Photo Credit: theforestscout.com
Welcome to Black Squirrel Radio’s 2019 NBA Free Agency Tracker. As the dominoes begin to fall, the BSR Sports Staff will be updating this article, so check back constantly for updates.
*Restricted Free Agents will be listed with an RFA designation
Friday, June 28
Klay Thompson: Re-signed with the Golden State Warriors for five years, $190 million (Via The Athletic NBA)
Analysis: News broke Saturday that Thompson and the Warriors would officially agree to the Super Max contract once free agency opens Sunday evening.
This deal essentially will make Thompson a Warrior for life as he now focuses on rehabbing his ACL injury suffered in Game Six of The Finals, in hopes of returning to play in March or April before a potential playoff run.
-Sean Fitzgerald
Kemba Walker: Signs with the Boston Celtics for four years, $141 million (Via The Athletic NBA)
Analysis: Who saw this coming a few months ago? Walker leaves Charlotte for Boston, stabilizing the locker room in the wake of Kyrie Irving’s departure.
Walker also has skill comparable to Kyrie, just with fewer headaches. It’s a great grab for Boston.
-Sean Fitzgerald
Saturday, June 29
Nikola Vucevic: Re-signed with the Orlando Magic for four years, $100 million (Via The Athletic NBA)
Analysis: The Magic retain Vucevic who has been a cornerstone for them since he came to Orlando in 2012. Last year, Vucevic had his career high in numerous categories, including points per game, assists per game, rebounds per game and games played. Vucevic looks to help the Magic continue to climb the Eastern Conference ladder as the Magic made the playoffs last season for the first time since 2012, losing in the first round to the eventual champion Raptors.
-Brandon Lewis
Sunday, June 30
Kyrie Irving: Signs with the Brooklyn Nets for four years, $141 million (Via Woj- ESPN)
Kevin Durant: Signs with the Brooklyn Nets for four years, $164 million (Via Woj- ESPN)
Analysis: Kyrie Irving leaves Boston to join the Nets, but he’s not going to Brooklyn alone. The great Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN is reporting Kevin Durant is joining him on a four-year deal as well. While Durant will not play this season because of his torn ACL, Brooklyn is now in a great position to win a championship in 2021.
After the Knicks were rumored to get KD and Kyrie at the start of the season, now they get neither. Everything can change in a year.
-Brandon Lewis
Khris Middleton: Resigns with the Milwaukee Bucks for five years, $178MM (Via Woj- ESPN)
Brook Lopez: Resigns with the Milwaukee Bucks for four years, $52 million(Via Woj- ESPN)
Analysis: The Bucks took another step to lock down their Eastern Conference-best core after re-upping Lopez following his resurgent year, and also taking care of Middleton.
The Bucks are all-in. The question of what becomes of Malcolm Brogdon will be fleshed out soon.
-Sean Fitzgerald
Rudy Gay: Resigns with the San Antonio Spurs for two years, $32MM (Shams Charania-The Athletic)
Analysis: I’m unsure what to make of this move. It doesn’t hurt the Spurs, but he can still be a solid contributor on a playoff team.
-Sean Fitzgerald
Terry Rozier: Signs with the Charlotte Hornets for three years, $58 million (Via Sports Illustrated)
Analysis: Charlotte and Boston essential swapping guards as Rozier is headed to the Hornets to start for a team who is now essentially entering a re-build.
Rozier two years ago proved he was worth starter money, and now he gets it.
-Brandon Lewis
J.J. Redick: Signs with the New Orleans Pelicans for 2 years, $26.5 million (Via Woj- ESPN)
Analysis: Redick leaves Philly, shockingly to me, to join a Pelicans team on the rise. I thought he would stay in Philly for it least another year.
-Brandon Lewis
Derrick Rose: Signs with the Pistons for 2 years, $15 million (Via Woj ESPN)
Analysis: Derrick Rose’s career continues to jump from city to city. We’ll see if Rose can produce for Detroit, who made the playoffs last year before getting swept in the first round by the Bucks.
-Brandon Lewis
Kristaps Porzingis (RFA): Re-signs with the Dallas Mavericks for five years, $158 million (Via Woj- ESPN)
Analysis: After being traded from the Knicks last year, Porzingis now has a long-term home in Dallas with a team with a bright future and pieces to surround him. Kristaps and Dallas should be very happy with their current direction.
-Brandon Lewis
Jonas Valančiūnas: Re-signs with the Memphis Grizzlies for three years, $45 million (Via Woj- ESPN)
Analysis: After getting traded half-way through last season to the Grizzlies, Valanciunas decided to stay in Memphis and has the potential to be a big man that can be a threat on the court on the glass and from 3 from what we saw through his career.
–Enzo Orlando
Al-Farouq Aminu: Signs with the Orlando Magic for three years, $29 million (Via Woj-ESPN)
Analysis: Coming off a not so bad season with the Portland Trail Blazers who had a great playoff run, Aminu is heading down to Orlando to help out this young team make it back to the playoffs.
–Enzo Orlando
Jeremy Lamb: Signs with the Indiana Pacers for three years, $31.5 million (Via Shams-Stadium)
Analysis: What can I say about Jeremy Lamb, this guy has some rang and can make shots when the game is on the line like he did last season in a game against the Raptors. Now he could be a great help offensively to help out Oladipo when he comes back next season.
–Enzo Orlando
Bojan Bogdanovic: Signs with the Utah Jazz for four years, $73 million (Via Woj- ESPN)
Analysis: The Jazz adding Bogdanovic along with Mike Conley this offseason is a big move for them. They are now set up to be a legit competitor in the West for years to come.
-Brandon Lewis
Malcolm Brogdon (RFA): Signs with the Indiana Pacers for four years, $85 million (Via Woj-ESPN)
Analysis: Brogdon leaves Milwaukee for Indiana where he will play alongside superstar Victor Oladipo. Since he was a restricted free agent, Indiana completed a sign and trade with the Bucks. The Pacers are sending back a first-round pick and two second-round picks to Milwaukee in exchange for Brogdon.
The picks should not matter for the Pacers, who landed their point guard of the future. A Brogdon, Oladipo and Myles Turner big three should be good enough to compete for a top-four seed in the East for years to come.
-Brandon Lewis
Ricky Rubio: Signs with the Phoenix Suns for three years, $51 million (Via Shams- The Athletic)
Analysis: This is a surprise, as Rubio to Indy was a given earlier today. The Suns now have a point guard who stabilizes the position for the first time since trading Eric Bledsoe to the Bucks.
–Sean Fitzgerald
Harrison Barnes: Resigns with the Sacramento Kings for four years, $85 million (Via Shams- The Athletic)
Analysis: Sacramento retains Barnes on a good deal for both team and player. The structure of the contract is front-loaded, as his deal will only account for 14-percent of the cap in the final year of the deal.
-Sean Fitzgerald
Terrence Ross: Resigns with the Orlando Magic for four years, $54 million (Via Woj- ESPN)
Analysis: Orlando has been very active in free agency, locking up another piece that got them to the playoffs alongside Nikola Vucevic for the foreseeable future
-Sean Fitzgerald
Tobias Harris: Resigns with the Philadelphia 76ers for five years, $180 million (Via Woj- ESPN)
Analysis: The 76ers retained Harris, their big deadline acquisition, and the man gets paid.
The deal represents a big win for Harris, who wasn’t expected to land a max-level deal a year ago. Now the team has cushioned itself against the probable loss of Jimmy Butler.
-Sean Fitzgerald
DeMarre Carroll: Signs with San Antonio Spurs for two years, $13 million(Via Shams Charania)
Analysis: The Spurs add a “3 and D” guy, and a nice veteran to come off the bench for them at a good price. A nice signing by a team who always seems to stay relevant, even if they are not the best team on paper.
-Brandon Lewis
Mike Scott: Re-signs with the Philadelphia 76ers for two years, $9.8 million(Via Shams Charania)
Analysis: Scott returns to Philly on a team-friendly contract. A great three-point shooter for a big man, Philly did the right thing bringing him back. He made a lot of clutch shots for them last season.
-Brandon Lewis
Julius Randall: Signs with the New York Knicks for three years, $63 million(Via Woj- ESPN)
Analysis: The Knicks may not have gotten Kevin Durant or Kyrie Irving, but they got a good player in Randall who broke out last year in New Orleans.
To me though, Randall and rookie R.J. Barrett are an interesting fit. I think Randall is more effective with the ball in his hands down low, and I think Barrett is going to have the ball a ton. We’ll see if it works out.
-Brandon Lewis
Dewayne Dedman: Signs with Sacramento Kings for three years, $41 million(Via Shams Charania)
Analysis: Dedman is a good backup center. He will fill in nicely when Willie Cauley-Stein needs to rest.
-Brandon Lewis
Thaddeus Young: Signs with Chicago Bulls for three years, $41 million(Via Shams Charania)
Analysis: Young is a good veteran who can help mature the young talent Chicago has. This isn’t a big move as Chicago is it least three years away from serious contention in my estimation, but it is a nice pickup.
-Brandon Lewis.
Jimmy Butler: Signs with the Miami Heat (via sign-and-trade with PHI) for four years, $141 million (Via Woj-ESPN)
Analysis: Jimmy Butler got his first taste of the open market, and the Heat landed its first superstar talent since the days of LeBron, D-Wade, and Chris Bosh. It’s a huge win for Miami tonight!
-Sean Fitzgerald
Al Horford: Signs with the Philadelphia 76ers for four years, $109 million (Via Woj-ESPN)
Analysis: Horford leaves Boston for the division rival 76ers, as Brett Brown’s squad still has Ben Simmons, Joel Embiid, and Tobias Harris, even after the defections of JJ Redick (New Orleans) and Jimmy Butler (Miami).
-Sean Fitzgerald
DeAndre Jordan: Signs with the Brooklyn Nets for four years, $40 million (Via Woj-ESPN)
Analysis: Well, it’s not the same salary level on a per annul basis as his previous contracts, but Jordan has security for the long term now and four years at that price is a good deal for the Nets. Sean Marks made Brooklyn happy today.
-Sean Fitzgerald
D’Angelo Russell: Signs with the Golden State Warriors(via sign-and-trade with BKN) for four years, $117 million (Via Woj-ESPN)
Analysis: Golden State may no longer have Kevin Durant, but they do add a talented shooting guard who can fill in for Klay Thompson while he recovers from his torn ACL.
The fit may be a little weird when Thompson gets back because they’ll essentially have two starting shooting guards on the same team, and Russell is more effective with the ball in his hand, but Golden State seems to always find a way to make things work. I doubt they are concerned about fit.
Golden State also got Treveon Graham and Shabazz Napier from Brooklyn as apart of the deal, but they had to send Andre Iguodala to Memphis in order to fit everybody under the cap.
While Iguodala will be heavily missed, this feels like a new era for Golden State basketball as the move into the Chase Center with a few new pieces.
-Brandon Lewis
Bobby Portis: Signs with the New York Knicks for two years, $31 million (Via Woj-ESPN)
Analysis: The theme so far during free agency seems to be talent over fit, and that once again happens here. The Knicks continue to just sign players because they lost out on the big prizes. While Portis is a solid player, he, Julius Randall and R.J. Barrett is a weird combination from a spacing standpoint.
-Brandon Lewis
Patrick Beverley: Re-signs with the Los Angeles Clippers for three years, $40 million (Via Woj-ESPN)
Analysis: While the Clippers wait on Kawhi Leonard, Jerry West goes ahead and locks up Beverley for just over $13 million a year, which is not a bad contract for a great guard like Beverley, one of my favorite guards in the league because he can shoot and play defense.
-Brandon Lewis
Reggie Bullock: Signs with the New York Knicks for two years, $21 million (Via Shams Charania)
Analysis: Bullock is a good knockdown shooter off the bench, and the Knicks are hoping he can give them quality minutes when R.J. Barrett needs a break.
-Brandon Lewis
Monday, July 1
Wayne Ellington: Signs with the New York Knicks for two years, $16 million (Via Woj-ESPN)
Analysis: Ellington is a typical guard who can shoot the ball well for deep, so he will provide some good floor spacing for the Knicks, which they desperately need right now. Also, not to mention the fact the Knicks do need guards on the roster, so this is a good signing in my opinion.
-Brandon Lewis
Ish Smith: Signs with the Washington Wizards for two years, $12 million (Via Shams Charania)
Analysis: The Wizards need a point guard with John Wall being out for the entire 2019-2020 season, and Ish Smith fits the bill on a cheap contract. Good work by a franchise who currently is in shambles.
-Brandon Lewis
Robin Lopez: Signs with the Milwaukee Bucks for two years, $4.8 million (Via Woj-ESPN)
Analysis: The Lopez brothers are now together in Milwaukee, trying to help the Bucks win their first NBA Title since 1971. Robin at this point is more of a veteran presence, but for the money, it’s not a bad move by Milwaukee.
-Brandon Lewis
Saturday, July 6
Kawhi Leonard: Signs with the Clippers on a three-year $103 million dollar contract (Via Woj-ESPN
Analysis: Once Paul George was traded to the Clippers, Kawhi signed with the Clippers. This put the Clippers to be one of the favorites to win the NBA finals with having two elite players on their team now.
-Enzo Orlando