Ahhh the NBA off-season, the most hectic two weeks in the summer, where everyone briefly cares about basketball until October. There are three different kinds of outcomes that can happen during the off-season. Which teams were good, which were bad, and which were just plain old, ugly
The Good:
The San Antonio Spurs:
As good a place to start as any. The Spurs started by re-signing Kawhi Leonard to a five year $95 million dollar deal, and Danny Green to a four year $45 million deal. They followed that up by shipping Tiago Splitter to the Hawks and signed LaMarcus Aldridge to a 4 year $84.1 million deal, but wait! There's more! They the sign David West to the veteran's minimum when he turned down $12 million to return to the pacers. The spurs excel at not only signing the perfect players to fit their system, but also at great prices. A fantastic free agency through and through.
Los Angeles Clippers:
We're going to ignore the elephant in the room for most of this conversation (*ehem* Deandre) and focus on the signings they made (don't worry I'll get to the drama a little later). Signing Paul Pierce was a nice addition to an already impressive squad, as was Josh Smith. Making a move for Lance Stephenson was an underrated move for them that in all likelihood will work out. And of course re-signing Deandre Jordan was crucial to their off-season. While they had some bumps along the way, a very solid free agency.
Honorable Mention: Indiana Pacers, signing Monte Ellis, Lavoy Allen, Jordan Hill and of course getting rid of Hibbert.
Bad
Los Angeles Lakers:
Honorable Mention: Indiana Pacers, signing Monte Ellis, Lavoy Allen, Jordan Hill and of course getting rid of Hibbert.
Bad
Los Angeles Lakers:
Hollywood is where it's all happening, everyone wants to go there. Just not to the Lakers. With all the cap space and the absolute privilege of playing alongside the greatest teammate in history, Kobe Bryant, the Lakers completely whiffed on the free agent market. They got a reclamation project in Roy Hibbert via trade, and drafted D'angelo Russell which keeps them out of the ugly. Not signing a single even mid-level free agent? That's just bad
Portland Trailblazers:
Portland Trailblazers:
It's mostly out of pity that I'm keeping this team out of the ugly column, because wow that was a rough few weeks. When four players of your starting lineup sign elsewhere in free agency and you bring in mostly unproven and role players, you know you hit a new low. While Damian Lillard took a few steps back last season, I still feel like he was worth the money. Portland fans buckle up, it's going to be a rough couple of years....
Honorable Mention: Phoenix Suns, Signing an aging Tyson Chandler and trading to make room for a max free agent, yet no LaMarcus
The Ugly
Dallas Mavericks:
Honorable Mention: Phoenix Suns, Signing an aging Tyson Chandler and trading to make room for a max free agent, yet no LaMarcus
The Ugly
Dallas Mavericks:
Remember I said I'd come back to the drama?! Well here it is in all it's glory! In one of the absolute nuttiest stories in free agent history, The Mavericks managed to sort of sign Deandre Jordan for about a week until he spurned them and went back to the clippers. Of course at that point there really wasn't anyone out there to sign anymore. No, Deron Williams does not count, he's a shell of his former self and it just a hope and a prayer that he somehow regains the form he had in Utah (hopefully Dallas has head coaches for him on speed dial, seeing as he goes through so many). After Deandre left (sort of) so did Richard Jefferson who chose to renege on his deal and signed with Cleveland. And whats with that contract to Wesley Matthews? Four years and $70 million for a player coming off an achilles injury? This was a summer for Mark Cuban to forget....
Sacramento Kings:
Sacramento Kings:
Can someone PLEASE explain the logic behind the off-season here? This team looks more like a time bomb than a once prominent franchise. Between George Karl trying to move his best player DeMarcus Cousins (snake in the grass) or trading Nik Stuskas and signing Rajon Rondo (one year and $10 million?! Literally nobody else offered him anything close, if at all. Who were you bidding against?!) and signing Kosta Koufus (4 years, $33 million) this team looks primed for a meltdown of epic proportions. Get your popcorn ready for the show!
J.R Smith:
J.R Smith:
While not a team, this had to be mentioned, as a great man once said “stupid is as stupid does”. Our good friend Mr. Smith obviously didn't get the memo that not only is he not the sixth man of the year anymore, but that the grass is always greener on the other side. To be fair it wasn't greener at all, seeing as after he opted out of his contract and hit the free agent market, no teams called him. None, at all. After realizing his folly, Mr. Smith than decided to call up Cleveland and ask for his old job back to which he got back a really emphatic “Maybe”. We're still waiting on the verdict. Can anyone say China?
Honorable Mention: Oklahoma City Thunder for signing Enes Kanter to a 4 year $70 million deal, because, reasons.
Honorable Mention: Oklahoma City Thunder for signing Enes Kanter to a 4 year $70 million deal, because, reasons.
