Henry Roldán
It’s been a week since NBA free agency began, and there have been some significant and, in some cases, shocking changes.
Day after day, Jefebet has kept you updated on the most important news from the event. This time, we present you an analysis of the winners and losers from the first week in the best basketball in the world.
NBA 2022 – Free Agency Winners
Boston Celtics
The Celtics swiftly got over the disappointment of coming two games short of the championship and added a couple of significant players to a squad that will remain nearly intact for the 2022-2023 season on the second day of free agency.
Boston acquired Malcolm Brogdon from the Pacers in exchange for a first-round pick in the 2023 Draft, while signing the experienced Danilo Gallinari. Brogdon comes in to help at a point guard position where the Celtics struggled last season, as well as to provide more defense for the best team in the league, while Gallinari is a fearsome sharpshooter.
Los Angeles Lakers
After a season in which having the longest roster in the circuit took its toll, the Lakers bet in free agency to look for young names to refresh the roster and help LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
Beyond Russell Westrbrook’s saga, the organization signed Lonnie Walker IV, Troy Brown Jr., Thomas Bryant, Damian Jones and Juan Toscano-Anderson to replace Malik Monk after his departure, and to renew a team from which much is expected.
Denver Nuggets
Not only did the Nuggets tied up star player Nikola Jokić with a multi-million dollar contract for the next five seasons, but they also added experienced players with the return of Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr.
Denver acquired Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Ish Smith from the Wizards for Monte Morris and Will Barton, while also signing Bruce Brown and big unknown DeAndre Jordan.
New York Knicks
The analysis of the Knicks’ free agency is highly varied, but we believe they were one of the winners of NBA free agency by betting on a young talent that would surely cost every penny spent on him if he replicates last season’s performance.
The New York Knicks signed Jalen Brunson to a four-year, $104 million contract, hoping to capture one of the league’s greatest point guards. They also retained center Mitchell Robinson and brought in Isaiah Hartenstein.
Philadelphia 76ers
The 76ers have a very good team that was bolstered early in free agency by securing the services of veteran P.J. Tucker, one of the most sought-after names once he declared free agency.
Tucker is one of the best defenders in the league and brings attitude and a long-range shot on the boards. In addition, Philadelphia acquired the services of another experienced player such as Danuel House and a great draft pick such as De’Anthony Melton.
Players who signed maximum contracts
NBA 2022 Free Agency’s big news came mainly from the large number of players who sealed maximum contracts across the league, and here’s a short list of them.
- Nikola Jokic: five seasons and $254 million
- Bradley Beal: five seasons and $251 million
- Karl-Anthony Towns: four seasons, $224 million
- Devin Booker: four seasons, $214 million
- Ja Morant: five seasons and $231 million
- Zach LaVine: five seasons and $215 million
- Zion Williamson: five seasons, $193 million
- Darius Garland: five seasons, $193 million
Winners-losers NBA Free Agency 2022
Minnesota Timberwolves
We created this category for the Timberwolves because of the good but dangerous trade they made this week, in which they acquired center Rudy Gobert from the Utah Jazz.
The Frenchman’s arrival in Minnesota quickly makes them one of the contenders in the Western Conference, but it remains to be seen how he will fare against Karl Anthony-Towns as they have very similar styles of play at the same position.
The T-Wolves sent five first-round picks to Utah, so it’s imperative for them to win a title if they want to match a move as big as this one.
Losers NBA 2022 Free Agency
Golden State Warriors
The reigning champions were not very aggressive during the first week of free agency and lost two important pieces of their roster with the departure of Gary Payton III and Otto Porter Jr.
Golden State signed Donte DiVincenzo for the next two seasons, but lost Payton’s great defense and Porter’s mid- and long-range shooting without getting players to replace them.
Dallas Mavericks
Losing Jalen Brunson and only bringing in JaVale McGee is not what Mavericks fans expected after being eliminated last season in the Western Conference Finals at the hands of the Warriors.
Brunson was the team’s second-best player behind Luka Dončić, who will now have to rely on a lot of inconsistent names around him unless the Mavericks fix this over the next few weeks.
Brooklyn Nets
The Nets’ great draft is on the verge of ending after the departure of James Harden last season and the imminent departure of Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, who remain on the organization’s roster despite their expressed desire to be traded.
Brooklyn also lost Bruce Brown Jr., Goran Dragic and Andre Drummond in free agency, with their only acquisition being the arrival of T.J. Warren.
