powell being back is excellent, really like that we got him back, would have sucked if we gave up Gary Trent Jr and then lost Powell this offseason.
Grade: I’m Happy, Now Trade CJ
Blake Griffin Re-Signs With Brooklyn, One Year Deal
This one is pretty big for the Nets. Griffin was surprisingly good with the Nets. He was able to dunk again, he was a very good rebounder/hustle guy. If he plays like that for a whole season, sign me up immediately. The Nets still lack size, but Griffin definitely helps them a lot.
Grade: A
Austin Rivers Re-Signs With Denver, One Year Deal
Rivers killed by Blazers in the playoffs, so I obviously hate this deal. But with Murray out for next season and with Denver fortifying and otherwise weak wing position, adding Rivers to a guard core of Morris, Campazzo, and Barton really helps them moving forward. He can score and that’s about it, but they really need that, especially for when Murray is out.
Grade: A-
Kent Bazemore Signs With Lakers, One Year Deal
Bazemore is a decent wing player, again, another Lakers one-year veteran deal that they hope works out. It’s not very reassuring that the Lakers are relying on, essentially, bottom of the barrel players to win a title, but hey, Lebron will figure it out, right?
Bazemore has shot 36% from 3 over his long career. He shot 41% from 3 on nearly 3 attempts per game this past season with the Warriors, so he’s a decent enough shooter for a Lakers team lacking just that.
Bazemore turned down more money and a longer offer from the Warriors, but he wants to a win a championship and instead of playing with the best player in the league, he went to a team that doesn’t know how to shoot. Nice.
Grade: More Shooting
Richuan Holmes Re-Signs With Sacramento, 4yr/$55 Million Dollar Deal
WHAT A W FOR THE KINGS. Teams like Dallas or Toronto desperately needed Holmes and with the Kings grabbing guys like Tristan Thompson and Alex Len, it seemed their underrated center would be leaving. But no, he isn’t, and he got him for just under $14 million per year, an absolute steal.
Holmes works very well with Fox and Haliburton in the pick and rolls. Solid rebounder and defender who has perfected a little floater in the lane from 6-12 feet out. Very good defender, this is such a positive for the Kings who get to give Fox and Haliburton a viable option down low.
Grade: A++++
Ben McLemore Signs With Portland, One Year Deal
Pretty surprised that the Lakers didn’t bring him back, he’s a good shooter and they of course need shooting. But hey, I’ll take it. An extra shooter off the bench? Good by me.
Grade: B
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Signs A 5yr/$172 Million Extension With Oklahoma City
Well deserved, he is OKC’s crown jewel in this rebuild.
Grade: A
Trae Young Signs A 5yr/$207 Million Dollar Extension With Atlanta
Also well deserved. Young helped lead the Hawks to the Eastern Conference Finals this past season and they’re going to be very good for a while because of him.
Grade: A
What Are Your Thoughts From Day 1 of Free Agency? Leave A Comment Down Below!
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