Free Agency Day One Review
My thoughts on every deal and rumour from day one of 2024 NBA Free Agency.
George Join 76ers, Signs Supermax
"Paul (George) has informed us that he is signing his next contract with another team," the Clippers said in a statement last night.
Immediately after this statement was released, George was slammed in the media after saying just months ago he ‘wants to retire a Clipper.’ This comes off the back off him publicly sharing similar sentiments at every destination of his career, before up-and-leaving.
I just cant help but feel bad for the guy. Are we really attacking a player, who clearly wants to stay in his home city, for simply striving for generational wealth? I am all for bag chasing. Sure, it may hurt as a fan of the team he is leaving. But ask yourself this; would you leave $40 million dollars (plus) on the table to stay with a team, when you know this is your final major NBA pay check?
And on top of that, in five years with the team, your co-star has been unable to stay on the floor consistently, and you don’t really have much of a chance of competing for anything? Where is the upside in sticking around? How can you convince yourself that you should?
Anyhow, twelve hours later, Adrian Wojnarowski reported that George signed his desired four-year supermax deal, worth $212 million.
I don’t love the move for Philadelphia. I am personally a bigger fan of role players when it comes to team building. The 76ers already have their two stars tied down in Embiid and Maxey. Why empty out your cap space on a singular player, with a lengthy injury history I might add, when you can add a number of consistent contributors that are much more likely to fit into a system?
This undoubtedly raises their ceiling more than signing a role player would. But how much higher does it need to be, when you already have the best player in the world on your roster?
Chris Paul To Join Spurs
In one of the more underrated and overlooked moves of day one, the Spurs have acquired the veteran point guard on a team friendly one-year, $11 million dollar deal.
This is the dream scenario if I am San Antonio. After twelve months of being heavily linked to guys like Trae Young, the Spurs pair someone with Victor Wembenyama that won’t limit his development. While it may not be the most popular opinion, I believe that while Trae Young averages plenty of assists, he is not a playmaker. He is a score-first player, who racks up his assist numbers off pick-and-roll’s and dump-offs, after trying to create his own shot for two thirds of the shot clock.
In stark contrast, Paul handles the ball just the right amount. He is a pass-first player, who will look to enhance Wembenyama’s game, rather than trying to enhance his own game through the Frenchman.
While it isn’t a long-term partner, I have no doubts that Wembenyama will look back fondly, when it’s all said and done, on his years with The Point God as a foundational pillar of his rise. Just look what Paul did for young stars Devin Booker and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
Warriors Big Three Coming To a Close
Klay Thompson appears to be on his way out of Golden State, after twelve seasons and eleven as a part of one of the greatest big threes in NBA history.
I am by no stretch of the imagination a Golden State Warriors fan. Aside from my Hornets fandom, I keep it strictly impartial. However, as an NBA guy, this one hurts. I am in no way ready to see Klay in a Mavericks jersey.
The team and Thompson are working ‘actively together’ on potential sign-and-trade partners.
Oubre Jr. Stays In Philly
Kelly Oubre Jr. has signed a two-year, $16.3 million dollar deal to stay with the Philadelphia 76ers. The wing averaged 15.4 points and 5.0 rebounds a game last season.
I personally love this move. While signing Paul George, whom they are currently frontrunners for, is fun and all, I am personally a bigger fan of role players when it comes to team building. The 76ers already have their two stars tied down in Embiid and Maxey. Why empty out your cap space on a singular player, with a lengthy injury history I might add, when you can add a number of consistent contributors that are much more likely to fit into a system.
We have seen it play out a million (and one) times over. Teams with two stars, surrounded by the right pieces, are more likely to not just have one championship run, but are more likely to have sustained, high-level success. I hope this move is the first of many for Philadelphia, not the just first of two.
Clippers Add Guard, Show Another the Door
The Los Angeles Clipper have signed Kevin Porter Jr. to a two year deal (second year is a player option).
My first thoughts when I heard this report? ‘What does this mean for the Clippers current guard rotation (Russell Westbrook, Terrance Mann, Bones Hyland)?’
Well, we now know. Russell Westbrook, days after opting in to a new contract with the team, is being actively shopped, with Denver Nuggets a team with significant interest.
My thoughts on both these transactions will be aired when we get more details on the Westbrook deal.
Jones Jr. Signs With Clippers
The Clippers have poached Derrick Jones Jr. from Mavericks with three-year, $30 million deal.
I would like this deal more if George was coming back, however I am still a fan. I am interested to see the Clippers direction in the post-Paul George era, and how they plan to add pieces around and ageing James Harden and Kawhi Leonard.
This might just be the way to do it. With two dynamic scorers and creators, I have always been a believer that they don’t need a third star, that they should add real pieces around those guys.
Jones Jr showed he can play around system guys like James Harden and Kawhi Leonard last season, en route to his finals appearance alongside Luke Doncic and Kyrie Irving.
I look forward to seeing what the Clippers do next.
Marshall Heads To Dallas
Naji Marshall is headed to the Dallas Mavericks on three-year, $27 million contract.
He’s not going to replace Derrick Jones Jr. — he’s not able to defend guards — but he is a plus defender and a solid rotation player.
Overall, I like the move. If you aren’t able to get Jones Jr, Marshall might just be the closest thing to him available on the free agency market.
Jonas Valanciunas headed to Washington on three-year, $30 million contract
Troy Weaver got to the Wizards, drafted Alex Sarr, and then spent $90 million on big’s who also can’t space the floor.
Some people never change.