As usual, the potential drama of NBA free agency was discussed and dissected for months. For once, the upcoming season could be even more suspenseful.
Following the myriad league-altering moves made during Sunday night’s wild opening to free agency, next season begins with the NBA championship appearing up for grabs for the first time since 2015 when the Warriors won their first title in four decades.
Golden State has finally ceased being the consensus league favorite, having lost Kevin Durant to Brooklyn, Klay Thompson to an ACL tear and former Finals MVP Andre Iguodala via a cap-clearing trade.
The Lakers are Las Vegas’ pick, but 34-year-old LeBron James and new teammate Anthony Davis will be forced to rely on a slew of minimum-salaried role players for help, whether or not Kawhi Leonard comes to create the next super team. If Leonard goes home to L.A. (Lakers or Clippers), the defending-champion Raptors lose their MVP.
The Celtics replaced Kyrie Irving with Kemba Walker, but lost the invaluable Al Horford to the 76ers. The Rockets need to repair the reported rift between James Harden and Chris Paul. The new-look Jazz have to play as well as they look on paper. The Blazers and Nuggets need to excel with heightened expectations.
Dynasties define the NBA like no other sport. Most title-winning cores hang multiple banners. Most exceptions made multiple Finals appearances.
Next season, a rare window exists, akin to when Michael Jordan walked away from the Bulls on two separate occasions (1994, 1999), the Lakers broke up Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant (2004), and James left Miami to take his talents back to Cleveland (2015).
Here’s a look at the teams that have helped, and hurt, their future chances, via free agency:
Winners
Nets
The long-ignored little brother became a “destination” with the signings of Durant and Irving, along with DeAndre Jordan. Already praised for having one of the league’s best front office/coaching/facilities/medical staff combinations, the Nets immediately become one of the league’s marquee teams, with the talent to win their first NBA title upon Durant’s return.
Jazz
Another team rarely viewed as a desirable spot for free agents, Utah scooped up Bojan Bogdanovic on a four-year, $73 million deal and solid big man Ed Davis on a two-year, $10 million contract. Combined with the recent acquisition of point guard Mike Conley, and continuing ascent of 22-year-old Donovan Mitchell, the Jazz could contend for the first time in more than two decades.
76ers
Jimmy Butler’s decision to join Miami blew up plans to keep together the team that lost on a Game 7 buzzer-beater to the Raptors, but Philly could be even better after retaining Tobias Harris (five years, $180 million), acquiring Josh Richardson and signing Horford (four years, $109 million), which simultaneously weakened the Celtics.
Pelicans
Having already robbed the Lakers for the disgruntled Davis — a haul including a total of five first-round picks and recent No. 2 overall picks Lonzo Ball and Brandon Ingram — and landed Zion Williamson with the No. 1 pick, general manager David Griffin got a bargain in sharpshooter J.J. Redick (two years, $26.5 million) and acquired talented big man Derrick Favors.
Losers
Knicks
They traded away a potential franchise player (Kristaps Porzingis) and tanked a season to use their precious cap space on Julius Randle, Bobby Portis, Wayne Ellington, Reggie Bullock, Taj Gibson and Elfrid Payton. Being unable to land Durant — or Irving or any marquee name — won’t hurt as much as the perception of the franchise’s continued ineptitude.
Warriors
Losing Durant hurts. Seeing an already-thin supporting cast decimated will sting, too. Golden State acquired D’Angelo Russell, who’ll provide some insurance until Thompson returns, but giving him a four-year, $117 million deal cost the Warriors Iguodala, and could lead to Quinn Cook and Shaun Livingston, departing, too. The Warriors managed to keep Kevon Looney, though, agreeing to a three-year deal Monday.
Hornets
After missing the playoffs the past three years, Michael Jordan likely made the prudent decision by declining to offer Walker a supermax contract, but giving Terry Rozier a three-year, $58 million deal didn’t make much more sense.
Lakers and/or Clippers
The loser(s?) of the Leonard sweepstakes will be devastated. Making the damage even worse is how few free agents of value will be available when the decision is finally made.