The NBA offseason moved fast this year — so fast that it started before the NBA Finals were even over with the Kevin Durant trade. Then there were a series of trades around the draft, followed by potential free agents re-signing with their teams (James Harden, Kyrie Irving) or opting in (LeBron James). Then, free agency began and we quickly saw blockbuster moves, such as the Bucks waiving and stretching Damian Lillard to make room to sign Myles Turner.
There are still moves to be made, but the dust is starting to settle. Who won the NBA offseason and free agency? Let’s break it down.
WINNER: Houston Rockets
Adding Kevin Durant — at the affordable price of Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks and one first-round pick (plus five seconds) — already made the Rockets winners. Everyone who watched their first-round playoff loss to the Warriors understood this team needed a combination of experience (gained in that series) and one more player who could just bend defenses and get a bucket in the half court under pressure. Kevin Durant is as good at that as anyone who ever played the game.
The Rockets did much more than that. They signed Dorian Finney-Smith (four years, $53 million), who is at least as good a defender, if not an upgrade, on the wing from Brooks, with fewer technical fouls. They signed Clint Capela to a three-year deal as a backup center. They re-signed Fred VanVleet to new contract, extended Jabari Smith Jr. on a fair deal, and re-signed Jae’Sean Tate, Aaron Holiday and Jeff Green.
The Rockets enter next season as clear title contenders, a team that can push Oklahoma City in the West. That is the definition of a good offseason.
WINNER: Atlanta Hawks
Give new general manager Onsi Saleh credit, the Hawks have had a tremendous offseason (now Hawks fans just need to hope ownership and their family don’t step in to help).
Building around an undersized point guard who is not a great defender is tricky; it requires an elite rim protector — like Kristaps Porziņģis, whom the Hawks acquired in the Boston fire sale (a bet on KP being healthy is baked into this)….
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