NBA free agency has cooled off. It’s time to analyze the best and the worst deals during this summer of extraordinary spending.
The capacity for extraordinary spending in NBA free agency this summer somewhat altered the definition of what made a good deal and what made a bad one.
Last season’s $70 million salary cap jumped to $94 million, a record $24 million increase that made any semblance of normalcy disappear. Everybody had cap room, and they all wanted to use it. Some teams used the new circumstances to their advantage and others lost their minds.
More emphasis was placed on the percentage of the cap that the contract takes up than the actual contract itself. It wasn’t easy to determine what was one of the ‘best’ contracts and what was one of the ‘worst’, but we tried.
Next: The Best Deals
The Best Deals
Every year a team pulls off a signing that makes their GM look like a genius, and there’s bound to be another this season. It could be a star player changing teams or a Bismack Biyombo-like value signing. These are some potential examples.
The Superstar
- Kevin Durant: 2 years, $54.5 million with the Warriors
- 2016-17 salary: $26,540,100
- Max contract 30% of the cap
- 2015-16 averages: 35.8 minutes, 28.2 points, 8.2 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 1.2 blocks
- 2015-16 slash line: .505/.387/.898
Kevin Durant might be criticized for ring chasing, but for the Warriors this is the biggest free agent win since LeBron James and Chris Bosh to Miami. They are coming off a season in which they broke the all time wins record and all time three-point shooting record, came within a game of repeating as champions, and they got even better.
Durant is one of the greatest scorers in NBA history, and bounced back tremendously from another foot surgery that ended his 2014-15 season. The Warriors will have huge expectations to win the title.
The only downside: Durant signed the patented one-and-one deal making him a free agent in the same summer as Stephen Curry and Andre Iguodala. Curry is a shoo-in to return, but Durant’s inevitable max salary could cost them the extremely valuable Iguodala.
The Hometown Discount
- Nicolas Batum: 5 years, $120 million with the Hornets
- 2016-17 salary: $20,869,566
- About 22% of the cap
- 2015-16 averages: 35.0 minutes, 14.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, 5.8 assists, 0.9 steals
- 2015-16 slash line: .426/.348/.849
Nicolas Batum could have received $153 million from the Hornets on a max contract. Instead, he gave them a fortunate $33 million discount and they were able to comfortably able to re-sign Marvin Williams for 4-years and $54.5 million.
Batum stepped up in the absence of Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and was essential to the Hornets’ success. He played good defense, led the team in assists, and finished second in scoring.
Re-signing Batum was the Hornets’ No. 1 priority and they finished the job.
The Franchise-Changer
- Al Horford: 4 years, $113 million with the Celtics
- 2016-17 salary: $26,540,100
- Max contract 30% of the cap
- 2015-16 averages: 32.1 minutes, 15.2 points, 7.3 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.5 blocks
- 2015-16 slash line: .505/.344/.798
The Celtics have been looking for a star player for years. They found that guy with Al Horford. It was a huge victory for Boston as they were able to lock Horford up long-term and they didn’t need to give up any of their valuable Brooklyn Nets draft picks via trade.
Horford runs the floor well, a great benefit for Boston as they like to get out in transition. Additionally, he is coming off one of his best seasons shooting the three. If he can give the Celtics anything from beyond the arc it will be a plus. Their issues from downtown have been well-documented.
Horford isn’t a superstar but he instantly makes the Celtics a contender in the Eastern Conference. The Isaiah Thomas/Horford pick and roll will give defenses fits.
Linsanity Part 2
- Jeremy Lin: 3 years, $36 million with the Nets
- 2016-17 salary: $11,483,254
- About 12% of the cap
- 2015-16 averages: 26.3 minutes, 11.7 points, 3.2 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 0.7 steals
- 2015-16 slash line: .412/.336/.815
Jeremy Lin is much more than a point guard to the lowly Brooklyn Nets, he’s a marketing dream. The former star of Linsanity is coming back to where it all began and the Nets may actually sell some tickets because of it.
Lin had a bounce-back season in Charlotte after a nightmare stint with the Lakers and likely could’ve cashed in for a little more dough somewhere else. It was his loyalty to Nets head coach Kenny Atkinson, a Knicks assistant during Linsanity, that swayed Lin to Brooklyn. All three years are guaranteed without any options, meaning Lin and the Nets are committed to each other for the future.
The deal is of great value for a starter in this market, especially when you consider what the Nets received from the position last season.
The Wing Defender
- Courtney Lee: 4 years, $50 million with the Knicks
- 2016-17 salary: $11,242,000
- About 12% of the cap
- 2015-16 averages: 29.5 minutes, 9.6 points, 2.6 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 1.1 steals
- 2015-16 slash line: .454/.378/.839
Courtney Lee solved a lot of problems for the New York Knicks. He gives them a new starting shooting guard, some defensive help on the wing, and a knock down three-point shooter.
The contract is great value. Lee could have made more money somewhere else, but wanted to be a Knick. He will make less in 2016-17 than last season’s disappointing starter at shooting guard, Arron Afflalo.
The Veteran Scorer
- Joe Johnson: 2 years, $22 million with the Jazz
- 2016-17 salary: $11,000,000
- About 12% of the cap
- 2015-16 averages: 33.4 minutes, 12.2 points, 3.9 assists, 3.6 rebounds, 0.8 steals
- 2015-16 slash line: .439/.383/.831
The Utah Jazz are one of the most well-run front offices in the NBA. Being that they aren’t a popular destination for free agents, so they build their team through the draft.
As one of the league’s youngest teams they were in need of a veteran voice in the locker room, and after ranking 25th in bench scoring last season they needed some punch from their second unit in 2016-17. Joe Johnson gives them both.
Johnson rejuvenated his career after signing with the Heat for the second half of last season. He went from an aging player on his last leg to an underrated commodity on the free agent market.
The Sixers Signed A Free Agent
- Jerryd Bayless: 3 years, $27 million with the 76ers
- 2016-17 salary: $9,424,084
- About 10% of the cap
- 2015-16 averages: 28.9 minutes, 10.4 points, 3.1 assists, 2.7 rebounds, 0.9 steals
- 2015-16 slash line: .423/.437/.778
The Philadelphia 76ers haven’t had a rotation player like Jerryd Bayless in a long time. By that I mean a veteran player who has proven to be a contributor on a team. Bayless is coming off the best shooting season of his career, finishing fourth in the NBA in three-point shooting percentage.
Bayless’ deal was a firm message by new general manager Bryan Colangelo that he is going to operate in a different way than his predecessor did. After years of Sam Hinkie cultivating assets, the Sixers are ready to have a reliable veteran in the lineup.
The Raptors Did It Again
- Jared Sullinger: 1 year, $6 million with the Raptors
- 2016-17 salary: $5,628,000
- About 6% of the cap
- 2015-16 averages: 23.6 minutes, 10.3 points, 8.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 0.6 blocks
- 2015-16 slash line: .435/.282/.640
The Raptors pulled off a steal last summer when they got Bismack Biyombo at the bargain price of $3 million. He parlayed an excellent 2015-16 campaign into a 4-year, $70 million contract with the Magic. The Raptors couldn’t afford to bring him back, so they went to the bargain bin again and returned with another promising option.
Jared Sullinger wore out his welcome in Boston and needed a fresh start. He isn’t a star player, but like Biyombo he will be able to make a difference even if it’s in a different way. As bad as Sullinger is from behind the three-point line, he’s a career 42.2 percent shooter on 2-point FGAs from greater than 16-feet.
The issue surrounding Sullinger was that team’s were reluctant to commit to him long-term because of his conditioning. The Raptors avoided that issue entirely by keeping him contained to a one-year deal.
Next: The Worst Deals
The Worst Deals
Now for the fun part. We take a look at the worst deals that were given out this summer. The ones that didn’t make sense and the ones where teams spent too much, even for this market.
What The Mozgov?
- Timofey Mozgov: four years, $64 million with the Lakers
- 2016-17 salary: $16,000,000
- About 17% of the cap
- 2015-16 averages: 17.4 minutes, 6.3 points, 4.4 rebounds, 0.8 blocks, 0.4 assists
- 2015-16 slash line: .565/.143/.716
Not only did the Lakers give Timofey Mozgov an absurd contract, but they couldn’t wait to do it. They committed long-term deal with him taking up almost 20 percent of the cap shortly after the free agency period began. For some reason Mozgov was their guy.
Teams shot 64.9 percent against the Lakers last season in the restricted area so they desperately needed a rim protector. That’s why they were so eager to pick up Mozgov, but there were other better targets out there.
Mozgov had a miserable season and fell out of the rotation for the Cavs. The champions outscored opponents by 8.4 points per 100 possessions without Mozgov on the floor, per NBA.com. Yet, the Lakers gave him $64 million.
The Rajon Rondo Trap
- Rajon Rondo: 2 years, $28 million with the Bulls
- 2016-17 salary: $14,000,000
- About 15% of the cap
- 2015-16 averages: 11.9 points, 11.7 assists, 6.0 rebounds, 2.0 steals
- 2015-16 slash line: .454/.365/.580
Under the guise of a career resurgence in Sacramento, Rajon Rondo cashed in with the Chicago Bulls. Somebody had to fall into the trap. This deal makes no sense for the Bulls.
They traded away Derrick Rose and replaced him with someone older and well past his prime. The trade was thought to signify a changing of the guard from Rose to Jimmy Butler, but instead he will be competing for touches with Rondo and new acquisition Dwyane Wade.
A starting lineup of Rondo, Wade, and Butler limits the squad’s floor spacing. At a time when the rest of the league is placing an emphasis on the 3-point shot, the Bulls made a conscious effort to ignore it.
Chicago will regret signing the big names in lieu of building a team that fit into a winner.
The Knicks Did Another Knicks Thing
- Joakim Noah: 4 years, $72 million with the Knicks
- 2016-17 salary: $17,000,000
- About 18% of the cap
- 2015-16 averages: 21.9 minutes, 4.3 points, 8.8 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 1.0 blocks
- 2015-16 slash line: .383/.000/.489
Continuing in the tradition of acquiring washed up former stars, the Knicks traded starting center Robin Lopez for Derrick Rose and signed Joakim Noah as a replacement.
Noah is a downgrade from Lopez both offensively and defensively. His last two seasons have been riddled with injuries and mediocre play. After having shoulder surgery, it’s a questionable decision to give him a four year contract at the age of 31.
It’s a huge gamble to think that Noah will return to his prior form. He better, though, for the Knicks sake because he’s costing the team significantly more than Lopez’s team friendly deal would have.
3-point Shooting Be Damned!
- Evan Turner: 4 years, $70 million with the Trail Blazers
- 2016-17 salary: $16,393,443
- About 17% of the cap
- 2015-16 averages: 28.0 minutes, 10.5 points, 4.9 rebounds, 4.4 assists, 1.0 steals
- 2015-16 slash line: .456/.241/.827
It’s hard to question the Portland Trail Blazers front office. Neil Olshey is one of the best general managers in the game. But until we see evidence of Evan Turner going off in a Trail Blazers uniform, this deal should be subject to strong criticism.
According to Basketball-Reference, 31.1 percent of Turner’s career FGAs have been 10-16 feet from the basket. Because of his tendencies, Turner advocated for himself as a high-priority free agent by saying that the mid-range shot was coming back. Unless you play for the San Antonio Spurs, it isn’t.
If the Blazers’ plan is to go small with Al-Farouq Aminu at power forward in the starting lineup, they will at least be fun to watch.
Somebody Likes Delly
- Matthew Dellavedova: 4 years, $38 million with the Bucks
- 2016-17 salary: $9,607,500
- About 10% of the cap
- 2015-16 averages: 24.6 minutes, 7.5 points, 4.4 assists, 2.1 rebounds, 0.6 steals
Matthew Dellavedova is reaping the benefits of playing with LeBron James. Four years and $38 million for a backup point guard is absurd in any market.
Nearly 60 percent of Dellavedova’s attempts last season came when he was open, per NBA.com. He won’t have that luxury on a James-less Bucks team. With the lack of jump shooters in Milwaukee, it’s likely that teams will focus on Dellavedova.
D.J. Augustin signed for 4 years, $29 million with Orlando. Unlike Delly, Augustin proven himself.
Will The Rockets Stop Anyone?
- Ryan Anderson: 4 years, $80 million with the Rockets
- 2016-17 salary: 18,735,364
- About 20% of the cap
- 2015-16 averages: 30.4 minutes, 17.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 0.4 blocks
The Houston Rockets hired famous offensive guru Mike D’Antoni as their new head coach. D’Antoni never did place much emphasis on defense, even with his great Suns teams. His 2004-05 squad that won 62 games finished first in points scored per game, but dead last in opponents points scored. It looks like the Rockets are going the same way, except they don’t have Steve Nash.
Ryan Anderson is an excellent 3-point shooter, but he can’t cover anyone. His career defensive box plus-minus is a putrid -2.1. There’s a reason he’s been at his best when he’s coming off the bench during his career. He could fit well next to Clint Capela, if Capela can cover up the defensive issues, but it will put a huge burden on the young center.
Anderson is a one tool player not worthy of $20 million per season.