NBA free agency Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images
NBA Free Agency is a wild time. NBA teams have to balance complex math, team chemistry, on-court game-planning and interpersonal relationships, all while the various players available are constantly changing. Even with most teams doing their work before the bell rings and commitments officially begin, it’s a lot for teams to keep up with.
Even with all of the chaos, it’s vitally important in determining how teams will succeed the following season. Sometimes that’s because the league’s superstars change teams, but more often it’s less prominent than that. Last year both NBA Finals teams made trades at this time to add key guards (Chris Paul to Phoenix and Jrue Holiday to Milwaukee) while another Conference Finalist in the Atlanta Hawks added Bogdan Bogdanovic and Danilo Gallinari in free agency, two members of their closing five.
Despite a lack of available stars, 2021 NBA Free Agency has included a flurry of movement including a number of intriguing trades.
This year the league’s stars have stayed put, starting with many signing extensions before free agency began (including Giannis Antetokounmpo). Even so, it has been an exciting time, with so many rotation players on the open market and plenty of player movement.
Which teams did the best? Which ones squandered their opportunities? To truly track that we have to evaluate both player signings and trades involving veteran players; we’ll leave draft-pick-only trades out of the accounting. What we won’t be doing is factoring in where a team starts from; if a team did terribly in past offseasons to put themselves in a bad place this summer, we’ll look at how that team did with what it had.
We also have to work with the reporting available at this time, so some contract details are not yet disclosed. Additionally, some of these contracts have been consummated as of this writing, and some are simply an agreement that hasn’t been put to paper. We’ll evaluate based on the idea every reported deal will be made official.
Let’s go team-by-team, starting at the top of the alphabet with the Atlanta Hawks.
NBA Free Agency</a> is a wild time. NBA teams have to balance complex math, team chemistry, on-court game-planning and interpersonal relationships, all while the various players available are constantly changing. Even with most teams doing their work before the bell rings and commitments officially begin, it’s a lot for teams to keep up with.</p>
<p>Even with all of the chaos, it’s vitally important in determining how teams will succeed the following season. Sometimes that’s because the league’s superstars change teams, but more often it’s less prominent than that. Last year both NBA Finals teams made trades at this time to add key guards (Chris Paul to Phoenix and Jrue Holiday to Milwaukee) while another Conference Finalist in the Atlanta Hawks added Bogdan Bogdanovic and Danilo Gallinari in free agency, two members of their closing five.</p>
<h2>Despite a lack of available stars, 2021 NBA Free Agency has included a flurry of movement including a number of intriguing trades.</h2>
<p>This year the league’s stars have stayed put, starting with many signing extensions before free agency began (including Giannis Antetokounmpo). Even so, it has been an exciting time, with so many rotation players on the open market and plenty of player movement.</p>
<p>Which teams did the best? Which ones squandered their opportunities? To truly track that we have to evaluate both player signings and trades involving veteran players; we’ll leave draft-pick-only trades out of the accounting. What we won’t be doing is factoring in where a team starts from; if a team did terribly in past offseasons to put themselves in a bad place this summer, we’ll look at how that team did with what it had.</p>
<p>We also have to work with the reporting available at this time, so some contract details are not yet disclosed. Additionally, some of these contracts have been consummated as of this writing, and some are simply an agreement that hasn’t been put to paper. We’ll evaluate based on the idea <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/08/07/nba-free-agency-grading-30-teams/"https://www.nba.com/news/every-reported-free-agency-deal-for-all-30-teams" target="_blank" rel="noopener">every reported deal</a> will be made official.</p>
<p>Let’s go team-by-team, starting at the top of the alphabet with the Atlanta Hawks.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/08/07/nba-free-agency-grading-30-teams/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Atlanta Hawks </a>
</div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_434062" class="wp-caption aligncenter">
<img class="wp-image-434062 size-full" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/08/07/nba-free-agency-grading-30-teams/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1113,w_1600/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1324294184-1.jpeg" alt="NBA Free Agency" width="1600" height="1113" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1324294184-1.jpeg 1600w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1324294184-1-768x534.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:1600px;">NBA free agency Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images</p>
</div>
</div>
<h2>2021 NBA Free Agency Grades: Atlanta Hawks</h2>
<p><strong>Key Additions:</strong> Delon Wright (trade), Gorgui Dieng (1-yr, $4 million)</p>
<p><strong>Brought Back: </strong>Trae Young (5-yr, $207 million extension), John Collins (5-yr, $125 million), Lou Williams (1-yr, $5 million), Solomon Hill (minimum)</p>
<p><strong>Key Departures: </strong>Kris Dunn (trade to Boston), Bruno Fernando (trade to Boston)</p>
<p>The Atlanta Hawks didn’t want to shake things up this offseason; they like what they are building, a few veteran role players plugged into a young core just now starting to hit their second contract. Collins was the first one of those young players to reach his payday, and the Hawks waited out his desire for a max contract and gave him a very reasonable five-year, $125 million deal.</p>
<p>They also made sure that they wouldn’t have to deal with negotiations next summer with Trae Young, inking him to a five-year, maximum extension worth up to $207 million if he makes an All-NBA team this upcoming season.</p>
<p>Atlanta was a part of a three-team trade Boston initiated to cut salary, shipping out Kris Dunn and Bruno Fernando — neither was a part of the Hawks’ playoff rotation — for two-way guard Delon Wright, who is both reasonably paid and good enough to be a part of the future playoff rotation.</p>
<p>To fill out the fringes of the roster, Atlanta brought back Solomon Hill on the minimum and Lou Williams on a one-year, $5 million deal. To replace Fernando at center and fill in some minutes while Onyeka Okongwu recovers from offseason surgery the team added Gorgui Dieng on a one-year, $4 million deal.</p>
<p>No big splashes, but long-term stability and a recognition that this team is growing and its future will now be dictated by the players already on the roster. It was a successful few days of business for the Hawks.</p>
<p><strong>Grade: A-</strong></p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/08/07/nba-free-agency-grading-30-teams/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Boston Celtics </a>
</div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_411423" class="wp-caption aligncenter">
<img class="size-full wp-image-411423" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/08/07/nba-free-agency-grading-30-teams/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2133,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1203604950.jpeg" alt="NBA Free Agency" width="3200" height="2133" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1203604950.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1203604950-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">NBA free agency Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images</p>
</div>
</div>
<h2>2021 NBA Free Agency Grades: Boston Celtics</h2>
<p><strong>Key Additions</strong>: Al Horford (trade), Josh Richardson (trade), Kris Dunn (trade), Bruno Fernando (trade), Enes Kanter (minimum)</p>
<p><strong>Key Departures</strong>: Tristan Thompson (trade to Sacramento), Kemba Walker (trade to Oklahoma City), Evan Fournier (New York)</p>
<p>The Boston Celtics had a disappointing year last season and decided to shake things up around their young pair of forwards in Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. They moved Kemba Walker to the Oklahoma City Thunder in exchange for old friend Al Horford, generating significant salary relief. They got more salary relief by flipping Tristan Thompson for Kris Dunn and Bruno Fernando, both combined a few million less than Thompson. This space they cleared was supposed to be used to re-sign Evan Fournier.</p>
<p>Instead, Fournier’s market got too hot to handle, and the Celtics pivoted. They took Josh Richardson into the remaining portion of the Gordon Hayward trade exception and let Fournier walk to the New York Knicks. Finally, with centers coming in and going out, they signed another old friend in Enes Kanter to a minimum contract.</p>
<p>The Celtics have to hope their roster shuffling isn’t just going to amount to rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic. They ended last season with Kemba Walker and Evan Fournier, and now they have Josh Richardson and Al Horford. That may be a more healthy duo, but it’s not a better on-court one. They have to hope internal development from their young pieces and better health offset the loss of talent; a bounceback year from Richardson would certainly be welcome.</p>
<p><strong>Grade: B-</strong></p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/08/07/nba-free-agency-grading-30-teams/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Brooklyn Nets </a>
</div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_434064" class="wp-caption aligncenter">
<img class="size-full wp-image-434064" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/08/07/nba-free-agency-grading-30-teams/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2133,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1291869884.jpeg" alt="NBA Free Agency" width="3200" height="2133" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1291869884.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1291869884-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">NBA free agency Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images</p>
</div>
</div>
<h2>2021 NBA Free Agency Grades: Brooklyn Nets</h2>
<p><strong>Key Additions:</strong> James Johnson (1-yr, undisclosed); Patty Mills (2-yr, $12 million), Jevon Carter (trade); DeAndre’ Bembry (undisclosed)</p>
<p><strong>Brought</strong> <strong>Back: </strong>Bruce Brown ($4.7 million qualifying offer), Blake Griffin (1-yr, undisclosed)</p>
<p><strong>Key Departures: </strong>Jeff Green (Denver), Landry Shamet (trade to Phoenix), Spencer Dinwiddie (Washington)</p>
<p>The moment the Brooklyn Nets lost to the Milwaukee Bucks in the second round of last year’s NBA Playoffs, they were installed as the future title favorites. They took the eventual champions to overtime in Game 7 despite having just 1.5 stars available, with James Harden barely mobile and Kyrie Irving out for the last few games.</p>
<p>The Nets know they are not just a contender but <em>the</em> contender, and they are filling out their roster accordingly. Some teams, including the aforementioned defending champions, are trying to build a title-winner while also keeping costs down. The Nets haven’t been foolish, but they have also been willing to spend money when the situation warrants it.</p>
<p>The biggest signing has been former San Antonio Spurs guard, and Olympic phenom, Patty Mills. He replaces Landry Shamet as the movement, run-off-screens shooter in the backcourt to fill the role when Joe Harris sits. They also brought in James Johnson, ostensibly as their guy to defend Giannis Antetokounmpo if the two teams face each other in the playoffs.</p>
<p>Bruce Brown returns at his qualifying offer; as a player more valuable to his own team than anyone else’s it was always likely he would get squeezed by the market. The Nets get him on a value for next year and can decide whether to bring him back after that. Finally, Blake Griffin showed he had plenty in the tank and is an excellent part of their rotation now that he will return.</p>
<p>The team lost Spencer Dinwiddie, but they were never going to be able to afford to bring him back given their investment in two other point guards. They did agree to send him out via sign-and-trade, getting a second-round pick, a second-round pick swap and a trade exception worth a little over $11 million. Nothing splashy, but all around a really good offseason for a team not needing to make any waves.</p>
<p><strong>Grade: B+</strong></p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/08/07/nba-free-agency-grading-30-teams/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Charlotte Hornets </a>
</div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_434065" class="wp-caption aligncenter">
<img class="size-full wp-image-434065" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/08/07/nba-free-agency-grading-30-teams/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2133,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1313171640.jpeg" alt="NBA Free Agency" width="3200" height="2133" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1313171640.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1313171640-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">NBA free agency Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images</p>
</div>
</div>
<h2>2021 NBA Free Agency Grades: Charlotte Hornets</h2>
<p><strong>Key Additions:</strong> Mason Plumlee (trade); Kelly Oubre (2-yr, $26 million); Ish Smith (1-yr, minimum)</p>
<p><strong>Key Departures:</strong> Devonte Graham (trade to New Orleans); Cody Zeller (Portland)</p>
<p>The Charlotte Hornets were the surprise player in NBA Free Agency last offseason, jumping in to offer Gordon Hayward a mammoth contract. This time around they used their more modest cap space for more modest moves.</p>
<p>Mason Plumlee is a decent center, one of the 10 worst starting centers or 10 best backups depending on what team he is on. He is a gifted passer and tends to stay healthy, which will be immediate improvements for the Charlotte rotation.</p>
<p>Kelly Oubre Jr. was this team’s bigger swing, signing the swingman for two years to add athleticism and hustle to their wing rotation. Oubre has said previously that he sees himself as a starter, not a backup, but that might have been before the market squeezed him out.</p>
<p>Ish Smith is a fine backup guard, and he will fill some small part of the role vacated by the departing Devonte Graham. The Hornets added a first-round pick in a sign-and-trade with the New Orleans Pelicans, a nice piece of business to help clear out a crowded backcourt.</p>
<p><strong>Grade: B</strong></p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/08/07/nba-free-agency-grading-30-teams/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Chicago Bulls </a>
</div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_434066" class="wp-caption aligncenter">
<img class="size-full wp-image-434066" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/08/07/nba-free-agency-grading-30-teams/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2133,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1316561238.jpeg" alt="NBA Free Agency" width="3200" height="2133" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1316561238.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1316561238-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">NBA free agency Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images</p>
</div>
</div>
<h2>2021 NBA Free Agency Grades: Chicago Bulls</h2>
<p><strong>Key Additions:</strong> Lonzo Ball (4-yr, $85 million); Alex Caruso (4-yr, $37 million); DeMar DeRozan (3-yr, $85 million); Tony Bradley (2-yr, $3.8 million)</p>
<p><strong>Key Departures:</strong> Thaddeus Young (trade to San Antonio); Al-Farouq Aminu (trade to San Antonio); Tomas Satoransky (trade to New Orleans); Garrett Temple (sign-and-trade to New Orleans)</p>
<p>The Chicago Bulls are in a difficult spot, unable to find the talent and coaching necessary to propel them up the standings. Their star shooting guard Zach LaVine is one year away from restricted free agency. They could have relinquished every free agent to clear enough cap space for a renegotiation and extend with LaVine, but that left the team stuck with a tough road to building a playoff contender around him.</p>
<p>Instead, the Bulls made a series of moves to change the roster around LaVine and try to compete now, with him. There is a very good chance they aren’t truly competitive, but it won’t be for lack of trying. They came into free agency and made <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/08/07/nba-free-agency-grading-30-teams/"https://hoopshabit.com/2021/08/04/chicago-bulls-grading-nba-free-agency/">a series of aggressive moves</a> to change their starting lineup. Their first two moves were excellent, adding Lonzo Ball and Alex Caruso to completely overhaul their backcourt defense.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, the third major deal was announced a day or so later, a sign-and-trade with DeMar DeRozan. First, the Bulls mistakenly decided the hole they still needed to fill was on offense. DeRozan is and has been a very poor defender, and is not a plus shooter, but he brings some passing and shot creation. The Bulls decided that was worth $85 million over three seasons, a gross overpay given DeRozan’s impact on winning and the market for him.</p>
<p>For the honor of overpaying DeRozan, the Bulls sent the Spurs Thaddeus Young, probably the team’s best defender, Al-Farouq Aminu, a first-round pick and two second-round picks. Every aspect of that transaction was ill-advised and over-priced and takes what would have been a great free agency and craters it.</p>
<p><strong>Grade: B-</strong></p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/08/07/nba-free-agency-grading-30-teams/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Cleveland Cavaliers </a>
</div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_434067" class="wp-caption aligncenter">
<img class="size-full wp-image-434067" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/08/07/nba-free-agency-grading-30-teams/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2133,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1318542943.jpeg" alt="NBA Free Agency" width="3200" height="2133" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1318542943.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1318542943-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">NBA free agency Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images</p>
</div>
</div>
<h2>2021 NBA Free Agency Grades: Cleveland Cavaliers</h2>
<p><strong>Brought Back:</strong> Jarrett Allen (5-yr, $100 million)</p>
<p>The Cleveland Cavaliers came into free agency knowing they needed to make some decisions regarding the center position. Both true centers on the roster were free agents in Jarrett Allen and Isaiah Hartenstein, while their first-round draft pick, Evan Mobley, projects as a long-term center even if he will start his career at the 4.</p>
<p>The Cavaliers decided to invest in a young center for the long-term despite the presence of Mobley. Rather than allow Allen to test free agency and talk to a team such as the Charlotte Hornets or Toronto Raptors, the Cavaliers extended a massive offer to the tune of $20 million per season for the next five years.</p>
<p>That number is too high for a player who isn’t a top 10 center in the league, which Allen is not. He is a capable rim protector and solid rim-runner who doesn’t bring enough on offense to truly be a difference-maker. Allen’s contract is an overpay, but it looks worse when you consider Mobley’s best long-term fit. Allen is young and can grow with the team’s young core, but paying through the nose for a center is not the way to build a modern contender.</p>
<p>The Cavs are operating as an over-the-cap team but still have access to their full non-taxpayer mid-level exception and will use at least part of it to bring in some help on the wing. That might help this grade, but for now, it’s a tough one.</p>
<p><strong>Grade:</strong><strong> C-</strong></p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/08/07/nba-free-agency-grading-30-teams/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Dallas Mavericks </a>
</div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_434068" class="wp-caption aligncenter">
<img class="size-full wp-image-434068" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/08/07/nba-free-agency-grading-30-teams/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2344,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1314646703.jpeg" alt="NBA Free Agency" width="3200" height="2344" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1314646703.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1314646703-768x563.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">NBA free agency Photo by Elsa/Getty Images</p>
</div>
</div>
<h2>2021 NBA Free Agency Grades: Dallas Mavericks</h2>
<p><strong>Key Additions:</strong> Reggie Bullock (3-yr. $30.5 million); Sterling Brown (2-yr, $6.2 million)</p>
<p><strong>Brought Back:</strong> Tim Hardaway Jr. (4-yr, $74 million); Boban Marjanovic (1-yr, minimum)</p>
<p><strong>Key Departures:</strong> Nicolo Melli (Italy)</p>
<p>In what seems to be an annual refrain, the Dallas Mavericks hoped to make a significant splash in free agency, the last season they project to have significant cap space before an extension for Luka Doncic likely kicks in next summer. And in the common response, they came away without that star in free agency.</p>
<p>They did make an addition, adding 3-and-D wing Reggie Bullock after a solid season for the New York Knicks. Bullock is a great fit around Doncic, a knockdown shooter who can not only survive on defense but check some of the better wing options on opposing teams. His deal, averaging just over $10 million per season, is an incredibly reasonable one.</p>
<p>The contract for Tim Hardaway Jr. is somewhat less reasonable. The Mavericks had to pivot when it became clear Chris Paul and Kyle Lowry weren’t coming to town, and that Kawhi Leonard wasn’t truly available. Hardaway is a talented scorer who can take advantage of opportunities when the defense shades to Doncic, but $18.5 million per season for four seasons locks the Mavericks to a player who doesn’t elevate their ceiling in a meaningful way.</p>
<p><strong>Grade: C+</strong></p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/08/07/nba-free-agency-grading-30-teams/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Denver Nuggets </a>
</div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_434069" class="wp-caption aligncenter">
<img class="size-full wp-image-434069" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/08/07/nba-free-agency-grading-30-teams/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1067,w_1600/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1324330965.jpeg" alt="NBA Free Agency" width="1600" height="1067" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1324330965.jpeg 1600w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1324330965-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:1600px;">NBA free agency Photo by Steven Ryan/Getty Images</p>
</div>
</div>
<h2>2021 NBA Free Agency Grades: Denver Nuggets</h2>
<p><strong>Key Additions: </strong>Jeff Green (2 years, $10 million)</p>
<p><strong>Brought Back: </strong>JaMychal Green (2 years, $17 million); Will Barton (2 years, $32 million); Austin Rivers (1 year, undisclosed)</p>
<p>The Denver Nuggets looked like a title contender last season until Jamal Murray tore his ACL, and they are likely hoping to have the right roster in place to make a run in the playoffs once Murray returns if he can return before the end of this season. To that end, they brought back three rotation players in JaMychel Green, Will Barton and Austin Rivers. They also signed Jeff Green away from the Brooklyn Nets, another rangy defender who can shoot from the corners.</p>
<p>Denver is hoping Michael Porter Jr. continues to develop, and the frontcourt pairing of Porter, Aaron Gordon and Nikola Jokic ends up the best in the league. They didn’t really have much flexibility, but they paid more than seemed necessary to bring back JaMychal Green. The contracts for Barton and Jeff Green are reasonable, and bringing back Rivers was a great move.</p>
<p>Could the Nuggets have made a bigger splash, perhaps finding a guard with better creation ability than Barton? Perhaps, but most of the top options went fast and they have (and had) very limited financial flexibility. They like Monte Morris and they like Facundo Campazzo, and with Jokic running the show they hope that can be enough.</p>
<p><strong>Grade: B-</strong></p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/08/07/nba-free-agency-grading-30-teams/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Detroit Pistons </a>
</div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_434070" class="wp-caption aligncenter">
<img class="size-full wp-image-434070" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/08/07/nba-free-agency-grading-30-teams/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1067,w_1600/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1316875883.jpeg" alt="NBA Free Agency" width="1600" height="1067" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1316875883.jpeg 1600w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1316875883-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:1600px;">NBA free agency Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images</p>
</div>
</div>
<h2>2021 NBA Free Agency Grades: Detroit Pistons</h2>
<p><strong>Key Additions:</strong> Kelly Olynyk (3-yr, $37 million); Trey Lyles (2-yr, $5 million)</p>
<p><strong>Brought Back:</strong> Cory Joseph (2-yr, $10 million); Saben Lee (3-yr, undisclosed)</p>
<p><strong>Key Departures:</strong> Mason Plumlee (trade to Charlotte)</p>
<p>This offseason for the Detroit Pistons was about the player they would take first overall, Cade Cunningham, and then how to build around him. With three first-round picks from a season ago all looking to figure prominently in their plans, the Pistons went out and found pieces that would help them all develop.</p>
<p>There is no better environment for a player to develop than a spaced-out floor, and the Pistons cleared out cap space to sign Kelly Olynyk, one of the league’s best stretch-5s while not being a sieve on defense. The Pistons also brought back veteran guard Cory Joseph, a solid decision to give Killian Hayes and Cade Cunningham an old-hat ball handler to learn from.</p>
<p>The deal for Trey Lyles makes less sense; he has shown he isn’t going to be an impact player in the league, and a rebuilding team like the Pistons could have used the slot on a flier who could develop into something down the road. Finally, Saben Lee was an intriguing point guard prospect that they keep around for another three seasons to see what he becomes.</p>
<p><strong>Grade: B</strong></p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/08/07/nba-free-agency-grading-30-teams/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Golden State Warriors </a>
</div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_424870" class="wp-caption aligncenter">
<img class="size-full wp-image-424870" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/08/07/nba-free-agency-grading-30-teams/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1096,w_1600/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1211550302.jpeg" alt="NBA Free Agency" width="1600" height="1096" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1211550302.jpeg 1600w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1211550302-768x526.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:1600px;">NBA free agency Photo by Steven Ryan/Getty Images</p>
</div>
</div>
<h2>2021 NBA Free Agency Grades: Golden State Warriors</h2>
<p><strong>Key Additions:</strong> Andre Iguodala (1-yr, minimum); Otto Porter Jr. (1-yr, minimum); Nemanja Bjelica (1-yr, minimum)</p>
<p><strong>Key Departures:</strong> Eric Paschall (trade to Utah); Kent Bazemore (Los Angeles Lakers); Kelly Oubre Jr. (Charlotte)</p>
<p>The Golden State Warriors have spent two seasons in the lottery, but the return of Klay Thompson from two consecutive season-eliminating injuries vaults them back up towards contention. That meant the Warriors went into free agency trying to build out a rotation to maximize their core three stars, but without many team-building options to do so.</p>
<p>A trade for a star player has not yet materialized, so the Warriors went hunting on the bargain market for veterans ready to join a contender. None of the best options were convinced by the Warriors’ pitch, and many of their targets signed with other contenders: Patty Mills with Brooklyn, Nic Batum with the LA Clippers, Rudy Gay with the Utah Jazz.</p>
<p>They did very well with minimum salary slots, however. Andre Iguodala may not have much left in the tank on the court but he will be a major impact as a leader and mentor in the locker room. Nemanja Bjelica provides a stretch element as a big. Otto Porter is the best value of them all, a player who has battled injury but when healthy is an excellent 3-and-D forward who will possibly close games when Draymond Green moves to the 5.</p>
<p>Last season those three players made a combined $50 million, so to bring that level of talent onto the team all on minimum contracts is solid business. This team hasn’t found a worthy recipient of the taxpayer midlevel and wasn’t able to work out a sign-and-trade to hold onto Kelly Oubre’s salary slot (he signed a two-year contract with the Charlotte Hornets; sign-and-trade deals have to be at least three years) but what moves they did make were solid.</p>
<p><strong>Grade: B-</strong></p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/08/07/nba-free-agency-grading-30-teams/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Houston Rockets </a>
</div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_434071" class="wp-caption aligncenter">
<img class="size-full wp-image-434071" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/08/07/nba-free-agency-grading-30-teams/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1066,w_1600/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1302479253.jpeg" alt="NBA Free Agency" width="1600" height="1066" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1302479253.jpeg 1600w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1302479253-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:1600px;">NBA free agency Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images</p>
</div>
</div>
<h2>2021 NBA Free Agency Grades: Houston Rockets</h2>
<p><strong>Key Additions:</strong> Daniel Theis (4-yr, $36 million)</p>
<p><strong>Brought</strong> <strong>Back: </strong>David Nwaba (3-yr, $15 million)</p>
<p><strong>Key Departures:</strong> Kelly Olynyk (Detroit)</p>
<p>The Houston Rockets spent years mortgaging the future to compete in the present, building a solidly veteran team around James Harden. When they moved Harden for future draft capital and no present-day young cornerstones it started a long process to add that young talent through different means, including making four first-round picks in last month’s NBA Draft.</p>
<p>That means next season will be about talent development, seeing which of those picks can actually play. Houston wisely didn’t seek to accelerate that rebuild by adding win-now veterans or players who would demand the ball. Instead, they re-upped with a tough defender in Nwaba who can help this team set the tone and buy-in on defense.</p>
<p>Their lone outside addition was adding center Daniel Theis. The fit doesn’t make a ton of sense, as the Rockets’ best incumbent player was center Christian Wood and they took two centers in the first round. Theis is a solid veteran who the Rockets were able to sign to a great value deal, and he is very tradeable down the line to a team with a need at center once the Rockets’ young players are ready to assume the mantle.</p>
<p><strong>Grade: B</strong></p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/08/07/nba-free-agency-grading-30-teams/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Indiana Pacers </a>
</div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_426182" class="wp-caption aligncenter">
<img class="wp-image-426182 size-full" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/08/07/nba-free-agency-grading-30-teams/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2130,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1309972937.jpeg" alt="NBA Free Agency" width="3200" height="2130" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1309972937.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1309972937-768x511.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">NBA free agency Photo by Will Newton/Getty Images</p>
</div>
</div>
<h2>2021 NBA Free Agency Grades: Indiana Pacers</h2>
<p><strong>Key Additions:</strong> Torrey Craig (2-yr, $10 million)</p>
<p><strong>Brought Back:</strong> TJ McConnell (4-yr, $35 million)</p>
<p><strong>Key Departure:</strong> Doug McDermott (San Antonio)</p>
<p>The Indiana Pacers are not a franchise that likes to make big splashes in free agency. They have, at times, such as signing Malcolm Brogdon away from the Milwaukee Bucks a few seasons ago. Usually, they develop their own mid-round picks, make smart signings and trades on the margins, and trust in continuity and the long game to keep them competitive.</p>
<p>That same plan was enacted this summer. The Pacers brought back one of their two primary free agents in TJ McConnell, a defensive culture-setter at point guard; his contract isn’t a value but it isn’t onerous either. While Doug McDermott’s market was lucrative and he left for San Antonio, the Pacers feel they replaced him in the draft with Chris Duarte at pick No. 13. Torrey Craig represents a defensive stopper on the wing to give them a different look with their current options.</p>
<p>The Pacers are flush with centers, with two fringe All-Stars and two more recent first-round picks. They might look to trade one of them, with Myles Turner more often connected to trade rumors. Barring such a move, this roster might be set.</p>
<p><strong>Grade: B-</strong></p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/08/07/nba-free-agency-grading-30-teams/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> LA Clippers </a>
</div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_434072" class="wp-caption aligncenter">
<img class="size-full wp-image-434072" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/08/07/nba-free-agency-grading-30-teams/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1066,w_1600/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1317875762.jpeg" alt="NBA Free Agency" width="1600" height="1066" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1317875762.jpeg 1600w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1317875762-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:1600px;">NBA free agency Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images</p>
</div>
</div>
<h2>2021 NBA Free Agency Grades: LA Clippers</h2>
<p><strong>Key Additions:</strong> Justice Winslow (2-yr, undisclosed)</p>
<p><strong>Brought</strong> <strong>Back: </strong>Kawhi Leonard (undisclosed); Nic Batum (2-yr, $6.3 million); Reggie Jackson (2-yr, $22 million)</p>
<p>Kawhi Leonard’s partial ACL tear is having ripple effects across multiple seasons. It left them without the talent they needed to pursue a title last year, and it casts a huge shadow of uncertainty onto next year. Will Leonard be back by the playoffs? Should the Clippers be holding the line for their star to return, or consolidating for a season off from title contention?</p>
<p>Leonard didn’t do the Clippers any favors, opting out of his contract to inject more confusion into the situation and denying the Clippers the ability to apply for a disabled player exception. In the end, it looks like it hasn’t mattered in bringing back the gang, as both Reggie Jackson and especially Nic Batum came back on the contracts the Clippers could offer based on early bird and non-bird rights, respectively. Jackson is probably a good value given his postseason play this past season; Batum is a steal.</p>
<p>The LA Clippers kicked the tires this offseason on making some bigger splashes, including offering their taxpayer mid-level exception to a number of veteran players. Whether it was Kawhi Leonard’s uncertain situation or the allure of other teams but the only outside player to sign with the Clippers has been Justice Winslow, a player talented enough to deserve a roster spot somewhere but not someone who can be counted on.</p>
<p><strong>Grade: B+</strong></p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/08/07/nba-free-agency-grading-30-teams/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Los Angeles Lakers </a>
</div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_434073" class="wp-caption aligncenter">
<img class="size-full wp-image-434073" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/08/07/nba-free-agency-grading-30-teams/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2133,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1319152521.jpeg" alt="NBA Free Agency" width="3200" height="2133" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1319152521.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1319152521-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">NBA free agency Photo by Will Newton/Getty Images</p>
</div>
</div>
<h2>2021 NBA Free Agency Grades: Los Angeles Lakers</h2>
<p>Get comfortable, this will take a while.</p>
<p><strong>Key Additions:</strong> Russell Westbrook (trade); Kendrick Nunn (2-yr, $10 million); Dwight Howard (1-yr, minimum); Malik Monk (1-yr, minimum); Trevor Ariza (1-yr, minimum); Kent Bazemore (1-yr, minimum); Carmelo Anthony (1-yr, minimum); Wayne Ellington (1-yr, minimum)</p>
<p><strong>Brought Back:</strong> Talen Horton-Tucker (3-yr, $32 million)</p>
<p><strong>Key Departures:</strong> Kyle Kuzma (trade to Washington); Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (trade to Washington); Montrezl Harrel (trade to Washington); Alex Caruso (Chicago); Andre Drummond (Philadelphia); Markieff Morris (Miami)</p>
<p>Let’s start with the signings, and circle back to the trade. Armed with just the taxpayer midlevel exception and minimum contract slots, the Los Angeles Lakers went into free agency with a plan and executed it. They added veteran wings, shooting and young guards with upside and something to prove.</p>
<p>Kendrick Nunn got squeezed out by the cap machinations of the Miami Heat to acquire Kyle Lowry and re-sign Duncan Robinson. He is miscast as a starting point guard but is an excellent option as a backup to Russell Westbrook. The Lakers added shooting with Malik Monk, who could be one of the steals of the offseason, Kent Bazemore and Wayne Ellington. Bazemore also pairs with Trevor Ariza to provide wing defense. Carmelo Anthony is worth the minimum as another shot creator and an improved shooter.</p>
<p>The Lakers decided to prioritize Talen Horton-Tucker while letting Alex Caruso go. Horton-Tucker has point guard skills on offense while his phenomenal wingspan can let him guard up the lineup. Caruso, however, is indicative of what this team lost: multiple key pieces of their elite defense from the past two seasons. This team will be hard-pressed to replicate that, especially with multiple pieces that are “either/or” shooting or defense.</p>
<div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="StoryLink" data-theme="light" data-text="Grades for every deal so far" data-url="https://hoopshabit.com/2021/08/02/2021-nba-free-agency-tracker-grades/" data-call-to-action="Related Story"> <div class="story-link-related"> <a class="story-link-related-btn" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="story-link-related-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/08/07/nba-free-agency-grading-30-teams/"https://hoopshabit.com/2021/08/02/2021-nba-free-agency-tracker-grades/"> <span class="call_to_action">Related Story:</span> Grades for every deal so far </a> </div>
</div>
<p>Let’s circle back to the trade. The Lakers made a bet that the ball-handling, shot creation and general intensity of Russell Westbrook was not only more valuable than a shooter like Buddy Hield, but that it was worth giving up three rotation players, including Kyle Kuzma, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and a first-round pick.</p>
<p>The bottom line is that all of the available evidence — <em>all of it</em> — tells us that bet won’t pay off. Westbrook has proven that no matter who his running mate is, he won’t commit to the off-ball work necessary to elevate his team’s chances of winning. He needs to ball to maniacally make his imprint on the game; without the ball, he’s a standstill spectator that defenses will be all too happy to leave open at the 3-point line.</p>
<p>Westbrook isn’t a good defender anymore, mixing a good nose for steals with inattentiveness off-ball. He is a poor fit on a team where LeBron James should have the ball most of the time, and especially when it counts. Add in Westbrook’s growing list of injuries and his monstrous contract, and this deal was a colossal mistake for the Lakers. They did a great job pivoting from there to fill out a roster, and because this team has LeBron James and Anthony Davis they will elevate the team as high as it can go.</p>
<p>That ceiling, though, is now lower than it was just two weeks ago. Trading for Westbrook was the single-worst move any team made this summer, and the fact that it happened for a contender means it will be the most impactful as well.</p>
<p><strong>Grade: Trade (F) and Signings (B+) = D+</strong></p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/08/07/nba-free-agency-grading-30-teams/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Memphis Grizzlies </a>
</div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_434074" class="wp-caption aligncenter">
<img class="size-full wp-image-434074" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/08/07/nba-free-agency-grading-30-teams/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2133,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1312883421.jpeg" alt="NBA Free Agency" width="3200" height="2133" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1312883421.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1312883421-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">NBA free agency Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images</p>
</div>
</div>
<h2>2021 NBA Free Agency Grades: Memphis Grizzlies</h2>
<p><strong>Key Additions:</strong> Eric Bledsoe (trade); Steven Adams (trade); Sam Merrill (trade)</p>
<p><strong>Key Departures:</strong> Justice Winslow (LA Clippers); Jonas Valanciunas (trade to New Orleans); Grayson Allen (trade to Milwaukee)</p>
<p>The skill of the Memphis Grizzlies over the past few seasons in the draft and via trades has resulted in a roster with very few needs. They go at least two-deep at every position, and that meant they would always be quiet in free agency as they didn’t have roster slots that needed filling.</p>
<p>Instead, they used their cap space to facilitate a trade with the New Orleans Pelicans, moving up in the draft and snaring a future first-round pick to take on the contracts of Eric Bledsoe and Steven Adams, two players who might be slightly overpaid but are both good two-way players who can also help the Grizzlies win.</p>
<p>Finally, they made a trade with the defending champion Milwaukee Bucks, getting back Sam Merrill and a pair of future second-round picks in exchange for Grayson Allen. While Allen started 38 games for Memphis last season, he is the team’s third-best 2-guard behind Dillon Brooks and D’Anthony Melton and the Grizzlies drafted his replacement in Desmond Bane. Memphis gets value for him now before he reaches the end of his rookie deal.</p>
<p><strong>Grade: B</strong></p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/08/07/nba-free-agency-grading-30-teams/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Miami Heat </a>
</div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_429884" class="wp-caption aligncenter">
<img class="size-full wp-image-429884" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/08/07/nba-free-agency-grading-30-teams/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1068,w_1600/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1312163079.jpeg" alt="NBA Free Agency" width="1600" height="1068" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1312163079.jpeg 1600w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1312163079-768x513.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:1600px;">NBA free agency Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images</p>
</div>
</div>
<h2>2021 NBA Free Agency Grades: Miami Heat</h2>
<p><strong>Key Additions:</strong> Kyle Lowry (3-yr, $90 million); PJ Tucker (2-yr, $15 million); Markieff Morris (1-yr, likely minimum)</p>
<p><strong>Brought Back: </strong>Jimmy Butler (4-yr, $184 million extension); Duncan Robinson (5-yr, $90 million); Victor Oladipo (1-yr, minimum); Gabe Vincent (2-yr, $3.5 million); Max Strus (2-yr, $3.5 million); Dewayne Dedmon (1-yr, undisclosed); Omer Yurtseven (2-yr, $3.5 million)</p>
<p><strong>Key Departures:</strong> Andre Iguodala (Golden State); Trevor Ariza (Los Angeles Lakers); Goran Dragic (trade to Toronto); Precious Achiuwa (trade to Toronto); Kendrick Nunn (Los Angeles Lakers); Nemanja Bjelica (Golden State)</p>
<p>The Miami Heat are never complacent. They somehow signed Jimmy Butler in a summer where they didn’t have meaningful cap space by convincing the Philadelphia 76ers to play ball. They flipped onetime golden prospect Justice Winslow for an incredible amount of salary relief and three players who all helped them reach the NBA Finals. When it was clear their current roster didn’t quite have enough last season, they entered this offseason and made something happen.</p>
<p>The cap space they had earmarked for Giannis Antetokounmpo this summer was turned around and used to acquire Kyle Lowry, even if they ultimately stayed over the cap to make a sign-and-trade happen. Lowry is a bulldog defensively, a calm leader under pressure and a knockdown shooter, all things the Heat cherish and help teams win titles.</p>
<p>Another player who helps with winning is PJ Tucker, and the Heat swooped in and stole him away from the Milwaukee Bucks. With Tucker and Lowry added to Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo, the Heat have the potential for a defensive lineup on par with what the Bucks just used to win the title.</p>
<p>To make the offense work no matter the lineup, elite sniper Duncan Robinson was brought back on a market-rate contract that seems insane for an undrafted player just finishing his third season in the league. No player even approaches Robinson in terms of made 3-pointers at this point in a career, and he trails just the Curry brothers and Joe Harris among active players in 3-point percentage.</p>
<p>The Heat, with limited money to spend after the big deals, added Markieff Morris and Dewayne Dedmon on minimum deals to eat up minutes. Miami isn’t just playing for this season, however, as their elite developmental system (the same system that produced Robinson, for example) saw three of its players get guaranteed deals. Max Strus, Gabe Vincent and Omer Yurtseven all signed identical two-year, $3.5 million deals.</p>
<p>Finally, the Heat agreed to an extension with Jimmy Butler to pay him $184 million for the four seasons after next year. Butler is a great player whose work ethic will never age, but that’s an extremely large sum of money for a player whose game itself will age quickly.</p>
<p><strong>Grade: B+</strong></p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/08/07/nba-free-agency-grading-30-teams/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Milwaukee Bucks </a>
</div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_434075" class="wp-caption aligncenter">
<img class="size-full wp-image-434075" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/08/07/nba-free-agency-grading-30-teams/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1191,w_1600/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1329285671.jpeg" alt="NBA Free Agency" width="1600" height="1191" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1329285671.jpeg 1600w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1329285671-768x572.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:1600px;">NBA free agency Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images</p>
</div>
</div>
<h2>2021 NBA Free Agency Grades: Milwaukee Bucks</h2>
<p><strong>Key Additions:</strong> George Hill (2-yr, $8 million); Rodney Hood (1-yr, minimum); Semi Ojeleye (1-yr, minimum); Grayson Allen (trade)</p>
<p><strong>Brought Back: </strong>Bobby Portis (2-yr, $9 million)</p>
<p><strong>Key Departures:</strong> Bryn Forbes (San Antonio); Sam Merrill (trade to Memphis); PJ Tucker (Miami)</p>
<p>The defending champion Milwaukee Bucks have every right to celebrate and enjoy their title, but the NBA calendar never sleeps and the offseason comes around much faster than seems fair. That meant the Bucks had to make some difficult decisions about how to retain, reload and improve on their title squad.</p>
<p>For a small-market team like the Bucks paying the luxury tax is onerous, but to their credit, Milwaukee and its ownership group are not shying away from doing so in necessary ways to keep this roster strong. Tucker did leave for the Heat, but the Bucks feel that they replaced enough of what he brought defensively in Semi Ojeleye and instead focused on improving their shooting.</p>
<p>That is a good call to make. Ideally, the Bucks would have paid whatever it took to bring back Tucker and then added shooting, but at some point, even a team willing to spend has to count the costs. With a defensive core of Giannis Antetokounmpo, Brook Lopez and Jrue Holiday this team can field an elite defense while inserting some more offensively-minded players into the rotation.</p>
<p>George Hill returns to the Bucks after a one-year hiatus and is an instant upgrade on the likes of Jeff Teague as a backup point guard. The trade for Grayson Allen gives them another wing option who is a solid shooter and good enough defensively not to get burned; he’s an upgrade over Bryn Forbes who filled that spot a year ago. Rodney Hood likely doesn’t have anything left in the tank, but if he does he immediately fills a role.</p>
<p><strong>Grade: B+</strong></p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/08/07/nba-free-agency-grading-30-teams/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Minnesota Timberwolves </a>
</div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_434076" class="wp-caption aligncenter">
<img class="size-full wp-image-434076" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/08/07/nba-free-agency-grading-30-teams/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2135,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1312730355.jpeg" alt="NBA Free Agency" width="3200" height="2135" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1312730355.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1312730355-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">NBA free agency Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images</p>
</div>
</div>
<h2>2021 NBA Free Agency Grades: Minnesota Timberwolves</h2>
<p><strong>Key Additions:</strong> Taurean Prince (trade)</p>
<p><strong>Key Departures:</strong> Ricky Rubio (trade to Cleveland)</p>
<p>The Minnesota Timberwolves had very little to do this free agency period, with only a handful of bench players hitting free agency and very little financial flexibility to add to the roster.</p>
<p>The one move they did make was sending Ricky Rubio to the Cleveland Cavaliers for forward Taurean Prince and a second-round pick, reducing their payroll enough for some breathing room to re-sign Jarred Vanderbilt. They have kicked the tires on some other free agents, but their status as a non-contender hurts them in adding inexpensive veterans.</p>
<p>There is not much more to say about the Timberwolves. It’s possible they look into trade options to move Jarrett Culver if he has any value left around the league. Otherwise, they seem set to move into next season with their core of D’Angelo Russell, Anthony Edwards and Karl-Anthony Towns.</p>
<p><strong>Grade: C+</strong></p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/08/07/nba-free-agency-grading-30-teams/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> New Orleans Pelcians </a>
</div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_433941" class="wp-caption aligncenter">
<img class="size-full wp-image-433941" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/08/07/nba-free-agency-grading-30-teams/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1117,w_1600/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1318175825.jpeg" alt="NBA Free Agency" width="1600" height="1117" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1318175825.jpeg 1600w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1318175825-768x536.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:1600px;">NBA free agency Photo by Elsa/Getty Images</p>
</div>
</div>
<h2>2021 NBA Free Agency Grades: New Orleans Pelicans</h2>
<p><strong>Key Additions:</strong> Devonte’ Graham (4-yr, $47 million); Jonas Valanciunas (trade); Tomas Satoransky (trade); Garrett Temple (3-yr, $15 million)</p>
<p><strong>Brought Back:</strong> Didi Louzada (4-yr, $7.2 million); Willy Hernangomez (3-yr, undisclosed)</p>
<p><strong>Key Departures:</strong> Lonzo Ball (Chicago); Eric Bledsoe (trade to Memphis); Steven Adams (trade to Memphis); James Johnson (Brooklyn)</p>
<p>The New Orleans Pelicans are feeling pressure to compete now, to prove to their young superstar Zion Williamson that they can put a contender around him. Whether that pressure comes from Williamson, his family or just media buzz, it is clear the Pelicans are trying to accelerate the clock in building a contender.</p>
<p>They also clearly don’t know how to do that. The Pelicans burned a future first and dropped back in this year’s draft to offload the salaries of Eric Bledsoe and Steven Adams, the latter of which was only under contract because New Orleans signed him to a needless extension last year. They used that cap space to do…nothing.</p>
<p>What they did decide was they wanted any point guard but Lonzo Ball, who they let walk to the Chicago Bulls at a very reasonable number. To replace him they sent <em>another</em> first-round pick to the Charlotte Hornets to bring back Devonte’ Graham, who is a willing shooter who doesn’t put much pressure on the rim; in other words, he will likely be in the similar role as Ball was last year, with less defensive impact. The contract they signed him to is just fine, but paying a first for Charlotte not to match was excessive.</p>
<p>The Pelicans still need to get a deal done with restricted free agent Josh Hart. Without knowing what that contract looks like, at this point, it’s easy to say that New Orleans has had one of the worst offseasons in the league.</p>
<p><strong>Grade: D+</strong></p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/08/07/nba-free-agency-grading-30-teams/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> New York Knicks </a>
</div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_434077" class="wp-caption aligncenter">
<img class="size-full wp-image-434077" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/08/07/nba-free-agency-grading-30-teams/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1067,w_1600/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1320596494.jpeg" alt="NBA Free Agency" width="1600" height="1067" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1320596494.jpeg 1600w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1320596494-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:1600px;">NBA free agency Photo by Steven Ryan/Getty Images</p>
</div>
</div>
<h2>2021 NBA Free Agency Grades: New York Knicks</h2>
<p><strong>Key Additions:</strong> Evan Fournier (4-yr, $78 million); Kemba Walker (undisclosed)</p>
<p><strong>Brought Back:</strong> Julius Randle (4-yr, $117 million extension); Derrick Rose (3-yr, $43 million); Nerlens Noel (3-yr, $32 million); Alec Burks (3-yr, $30 million); Taj Gibson (1-yr, minimum)</p>
<p><strong>Key Departures:</strong> Reggie Bullock (Dallas)</p>
<p>The New York Knicks were active in the first 24 hours of free agency, working out deals to bring back the majority of their rotation from last season, a magical year where everything (including opponent’s 3-point shooting) came together for a winning season and a Top-4 seed.</p>
<p>That seemed a fine option for this team, but it ignored their biggest need (point guard) and seemingly capped their upside. The one addition they made early on was signing wing Evan Fournier, who has size and is an excellent shooter off-the-catch who can operate as a team’s secondary or tertiary creator. Paying him nearly $20 million per season is a lot, and will likely prove to be an overpay, but two-way wings of his caliber don’t grow on trees.</p>
<p>The linchpin to the offseason came later, as point guard Kemba Walker agreed to a buyout with the Oklahoma City Thunder and will be signing a two-year contract with the Knicks with their remaining cap space, probably around $9 million per season. If Walker’s knee holds up he becomes one of the biggest bargains of the offseason, bringing instant shot creation and shooting to their starting lineup and alleviating the load Julius Randle bore on his shoulders last season.</p>
<p>Speaking of Randle, the final stroke of the offseason came Thursday when it was announced that he and the Knicks had agreed to a four-year, $117 million extension that will kick in after this upcoming season. That contract will pay him an average of $29.27 million per season, which ranks just 43rd in the league. It’s a great value for an All-NBA forward who played above his head last season, not overpaying but locking in a franchise building block for the next five years.</p>
<p>None of the re-signings were great values, but with team options on the final season for Rose, Noel, Burks and Fournier it becomes that much more reasonable.</p>
<p><strong>Grade: A-</strong></p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/08/07/nba-free-agency-grading-30-teams/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Oklahoma City Thunder </a>
</div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_434078" class="wp-caption aligncenter">
<img class="size-full wp-image-434078" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/08/07/nba-free-agency-grading-30-teams/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1066,w_1600/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1301876026.jpeg" alt="NBA Free Agency" width="1600" height="1066" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1301876026.jpeg 1600w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1301876026-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:1600px;">NBA free agency Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images</p>
</div>
</div>
<h2>2021 NBA Free Agency Grades: Oklahoma City Thunder</h2>
<p><strong>Key Additions:</strong> Derrick Favors (trade); Mike Muscala 2-yr, $7 million)</p>
<p><strong>Brought Back:</strong> Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (5-yr, $172 million extension)</p>
<p><strong>Key Departures:</strong> Al Horford (trade to Boston); Tony Bradley (Chicago)</p>
<p>The Oklahoma City Thunder are, as things currently stand, the only team with significant cap space remaining. What makes that interesting is they are unlikely to touch it, instead operating as an “over the cap” team to keep its trade exceptions in place.</p>
<p>The Thunder are fully embracing their rebuild, and GM Sam Presti continues to execute trade after trade where he leverages the Thunder’s roster spots and team salary to take money off of the hands of other teams; for a fee, of course.</p>
<p>That continued this offseason, as the Thunder picked up a mid-first round pick to take on extra money on Kemba Walker’s contract, and later got another first to take the contract of Derrick Favors. They will continue this cycle for the foreseeable future, a never-ending asset play.</p>
<p>Arguably the biggest move of their offseason was the extension Shai Gilgeous-Alexander signed to stay in Oklahoma City long-term, or at least have a guaranteed max contract wherever he goes. He is a franchise cornerstone worth building around, and there will be no questions about his future now.</p>
<p><strong>Grade: B</strong></p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/08/07/nba-free-agency-grading-30-teams/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Orlando Magic </a>
</div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_428812" class="wp-caption aligncenter">
<img class="size-full wp-image-428812" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/08/07/nba-free-agency-grading-30-teams/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2130,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1315740956.jpeg" alt="NBA Free Agency" width="3200" height="2130" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1315740956.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1315740956-768x511.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">NBA free agency Photo by Will Newton/Getty Images</p>
</div>
</div>
<h2>2021 NBA Free Agency Grades: Orlando Magic</h2>
<p><strong>Key Additions:</strong> Robin Lopez (1-yr, $5 million); Mo Wagner (2-yr, minimum)</p>
<p><strong>Key Departures:</strong> Otto Porter Jr. (Warriors)</p>
<p>The Orlando Magic spent years stuck in the middle as a fringe playoff team. At the trade deadline last season they decided to embrace the rebuild and traded out their best veteran pieces. The return was a collection of matching salary, draft picks and one intriguing young player, Wendell Carter Jr.</p>
<p>With Carter Jr. and Mo Bamba the Magic have two young centers who went in the top-7 of the 2018 NBA Draft. With no plans on winning this year, and in fact plenty of incentive to lose, the Magic should be giving those two players as much run as they can handle to see how they develop.</p>
<p>That makes it quite peculiar that the Magic have used all of their free-agent bullets thus far on centers. It’s true that the Magic didn’t have many bullets, and it doesn’t matter how they use them right now, but for a team without any natural small forwards, it was strange that they didn’t add a wing.</p>
<p>The Magic might not care about the on-court fit. Lopez, who surely loved signing in Orlando to spend time at nearby Walt Disney World (his twin brother Brook owns a house on Disney property) can be a veteran mentor to Bamba and Carter. Mo Wagner’s younger brother Franz was just drafted eighth overall by the Magic and can help build a level of team camaraderie.</p>
<p>This summer wasn’t ever going to do much for the Magic, but it’s still strange how they chose to dip their toe in the water.</p>
<p><strong>Grade: C+</strong></p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/08/07/nba-free-agency-grading-30-teams/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Philadelphia 76ers </a>
</div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_427060" class="wp-caption aligncenter">
<img class="size-full wp-image-427060" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/08/07/nba-free-agency-grading-30-teams/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2134,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1312387660.jpeg" alt="NBA Free Agency" width="3200" height="2134" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1312387660.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1312387660-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">NBA free agency Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images</p>
</div>
</div>
<h2>2021 NBA Free Agency Grades: Philadelphia 76ers</h2>
<p><strong>Key Additions:</strong> Andre Drummond (1-yr, minimum); Georges Niang (2-yr, $6.7 million)</p>
<p><strong>Brought</strong> <strong>Back: </strong>Danny Green (2-yr, $20 million); Furkan Korkmaz (3-yr, $15 million)</p>
<p><strong>Key Departures:</strong> George Hill (Milwaukee); Dwight Howard (Los Angeles Lakers)</p>
<p>The Philadelphia 76ers need to shake things up. Their roster as currently constructed was strong in the regular season but struggled in the postseason. Whenever a “1” seed loses to a “5” seed it’s time to look in the mirror and make some difficult decisions.</p>
<p>Thus far the 76ers have completely punted on any tough decisions. They are tossing out ridiculous deals for teams to trade for Ben Simmons, a player who is boldly on the trade block. They brought back Furkan Korkmaz and Danny Green, both reasonable moves on their own but simply representing a return to the “same old, same old.” Georges Niang is not the answer this team needs to get past Milwaukee and Brooklyn, let alone Atlanta.</p>
<p>A major move will likely mean a Simmons trade, and until the 76ers make that happen everything else is stuck in limbo. We know this rotation is squeezed for spacing and isn’t able to create great shots when that’s the case. It’s hard to predict what it will look like around whatever the return for Simmons is. For now, their moves have been fine, but the lack of a Simmons deal has to be seen as a negative.</p>
<p><strong>Grade:</strong><strong> C</strong></p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/08/07/nba-free-agency-grading-30-teams/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Phoenix Suns </a>
</div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_433620" class="wp-caption aligncenter">
<img class="size-full wp-image-433620" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/08/07/nba-free-agency-grading-30-teams/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1157,w_1600/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2021%2F07%2F1328249073.jpeg" alt="NBA Free Agency" width="1600" height="1157" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2021/07/1328249073.jpeg 1600w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2021/07/1328249073-768x555.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:1600px;">NBA free agency Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images</p>
</div>
</div>
<h2>2021 NBA Free Agency Grades: Phoenix Suns</h2>
<p><strong>Key Additions:</strong> JaVale McGee (1-yr, $5 million); Landry Shamet (trade)</p>
<p><strong>Brought Back:</strong> Chris Paul (4-yr, up to $120 million); Cameron Payne (3-yr, $19 million); Abdel Nader (2-yr, $4.2 million); Frank Kaminsky (1-yr, undisclosed)</p>
<p><strong>Key Departures:</strong> Jevon Carter (trade to Brooklyn)</p>
<p>The Phoenix Suns shocked the world by securing the #2 seed in the Western Conference and then fighting their way through the field to reach the NBA Finals. In the end, Giannis Antetokounmpo was too much for them, but the season was a resounding success.</p>
<p>The linchpin of that success was the Suns’ guard play, and they made sure to keep that rolling in bringing back both Chris Paul and Cameron Payne. Paul’s deal, which includes non-guarantees and a team option, is reasonable even with Paul’s age and lowers his cost this season, allowing them to avoid the luxury tax before DeAndre Ayton and Mikal Bridges have higher salaries kick in the following season.</p>
<p>Payne at just $6.33 million per season seems like a steal after the solid season he had, but he was basically a cast-off prior to his run with Phoenix in the NBA Bubble a calendar year ago and the long-term security of a guaranteed deal worked for him. JaVale McGee gives them a “poor man’s” version of what Ayton does and gives them a reliable option behind him. Nader has upside on the wing and is a solid value at $2.1 million a year as well.</p>
<p><strong>Grade: B+</strong></p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/08/07/nba-free-agency-grading-30-teams/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Portland Trail Blazers </a>
</div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_431995" class="wp-caption aligncenter">
<img class="size-full wp-image-431995" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/08/07/nba-free-agency-grading-30-teams/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1014,w_1600/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1320441884.jpeg" alt="NBA Free Agency" width="1600" height="1014" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1320441884.jpeg 1600w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1320441884-768x487.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:1600px;">NBA free agency Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images</p>
</div>
</div>
<h2>2021 NBA Free Agency Grades: Portland Trail Blazers</h2>
<p><strong>Key Additions:</strong> Cody Zeller (1-yr, minimum); Tony Snell (1-yr, minimum)</p>
<p><strong>Brought</strong> <strong>Back: </strong>Norman Powell (5-yr, $90 million)</p>
<p><strong>Key Departures:</strong> Enes Kanter (Boston)</p>
<p>The biggest shoe for the Portland Trail Blazers’ offseason is yet to drop. With Damian Lillard in Tokyo, Japan competing in the Summer Olympics the spotlight has waxed and waned on the Blazers, but they have to make a larger move than simply bringing in a pair of minimum players to convince Lillard he can compete for a title in Portland.</p>
<p>For now, the additions were minor. Tony Snell hasn’t missed a free throw since before Avengers: Endgame came out, and rarely misses 3-pointers either, but his reluctance to shoot doesn’t help his teams as much as it should. Still, he’s a decent wing option for the minimum. Cody Zeller has the potential to be a steal on the minimum; if he can stay healthy he is a low-end starter and will solve the “no defense” bench the Blazers ran out last season.</p>
<p>Finally, the team handed out a pretty penny to bring back Normal Powell on a five-year, $90 million deal ($18 million AAV). That’s an overpay for Powell as currently constructed, as the 6’3″ guard will be hard-pressed to hold up at the 3. However if the “shake things up” move is to trade CJ McCollum, then Powell can slide back into the 2-guard spot and should play better from there.</p>
<p><strong>Grade: B</strong></p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/08/07/nba-free-agency-grading-30-teams/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Sacramento Kings </a>
</div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_434079" class="wp-caption aligncenter">
<img class="size-full wp-image-434079" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/08/07/nba-free-agency-grading-30-teams/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2133,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1309794431.jpeg" alt="NBA Free Agency" width="3200" height="2133" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1309794431.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1309794431-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">NBA free agency Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images</p>
</div>
</div>
<h2>2021 NBA Free Agency Grades: Sacramento Kings</h2>
<p><strong>Key Additions:</strong> Alex Len (2-yr, $7.65 million); Tristan Thompson (trade)</p>
<p><strong>Brought Back: </strong>Richaun Holmes (4-yr, up to $55 million); Moe Harkless (2-yr, $9 million); Terence Davis (2-yr, $8 million)</p>
<p><strong>Key Departures:</strong> Delon Wright (trade to Atlanta)</p>
<p>The Sacramento Kings had an unbalanced roster, with both of their centers being unrestricted free agents but their backcourt packed with bodies. Their solution was to aggressively address the center position, in the process unloading one of those many guards.</p>
<p>The path they took to get there wasn’t great. The central piece was a fine bit of work: they talked Richaun Holmes into returning at the maximum amount they could offer him off of early bird rights, then added some garnish with a trade bonus to increase the reported number. He is a mid-tier starting center and this is a great contract for him.</p>
<p>The rest of their moves were questionable at best. They got involved in a trade between the Boston Celtics and Atlanta Hawks, taking in Tristan Thompson and sending out Delon Wright. Wright is a better player than Thompson at a more important position, but with both on expiring deals, it wasn’t the end of the world.</p>
<p>Alex Len is fine at less than $4 million per year, but they probably should have used that roster slot on a project big, especially since they will likely try to get Marvin Bagley III minutes at the 5. Harkless and Davis were decent values at their number and will be options off the bench for the Kings next season.</p>
<p><strong>Grade: B-</strong></p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/08/07/nba-free-agency-grading-30-teams/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> San Antonio Spurs </a>
</div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_434080" class="wp-caption aligncenter">
<img class="size-full wp-image-434080" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/08/07/nba-free-agency-grading-30-teams/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2133,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1319812428.jpeg" alt="NBA Free Agency" width="3200" height="2133" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1319812428.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1319812428-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">NBA free agency Photo by Will Newton/Getty Images</p>
</div>
</div>
<h2>2021 NBA Free Agency Grades: San Antonio Spurs</h2>
<p><strong>Key Additions:</strong> Doug McDermott (3-yr, $42 million); Zach Collins (3-yr, $22 million); Bryn Forbes (undisclosed); Jock Landale (2-yr, undisclosed); Thaddeus Young (trade); Al-Farouq Aminu (trade)</p>
<p><strong>Key Departures:</strong> DeMar DeRozan (Chicago); Rudy Gay (Utah); Patty Mills (Brooklyn); Trey Lyles (Detroit)</p>
<p>San Antonio spent the last two seasons straddling the gap between their aging veteran core and their new young core of up-and-coming players. With LaMarcus Aldridge agreeing to a buyout and DeMar DeRozan, Rudy Gay and Patty Mills all leaving in free agency, the next chapter of Spurs basketball has finally arrived.</p>
<p>The way that the Spurs chose to build around their young core was to prioritize shooting, with contracts handed out to Doug McDermott and Bryn Forbes, two of the best marksmen on the market. The money for Forbes isn’t clear, but he did opt out of $2.4 million with the Bucks to hit free agency. McDermott’s money, $14 million per season, is uncomfortably high but isn’t insane.</p>
<p>The contract for Zach Collins is much harder to swallow. Collins has barely played in two separate seasons and is currently rehabbing from another operation. The Spurs likely had to go for a higher cost to get Collins to commit to three years; if he gets healthy then this could look like a great number. If he doesn’t, though, it becomes an albatross.</p>
<p>Finally, the Spurs also hit the jackpot by facilitating a sign-and-trade with the Chicago Bulls. They sent DeMar DeRozan to Chicago, and also took back the contract of Al-Farouq Aminu. In return, they got a solid starting-level big in Thaddeus Young, a future first-round pick and two second-round picks. It was an absolute fleecing and propels this grade much higher than it otherwise would have been.</p>
<p><strong>Grade: B</strong></p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/08/07/nba-free-agency-grading-30-teams/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Toronto Raptors </a>
</div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_434081" class="wp-caption aligncenter">
<img class="size-full wp-image-434081" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/08/07/nba-free-agency-grading-30-teams/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2133,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1313201638.jpeg" alt="NBA Free Agency" width="3200" height="2133" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1313201638.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1313201638-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">NBA free agency Photo by Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images</p>
</div>
</div>
<h2>2021 NBA Free Agency Grades: Toronto Raptors</h2>
<p><strong>Key Additions:</strong> Goran Dragic (trade); Precious Achiuwa (trade); Sam Dekker (1-yr minimum); Ish Wainwright (2-yr, undisclosed)</p>
<p><strong>Brought Back: </strong>Gary Trent Jr. (3-yr, $54 million); Khem Birch (3-yr, $20 million)</p>
<p><strong>Key Departures: </strong>Kyle Lowry (Miami); DeAndre’ Bembry (Brooklyn); Rodney Hood (Milwaukee); Aron Baynes (unrestricted)</p>
<p>The Toronto Raptors last season were set up for failure, living on the road for the entire season as they played their “home” games in Tampa, FL. Injury misfortune, poor shooting and all sorts of COVID restrictions led to a nightmare year that at the very least netted Toronto the fourth pick in the NBA Draft.</p>
<p>At somewhat of a roster crossroads, the Raptors decided to pivot towards getting younger and not pushing to win again at the tail end of Kyle Lowry’s career. They got back a solid starting point guard in Goran Dragic and a talented young big in Previous Achiuwa in exchange for facilitating a sign-and-trade with the Miami Heat for Lowry.</p>
<p>The Raptors made some moves on the margins, signing Sam Dekker and Ish Wainwright to see if they have enough to hang in the NBA. The more significant moves came in re-signing their own players. Khem Birch is a fine backup center but may be called on to start after receiving a 3-year deal to stay in Toronto. Gary Trent Jr. got a much larger deal, $54 million over three seasons, to likely start with Fred VanVleet in the backcourt. That’s a lot of money for Trent, who can certainly get hot but hasn’t sustained a high level of play yet in his career.</p>
<p><strong>Grade: B-</strong></p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/08/07/nba-free-agency-grading-30-teams/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Utah Jazz </a>
</div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_434082" class="wp-caption aligncenter">
<img class="size-full wp-image-434082" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/08/07/nba-free-agency-grading-30-teams/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2134,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1324079901.jpeg" alt="NBA Free Agency" width="3200" height="2134" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1324079901.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1324079901-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">NBA free agency Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images</p>
</div>
</div>
<h2>2021 NBA Free Agency Grades: Utah Jazz</h2>
<p><strong>Key Additions:</strong> Rudy Gay (2-yr, $12 million); Hassan Whiteside (1-yr, minimum); Eric Paschall (trade)</p>
<p><strong>Brought Back:</strong> Mike Conley (3-yr, $72.5 million)</p>
<p><strong>Key Departures:</strong> Derrick Favors (trade to Oklahoma City); Georges Niang (Philadelphia)</p>
<p>Utah had the best record in the entire NBA last season, and while they weren’t an overwhelming favorite going into the postseason, they were a legitimate contender. They flamed out in the second round, but two of their three best players were hobbled by the end. This is not the sort of team you blow up, and it <em>is</em> the sort of team you pay up for.</p>
<p>The Jazz and new owner Ryan Smith ventured into the luxury tax in order to bring back Mike Conley on a three-year, $72.5 million contract. Conley’s two-way ability and table-setting on offense are vital to the Jazz as currently constructed, and the deal they landed on was reasonable for both sides.</p>
<p>Rudy Gay is also a reasonable addition, another 3/4 who can provide more than Niang did last season and provide some shot creation when Donovan Mitchell is off the court; $6 million per season is fine. The Eric Paschall trade essentially costs just a roster spot as the Jazz sent a highly-protected second-round pick, and he is a childhood friend of Donovan Mitchell and can play some small-ball five. The Hassan Whiteside signing was also low cost, and he can give the Jazz minutes in the regular season so Rudy Gobert is kept to a reasonable minutes load.</p>
<p><strong>Grade: B+</strong></p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/08/07/nba-free-agency-grading-30-teams/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Washington Wizards </a>
</div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_431536" class="wp-caption aligncenter">
<img class="size-full wp-image-431536" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/08/07/nba-free-agency-grading-30-teams/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2132,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1211474369.jpeg" alt="NBA Free Agency" width="3200" height="2132" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1211474369.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1211474369-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">NBA free agency Photo by Steven Ryan/Getty Images</p>
</div>
</div>
<h2>2021 NBA Free Agency Grades: Washington Wizards</h2>
<p><strong>Key Additions:</strong> Spencer Dinwidde (3-yr, $62 million); Kyle Kuzma (trade); Montrezl Harrell (trade); Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (trade); Aaron Holiday (trade)</p>
<p><strong>Brought Back:</strong> Raul Neto (1-yr, minimum)</p>
<p><strong>Key Departures:</strong> Russell Westbrook (trade to Los Angeles Lakers); Chandler Hutchison (trade to San Antonio); Robin Lopez (Orlando); Ish Smith (Charlotte); Garrison Mathews (unrestricted)</p>
<p>The Washington Wizards entered the offseason in a serious bind. They needed a late run to make the playoffs last season, were summarily dismissed in said playoffs, and had an expensive roster pushing against the luxury tax and a star rumored to be <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/08/07/nba-free-agency-grading-30-teams/"https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2946317-sources-bradley-beal-considering-trade-request-before-nba-draft" target="_blank" rel="noopener">considering a trade request</a>.</p>
<p>Then GM Tommy Sheppard, aided by the request of point guard Russell Westbrook to go and play in Los Angeles, spun gold out of straw. When all was said and done he turned Westbrook and some second-round picks into Spencer Dinwiddie, who might be just as good as Westbrook at this point in their careers, four solid rotation players and Isaiah Todd (31st pick in the 2021 NBA Draft) via a massive five-team trade.</p>
<p>Dinwiddie is coming off of a torn ACL but showed he is a competent floor general prior to that. His shooting is a concern, but he is much more accurate off-the-catch and shouldn’t have to create his own offense as much playing alongside Bradley Beal. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope should start, while Harrell, Kuzma and Holiday are all useful bench pieces.</p>
<p>The Wizards are not suddenly contenders, and they dug themselves into the hole they leaped out of this summer. They traded John Wall and a first-round pick for Westbrook a year ago. Yet from where they started, the Wizards cast quite the spell (sorry) to turn into a team with depth, roster optionality and the flexibility to build around Beal or take the first step without him.</p>
<p><strong>Grade: A</strong></p>
<div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="StoryLink" data-theme="dark" data-text="Zion Williamson still first in 2019 Redraft" data-url="https://hoopshabit.com/2021/07/22/nba-draft-zion-williamson-2019-redraft/" data-call-to-action="Next"> <div class="story-link-next"> <a class="story-link-next-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="story-link-next-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/08/07/nba-free-agency-grading-30-teams/"https://hoopshabit.com/2021/07/22/nba-draft-zion-williamson-2019-redraft/"> <span class="call_to_action">Next:</span> Zion Williamson still first in 2019 Redraft </a> </div>
</div><!—pageview_candidate—>">