USA TODAY International Edition
Nets weren’t only winners early in NBA free agency
The opening hours of NBA free agency were dizzying. Agreements were reached left and right, one right after another, big and small.
Teams committed nearly $3 billion in salary to players on the first day.
Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving to Brooklyn, Kemba Walker to Boston, Al Horford to Philadelphia, Jimmy Butler to Miami, Bojan Bodganovic and Ed Davis to Utah, Malcolm Brogdon and Jeremy Lamb to Indiana and Khris Middleton, Brook Lopez and George Hill back with Milwaukee.
Kawhi Leonard hasn’t made his decision, and the Raptors, Clippers and Lakers believe they have a chance of signing him.
Hidden among all of the action: Portland’s Damian Lillard, who wasn’t
scheduled to become a free agent until after the 2020-21 season, reached a max extension deal that will pay him $196 million over four years. In the final season in 2024-25, Lillard will make $54.2 million.
Let’s take a look at the early winners and losers in free agency:
Winners
Nets: Durant and Irving plus DeAndre Jordan says it all for Brookley, which was the one team that came away with two All-Star players. Sunday was a major victory for a franchise that was woebegone just a few seasons ago.
Jazz: The Jazz landed shooter Bogdanovic and rugged forward Ed Davis, and Utah got better offensively and defensively especially if you count the Mike Conley acquisition. Low key, the Jazz can contend for a title in the Western Conference if all goes their way.
Bucks: Losing Brogdon to Indiana hurts but bringing back Middleton, Lopez and Hill with the availability to make another move keeps Milwaukee a significant factor in the Eastern Conference. Signing Middleton might go a long way in helping persuade Giannis Antetokounmpo to stay in Milwaukee when it’s time for him to make that decision.
76ers: They wanted to keep Butler, but short of that, Philadelphia reached deals with Tobias Harris and Horford and plans to acquire Josh Richardson from the Heat in the Butler deal.
Pelicans: Executive vice president of basketball operations David Griffin wanted shooting and veterans to bolster his young roster, led by Zion Williamson, Lonzo Ball and Brandon Ingram, and he continues to get the job done, bringing in J.J. Redick and Derrick Favors.
Losers
Knicks: New York had salary cap space for two All-Star players, and the Knicks didn’t land one. Durant and Irving ended up with Brooklyn, making it a worst-case scenario for the Knicks. With that said, they should be more competitive with free agent commitments Julius Randle, Bobby Portis, Wayne Ellington and Reggie Bullock.
Warriors: Golden State lost Durant as the Warriors are about to move into a billion-dollar arena in San Francisco. They would’ve liked Durant to be part of that spectacle for the next few seasons.
Rockets: Houston wanted in on Butler and didn’t get him, and all the while, teams around the Rockets are getting better, especially Utah. It will be worse for Houston if Leonard chooses a Western Conference team.