NBA Free Agency Winners and Losers - Brandon's Bits
- BudHole
- Jul 1, 2019
- 4 min read
The NBA free agency kicked off yesterday with a lot of action. Almost all the big name athletes outside of #Kawhi and Demarcus Cousins, have found their new home. I think I saw a number somewhere that said nearly 40% of the NBA were free agents this year. I normally don't tune into the NBA FA, but with half the league getting shook up, it's hard not too.
The #NBA has always amazed me with the fact that adding one player to a team can be the difference between legitimate contenders and being a non-relevant team. The #NFL and #MLB aren't affected the same way, where you need to add multiple players in order to really make a difference. With that, there are a few apparent winners and losers.
Losers
3. Toronto Raptors
Now it may seem odd to put them on here now, since Kawhi hasn't publicly made a decision yet, but I still feel this battle has been lost. Kawhi could return this year and attempt to bring another title to Canada, and if he does it'll put a bandaid on this specific problem. Their squad is decent but old, with a majority of their starters 30 or older. If Kawhi does come back, it's likely on a 1 year deal, and then back to the open market.
The Raptors failed to set their team up for success for the future, and didn't make any signings outside of exercising Marc Gasol's player option. To me, even if Kawhi re-signs, that's a loss. No contingency plan, no future, no bueno.
2. Minnesota Timberwolves
They say #AllEyesNorth, but maybe we stray away from that for the time being. The Timberwolves swung and missed on the potential sign and trade with the #BrooklynNets, to get all star D'Angelo Russell. But hey, they did manage to get in on that trade and to help Golden State acquire him. That's a win right?
So missed on Russell, no big deal. Just convince former PG Ricky Rubi... Oh wait, he decided to sign with the Suns. No big deal, just bring back Derek Ro.... Shoot, he brought his talents to the #Pistons. Alright, maybe you can bring back Tyus Jones. KAT is a heck of a player, but he needs some surrounding talent if you want that to go anywhere. They've lost more than they've gained so fair this offseason, and carry the dead weight of Standrew Wiggens contract.
Sad thing is, they're not the biggest loser this year.
1. New York Knicks
Unless you are Patrick Star and live under a rock, everyone knows that the #Knicks are the clear cut loser this year. Going back to last year (just for fun) they missed out on the LeBron sweepstakes. This year they tried and failed to get AD, they tanked and failed to get Zion in the draft, then the heartbreak of losing BOTH #KyrieIrving and #KD to the Nets.
I've woken up many days with the disappointment of my hometown franchises, but I don't know if I've ever felt the heartbreak and disappointment that Knicks fans must feel. That's 0/4 on superstar athletes, and a failure to grab anyone significant, easily makes them the clear cut loser.
For everyone outside of Knicks nation, you can gain some pleasure out of watching Stephan A Smith's reaction to his team failing yet again.
Winners
3. Philadelphia 76ers
The #76ers didn't make a ton of moves, but they made enough on day one to land in my top 3. To start they got rid of Jimmy Drama. In a 4-team trade, they shipped him off to Miami for Josh Richardson. Butler has been a drama queen who wants the attention, and although he is a helluva player, he's also a cancer to the team. It was a good move in my opinion.
They didn't stop there. They re-signed Tobias Harris and brought in Al Horford from the Celtics to help out. Mix that in with Simmons and Embiid, they are going to find themselves back in the playoffs in May next year.
2. Golden State Warriors
It's surprising to say this after they lost arguably the best player in the NBA, with KD going to the Nets, but they didn't let that get them down. They re-signed half the splash bros, locking Klay Thompson down for another 4 years. They also got D'Angelo Russell in a trade with the Nets.
It's not the greatest move ever, but there is a lot of speculation that Russell is just a piece they're using to grab a different asset via trade. If that's the case, whoever they target would keep them in Final contention. This dynasty might not be done yet.
1. Brooklyn Nets
The Nets made out like bandits. They got a protected 1st round pick in the Russell trade with the Warriors, also cleared up the necessary cap space needed to sign their guys. They then went ahead and signed both Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant to 4 year deals. Durant won't see the court this year, but they're set for 3 years.
Both Durant and Irving took less than the max deal so the Nets could sign their good pal Deandre Jordan. The Nets fully bamboozled the Knicks and stole their thunder. It easily made them the clear cut winner of this years FA and embarrassed their state rival.
-Brandon
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