One Word to Describe NBA Free Agency 2019: Crazy

Everyone in and following the NBA looked forward to the highly anticipated free agency this year, with 236 players becoming free agents on June 30. There were many big names among the 236 players, including Kawhi Leonard, Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, Jimmy Butler, Kemba Walker, Klay Thompson, and DeMarcus Cousins. The unprecedented amount of free agency acquisitions spread talent across the NBA, which made many teams more competitive while leaving others wishing for more.

Let’s start off with the most sought-after free agent: Leonard, the three-time All-Star and two-time NBA Finals MVP who led the Toronto Raptors to their first NBA Finals with 28.5 points per game. The Raptors had compelling reasons for why Leonard should stay in Toronto: The Raptors’ medical staff took care of Leonard—he had many games off to rest, playing 60 of 82 games in the regular season—and they won a championship together, all signs pointing toward the same level of success in the future. The Lakers and the Clippers also vied for Leonard’s attention, as it was well known that Leonard wanted to go back to his hometown ever since he requested a trade from the Spurs in 2018.

Leonard’s intentions were very well hidden, as many of the rumors suggested he was heading to the Lakers and even the Raptors.

Then comes 1:50 a.m. EST on July 6, and it was announced that Leonard was headed to the Clippers…with Paul George! The NBA world was shocked. The behind-the-scenes blockbuster George trade convinced Kawhi to sign with the Clippers in a three-year $103 million contract, with a player option in 2021 to set up for the 2021 free agency. In order to secure both George and Leonard for the next two years, the Clippers traded away many pieces of their future, including five first round draft picks and rookie guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

Earlier in the 2018-2019 season, Irving made it public that he was interested in signing a long-term deal with the Boston Celtics. However, his relationship with the Celtics rapidly deteriorated as the season went on. Once free agency started, it was revealed that he chose to sign with the Nets in a four-year $141 million max contract, alongside Durant, who signed a four-year $164 million max contract. It got worse for the Celtics; Al Horford declined his player option and signed with the 76ers in a four-year contract worth $109 million. In a span of a few days, the Celtics lost their All-Star point guard and center. However, they were able to sign point guard Walker to a four-year contract worth $141 million, which will somewhat help the Celtics fill the void left by Irving.

Probably one of the most surprising moves this free agency was Butler signing with the Miami Heat in a four-year $142 million deal. Many Philadelphia 76ers fans thought he would re-sign with the 76ers, as they made a good run in the playoffs; he was also a key part of their success, making many clutch shots late in the game. If Butler wasn’t going to re-sign with Philadelphia, others believed that he would be a great fit as a third star on the Lakers, but he ultimately decided to join the Heat to become the face of the franchise.

On the other side of the continent, Klay Thompson remained loyal to the Golden State Warriors by signing a five-year contract worth $190 million. In addition, the Warriors were able to acquire D'angelo Russell in a sign-and-trade with the Nets and Timberwolves, sending a protected first rounder to Brooklyn. The Warriors are still a strong contender for the NBA title as they have a rising star in Russell, along with Thompson, Steph Curry, and big man Kevon Looney, who will do his best to fill the void left by Durant’s departure.

DeMarcus Cousins originally got another chance to prove himself with the Lakers by signing a one-year $3.5 million deal, but he reportedly tore his ACL in an offseason workout on August 15. This likely means he will not be able to play in the upcoming season, leaving his ring-chasing dreams dashed once again. Two years ago, Cousins was a superstar looking to sign a max contract with the Kings, but since then, repeated injuries have set him back and hindered his chances at a long-term deal.

Lastly, we’ll mention the team with probably the most disappointing offseason: the hometown New York Knicks. The expectations for the Knicks offseason were sky high, as they were in the running for the first overall draft pick and had the cap space to sign two superstars to max contracts once free agency started. Things started to go wrong when they ended up with the third pick at the draft lottery and had to settle with drafting RJ Barrett, a promising but inefficient scorer and who is nowhere near as revolutionary as first pick Zion Willamson. Turning to free agency for some hope, the Knicks expressed interest in Durant, Irving, Leonard, and other superstars, but none of the superstars showed any interest back. As stated earlier, Irving and Durant chose to sign with the team next door, and Leonard didn’t even grant the Knicks an interview. The best player they were able to sign was Julius Randle, to a three-year $63 million deal. The rest of the money was mostly used to sign role players to two-year contracts, leaving the Knicks with a lot of salary space for the 2021 free agency, when players like Giannis Antetokounmpo, George and Leonard will be available. What could have been the greatest offseason in years for the Knicks ended in a total flop.

These were the highlights of this year’s star-studded free agency. The landscape of the NBA has changed dramatically, consolidating superstars in some cities like LA while creating small pockets of stardom in others. It’s impossible to predict the outcome of these changes because there are so many possibilities for where the league is headed. At the end of free agency, we have a very stacked Western and Eastern Conference, making the upcoming season very competitive and a must-watch for the fans.

Actually, Knicks fans can probably sit the next two years out.