Grading The Biggest Moves This Offseason (So Far)
It’s only been a couple of days into free agency, and a lot of movement has happened. Lots of teams are making moves and fast, with the hopes of improving their teams. Today I am going to be grading the biggest moves, and examining them from all points of view.
Gordon Hayward to Charlotte, 4yr/$120 Million Dollar Deal
Hayward was always the odd-man out for Boston, and now he’s gone. The Celtics now get rid of his massive contract, but they got nothing in return. They didn’t trade Hayward to Charlotte after trading him, they just got nothing. This does give Tatum and Brown more freedom in the offense, and it gives the Celtics more cap space. This wasn’t the best of outcomes, but Hayward is gone nonetheless.
Grade: B
The Hornets drafted Lamelo Ball 3rd overall and now pair him up with Gordon Hayward. The Hornets tried to get Hayward in 2014 when he was a restricted free agent, but the Jazz matched the offer. Now Hayward is finally going to the Buzz City. Last season Hayward averaged 17.5 points and 6.5 rebounds in a starting role for the Celtics. He was very good, shooting 50% from the field and 38% from 3.
Hayward has been injury prone, most recently spraining his ankle in the bubble. But Hayward is back to his old self since that leg injury in 2017. The Hornets get a reliable scorer and veteran teammate to pair up with Ball. This is a great move by the Hornets.
(They had to release Nick Batum in order to get Hayward)
Grade: A
Fred VanVleet Resigns With Toronto, 4yr/$85 Million Dollar Deal
VanVleet was a big reason why the Raptors won their title in 2019, and he broke out in 2020 with Kawhi out of the picture. VanVleet is great on both sides and is arguably the Raptors best player. VanVleet was the #1 priority for the Raptors this offseason, and they are glad to be getting him back.
Last season, VanVleet averaged 17.6 points and 6.6 assists. He shot 41% from the field and 39% from 3. VanVleet also averaged nearly 2 steals per game.
VanVleet is a big part of this organization, and at just 26 years old, he is the future of the Raptors franchise.
Grade: A+
Davis Bertans Resigns With Washington, 5yr/$80 Million Dollar Deal
Davis Bertans turned himself into one of the best sharp-shooters in the league last season with the Wizards, and was their #1 priority this offseason. Now he can play alongside Beal and John Wall, giving the Wizards some help for their backcourt.
Last season Bertans averaged 15.4 points while shooting 42% from 3. Bertans is one of the better volume 3-point shooters in the entire league.
The Wizards locked Bertans up for 5 years, so they’ll keep him until he is 33 years old. Bertans will be the 3rd best player on this team, and they didn’t have to overpay like crazy to keep him, paying him an average of $16 million dollars per year.
Grade: A+
Joe Harris Resigns With Brooklyn, 4yr/$75 Million Dollar Deal
Joe Harris is another great shooter in this league, and has been one of the key role players for the Nets these past couple of seasons. Now with the Nets being title contenders with KD and Kyrie finally healthy, it was important that they retained the shooting of Harris for this roster, and they did.
Last season Harris averaged 14.5 points while shooting 49% from the field and 42% from 3.
Harris took a step back in terms of 3-point shooting as he shot 47% from 3 in 2019. But Harris improved other parts of his game and became a better overall offensive player while still being a great shooter. This was a no-brainer sign by the Nets and this will help them on their quest for a title.
Grade: A+
Marcus Morris Resigns With The Clippers, 4yr/$64 Million Dollar Deal
Marcus Morris was one of the most important pickups for the Clippers this season, and he was well worth this money. While the Clippers already George and Leonard, Morris gives them their 3rd wing who is very talented on offense and another body to guard Lebron James.
Last season, Morris averaged 16.7 points and 5.0 rebounds. He shot 44% from the field and 41% from 3.
Morris will be another secondary weapon. Most of his shots will come via the catch-and-shoot 3’s, but he is still effective in iso situations. Morris will just be the icing on the cake for a very stacked Clippers roster.
Grade: A
Danillo Gallinari To Atlanta, 3yr/$61.5 Million Dollar Deal
After a one year stint in OKC, Gallinari is headed to Atlanta. This is a good move for the Thunder. They got a solid year out of Gallo and while he did fall off during the playoffs, he still had a solid year. But with the Thunder going into full rebuild mode, there is no point in paying him anymore. So the Thunder made the right move by not pursuing Gallinari.
Grade: A
When Gallinari said he wanted to play for a title contender, this isn’t what I had in mind. But nonetheless he’s with the Hawks. I don’t really like this pickup. The Hawks have been going for younger more athletic forwards like Cam Reddish and Deandre Hunter. And now they are going for an unathletic old guy in Gallinari. Very weird. The one positive of this move is that Gallinari is a veteran and can be a leader for this very young and inexperienced team. But this move is very, very weird.
Grade: C-
Jerami Grant To Detroit, 3yr/$60 Million Dollar Deal
Jerami Grant was excellent for the Nuggets this past season, and he was due for a big pay day. He played great during the Western Conference Finals, and he did a solid job trying to defend Lebron James. Grant was a vital part of the 2020 Nuggets and should have been the Nuggets #1 priority this summer. And they let him walk. Unbelievable. The Nuggets let the guy who made their team so much better walk, and they didn’t get anything in return. Terrible move by the Nuggets and they will be regretting this.
Grade: F
And on the opposite side of things, this is an excellent move by Detroit. Grant is an excellent wing and is a great slasher with an ok jumpshot. He is an excellent defender and at just 26 years old, he was one of the best free agents this summer. The Pistons got a read stud for the next 3 seasons, and this will be one of the Pistons better moves this offseason.
Grade: A+
Malik Beasley Resigns With Minnesota, 4yr/$60 Million Dollar Deal
After getting traded to Minnesota, Beasley turned into one of the better scorers. He averaged 20.7 points and 5.1 rebounds while shooting 47% from the field and 43% from 3. Beasley turned into a really good player immediately with the T-Wolves.
And if he keeps it up, he will live up to this $15 million dollar per year contract. Beasley’s playing time will be a lot less with #1 overall pick Anthony Edwards in town, but Beasley will still be effective. This was the T-Wolves #1 free agent this summer, and they were able to retain him.
Grade: A
Jordan Clarkson Resigns With Utah, 4yr/$52 Million Dollar Deal
The Jazz picked up Jordan Clarkson at the trade deadline, and he was a solid scoring option off the bench. Clarkson has already been a solid scorer for most of his career, and the Jazz needed to keep him to add depth to his bench.
Last season with Utah Clarkson averaged 15.6 points while shooting 46.2% from the field and 37% from 3.
The Jazz don’t have a lot of depth and their poor drafting this summer didn’t help much either. So retaining Clarkson will keep this team in the Western Conference playoffs, and if they can stay healthy they could do bigger things.
Grade: A
Christian Wood to Houston, 3yr/$41 Million Dollar Deal
The Pistons needed to let Wood go. Not because Wood was bad by any means, but it was clear he didn’t want to stay with the team. Wood didn’t want to stay in the Motor City, and Detroit knew that and never tried to offer him a contract. The Pistons went after a lot of other guys and have totally reshaped their roster. Smart move by Detroit to let Wood walk.
Grade: A
The Rockets are finally getting some talent that is young. For years the Rockets have been trading for older perimeter players, and now they get some youth. No, Wood isn’t going to be making this team a playoff team. But with Harden and Westbrook likely to be traded, Wood will be a nice big guy that the Rockets can build around for the future. I like this pickup for the Rockets, as they seem to accept the fact they are rebuilding.
Grade: A
Jae Crowder to Phoenix, 3yr/$29 Million Dollar Deal
Jae Crowder is one of the best 3&D guys in the league, and was a huge reason why the Heat were so good in the playoffs. He played hard and was very tough, fitting in well with the Heat culture. And the Heat kind of let him walk. They could have easily brought in Crowder, and yet they decided to let him walk. His replacement, Mo Harkless, was brought in for just $3 million dollars. It looks the like the Heat are going all in, but forgot that Crowder needed to be apart of that plan.
Grade: D
The Suns are making moves. While I still don’t like them for picking Jalen Smith 10th overall in the draft, they finally get some sort of defensive wing. The Suns have their back-court and center positions filled, they just need some wings after Kelly Oubre was traded to OKC. Crowder is an excellent shooter and will work will with the pass-first nature of CP-3. He also brings some much needed defense to the Suns, and makes this team more well-rounded.
Grade: A
Mason Plumlee to Detroit, 3yr/$25 Million Dollar Deal
I have mixed feelings from the point of view of the Nuggets. Yes, Plumlee was one of your only bigs behind Jokic, but he hasn’t played great for Denver. And he played especially bad in the 2020 playoffs. But nonetheless, Plumlee was your back-up big guy, and he was talented. He was quick and could run the floor and is a great passer. The deal that he got a was a little much and Denver probably offered him much less, but I think that Denver should have done better to re-sign him. Now they are without a back-up big guy and Jokic has to play more.
Grade: D+
The Pistons are making moves, but this one isn’t great. For starters, Plumlee isn’t worth $8+ million per year, more around the 5-6 range. But Plumlee will likely be starting. Isaiah Stewart is a rookie and his game doesn’t fit the modern NBA much. No Christian Wood and now Plumlee is your starter. He is pretty talented, but he isn’t starter material. But the move isn’t horrible as at least they got somebody to start at center other than the rookie Stewart. So this isn’t a terrible move, but not a great one either.
Grade: B-
DJ Augustin to Milwaukee, 3yr/$21 Million Dollar Deal
The Magic have been starting veteran PG DJ Augustin for the past couple of years, and we have all been saying for them to get an upgrade. They got Cole Anthony with the 15th pick in the draft, to pair him up with former #1 overall pick Markelle Fultz who is trying to revive his career in Florida. But now that Augustin leaves, I’m thinking Orlando should have kept him. Because now you have two guys, ones a rookie and the other still doesn’t know what he wants to do in the league. Now these two are starting in your backcourt, with no reliable vet to lean back on. So losing Augustin might be worse than people expected for Orlando.
Grade: C
The Bucks went from Eric Bledsoe and George Hill to Jrue Holiday and DJ Augustin. A pretty big upgrade in my book. Augustin is reliable and a veteran presence. He has been in the league for a while, and a solid back-up option. I really like this move for the Bucks as they are only paying him $7 million dollars a year. The Bucks did a great job with their back-court this summer, and they should be happy with the acquisition.
Grade: A-
Rodney Hood Resigns With Portland, 2yr/$21 Million Dollar Deal
Rodney Hood was a key player during the Blazers 2019 Western Conference run. He is a good shooter and can play from the post. He tore his Achilles in December vs the Lakers, but will be ready to play when the 2020-21 season starts. And the Blazers needed to keep him. Hood is a solid offensive and defensive player. I don’t think that his injury will affect him too much, and with the Blazers being injury prone, it’s good to have some depth at forward. If Hood and the rest of Portland can stay healthy, they can be real contenders.
Grade: A-
Derrick Jones Jr. to Portland, 2yr/$19 Million Dollar Deal
The Heat didn’t use Jones much this past season. Jones is a very athletic forward, but the Heat couldn’t find much use for him in the bubble. Jones isn’t much of a shooter and is just very explosive. I think the Heat made the right move by not trying to retain Jones.
Grade: A-
The Blazers however, are making a solid move. They acquired Robert Covington, a great defender and 3-point shooter. They got back Rodney Hood who is a crafty scorer and solid defender. They got Carmelo Anthony back, a leader and isolation master. And now they get Jones, a guy who is very athletic and is just another body to guards the wings of the West. The Blazers ran into a lot of injuries last season, so getting Jones is more of an insurance thing. But I have no doubt that Jones will at least get some playing time this season.
Grade: B+
Montrezl Harrell to Lakers, 2yr/$19 Million Dollar Deal
The Clippers finally did something right. While Harrell is a great scorer of their bench and he gives a lot of energy, the Clippers didn’t need him. Now without Harrell is simplifies this scoring order. And Harrell is pretty overrated in my book. During the Western Conference Semi-Finals vs the Nuggets, Harrell’s offense was reduced to nothing and his defense against Nikola Jokic was terrible. The Clippers need size and while Harrell is good, he is undersized. The Clippers made the right move by not signing him.
Grade: A
I don’t really know how to grade this move by the Lakers. They lose Dwight Howard, who is a great rebounder and defender. They replace him by getting an undersized bug in Harrell who isn’t a great defender. But Harrell gives the Lakers a much needed scoring option outside of Lebron and AD. Harrell will likely be coming off the bench as the 6th man, and the Lakers better hope that his defense picks up, or that his offense doesn’t fault during the playoffs. But a solid move by the Lakers
Grade: B
Justin Holiday Resigns With Indiana, 3yr/$18 Million Dollar Deal
Holiday was a solid veteran for this Indiana team this past season. He averaged 8.3 points on 43% from the field and 41% from 3.
Holiday is a solid veteran off the bench, and with the Pacers struggling with depth these past couple of seasons, having a decent scoring option is a good thing. They got Holiday for pretty cheap as well, a solid signing for the Pacers overall.
Grade: A
Goran Dragic Resigns With Miami, 1yr/$18 Million Dollar Deal
Goran Dragic is still one of the better scorers in the NBA, using his quickness and nice shooting touch to his advantage. Dragic mostly came off the bench during the regular season, but he played a big role in the Heat’s success.
I was pushing for the Heat to led Dragic go, but this is a good compromise. It’s only a one year deal, meaning Dragic is easy to trade and he’s gone at the end of the year. This means that if Giannis is available, they don’t have to deal with Dragic’s contract. This is a good move by the Heat as Dragic can help them contend for a season, but if they want Giannis, they can easily shed his contract.
Grade: B+
Pat Connaughton Resigns With Milwaukee, 3yr/$16 Million Dollar Deal
Pat Connaughton has been a solid role player for the Bucks these past couple of seasons. He’s a great athlete and a solid shooter. Connaughton is a solid bench piece for the Bucks, and they are doing the right thing by retaining him. This will help the Bucks retain their depth and make them a contender in the East.
Grade: A-
Rajon Rondo to Atlanta, 2yr/$15 Million Dollar Deal
The Lakers are going to be missing Rondo. Rondo was excellent during the playoffs. He turned into a great 3-point shooter and is still one of the best passers in the league. Even though the Lakers got Dennis Schroder, having Rondo is still a great backup option for the Lakers, another veteran presence. The Lakers should have tried to retain Rondo, but losing him does hit.
Grade: C
The Hawks make another solid move. They already have Trae Young, and Rondo is a solid back-up option. Rondo gives this team a great veteran presence, and it gives Trae Young an excellent mentor. Rondo will help this team a lot and this is a great pickup by the Hawks.
Grade: A+
JaMychal Green to Denver, 2yr/$15 Million Dollar Deal
Instead of going after Jerami Grant, the Nuggets go after JaMychal Green. Green isn’t a great offensive player, although he does have a decent 3-point shot. But this is a serious down-grade from Jerami Grant. Green is much slower and this is a somewhat band-aid to the Jerami Grant hole, but it’s not a great replacement.
Grade: C
The Clippers didn’t really use JaMychal Green much, and he was similar to Harrell in a way. He was a better shooter than Harrell, but the Clippers couldn’t use him much on defense and he couldn’t guard the center position. This is a good move for the Clippers, as they need more guys like Ivica Zubac to defend the paint. This is a good guy for the Clippers to let go.
Grade: A
Avery Bradley to Miami, 2yr/$11.6 Million Dollar Deal
The Lakers missed Avery Bradley in the bubble. He was one of their best shooters and defenders. While the Lakers still won the title, they would have been better off with him. And losing him this free agency hurts. They already lost Rajon Rondo, and now they lose another veteran guard in Bradley. This hurts the Lakers depth and they should have gone after Bradley more.
Grade: C-
The Heat are getting a solid veteran guard here. They lose Jae Crowder this offseason, and Avery Bradley is just a shorter version of Crowder. They got Bradley for a very cheap price and now they get a SG than play defense. Tyler Herro and Duncan Robinson aren’t great defenders, and now they get somebody in Bradley who can play defense late in games. This is a great pickup for the Heat, helping them for this season.
Grade: A+
Paul Millsap Resigns With Denver, 1yr/$10 Million Dollar Deal
I was opposed to the Nuggets keeping Millsap, but this deal is ok. Millsap is getting older and he isn’t a great defender. But this contract is much better suited for Millsap. He is still decent, but he wasn’t worth the massive contract that he was on earlier. This is much better for Millsap and his skills, and Millsap will be a solid scoring option for this Nuggets team.
Grade: B+
Kris Dunn to Atlanta, 2yr/$10 Million Dollar Deal
This one hurts for the Bulls. While Dunn isn’t a great offensive player, he is an excellent defender. They have Coby White who is a great offensive player, and Kris Dunn complimented him with his defense. Dunn would have been a good backup, and the Bulls should have done better to keep him.
Grade: C-
The Hawks get another solid PG. Trae Young is all offense, Rajon Rondo is a great passer and stout defender, and Kris Dunn brings in more defense. The Hawks need some extra defense, and this pickup helps them with that. Dunn is a solid pickup and this helps broaden the Hawks back-court depth.
Grade: B+
Kelly Oubre To Golden State, Thunder Receive 2021 FRP
With Klay Thompson being out for the 2020-21, Kelly Oubre gives them a solid scoring option. Oubre averaged 18.7 points for the Suns last season, so now the Suns get some sort of replacement for Thompson being out. And the Warriors only had to give up their FRP from 2021 to get him. This is a solid move for the Warriors.
Grade: B+
The Thunder weren’t going to keep Oubre anyway, and now they get yet another FRP for Oubre. Not much to say for this trade, a good return for a rebuilding Thunder team.
Grade: B
Steven Adams to New Orleans
Steven Adams was a key part for OKC for the past few years, but with the Thunder going into full rebuild mode and with Adam’s massive contract, it made no sense to keep him. This trade is added to the Jrue Holiday trade, and the Thunder got some more draft picks for this trade. All they have to do is trade Al Horford and now they can start rebuilding.
Grade: B+
The Pelicans got rid of Derrick Favors, who was terrible for the Pelicans during his one season there. The Pelicans needed a real center to anchor the paint and grab some rebounds. Steven Adams solves both problems. Adams is a great rebuilder and is very tough down low. He can’t really stretch the floor which will block driving lanes for Zion Williamson, but this is still a great pickup for New Orleans.
Grade: A-
Enes Kanter to Portland, Mario Hezonja to Memphis
Enes Kanter was great with Portland in 2019 and he will be a great addition to this team. He is a great offensive rebounder and can add some size to this team behind Jusuf Nurkic. This is a solid pickup by the Blazers, and they didn’t have to give up much.
Grade: B+
Losing Kanter is a bad move for the Celtics. The Celtics didn’t use Kanter much, but they were only paying him $5 million per year. But the Celtics needed size, and Kanter could have added to their size alongside Theis and Thompson. Not a great move by Boston and if they deal with injuries at center, not having Kanter will hurt.
Grade: C
The Blazers gave Memphis Mario Hezonja, and this is a good move. Hezonja wasn’t great for Portland and he isn’t much of a shooter. Hezonja didn’t do much for this team, and losing him won’t hurt them much.
Grade: B+
The Grizzlies don’t need Hezonja, as they need shooting. Their 30th draft pick Desmond Bane is a great shooter, and he helps Memphis. But Mario Hezonja doesn’t help them at all. This wasn’t a great pickup for the Grizzlies, and I doubt that they’ll use him much.
Grade: D+
Javale McGee To Cleveland For 2nd Round Pick
McGee was a huge part of the Lakers success, and he is a championship caliber center. The Lakers already lost Dwight Howard, and now they lose another rim protector in McGee. I don’t know why they would trade McGee, as now they only have Davis and Harrell down low to defend the paint.
Grade: C-
The Cavs are rebuilding and they only had to give up a 2nd round pick to get a solid backup center. They already have Andre Drummond, and now get a solid backup in Javale McGee. They aren’t paying him much so this is a solid pickup.
Grade: B
Meyers Leonard Resigns With Miami, 2yr/$20 Million Dollar Deal
Myers Leonard went from being a starter for the Heat during the regular season to not playing during the Bubble. The Heat put Adebayo at center and found no use for Leonard. So keeping him doesn’t make much sense. The only reason I could guess they would keep him would be keeping Jimmy Butler happy. Butler loves Leonard, and maybe Pat Riley wanted to keep his best player happy. But this wasn’t a great sign and the Heat could have used this money to sign Jae Crowder.
Grade: D-
Alec Burks to New York, 1yr/$6 Million Dollar Deal
The 76ers acquired Burks from the Warriors, where he was having a great season. But he didn’t play as well with the 76ers, and he didn’t play nearly as much. Philly had use for him, but there’s no big deal in not getting him. He would have helped Philly, but Philly has gotten a lot of shooters this offseason, so losing Burks isn’t the biggest of deals.
Grade: B
The Knicks are doing some great things this offseason. Burks had a great year as a scorer and can help this Knicks team in the guard department. And if Burks doesn’t work out, the Knicks are only paying him $6 million for one season. So this can’t hurt the Knicks, it can only help them. So the Knicks seem to know not to sign everybody to big contracts just because. Good on you, New York.
Grade: A-
Drew Eubanks Resigns With San Antonio, 3yr/$5 Million Dollar Deal
Eubanks played pretty well during the bubble, enough so that the Spurs signed him to a very small deal. The Spurs don’t have much size other than Poeltl (who they also managed to sign), so signing some more size can’t hurt. And this contract is very small, stretching over 3 years. So a very low-risk move by the Spurs here.
Grade: A
Elfrid Payton Resigns With New York, 1yr/$5 Million Dollar Deal
The Knicks have been short at guard for the past couple of seasons, and signing Payton for reinforcements doesn’t hurt. Again, the Knicks only sign Payton for a one year deal for not a lot of money. Payton is a decent playmaker and while he isn’t great on offense, he can still provide solid contributions. This is another low-risk move by the Knicks.
Grade: A-
Garrett Temple To Chicago, 1yr/$5 Million Dollar Deal
The Nets are contending once again, and having Temple would have helped off their bench. But the Nets have added Landry Shamet who is an upgrade to Temple, and if they don’t trade Shamet then I’m fine with them letting Temple go. Temple is more of a veteran player who can shoot, but Shamet is the better option for the Nets. This move doesn’t bother me and it shouldn’t bother the Nets.
Grade: B+
The Bulls are adding some more depth to their bench. Temple is a solid shooter and veteran presence for this team. The Bulls lack depth, and this one year signing is a good one. And they can get rid of Temple next offseason if need-be. A solid move here by Chicago.
Grade: A
Mo Harkless To Miami, 1yr/$3.6 Million Dollar Deal
I’m not mad at the Knicks for not bringing back Harkless. I think that the Knicks offered Harkless a deal, likely more money than he accepted from Miami. But Harkless wants to contend for a title and he isn’t doing that with the Knicks. Nothing you can do if you’re New York and Harkless wants to win a title.
Grade: A
The Heat are getting their Jae Crowder replacement. Harkless is a much worse offensive player, but he is a great defender off the Heat bench. This helps patch up the Jae Crowder role. Harkless and Bradley should do good things off the bench for the Heat this season, and the Heat can just get rid of Harkless next offseason if things don’t work out.
Grade: A
Wes Matthews to Lakers, 1yr/$3.6 Million Dollar Deal
The Bucks really needed to bring back Matthews. The Bucks needed Matthews to start at SG for them. He is a great 3-point shooter and defender. Not having him is going to hurt. The Bucks needed his shooting on a roster that doesn’t have plentiful shooting. Now Donte DiVincenzo will have to start. DiVincenzo isn’t bad, but I would rather have Matthews starting. Bucks should have tried to keep Matthews.
Grade: F
The Lakers get their Avery Bradley replacement, and Matthews is a better shooter. Matthews will add some more reliable shooting than what the Lakers had last season, and he gives some defense. This is a great filler for Bradley if you are LA, and Matthews will help you a lot this season.
Grade: A+
Dwight Howard to Philadelphia, 1yr/$2.5 Million Dollar Deal
This is a feels bad for LA. Two hours before leaving, Howard said he loved LA and wanted to stay. And then he goes cross-country. Howard was a valuable piece for this Lakers team off the bench, and now the Lakers paint is much less protected. Again, Lakers should have done better job trying to keep Howard.
Grade: D
Now the 76ers get an actual backup center. Howard is a great rebounder and rim protector, and he can help defend the paint while Embiid is on the bench or injured. The 76ers now get somebody to backup Embiid, and a very good backup at that. A great move by the 76ers here, not overthinking it, just getting the right guy for the job.
Grade: A+
Jeff Green To Brooklyn, 1yr/$2.5 Million Dollar Deal
Jeff Green was a big part of Houston’s success in the bubble, but I get why they let him go. Houston needs youth talent, and Green isn’t either of those. Green would be solid off the bench, but it’s clear that Houston is going in another direction and they don’t need Green at all.
Grade: A
The Nets get some veteran experience of their bench. The Nets have a lot of youth, and Green can bring some leadership to this team. Green is a solid shooter and slasher as well. Green will help this Nets team off the bench, and the Nets didn’t have to pay him much either. Very good pickup by the Nets.
Grade: A
Carmelo Anthony Resigns With Portland, 1yr/$2.5 Million Dollar Deal
I was pleasantly surprised when Melo was signed to Portland. Yes, Melo wanted to stay with Portland and he said that earlier, but I expected Portland not to sign him. But they made the right move by keeping him. Melo was great as a scorer in the post and as a spot up shooter for Portland. He is a great leader and presence. And Melo genuinely enjoys it here in Portland as they gave him a chance to be playing in the league. Melo fortifies the Blazers forward spot with Hood, Covington, and Derrick Jones Jr. alongside him. Great job by Portland to keep Melo around.
Grade: A+
Bobby Portis to Milwaukee On 2-Year Deal
The Knicks didn’t want to pay Portis $15 million on this team option for this upcoming season, and they made the right move by not pursuing him. Portis wasn’t great with New York and now that they have rookie Obi Toppin, it didn’t make sense to keep Portis. Good job by the Knicks to not keep Portis here.
Grade: A
The Bucks are getting some forward depth with Portis, and Portis shot 36% from 3 last season, giving the Bucks more shooting. This is a good pickup by the Bucks, and this will help them win a title next season.
Grade: A
Brad Wanamaker to Golden State, 1yr/$2.25 Million Dollar Deal
The Celtics could have used Wanamaker. Wanamaker is a good 3-point shooter and is also good off the dribble. He was solid off the bench for the Celtics. And as the Celtics are struggling with depth, I don’t know why you wouldn’t keep him. He wasn’t asking for a ton of money, obviously. The only valid reason that they didn’t sign Wanamaker was that Tatum got his massive 5-year extension from Boston. But I think that the Celtics can find $2 million somewhere.
Grade: C
The Celtics are now getting a good backup for Curry. The Warriors also selected rookie Nico Mannion, but this gives them another option. Wanamaker is a veteran who can shoot and drive. He will give Curry some rest from starting all the time, and it gives the Warriors some more options in their back-court. Solid move from Golden State.
Grade: A
Derrick Favors To Utah, 3yr/$30 Million Dollar Deal
Derrick Favors on the Pelicans was a fail. Favors isn’t well suited to be the Pelicans starting center as he is undersized. He can’t rebound because of this size and isn’t very athletic. But the Pelicans were able to get Steven Adams from OKC, so now they have a starting center and don’t need Favors with Zion and Ingram on the wing. The Pelicans don’t have any worries by letting Favors go, a good move by New Orleans.
Grade: A
Favors and Utah was a good pairing. Favors can contribute some post scoring and stout defense. And with Rudy Gobert, Favors isn’t asked to do much. Favors likes Utah and played the best basketball of his career there. The Jazz have a lot of scoring options, so Favors just has to fill the small grey area on the team.
Grade: A-
Tristan Thompson to Boston, 2yr/$19 Million Dollar Deal
The Cavs are rebuilding and don’t need two centers with similar play styles. Thompson is a paint beast who is a great offensive rebounder. The Cavs are already paying Drummond close to $30 million, and don’t need to pay Thompson more for a similar play-style. Good move here from Cleveland to let him walk.
Grade: A
The Celtics are getting some size down, something that they need. And they are getting somebody in Thompson who is a great offensive rebounder. I would like the move more if Thompson was a better defender. I think that Myles Turner would have been the best option, but with Boston losing Kanter, Thompson isn’t the the worst option in the world.
Grade: B+
KCP Resigns With Lakers, 3yr/$40 Million Dollar Deal
KCP was the best role player for the Lakers during the NBA Finals, emerging as the 3rd guy that the Lakers were looking for. KCP was also the most consistent during the bubble, much more so than Danny Green. KCP gives some shooting and defense to the Lakers, and if he is consistent, he gives the Lakers a lot of space. This is a little more money than I would have given him, but bringing him back just the same is fine.
Grade: A
Trey Burke Resigns With Dallas, 3yr/$10 Million Dollar Deal
Trey Burke was a quite pickup for the Mavs last season. Burke provided scoring off the bench. He was at his best during the Clippers in the first round of the playoffs. Burke shot the ball well and drove it just as well. And signing him for just $3.3 million per year is a great deal for the Mavs. Losing Seth Curry hurts the bench a bit, but retaining the offensive minded Burke keeps some of their depth.
Grade: A
Nerlens Noel to New York, 1yr/$5 Million Dollar Deal
I think that the Thunder should have kept Noel. Noel is young and athletic, and isn’t worth a boat-load of money. I know that the Thunder are rebuilding and starting fresh, but having Nerlens Noel doesn’t make them a playoff team. You didn’t have to pay him much to stay, and I think that the Thunder would be the exact same team with Noel.
Grade: C
The Knicks are again going with a low-risk contract. It’s a one year deal for an athletic center. The Knicks have been going towards a lot of forwards, but they find a good backup for Mitchell Robinson. Both of these guys are young and very efficient. This is a solid pickup for the Knicks.
Grade: A
Jeff Teague To Boston on 1 Year Deal
Teague didn’t do much on the Hawks after he was traded from Minnesota. The Hawks didn’t have much use for him and after getting Dunn and Rondo this offseason, it didn’t make much sense for the Hawks to keep the former All-Star.
Grade: A
The Celtics get their Brad Wanamaker replacement, and I kind of like it. Teague is a solid playmaker and shooter, and can get to the rim. Teague is 32 but still a solid backup to Kemba Walker. This is a nice pickup by the Celtics.
Grade: A
Jakob Poeltl Resigns With San Antonio, 3yr/$27 Million Dollar Deal
The Spurs don’t have a lot of depth at center, so keeping Poeltl is a good thing. They brought back both Poeltl and Eubanks this offseason, securing what little center depth they had. Poeltl is a solid paint scorer for the Spurs and is a decent rebounder. Obviously you would like an upgrade if you’re San Antonio, but Poeltl will do for now.
Grade: B+
Serge Ibaka Signs With The Clippers, 2yr/$19 Million Dollar Deal
This is a big loss for the Raptors. Ibaka was playing very well in the bubble. Ibaka was a great shooter out of the pick and roll and still was a great rim protector. He was the Raptors 2nd biggest Free Agent this summer, and it hurts to see him you if you’re Toronto. Now Toronto loses most of their size with both Gasol and Ibaka leaving. Really big loss for the Raptors.
Grade: D
The Clippers made a god-tier move here. They struggled with size and rim-protection last season. So they get rid of Harrell and bring in Ibaka. Ibaka is one of the best shot-blockers in the league, averaging just under a block a game last season. Ibaka will sure up this Clippers front-court with Zubac. Ibaka also gives a lot of floor-spacing to the Clippers. Excellent move by the Clippers.
Grade: A+++++
Austin Rivers To New York, 3yr/$10 Million Dollar Deal
Austin Rivers was solid for Houston last season, but it makes no sense in keeping him when you are rebuilding. The Rockets are going all in for this rebuild, and they don’t want to keep anybody.
Grade: A
The Knicks get some scoring at the guard position. Elfrid Payton is the facilitator, while Burks and Rivers are natural scorers. Rivers has a tight handle and loves to attack the basket. He is a decent shooter, and he will really help this Knicks team. While the Knicks did sign him for 3 seasons, they’re only paying him about $3.3 million per year. So another low-risk move by the Knicks as they get another solid scoring guard.
Grade: A
Chris Boucher Resigns With Toronto, 2yr/$13.5 Million Dollar Deal
Boucher emerged as a solid bench option for the Raptors. Boucher is a length forward who can attack the rack. He doesn’t have anything close to a jumper yet, but he could develop one. The Raptors need all the size and length they can get after losing Ibaka and Gasol this offseason, and Boucher will help this bench out a lot.
Grade: B+
Marc Gasol Signs With Lakers on 2-Year Deal
Raptors lose even more of their center depth. Already lost Ibaka and now Gasol. That Raptors frontcourt is getting weaker by the day and even though Gasol was nothing special for the Raptors, losing his inside presence isn’t great.
Grade: D
I don’t like this move by the Lakers much either. Gasol is nothing close to Grizzlies Gasol and was for all intents and proposes, terrible with Toronto. Gasol only played 44 games during the regular season, and he only averaged 7.5 points. He was pretty good from 3, but only shot 43% from the field. Gasol is not a great rim-protector, and after losing McGee and Howard, a non rim-protecting center isn’t the thing you’re after if you’re LA. Gasol is getting older, and I don’t like this move much by LA.
Grade: C-
Aron Baynes Signs With Toronto, 2yr/$14.3 Million Dollar Deal
The Suns have Deandre Ayton and Jalen Smith, but losing Baynes does hurt. He could stretch the floor with his 3-point shot as he shot 35% from 3 this past season. The Suns will definitely miss his floor spacing, but they hope that Jalen Smith can fill that role. But if he doesn’t, it’s a bad loss for Phoenix.
Grade: C+
The Raptors get something to secure they’re frontcourt. They lose Ibaka and Gasol, but now get Baynes. Baynes is like Gasol where he can stretch the floor, but he isn’t a great passer. But at least it’s something to start at center for Toronto, which is a lot better than nothing.
Grade: B
Willie Cauley-Stein Resigns With Dallas, 2yr/$8.2 Million Dollar Deal
Cauley Stein didn’t play with the Mavs much this past season, but he is a solid back-up option. Porzingis will miss a portion of the season to start because of injury, and Cauley Stein can help the Mavs anchor the paint. He isn’t as versatile on offense as Porzingis, but he is a lob threat and Luka Doncic can make anybody good. A solid move from Dallas.
Grade: B+
Juancho Hernangomez Resigns With Minnesota, 3yr/$21 Million Dollar Deal
Like Malik Beasley, Hernangomez was much better with the Timberwolves than he was the Nuggets. The forward averaged 12.9 points and 7.3 rebounds while shooting 45% from the field and 42% from 3. Juancho is a solid option off the bench as he can shoot. If he can continue his play from Feb-March of last season, he will be worth the $7 million per year to come off the bench.
Grade: B
Kent Bazemore Signs With Golden State, 1yr/$2.3 Million Dollar Deal
Bazemore was traded from Portland to Sacramento, where he played a lot better. And I think with the uncertainty of the Bogdan Bogdanovic situation, along with the Buddy Hield situation, it would have been smart to try and sign Bazemore. Unless Bazemore wanted to play for a contender and went back to Golden State, where his career started. But if the Kings could have signed him, I definitely would have.
Grade: C-
The Warriors are adding some depth to their team. Bazemore is a solid shooter off the bench as he shot 34% from 3 last season. Losing Klay Thompson left a big hole in the shooting department, but with the additions of Kelly Oubre Jr. and Kent Bazemore, the Warriors have added some depth and shooting. Solid move by Golden State.
Grade: A-
Which Of These Moves Was The Best? Leave A Comment Down Below!
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