2018 NBA Free Agency in Review

Atlanta Hawks

The Hawks have had a rather quiet off-season besides from the three-team trade that included with Anthony and his $27.9 million expiring contract, the Thunder will send a 2022 protected first-round (1-14) pick to the Hawks for guard Dennis Schroder and forward Mike Muscala for Justin Anderson (Fredericksburg alum). With drafting Trae Young over Doncic, it appears the Hawks are going for a young team that can shoot 3’s at volume rates.

Philadelphia 76ers

With the pitches to LeBron and Kawhi falling short, the Sixers set their sights on Wilson Chandler, a 2021 2nd round pick (DEN own) and a Swap 2022 2nd round picks were acquired by the Philadelphia Sixers from the Denver Nuggets in exchange for cash. They retained JJ Reddick and Amir Johnson, and have the cap to add a few more pieces to add to that young core 4 that they can develop. Not high on their draft pick Zhaire Smith, he has a lot of developing and working on fundamentals to develop before he can contribute.

Boston Celtics

With the resigning of Marcus Smart and Aaron Baynes on lower-paying contracts, the Celtics return to the court the favorites to win the East and head to the Finals with a (hopefully) healthy Kyrie and Gordon Hayward. If they can get Robert Williams to care about anything, he could be a huge asset coming off of the bench.

Golden State Warriors

With the most absurd free-agency of the past decade, the Warriors add the best 5 in basketball in DeMarcus Cousins for a measly $5.5 million, the warriors will boast the best starting 5 in NBA history when everyone is healthy. They let JaVale McGee, Zaza Pachulia, and Swaggy P walk and re-signed Kevon Looney and brought in Jonas Jerebko, which all seem like very smart moves.

Brooklyn Nets

Brooklyn is having a good offseason in the sense of getting rid of awful contract Mozgov and not keeping Dwight Howard, while signing younger, more skilled Ed Davis from the Blazers, who were not happy to see him leave. They trade away Jeremy Lin and Isiah whitehead and get Kenneth Farried, Darrell Arthur, and Denver’s First rounder in 2019 and Second rounder in 2020.

Charlotte Hornets

The Hornets added Tony Parker for 2 years at $10 million and Bismack Biyombo in a 3-team trade that cost them Mosgov, which is an upgrade. With a new GM and draft picks Miles Bridges and Davonte’ Graham, it looks like they are not going to trade Kemba and boast a young, athletic backcourt.

Chicago Bulls

The Bulls have had a busy offseason by matching Zach Lavine’s 4-year, $78 million offer from Sacramento and adding Jabari Parker on a 2-year $40 million deal. Drafting Wendell carter Jr. to pair with Lauri Markkanen gives them a tall, stretch frontcourt that can shoot and run. The Bulls aren’t contending, but the moves they have made puts an intriguing team on the court for the start of the season.

Cleveland Cavaliers

Cleveland started off the offseason with the inevitable with LeBron heading West to the Lakers. They also lost Rodney Hood, Jeff Green, (coach) Kendrick Perkins, and Jose Caulderon while bringing back Channing Frye. Drafting Colin Sexton fills a huge void not only in the point guard role, but also in the offensive playmaking vacancy on Cleveland. By re-signing Kevin Love to a big, long-term contract, the Cavs appear to be committed to him for the foreseeable future.

Dallas Mavericks

The Mav’s started off free agency with a huge signing in DeAndre Jordan, while letting Nerlens Noel, Doug McDermott, and Seth Curry walk. Re-signing Dirk to pair with European sensation Luka Doncic and talented sophomore Dennis Smith Jr. gives the Mavs a respectable starting 5, but will need to add more young pieces to build around their new superstar.

Denver Nuggets

The Nuggets had a solid draft in getting Michael Porter Jr. after sliding way too far due to back injuries. They’ll wisely let him sit this year and let him rest, train and recover. They lost Farried to the Nets and traded Wilson Chandler to the Sixers, but gained valuable cap room that allowed them to re-sign Will Barton and Nikola Jokic to multi-year deals. They brought in Isaiah Thomas for the vet minimum, and will again come into the season as a young, entertaining team in 2019.

Detroit Pistons

The Pistons brought in Zaza Pachulia, Glen Robinson III, and Keenan Evans while only managing to lose key role player Anthony Tolliver to the T’Wolves. New Head Coach Dwayne Casey will have the East’s best frontcourt with a young and unproven frontcourt and bench to work with this season. They have yet to announce a GM for the upcoming season.

Houston Rockets

Houston had a tough off-season so far, losing Trevor Ariza and Luc Mbah a Moute while gaining Michael Carter-Williams (yuck), drafting Shake Melton, and resigning Chris Paul to a LOT of money, preventing the Rockets from giving out another Max-level contract. Clint Capella is still a free agent, although he will likely resign. The belief is also that the rockets are the favorite to sign Melo after his Atlanta buyout, but we will see if both of these things actually come to fruition.

Indiana Pacers

The Pacers lost Trevor Booker, Al Jefferson, Glen Robinson III, and Lance Stephenson in Free Agency, while signing Doug McDermott, Tyreke Evans, and Kyle O’Quinn to compliment their young core and their draft pick Aaron Holiday out of UCLA. They definitely improved since last year’s playoffs, and continue to look promising.

Los Angeles Clippers

After losing DeAndre to the Mavericks, the Clippers have had a quiet off-season, drafting their PG of the future in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, while bringing back Mbah a Moute and re-signing Avery Bradley.

Memphis Grizzlies

After losing Tyreke Evans, the Grizzlies drafted stud Jaren Jackson Jr. to go with their superstar duo of Mike Conley and Marc Gasol. They also signed Spurs forward Kyle Anderson after the Spurs refused to match Memphis’ offer. They also added Omari Casspi, Jevon Carter, and Garrett Temple. When healthy, this is one of the tougher matchups in the West.

Los Angeles Lakers

After winning the LeBron lottery, the Lakers lost Isaiah Thomas to Denver, Julius Randle to New Orleans, and Channing Frye to the Cavaliers. They resigned Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and brought in Rajon Rondo, Javale McGee, Lance Stephenson, and Super-Cool Michael Beasley to go with the young core of Lonzo, Kuzma, Ingram, and Josh Hart and draft pick Moritz Wagner. This will probably be the most anticipated team for the upcoming season. By the way Lakers, Swaggy P is still a free agent as of now *wink wink*.

Miami Heat

Nothing too noteworthy, other than losing long-time vet Udonis Haslam and Dwayne Wade (maybe to China?) and signing Michigan sharpshooter Duncan Robinson and Wayne Ellington. It appears Whiteside and Dragic are both staying put for the moment.

Milwaukee Bucks

Besides losing Jabari Parker to free agency, nothing too noteworthy. They signed Ersan Ilyasova and Brook Lopez, and added rookies Trevon Duval and Donte DiVincenzo. Along with Giannis and Middleton, they have the cap room to add one more weapon to make them serious contenders in the East.

Minnesota Timberwolves

The Timberwolves have been relatively quiet this off-season, resigning Derrick Rose and let players like Nemanja Bjelica and Jamal Crawford walk in Free Agency. They drafted Josh Okogie and Keita Bates-Diop to backup Wiggins and Butler, who’s future is uncertain after bashing both Wiggins and Towns.

New Orleans Pelicans

With the departure of DeMarcus Cousins and Rajon Rondo, the Pelicans were in a tough position to start out with. They added Julius Randle and Elfrid Payton to come off the bench, which should help fill the holes left by the departures. They re-signed Ian Clark, and with Jrue Holliday taking the next, Oladipo-like step and Mirotic adding valuable minutes off the bench, Anthony Davis and company can make noise in the West this season.

New York Knicks

The Knicks lose Kyle O’Quinn and Michael Beasley to start off Free Agency, but signed Mario Hezonja and Noah Voneleh to compliment their Summer League standouts Kevin Knox and Mitchell Robinson. The Knicks have a young core, and look to attract one or two max-level players in next years’ Free Agency.

Oklahoma City Thunder

Except for the huge Westbrook party announcing Paul George’s resigning, the Thunder’s biggest move was trading away Carmelo Anthony’s ludicrous contract for Mike Muscala and Dennis Schroder to compliment Jerami Grant, Raymond Felton, and Nerlens Noel. Their rookie Hamidou Diallo can add valuable minutes off of the bench, and with Westbrook, Adams, and Roberson returning, the Thunder are contenders for a top 3 team in the West.

Orlando Magic

Other than signing rookie center Mo Bamba and resigning Aaron Gordon to a big contract, the Magic have been relatively quiet. Aaron Afflalo and Mario Hezonja walked in Free Agency, and Jerian Grant and Timofey Mozgov were acquired by the Orlando Magic in exchange for Bismack Biyombo and a few picks TBD.

Phoenix Suns

The Suns lost a heavy load of role players, including Elfrid Payton, Alex Len, and Tyler Ulis. However, they drafted strongly with First overall pick DeAndre Ayton and Mikal Bridges, and added Trevor Ariza and Richaun Holmes. They traded Jared Dudley for Darrell Arthur, and signed Devin Booker to a huge extension to keep him in Phoenix. They have other young pieces to build around and should look to add youth and potential to their young roster.

Portland Trail Blazers

After drafting Anfernee Simons and Gary Trent Jr., the Blazers decided to keep their star backcourt together and resign Jusuf Nurkic, while letting Ed Davis, Shabazz Napier, and Pat Connaughton. They signed Nik Stauskas and Seth Curry, but the overall makeup of this team remains similar to the one that was 3 seed in the West last year.

Sacramento Kings

After drafting Marvin Bagley II second overall, the Kings remained relatively quiet, signing Nemanja Bjelica and Yogi Ferrell. When their offer to Zach Lavine was matched by the Bulls, they traded Garett Temple to Memphis for Deyonta Davis, Ben McLemore, and a 2021 2nd round pick. Sacramento has good, young talent, but an oversaturated roster causes less playing time and experience necessary for rookies to develop.

San Antonio Spurs

The Spurs lost Kawhi last season, but finally traded him and Danny Green to Toronto for DeMar DeRozan, Jakob Poeltl and a conditional 2019 1st round pick. They lost all-time Spur Tony Parker and Kyle Anderson to Free Agency, but were able to resign Rudy Gay and Marco Belinelli. With the addition of rookie Lonnie Walker, this Spurs frontcourt will be a totally new one, but even in Popovich’s last years they are still expected to compete in the West.

Toronto Raptors

Aside from getting Danny Green and Kawhi Leonard for DeMar DeRozan and Jakob Poeltl, the Raptors have had a quiet offseason, only resigning rookie standout Fred VanFleet to a multi-year contract. They come into the 2019 season expected to contend for the top seed in the East after finishing with the second-best record in the NBA last year.

Utah Jazz

Besides drafting Grayson Allen in the first round, the Jazz have re-signed Dante Exum, Derrick Favors, and Raulzinho Neto to multi-year deals. They look to replicate the playoff success they had last year in 2019.

Washington Wizards

After letting Marcin Gortat go in the regular season, they signed Dwight Howard to a multi-year contract to fill the void left and to add an athletic 5 that can (optimistically) run the floor. They drafted Troy Brown to compliment Kelly Oubre Jr. off the bench, and signed Jeff Green from the Cavaliers.