In what has to be considered the wildest free agency season in NBA history, here is a shortened version of player movement within teams. I will try to spend a bit of time on each team and will only mention the bigger names.
The East
Atlanta Hawks – Added Evan Turner and Allen Crabbe via trade…drafted Cam Reddish out of Duke and added Vince Carter in free agency.
Boston Celtics – Added Kemba Walker via free agency…lost Kyrie Irving via free agency…drafted Romeo Langford, Grant Williams, and a potential star, Carson Edwards out of Purdue.
Brooklyn Nets – Added Kevin Durant, DeAndre Jordan, and Kyrie Irving via free agency…lost D’Angelo Russell via free agency.
Charlotte Hornets – Added Terry Rozier via free agency…drafted PJ Washington…lost Kemba Walker via free agency.
Chicago Bulls – Added Thaddeus Young via free agency…drafted Coby White out of UNC.
Cleveland Cavaliers – Did not sign a free agent…drafted Darius Garland with the 5th pick.
Detroit Pistons – Added Markieff Morris and Derrick Rose via free agency.
Indiana Pacers – Signed Malcolm Brogdon and Jeremy Lamb via free agency
Miami Heat – Added Jimmy Butler via free agency…lost Hassan Whiteside and Josh Richardson via trade.
Milwaukee Bucks – Lost Malcolm Brogdon via free agency
New York Knicks – Drafted RJ Barrett out of Duke with third pick…lost DeAndre Jordan via free agency.
Orlando Magic – Added Al-Farouq Aminu via free agency.
Philadelphia 76ers – Added Josh Richardson via free agency…lost Jimmy Butler via free agency.
Toronto Raptures – Lost Kawhi Leonard via free agency.
Washington Wizards – Added C.J. Miles via trade with Memphis…lost Dwight Howard in trade with Memphis.
The obvious winner in the Eastern Conference was the Brooklyn Nets. The addition of Durant and Irving turn the Nets into instant contenders. Toronto lost Leonard but will thank him forever for bringing a title to Canada. The Knicks lost out again in free agency, but that is becoming an annual event. Miami added Butler and could still land Russell Westbrook in a trade.
The West
Dallas Mavericks – Lone free agent addition was Delon Wright via free agency. Mavs did not have a first round selection in the college draft.
Denver Nuggets – Western Conference semifinalists added Jerami Grant via trade. They added an interesting name via the college draft in Bol Bol.
Golden State Warriors – Lost Kevin Durant via free agency…also lost DeMarcus Cousins to free agency…added D’Angelo Russell and Willie Cauley-Stein via free agency…drafted Jordan Poole out of Michigan…traded Andre Iguadala to Memphis.
Houston Rockets – Franchise talked of making wholesale changes but ended up not making any other than adding Deyonta Davis, a free agent I have not heard of until today.
Los Angeles Clippers – Added two of the top 10 players in the league in free agent Kawhi Leonard and Paul George via trade…also traded for Maurice Harkless.
Los Angeles Lakers – Made a splash before free agent season by trading for Anthony Davis. Were not able to sign Kawhi Leonard so settled for the likes of Danny Green, Avery Bradley, and DeMarcus Cousins.
Memphis Grizzlies – Added Grayson Allen (formerly of Duke) and Jae Crowder via trade…also landed Dwight Howard by trade…traded away fan favorite Mike Conley…Ja Morant, the second player chosen in the draft, will take over as the face of the franchise.
Minnesota Timberwolves – The Wolves turned over their roster yet again. They added multiple youngsters that have yet to make a name for themselves, so I will not name them. They did lose Derrick Rose, Dario Saric, and Anthony Tolliver via free agency.
New Orleans Pelicans – A complete roster turnover as the Pelicans added No. 1 draft pick Zion Williamson to the fold. Also added are Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram, and Derrick Favors via trade.
Oklahoma City Thunder – Lone addition is first round draft pick, Darius Bazley…losses via trades include Paul George and Jerami Grant.
Phoenix Suns – Free agent signings include Ricky Rubio. Kyle Korver was acquired by trade. TJ Warren was traded away.
Portland Trail Blazers – Added Kent Bazemore and Hassan Whiteside by trade…signed Anthony Tolliver via free agency.
Sacramento Kings – Nothing much to report here. Team did not have a first round draft selection and did not sign a free agent…did lose Willie Cauley-Stein to free agency.
San Antonio Spurs – Added DeMarre Carroll via trade.
Utah Jazz – Added Mike Conley via trade and Bojan Bogdanovich via free agency…lost Derrick Favors, Ricky Rubio, and Kyle Korver.
The Los Angeles Clippers won the Western Conference player moves. Adding Leonard and George made them instant contenders. And there is a natural rivalry now as the Lakers also improved themselves with the addition of Davis. The Utah Jazz improved themselves immensely and may make a move within a conference that is wide open now with the personnel losses Golden State suffered.
