The success in free agency determines how a team positions itself to challenge the reigning champions. Also, each free agency period usually has a marquee superstar whose decision to join a particular team has a domino effect on the rest of the league. For instance, who can forget the pursuit of Lebron James in 2010, Kevin Durant in 2016, and Kawhi Leonard in 2019? In 2024, there was a void of marquee superstars on the market, but there were few quality All-Star players and depth to the team. In this article, we discuss the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly from the Free Agency Fever.
The Good
1. Paul George’s acquisition pushes 76ers to title challengers-the marriage between the Philadelphia 76ers and George may be a perfect union in an imperfect world. George is a nine-time All-Star player and averaged 22.6 points per game, 5.2 rebounds, and 3.5 assists last season with the Los Angeles Clippers. However, the team was reluctant to offer a 4-year maximum deal due to the tax implications of the second apron. Therefore, PG-13 pivoted and found a new home with the 76ers desperate for an elite wing player. The 76ers agreed on a 4-year deal worth 212 million dollars to pair with Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid. The 76ers also agreed on a max extension with Maxe,y which means there is a new big three in the city of brotherly love. The 76ers’ acquisition of George and the re-signing of Kelly Oubre will put them in a position to challenge Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown at the wing position. It also counters the New York Knicks’ move to sign Mikail Bridges and the decision to re-sign O.G. Anuonuby. The 76ers are title challengers, and expectations should be championship or bust for next season.
2. Klay Thompson is an upgrade for the Mavericks- the Dallas Mavericks had an incredible postseason run that led to their first NBA Finals appearance since 2011. However, the team ultimately lost in the Finals to the Boston Celtics in five games. The Celtics accepted the defensive challenge of guarding Luca Doncic and Kyrie Irving one-on-one while daring the other role players to beat them from the three-point line. It appears that the inconsistent play of Tim Hardaway Jr was one of the casualties of the series loss, and early into free agency, the shooting guard was traded to the Detroit Pistons. The move freed up salary space that enabled the Mavericks to pursue Klay Thompson. Thompson will bring a wealth of experience as a 4-time champion, but he can make the wide-open three-point shot. He will benefit from the space created by Doncic and Irving, and even in a down season last year, Thompson made 39% of his three-pointers. The Mavericks will be among the favorites in the Conference after this move.
The Bad
1. The Nuggets get worse after losing KCP-the Denver Nuggets appeared to be building a dynasty after drubbing the Miami Heat en route to their first NBA title in 2023. The Nuggets took a step back in 2024 after exiting the playoffs in Game 7 of the Conference Semifinal after a stunning second-half collapse against the Minnesota Timberwolves. However, one reason for the underwhelming season is the failure to retain key players because, in the 2023 free agency, they failed to resign Bruce Brown and Jeff Green, who were pivotal to their title run. In 2024, the hemorrhaging continued with Kentavious Caldwell-Pope’s move in free agency to the Orlando Magic. The Nuggets struggled to replicate the productivity of the duo with younger players despite an MVP season from Nikola Jokic. The Nuggets ownership appears to be prioritizing being financially prudent rather than spending what it takes to keep winning. It means Denver will face a big hurdle to climb to the top in the Western Conference.
2. Kyle Anderson Buddy Hield are not Klay Thompson-Kyle Anderson was a solid bench player last season for the Minnesota Timberwolves by averaging 6.4 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 4.2 assists. Anderson has developed into a solid player after starting his career with the San Antonio Spurs where he mastered the fundamentals despite his lack of athleticism. Buddy Hield averaged 12.1 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.8 assist and is considered a volume three point shooter. However, Buddy struggled to adjust after his trade to Philadelphia and the 76ers obliged in finding a trading partner. The arrival of Anderson and Heild will not fill the void left by KLay’s tough defense and marksmanship. The Warriors made the play-in tournament in back-to-back seasons, and this move may push them into a lottery pick in a competitive Western Conference.
The Ugly
1. PG and Kawhi Clippers’ Era was a Failure- in 2019, Kawhi Leonard was the preeminent superstar in the league after leading the Toronto Raptors to their first NBA title. Kawhi became a highly pursued free agent and had to decide among three destinations-the Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Clippers, and the Toronto Raptors. In the end, Kawhi chose to return home by signing with the Clippers but stipulated that the team trade for Paul George. The Clippers obliged by sending Shai Gilgreous, Danilo Gallinari, five first-round picks along with two swaps to acquire George. After five years, the move was a colossal failure because the Clippers made it to only one Western Conference Finals appearance in the period. The team has struggled to remain healthy, with Leonard unavailable for most of their playoff runs. It is interesting that the team ultimately chose to retain James Harden rather than reward the younger George with a contract he wanted. With Russell Westbrook in the mix, the Clippers open their new arena next season with aging superstars and without any realistic expectations of winning the title.
2. The Warriors and Klay Thompson Divorce was a Disaster- divorces are generally messy affairs, and Klay’s departure to the Mavericks in a sign-and-trade deal fits the bill. The Warriors did reportedly offer Klay a 2-year contract worth 48 million dollars at the start of last season. However, Klay must be grieved since it is significantly lower than the 4-year deal offered to Draymond Green worth 100 million dollars. It is arguable but Klay was the second-best player on the team team in forming the dynamic duo with Steph Curry known as the Splash Brothers. Also, Thompson has been a model of consistency when compared to Green who has been suspended on several occasions and ultimately cost his team opportunities to win basketball games. Green also punched Jordan Poole in the 2023 training camp which led to the latter getting moved last year to the Washington Wizards. Thompson deserved a better contract and now the dynasty is officially over.