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The 2021 NBA free agency has been a whirlwind of moves and roster adjustments as teams begin their summer preparations. After disappointing campaigns, the LA Lakers, Miami Heat and Chicago Bulls have all been extremely active in the market. Meanwhile, other franchises who were expected to make similar moves have been quiet, such as the Dallas Mavericks and New Orleans Pelicans.
Although several players who were set to hit NBA free agency this summer chose not to last year, there were still a number of stars available to either re-sign with their current teams or move elsewhere. In this article, we will take a look at which teams have made the best moves so far in free agency and who can expect to have a successful campaign.
5 Teams that have made the best moves in the 2021 NBA Free Agency
#1 LA Lakers
No team has seen more change in the 2021 NBA free agency window so far than the LA Lakers. Coming into the new campaign determined to win another title while LeBron James is still performing at an unbelievable level, the Lakers have made wholesale changes to their roster.
Kyle Kuzma, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Alex Caruso, Montrezl Harrell and Andre Drummond have all left while point guard Dennis Schroder is expected to depart in the coming days.
Headlining the Lakers' new-look lineup is nine-time All-Star and former MVP of the league Russell Westbrook. Bringing in the 32-year-old will help take the ball-handling duties away from LeBron and form a big three to challenge that of the Brooklyn Nets were they to get to the NBA Finals.
Since signing Westbrook left the Lakers with little room to make any more moves, the front office has had to use the franchise's status to bring in players on minimum deals. Carmelo Anthony finally got to team up with his long-time friend LeBron, while former Laker players Dwight Howard and Trevor Ariza also came in.
They were also able to sign athletic guard Malik Monk from the Charlotte Hornets, Kendrick Nunn from Miami and Kent Bazemore from their California rivals, the Golden State Warriors.
If teams weren't already afraid to face the LA Lakers, they certainly will be.
#2 Miami Heat
Miami Heat President Pat Riley wasted no time putting his franchise back into contention in the East after a disappointing campaign that saw them swept in the first round of the playoffs.
Within 39 minutes of the NBA Free Agency window opening, he had secured the most highly-sought after unrestricted free agent on the market, Kyle Lowry. Another shrewd piece of business saw them re-sign sharpshooter Duncan Robinson to a four-year deal.
Later in the night on Monday, the Heat also pulled off one of the surprise moves of the summer so far when they acquired PJ Tucker from their playoff nemeses, the Milwaukee Bucks.
The debate will rage on prior to the start of the NBA season about whether a core of Lowry, Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo can challenge the Bucks and Brooklyn Nets in the East. But the Heat have certainly given themselves the best opportunity to do so.
With a full summer of preparation this time, too, Miami are going to be extremely hard to beat again. They have tenacious defenders throughout their starting five and also signed Markieff Morris from the LA Lakers to a one-year deal in NBA free agency.
#3 Chicago Bulls
Arguably one of the biggest winners of free agency so far has been Chicago Bulls star Zach LaVine. Although he hasn't yet signed his contract extension, the organization is making every suggestion that they want LaVine to be happy and to stick around with the signings they have made.
Four-time All-Star DeMar DeRozan has been the ball club's marquee signing in NBA free agency, especially considering the number of high-profile teams who were interested in the forward. Lonzo Ball has also arrived on a four-year deal, who, combined with DeRozan, can help take the creative burden on offense away from LaVine and Nikola Vucevic.
Although they brought in Alex Caruso, the Bulls may struggle on defense next year. However, they now look like a dark horse to make a deep run in the playoffs, somewhere they haven't been since 2017.
#4 San Antonio Spurs
Although they lost their primary playmaker from last year in DeMar DeRozan, the San Antonio Spurs were extremely busy on Tuesday bulking out their roster for next season.
They addressed their shot-making and defensive deficiencies by bringing in scorers such as Doug McDermott and Bryn Forbes, as well as centers Zach Collins and Jock Landale.
Landale has particularly impressed over the past year, winning the NBL championship with Melbourne United and being named the NBL Grand Final MVP. He will bring the kind of hunger and versatility that the Spurs currently lack at center.
McDermott is the organization's biggest signing and was one of the most-sought after prospects on the NBA free agency market this year. He will likely emerge as a consistent starter for his new ball club and will hope to continue his excellent shooting he has maintained over the past three seasons. In that time, the 29-year-old shot at 50% from the field and 40% from downtown.
#5 Phoenix Suns
Although the Phoenix Suns were distraught after losing the NBA Finals, it was imperative the organization make suitable moves to keep their momentum going and hopefully return to the same stage of the playoffs next year.
That is why, although they haven't made big splashes in NBA free agency, their re-signing of leader Chris Paul and his backup Cameron Payne was essential and makes them winners of the offseason so far.
They have also added some much-needed depth and experience at center by bringing in JaVale McGee on a one-year deal. When DeAndre Ayton got into foul trouble during the postseason, the Suns were left short-handed due to his usual replacement, Dario Saric, being injured. McGee brings with him knowledge of being on title-winning teams and is a reliable rim protector.
