The largest names on the 2024 NBA free agent market got here off the board virtually instantly. Paul George saved NBA insiders up till 3 a.m. earlier than selecting the Philadelphia 76ers, and remainder of the large names shortly adopted swimsuit with their selections the subsequent morning.
The Oklahoma City Thunder are loading up for a run on the NBA championship, the Orlando Magic discovered a veteran who enhances their younger core completely, and the Dallas Mavericks received inventive so as to add expertise to an NBA Finals group.
Not everybody generally is a winner in free company, although. Some groups misplaced key gamers on the open market, whereas others stayed static as their rivals improved. While there’s nonetheless loads of time within the offseason so as to add expertise, the 2025 NBA championship image is already shaping up. With a lot of the massive names already selecting new houses, right here’s our have a look at the winners and losers of NBA free company.
Winner: Philadelphia 76ers
When Paul George adjustments groups, there are normally All-NBA gamers and a bundle of first spherical picks going the opposite manner. The Oklahoma City Thunder gave up Domantas Sabonis and Victor Oladipo once they acquired George in 2017, whereas the Los Angeles Clippers forfeited Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and a cascade of draft capital to get George in 2019.
The Philadelphia 76ers agreed to phrases with George at first of free company, and so they all surrendered to do it was cap area. George’s four-year, $212 million take care of Philly is definitely wealthy for a 34-year-old, however buying a expertise like this for nothing however cash is an unquestionable win for Philly.
Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and George isn’t simply arguably the league’s greatest “massive three” on sheer expertise — it’s additionally a trio that matches collectively completely. Embiid can dominate the paint, Maxey places stress on the rim along with his velocity, and George can area the ground and fill in as a ball handler in a pinch. It gained’t be simple to breakthrough within the East with the Celtics reigning supreme and the Knicks looming, however the Sixers have given themselves an actual probability.
Loser: Los Angeles Clippers
The Clippers drew a tough line within the sand for George: both settle for a three-year deal much like the one Kawhi Leonard signed, or get out. George was decided to signal a four-year deal, and when Philadelphia supplied one, he was gone.
The Clippers cited the brand new CBA and second-apron fears of their weird assertion on George’s departure, however the worst of these penalties wouldn’t kick in for years. While the Kawhi Leonard-George pairing by no means lived as much as the hype, shedding him for nothing is only a disastrous consequence for the Clips. Making issues worse, the Sixers already personal the Clippers’ unprotected 2028 decide, and have swap rights in 2029.
Couldn’t the Clippers simply supply George a fourth-year and take care of the fallout later? There was doubtless at all times going to be a commerce marketplace for George and Leonard if the Clips ever determined to interrupt up the group. LA rebounded with some strong position participant signings in Derrick Jones Jr., Nic Batum, Kris Dunn, and Mo Bamba, however they aren’t making up for the influence of PG-13. The Clippers’ ceiling is a lot decrease with out George this 12 months, and so they nonetheless don’t management any of their first spherical draft picks till 2030.
The Clippers have a sensible entrance workplace and nice possession. They will in all probability determine a solution to stay aggressive within the short-term and hold their choices open long-term. Still, shedding George for nothing doesn’t look good.
Winner: Oklahoma City Thunder
The Thunder began the offseason by stealing Alex Caruso from the Bulls for under Josh Giddey. Then OKC drafted the No. 1 total participant on our draft board with the No. 12 decide by deciding on Nikola Topic. The Thunder nonetheless wanted some beef within the center and assistance on the glass, and so they answered these fills holes emphatically with one nice signing in free company.
Isaiah Hartenstein signed a three-year, $87 million take care of the Thunder. Hartenstein is a seamless match: he’s an elite inside defender, a excessive degree passer, and he’s an incredible rebounder. The indisputable fact that the Thunder received him to comply with the final 12 months of the deal being non-guaranteed makes this an excellent higher signing.
The Thunder had been No. 29 in defensive rebound proportion, and No. 28 in offensive rebound proportion final 12 months. Hartenstein was nearly the very best offensive rebounder within the league, and he was nice at cleansing the glass on the defensive finish, too.
OKC’s weak rebounding didn’t cease them from profitable 57 video games and grabbing the No. 1 seed within the West final 12 months. It cherished to play five-out final 12 months, and Hartenstein isn’t a shooter, so his addition will change the dynamic of the group. Whether he can play alongside Chet Holmgren or principally spell him when he goes to the bench, that is nonetheless an impressed signing that provides the kind of toughness and physicality within the center that OKC desperately wanted. The Thunder appear like the wager group within the West on paper heading into the season.
Loser: Denver Nuggets
The Nuggets proceed to bleed expertise from their 2023 championship group with nothing coming again. First it was Bruce Brown and Jeff Green final offseason. Now it’s Kentavious Caldwell-Pope.
KCP was an ideal match for the Nuggets as a three-and-D wing who may tackle the hardest defensive assignments and rip catch-and-shoot threes. He was one thing near an elite spot-up shooter and the group’s greatest defender towards speedier guards. Denver may have resigned him, however they had been too petrified of the second apron — and too low cost! — to do it.
Nikola Jokic is the very best participant on the planet, and he’s squarely in the midst of his prime at 29 years outdated. These ought to be the years that Denver goes all-in to win championships, however as a substitute they’re opting to take care of flexibility transferring ahead. If the Nuggets’ younger gamers like Christian Braun, Peyton Watson, and Julian Strawther develop, Denver may nonetheless be a championship-level group. It’s only a very daring wager to make when you will have the three-time MVP and a participant who suits so seamlessly round him in Caldwell-Pope.
Winner: Orlando Magic
The Magic had been the most important shock group within the Eastern Conference final 12 months by profitable 47 video games. Orlando took a giant leap up the standings regardless of being one of many worst three-point capturing groups within the NBA by each quantity and proportion. Signing KCP provides the Magic a veteran flooring spacer who can fireplace up photographs round Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner with out taking the ball out of their fingers.
The defensive match can be great for KCP in Orlando. Jalen Suggs and Caldwell-Pope will kind one of many league’s most ferocious defensive backcourts. Add in an elite defender in Jonathan Isaac off the bench, and versatile ones in Franz Wagner, Anthony Black, and Wendell Carter Jr., and the Magic are beginning to construct an entire group on each ends of the ground.
Replacing Markelle Fultz with KCP is a giant improve for the Magic.
Winner: Dallas Mavericks
The Mavs entered this offseason with restricted flexibility, however nonetheless discovered a manner so as to add expertise to a group that simply reached the NBA Finals. Dallas created cap area by swapping out Tim Hardaway Jr. for Quentin Grimes, then aggressively focused free brokers who may assist their protection and enhance their capturing.
Naji Marshall felt like among the finest under-the-radar gamers on the free agent market, and Dallas received him for 3 years, $27 million. Marshall would be the group’s de facto Derrick Jones Jr. alternative, and whereas he’s not as explosive or as fast defensively, he’s a stronger ahead with a bit extra capturing efficiency. Speaking of capturing, the Mavs additionally reeled in Klay Thompson on a three-year $50 million deal. Thompson continues to be such an incredible shooter darting round screens, and with Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving attracting a lot consideration defensively, he ought to have the ability to run into open photographs at any time when he needs.
It gained’t be simple for Dallas to make one other Finals run within the West, however it feels prefer it improved the roster even after the lack of Jones. That deserves some reward.
Loser: Milwaukee Bucks
Eastern Conference contenders loaded up this summer time to chase the champion Celtics. The Sixers added Paul George, the Knicks added OG Anunoby, and the Milwaukee Bucks … properly, they haven’t accomplished something. After Giannis Antetokounmpo’s damage sabotaged their playoff run within the first spherical this previous season, Milwaukee’s plan seems to be nothing greater than crossing its fingers and hoping a flawed roster can keep wholesome and discover some solutions.
The Bucks appeared good underneath Doc Rivers when the complete roster was out there. The group by no means had many avenues so as to add expertise over the summer time. Still, Milwaukee doing an entire lot of nothing is disappointing as their key items get one other 12 months outdated, and the Knicks and Sixers add premium expertise behind then. If the Giannis-Damian Lillard pairing is ever going to work, it needs to be this 12 months.
