NBA Free Agency started six hours earlier than it has in years past in 2019, with a start time of 6 p.m. EST on June 30. And boy did it pay dividends for fans. Rather than staying up late or getting caught up on free agent happenings the first thing in the morning, fans were instead treated to a primetime bonanza of free agent activity this year.
Basketball Insiders’ Matt John did a splendid job of outlining all major happenings from day one, which saw the construction of a new super-team, the next phase of development in Utah and lots of questions around what constitutes tampering to the NBA league office.
As we entered day two, we saw the narratives shift from top players signings to secondary players securing their deals and processing additional information about day one signings.
But there are plenty of questions left unanswered. So without further ado, let’s jump into the more noteworthy happenings since July 1.
Maybe New York’s 2019 Free Agency Wasn’t So Bad After All
The Knicks have been the laughingstock of the league long enough to know when they’re the butt of the joke. And this free agency period started off no different. They missed out on Kevin Durant. And Kyrie Irving. And Kemba Walker. And D’Angelo Russell. And pretty much everyone else that the media identified as targets of the Knicks.
They instead walked away from the first day of free agency with Julius Randle (3-year/$63 million), Taj Gibson (2-year/$20 million), Bobby Portis (2-year/$31 million) and Reggie Bullock (2-year/$21 million) — and they added Elfrid Payton (2-year/$16 million) and Wayne Ellington (2-year/$16 million) on July 1. New Yorkers were displeased.
But reports emerged midday on Monday confirming that all but Randle’s contract featured team options after the first season. That means that the salary cap flexibility that the Knicks carved out for 2019 free agency could be available again come next summer. The Knicks can spend the better part of 2019-20 assessing their five signees and finding out which ones are worth hanging onto long term. They can also trade any of them who increase in value and/or become redundant – all the while, maintaining flexibility to make a run at free agents next year. And sure, next year’s free agent class is projected to be weak; however, if Kawhi Leonard returns to Toronto on a one-plus-one, that changes the entire narrative.
While this may not be the solution the Knicks (or Knicks fans) wanted, it preserves hope – which is more than it looked like they would end up with on Sunday evening.
The Clippers Are Remaining Patient
Kawhi Leonard is an enigmatic fellow. He marches to the beat of his own drum. He does not seek out attention. He does not trash talk. He is essentially the antithesis of the modern basketball player. And yet, he has been at the center of the basketball universe since approximately April.
Leonard is currently an unrestricted free agent; and despite being arguably the most sought-after free agent this summer, he has not yet made a decision regarding where he will play in 2019-20.
One thing seems fairly certain, though: Leonard will play in either Los Angeles or Toronto. He will allegedly take meetings with the Clippers, Lakers and Raptors this week in L.A. Where he’ll end up is anyone’s guess; however, his deliberate approach is delaying lots of other free agent decisions – most notably for the Clippers.
The Clippers entered free agency pegged as a major destination given their ability to offer two-max contracts. And yet, they have only signed Patrick Beverly (3-year/$40 million), guaranteed Lou Williams contract in advance, took on Moe Harkless as part of a bigger sign-and-trade (receiving a future first-round pick for their troubles) and signed Rodney McGruder (3-year/$15 million). All of which has not hurt their ability to offer Leonard a max contract.
Harkless is a nice player, as is McGruder, but the Clippers are clearly all in on Leonard. They have already spent much of the first two days of free agency waiting for Leonard before moving on any other major decisions, and they will probably wait a few more.
Leonard represents a return to relevance for the Clippers. His signing will shift the balance of power for the entire NBA. But like the Knicks, the Clippers should be cautious about who they sign if Leonard opts for a different employer. Owner Steve Ballmer’s regime will be tested if Leonard passes and their best course of action is to remain patient – for an entire season.
But the Knicks can attest that keeping your cross-town rival from getting a player of Leonard’s caliber is just as important as getting him yourself – at least from a PR standpoint. So it’s full steam ahead for the Clippers until they hear otherwise from Leonard.
Miami Gets Jimmy Butler, But Can’t Add Much Else
Jimmy Butler turned down a full max deal with the 76ers. Butler made it clear that he wanted to join the Miami HEAT shortly after the start of free agency. After some false starts that involved the Dallas Mavericks, the HEAT finally reached an agreement that three other teams and the signing of Butler to a 4-year/$142 million deal.
The Blazers were operative in the deal, taking back Whiteside and sending Meyers Leonard to Miami. They also shipped Harkless to the Clippers. The 76ers received Josh Richardson back from Miami.
But what’s left for Miami to build around? The HEAT cannot get below the salary cap ($109.14 million) despite possessing a number of player options.. They can try to get creative with Goran Dragic’s contract – after all, they own most of their future first-round picks (except for 2021, which is ironically owed to Phoenix from the Dragic trade); they only own one of their next five second-round picks. So depending on who they’re looking to add, they might have to attach multiple first-round picks (again). And depending on the return, that equation shifts from creative to crazy.
But Butler turns 30 in September. The HEAT clearly don’t want to waste his prime years. They should consider any upgrades to their roster – even if it means going deeper into debt. Because why else bring in the star if you weren’t planning on surrounding him with talent? Butler, Meyers Leonard and Justise Winslow is a nice start. Kelly Olynyk is a good role player. Dion Waiters is Dion Waiters. But if that’s your team (plus Dragic), you’re going to struggle to get out of the first-round.
The Golden State Warriors Attempt To Retool Around Their Original Core
Klay Thompson resigned with the Warriors for 5-years/$190 million. But Thompson will miss most of next season due to a knee injury suffered in game five of the NBA Finals. Steph Curry is signed through 2022 and Draymond Green is eligible following the 2019-20 season. So it appears as though the Warriors will build around its original core.
And it looks like they’ve begun doing so. Yes, they lost Kevin Durant to Brooklyn. But shortly after that deal was announced, news leaked that Durant-to-Brooklyn would be part of a larger sign-and-trade deal that included D’Angelo Russell signing a 4-years/$117 million deal with the Warriors, which cost the Warriors Andre Iguodala and a future first-round pick and also included the Memphis Grizzlies.
Russell represents a capable fill-in for Klay Thompson while he recovers from knee surgery. Russell and Steph Curry can both thrive on and off the ball; so while it’s a step back from Thompson given his defense, shooting and overall synergy with his teammates, Russell can power an offense and provide shooting and playmaking in a way that Thompson can’t. And after Thompson returns, the Warriors can either trade him for a more appropriate player or keep him around to see how the three could work together.
The Warriors also received Shabazz Napier and Treveon Graham in the sign-and-trade, but rerouted the two to Minnesota.
Furthermore, the Warriors signed former Sacramento Kings big man Willie Cauley-Stein for an unconfirmed amount. They also re-signed Kevon Looney to a three-year/$15 million deal.
So the 2019-20 Warriors roster is beginning to take shape. Free agency is still only three-and-a-half day old and it will be interesting to see who else the Warriors are able to add. But the Warriors are well over the cap (approximately $140 million in salary commitments for 2019-20), so they’ll have to be patient and grab minimum salary guys looking to either play with a winner or in the new San Francisco arena.
The Other Shoe Has Begun To Drop
(More than) qualified role players traditionally sign with contending teams for a discount. This allows them to compete for a championship and gets the team above average, veteran talent. This year, that philosophy remains unchanged
Yesterday evening, we saw three names come off the list of qualified role players: Wilson Chandler (1-year deal with the Brooklyn Nets), Jared Dudley (1-year/ $2.6 million with the Los Angeles Lakers) and Jeff Green (1-year/$2.5 million deal with the Utah Jazz).
The aforementioned players can all still play a relatively big role on a contender. Dudley was last seen brilliantly defending Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid in the first-round of the Eastern Conference playoffs. He brings leadership, grit and a very high basketball IQ.
Chandler and Green may do less of the dirty work, but they can both shoulder more of the offensive load. Chandler had a down year in Los Angeles in 2018-19, but he’s still only 32. And Green – also 32 –has always been seen as an ultra-versatile, albeit slightly passive, forward. He’s best when playing next to an alpha; but when he is, he can be quite effective. So much so that his signing prompted Dwyane Wade to take to Twitter in a rant questioning why Green has signed three straight minimum deals considering his skill set.
What’s more noteworthy than who has been signed, is where they’re going, though: Brooklyn, L.A. and Utah – three places not seen as key free agent destinations as recently as last year. Clearly, players are more concerned with who is on their new team’s roster than they are with the destination and/or region to call their new home. We’ll almost certainly see more of these bargain signings are free agency drags on. Which teams will sign discounted deals and with whom they’ll sign them will be key.
Free agency fireworks typically taper off after the first few days. Luckily for us, , we could be in for a drawn-out free agency thanks in part to Leonard. And with lots of other players awaiting his decision before making a move, we could be in a serious holding pattern.
Either way, this has already been a historically entertaining free agency – and it’s only July 3.